May 2009

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.

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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!

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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.

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