2009

            This year will be exciting with the introduction of 9 new cruise ships. The biggest and most discussed new vessel is Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas. Slated for her first voyage this spring, this floating city will rank as the largest cruise ship in history. Weighing in at 220,000-tons, the 5,400-passenger ship has created a buzz ever since Royal Caribbean announced the project. The Oasis will feature neighborhoods that replicate land based sites like Central Park and the Boardwalk.  Other innovations include an onboard “zip-line”, Aqua Theater and a bar that raises five stories like an elevator. These are in addition to the many distinctive features that are already present on Royal’s Freedom class ships.

            While the Oasis may have been making the biggest splash, several other lines are showcasing new ships this year. Carnival will be debuting the Carnival Dream. The Dream is the first brand new design for the company’s Fun Ship line since 2002.  Some of the new features include the indoor-outdoor Ocean Plaza, with coffee shops, bars and ocean views, Cloud 9 Spa (Carnival’s Largest), two twister waterslides, (the longest at sea), and a two-deck mini-golf course. There will also be a new range of cabin types such as "cove balcony" cabins—closer to the water line than any other ship's verandah staterooms and family-friendly accommodations with two bathrooms and sleeping arrangements for up to five people.

Many prefer somewhat smaller ships and the different ambiance they provide.  Costa has taken a different approach by building a ship that can transit the Panama Canal. (many of the new builds can’t). The Costa Luminosa boasts a 3D cinema and a rollerblading track as well as a more extensive choice of itineraries. In a unique dual naming ceremony, Costa will be introducing Costa Pacifica, a sibling to the Costa Serena style of big-ship design, as well as the Luminosa.

            Other new stars on the horizon include the Seabourn Odyssey, Silversea Cruises' Silver Spirit, and Viking Legend that will all lay claim to new designs and be the largest of all their fleet mates. The Odyssey will feature the largest spa on any luxury vessel. The 11,400-square-foot spa will span two decks and include indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, as well as a Kinesis wall in the fitness center and spa villas available for rent.

Many sister ships will also make their debut this year with the introduction of Costa Pacifica, MSC Splendida, Celebrity Equinox, and AIDA Luna. These ladies take their design from their trend-setting older sisters and will share the title of biggest in fleet. The amenities on most of these ships will be fairly similar, with the exception of some changes in specialty restaurants and minor design modifications.

One thing is for certain, no matter your size choice, 2009 will be a great year to take a cruise!

Read More

Mickey and Minnie to Get New Ship Cousins

While the Disney Cruise Line ships are not known as Mickey and Minnie, we think maybe they should.  But in any case the ships (Disney Magic and Disney Wonder) will be joined in 2011 and 2012 by two cousins. 

The first steel was cut this week on the two yet-to-be named DCL ships during a ceremony at the Meyer Werft yards in Germany.  The first piece of steel cut was part of the Art Deco-inspired scrollwork that will grace the bow of the ships. Similar to the scrollwork on Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, the pattern is reminiscent of the classic ocean liners of the 1930s but adds a Disney touch: a Mickey Mouse medallion in the center of the design.

Not many details are available on this new pair, but they will feature 1250 staterooms and be about 128,000 tons each making them about 1/3 larger than the two existing ships which have 875 staterooms.

It’s been more than 10 years since Disney welcomed a new ship so mouse fans have a lot to look forward to.  Keep your ears to the ground and we promise to give you regular updates on this magical birth event.

Read More

Cruise Chatter

There was recently a rather large dust up when it was disclosed that a major cruise line had given away some free cruises to a core group of its fans who posted regularly on a large cruise community site.  There were many cries of “foul” and “reverse censorship”.  While this may have been blown a bit out of proportion, it does open the door to a question lots of novice cruisers ask.  And the question is “Should I trust the reviews I read on sites like Cruise Critic?”  The answer is Yes and No.

Why the ambiguity?  Because the most important thing to remember that what you are reading is just one person (or couple’s) opinion about a particular ship, cruise line or service amenity.  Have you ever gone to a shore side restaurant that a friend raves about and found it to be very disappointing?  I think we all have.  And what about that fabulous plumber who was recommended strongly?  The one who broke the pipe and flooded your new carpet?  Oops.

So, it is best to consider these reviews with a grain of salt.  They are good for general trends and recommendations and certainly provide some insider tips.  Generally, if there are a large number of reviews and all or most of them are negative on a topic, there is likely to be some underlying cause.  Then again, there is a certain group of people that would complain if they got a million dollars in cash that it was in old bills and not crisp new ones.  Go figure.

The fact that 80% of all people who cruise indicate they will sail again points out that if you work with a knowledgeable cruise agent and he or she matches your needs with the most suitable ship, it is almost inevitable that you will have a great vacation. 

Read More

Lights, Action, Frozen Margarita?

Cruise ship entertainment continues to reach new heights so it is no surprise that when the world’s largest ship, Oasis of the Seas,  enters service this fall, the shows on board will also be “super-sized”.  While the ship will feature multiple entertainment venues, the current buzz is about “Hairspray” and not the kind available in the gift shop.  Royal Caribbean recently announced that it has signed an exclusive 3 year arrangement with the producers of the musical for presentation in the ship’s Grand Opal lounge. 

"We are thrilled to bring to our guests a ground-breaking entertainment feature such as Hairspray on Oasis of the Seas," said Peter Compton, vice president, Entertainment, Royal Caribbean International. "The addition of this popular musical to Royal Caribbean's entertainment lineup will undoubtedly take cruise entertainment to the next level and cater to the evolving tastes of vacationers. Guests will be able to enjoy an award-winning Broadway-caliber production on Oasis of the Seas along with a myriad of revolutionary onboard amenities for a most memorable cruise vacation."

Hairspray earned a total of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, during its near seven year run on Broadway, which came to an end in early January and is currently playing in London's West End. Set in 1962, the show follows the story of Tracy Turn lad, a big girl with big aspirations who wins a spot on the local TV dance program, "The Corny Collins Show" and finds herself transformed into an overnight teen sensation.

While the show has been trimmed just slightly to fit within the average 90-minute run time, consistent with Royal Caribbean's theater productions, guests and Hairspray fans will be pleased to find that the hottest, high-energy numbers will remain on the playbill. The show will be offered three or four times on each seven-night cruise itinerary, ensuring that guests have the opportunity to see the show at their leisure during their vacation.

Read More

Too Many Sites Make Sore Eyes

Another “cutting edge” travel website was just announced.  It leads to the question of “how many websites does a person need to visit to get information about travel offers?”   Since we focus on the cruise business, let’s take a look at this particular segment to see if we can shed some light on the question.

The first thing to understand when you let your fingers do the shopping online is that virtually all cruise travel sites develop their prices from the same “feed”.   For the digitally challenged, this just means that the cruise lines deliver pricing from their central computer. This means for all practical purposes, cruise travel sites offer up the same rates.  One great myth is that the cruise lines who sell directly to the public (mostly the mass market lines) have special, direct rates different from cruise agent.  Wrong, my fellow cruisers!  In fact, an independent cruise agent can often find you rates lower than the cruise line.  More on how to take advantage on some insider tips in a moment.  But first we have to get this off our chest.  WHAT ARE YOU THINKING WHEN YOU ONLY SHOP DIRECTLY WITH A CRUISE LINE????  First of all, that cruise line employee is paid to get your booking as fast as possible and move on to the next sale.  And, heaven forbid, maybe instead of cruise line ABC you really belong on cruise line XYZ, what is the chance that the cruise line agent will say “Oh you really belong on cruise line XYZ and not us”.  Sure,  the next thing that will happen is that the Toyota sales person will send you next door to the Volvo dealer.  Your local cruise agent invests time and interest in YOU and has a goal of creating repeat business.   Where, When,  and How you cruise is very important to your specialist.

Now onto those hot tips.  Your local cruise agent not only views the pricing feeds from the cruise lines, but also may have access to what is known as group rates.  Also, there are often unadvertised specials that are made available from time to time that might include special benefits such as upgrades, onboard credits, spa treatments, complimentary alternate dining.   Your agent can also check for regional promotions, senior and public safety discounts, past passenger specials and lots more.

Get the picture?  Maybe instead of surfing a dozen web sites and seeing the same information over and over put a local cruise agent to work for you.  They don’t charge for their basic services and often find these hidden lower rates.  Let them play detective for you!

Read More

Dancing at the Bars?

Royal Caribbean doesn’t want to be left out of the latest reality dance show craze.  First there was “Dancing with the Stars” and then “So You Think You Can Dance?” on TV.  And now,  “Gotta Dance” takes to the high seas aboard Royal Caribbean’s ships.  Based on the documentary film by Dori Bernstein, the program offers passengers of all ages the chance to learn hip hop routines with a shipboard dance team member.  The program is inspired by the film that chronicles the first senior citizen hip hop dance troupe, for the New Jersey Nets basketball team.

Each cruise will start with a screening of the film, and passengers on select ships before the nationwide roll-out of the movie this summer will get an advance viewing. Participants will then divide into teams to learn choreographed routines. The program will culminate with a farewell show performance in the ship’s main theater.

If you are Fred and Ginger challenged however, don’t despair because you can still twist’ n shout in a dark corner of the disco or slow dance accompanied by the house orchestra in one of the lounges!  Something for everyone on Royal Caribbean.

Read More

Location, Location, Location.

 Important in business, real estate and even on cruise ships.  How can you make sure that you pick the best location in your chosen stateroom category?  A good answer for this question is to view the ship’s deck plans in the cruise line brochure or on the web.  While the plans are often not exactly to scale and cabin size is not always in proportion to the drawings there are a few things that are very helpful.  First, locate your cabin on the plan and then look up, down, left, right, and forward of your cabin.  What’s there?   And knowing what to look for can help you avoid a less-than-ideal stateroom.

Ok, so here’s the short list:

Look for elevators and staircase exits near your stateroom. (Some people love to be close to everything so this might be a positive feature but with activity comes noise)

Look up.  Oops!  A basketball court, jogging track or day pantry might result in the wakeup call you did not ask for.

Look Down.  Is the bandstand for one of the show lounges right below your room?  Even with good sound proofing there is a chance for ambient noise.

Look across the hall.  Is there a room service pantry shown or other service area.  A potentially busy area to avoid.

Look Right and Left.  If you are at the end of a hallway, make sure that the disco or other high energy lounge is not adjacent.  Avoid hallways that lead to these lounges unless you are a night owl.  Late night revelers sometimes carryon with the partying outside your door.

The good news is that modern cruise ships have been designed with passenger comfort in mind and the architects strive to develop a deck plan that confines public rooms and lounges to areas far from the staterooms.  A little advance review of the deck plans and the advice of a good cruise specialist can help deliver an extra measure of peace and quiet in your stateroom.

 And please don’t slam your door in the morning when you get up for early risers’ coffee.  Those partiers next door are still sleeping.  Then again. . . . .

Read More

Things go better with . . . . . . . . Pepsi?

No offense to our friends at Coke headquarters in Atlanta, but Pepsi loyalists have won another round in the battle of the brands.  Norwegian Cruise Lines recently announced that it was changing out its long standing exclusive use of Coca Cola products on its fleet of ships in favor of Pepsi and related brands.  To kick off the switch, NCL and Pepsi are celebrating summer by offering up to two complimentary soda packages per stateroom on any seven-night sailing or longer.  Guests who book a cruise on one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s 11 Freestyle Cruising ships through October 15, 2009 for sailings through 2010 can request the Pepsi Summer Cup promotion at the time of booking by referencing promotion code PGPOP.  Once on board, guests are given a special Norwegian and Pepsi branded souvenir cup and have access to unlimited complimentary fountain soda refills at any bar, lounge or restaurant throughout the duration of the cruise and have the choice of selecting Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew or Sierra Mist.

Now, for the biggest dilemma.  When ordering a drink on board, is it now Rum and Pepsi  instead of Rum and Coke?  Which opens another Pandora’s Box.  Rum afficiandos know that when you add a lime to a standard rum and Coke, it becomes a Cuba Libre.  So, is a Rum and Pepsi plus lime a Cuba Not So Libre?

Read More

Back (up) to the Future

If you stand along the banks of the Ems river in Germany near the Papenburg shipyard you are bound to see an amazing sight.   A giant cruise ship going down the river - backwards!   Is this a prelude to a parallel parking test for the Captain’s driver’s license exam?  No, but it is certainly a huge challenge.  Like cars and trucks, the most efficient direction for a ship to move is forward.  However,  when ships are being built at Meyer Werft yard in Papenburg, the layout of the assembly buildings dictate that they enter the structure head in.  Therefore, when the ship is nearly completed and ready for sea trials it must leave stern first.  And since the Ems River is quite narrow, larger cruise ships can’t execute a  U turn and have to depart for the open sea by traveling in reverse.

Recently, Celebrity Crusies’s newest Solstice-class ship, the 2,850 passenger Equinox left on this 26 mile backwards journey en route to Eemshaven, Netherdlands where the Ems River meets the open sea.  Under the watchful guidance of Captain Apostolos Bouzakis, the ship successfully transited the narrow river channel and is now at its temporary berth.  There the ship will be provisioned and loaded with additional supplies.  The ship then proceeds to sea trials and is scheduled for official hand off to Celebrity Cruises from the builder on July 16^th.  After a series of trade and press functions the ship will sail on July 31 on a 8 night cruise through the Norwegian fjords.   The only question left unanswered?  Do ships have back up lights?

Read More

A Good Buy on a Lanai

 What is a Lanai, anyway?  You have probably lived in an apartment or house that claimed to have one but never quite figured out the difference between a patio and lanai.  Well it would appear that they are one and the same.   So, why the buzz from Holland America about “lanai staterooms” being introduced on the Veendam?   Well, it’s due to the fact that oceangoing lanais are a rarity and Holland America seems to be cornering the market on them.  These staterooms offer direct access to the open decks.  It is funny how old things become new again because many early cruise ships introduced in the 1950’s had outside corridors for access to staterooms.  

The addition of 38 lanai staterooms on Veendam is a key feature in the latest round of Signature of Excellence enhancements at Holland America. Similar in size to the premium line’s outside-view staterooms, the new lanai accommodations were recently added to the ship and feature large sliding glass doors with direct access to the Lower Promenade wrap-around teak walking deck. Lanai staterooms will be added to ms Rotterdam this year and three other ships by 2013. Each lanai stateroom also features reserved deck chairs outside sliding glass doors that have a one-way mirrored coating to ensure privacy.

 Thirty-two new verandah staterooms also were built on the aft portion of the ship, along with eight new inside staterooms. All staterooms aboard Veendam received new decor, modern wall sconces, carpeting, drapes, pillows and bed runners and resurfaced desks and vanities. Bathrooms saw an “extreme” makeover with new vanities and cabinetry.

A final stateroom enhancement was the creation of 15 spa staterooms -- 12 outside converted to verandah in drydock and three other inside -- featuring a variety of exclusive spa amenities. The rooms offer their own ambiance with a decor reflecting natural elements and soft earth-tones. A counter-top water feature in each stateroom provides a natural, ambient background sound and artwork reflects serene images in nature. Exclusive spa treatments and a spa room service menu are offered only in these staterooms.

Read More