10 secret tips the cruise lines don’t tell you

Regardless of which cruise line you choose, they don't tell you this stuff

Here are some important cruise vacation tips you might not find on any other list.  The cruise lines won’t tell you these.  A good travel agent might but it would not be negligent of them to keep these tips to themselves. Only the most trusted of friends will let you in on these tips, if they know about them.

1. Bring your own toilet paper- might as well just get this out of the way right up front.  The cruise lines do a great job of feeding you, pampering you, and taking you to multiple destinations while you only have to unpack once.  Providing plush, soft toilet paper is not one of their selling points.
2. Be careful flossing- or just skip it unless you’re on a really long cruise.  Either that or bring along some Superglue if you have anything other than original teeth in your head.  Crowns, bridgework, fillings, all love to jump out of your mouth at sea.  Yes, the ship’s medical center can help but that brings us to number 3
3. It is going to cost more than you thought- this is nothing to be scared of but to say a cruise is “all-inclusive” is stretching it a bit.  Ok, a lot.  While we have done cruises and not spent any money onboard (ok, one cruise and it was tough) We have also spent more than the cruise fare. Passing up onboard spending can mean losing out on some rich experiences through shore excursions, spa treatments and other things that cost extra.  And buy travel insurance; it should cover that trip to the medical center.
4. Travel insurance reimburses you- nobody mentions this and while it is in the written details of your policy a trip to the medical center is going to cost you up front, then reimbursed later.  Be sure to get receipts, the names of those providing assistance and keep a journal of your experience.
5. Some extras are hard to avoid-  The big one is”gratuities” which are conveniently charged to your onboard account every day so you don’t have to worry about it.  This can be a good thing if that’s what you want to have happen. In fact, on many lines you can pre-pay this amount before boarding.  If you think that a gratuity is a show of appreciation for a job well done, think again.  These things go on your bill automatically which, to me, kind of spoils the fun of it all.
6. Be good, they can kick you off- Cruise lines, more specifically, the Captain (aka “master of the vessel”) have the right to put you off the ship at the next port without a refund or way back home if you misbehave.  That could mean something as innocent as an argument with a fellow gambler in the casino. (That really happened)
7. Kids can buy booze- If they try hard enough, your teenage children can find a way to get it on the ship.  One popular method is paying double price for a bucket of beer, in cash, to an adult looking for slot-machine money.  Another is buying it ashore in Mexico where the legal drinking age is “whoever money” then sneak it back on the ship, also easy to do.  My simple rule when we had teens “Don’t do anything that would require me to talk to security or identify your body”  That aside, a cruise truly does have something for everyone; even angst-filled teens.
8. Be sure your kids go to the meeting on the first night- This is critical, especially with those teens.  The first night decides the social order  and defines who hangs out with who in supplement to any informal hookups they may have made up to that point.  Missing this important social opportunity dooms your kids to being outsiders and robs them of the chance to be cool; akin to losing a limb for adults.
9. Any cruise might be a “booze cruise”- While we’re on the subject,  Carnival Cruise Lines has a bad rap for being the binge-drinkers line of choice.  I’ve seen those same sloppy drunks on just about every ship I have ever sailed on.  One cruise line is not necessarily better than another in this area. I see a lot of this on short, week-end cruises.
10. Tell the Captain “Thank You”- You will hear him referred to as “the Master of the vessel” and that is exactly what he is; the top dog.  If you see him walking about the ship, make eye contact and if the opportunity presents itself, shake his hand and thank him for the marvelous ship you are sailing on.   Yes, he has layer upon layer of officers to deal with the day to day workings of the various departments on board and those are the people you should talk to if there are any problems with your cruise experience, right then while you are on the ship.  I commonly send a hand-written, dated note via the Pursers desk about the second or third day.

I mention all this stuff not to scare you away from a cruise vacation.  Quite the contrary.  Knowing these things and taking steps to be sure they don’t have a negative impact on your vacation is pretty easy.

What secret tips do you have?  Reply here or send me a secret email

Merry Christmas

Many thanks to my valued readers.  I sure do appreciate you coming here to read this, be my friend on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.

It sure is nice to have your support and friendship.

Best wishes to all of you

6 cruise vacation myths exposed

Princess Cruises photo

If you have never been on a cruise,   you may have some misconceptions about what’s in store for you. Like most misconceptions, urban myths and legends, these are false but somewhat based in reality.  Let’s take a look at that reality part

1. A cruise is virtually all-inclusive
In a virtual world, maybe.  Here in the real world, not so much.  While your cruise fare does include just about all the food anyone could possibly eat including 24-hour room service, lots of onboard entertainment, games and activities there are some potential big-ticket items that are not included.  Alcoholic beverages, spa treatments, shore excursions and casino gambling are optional but can add up fast.  I sure wouldn’t let that stop me from going on a cruise but these are items that should be thought about beforehand and considered when planning what a cruise really is going to cost you.

One time I did go on a cruise and vowed to not spend one dime more than the cruise fare.  I came pretty close, stumbling only to play a slot machine and buy a Diet Coke.  It can be done and looked at that way, yes, it was virtually all-inclusive.  But those other things, the optional ones that make for a richer experience I sure wouldn’t want to pass up.

I have also been on cruises were what we spent on board added up to more than what the cruise fare was.  That’s really not all that hard to do either.  A spa treatment here, a shore excursion there and heaven help me, a trip or two to the casino can run that bill up considerably.  That was the case on our recent sailing of the Ruby Princess where our onboard spending added up to more than the cost of the cruise itself.

2. The Rocking and Rolling of the Ship-
One of the biggest misconceptions I had about cruising before I did it was about the motion of the ship in the water. I thought it would be rocking and rolling like the Mayflower, causing hoards of people to lose the gourmet cuisine I had heard so much about.

Not so.

These giant ships are so big that I could sit here and describe them to you all day and not do their sheer size justice. The feeling you get at your first sight of one is much like seeing some phenomenon of nature (Twister’s come to mind for this Kansas boy), amazing architectural accomplishment (think St Louis Arch, Golden Gate Bridge or Statue of Liberty) , or other “wonder of the world”. The awe-inspiring sight of one for the first time can hook you on cruising in and of itself.

The “motion in the ocean” you will feel is, for the most part, slight due to giant stabilizer arms that extend from the hull of the ship, much like wings on an airplane. If Christopher Columbus had one of these babies he’d have touched base in America and kept on going for sure.

3. Will I get sick?
Not likely.

But if you’re concerned about it, buy some Bonine. That should do the trick.

Other “remedies” include Dramamine (like Bonine but makes you sleepy— no thanks, too much to do), a patch, wrist bands and other assorted snake oils and mirror tricks.

You will feel a slight movement which may throw you off just because on land, unless you’re drunk, your living room is not floating. This will pass if you want it to as you become accustomed to it and get your “sea legs”. Some people don’t want to become accustomed to it and actually enjoy the “Whoa, look at me, I’m tipsy!” thing. The cool part is that after your cruise when you get back home you will still have your “sea legs” for a little while and find yourself compensating for the slight movement of the ocean in Toledo. I think that’s a dirty trick the cruise lines play to get you to think about booking your next cruise as soon as you get home…like you needed any encouragement.

If you should need any of the many remedies for motion sickness or most any other incidental items, the gift shop on every ship packs a nice selection of things you might have forgotten, as well as all kinds of cruise line logo stuff.

The key to handling the issue of motion discomfort is prevention.  Wait until you are feeling bad and it’s too late.  Spend a few bucks on some prevention and forget about it.

4. How big is the pool?
You will NOT be swimming laps here.

One of the most surprising things about a cruise ship to me was that some lines fill the pools with filtered salt water from the ocean.

I totally did not expect that. It IS filtered and clean but it’s not like the pool back home at all. Plus, although there are several pools and whirlpools, even a huge water slide or park depending on the ship, they are not “swimming” pools. They are more like “gathering and games” pools. Located in the center of the action they are used a bunch. But they are not big enough to swim in really.

I think the notion of swimming is best left at home. You could swim in the ocean when in port. Lots of people (including us) seek out beaches. I don’t see many people actually swimming though unless there is something anchored off shore to swim to. Its more like wading and saying “yeah!, I don’t have anything at all like this in Kansas”

5. You will not starve
Another misconception is spawned from people’s experiences with all-inclusive resorts. They ask if they miss the included dinner will there be some machines on board or a snack bar where they can get something to eat.

DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THIS

The times meals are served almost overlap plus there is always something to eat. Complementary Room Service and usually some other food venue are available 24/7. I think you would have to try pretty darn hard to miss all the different food options available. Some ships have more, some less. Generally speaking, smaller ships do not have as many dining options as larger ships do but all have plenty of options.

YOU WILL NOT GO HUNGRY

6. Just a bunch of old timers?
Nope, wrong again.

I remember booking our first cruise.  I thought I was taking a big gamble bringing our children, then 12 and 14 along.  I booked a stateroom with a balcony thinking “Well, if it IS all boring old people then at least we will have some place to escape to”.  Reality was much different and blew that misconception away really fast.

Yes, there were a lot of older people on the cruise but not like old people in a nursing home.  These people were mostly mobile, happy, and enjoying the cruise.  Imagine that.

There are lines that tend to have an older clientele.  When I think “cruise for old people” I think Holland America.  Still, they too have children’s programs, nightclubs, casinos and other stuff to do on board,

The trick to knowing which line to choose is as easy as a call or email to your travel agent.  If you have a good one they will help you find a cruise line that is a good fit for you.  Booking online (bad idea) you bypass the travel agent factor and can end up with a cruise that may look good on a website but in reality is not for you

Cruising the Ruby Princess- reviewed

Ruby Princess has many delicious and healthy food options

We really enjoyed sailing the Ruby Princess, but not for the reasons we thought we would.

It had been about a year since we last sailed on Princess Cruises, our last sailing on favorite ship Caribbean Princess.  Since then we had sailed on several other cruise lines, some not as great, some about as great and one greatly less than wonderful.

In our series on Getting Ready To Cruise the Ruby Princess, we covered a lot of topics including what we hoped to see aboard the ship.  I mentioned that we are on a health management program that required we follow certain guidelines and hoped we would be able to on the ship.   What we found were plenty of good, healthy options aboard Ruby Princess that worked well with our program.   What we did not count on was a deadly combination of two factors that drove us off our plan:

Fabulous food and an equally fabulous, helpful crew.

We just were not counting on either being as good as they are.  As a result we went far off our plan, have no regrets and nothing but nice things to say about both.  This ship truly blew us away in most all areas so let’s get right into it

Embarkation
A breeze.  We entered Pier 2 at Port Everglades about 11:00 and were on the ship by 11:30, in our aft balcony stateroom by 11:40.  Very nice.

Food
As mentioned, fabulous.  What made it difficult to stay strictly on our plan was Maitre d’ Jose who just could not do enough for us.  From a personal phone call upon embarkation, to his personal commitment throughout the cruise, this was a first for us.  It seems more the norm for Maitre d’s and other dining room management people to stop by tables occasionally during a cruise.  This man was really into being sure we had a good time and did what it took to see that happened.

The ship
Beautiful.  As this was a holiday cruise the ship was decorated quite tastefully and was spotlessly clean throughout the voyage.  The familiar basic layout of the ship mirrored other Princess ships so we felt at home and enjoyed the new features added, especially the International Cafe offering a nice variety of light meals and snacks throughout the day plus some fabulous coffee selections.

The crew
Again, fabulous.  From our cabin steward to electricians and maintenance people met in random encounters walking the halls, everyone seemed so happy to be there doing what they do.  It was really refreshing to see.  Not that other lines do not have happy people on board there working, they do, the crew on this ship just seemed so over the top happy to be there that it was a real pleasure to see.

Itinerary
This was the perfect ship to miss a port when we could not stop at Princess Cays for safety concerns about the tender operation in high seas.  It was a great day to spend in our stateroom for the most part even though a revised and updated activity schedule was promptly distributed and featured plenty for everyone to do on the ship that day.

Disembarkation
We needed to get off the ship early for our drive back to Orlando and got just that, off the ship and on the road before 8am.  Very nice.  I like that they keep it simple and their “silent disembarkation” without a bunch of annoying announcements was pure heaven.

During the course of our series of articles leading up to this sailing, via email, facebook and twitter, you asked me to check out a number of things while on the ship.  Here is what I found out for you

• Internet Access in-cabin- Decent.  We had an aft balcony cabin, all the way at the back of the ship, probably about as far away from the Internet Cafe as possible and got a signal.  A low signal but it worked.  Others I talked to, closer to the center of the ship, had signals much better.  I chose to go sit at the International Cafe, within view of the Internet Cafe on deck five, to connect.  Very good signal there
• Motion in the Ocean-  We sailed away under rough sea conditions and a rain storm.  I can not remember sailing on rougher seas since a transatlantic crossing on the Queen Mary 2 but this ship handled it well.  Our aft balcony stateroom on the Baa deck was rocking and rolling all night long that first night. Lisa always takes Bonine for this purpose, forgot to take it until we were well under way and had no problems but I would suggest a more midship location for those who experience motion discomfort…and a note to take precautions before getting on the ship
• Quality of the food- It is difficult for me to believe that the cuisine on this ship could be rated anything less than remarkable but as I have said many times before, food is such a subjective thing that I suppose it could happen.  Our experience as noted earlier: fabulous.  For those with food issues, look forward to your sailing on this ship; they really try hard to make it work for you.
• Dining room issues: None. Best advice: see the Maitre d’ once on the ship no matter what.  I think this is going to be a new rule for us, just something we do.  Knowing the Maitre d’ proved to be richly rewarding for our dining experience.  These people really do want us to have a good time, we just need to give them the chance to make that happen
• Clientele- Short cruises on lines that don’t do a lot of them often draw the curious.  I know we had never sailed Celebrity until the Century offered shorter cruises so we could give them a try.  We saw and talked to a lot of people just like that.  Nice people who were regular guests on other lines, trying Princess for the first time.  It might have been just luck but I did not talk to anyone who was not blown away by the Princess experience.  I also talked to a number of repeat Princess guests, all mostly happy to be there.
• Front desk personnel- Bob from Tulsa had experienced less than wonderful service from the Pursers desk on a different Princess ship and was concerned.  Bob, relax, this was one of the best bunches of Pursers desk staffers I have ever seen.  I did have some issues with my bill, a double charge that was just a mistake and a charge for something I did not buy.  Both were handled quickly and efficiently.  I could not have asked for more.
• Past Guest perks-  Sailing on Princess a bunch in the past had earned us Elite past guest status which was fabulous.  From complementary laundry, to a priority disembarkation lounge and very accessible Captain Circle host, this program is a real winner, I think the best of the bunch.

A couple we talked to while waiting to board who had not sailed the ship before had booked this one and the next two sailings for a total of 22 days on the ship.  We happened to see them the last day at breakfast and were happy to see that they really enjoyed the ship.  Princess past guests can be a really vocal group and don’t hesitate to mention something they don’t like.  This couple thought there should be more places to sit and “people-watch” but were solidly loyal Princess fans who had tried other lines and said they  ”always come back to Princess”.

I can sure see why.

Next up, Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas revisited.  We’ll be on board with a large group from the Villages in January and hope you will come along for that one too.  Stay tuned for updates and more as we revisit this fabulous ship, our first sailing since the inaugural a few years ago.

Cruising the Ruby Princess- Here we go!

Hopefully you have been following our series on Getting Ready for Your Cruise.  If not, catch up real quick because today we are on the road!

Follow along for photos, live reports and more right here and on Facebook. Twitter users follow @OrlandoChris or #followmeatsea for all the latest as it happens….but don’t hold your breath waiting for tweets and posts every 5 minutes….we ARE on vacation too but promise to keep you up to date as we go along

Cruising the Ruby Princess- we leave tomorrow

Princess Cruises

As we continue our series on getting ready for a cruise, one of the things we like to do just before getting on the ship is to check current reviews from CruiseCritic.com and other trusted sources.

So much of a cruise experience is subjective but we get a good feel for what is happening on board right now that way.  For example, I might think some dessert is fabulous and tell everyone about it but you hate something in it so that has little value to you.  Still, key elements of reviews can be counted on as good information, especially if you follow a certain person, have read them before and come to trust their judgment.  Also, by reading a number of reviews or comments about a specific sailing of any one given ship, common elements rise to the top and can be counted on as objective.

“I hated the food” or “I loved the food” = not subjective or reliable information, either way unless you “know” the reviewers either personally or from reading other stuff they wrote

“The ship sank” or “There was a flotation problem” = you can probably count on being accurate

Food, as we mentioned before in this series, is a tough one to rate and I probably wouldn’t try except that as we spoke of earlier, Lisa and I are following very specific dietary guidelines given to us by medical professionals.  That is as opposed to “Lisa and I are on diets” which is a whole other thing and has a whole other meaning.  I have been on diets before and this program we have now is much different.  Part of the program is an exercise regimen that evolves over time.  A critical part of planning, for us, then is finding out what kind of equipment they have in the fitness center and what might be on the menu around the ship.

I was reminded of this just yesterday with this letter from a guest on an upcoming group sailing of a different ship I am sailing on next month:

Chris, some of our neighbors recently took this cruise and came back VERY disappointed. One couple has cruised with (cruise line name) 19 times and swears they will never again. They said that the food was horrible. An order of “Surf and Turf” amounted to a small piece of meat and 2 butterfly shrimp. The menu’s were very limited and the new chef on this ship specializes in mostly curry dishes. In addition they said they had cut back entertainment to just 2 nights and it was sub-standard.

We’d appreciate your checking into this for us. We are aware that the cruise industry is hurting, but this is ridiculous. We don’t mind paying for a good cruise but we expect to get what we pay for. This will be my 4th cruise on (cruise line name) and they have always been one of my favorites.”

I thought about that for a while and realized “Damn, (and I never swear) these people are getting all worked up and mad and they have not even gotten on the ship yet.  So I replied:

“Sorry your neighbors had a bad experience and were very disappointed. That sure is a shame. Your note to me is quite frank and I sure do understand your concern. Allow me to show you the same frank courtesy and address this topic right here, right now.

First, do you know if they said anything about it to the Maitre ‘d in the dining room about the food or the cruise director about the entertainment or mention this to anyone on the ship? (Don’t answer this, I’m just asking) It’s always even more of a shame when someone who could have done something about some problem didn’t know and could not do anything about it. I was not on the ship and don’t know personally what they experienced but have always found the ship’s personnel to be quite eager to help any way they could. I ask this because I know that there is no limit on the amount of food we can consume on the cruise ship. In the past I and many others I know have asked for more of an entrée or even several different entrée’s when we could not decide between the selections. This has never been a problem on any cruise line.

As far as the cruise lines “hurting” goes, I don’t think they are. I do know that, like most business’, the cruise lines are concerned with costs and waste and have taken steps to reduce it. As long as those efforts do not negatively affect our cruise experience, I’m all for it. Royal Caribbean now charges for room service in the middle of the night to keep kids from ordering all kinds of stuff that they don’t eat. Maybe you’ve seen the trays of uneaten food in the hallways on ships. That all adds up. The attractive rates we received on this cruise might not be possible if steps were not taken to reduce waste on the cruise ship. Still, an excellent dining experience is what I expect we will find on this ship. Will it be perfect? Probably not. I am confident that the ship’s staff will do whatever they can to make us happy though or I would not be sailing with you.

I’d encourage you to NOT let your friends experience with a sailing taint yours even before you get on the ship.

That’s got disaster written all over it.

I wish I could say I was on the ship last week and the food was great. But even if I was, my opinion of “great food” will be different than yours, or my wife’s, or the guy sitting at the next table. Your friends comment that the portions were insufficient is just odd to me. One thing I feel pretty confident in is that I will not go hungry on a cruise.

I can guarantee you one thing on this upcoming cruise: not everything will be perfect.

I have been on a bunch of cruises and not one has been perfect. The difference is that I choose NOT to let little things ruin my cruise.

For example, I know there will be lines to get on and off the ship so I bring reading material or chat with other guests in line…not about how long the line is and how long we have been waiting, both are very subjective observations. We’ll talk about the exciting vacation awaiting us and what we plan on doing, other cruises we have been on, etc. I used to moan and groan about the lines but took steps to avoid them as much as possible.

You asked me to check into the situation your friends experienced on their sailing or the dining situation in general. I’m a bit puzzled by that as in what would you have me say?

• “I heard the food is bad on this ship, is it going to be good when we get on and can you tell the chef to tone down the curry seasoning?” or

• “I have some clients coming on the ship that expect good food, big portions and not too much curry” or

• “What happened to the entertainment? I hear you cut back to two nights and it is substandard”

Obviously, the cruise line would respond that the food is great, the entertainment top-notch and so on. We’ll see soon enough.

For your convenience, I have attached the menus of the ship to this email. While subject to change, this should give you a good idea of what will be available on the ship.

I encourage you to look over those menus, go to the (cruise line name) website and check on possible shore excursions you might like to take and read either my weblog or column on Examiner.com for more information that you can count on between now and sailing. Studying the ship’s deck plans is also a good idea so you know your way around a bit before getting on the ship.

All that said, how about you let me worry about the food in the dining room and entertainment on board. I was in the restaurant business for decades and have no problem addressing anything that might come our way. On the entertainment, let’s see what they have to offer and plan accordingly once on the ship. I’m not expecting Frank Sinatra in a lounge or a Broadway show in the theater but what they have should be, well, entertaining or we will just have to do something else.

I hope this addresses your concerns so far and hope you’ll let me know what else I can do to help as we go along

Thanks for letting me know about this. I appreciate you taking the time to write”

Too much?  Some emails are easy to answer and a short answer is appropriate, others require a more detailed response.

This sort of thing comes up from time to time and is what I call the “down side” of personal recommendations and trusting sources.  By and large, the recommendations of a trusted friend or source is a fabulous element to add into your planning mix.  Let’s not go overboard though, literally anyway.  Be it message boards, articles in the paper or online or simply chatting with a neighbor, we have to keep these things in perspective.   I don’t place a lot of weight on subjective items like food or the quality of entertainment but if I see a trend, either positive or negative, in one way or another I sure will file that away and maybe pay a little more attention to those areas once on board.  I might be “on guard” to prevent a problem later.

One part of online trusted sources we can count on though is photos.  They are for the most part very neutral and simply report what the camera sees.  So when looking for accurate information on a topic I always start with looking up some images of what I want to know about online.  That was really hard when I started writing about Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas and all there was were artist’s renderings of what the ship is supposed to look like, prior to getting on the ship and taking real photos to show you.  But now, 46 articles and a few thousand guests visiting later, actual photos are starting to show up online.  Below are some photos of what I expect to see on Ruby Princess, these provided by the cruise line but also available with a Google image search.  It looks like there will be plenty of equipment and things to do in the exercise area for example.

But say you never want to go in that area at all, maybe that is not your idea of a good vacation.  The food selections might be something you are interested in and this ship which has been around for a while now should have plenty to look at.  Still as noted before, food is a very subjective thing, what I might like you might not and we’ll just take it as a given that the food will be good and good to see.

We’ll find out about all that when we board the ship tomorrow.  Today we tie up any loose ends, finish final packing and get ready to go.  Finally.  Vacation-eve has arrived and time will start flying by more than ever before.  Lisa is working today so I will get everything I can ready to go before she gets home from work.  The goal today is to be ready to go before we go to sleep tonight.  That means everyone packed, car ready to go and all we have to do in the morning is get in the car and drive to Port Everglades.

Wish me luck.

In the morning I’ll start tweeting (@orlandochris) and posting photos on facebook .  If you want to follow along, follow us on twitter or facebook for whatever we happen to post about.

Oh and those people who wrote yesterday replied back later in the day:

“I certainly won’t let there experience “taint” my views but it did raise concerns. Both couples are very seasoned cruisers and NOT complainers. I noticed that there was only one curry dish on the menus. Yes they did complain and perhaps the message got through. As for the entertainment, I have seen good and bad but I don’t ever recall a cruise with no entertainment for the majority of the cruise. Perhaps the cruise line has addressed that as well….we will find out.

As for the excursions, we have cruised this itinerary so many times that we will probably not take too many excursions. We just want to be with our friends, relax and have a good time.

Thanks for geting back to me”

My reply?

“I look forward to meeting you on the ship; I’m counting on you to let me know if they’re on the ball!”

I love a story with a happy ending.  I’ll be “on guard” for these people’s concerns too!

Cruising the Ruby Princess- 2 days to sailing, decades to remember

Time to check the TiVo and be sure all our shows are being recorded while we are gone.  I don’t know why but it seems that we always lose some when we are not here to be sure that machine does it’s job.

That’s just one of the “critical” items we check before leaving on a cruise.  If you have been following this series on getting ready to cruise the Ruby Princess, you know there are a bunch of other, way more important things to check and be sure of.  You also know that technically, we can leave the house with only our boarding cards, passports and a credit card and be allowed to board the ship.  I keep bringing that up because this question comes up a lot, especially from those who have not cruised before.

I think that all stems from the deadline from government authorities saying everyone HAD to have a passport no matter what as of last June.  Passports are indeed a great idea and highly recommended but for guests sailing on what we call a “closed loop” cruise from the United States who are United States citizens, they can board the ship with an original birth certificate or certified copy of an original birth certificate and a photo ID.  Some time in the future a passport will be required and if you’re going to sail or travel much you should have one anyway.  But for now, don’t let not having a passport squash your vacation plans.  Do pay attention to the rules though, they will eventually change.  Also, if it makes you feel better, call your cruise line to hear it directly from them.  They do own the ships and ultimately will decide if you can or can not board.  In the travel business we call that “hearing it from the horses mouth” …whatever than means.  (Does anyone know where that comes from?…just curious…Mr Ed, are you reading this?)

Something we don’t want to hear is “Have a good time?  Your house was broken into while you were gone!”

We used to simply take the dog to the kennel, turn on some lights so it looked like we were home and hit the road on vacation.  These days we have a house-sitter who lives where we do when we are not there.  I was surprised at how inexpensive this is compared to coming home to find your house broken into for use as a gang membership ritual of some sort.  At first we used the neighbors but then figured out they too might be in a gang so we turned to professionals for this service.  Google “house sitters” for more information about what is available in your area and for sure consider going that way.

Funny how things change over time.  I remember as boy we would go on vacation for a week someplace and not even think to lock the front door. But that was half a century ago in Kansas.  We’re not in Kansas anymore and it is surely not 1960…or 1977, the year the television program “The Love Boat” cruised on to the scene, planting the seeds that would eventually lead us here, to a sailing of the Ruby Princess, great, great, great granddaughter of the original Pacific Princess in the show.

While Princess Cruises has pulled away from the whole Love Boat thing for the most part, the cruise line still embraces it’s heritage with occasional sightings of Gavin MacLeod , the ship’s Captain and expert at Love and Romance at company events and promotions around Valentines Day among others.

Tip: before sailing on a Princess ship, review the company history and that of the Love Boat television show.  Much like viewing Forrest Gump a number of times before dining at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co so you can wack the servers there in the head with their own triva game, being prepared is important. That, combined with research about the ship you are on, especially the deck plans, the ports you will visit and other related topics adds depth and a richness to the whole experience.  That gets you more out of it and that means a better value (our theme for 2010) and an enduring memory that will last a lifetime.

Another great tip, this one from Shirley in Vancouver who writes

” Well if you are going on a two week cruise… I would highly recommend clothes that are a little larger for the second week… I am sorry they feed you so well that you will need a few looser clothes for the second week. I remember on my first cruise… I met some people and when hanging out in one of my new friends cabins… she was picking out something for that night… and I said what about this one… and she said “OH NO” that is my second week dress…. got to save it til next week cuz I wont be able to fit in this one next week… lol… soooo true… lesson learned.”

Thanks Shirley, I had forgotten that!

Do you have tips we have not covered here?  Time is running out so send them today.  You can comment here or send an email to Chris@YourCruiseDream.com.  Twitter users join in @orlandochris and tag it #followmeatsea for some crazy fun.

Cruising the Ruby Princess- 3 days to sailing

We are looking forward to exploring the Ruby Princesss later this week

Today is tie up loose ends day as we continue our light-hearted account of what we do to get ready to go on a cruise, this one the Ruby Princess leaving in just three days.

I know from previous experience that these last few days will fly by, I just don’t know when the flying will begin.  As much as we might try to plan in advance, something always comes up at the last minute that we were not counting on.  Knowing that , though, we allow extra time for whatever that might be.

The critical checklists are complete.  We have our boarding cards, passports and will get some cash to take along on the way to the pier.  I just don’t like having a lot of cash around so we make that one of the last things we do.  Today though, I will call the bank and tell them we are going out of town and will be making purchases “different than our normal spending pattern” That is important in order to be sure that good security measures put in place to protect our accounts don’t end up ruining our vacation.

This one I learned the hard way too.

Years ago I we were on a cruise and had decided to use a debit card to guarantee our onboard purchases. The cruise lines allow credit or debit cards or cash can be put down also to take care of this.  Cash seems like a pain in the neck to do to me so we have never done that.  But on this particular cruise I wanted to use debit cards and had not told my bank we were leaving town.  Imagine my surprise when I was called to the Pursers desk after the first day to resolve the “problem” that had come up when they tried to run a charge the first day.  Declined.

I thought “ok, wierd, it’s a debit card.  I know how much we have spent and know I have more money than that.   I made sure of it before I left home”   What I did not realize at the time was that common security protocols put in place by card companies, not just credit but debit too, impose daily limits on what we can charge as well as look carefully at our common spending pattern.  At the time we lived in Kansas and a charge from the cruise line in Miami was viewed as “Uh oh, somone stole Chris and Lisa’s card and are making their way out of the country” so the card company shut it down.  It took a couple expensive calls from the ship to get that straightened out.

So today I will call and let them know I am going out of town.  I’ll also call our cell phone service provider, tell them exactly where I am going, and find out what I need to do to minimize the additional cost for roaming outside my home area, if needed.  I wait until a few days before sailing on this because these things change from time to time and the roaming plan I was on last cruise might not be the best plan for this one. Oh, by the way, St Thomas is part of the United States but not like calling your neighbor next door.  It is really worth the time to pick up the phone, maneuver though all the phone roadblocks, talk to a person, and be sure I have this right.

I’ll also call the Orlando Sentinel and double check that they have my vacation stop in there.  Nothing says “rob me” more than a driveway full of newspapers.

If you have been following along during this series of reports,  what other steps do YOU take to get ready for a cruise?  You can comment here or send at email to Chris@YourCruiseDream.com.

Robert from Tulsa reports he likes to go to cruisecritic.com and “find out all the current information he can about the ship before getting on”  Great idea Robert. How about you?

Cruising the Ruby Princess- 4 days to go- planning our attack

We get on the ship as early as possible to beat the crowd

Today we continue our light-hearted series of articles all about getting ready to cruise the Ruby Princess

Having shore excursions, spa treatments and adding any special requests to a booking is something that is best done at least 7 days in advance.  Adding at the last minute might not be possible but all is not lost if you don’t.

For example, we would like to do some spa treatments on our Ruby Princess sailing in just a few days.  Deciding that yesterday, 5 days prior to sailing, was just a wee bit too late.  Princess requires advance registration for all that more than 5 days prior to sailing.  I was thinking a nice massage would be in order just as soon as possible after getting on the ship….just a little too late.  That’s ok though, we’ll make that one of the first things we do when we get on the ship.

Getting to the ship we already talked about but once at the pier, that’s a whole other story.

The basic program is this

1. Arrive at the Port Everglades, as in be standing in line, by 10:30am.  That means (Lisa) that we leave our house at 6am for the 3 hour drive.  I know the math on that doesn’t add up but just go with it.  Some things are just not explainable.
2. Park as close to the ship as possible- we could use the satellite lot and save some on parking but I think the convenience of not having to drag the bags on to a shuttle bus there then off again at the pier, this time with a bunch of other people, then in reverse on the way back  is worth it
3. Double check to be sure we are in the right terminal- this should be easier this time- since we sailed on Oasis of the Seas a few weeks ago, Port Everglades has installed new directional signage that is supposed to make this easier.  I learned this one the hard way as my luggage was almost loaded on the wrong ship once.
4. Verify where the Elite member entrance is.  This is a good topic  to go research at CruiseCritic.com where guests who have recently sailed on the ship will be reporting in.  Things change so I looked for the most recent sailing that someone was talking about.  All indicators say it is on the right side of the building.  I am not too concerned about it because I know that simply flashing that boarding pass with our past guest status on it will surely bring on extra security, a spotlight and little kids walking in front of us spreading rose petals.
5. Go inside and wait.  In this special entrance will also be handicapped people and other assorted “vip’s” which might include wedding parties; basically everyone who is getting on the ship early for one reason or another.
6. When it is announced that it is time to get on the ship, take on the “football-game-parking-lot-mentality” where its every man for themselves and go to the shortest line.  Princess makes it easy by having guests sign in by deck but there are special windows for the special guests.  We just go to the one with the shortest line.  We used to take great pride in going to the special window for special guests but got over that really fast when some commoners were on the ship before us
7. Make it through any more security they might have set up and on to the ship.  We always do stop for the Welcome Aboard photo they take as it is one of the most likely we will buy.  Usually not but they make great mementos and documentation that we were on a cruise at the time that bank was robbed
8. Go to our stateroom, if possible, and drop off the luggage.  Sometimes they’re really hard core about not letting us into the stateroom area but we sure don’t let closed fire doors stop us from trying
9. Have lunch either on deck or at the buffet
10. Tour the ship and take lots of photos before things are all crowded and messed up. On this trip we will make stopping by the Spa a priority to get those treatments scheduled early. If we were going to do a specialty restaurant we would make those reservations as well, first trying from our stateroom phone, going to stand in line for this as a last resort.
11. Take a nap (it’s going to be a long night)
12. Relax on the balcony and watch how long the line has gotten, smirking a bit but mostly relaxing

…and that is pretty much how we do it on any ship.

Oh, I almost forgot, a safety tip from a reader the other day for men:  put a rubber-band around your wallet.  That makes it more difficult for someone to slip out  and steal.

Great idea huh!   Let me know if you have some ideas about safety or anything that you may have picked up along the way.  You can comment here or send an email to Chris@YourCruiseDream.

Cruising the Ruby Princess- 5 days to sailing, holiday cruising

Little things they do on the ship make sailing during the holiday extra special

So far in this series of articles on getting ready to sail the Ruby Princess, we have talked a lot about what to pack and how to do it.   We’ll be on the ship in just a few days and while this sailing does not fall on a holiday, it will be festively decorated and surely count as a holiday cruise.

The holidays are a great time to cruise and our sailing of the Ruby Princess in just five days will be no exception.  We have sailed during the holidays before and they do have many extras at no additional charge (except the premium cruise fare price you’ll pay) for the holidays including:

• Very nice holiday decorations
• Various religious services
• Champagne flows freely for all when you board
• Special Holiday Dinner with Commemorative take-home parchment menu
• Christmas trees (artificial) for sale in the Formalties shop
• Santa for the kids, young or old
• Christmas caroling with the ship’s entertainers (way fun)
• Cabin and balcony decorating by those passengers that want to
• None of Aunt Noras lousy Green Bean and Mushroom Soup casserole that shoulda been hot and probably once was but now it got cold in the car on the way over

There’s just something about being on a nice warm Caribbean beach that makes everything alright.

Be careful though, do it once and you’ll want to do it from now on. We’ve decided that if we could only cruise but once a year we would have to make that the holiday season cruise.

You have to admire Tiger Woods’ spunk

Tiger get's just as excited as anybody else when he gets a bargain

Living here in Orlando we take a keen interest in the Tiger Woods story you may have heard of unless you live on a different planet.

Funny how sometimes those stories hit home.

I was at my local Publix grocery store yesterday and was surprised to see Tiger shopping.   I didn’t think much of it since I see him from time to time at the store and have always found him to be, expectedly, right on top of his grocery store shopping game too.  Armed with all the coupons and picking all the appropriate buy one get one free offers the rest of us hard-core bargain shoppers have locked in, he’s just one of the guys.   Somehow it reinforces my belief that stocking up on stuff when it is on sale is the right thing to do when I casually check out the contents of his cart and see that he too loads up on assorted varieties of Emerald nuts when they’re buy one get one free.  In fact, one day we had a chat, both agreeing we would never have thought that any company could have knocked Blue Diamond off as top seller of almonds.

He’s just a regular guy even though the shopping cart adorned with the Nike swish takes a bit to used to.  Not that he’s special for that, Walt used to have a cart with hidden Mickeys on it that was quite the joy to children shopping with their parents.  How he got that cart to float down the isles is still a mystery.  It’s something we’ve become accustomed to here in Central Florida and don’t think that much about.

I did have to sit up and take notice though when he breezed through the “10 items or less” checkout with 14 items the other day.  Not everyone can do that you know.  Sometimes they will let it slide if you have 11, maybe 12, but 14?  Still, it was Tiger Woods and things have not exactly been rosy at home these days so we cut him some slack on that.

I did have to stop by though and ask the checker about it.  Rules are rules.

“I’m number 7″ was all she had to say and I understood perfectly, as did other savvy shoppers around at the time.  Apparently Tiger has his lucky checkers at several stores around the metro area and all give him cuts in line.  Again, no problem for me or the other shoppers and it did explain why so many people with cameras were hidng around the Family Planning isle, looking for that money shot to sell to Entertainment Tonight.  It also explained why most of the employees were wearing makeup and wired for sound like they were making another touching Publix holiday commercial.

Still, here in the store, Tiger is just one of the guys and reporters would have a hard time getting us to divulge the contents of his cart.  I think that is the way it should be too.  As long as he comes in the store, plays by the rules and leaves with a fabulous bargain or two, we should just leave him alone.  Now if he came in drove his cart down the wrong side of the isle, flaunted his billionareness, buying stuff willy nilly and not on sale, that would be a totally different story.  But Tiger is right on top of his game at Publix and while recent reports would say he’ll be sidelined from shopping for a while, we anxiously await his return whenever he is ready.

Ruby Princess- 6 days to sailing

Princess Cruises photo

We always tend to overpack for cruises, no matter how many we go on.  I think we are getting better though.  The Golden Rule of packing has never changed though:  30 days prior to sailing, luggage takes over the living room.  That’s when it’s official, accepted and expected.  Before that and you’re a freak.

I have learned some stuff though as we have gone along.   I know, for example, that I do not need very many clothes.  I’ll wear cargo shorts most everywhere and a couple pairs is fine.  This is only a three-day cruise so two is good.  Actually, on Princess we are what they call “Elite” status past-guests so we have complementary wash and fold laundry service.  That alone is worth cruising with your favorite line a bunch of times.  They all have their programs and what they offer varies but they’re all good.

The last time we were on a longer cruise on Princess, we did take advantage of that too, sending out stuff in the morning and afternoon for return the same day or the next respectively.  Many people think that not having to cook, clean, work, smile, frown, or whatever it is you do in real life for a while is reason enough to go on a cruise.  For me it’s the free laundry when available.  There’s says relaxation quite as nicely as folded underwear and socks .   When our kids were along on their first cruises, they would save any identification bracelets they were issued by wherever we went that tagged kids as long as possible after the cruise.  They liked remembering.  I try really hard not to lose the laundry tag glued to my shorts as much as possible for the same reason.

I like how Lisa gets lost when it’s time to pack too.

I’ll have everything of mine packed 29 days in advance but she waits until 29 minutes to go before starting the whole process.  It’s kind of the opposite of how long it takes to get ready for formal night but no lobster to top it off.  She and the girls if they are along take about an hour and a half to get ready for dinner.  I take 32 seconds.  I usually find a lounge someplace to wait and tell them to holler at me when they walk by on the way to dinner.  I can usually make it up to the cabin,  shower, change and be back before they get there.  But it’s fun and for the right reason.  We all do whatever we want to do, when we want to do it, or not, we may do nothing.  Lisa’s idea of a great cruise is reading a book a day someplace nice.  My idea of a great cruise is not losing more than I have in the casino (Girls: You had a brother once.  I traded him for slot play. Unlucky slot play.)

Packing is easy.  Here is what you need:

• Ladies-*
• Men- A pair of nice comfortable casual shoes,  A suit like for going to an important business meeting or church that requires clothing with shoes, a tie if you want, two pairs of shorts, 4 or five shirts (t-shirts, polo shirts, casual but not junky- no bowling shirts, no shirts that are the size you wish you were, nice but not dressy.  Like golf with a friend unless your friend is Tiger Woods then nice but not flirty in any way possible, socks, lots of socks, 1.25 pairs per day, jeans, 1 pair of casual pants, every pair of underwear you have (details below)
• General Equipment- like a small bag the size of a mens shaving kit that will go into a checked bag.  This will have any electronic cords you need, duct tape, a small sewing kit, a small tool kit, pens, a bottle/wine opener, a travel clock, some sanitary hand gel, that sort of stuff
• Bathroom bag- Just all that stuff you need from home.  I keep one ready to go with duplicate things in it so I don’t forget something.  I don’t really worry much about forgetting something though:  That’s what I have Lisa for.  She remembers everything.  I go to Disney World and can’t remember where I parked the car unless I take a picture of it with my cell phone.  She remembers the tiniest details like relatives names, when Sydney was born, how old I am…stuff like that
• Carryons, one per person, medications, electronics, identification, boarding card, a change of clothes, maybe a swim suit, money, cell phone..all that stuff you can’t do without.  I use a backpack so my hands are free to fumble with the boarding cards, passports and credit cards.

That’s it.

If you are determined to make it more difficult Google “cruise packing list” and read every one of the 538,000 pages that comes up, consult a “packing expert” or weigh in on some discussion.  This is really not hard.  You are not going on Safari Adventure in 1895.

Can’t decide what to bring?  Realize some facts and ask yourself some questions:

• Ok there are two formal nights.  Do I want to wear the same thing to both formal nights or do I want to have something different for each one.
• If I have something different for each formal night should I have something different for every other night.

Ok well, reality check:  The first night is always casual anyway because that’s just how they do it.  That goes back to the olden days when mules brought luggage to the cabins. I can’t remember ever NOT getting our luggage in time to change for dinner the first night if we wanted to but we never do.  The last night is equally casual almost universally.  Many people start packing up to go home before dinner and want to wear what the will wear off the ship the next day to dinner. We usually pack after dinner because we will have bought some bottles of booze that we want to pack in our rolling luggage for the trip home.  We can carry just so much then its a pain in the neck.

Luggage- we like to walk our own luggage on and off the ship these days.   We started that a couple years ago when we did a transatlantic crossing on the Queen Mary 2.  We had to fly back so that put the whole luggage thing into perspective. I sure as heck wasn’t going to be navigating through London all bogged down by lots of bags to carry. Lisa and I each have a rolling duffel bag sort of thing that is the largest that will possibly fit through an xray machine and they hold everything we could ever need.  For this cruise we will use one of them for both of us, along with our carry-on bags, and that will take care of it.  Email me for specific recommendations.  You won’t but I thought it would be nice to say that

Now back to those clothes choices.  Frankly, it does not matter all that much what you wear during the day near as much once you get on the ship as it did in your living room.  If you’re going to the Caribbean or South Pacific, bring comfortable clothes that you actually feel comfortable in, not comfortable clothes that you look comfortable in. If you are going to Alaska, dress warm.  See how easy this is? This is your vacation, it is supposed to be fun and relaxing.

That’s why I check, double-check and triple check the three things we have to be holding in our hands to get on the ship

1. Boarding Card
2. Credit Card
3. Passports

All that stuff we get from the cruise line is good to read.  There is a lot of information there that you need to know.  Some night when you are having a hard time going to sleep, read the Passenger Contract that comes with your travel documents.  If that won’t put you out, nothing will.  I keep one handy and rarely make it all the way through before nodding off even though I know this is information I am responsible for knowing.

But you really don’t have to bring all that with you.  You can if you want to.  We did for a while but then didn’t bother.  I have yet to be in a situation where I needed documentation of that sort to settle a bet, close a deal, or as basis for a loan while on board a ship.  It’s busy work for killing time before the ship sets sail much like packing.  I know I don’t need that print out of what all the possible shore excursions are so I leave it at home.  We are beginning to know we don’t need all that many clothes and are leaving them at home too.

Next up?  What we plan on doing while on the ship and ashore.  We do plan but then take things as they come.  We’ll talk about that too.

* If you think for a minute that I will be telling ladies what to pack you are crazy.  Ladies: bring whatever you darn well please that makes you happy.

SECRET NOTE TO MEN: Help her pack.  This is simple. Concentrate, really concentrate, and try to help her pick out the one or two formal night things she will bring.  Say things like “That goes great with those shoes but what about these others” (as though you care/know/can tell the difference) just so it looks like you are paying attention and that this is important.  Try not to think about sports, donuts or fertilizer.  Once you make it past the formal wear you’re home free.  Just a moderate amount of attention will do.  At this point it is helpful to have one of those hand counter clicker things that you can hold in the palm of your hand.  As she puts together outfits, if you can discern when they are complete, click once each time.  I know this seems silly but this can get very confusing.  You don’t want more than two clicks for each day the cruise is long.  That part is easy, like building a football stadium.  Deciding where one outfit ends and the next one starts up can humble the bravest of warriors on the battlefield.  Remember, you will never know what this game is.  The rules are secret and only women know them.  Gay men think they know but they don’t.  Women want to believe they know but they don’t.  You can only pretend to know and hope she buys it.

Let’s Cruise!

Princess Cruises photo

Ok, enough talking about it, we are sailing on the Ruby Princess Thursday December 17 for three days.

Shall you join us?

I think so!

With about a week to go, I thought you might enjoy reading what we do to get ready and how we do it.  Many of you have written for tips on this or that concerning getting ready for your own cruise.  Here is a blow by blow account of our big 3 day adventure on Ruby Princess.

The last few days before the cruise always seem to be a flurry of activity so let me back this up a little bit.

Sailing will be myself and my wife Lisa.  We live in the Orlando area so we will drive to Port Everglades for the cruise.  I think, no I am sure, this is one of the very best parts of living in Florida.  The drive to the port is about 3 hours or so…the “or so” part adding up if we stop on Florida’s Turnpike, something that has become somewhat of a ritual.

Up until our last sailing on Oasis of the Seas, also from Port Everglades, we would stop for coffee and some ridiculously overpriced bakery thing at Starbucks.   Recently, though, we realized that we are not human garbage disposal that just don’t work very well so they retain a greater and greater amount of what they eat.  OK maybe that’s stretching it a bit.  Maybe we did NOT attack the buffets squashing small children in order to satisfy our gaping maws.  We were really doing pretty well. But what we were doing was not really working.  It’s this think I have for cookies you see.  Lisa’s job at the office/tapas-lounge-for-any-occasion-someone-might-be-celebrating hasn’t helped either.

Lisa is in a health program sponsored by the place where she works.  This program is the greatest.  We both have been optimal-weight-challenged for forever.  Personally, I could write a book on the many different “diets” I have been on.  This program is the real thing and has us eating lots of whole grain stuff, lots of protein, not as much of anything, and so on combined with a excercise regime that evolves along with the program.

We’re doing well on that so the Starbucks stop on the way down won’t amount to very much I don’t think.  Still, we’ll stop on the way back for some fresh (like “Hey, look over there: It’s the tree this grew on) Florida citrus fruit though.  But they have changed operators or something there at the rest stop and the new management has an even more aggressive view on pricing.  Their school of thought is called the “take no prisoners” way of doing business which lets them charge $7.99 for a dollar value-meal sized chicken sandwich.  Actually, it might not be a bad idea to just stop and go look around on the way to the ship.  Everything they sell on the ship would seem inexpensive and a super value.

Regardless of how long we take getting to the port, it beats flying here to Florida from Kansas as we did for years with the family, leaving then returning to the frozen tundra and naked wilderness  (or so it seems now) of the winter desolation we called home.  I liked having something to look forward to when we lived there so we always had a cruise booked well in advance.

We booked this Ruby Princess cruise about a year ago which we like to do whenever possible.  Booking far in advance has proved over time to be the best way for us to go.  Booking with Princess too we know if the price goes down that they will honor it if we qualify.  They also have awesome travel insurance which we always get.  What makes it so great is that since we have cruised with them a number of times before we could cancel for any reason and get a 100% refund in the form of a credit on a future cruise.   Like we won’t use it?  I don’t think that would be a problem.  Like I’m going to say, “No, lets skip the (fabulous) cruise and buy some (boring) stock instead.  Not hardly.

Future Cruise Credit is a thing that should be on the top of your list of terms to know inside and out on Princess.

Princess was the pioneer enabling guests to book a future cruise while sailing, giving them a reduced deposit and onboard credit for doing so.  Another no-brainer.  I don’t think we ever did it the way they want us to do though.  The program would love to book us on a specific ship and sailing date some time in the future before we get off the ship.  That helps them avoid sleepless nights by contributing to their quest to fill all the cabins on all the ships all the time.  They have people like Charlie on the NUMBERS television show calculating advanced algorithms and formulas to predict that stuff.

We never know.  Lots of people don’t know. So we’re not like wild and crazy rebels or anything.

Your travel agent knows though.  Your travel agent will know you did it.  Princess tells them everything. It’s part of a secret report the cruise line sends travel agents after you get off the ship.  It chronicles your exploits on the ship, no matter what, usually with video and, if applicable, police reports that travel agents often use to blackmail you.  No, thats Internet Cruise Brokers that do stuff of that flavor.

No, not really but your travel agent does know you did it and will probably send you a brochure or for sure bump you up a notch or two on the VIP list.   You mean business now buddy!  You were on a cruise and couldn’t even wait to get off to book another one!  You. Are. Super-Pumped. About. Cruises!

I was challenged as a young boy with not peeking at the presents under the tree during the holidays.  I suspect many others were too.  This is a really popular program among those who know whats going on.

We will pay $100 each to Princess, they hold it in our Future Cruise Credit account (there’s that term again) and we have several years to make up our minds. That’s usually plenty of time.  It’s not like they’re asking us to decide if having children was a good idea or something.  That might take decades.  Depending on the cabin category we choose we will get a little or a big pile of  onboard credit too.  We can add to that Future Cruise Credit account also by referring others to Princess as our friends.  Even if they are not our friends.  Even if we hate their guts and the feeling is mutual.  If there’s a chance they will sail, we refer them.  We turn in email addresses of friends and if they sail we get $25 added to that Future Cruise Credit account for each of them and they get a $25 discount on their cruise.  Hey, it adds up.  I think Princess will eventually make Future Cruise Credit replace the dollar, yen and peso.  The system works just that good.

Along the way we got a packet of information in the mail from Princess along with a Cruise Answer Book that has information on pretty much everything except how to smuggle booze, drugs or hookers on the ship.  In that packet is shore excursion information if we wanted to send in a form and the cruise contract no one reads until they screw up, forget to wear clothes to the ship and are denied boarding with no refund.  But most everything we need to do with Princess can be accomplished thorough what they call the Cruise Personalizer.  There, we can do the required online registration (almost always without swearing), print our boarding cards (well, paper really), book shore excursions, spa treatments and more.

Don’t look for those packets of information to be coming in the mail for long though.  Princess is just like the rest of the cruise lines: they save paper by not giving us the priceless mementos and dance inducement that Cruise Documents represent.   That makes it OK with the Coast Guard to dump icky stuff in the ocean.

We’ll get into that endangered packet of information and packing next.

San Juan to Carnival Dream: You’re too big!

Photo: Whitney Owen

Guests aboard Port Canaveral’s Carnival Dream were disappointed yesterday when the new Carnival Dream had to skip San Juan.  It seems the ship was too big to dock at the available berths in the port.

The available piers, built years ago, were not meant to handle a ship of the 130,0000 ton Dream’s size.  Upset passengers aboard the ship told us ”Wouldn’t you think the cruise line would have checked this out before their first call at the port?”

The problem seems to be that a gigantic sculpture built several years ago, partially funded by rival line Royal Caribbean, prevented the ship from docking.  The dove-shaped sculpture, located at the entrance to the pier actually blocks the docking of newer, larger ships.

This is bad news for San Juan, actively trying to increase their cruise business, a major source of revenue for the island.

I guess Oasis of the Seas, a much bigger ship/small country, won’t be docking there any time soon either

Oasis of the Seas big on fitness and health too

Heading out to sea on Royal Caribbean’s new Oasis of the Seas does not mean you have to skip the daily workout.  On Oasis, the fitness and health options are many and more than most other cruise ships at thier Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness center. In fact, a case could be made for booking a close-by Central Park balcony stateroom and spending all the money you might lose in the casino on a week’s worth of these services.

Start with one of the over 150 cardio machines, take a Kinesis (full-body, no-impact) or spin class which tracks your heart reate on a monitor or pump the iron.  It’s all up to you and there’s nothing quite like doing your regular regimine while at sea.  Surely a view of the ocean while on your favorite machine is a great change from the everyday.  But try a class on bicycles in which you and 25 or 30 of your closest friends are hooked up to heart monitors with the results displayed on a huge (of course) monitor for all to see.  (Looks like way more competition than I would be up to on a cruise but cool anyway)

The new Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness neighborhood supports your healthy lifestyle, combining the latest in aesthetic skin treatments, traditional spa services and workout programs. Reconnect with your inner strength and renew your body inside and out.

Spa Features:

• Solo and couples massage suites
• In room massages (like in your stateroom)
• Thermal Suite – heated tile loungers, saunas and steam rooms
• Beauty Salon – complete hair, nail and make-up services
• Youth Spa – dedicated space for kids and teens (see below)
• Vitality Café – healthy selections including smoothies, snacks and entrées

Fitness Features:

• 158 state-of-the-art cardio and resistance machines
• Free weight area
• Studio fitness classes, including kickboxing, Pilates, yoga and others
• Spacious spin class area
• KinesisTM – the newest, most innovative form of resistance exercise designed to burn 30% more calories while improving posture and flexibility
• Largest jogging track at sea that is partly covered to protect from the elements

No health spa would be complete without treatments and Oasis has a bunch of them including

• 24 Karat Gold Facial
• Elemis Oxydermy Facial
• Elemis Tri-Enzyne Resurfacing Facial
• Elemis Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Facial
• Elemis Skin Specific Facial
• La Therapie Microderabrasion Facial
• La Therapie HydraLift Facial
• Elemis SkinLab Facial Mapping Analysis

When we were on board not long ago it took a good 20 minutes just to walk through the 22,000 square foot facility that included areas for Acupuncture, Medi-Spa Cosmetic Treatments, Teeth Whitening and special areas for men and teens too.

In the Teen and Kid Spa for those under 18, treatments include facials, pedicures, manicures, a Father/Son “Chill Out” Massage, personal consultations on style and an “Ice Cream Manicure” that uses an ice cream shaped bath product and other ingredients to “give your hands a sweet treat while you sit back and relax”  (Thank God they did not have these things when my kids were teens on cruises)

One of the really unique spaces in this area is an Elemis product testing area where the complete line of these popular spa products is available for testing and purchase.  Called the Elemis Spa Bar, this fun and interactive tester zone gives guests the freedom to feel, smell and touch the Elemis range of products.

Once off the ship, the good things you have done on the ship do not have to end either.  Spa Therapists are available to recommend a home care regimen to continue your treatment at home via the timetospa at home program at www.timetospa.com or by phone.

Cruise Information- Who to turn to

In the not-so-distant past, researching travel might have meant a trip to the local library to check out some guide books or background information on where you wanted to go, what you wanted to do and how you wanted to get there.  The Internet changed all that with online resources no library can hold.  But who do you trust and where do you go online to get the best, most accurate information?

There are thousands of web sites dedicated to cruise vacations.  Some offer original content backed by the reliability of either time (they’ve simply survived a long time) or expertise (they have people on board who know what they’re doing) but all have the advantage of being convenient (you can see it all from where you sit right now).  One of the big mistakes made is trusting the wrong source or not using enough sources.

Sites with original content presented in an easy to ready manner are important.  Equally important in the world of travel are trusted sources that give personal accounts of their travels. Travel writers, bloggers and their websites are a great place to start.  Like finding a travel agent though, you need sources you can identify with.  If partying until the early morning hours and a high-energy cruise experience is not your thing, connecting with those sources is a waste of time.  Let’s break down that daunting list of travel websites then to something more manageable.

News and Opinions are two great categories that most online travel content fits into.  Within those categories though, some are good, some are better and some are the best.  Then there’s another group that simply recycles what others have written.  Those, too, may be a valuable source for you if they do the sorting and end up with information of interest to you.  But where to begin?  Out of all those thousands of possible places to invest your time, which will reap you the greatest rewards?  Presented here is my short list of all-time favorite sources of cruise information.

These were chosen not only because they are tops in what they do but because they are accessible.  Today, that is more important than ever and today’s technology empowers us to make not just smart buying decisions but to go beyond the buy and gain what we need to know to get the most out of our vacations.  These sources can dramatically increase the value we receive.

CruiseCritic.com is still the undeniably best source of cruise information in the world. Long before the social media craze of MySpace, Facebook and Twitter were even a thought, CruiseCritic.com was providing accurate, timely information through a well-organized and controlled bulletin board message system on all cruise lines.  I remember becoming a charter member of CruiseCritic going on ten years ago now.  One of the best pieces of information I picked up and have virally spread to thousands of people was a tip to study the deck plans of a ship prior to embarkation.  I got that tip shortly after my first cruise and the thought rings true today. Knowing your way around the ship will keep you from “bumping into walls and getting lost, effectively adding a half-day of quality vacation time to your cruise”.  I know that I can go to CruiseCritic, ask a question, and get an answer within minutes on most topics.  With a gazillion active members who have sailed recently on most ships, someone always has the answer.  There are other “boards” like CruiseMates and CruiseAddicts with a lot of members too, but none comes close to matching the live information and superb editorial content of CruiseCritic.

USA Today’s CruiseLog is a wonderful source of breaking cruise news and in-depth reporting.  I was in the newspaper business for many years, way before the Internet posed competition for print news.  USA Today was always a favorite paper to read because of their concise, accurate information on a global scale.  CruiseLog provides that same flavor of information today and hosts discussions on the various topics it covers.  Again, the interactivity factor is huge; providing the pros and cons of a current story by readers and pros in the field alike.

Your Travel Agent should be another source but one that has a personal interest in you.  If you don’t have one, find a travel agent that will work for you.  Not some order taker, Internet Cruise Broker, or click to buy website.  Those are not Travel Agents.  What you want is someone, some person, who is your “friend in the business”.  Someone totally accessible via email, phone or in person who knows you and can provide the information you need, when you need it.  Nothing less will do.  You need to hold that agent to the highest of standards for reliable information, competitive pricing, and more.  The “more” is probably the most important part too.  That person that is Your Travel Agent will have insights that will add value to your vacation experience.  Maybe they know a guy in St Thomas that runs a great tour,  maybe they know which shore excursion to avoid and which one to take, maybe they follow-up after the sale to be sure you are continually getting the most for your vacation dollars.  These are just a few qualities that Your Travel Agent should have.  If you are not using a travel agent you are not getting the best vacation value possible.

Travel Writers have been around forever.  Some have come and gone and some have stayed and become popular because they get it.  They have overcome one of the biggest challenges facing them: providing relevant content.  One of the inherent difficulties in writing about travel is that not a lot changes on many topics.  A travel guide written for Jamaica ten years ago may be just as relevant today as it was then.  Dunns River Falls was a big attraction then and is now.  The Falls have not changed much in the past decade.  Good travel writers know this and can spin a different angle on the topic, perhaps suggesting alternative places to go but surely giving the best information about those must-see attractions wherever you travel.  When I think about which travel writers I actually read, I like Linda Garrison from About.com for complete, accurate information as well as insight not found in other sources.

Travel Bloggers are a popular way to get that information you need from a personal perspective in a manner that is sort of like reading someone’s diary.  Picking the right ones to read is as simple as just giving them a try.  It should not take long to find some you enjoy reading and that provide information you are interested in.

One I like a lot is Chris Elliot.  His easy-to-read style focuses not on the destinations or ways to get there but the tools you need for a successful trip.  This guy does not even specialize in cruise vacations but the flavor of his writing is what you want to look for.  There are a bunch of “cruise experts” out there that have their own spin on whatever topic is floating around on any given day.  Elliot takes a different view and has a unique style that elicits valuable information, like what you might get from a close friend recounting their travels.  That is exactly what you want.

In the world of travel bloggers, social media like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are popular avenues to get their message out.  Thinking about it, I bet I spend more time reading bloggers than anything else.  What you do not want in a blogger is someone who fills space with news stories.  You can get that from a lot of other places.  Their spin on a news story can be valuable but simply reporting the news is not blogging.  Here are some great ones to check out:

• John Heald’s blog- unflappable executive cruise director for Carnival Cruise Lines does
• ShipCritic blog- Journalist and author Anne Campbell shares a rich history of experience
• ExpertCruiser.com- Anita Dunham-Potter works hard to empower travelers

One of my biggest goals in the whole travel twirl is to empower readers to get the very most out of their cruise vacation by providing them the knowledge to do so.  These sources are a great start for the world of cruising.

In a perfect world, travel writers would be completely unbiased, pay for their travel experiences so as to review and write incognito and not do it as a sideline.  They have to eat too though so don’t be too put off by writers who also sell something cruise-related or go on cruise line-sponsored sailings.  They often have some of the best contacts and most current information of all.  The trick is to spend some time with this, find a handful of writers and sources you click with and enjoy the whole process.

Celebrity Cruise Contest starts today

Celebrity’s “Eclipse of a Lifetime” sweepstakes, running from today through January 14, 2010, will entitle 10 winners and their guests to be the first outside of the line’s employees to board Celebrity Eclipse when it sets sail for the first time.

Those VIP winners will be the first to have exclusive, up-close-and-personal views of the construction process of Celebrity’s fourth Solstice Class ship in Germany at Meyer Werft, one of the most modern shipyards in the world. Winners will be the first to be led and hosted throughout Celebrity Eclipse by Celebrity’s President and CEO Dan Hanrahan; first to enjoy the ship’s AquaClass staterooms; first to sample the ship’s innovative cuisine created by the line’s VP of Culinary Operations and Chef Jacques Van Staden, and the first to have the chance to interact with the ship’s senior officers.

All this will take place surrounding an experience that will occur only once in the ship’s life, and only once in the lives of the winners: the “conveyance” of Celebrity Eclipse. Scheduled for March 13, 2010, the conveyance marks the occasion when Celebrity Eclipse departs Meyer Werft shipyard for the first time, and navigates the narrow River Ems – backwards – from Papenburg, Germany, to Emshaven, Netherlands, prior to embarking on sea trials.

The prize will also include a night in Dusseldorf, prior to boarding the ship, and a night in Amsterdam after departing the ship. Each “Eclipse of a Lifetime” prize package also includes coach-class air for two from each winner’s nearest major gateway to Dusseldorf, Germany; hotel accommodations and meals prior to boarding Celebrity Eclipse; all meals and activities onboard the ship; all pertinent gratuities; ground transfers to and from airports, hotels, and Celebrity Eclipse; the exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of the Meyer Werft shipyard, and coach-class air from Amsterdam to the U.S.

Celebrity has made it a breeze to enter the sweepstakes. Simply visit the Celebrity web site, at www.celebritycruises.com and click the “Eclipse of a Lifetime” tab to access the entry form and sweepstakes rules or click here. The sweepstakes runs from December 7, 2009 through January 14, 2010. Winners will be announced January 28, 2010. This sweepstakes is open only to residents of the U.S. and Canada. See Official Rules on the site for complete information.

Cruise Vacations, your best travel value

Just in time for holiday shopping, there may never have been a better time to plan your first or that next cruise vacation.  Cruise lines have introduced new ships, updated the facilities and programs of older ships and are offering us more for our cruise fare than ever before.  That adds up to one of the best vacation values available and “value” is what it is all about.

As sellers, the cruise lines have not missed a beat, moving on with expansion plans with new ships, updated facilities both on land and at sea, and onboard programs aimed to provide everything vacationers are looking for.  All this at a time when economic woes have caused other vacation options to cut back or shut down.

As buyers, we need to look beyond simply the lowest price and concentrate on what we get for that price.   There are several ways to insure we get the best value like calculating the cost per person per night,  surfing the websites of the cruise lines, subscribing to newsletters and blogs of competent travel sources or doing what you are right now; keeping up on the latest information.

One of the best ways to insure your best value is to work with a professional Travel Agent rather than an Internet Cruise Broker.

In this first part of a series that will give you the tools needed to secure your best value, let’s take a look at the difference between the two.

The difference is substantial and can make or break a vacation.

First, let’s start with the Internet Cruise Broker. That would be one of the many online companies that offers unbelievably low prices on a cruise. In most all cases those are unbelievable prices because they are not accurate or do not fully represent what is being offered.

The first misleading expense is hidden fees. I call these Burried Fees because you have to dig to find them. They are there for all to see but you will find them most commonly toward the end of their “Terms of Service” , far after the boring text turned off the reader. Most all of these fees are not necessary and simply something that Internet Cruise Broker has levied upon each buyer, should they fall into the trap.

One that can add up quickly are “change fees” where you may be charged $50 or $100 for name spelling corrections. In the past, the cruise lines DID charge this fee but have been dropping it more and more. If you see this fee it should be a red flag to pay special attention to the details before buying. Processing Fees are another one that runs up the price of the cruise and is often charged by Internet Cruise Brokers.
But if you can get past all the potential or actual junk fees charged the low price may still be a good one. Reason enough to buy from your Internet Cruise Broker?

No way! One of the biggest areas where Internet Cruise Brokers fail is what happens after the sale.

The job of almost all Internet Cruise Brokers stops once you pay.

They simply don’t have time for you. To get those low prices they commonly give up a good deal of their commission. They still have bills to pay so they rely on a huge volume of business to survive, often bending the rules or taking your money but not turning it over to the cruise line. Recently, I happened to visit www.CruiseValueCenter.com , formerly one of the big Internet Cruise Broker’s websites, to find they had shut down and were offering site visitors advice on how to recoup money they had paid. If that is not enough reason stay clear of an Internet Cruise Broker, I don’t know what is.

I feel bad for those who may have had their vacation plans disrupted by the shut down of sites like that. This is a really good reason, one that savvy travelers know, to concentrate on “Value” rather than simply “Price”. Yes, that advertised price of $199 for a cruise sounds great initially. But in many cases the end price nears double that once port charges, taxes and fees that everyone pays are added in, not to mention optional buried fees one might fall into.

The smart way to go is to find a Travel Agent who offers the best value, not just the best price. Almost always, when all expenses are considered, the Travel Agent has the better value in the long run. And isn’t that what really counts? A professional, certified cruise Travel Agent can be your friend in the business that provides a really necessary service, much like you might use an accountant to help with your finances. The business relationship between you and a Travel Agent is one of trust that is built over time. “Your” agent will come to know and take a personal interest in what is best for you. He or she will be constantly on guard of your vacation plans, taking advantage of special offers, using their behind the scenes contacts and daily up to date knowledge of the industry on your behalf.

The best part? This costs you nothing. Travel Agents are paid a commission by the cruise line. You truly have nothing to lose and everything to gain There are Travel Agents who are simply sales people and Travel Agents who offer a service that will offer you great value in the long run. And the long run is what you need to think of because you’ll probably be cruising quite a bit in your lifetime

Here then are some simple ideas to consider when choosing between an Internet Cruise Broker and a Cruise Travel Agent:

• Concentrate on Value, not Price- look at the whole picture
• Always insist that your payments go directly to the cruise line- if they won’t do that, go elsewhere
• Carefully read the fine print- look for junk fees like change fees, cancellation fees, booking fees, etc. If you see them, run!
• Always pay with a debit or credit card- the provide some protection if that Internet Cruise Broker goes broke and shuts down
• Be sure they will honor any lower prices you qualify for. Most do not and some ask the cruise line to lower the price anyway. They lower the price, regaining some or all of the commission they gave up to get you that initial low price.
• Try emailing or calling them to ask a question and note the response time. This can be a real good indicator of how it will go after the sale

There are a lot of great values out there.  Your Travel Agent will know which might work for you and which ones to stay clear of.

For example, this coming Tuesday Royal Caribbean is offering it’s normally once a week “Happy Hour” sale on select sailings.  One is a two-night cruise from Port Canaveral for only $99 per person.  That’s an excellent value.  It’s on Saturday and Sunday, January 2nd and 3rd.  On Royal Caribbean’s Monarch of the Seas, this would make a great preview cruise if you had not sailed this cruise line before.  It would also make a great weekend getaway for someone living in driving distance who wanted a short cruise but did not want to miss any work.  Even with taxes added in, the total price is just $311 total for two.  That works out to $77.97 per person per night, far less than one might spend on a nice hotel with meals and entertainment ashore. This is a great vacation value.

The problem with this is that not everyone can pick up and go that quickly so last-minute offers like this don’t work for everyone.  Still, those looking for an inexpensive short cruise have many other options that will indeed secure that best value for them.  A good Travel Agent with your best interests in mind will know what will work for you, be up to date on what is available and offer frank, complete information in a timely manner.  They will find a cruise that is a good fit for you, offer you the confidence of knowing you have someone in the business working for you and deliver value from the initial booking all the way through sailing and beyond.

Coming up next in this series on finding your best cruise value:

• Finding your travel agent- Some great sources- If you don’t have a travel agent or have one that is not delivering the best value, here are some tips on how to find one
• Cruise Lines- Which one is best for you- They are not all created equal, the line should be a good fit for you or that great price may all of the sudden be a waste of money
• Cruise Information- Who to turn to- The Internet offers us a wealth of information, find sources you can trust
• Cruise Pricing- Cheapest is not always best- Learn why the smartest travelers know price is just one element of the buying equation

Have something to say about all this?  Comment here or mail Chris@YourCruiseDream.com for more information

Oasis of the Seas huge on dining options as well

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas does everything in a big way.  The large selection of dining options is no exception.  From an 8 course tasting menu in an upscale cover-charge venue to comfort foods like a fresh donut on the Boardwalk, guests have the ability to customize the culinary aspect of their cruise experience like on no other ship

This is much more than a buffet, a dining room and maybe one or two other “alternative” restaurants, like so many cruise lines offer.  While some venues require a service charge, what Oasis charges is fair if not a bargain compared to land-based restaurants.

“Oasis of the Seas showcases the evolution of Royal Caribbean dining,” said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “Both the new concepts and the established Royal Caribbean offerings found throughout the neighborhoods are designed to meet contemporary dining standards, cater to individual preferences and schedules and foster epicurean curiosity. With so many options, guests could choose a new place to dine for every meal.”

Let’s take a look at the choices, organized by the Seven Neighborhoods that make up the ship.  If you’re not up to speed on those different areas, an animated video tour of the ship might prove helpful tying them all together.

Central Park

150 Central Park – The most exclusive dining venue on Oasis of the Seas, 150 Central Park provides an intimate dining experience that will combine leading-edge cuisine with modern design, creating a trendy upscale ambiance. Signature features will include a tasting menu with customized wine pairings. Open for dinner; $35 cover charge.  With a unique menu designed by award-winning chef Keriann Von Raesfeld, diners are in for quite an experience at 150 Central Park

Giovanni’s Table – This Tuscan countryside influenced trattoria is a more-accessible, casual Italian restaurant featuring both indoor and al fresco seating. Old-time Royal Caribbean fans of fleet-signature eatery Portofinos, absent on this ship, will find Giovanni’s Table a good substitute and a great addition to the line-up. Giovanni’s Table offers rustic dishes with a contemporary flair, including toasted herbal breads, pizzas, salads, pastas, Italian sandwiches, braised meat dishes and stews, all served family-style. Open for lunch and dinner; $10 lunch and $15 dinner cover charge.

Park Café – A casual dining choice providing a high level of variety and flexibility, Park Café is an indoor/outdoor gourmet market with walk-up counters. From freshly prepared salads and made-to-order sandwiches, to paninis, crepes and hearty soups, guests order directly from the chefs behind food stations. European pastries, sublime chocolates and decadent fudge will round out the offerings. Open for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner and late night treats.

Vintages – Always a popular hot spot for Royal Caribbean guests on Voyager- and Freedom-class ships, the Vintages wine bar has evolved into a larger space on Oasis of the Seas. Great for a pre-dinner rendezvous, Vintages will provide a selection of cheeses and a broad tapas menu to accompany a robust selection of fine wines, from a tropical white Riesling to a mocha-inflected Merlot. Open for lunch and dinner; ala carte pricing.

Chops Grille – Continuing the tradition, Royal Caribbean’s popular signature steakhouse will offer premium cut, quality meats. Guests can choose to enjoy the upscale, contemporary setting indoors with views of Central Park or al fresco. Open for dinner; $25 cover charge.

Boardwalk
Seafood Shack – The indoor/outdoor casual family restaurant brings the surf style of beach side amusement parks to the Boardwalk, serving a variety of seafood, as well an extensive beverage menu of non-alcoholic cocktails and over-sized desserts. Open for lunch and dinner; $7.95 lunch and $9.95 dinner cover charge.

Boardwalk Bar – The main bar in the Boardwalk this busy venue offers on-the-go snacks like corn dogs and chicken tenders, a variety of prepackaged sandwiches, fruit and salads. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Donut Shop – Guests can stop into the classically styled shop for a casual snack any time of day. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with no additional charge

Ice Cream Parlor – The 1950’s styled ice cream venue features classic sundaes plus a variety of ice cream flavors and toppings to choose from and then mixed-to-order on a frozen slab. Open throughout the day; a la carte pricing.

Johnny Rockets – Extending the signature “eat-ertainment” hours, a diner breakfast menu introduced on Oasis is a nice addition. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; $3.95 breakfast and $4.95 lunch and dinner cover charge.

The Royal Promenade
Mondo Cafe – This new addition to the Royal Promenade features coffee, sandwiches and pastries native to countries such as Italy, Spain and Cuba. Steps from Boleros and open around the clock, it is sure to be popular after an evening on the dance floor. Open for complementary breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner and late night treats

Sorrento’s Pizzeria – The New York style pizzeria and fleet-favorite features a more extensive menu with made-to- order pizza pies and slices, in addition to the ready-made selections introduced with the Freedom class ships along with bar service. Open for lunch, dinner and late night snacks, also included in the price of your cruise

Café Promenade – Located on the opposite end of the Royal Promenade from the Mondo Cafe, the popular café continues serving Seattle’s Best Coffee, fruit shakes, pastries and sandwiches throughout the day and night. Open 24 hours; Ala carte pricing on the specialty beverages, the ever-changing array of food options is complementary.

The Pool and Sports Zone
Solarium Bistro – Located in the Solarium the contemporary bistro offers health-conscious dining for breakfast and lunch in a casual setting. In the evenings, Solarium Bistro will transform into a romantic and intimate dining setting for specialty healthy-fare dinner and dancing under the stars. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; dinner has a $20 cover charge.

The Wipe Out Café – The casual self-service buffet will offer a variety of options from pizza, hamburgers, sandwiches and fresh salads to quick snacks and desserts, for young cruisers on-the-go. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and complementary

Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center
The Vitality Café – Located at the entrance of the Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, the Vitality Café will feature healthy snacks, sandwiches, wraps and fruit, in addition to refreshing juices and smoothies from the Vitality spa menu for the calorie conscious guest. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Other options that are anything but standard

Opus Dining Room – The three-level main dining room will revive the grandeur of the 1920s and feature French art deco design. Catering to guests’ varying preferences, the newly introduced My Time Dining and My Family Time Dining, as well as the traditional main and late seating options will be offered.

My Time Dining provides guests with the option to enjoy the dining room ambiance with Royal Caribbean’s renowned Gold Anchor Service whenever they wish during dining hours. Guests choosing My Time Dining will not have a pre-assigned table, but will be seated in the ships main dining room and will order from the same traditional dinner menu. My Time Dining guests can make daily reservations for specific seating times or choose to walk in. My Family Time Dining accommodates parents and children by offering an expedited 40-minute dining service for young cruisers, ages 3-11. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Windjammer Marketplace – Offering the utmost flexibility for breakfast, lunch and dinner, this next generation of the brand staple will feature multiple islands, each serving a variety casual buffet fare.

Izumi – The new Asian cuisine restaurant will feature a sushi bar and hot rock cooking, as well as other Asian fare in a more formal setting. Open for lunch and dinner; ala carte pricing.

In-Stateroom Service – Guests wanting to enjoy a meal in the comfort of their staterooms will be able to choose from the complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, as well as the recently introduced Dine in Delights menu, which offers name-brand culinary options ranging from the Original Johnny Rockets hamburger to Ghirardelli Chocolate Cookies. Open 24 hours; ala carte pricing for Dine In Delights and $3.95 service charge for in-room deliveries between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.

After a tour and short sailing of the ship, we found the dining options nicely spaced out and appropriate complements to the flavor of the neighborhoods.

On Oasis it seems everyone is left with a favorite area of the ship, one that fits them well.  I like the quiet and tastefully landscaped Central Park area as where I might call “home” and interior-facing balcony stateroom.  I can see making a healthy week out of a planned regimen of exercise, relaxation and renewal in the Vitality Spa not far from there, never venturing beyond “my neighborhood”.

…not that I wouldn’t sneak away to the Boardwalk for a corn dog and show at the Aquatheater or run up to the Pool and Sports Zone for some sun or to watch others surf from time to time.

Princess Cruises quietly offers more

The recent launch of Carnival Cruise Lines new Carnival Dream and Royal Caribbean’s new generation Oasis of the Seas have dominated the news for quite some time.  Princess Cruises have not been idle.

Delivery of Oasis of the Seas has surely changed the spectrum of ships from which to choose as have ongoing program enhancements on the existing fleet.  Also significant is what many of the other cruise lines have done recently.  Carnival Cruise Lines has completed a roll out of several new features to existing ships.  Holland America has done the same.  Norwegian Cruise Lines continues to get their act together to where I would almost recommend some of their ships now.  Just a couple years ago I never thought I would be able to say that.

All these changes were in the works well before the economic turndown forced an adjustment in pricing and marketing necessary to fill the ships.  There may not ever have been a better time to sail than right now.

If you have not sailed on Princess Cruise Lines lately, take a look. The “Love Boats” offer a richer than ever cruise experience at prices that seem more reasonable all the time.  And what does that add up to class?  That’s right: Value, what we want above all else.

Let’s take a look at some of the new programs Princess has on board many of the ships in their fleet of 17 ships.

• The Piazza- New to Caribbean, Golden and Star Princess, the Piaza is a dramatic, Italian-inspired atrium area offering small bite eateries including the International Cafe and Vines Wine Bar.  Live music and animated street performers entertain passengers in this cafe-style setting throughout the day
• The Sanctuary- in line with a growing trend on major cruise lines to offer more for adults, The Sanctuary is a tranquil adults-only retreat complete with refreshing beverages, light snacks, relaxing music selections on MP3 players and the services of dedicated Serenity Stewards
• Crown Grill- New to Caribbean and Golden Princess, this premium beef and seafood restaurant offers seafood, steaks and chops for an upcharge of $25 per person
• Ocean-view window suites- New also to Caribbean and Golden Princess, several ocean-view window suites have been added, offering even more stateroom options
• Complementary soft-serve ice cream- taking a cue from sister-line Carnival, Princess has added this popular choice
• Movies under the Stars- now offered on 10 ships, this popular attraction features first-run screenings, concerts and sporting events as well as PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii competitions
• Ultimate Ship Tour- a 2 -3 hour back of the house tour including the bridge, funnel and control room is offered to a limited number of guests on each sailing
• The Leonard Maltin Movie Club- The Leonard Maltin Movie Club will showcase a new film chosen by Mr Maltin each month.  Passengers will have the opportunity to join fellow film buffs to enjoy a theater viewing or an open-air poolside Movies Under the Stars viewing experience.   Later on, passengers will gather for a fun-filled discussion to gain greater perspective on the film
• The Leonard Maltin Movie Channel- Passengers can catch up on many popular and classic films with this new feature.  Features on the ships television system, passengers will enjoy a selection of contemporary, classic and animated movies plus “Maltin Moments” movie insights, conversations and stories narrated by Mr Maltin
• Art History @Sea- Five-hundred years of art comes to life with a special hour-long presentation that traces world masterpieces over time from many great masters.
• Navigation @Sea- Learn the history of navigation and increase your maritime terminology with this exciting presentation led by the ship’s navigator
• Expanded Culture Onboard- Several itinerary-specific programs add depth and a new dimension on sailings with topics such as Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Immersion, South American Samba Fiesta, European Old World Culture and more
• Youth and Teen Programs- new programs developed in partnership with the California Science Center explore the world of magic in the Wizards Academy, arts and crafts in Klutz, a program where kids make their own storybooks, creating lanyard bracelets and other activities and Yoga for Kids and Teens
• Boutiques feature authentic itinerary-specific merchandise with new specialties in Authentic Roman Glass jewelry, The Jacqueline Kennedy Jewelry Collection and new Princes gift box chocolates and cookies
• Wi-Fi hot spots have been added and now include passenger staterooms
• Chef’s Table- this alternative dining event is one of the best culinary experiences at sea and it is only offered by Princess Cruises.  A limited number of guests can actually go behind the scenes for a Galley Tour, meet the Executive Chef and have Champagne and hors d’ oeuvres

While none of these programs have been big headline-grabbers, Princess Cruise Line has continued their ongoing efforts to keep the line relevant and exciting.

I’ll be on board Ruby Princess in a few days sailing from Port Everglades on December 17th.  Watch for reports from the ship as we discover what’s new at Princess

Princess ship gets new name

Princess Cruises is celebrating the new name of its ship Ocean Princess (formerly Tahitian Princess) by extending an open invitation to anyone wishing to become an honorary godparent for the vessel, with the first-ever virtual christening.

In a new twist on the time-honored tradition, the naming ceremony will occur completely online, at http://www.princess.com/oceanvirtualchristening. Each new godparent will trigger a $1 donation from Princess to the New England Aquarium, a global leader in ocean exploration and marine conservation, up to $25,000.

One of the small ships of Princess, Ocean Princess – fresh out of a two-week drydock – departed Singapore today on the first voyage with her new name. The virtual christening will run throughout the ship’s 16-day Southeast Asia cruise, ending on Dec. 18.

“At the end of her current cruise, we hope to have a huge group of honorary godparents for Ocean Princess,” said Jan Swartz, Princess executive vice president. “In this digital age, we wanted to design a way that all our fans worldwide could be part of the celebration. But not only do we want to entertain people with this fun approach, we also want people to think about our oceans, and in doing so support the important work of the New England Aquarium.”

In addition to virtually christening the ship and becoming an honorary godparent, participants will be able explore the following areas online:

• Honorary Godparents – Real-time collection of the names of Ocean Princess’ honorary godparents
• Ocean Princess Webcam – Live web cam from the ship
• Ocean Princess Itineraries – Link to Ocean Princess’ extensive list of itineraries
• About the New England Aquarium – Information about this renowned non-profit conservation and research organization
• Ocean Princess Drydock Photo Journal – Pictorial of the ship’s drydock in Singapore
• About Ocean Princess – Details about Ocean Princess and her offerings
• The Small Ships of Princess – Information about the small ships of Princess

In addition, people will be able to share their virtual Ocean Princess experience with friends and family, and encourage them to participate through send-to-friend and Facebook functions.

“We are delighted to be honored by Princess Cruises in this innovative and exciting program. Like Princess Cruises, the New England Aquarium strives to inspire and entertain people of all ages to the beauty and wonder of our world’s oceans,” said Bud Ris, president and CEO, New England Aquarium. “We hope this online event will introduce new audiences not only to the spectacular beauty of our oceans but also inspire new ocean stewards.”

During the ship’s recent drydock at the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore, the Ocean Princess name was placed on the bow and throughout the vessel. The ship also received new fuel-efficient silicone paint on its hull, and interior enhancements including new upholstery, carpet and flooring. The ship was renamed Ocean Princess to more accurately represent her global range of itineraries.

Swartz added, “As this ship begins her life with its new moniker, we would also like to congratulate Ocean Princess Captain Stefano Ravera and his crew, as the re-naming celebration is the cornerstone of our contribution to the important work of the New England Aquarium.”

Following its inaugural Treasures of the Southeast Asia cruise from Singapore to Shanghai, Ocean Princess will offer a season of unique Asia, India and Africa sailings, followed by a summer of European voyages.

Ocean Princess is a part of Princess’ fleet of small ships, which also includes Royal Princess and Pacific Princess. Offering a classic and intimate cruise experience, each small ship carries around 680 passengers and travels to more remote destinations around the world.

Celebrity Liquor plans stir discussion

Building on the popular unlimited soda cards offered by most cruise lines, Celebrity Cruises as started a new program offering the same convenience for alcoholic beverages.

USA Today’s popular Cruise Log as well as an ongoing discussion at CruiseCritic.comhas readers and members buzzing with both the pros and cons of the program

Packages, making a cruise more like an all-inclusive land resort, have proved popular with the line, offering Soda Fountain, Junk Food, Celebration, Romance and other packages for quite some time.  Adding liquor packages for Celebrity just seems like the next logical step in a plan they believe makes cruising even an easier vacation option.

Guests have their choice of several packages. Here they are with Celebrities descriptions of each one.  Packages must be pre-reserved a minimum of four days prior to sailing or can be purchased once on board the ship from the Guest Relations desk on the ship

• Beer Package- $34.50 per night-  “Enjoy a cold beer throughout the duration of your cruise when you purchase a Beer Package. Simply show your icon on your SeaPass Card, and sit back and enjoy your choice of domestic and imported beers. This package provides the ultimate in value and convenience.
• Taste the Vineyards Package- starting at $114.00 per package-”Celebrity’s Taste of the Vineyards presents you with a worry-free way to choose wine for your entire cruise. Produced by top quality vineyards and international regions, our collection is designed to provide you with a vast assortment to choose from, as well as superior value. Simply advise your sommelier which wine you would like to have with your meal”. The choices are The Sommelier’s Package, $114.00 per package represents a 5% savings off regular list prices and the upgraded Captains Package starting at $148.50
• Liquor Package- “Whether you choose the Classic or Premium Liquor Package, you can take advantage of an unlimited variety of the selection of spirits available onboard Celebrity, per person. Whether in a bar, lounge, or any of our restaurants, simply show your SeaPass Card to indicate your participation.”  Celebrity offers a “Classic” package with standard label brands for $51.50 per night or a “Premium” package for $76.00 per night
• Frozen Drink Package- “With a Frozen Drinks Package, cool off with an unlimited variety of your favorite frozen alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. When you reserve this package, an icon will be placed on your SeaPass Card indicating your participation”  This one runs $22.00 per night
• Stateroom Bar Setup-  “Enjoy your favorite bottle of spirits in the comfort of your stateroom throughout your cruise. Your Stateroom Bar Setup will be ready for you in your stateroom upon arrival. Complete with mixers and a bucket of ice, sip your favorite cocktail as you unwind in private comfort.”  A ”Classic” package on this one includes a 1 liter bottle of liquor and your choice from a list of mixers for $80.00 and the ”Premium” package chooses from upgraded brands and gets the mixers as well

The packages are being rolled out fleet-wide except for the smaller Celebrity Xpedition and Solstice-class ships who have their own unique wine packages  will not have the Taste of Vineyards package.

My thoughts?

It does not take an expert shopper to figure out that $80 for a bottle of liquor is no bargain.  The valueclaim here is probably not all that well-founded.  Convenience, though, is surely a point in favor of the program that may prove it popular for guests.  Before now, the easiest way to have a bottle of one’s favorite liquor in their stateroom was to smuggle it on board, against the cruise line rules.  Those who normally like to follow the rules may very well find the premium price worth it.

Some discussion has been generated on the thought that the cruise line will become a “booze cruise”.  That’s probably nonsense for the most part as is the notion that the program will lead to binge drinking.  There may very well be binge drinking on a Celebrity ship, just as on any other ship, but blaming it on the potential effects of this program is a real stretch.

Celebrity has the right idea here.  While much of the total cost of a cruise vacation is indeed included in the cruise fare price, some of the incidentals can really add up.  Enabling guests to add on packages such as this, prebook shore excursions and spa treatments and prepay gratuities makes sense.

Now if they would only have a package where I can play the slot machines as much as I want for a set fee, that would pretty much cover everything.

Feel free to comment here or email me directly to voice your opinion

Oasis of the Seas Christened by 7 Godmothers

Last night, Royal Caribbean’s new Oasis of the Seas was officially named at a gala ceremony at Florida’s Port Everglades with not one but seven Godmothers

To start with they went back to popular performer Gloria Estefan already a one-time Godmother for now retired ship Empress of the Seas, others were taken from other performing arts and include star-studded stable of talent ranging from actors to Olympians. Here they are

• Gloria Estefan, singer, songwriter, actor and author, who was godmother of Royal Caribbean’s Empress of the Seas
• Michelle Kwan, Olympic Games medalist is an all-time great and the most decorated figure skater in United States history, and is also an American Public Diplomacy envoy promoting education, positive health practices and respect for diversity
• Jane Seymore, Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor, as well as an Officer of the British Empire, who remains actively involved in the J and J Foundation benefiting children in need. Based on her philosophy that keeping an open heart despite adversity can bring a wealth of love, hope and inspiration into life, she founded the website www.KeepAnOpenHeart.com, a community where people can share stories and engage in a dialogue about living with an open heart.
• Dara Torres, twelve-time Olympic medalist and oldest female swimmer to compete in a record five Olympic games (1984, 1988, 1992, 2000 and 2008
• Keshia Knight Pulliam, film and television actress is well-known for her role as Rudy Huxtable on the classic sitcom “The Cosby Show.” The youngest actress ever nominated for an Emmy Award when she was only 6 years old, she presently stars on the TBS television comedy “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” and was most recently seen starring in the hit motion picture “Madea Goes To Jail.”
• Shawn Johnson, four-time medalist at the 2008 Olympic games for women’s gymnastics and cancer philanthropist, who in addition to serving as a godmother for Oasis of the Seas, will be granting wishes onboard as part of her work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
• Daisy Fuentes, international television personality and producer, beauty and fitness expert, and recognized role model for Latin-American women in the United States, who is committed to improving children’s health and treatments through St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Starlight Children’s Foundation and the March of Dimes
• The seven women will took their posts to officially name the ship at a ceremony during a one-night inaugural celebration-fundraiser onboard Oasis of the Seas to benefit the non-profit Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.Tickets for the once-in-a-lifetime event began at $500 per person. Guests who wished to continue their adventure onboard will receive an exclusive discount price, beginning at $650 per person, on a four-night cruise package sailing to the cruise line’s private beach destination, Labadee, departing today

New Video of the festivities

Oasis of the Seas hosts Make-A-Wish event

Michael Jordan, Disney’s “High School Musical” teen idol star Corbin Bleu and Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson were among celebrities granting children’s wishes aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas Make-A-Wish Foundation event on Monday.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation, celebrating 20 years since the organization granted it’s first wish to a terminally ill child,  grants the requests of children with life-threatening medical conditions to inspire them to keep up the fight and persevere through the tough times. Jordan is the organization’s chief ambassador and has granted over 180 wishes including many for a trip to Florida’s Disney World.

“It gives me no greater pleasure to see these kids to enjoy their moments and for a split moment not think about some of the negative things they have been going through,” Jordan told NBC News. “That brings so much joy to me.”

A great gift: Oasis of the Seas for $49*

*

Just in time to forget shopping for the holidays.  One stop shopping right here for as low as about $11 per person per week.

Yep, that’s right.  I have  a plan set up where you can join our group cruise on  Oasis of the Seas sailing in September of 2011 several different ways.

• Pay $50 per cabin by 12-23-09, just in time to tuck the ship under the tree.  Then start paying monthly, automatically, in February, well after the holiday gift-giving hangover has faded.  This we call the EZ Payment Plan because it is just that:  easy.  Starting price for an inside stateroom go for as little as that $50 deposit and then $46.45 per person per month does it from then on for double cabins
• Pay $50 per stateroom by 12-23-09 then another $450 per stateroom by 05-22-10 and final payment by 07-05-2011
• Pay $500 up front, pick a stateroom and have no payments until 07-05-2011 whenever convenient.

Could this be any less painless?  I don’t think so and you who read this get first shot at it.  Click here to go to the group website for all the details over the weekend.  Starting Monday the whole world gets to see and there are a limited number of staterooms available.   The whole program is based on double occupancy (two to a stateroom) but if you have more, you can still go, it just costs you more up front.  See the “fine print”, a few rules at the group website.

Oh, you get stuff with this package too; $100 per cabin Onboard credit, a group cocktail party, Onboard Enrichment Seminars and more coming up as we go along.

Take a look today.  Y0u can register right on the group website if you are ready or let me know what questions you may have.

Oasis of the Seas staterooms- a primer

Oasis of the Seas offers 37 different cabin categories.  That may sound like a daunting list so let’s see if we can make some sense of it.

Let’s start with some lingo about staterooms

First of all, on Royal Caribbean we use the term “stateroom” rather than “cabin” because that’s what Royal Caribbean uses.  (sort of a “when in Rome… ” thing) The two terms are basically interchangeable though and someone selling you one will not correct you for saying one over the other.

You could also accurately say “room” but that makes us look like we don’t know what we’re talking about and not very nautical at all so let’s stay away from that one.  Cruise snobs will totally look down on us if we say “room” on a cruise ship.

On a regular cruise ship the cabin types are basically three:  Inside, Outside and Balcony.  On Oasis too we have Inside, Outside and Balcony staterooms (stateroom does sound cooler doesn’t it?) But types is a very general term.  Let’s move along to categories

Inside staterooms

• A standard inside stateroom is, indeed, inside the ship with no window- all cruise ships have these. On Oasis that would be categories Q, N, M and L- the same size and configuration all, the only difference being where on the ship the stateroom is located.  Q will be the least expensive, located on decks 10, 11, 12 and 14 aft.  N will be deck 6, 7 or 8 more midship or forward, a bit more in price for what is considered a “better” location. For a bit more in fare, we can go up to deck M which is on decks 9, 10 and 11, higher on the ship and more towards the middle.  On standard inside staterooms, all the cabins are the same size (172 sq ft) .  The price is determined by where they are located.  This goes back to the days of ships with sails that bobbed up and down a lot.  On those, the dead center of the ship was the best place to be located because there was less movement.  Modern ships have made this concern negligible and Oasis’ sheer size affords a very smooth ride and pretty much throws the “movement” concern out the window.  Still, this is a very big ship and closer to the middle means closer to everything
• A Promenade view stateroom (category PR) is technically inside but has a window that looks out onto the Royal Promenade- Royal Caribbean debuted these popular alternatives on the Voyager class ships, continued them on the Freedom class ships and have kept them on Oasis class ships but not as many are available

Outside staterooms

• A standard outside stateroom, called “Oceanview” has a window with a view of the ocean (duh) slightly larger than an inside, Oceanview staterooms are 179 square feet and begin with category I, midship on deck 3, go up to ,category H, also 179 sq ft but on deck nine or ten forward and category F again 179 sq ft but on decks 10 and 11
• Another category of outside stateroom, Central Park View (category CV), oversees the Central Park neighborhood- also new to Oasis class ships and bigger at 199 sq ft on deck nine only
• Still another outside stateroom is Boardwalk view (category BV) in which you have a view of the Boardwalk and possibly a partial view of the ocean by looking back towards the Aqua Theater area and located on deck 7 at 191 square feet

Balcony staterooms

• These start with category D8, 182 sq ft on deck six or seven, D7, same size puts you on decks 9, 10 or 11, D6 puts you on decks 12 or 14 and we go all the way up to D1 which is midship on decks 6, 7, 9, 11 and 12.   All of these look out to the ocean
• On Oasis we also balcony staterooms that look inside the ship and start with the Central Park view balcony staterooms at 182 sq ft split between two categories, C1 and C2 all on decks 10, 11, 12 and 14
• Still another balcony stateroom category is B1 and B2, Boardwalk view, offering both a view of the action below on that Boardwalk, a view of the Aqua Theater and in the distance a view of the ocean as well.  These are also 182 square feet and located on decks 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14

That pretty much does it for the standard inside, outside and balcony staterooms.  Above these in price is a big assortment of suite accommodations, the top end, which we will explore next in Oasis of the Seas- luxury accommodations.

Do you have specific questions about any of these different staterooms?  Let me know with an email to Chris@YourCruiseDream.com and I will get right back to you with answers.

So, will I die if I go ashore Chris?

That has been the big question floating around for those booked on a cruise that stops in the Bahamas since I reported that crime against cruise passengers was on the rise lately.

On the rise?  Like it exists at all?

Well yeah but not to worry, odds are you will probably not be held at gunpoint.

Probably??  I’d like better odd than that please

Well let me ask you this:  Can you think of a part of town where you live that is not safe to be in?  Does crime occur where you live?  Sure it does and we know to stay away from those places or at least be more careful when going there.  Traveling is a lot like that no matter where you go.  Jamaica is a great example of a port of call that has an unearned bad reputation in that area.  We always go ashore there and have always lived to tell about it, gloriously.

Cruise passengers may not believe this but there are actually people who visit islands and are not on a cruise.  I know, who would want to you might ask.  There are those who do though and also live to tell about it.  Have you seen those commercials for Beaches or some other all-inclusive land vacation in the Caribbean?  You know, the one where this great looking guy and gal are walking into a huge olympic-sized pool all by themselves enjoying the lovely island?   Well, besides the fact that the only way they got that shot was to have the other hundreds of people get out of the pool for a while, those islands have bad places too.  And bad people, they have bad people there as well.

Those people manage to have a safe and fun time too and they don’t have a ship to decide if they want to get off of or not.

The point is, don’t let the news scare you away.   There are many different ways to get in trouble on vacation.  NOT paying attention to concerns or warnings from sources such as me (I won’t tell you wrong), the newspapers, travel blogs and the like is what gets you into trouble.

Pay attention and you should be safe no matter where you go

I remember one time in Miami, we had arrived a day or two ahead of a cruise and wanted to walk down to the beach from our hotel not far from the water.   It was me and my two then-teenage daughters headed in that direction when a rough bunch of guys came walking towards us.   The appropriate thing to do on that chilly (like 55 degrees) winter night was NOT for the girls to blindly go about taking off their sweatshirts because they were warm at the exact time we passed these guys.   No need to advertise the prey to the predator I thought.  I was wrong, they didn’t hardly realize we were there but being alert to such things is important even if your children think you are being overly cautious.

Daddy had no desire to have a conflict with a half-dozen young men who surely had knives, guns, were peddling drugs, had probably just robbed a bank and would find great glee having me watch them slice and dice his kids.

Yes, it is better to overreact than go crazy.

But this is the same guy who was out racing about the neighborhood at 3:01pm if the kids, normally home at 3:00pm from school were late.  Who knows if that diligence kept one of them from being a crime victim.  The way I looked at it at the time was it sure couldn’t hurt to be vigilant.   Ok so maybe that thought has been tempered by a few years of hindsight; maybe at the time it was terror of what might be going through me that got me behind the wheel.  Again, diligence paid off and will for you too when traveling.

So pay attention to good sources of information like this one, CruiseCritic.com, USA Today’s CruiseLog, your personal travel agent and other sources.  But don’t be afraid to get off the ship!

Oasis of the Seas- book it now, painlessly

Unless you’re here for the very first time, you know we have fallen in love with Royal Caribbean’s new Oasis of the Seas from reading this or our series of Examiner.com articles.  I promised a group cruise for anyone interested and here it is, just in time to forget shopping for the holidays.  One stop shopping right here for as low as about $11 per person per week.

Yep, that’s right.  I have  a plan set up where you can join our group cruise on  Oasis of the Seas sailing in September of 2011 several different ways.

• Pay $50 per cabin by 12-23-09, just in time to tuck the ship under the tree.  Then start paying monthly, automatically, in February, well after the holiday gift-giving hangover has faded.  This we call the EZ Payment Plan because it is just that:  easy.  Starting price for an inside stateroom go for as little as that $50 deposit and then $46.45 per person per month does it from then on for double cabins
• Pay $50 per stateroom by 12-23-09 then another $450 per stateroom by 05-22-10 and final payment by 07-05-2011
• Pay $500 up front, pick a stateroom and have no payments until 07-05-2011 whenever convenient.

Could this be any less painless?  I don’t think so and you who read this get first shot at it.   Click here to go to the group website for all the details over the weekend.  Starting Monday the whole world gets to see and there are a limited number of staterooms available.   The whole program is based on double occupancy (two to a stateroom) but if you have more, you can still go, it just costs you more up front.  See the “fine print”, a few rules at the group website.

Oh, you get stuff with this package too; $100 per cabin Onboard credit, a group cocktail party, Onboard Enrichment Seminars and more coming up as we go along.

Take a look today.  Y0u can register right on the group website if you are ready or let me know what questions you may have.

Oasis of the Seas Photo Gallery

First, Lisa and I took a spin on Royal Caribbean’s new Oasis of the Seas .  I took a bunch of photos, some of which you have seen in my Examiner.com column.  But I am horrible at taking photos, especially with my I-phone.  Yes, that’s it, the phone.  If I had a good camera I would do better.  Not my fault, the phone’s fault.

Luckily our daughter Whitney, a professional photographer, was on the ship a day after we were and took some photos without a thumb in the photo and where you can actually tell what it is you are looking at.

Take a preview look on our website or see them all in our photo gallery

Thank you Whitney, we have something good to look at.  Now go get married and have me a grandchild or two ok?   Thanks!

Behind the Scenes as Tahitian Princess is Transformed into Ocean Princess

Fifth Online Drydock Journal Lets Enthusiasts Follow Along with Regular Updates

Capping a year of taking viewers behind the scenes as ships go through drydock, Princess Cruises is again offering an opportunity to follow a vessel through the renovation process.  In the newest installment of the Princess online drydock journal, the current Tahitian Princess will not only undergo a makeover, but also get a new name.  The vessel, one of the small ships of Princess, will be transformed into Ocean Princess during the two-week process, giving her a new moniker reflecting her global range of fascinating itineraries.

The fifth in this unprecedented series, the Ocean Princess Drydock Journal will run through December 2 on www.princess.com, and will be updated regularly with photos as the ship progresses through its drydock at Keppel Shipyard in Singapore.  Viewers can follow along as the ship’s name is removed and replaced on the bow and throughout the vessel – including on equipment such as the lifeboats.  The journal will also chronicle changes as the ship is lifted from the water and receives a new coating of energy-efficient silicone paint, plus the interior refurbishments, with new upholstery, carpet and flooring.

“Response to our drydock journals has been remarkable – passengers love to see what’s done to the ship and how much work is involved in such a short time,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president.  “This latest journal will give cruise fans yet another insiders’ peek behind the scenes, with the added interest in seeing the name change.”

The Ocean Princess Drydock Journal follows the enthusiastically received online journals chronicling work on Golden Princess, Dawn Princess, Sea Princess and Coral Princess.  The journal can be found on the Ocean Princess page in the website’s “Ships” section, and it will be updated throughout the ship’s two-week drydock.  The photos will also be posted to Princess’ Twitter feed, Facebook page and Flicker photostream.

After the drydock the newly named Ocean Princess will set sail on a 16-day Treasures of Southeast Asia cruise from Singapore to Shanghai, beginning a season of unique Asia, India and Africa sailings, followed by a summer of European voyages.

Our ride on Oasis of the Seas- short but oh so sweet

If you have been following our coverage of the launch of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, you know there has not been anything this big hit Florida since hurricane Charlie.   Oasis gets a lot of press for being the largest cruise ship in the world.  But it is the little things aboard the ship that will separate her from the pack in the long run.

First, let’s start with pricing.

This one is going to cost you a starting price of somewhere around $150 per person per day to start.  Luxurious two-level loft suites and others will cost a bunch more as you might expect.  The opening prices though, are not all that much more (if at all) than cruise prices were a few years ago, before economic woes drove prices down.

I would love to compare the price of this ship to some other ship but there is no other ship on planet Earth like it.  Royal Caribbean’s Freedom and Voyager class ships with the Royal Promenade give us a glimpse of what Oasis is all about and probably served as seed for the ideas one sees aboard but that’s about it.

Strategy for booking, three must-do’s:

1. Use a travel agent.  You REALLY need someone in your corner on this one, way too many options to go it alone and make it someone who has actually been on the ship.  Unlike a traditional ship this one is very different and the idea I had in my mind of what it would look like in person was dramatically different than the actual experience.
2. Book as far in advance as possible.  Today I see Oasis sailing in September 2011 with prices starting at $729 per person.  That is a fabulous value.
3. Book a group if you can.  There is not just safety in numbers, there is a better value too.

This ship is so over-the-top, radically different that it has simply reinvented the cruise experience.

Sure, it is a ship that floats, goes through the water to places where people get on and off and all that but the resemblance to a traditional cruise ends right there.  Beginning with embarkation at Port Everglades new Pier 18, a 90-station check-in magic show that gets guests on board in as little as 7 minutes from curb to buffet, this ship does it her way.

Actually, the experience begins well before the sailing date when guests are able to book reserved seats for nightly shows, alternative dining restaurants (there are a bunch of them) and shore excursions from home on their computers.   A reader understandably concerned  about the 5000 passengers on the ship all trying to get to the show at the same time asked me how the cruise line would be handling that.  The advance registration system takes care of that for all those concerned.   Some seats will be held for walk-ins without reservations but savvy guests will take full advantage of the pre-registration capabilities for Oasis and lock in their seats in advance.

Onboard, dining options are plentiful with many included in the cruise fare such as the new Seafood Shack on the Boardwalk, just steps from the Aqua theater where you can also find a fresh donut , corn dog or ice cream.  Royal Caribbean signature Windjammer Buffet is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on deck 15 along with the Opal dining room, a three level masterpiece of organization and culinary distinction.  Prompt room service is complementary except in the middle of the night when mostly just kids wasting food ordered it anyway so they charge a small fee to keep costs down.  I have no problem with that; seems fair to me as does a small fee for Johnny Rockets, a great hamburger, fries and a shake place on the Boardwalk open for lunch and dinner.

Here is a primer on the different areas of the ship

The Boardwalk

Johnny Rockets- Extending the signature “eat-ertainment” hours, a diner breakfast menu will be introduced. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; $3.95 breakfast and $4.95 lunch and dinner cover charge.

Ice Cream Parlor-An 1950s-style ice cream venue serving classic sundaes and 15 different kinds of ice cream mixed with toppings to order on a frozen slab. Open throughout the day Ala carte pricing.

Donut Shop-A classically styled shop with casual snacks available all day. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Boardwalk Bar-Full scale bar with specialty drinks tailored to the area. Also serves salads, sandwiches, and other quick food. Very popular, this overlooks the Aquatheater too

Seafood Shack-The indoor/outdoor casual family restaurant will bring the surf style of beach side amusement parks to the Boardwalk, serving a variety of seafood, as well an extensive beverage menu of non-alcoholic cocktails and over-sized desserts. Open for lunch and dinner; $7.95 lunch and $9.95 dinner cover charge.

The Royal Promenade

Mondo Cafe/Coffee Bar- A new addition to the Royal Promenade will feature coffee, sandwiches and pastries native to countries such as Italy, Spain and Cuba. Steps from Boleros and open around the clock, it is sure to be popular after an evening on the dance floor. Open for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner and late night treats.

Sorrento’s Pizza- signature New York style pizzeria features the read-to-go items introduced not long ago on the Freedom class ships and made to order pizza’s just for you. Open for lunch, dinner and late night (but not 24 hours, that’s Carnival)

Cafe Promenade- our personal favorite “:quick” place to eat on other ships on the opposite end of the Promenade from Mondo Café (see above), this one continues the Seattle’s Best Coffee as a centerpiece for pastries, sandwiches, fruit shakes and a menu that evolves throughout the day. Take a glance over there whenever you walk by.

Central Park

150 Central Park- with an additional fee of $35 per person, this promises to be the most exclusive dining venue o the ship featuring multi-course meals paired with wines and an extensive wine list. I bet we will hear “Don’t eat all day if you are going here for dinner” comments right off the bat.

Giovanni’s Table- Open for lunch ($10) and dinner ($15), the casual Italian eatery (think Olive Garden at sea) serves family style pizza, salads, pastas, and I bet there’s a breadstick around someplace

Chops Grille-signature steakhouse with a $25 per person cover charge. Popular on all other ships in the fleet, I bet some of the new offerings on this ship give it a run for the money, literally.

Vintages- also a signature offering on other ships in the fleet, this one will have an extensive tapas menu (that alone will make it a busy place) as well as a selection of cheeses at this popular wine bar with a la carte pricing.

Park Café- A casual dining choice providing a high level of variety and flexibility, Park Café will be an indoor/outdoor gourmet market with walk-up counters. From freshly prepared salads and made-to-order sandwiches, to paninis, crepes and hearty soups, guests will order directly from the chefs behind food stations. European pastries, sublime chocolates and decadent fudge will round out the offerings. Open for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner and late night treats.

Pool and Sports Zone

Solarium Bistro-Located in the Solarium, the contemporary bistro will offer health-conscious dining for breakfast and lunch in a casual setting. In the evenings, Solarium Bistro will transform into a romantic and intimate dining setting for specialty healthy-fare dinner and dancing under the stars. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; dinner has a $20 cover charge.

The Wipe Out Café-The casual self-service buffet will offer a variety of options from pizza, hamburgers, sandwiches and fresh salads to quick snacks and desserts, for young cruisers on-the-go. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center

The Vitality Café-Located at the entrance of the Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, the Vitality Café will feature healthy snacks, sandwiches, wraps and fruit, in addition to refreshing juices and smoothies from the Vitality spa menu for the calorie conscious guest. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
More Oasis Dining Options

Opus Dining room-The three-level main dining room will revive the grandeur of the 1920s and feature French art deco design. Catering to guests’ varying preferences, the newly introduced My Time Dining and My Family Time Dining, as well as the traditional main and late seating options will be offered. My Time Dining provides guests with the option to enjoy the dining room ambiance with Royal Caribbean’s renowned Gold Anchor Service whenever they wish during dining hours. Guests choosing My Time Dining will not have a pre-assigned table, but will be seated in the ships main dining room and will order from the same traditional dinner menu. My Time Dining guests can make daily reservations for specific seating times or choose to walk in. My Family Time Dining accommodates parents and children by offering an expedited 40-minute dining service for young cruisers, ages 3-11. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Windjammer Marketplace-Offering great flexibility for breakfast, lunch and dinner, this next generation of the popular self-service buffet area will feature multiple islands, each serving a variety of different menu options

Izumi-The new Asian cuisine restaurant will feature a sushi bar and hot rock cooking, as well as other Asian fare in a more formal setting. Open for lunch and dinner;Ala carte pricing.

Room Service-guests wanting to enjoy a meal in the comfort of their staterooms will be able to choose from the complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, as well as the recently introduced Dine in Delights menu, which offers name-brand culinary options ranging from the Original Johnny Rockets hamburger to Ghirardelli Chocolate Cookies. Open 24 hours a la carte pricing for Dine In Delights and $3.95 service charge for in-room deliveries between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Sorry kids, no free steaks at 3am.

Long-time Royal Caribbean fans will like signature eateries, Sorrentos Pizza, Chops steakhouse and the Promenade Cafe (personal favorite) offering service 24 hours a day with a menu that changes appropriately as the day goes on.  We had some “Sunflower seed Granola bars” that I seriously doubt had anything really healthy for you in them, they were just too good.

We often talk about what there is to do on the ship, often remarking that there is no way you can do everything there is to do.

That’s on a normal ship.

On Oasis the activities are range from rock-climbing, Ice Skating to serene spa experiences for not just adults but for kids too (in their own area) and everything in-between.  I was impressed with the way they have organized everything from activities to dining availability to even how to find your stateroom though interactive boards located by elevators.  The stateroom televisions offer even more information and the ships daily newsletter in easy to read format, makes carrying around the days events in your pocket a breeze.

Also a breeze was getting on and off the ship

Royal Caribbean had promised that the new Pier 18 at Port Everglades was fully capable of disembarking 5000 passengers and putting another 5000 passengers on the ship with no problems. I have to admit a bit of skepticism, especially when the cruise line said the goal was to get guests on the ship 15 minutes after they arrived at the port.

We have waited much longer than that, up to several hours on a recent MSC cruise and are always prepared to kill some time. We will bring along books to read, music to listen to or just plan on doing some people watching as we sure do see a lot of them on what is called “turnaround day” by the cruise lines. That’s when the ships come in and actually do turn around in at the port, dropping off the old guests and picking up new ones.

Arriving at the port we were pleased with how very clearly marked the directions to Pier 18 were. It took just a few minutes from the first security checkpoint (pictured) to parking. Inside the new, bright terminal we found the promised 90 check-in stations fully manned, trained well and highly efficient. Our total time from arrival to actually stepping on the ship was 7 minutes.

If you have sailed from Port Everglades before, you will notice a big difference in the embarkation experience. These improvements are hard to miss. In less time that advertised to complete the embarkation process we were on the ship and I had my cupcake from the Cupcake Cupboard

Getting off the ship was even easier.  The huge expanse of space that makes up pier 18 is quite capable of handling the crowd as are the attentive Royal Caribbean shore-side staff members who have all the answers for any questions one might have.

While this was simply a one-night preview cruise, we were able to experience the ship fully.   No reports on ports of call yet for you but those will be coming soon as will a general consensus of opinion from guests aboard on the week-long experience.  We have several guests on most sailings in the next 6 months who will be reporting on their experience and I’ll pass that along too.

Surprises

• The Central Park neighborhood  was way more impressive than I thought it would be.  I never thought I would say it but a balcony not pointed at the ocean but inside to a lush and serene garden could be equally relaxing.  Located not far from the Spa, a weeks worth of treatments and that balcony location could be just what the doctor ordered for many.  I wish I had that in my bag of tricks when I quit smoking
• Embarkation and Disembarkation totally blew me away at how fast and efficient it was.The cruise line had promised on the ship in 15 minutes.  I was impressed that it only took 7.
• I studied deck plans, researched and read everything I could get my hands on before boarding but none of it prepared me for the actual experience.  Pre-oasis I had a hard time describing to someone who had never cruised how big the ships (in general) were.  On Oasis, it is totally NOT the size of the ship that blows you away, it’s the layout and design and how it all works together.  I felt as though I had never been on a ship before, it was amazing

Oasis of the Seas Vitality Spa

After our short preview cruise of Royal Caribbean’s new Oasis of  the Seas, Lisa and I were left thinking ” Let’s book a Central Park view stateroom and spend what we would have on booze, gambling and jewelry on spa treatments!”  Here, then, is my take on the Vitality Spa:

Pretty much every cruise ship in operation has a health spa.  Oasis of the Seas offers a new breed of facilities with something for everyone.

Most all ships offer a nice variety of treatments and are often integrated into a fitness center which ranges from basic equipment ot a full array of the latest machinery and highly trained staff members who know all about it.

On Royal Caribbean’s new Oasis of the Seas, manicures, facials and a ride on your favorite piece of exercise equipment are just the beginning of what they have to offer.

With a staff of 47 crew memebers manning the 22,000 square foot facility, guests can have everything from teeth whitening to holistic and other medical treatments performed under the guidance of an onboard doctor.  Acupuncture and Medi-Spa cosmetic services are available and attack issues ranging from Smoking Cessation to Weight Management.  Restylane and Perlane Dermal Filler Treatments as well as BOTOX Cosmetic and DYSPORT Wrinkle Treatments  both safe and FDC approved are performed with visible results within days.

Other facilities include

• Thermal Suite- Based on an ancient healing practice, the Termal Suite offers a theapeutic lanconium chamber (dry heat) with heated benches plus a caldarium steam chamber (smells wonderful), assisting the body in eliminating toxins and impurities. A social-optional spa experience, yhou can come along or with friends.  Daily and weekly passes are available
• Enrichment lounge- If you want to learn about ways to  maximize wellness through lifestyle choices then check out the Enrichment Lounge seminar schedule when onboard. They promise the programs will be entertaiing and educational
• Vitality at Sea Fitness Center- In the fitness center, you can participate in any number of complementary and specialized classes and seminars or simply opt to use the equipment from dawn to dusk daily.  Many machines are positioned to be looking out at the ocean while you exercise
• Vitality at Sea Salon- A den for divas equipped with nail, lash, brow and makeup services and lots of talent to enjoy a traditional shave at the barbers statioin
• Teen and Kid spa- something new, this is were kids can be kids and teens can be teens offering a full menu of services expecially designed for them
• Elemis Spa Bar- a fun, interactive tester zone gives guests the freedom to feel, smell and touch the Elemis range of products

Oasis of the Seas Staterooms

When Oasis of the Seas begins sailing 7-day Caribbean itineraries from Florida’s Port Canaveral, guests will have 37 different stateroom categories to choose from.

Rather than simply inside, oceanview or balcony cabins, Oasis and her sister-ship Allure of the Seas setting sail next year have some new cabin categories not before seen on other ships.

Loft staterooms are two level suites that have a unique layout featuring a totally separate sleeping and entertainment areas, double high floor to ceiling picture windows and, depending on the category chosen, can sleep from two guests up to 16.

Promenade view staterooms, technically an inside category, but with a window that looks out onto the Royal Promenade, a shopping, dining and entertainment venue have been popular on Royal Caribbean’s Voyager class ships.  Divided up into neighborhoods, Oasis offers similar staterooms looking out onto Central Park, a serene, upscale and lushly landscaped neighborhood and the Boardwalk, a high energy neighborhood featuring a more family-oriented area complete with zip-line rides, a working carousel, Johnny Rockets hamburgers and opening out to the Aqua Theater, a focal point of the ship and popular amphitheater located in the aft section of the ship.

The high-end category staterooms including Royal and Penthouse suites, offer the very latest in flat-screen televisions, upgraded amenities, extra large balconies, private jaccuzis and more.  These are fun to look at, have sold out on many of the available sailings as high-end accommodations tend to do but the majority of guests will not book these, opting for traditional balcony, oceanview or inside cabins instead.

That might be a mistake.

The new Central Park and Boardwalk balcony staterooms, for example, offer views of their respective areas which just might be worth giving up a private view of the ocean and what the ship is passing by for some.  Non-smokers will benefit greatly as these are totally non-smoking accommodations meaning an adjacent balcony or one up-wind when the ship is in motion with guests smoking will not be bothersome.  Often priced lower than an Oceanview balcony stateroom, Central Park View and Boardwalk View can be a better value.

One of the concerns we had before experiencing the ship was the noise level from the public space area of the Boardwalk and Central Park.  That was quickly put to rest when touring the staterooms by our Royal Caribbean tour guide who had guests stand on the balcony talking loudly while we waited inside the stateroom.  Once the balcony door was shut and locked, the interior proved to be sound-proof in both areas.    Sitting out on the balcony, Central Park was a more pleasant and serene experience than the Boardwalk area.  A huge trade off for the quieter Central Park location is the ability to view events unfold in the AquaTheater from the balcony of a Boardwalk view balcony stateroom.

The close proximity of Central Park staterooms to the Vitality at Sea Spa, a huge well-staffed area offering enrichment seminars, Medi-spa and holistic spa services, out-of-this-world fitness facilities and classes, separate spa for teens and a beauty salon that promises to make you look as good as you feel.  One could combine accommodations in the Central Park area with an intense array of services and treatments in the Spa for a fabulous week of relaxation and renewal.

We’ll take a closer look at the Sea Spa and Fitness Center next

Oasis of the Seas- Embarkation a piece of cake

Today we begin a series of articles telling of our preview cruise aboard Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Internationals new 220,000 ton cruise ship based at Florida’s Port Everglades sailing year-round 7-day Caribbean sailings.  First, the embarkation process piece of cake

A nice, leisurely drive from Orlando, we arrived at 11:30am, about an hour later than normal for us.  We usually always try to arrive at the port between 10:00am and 10:30am, just to be one of the first in line for when guests are allowed to arrive on board.

Usually by Noon, guests begin boarding and by the time the crowd gathers to get on the ship, we have boarded, gone to our stateroom to drop off our luggage, toured the ship, had lunch and might even be taking  a nap.  Today we wanted to go later and see how the process went at a more peak time.

Royal Caribbean had promised that the new Pier 18 at Port Everglades was fully capable of disembarking 5000 passengers and putting another 5000 passengers on the ship with no problems.  I have to admit a bit of skepticism, especially when the cruise line said the goal was to get guests on the ship 15 minutes after they arrived at the port.

We have waited much longer than that, up to several hours on a recent MSC cruise and are always prepared to kill some time.  We will bring along books to read, music to listen to or just plan on doing some people watching as we sure do see a lot of them on what is called “turnaround day” by the cruise lines.   That’s when the ships come in and actually do turn around in at the port, dropping off the old guests and picking up new ones.

Arriving at the port we were pleased with how very clearly marked the directions to Pier 18 were. It took just a few minutes from the first security checkpoint (pictured) to parking. Inside the new, bright terminal we found the promised 90 check-in stations fully manned, trained well and highly efficient.  Our total time from arrival to actually stepping on the ship was 7 minutes.

If you have sailed from Port Everglades before, you will notice a big difference in the embarkation experience.  These improvements are hard to miss.  In less time that advertised to complete the embarkation process we were on the ship and I had my cupcake from the Cupcake Cupboard

Embarkation rating: 5 stars

Next: Staterooms aboard Oasis of the Seas…all 37 categories of them

Oasis of the Seas- a whole new ballgame

The launch of Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas will go down in cruise industry history as a day of rebirth.

Even with an extensive personal cruise history on all major cruise lines, many of the travel professionals aboard the one-day preview cruise felt as though it was there very first cruise.   Noting “I feel like this is my very first cruise, this (cruise experience) is so exciting” said Jim Vander a 23 year travel agent who was skeptical about the experience before getting on board.

Others had commented that the ship was too big, too expensive the wrong ship at the wrong time for the economic environment the world is in today.

I asked many what they thought of the ship and every one’s initial impression was one of shock, disbelief and amazement.

“Royal Caribbean has given the cruise business the shot in the arm it needed right now” Jeff Woodson, not in the travel business but a cruise fan noted.  He went on to say how this ship, with all the neighborhoods, new features and amenities, “totally blows away anything else at sea right now”.

If you have followed our series of articles on this ship you know a great deal went into the planning, building and now the execution of the onboard programs and facilities.  I will send along details of all aspects of each area in the coming weeks but just the embarkation process was a quantum leap improvement in how things have been handled at Port Everglades in the past.

The cruise line had advertised and promoted that they expected embarkation time to be 15 minutes from the time guests hit the curb to when they were on the ship.  It took us 7 minutes total to complete the process, less than half the time of Royal Caribbean’s goal.

Other areas of the ship that will set new standards for the cruise business include Central Park, a “neighborhood” that I did not think all that much of in preview before boarding the ship.  This is an area that has balcony staterooms that open to the middle of the ship.  My first thought was that the noise level inside those staterooms could be a problem.   On a tour of the accommodations, Royal Caribbean representatives were quick to point out and demonstrate that inside the staterooms were sound-proof by asking some to stand on the balcony and yell as they closed the balcony door, revealing silence to those who remained inside.

We will get into all the areas and the inaugural events including a performance by superstar singer Rihanna and live broadcast of ABC’s Good Morning America shortly.  Stay Tuned

Oasis here we come!

Terminal 18, Oasis of the Seas’ boarding facility at Port Everglades has been specially designed to achieve an ambitious goal: getting from the curb to the ship in 15 minutes

Today,  we will see how well that works.

“We finished building Cruise Terminal 18 on time and under budget, which is a demonstration of government at its best,” said Port Everglades Director Phil Allen. Port Everglades, located within the cities of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Dania Beach, Florida, is governed by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners.

“There may be bigger terminals that service two ships at the same time, but Terminal 18 was constructed specifically to handle one Oasis-class ship at a time.”

At 240,000 square feet (5.5 acres), Cruise Terminal 18 is more than three times larger than it was just 22 months prior to opening when Royal Caribbean International reached an agreement with Broward County to homeport both of the new Oasis-class of ships at Port Everglades.

“We are very appreciative of the efforts of Director Phil Allen and his team at Port Everglades to create a state-of-the-art facility that will provide a seamless experience for our guests,” said President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International Adam Goldstein. “Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas will present an unprecedented vacation to guests and Terminal 18 is an integral part of delivering that offering.”

To accommodate these revolutionary cruise ships, the Port invested approximately $75 million to build Cruise Terminal 18. The terminal’s mega-size will accommodate the more than 5,400 cruise guests and their luggage so that both arriving and departing guests can go through processing procedures simultaneously.

To see the videos we take today, go to YouTube or check on Facebook

Oasis of the Seas- Central Park comes together

From shrubs to trees, the plantings aboard Oasis of the Seas bring the ship to life.

The work on this actually began quite some time ago when landscape architect firs Wilson Butler Architects and Waterfield Design Group faced the task of finding plants that would both tolerate salt water air and be approved with the USDA as plants unlikely to transport pests and diseases between the Caribbean and Florida.

57 Trees will be lifted by crane onto the ship along with 2000 individual planters all in a 24 hour period as 4 full time gardeners work with installation crews to get the job done

Join us tomorrow and ride along on our drive from Orlando to Port Everglades where we will board the ship, taking you along with us. done

Right now I am wondering what they will do to the kids that rip the leaves and branches off the trees and plants.  I say make them fish food.

Oasis of the Seas: It’s all about the cupcakes

Now in her new home at Port Everglades here in Florida, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas continues to draw attention.  Online message boards, bloggers and other sources are buzzing over the ship’s arrival and many of the new features.  While interest has reached a fevered pitch, not everyone is happy about what they see and hear.

Price is one of the first topics that comes up when discussing Oasis and her being-built sister Allure of the Seas, due out next year.  In a very price-conscious economy,  Oasis sells for as much as 30 to 40% more than other ships doing a similar itinerary.  As true as this is, equally true is that the Oasis class ships of Royal Caribbean are truly unlike any other ship in service.  To expect this ship to price along with others who have been in service for 5 to 10 years doing the same itinerary is not appropriate.  If you want a ride on this one, expect to pay more.

Size, rightfully so, is another topic that gets discussed quite a bit.  From environmental groups concerned over pollution potential to cruise purists who long for the olden days of smaller-ship cruising, many are eager to start and perpetuate a debate.  While both these groups and others mean well and are committed to their beliefs, at this point they are vocal over potential issues, not actualproblems.  The first revenue sailing of Oasis, marking the actual start of her cruise history,  has not even come to pass yet.  Yes, this is the biggest ship on planet earth.  Yes, more people will get on and off this ship on turnaround day than any other ship.  But also a resounding YES and kudos to Royal Caribbean for taking all that into consideration and building a ship for everyone.

Those opposed to this ship just don’t get it….or at least most don’t.  Some kind of do.

I read yesterday where someone said the ship was like a hotel on a floating barge.  Another said it should be called Theme Park of the Seas.  Those people kind of do get it.  They are right to a certain extent.  Where they lose it and don’t get it is the cupcakes.

Long ago and far away, cruise ships did not sell cupcakes.  Cruise ships might have made a cake or Baked Alaska might have been paraded around the dining room on formal night, but they did not sell cupcakes.

Oasis does.  Oasis gets it.  Oasis is relevant.

Dividing the ship up into neighborhoods, each with its own unique flavor was simply brilliant.   What if they had built this ship and done nothing different than make more cabins?.  There is no shortage of cruise ships to go from point A to point B.  But the cruise business has evolved from the transatlantic ocean liner that brought my ancestors here long ago to almost being put out of business by the airliner to being reborn by Carnival as a fun, hip thing to do to where they are today; poised to go off in yet another direction I believe led by visionary cruise lines like Royal Caribbean. Even Norwegian Cruise Line with their new Norwegian Epic coming out later which also redefines the cruise experience, maybe not to such an extent as Oasis, but in that direction.

Yes, Oasis of the Seas is all about being relevant.

From opening night this week with pop-singer Rihanna and a live broadcast of Good Morning America the next morning, to trendy gourmet cupcakes, food venues and areas of the ship embracing what is happening right now in the world, this one has it all.

But that is the flashy side of Oasis.  The company behind her, Royal Caribbean International, is  a solid organization that is in tune with it’s customers.  While other cruise lines may nickel and dime guests to death, make applying discounts and special offers difficult and are sticking with the old programs of yesterday, Royal Caribbean for many years has striven to be the one that is easy to do business with.  They commonly refer to what they do as “delivering the “Wow!” and work hard to make that happen.

When a guest steps foot on of their ships, they are totally into making that experience truly a “cruise of a lifetime” as they say.  There is a lot that goes into making and keeping this ship afloat as we have covered in our series of articles leading up to now. Those that get it will appreciate all that has gone into this ship, pay the price, and have a fabulous vacation that they truly can not get anywhere else.

Thinking about sailing on the Oasis?  Contact your travel agent today; right now Royal Caribbean is making it easier to enjoy those extras on Oasis and sister-ship Allure of the Seas with a special offer granting bonus onboard credit of $200 to those who book a December 2009 sailing of Oasis or $100 for a December 2010 through April 2011 sailing of Allure.  That’s not good for group sailings and other restrictions apply

I can get a whole lot of cupcakes for $200

Do be sure to join us right here, live on Oasis of the Seas starting early Thursday morning for the drive from Orlando to Port Everglades then look for reports throughout the day and night all about the ship

OK so Oasis has arrived, what’s next?

It’s going to be hard to beat that show this morning from Port Everglades this morning as thousands lined Jetty Park to welcome Royal Caribbeans 220,000 ton Oasis of the Seas.

Soon, Port Canaveral will welcome the new Carnival Dream.   I think about all they can do to beat this show is have veteran cruise director John Heald moon the crowd ashore as the petit (just 130,000 ton)  Dream passes by.

Carnival: Please no more CEO Gerry Cahill doing comedy.  Bob he is not.  Maybe before you leave the Big Apple, get  actor Eddie Cahill from CSI:New York to play the part instead.

In the mean time, next up is the new Carnival Dream, dedicated last night in New York.It was a lavish affair as most are but in a typical Carnival “Fun” way from what we could see on the live broadcast on Carnival’s Dream website

What I still want to know is the story behind the name of the ship…what with Disney Cruise Line coming out with their new Disney Dream followed by the Disney Fantasy.  I can see it pissing off Carnival that they used” Fantasy” since Carnival’s popular Fantasy class ships have been chugging around for years.  But hey, anybody who lives in Florida or pretty much any part of planet Earth knows that Disney has had the whole Dream and Fantasy thing locked up for a long time.

I suppose we could settle it with an arm wrestling match between all of Carnival’s characters and all of Disney’s characters.

Oh, maybe not

Our ship has come in

That’s right, the highly anticipated arrival of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas at Port Everglades is happening right now

But as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words so here, check out these videos from today and from our past reports on the building, layout and todays arrival

• Here are in Florida!
• Live from Port Everglades
• Central Park
• Everything from our daily Examiner.com column

Stay tuned too, we’ll have more as get it then be reporting live from Oasis starting next Thursday!

 

 

 

 

Oasis of the Seas in arrives in Florida

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas has arrived at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale

Before her arrival I reported that you  can watch as the ship came in via the Fort Lauderdale Inlet Cam. This is a safe site with a camera pointed in the direction of where Oasis will be coming as she makes her way to pier 18, her new home in Florida.   Bookmark that site and you can wave at your friends as they pass by on their cruise.  If you’re on a cruise yourself you can snicker as you pass by the Inlet Cam which is clearly marked as if to say “Wave goodbye to reality folks!”

I suggested going there about 7AM to get in, sit back with a cup of coffee and watch history unfold before your eyes.  By 6:30 the streaming webcam was overloaded but oh my the great front-seat view we had when it worked

Kicking off the festivities was a “Welcome Flotilla” organized by the Winterfest Boat Parade committee, with watercraft of all sizes meeting up and escorting the ship to its new home at Port Everglades. En route, the ship will pass a 1,500 sq. ft. custom-designed “Welcome to Fort Lauderdale, Oasis of the Seas” sand painting on the shores of the inlet to the port. Cruise enthusiasts had the opportunity to celebrate and watch the ship approach nearby at a public welcome party at the Jetty Pavilion at John U. Lloyd State Park, including complimentary park admission, refreshments and giveaways.  It was one of those “dang it’s cold out here this early in the morning” moments until we saw Oasis.

Upon arrival, the new $75 million, 240,000 square foot Terminal 18 at Port Everglades, the world’s largest single-ship cruise terminal, aptly received the vessel. Built specifically for Royal Caribbean’s new Oasis series, the terminal will serve as the home port for both the Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas (debuting in late 2010), which expect to generate more than 500,000 cruise passengers annually for Port Everglades.

Oasis of the Seas: big enough to see from home

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas is bearing down on Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale and arrival is expected around 8am tomorrow.   You can watch as the ship comes in via the Fort Lauderdale Inlet Cam.  This is a safe site with a camera pointed in the direction of where Oasis will be coming as she makes her way to pier 18, her new home in Florida.

I suggest going there now as you will need to register in order to see.  Tomorrow, log on about 7AM to get in, sit back with a cup of coffee and watch history unfold before your eyes.

We are ecstatic to be serving as the year-round home port for the Oasis of the Seas,” said Nicki E. Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “From conveniences such as the new Terminal 18 and central port location to our rich collection of hotels, restaurants and attractions, Greater Fort Lauderdale looks forward to welcoming these seafaring visitors and invites them to extend their stay.”

Kicking off the festivities will be a “Welcome Flotilla” organized by the Winterfest Boat Parade committee, with watercraft of all sizes meeting up and escorting the ship to its new home at Port Everglades. En route, the ship will pass a 1,500 sq. ft. custom-designed “Welcome to Fort Lauderdale, Oasis of the Seas” sand painting on the shores of the inlet to the port. Cruise enthusiasts will have the opportunity to celebrate and watch the ship approach nearby at a public welcome party at the Jetty Pavilion at John U. Lloyd State Park, including complimentary park admission, refreshments and giveaways.

Upon arrival, the new $75 million, 240,000 square foot Terminal 18 at Port Everglades, the world’s largest single-ship cruise terminal, will receive the vessel. Built specifically for Royal Caribbean’s new Oasis series, the terminal will serve as the home port for both the Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas (debuting in late 2010), which expect to generate more than 500,000 cruise passengers annually for Port Everglades.

Bloggers, writers silent at sea

It might be something we don’t think about much of the time, but keeping our oceans safe and clean goes hand in hand.  From the US Coast Guard, the cruise lines, harbor pilots and environmental groups, many have a hand in protecting our oceans and keeping them safe to travel on, play in or just look at.  Groups like travel writers and bloggers, marine law firms, and others also weigh in.

Sometimes these different groups get at odds with one another, but in the end, it seems as though they all do the right thing; protect the oceans.

The US Coast Guard, known and respected world-wide for their protection of US waters, is much more involved than one might imagine.  As a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services, it is unique in that it has a maritime law enforcement mission with jurisdiction both domestically and in international waters and as a federal regulatory agency.

Operating under the Department of Homeland Security, the Coast Guard can also be transferred to the Department of the Navy at a time of war by the President or Congress.  Besides rescue at sea, the Coast Guards missions include protecting against overfishing and protecting endangered species. On the environmental side they are also fighting against pollution, taking an active role in monitoring and investigating maritime accidents including oil spills, illegal discharges from ships plus cruise crew and passenger deaths   I feel good about what the Coast Guard does and commend them for their service.

The major cruise lines work closely with the US Coast Guard on a daily basis, relying on their assistance in an emergency.   The cruise lines also have fashioned environmental impact programs to help protect the oceans and keep crew and passengers safe at sea.  The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) weighs in on the topic, saying “The safety and security of cruise line passengers is the top priority of CLIA member cruise lines.”

Individual cruise lines all have their own programs to deal with health, environmental issues, safety and security.  Princess Cruises, part of Carnival Corporation who owns several different cruise lines, aims to exceed industry and governmental standards impacting the ocean.

Still, environmental groups such as Friends of the Earth report that “Cruise ships release vast quantities of pollution into our coastal and ocean waters” and supports the Clean Cruise Ship Act. As earlier reported, this group ranked Florida’s Disney Cruise Line low but without a lot of measurable  and comparable facts.   Let’s touch on one topic briefly.

Right now, cruise ships are permitted to discharge waste into navigable waters more than three miles from shore.  The Clean Cruise Ship act would prohibit cruise ships from discharging waste into navigable waters less than 12 nautical miles from U.S. Shore’s and would require that waste discharged beyond 12 nautical miles. The bill would impose liability for any criminal fines or civil penalties on the cruise ship itself.

Often, it is difficult to know who is telling the truth in these matters and sometimes the media is not much help.

When Friends of the Earth released their “Cruise Ship Environmental Report Card” earlier this year, they said “Millions of Americans take cruise vacations every year. However, most don’t realize that cruising is more harmful to the environment and human health than many other forms of travel. With ships that can carry up to 7,000 passengers and crew, these floating cities pollute the air we breathe and the water we use and enjoy.”

Ok, so they’re not exactly in the cruise lines corner on the topic.

The thing is: the cruise lines get it.

All major cruise lines have environmental policies and practices in place to minimize pollution and keep us safe at the same time.  Are they perfect?  Oh no, not at all.  But they are headed in the right direction fast by plugging into dockside electrical outlets instead of powering their ships by running their diesel engines, scoring high on health inspections performed onboard by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and complying with Federal and State pollution standards for cruise ships.

Here in Florida, Disney Cruise Lines takes big steps in that right direction with good transparency on their environmental efforts even offering a website with a closer look at their “Behind the Waves” program.

That program and others like it for cruise lines are not big news.  But say that cruise ships score low on a report issued by a fringe environmental group even without documentation to back it up and that’s big news.

Recently (as in going on right now), on a Princess cruise, a bunch of noted travel writers and bloggers were invited on board to write, blog and communicate via social media (search for #followmeatsea on Twitter) outlets about their experience.  I was disappointed that when the whole thing was hijacked electronically by foes of the cruise industry, aiming to discredit efforts made to improve environmental impact.

I was not disappointed that those environmental people and even a maritime law expert chimed in but that the travel writers and bloggers stood by and let it happen without standing up for the industry that, basically, makes them a living. It reminds me of a contrast I noticed when doing a story on Florida’s harbor pilots not long ago.

This is a group of professionals who find themselves at odds with the cruise lines who claim they make too much money.  That may very well be a debatable topic but these people are part of a system that works, keeps us safe and minimizes the environmental impact of cruise ships.  They know their role in all of it and the Captain on the ship knows what they do and how their roles interact.

I have a great deal of respect for all these people and all these groups, some more than others.  We can only hope that this system of interaction combined with regulation and enforcement continues to develop and improve.

Along the way, maybe I will learn to hang up that towel and help save the ocean too.

Oasis of the Seas = Safe

We are always told how safe cruise ships are.  As passengers we take that for granted.  Here, the Captain of  Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas introduces us to some extra measures on this ship like on no other.  No big surprise there, this ship is all about stuff that is on it and no other…at least for now.  As the latest and greatest the cruise industry has to offer, we expect cutting edge technology, unique and creative new ideas an exciting vacation that is everything we want it to be.

I said it on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom class ships and I’ll say it again for this one, not even having stepped foot on the ship yet:  If you can’t have a good time on this ship, you need to consider other vacation options.

I’m thinking that dropping acid might be a good shot for you.  It’s going to take a psychedelic trip of some sort to beat what Oasis has in store for us.  Be careful on that though ok?  The ship is probably much safer.

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Veterans Day; more than a day the post office and bank are closed

Veterans Day is much more than a day that the bank and post office are closed.  Oddly, that’s what touches most of our lives directly from year to year.

If you happen to have (or had) a friend or family member in the military, then it takes on a different meaning altogether.  I’m not much on poetry but I found this one today that says a lot about what I’ll be considering today

Heroes

By Jared Jenkins

In war, there are lives risked and lives taken

Men and women giving their best to defend what they love

They defend their country

Their honor

Their people

Some call them soldiers

Others call them heroes

Our veterans have risked their lives for us

They have lived through hell and fought with honor

Many have killed

And regret doing so

For every life, there is a soul

For every soul, there is a life

For those who have died, we show great appreciation and remembrance

For those who live, along with them live the horrific memories of battle

Some, memories of defeat

Some, memories of victory

Our veterans were more than soldiers

They were, and still are heroes

Oasis of the Seas update: Holiday sailings available

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, debuting in Port Everglades later this week, still has some staterooms available for this year’s holiday cruise season.

Normally sold out well in advance, the still-recovering US economy has a sliver lining for those in the market for a cruise vacation.  Holidays are special sailings and sailing on Royal Caribbean’s newest and largest ship with more amenities and features for guests would surely be a dream vacation for any avid cruiser.  Check with your travel agent for all the details and see the video below for more information on special things happening aboard Oasis of the Seas.

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Cruising from Florida: Carnival Dream update

The official naming ceremony of Carnival Cruise Lines’ new cruise ship Carnival Dream featuring Academy Award- and Tony Award-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden in the role of ship’s godmother will be broadcast live on the company’s web site, www.carnival.com/dream, beginning at 4 p.m. EST on Thursday, Nov. 12.

The Carnival Dream debuted in Europe September 21 and will operate a series of voyages from New York before repositioning to Port Canaveral to begin year-round Caribbean service December 3rd with some new features not on other Carnival ships.

The Chef’s Art Steakhouse, located on Spa Deck 12, will seat 139 and specialize in dry-aged beef. Carnival will charge $30 per person for this alternative restaurant. Reservations are recommended.

The Gathering, a two-level eatery, will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Options within The Gathering include a pasta bar, a burrito bar, a Mongolian wok, a 35-item salad bar and a tandoori oven serving Indian specialties. There is no charge to dine at the Gathering.

Located along the Promenade Deck will be Wasabi, a sushi bar serving complimentary sushi.

The Ocean Plaza, an indoor/outdoor cafe, will have a dance floor and a stage for live entertainment. Ocean Plaza also will offer full WiFi access and 12 stand-alone kiosks where guests can access the FunHub, the Carnival Dream’s onboard social network.

Within Ocean Plaza, the Plaza Cafe will sell specialty coffees, pastries and milkshakes. There also will be full bar service.

According to Carnival, the 130,000-ton Carnival Dream “ushers in an exciting new era in “Fun Ship” cruising”, offering a host of innovations. These also include Carnival WaterWorks, an expansive aqua park featuring the longest water slide at sea; more than 19,000 square feet of space dedicated to children and families; and a 23,750-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa, the largest in the line’s fleet.

Tropical storm delays start of two Carnival cruises

Two Carnival ships preparing for cruises from Mobile, Ala., and New Orleans will be delayed due to the path of Tropical Storm Ida.

The storm, downgraded from a hurricane on Monday morning, is expected to make landfall Tuesday morning.

The Carnival Fantasy’s first sailing from Mobile will be delayed one day due to the temporary closing of Mobile’s port. The Fantasy will now operate a modified five-day cruise leaving Nov. 11. The ship will call in Cozumel and Costa Maya.The Fantasy was originally scheduled to operate a six-day cruise departing Nov. 10.

Carnival said that passengers on the shortened trip will receive a pro-rated refund of the paid cruise. Passengers also have the option to cancel and receive a full refund.

The Carnival Triumph’s first sailing out New Orleans will also be delayed due to the closure of the port there. The Triumph will operate a three-day cruise from New Orleans departing Nov. 11, instead of a four-day cruise departing Nov. 10.

Guests on that cruise will get a 50% refund of their fare and can also cancel for a full refund. Carnival updates their website with the most current information frequently.

Oasis of the Seas- animated virtual tour

If it is true that “a picture is worth a thousand words” then this virtual tour of Oasis of the Seas is worth a million.  Watch as we walk though all the different neighborhoods and areas of the ship as an animator believes it will be.  Soon we will have live video of this same tour but for now, this does give a good idea of the scope and size of Oasis of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas makes Port Canaveral in Florida home soon.  Take a look at what we will see when we board the ship later this month and stay tuned for updates on Oasis, other new ships, and whatever is going on in the cruise vacation world, as it happens.

 

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Princess Cruises next for digital documents

Princess Cruise Lines photo

Princess Cruises, next to stop sending paper travel documents,  has debuted an innovative array of digital documents designed to transform the way passengers plan for and learn about their upcoming cruise. The all-new electronic format will deliver more information about their cruise than ever before, arriving conveniently by email and right to their computer desktop from the time of booking and continuing through departure.  Already in place on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and others, Princess becomes the next cruise line to do away with paper travel documents sent in the mail that you can hold in your hand.

Still, while wildly UNpopular with guests, Princess has a few different twists on how they are going about it.

The timely digital documents include a brand-new email series filled with personalized pre-cruise information, a downloadable Princess Countdown ConnectionSM widget that delivers useful and entertaining information to a passenger’s computer, personalized online luggage tags, and customizable shore excursion eBooks. The change from printed information to fully digital documents applies to all North American passengers on voyages departing on or after January 21, 2010.

“These new digital enhancements are yet another example of our commitment to service innovation,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises’ executive vice president. “Not only will our passengers receive the most comprehensive array of pre-cruise information we’ve ever made available, the information is also fully personalized, and the content is designed to build excitement and anticipation for their cruise with a rich collection of multi-media experiences. Digital documents are also more environmentally friendly.”

Princess’ new digital documents include:

Personalized Pre-Cruise Emails

As soon as passengers book their cruise, they will begin to receive a new series of four emails that are timed to deliver just the right information needed for each stage of the cruise planning process. Replacing a printed Cruise Answer Book, the emails include the passenger booking details and interactive content that gives passengers a fun, engaging way to learn more about the signature amenities and activities they will experience on their ship.

The information will be customized to the itinerary and the ship the passenger is sailing, and greetings are featured from some of the senior officers who will be sailing on their cruise. An array of links are also provided to such things as ship videos and virtual tours, bridge cams, dining options, entertainment choices, shipboard features and amenities, travel logistics, weather information, packing tips, frequently asked questions, Captain’s Circle benefits, important notices and reminders, and how to stay connected to family and friends while onboard.

Princess Countdown ConnectionSM

To help passengers anticipate and prepare for their upcoming sailing, the innovative Princess Countdown ConnectionSM widget is an eye-catching online clock that ticks down the days, hours and minutes until their cruise departs. The new application, which can be downloaded from the pre-cruise emails, can live right on a passenger’s computer desktop, and will automatically deliver an array of personalized information to them about their upcoming sailing such as dining, onboard activities, shore excursions and notices.

Personalized Online Luggage Tags

Passengers will also be able to print their own personalized luggage tags from their home or office computer. These new tags not only include the passenger’s name, but also feature their Captain’s Circle membership status, cabin number and embarkation information. Passengers will be able to print as many tags as needed to ensure all their luggage is properly marked prior to boarding the ship.  Carnival was the first to do this.  I have yet to talk to anyone who really loves this part of it all.    I have tried this, it does work.  Still, I strongly suggest tagging bags with your own luggage tags and then tagging each one twice with these flimsy, print-your-own luggage tags.  It’s a good idea to print an extra to put inside your luggage too.  Make it the last thing you put in which will make it the first thing someone sees if they have to open your luggage looking something that might identify your luggage from the others that have lost their luggage tags too.

The printable luggage tags debut for all voyages departing after December 1, 2009, and are accessible through the Cruise Personalizer. They can be printed up to 75 days prior to the sailing date. Generic luggage tags will continue to be available at the pier for passengers who may need them.

Shore Excursion eBooks (something else not to hold in your hand)

Beginning in December, passengers will be able to print their own personalized shore excursion eBook for their cruise. Using this innovative tool, passengers will be able to select their favorite excursions from the wide array offered in each port, and create their own customized eBook of shoreside experiences. Further details will be available next month.

Oasis Update- The Captain is still alive and more about the Aqua Theater

Royal Caribbean International

With just 4 days until arrival here in Florida at Port Everglades, Captain Wright is looking a bit under the weather (see video below).  Tom asked me if maybe he was feeling the effect of the rough seas.  That was last week and sure could have been the case.  If I had to guess, it looks to me like he’s just really tired.  I could say he looks like he was rode hard and put up wet as we used to say back in Kansas and that would work too.

In any event, looks like a nice nap for the Captain is in order.   Maybe he can grab a lounge chair by the Aqua Theater, our little mini-topic of the day!

The AquaTheater on Oasis of the Seas is an engineering marvel, with parts constantly moving and disappearing before the audience’s very eyes. See the machinery behind-the-scenes that makes the magic of this 6000-square-foot stage come to life.

It is all about a celebration of water where the pool and lounge area by day is transformed into a theatrical venue with seating for 600 (reservations available) featuring hundreds of water nozzles shooting up to 65 feet high. The water show, Oasis Dream, is synchronized to music and lights with acrobatics and high-diving taking place in and around the pool.

Complete with under water cameras to film performers when they have disappeared out of sight and broadcast images on giant LED screens on either side of the stage, the area also features twin diving towers connected by a bridge and a trapeze behind and trampoline between. Sounds more and more like a Cirque water show to me. Soon, we will have live footage of the show to share

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Online Cruise Vacation Resources

Yesterday, it was announced that due to weather conditions on the way, arrival of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas at Port Everglades will be delayed by two days.

Today our extensive coverage of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas continues with some interactive Internet sources sure to be favorites.  There are a lot of websites that mention Oasis but here are some I have run across that really do a great job of making sense of the worlds largest cruise ship. These first two from SunSentinel.com, offer some great insight and are really helpful if you’re trying to find your way around the ship, always a good idea before sailing.

• Take a virtual tour of the world’s largest cruise ship- allows us to zoom in and see where all the different areas we have been talking about actually are
• Terminal 18: The largest single-ship cruise terminal in the world- enables us to see where to go for both embarkation and disembarkation (click on “Inside Terminal”)
• CruiseCritic’s Countdown To Oasis- steadfast source of information, CruiseCritic.com has a special section just for Oasis of the Seas updates
• USA Today’s CruiseLog- Gene Sloan is right on top of things in the world of cruising with breaking news, in-depth reporting of on-going topics and more
• About.com:Cruises- Linda Garrison does a great job with cruising all over the world. Linda has cruised on a variety of ships from small sailing ships to mega-liners, budget-priced cruises to ultra-expensive.
• Orlando Cruise Vacations Examiner- that’s me. My main focus is on cruises that leave from Florida and we have a whole lot of those

All these are great sources of information.   Use them to research, keep up with what is going on and plan for the future.  When it comes time to book your cruise vacation don’t make a critical mistake; use a professional, certified travel agent.   As more and more of them go broke, the bad move of booking with an  Internet Cruise Broker is more and more like a hangover, totally avoidable.    Rule of thumb:  If all you have to do is click to order, you’re in the wrong place.

Carnival Names Godmother for new Carnival Dream

Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Lines announced today that Academy Award-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden will serve as Godmother on the new Carnival Dream which will be homeported at Florida’s Port Canaveral.

When the ship makes her North American debut on November 12 in New York,  Harden will reveal Carnival’s Big Book of Dreams - measuring 15.5 feet high by 20 feet wide – in New York City’s Rockefeller Center today and will conduct a special reading of the larger-than-life story to dozens of schoolchildren.

As part of a multi-year partnership with St Judes Childrens Hospital also announced today, Carnival has a goal of raising $3 million to help the hospital with its ongoing mission of finding cures for children with cancer.

“As a mother and actress driven by the idea of dreaming big, I’m honored to take on this new role as godmother of Carnival’s largest-ever ship and to help bring the Big Book of Dreams to life for local children,” said Marcia Gay Harden. “I’m also inspired by Carnival’s dedication to support and encourage all kids to dream big through its partnership with St. Jude.”

“We’re excited to have a dream-worthy lineup of activities to celebrate the launch of the Carnival Dream, including the talented Marcia Gay Harden as godmother, and to bring kid’s dreams to life in the biggest children’s book ever,” said Carnival President and CEO Gerry Cahill. “We are also very proud and honored to work with St. Jude to further support its wonderful work and inspire the children and families of St. Jude to never lose sight of their dreams.”

“We are so fortunate to work with compassionate companies like Carnival,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., Chief Executive Officer of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. “Every dollar donated by Carnival and its guests through the Care to Play fundraising activities will help St. Jude continue its efforts in finding the cures and providing the treatments that will save children’s lives. On behalf of everyone at St. Jude, thank you.”

Oasis of the Seas- Amazing Staterooms

Royal Loft Suite

One of the biggest differences Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas will offer guests is in the stateroom choices available to them.  With all the different “neighborhoods” there are even more different categories of cabins available from which to choose, 37 at last count.   It will probably take some time to see which are the most popular, which ones sell out first, or which ones are likely to be discounted.

Most impressive of the staterooms are the loft suites shown here.  The unique feature is the two deck high floor-to-ceiling windows with solid glasss for spectacular views of whatever happens to pass by.

Other accomodations are impressive as well with the latest features including RCTV television network allowing the booking of shore excurions, specialty restaurante reservations and more as well as oversized showers, telephone, private bath and more

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Oasis At Sea: Report from the Captain

Fully into the Atlantic, Captain Wright turns the ship into the ocean, slowing down to just 6 knots speed to allow for a smooth ride in near-hurricane force winds.

The ship “continues to perform wonderfully” he said in the video we have for you here today which shows those conditions at sea and gives us a glimpse of what Oasis is capable of in this environment.

The environmental impact of cruise ships is a topic that has been discussed a great deal. “The Oasis of the Seas will have such a dramatic impact that she will help more people understand all that cruising has to offer,” said Richard Fain, CEO and chairman of Royal Caribbean Cruises, parent company to Royal Caribbean International. “We are seeing a halo effect on the rest of our fleet,” he added. “We saw it when the Freedom entered service, too.”

Harri Kulovaara, executive vice president of maritime, said the size is a result of responding to guest expectations, and that more “real estate” allows broader product offering, more energy efficiencies and less environmental impact, and more safety by scale (more space enables more redundancies and better engine rooms, including double hull protection).

See and hear the Captain and Today’s Report

Oasis: Lots of little things make for a cool big ship

Royal Caribbean International

Now fully into the Atlantic Ocean on her way to Port Everglades the Captain reported yesterday that the ship was handling well in winds up to 60 knots. Without a doubt, advanced technology built into the ship is playing a big role in the handling and maneuverability they are experiencing on board right now.  The video you see here tells more of the technology that went into building the ship.

But with the exception of this video and others like it, guests rarely get a chance to see that side of technology.  There are some pretty amazing areas, some big and flashy, some small and subtle, that are built into Oasis of the Seas that guests will indeed experience first-hand.

Let’s take a look at Royal Caribbean International Chairman Richard Fain’s blog for some insight to what is in store for guests.

Gangway Button- If you have been on a cruise before you might know that guests do not always disembark from the same deck or side of the ship.  It depends on which port they are docked at or even which pier at a given port.  Many guests disembarking head down and follow the crowd.  On Oasis, they added a special button in each elevator marked “Gangway” which will be programmed to change at each port.  It’s a little thing but now all guests will have to do is find an elevator to know where to go, rather than listening to sometimes annoying announcements

Royal Caribbean has been working on announcements too though.  According to Fain, “We had three objectives: (a) ensure all safety announcements are clear and properly disseminated; (b) minimize all non-essential ship-wide announcements; and (c) make sure that we properly accommodate people who do not speak English.”  A lot of that will be taken care of with the very latest in-stateroom communication system.

As reported earlier, the ship’s Royal Caribbean Television network (RCTV) will have Internet capabilities, details on all ship venues, menus, hours of operation, etc as well as traffic flow updates for food venues, informing guests of which venue could best accommodate their party at any given time.

Communication has long been a strong point in the management of Royal Caribbean International. It is no surprise that they have gone to great lengths to examine what they are doing in this area and improve upon it for the launch of Oasis of the Seas.

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A complex array of offerings in the Adventure Ocean children’s program is a good example of this communication in action.  ”We have never had such an exciting Children’s Program or such extensive facilities with which to present it” Fain said along with a PowerPoint presentation to explain it all.

Stay tuned for more updates as they occur, right here

Oasis of the Seas- What about the shows?

Royal Caribbean International

With over 5000 guests on the ship, I have had several people ask me “How will all those people be able to fit in the theater for the show?”  Darn good question.  Little did I know that the Captain would start me on a path to get the answer to that which we have for you here today.

On route to Port Everglades, the cast and crew take advantage of this time at sea to practice and rehearse their roles in the production of the Broadway show, Hairspray which will be in the big Opal Theater aboard Oasis of the Seas.

While entertainment on cruise ships has commonly been of the Vegas-style extravaganza with lots of feathers and kick lines, Royal Caribbean is going all out with this first production, sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Three months in advance of their sailing, guests may pre-reserve at seat at such entertainment options as ice shows, “Splish Splash,” or “Hairspray,” among other choices.

All shows onboard Oasis of the Seas are free to guests. Guests who pre-book shows will use their electronic cruise pass card to enter the theater. Charly McDonald, the line’s manager of guest activities and entertainment technical operations, said clients who pre-book a show will gain entry to the show but not be booked into a specific seat.

What if you are more spontaneous? What if you don’t want to pre-book? You will still be able to arrive at the entertainment venue unannounced and be granted entry if space is available. But if the show is fully booked, an on-site box office will give them a reservation at a show later the same evening or later in the cruise.

View a video about all this at today’s Examiner.com report

Oasis of the Seas: Technology at work…and play

Royal Caribbean International

As Oasis of the Seas continues her way to home here in Florida at Port Everglades, construction workers on board continue to ready the ship, crew members perfect their jobs and the world waits.

At 220,000 tons, the largest cruise ship in the world offers pretty much something for everyone…but don’t all cruise ships offer something for everyone?   So what makes this one so special other than her huge size?

One element is the technology that went into the design and building of the ship.  Obviously it takes a lot of work to make something that big, let alone to divide it up into 7 different neighborhoods.  A good deal of the technology it takes to make it all work we will never see.  What we will see though is many innovative design elements that will deliver what Royal Caribbean International calls the “Wow” factor.

Digital signage is one of those elements.  Through a network of 377 public area screens, 56 of which are interactive, guests can find information easily and navigate the ship, see real-time show availability and timely information on dining, guest services and port information.

The ship’s Royal Caribbean Television network (RCTV) will have Internet capabilities, details on all ship venues, menus, hours of operation, etc as well as traffic flow updates for food venues, informing guests of which venue could best accommodate their party at any given time.  Each stateroom’s personal calendar will show specialty restaurant reservations, shore excursion bookings, show ticket reservations plus boarding and departure time for each port.

Guests can also use their in-stateroom TV to

• Purchase and watch movies and trailers
• Browse the Internet
• Watch select broadcast TV and news
• Order wine and room service for delivery to stateroom
• View activities and events for each day
• View information about all the features on the ship
• Book reservations for onboard shows (ice shows, Opal theater, Aqua Theater and Comedy Club)
• Book shore excursions
• Review SeaPass onboard charge account
• View status of and sign up for pre-paid gratuities and more

SeaPass Cards, each guest’s onboard identification, stateroom key and onboard charge card will be different and incorporate advanced technology also

• Guests Muster Station enlarged on the card.  SeaPass card will be swiped at muster station during safety drill for attendance
• Photo number now printed (to easily locate photos)
• When guest signs Onboard Activity Waivers online, SeaPass card will contain which waivers they signed
• When guests pre-reserve Entertainment Reservations online, SeaPass card will contain which shows they made reservations for

Oasis will also be the first ship to have the new WOW Phone, a handheld WiFi devise that will enable telephone calling between devises and the shipboard telephone system, text messaging between devices and real-time ability to locate a member of your party.  In addition, guests will also be able to view their weekly calendar and the Cruise Compass, the ship’s daily newspaper.

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Royal Caribbean International: The Road to Oasis

As Oasis of the Seas makes her way to Port Everglades, let’s take a look at how this company, Royal Caribbean International, got to where it is today; building the largest cruise ship in the world.

Back in 1970, Song of Norway, Royal Caribbean International’s first ship had a gym in an empty cabin that consisted of a rowing machine and a treadmill. Not many people used the gym, or made any effort to find it. Today, Royal Caribbean’s newest ships feature the largest fitness centers and spas at sea, overlooking the vast expanses of the oceans, ports and global destinations the cruise line visits. Pools that were once inside the ship and on the lowest level have evolved into entire water parks and poolscapes running the length of the uppermost decks and on some Royal Caribbean ships, guests can actually surf! Innovative maritime architecture that can deliver the trademark “WOW” experiences for guests is a prime directive of the Royal Caribbean brand, and the cruise line’s newest ship, Oasis of the Seas, continues an evolution that is nothing short of revolutionary.

“The company culture at Royal Caribbean is about putting unlimited energy into design in order to make our ships as innovative and encompassing possible. Our ships offer a world of possibilities that the guest can cater to his or her, or their families needs,” said Richard Fain, Chairman & CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “We do not set out to build the largest ships in the world; we set out to build the most amazing collection of experiences, amenities and activities at sea.”

In the early 1990’s, Royal Caribbean unveiled one of its signature elements on Sovereign of the Seas, the Viking Crown Lounge, which wrapped around the funnel of the ship and served as the ultimate “observation deck” for cruisers. This design allowed for sweeping views of the sea (and the occasional whale and dolphin sightings) providing an aesthetically pleasing look to the top decks of the Sovereign-class ships.

In 1999, Royal Caribbean unveiled the anxiously awaited 137,276 GRT Voyager of the Seas. Carrying 3,114 guests, she was the largest cruise ship in the world and delivered an experience that was once thought impossible on a ship – the immensely popular and now iconic rock-climbing wall, an indoor ice-skating rink, and in-line skating.

In 2006, the cruise line topped its own benchmarks by building, yet again, the largest and most innovative cruise ship in the world. Freedom of the Seas made her spectacular premiere with never-before-seen features including: the FlowRider surf simulator, H2O interactive water park, cantilevered whirlpools, and a boxing ring, thus living up to Royal Caribbean’s standard of envelope-pushing amenities.

In its latest evolution in cruise ship design, Oasis of the Seas now takes the stage as the ultimate expression of Royal Caribbean’s legacy of imagination and innovation. Once again, the global cruise line has introduced elements never before seen on a cruise ship, including the neighborhood concept – seven themed areas providing guests with the opportunity to seek out relevant experiences based on their personal style, preference or mood. Within these seven neighborhoods – Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, Pool & Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone – are extraordinary elements such as the first park at sea; a thrilling zip line that races diagonally nine-decks above an open-air atrium; an original handcrafted carousel; 28 multilevel urban-style loft suites boasting floor-to-ceiling windows; an amphitheater-style space that serves as a pool by day and a dazzling ocean front theater with professional aquatic acrobatic and synchronized swimming performances by night; and an array of epicurean innovations that allow for new culinary experiences each day of a guest’s cruise vacation.

“Royal Caribbean continues to evolve, enhance and perfect the cruise vacation experience. Oasis of the Seas is truly an architectural and nautical feat. It offers a new kind of cruise that is personalized with neighborhoods designed around common functions and themes that are sensational yet intimate in nature and provides an immersive ambiance for each guest,” stated Harri Kulovaara, Executive Vice President, Maritime Operations, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “This is truly the next step in cruise evolution.”

Oasis of the Seas is the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship in the world. An architectural marvel at sea, it spans 16 decks, encompasses 225,282 gross registered tons, carries 5,400 guests at double occupancy, and features 2,700 staterooms. Oasis of the Seas is the first ship to tout the cruise line’s new neighborhood concept of seven distinct themed areas, which includes Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone. The ship sails weekly from her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Additional information is available at www.OasisoftheSeas.com. where you can find daily videos of the transatlantic crossing underway right now.

Oasis of the Seas: Dining Options

Royal Caribbean International

With just 8 days until Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas first calls at Florida’s Port Everglades, the crew on board the ship is busy getting ready for the first guests.

Part of that preparation includes testing the various dining options offered on the ship, 24 at last count, ranging from familiar signature restaurants and eateries to neighborhood-specific themed venues.  24 hours a day, there are more choices for dining on this ship than any other now sailing.

So here is a primer on all we can choose from, sorted by the neighborhood areas of the ship

The Boardwalk

• Johnny Rockets- Extending the signature “eat-ertainment” hours, a diner breakfast menu will be introduced. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; $3.95 breakfast and $4.95 lunch and dinner cover charge.
• Ice Cream Parlor-An 1950s-style ice cream venue serving classic sundaes and 15 different kinds of ice cream mixed with toppings to order on a frozen slab. Open throughout the day Ala carte pricing.
• Donut Shop-A classically styled shop with casual snacks available all day. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Boardwalk Bar-Full scale bar with specialty drinks tailored to the area. Also serves salads, sandwiches, and other quick food.
• Seafood Shack-The indoor/outdoor casual family restaurant will bring the surf style of beach side amusement parks to the Boardwalk, serving a variety of seafood, as well an extensive beverage menu of non-alcoholic cocktails and over-sized desserts. Open for lunch and dinner; $7.95 lunch and $9.95 dinner cover charge.

The Royal Promenade

• Mondo Cafe/Coffee Bar- A new addition to the Royal Promenade will feature coffee, sandwiches and pastries native to countries such as Italy, Spain and Cuba. Steps from Boleros and open around the clock, it is sure to be popular after an evening on the dance floor. Open for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner and late night treats.
• Sorrento’s Pizza- signature New York style pizzeria features the read-to-go items introduced not long ago on the Freedom class ships and made to order pizza’s just for you.  Open for lunch, dinner and late night (but not 24 hours, that’s Carnival)
• Cafe Promenade- our personal favorite “:quick” place to eat on other ships on the opposite end of the Promenade from Mondo Café (see above), this one continues the Seattle’s Best Coffee as a centerpiece for pastries, sandwiches, fruit shakes and a menu that evolves throughout the day.  Take a glance over there whenever you walk by.

Central Park

• 150 Central Park- with an additional fee of $35 per person, this promises to be the most exclusive dining venue o the ship featuring multi-course meals paired with wines and an extensive wine list.  I bet we will hear “Don’t eat all day if you are going here for dinner” comments right off the bat.
• Giovanni’s Table- Open for lunch ($10) and dinner ($15), the casual Italian eatery (think Olive Garden at sea) serves family style pizza, salads, pastas, and I bet there’s a breadstick around someplace
• Chops Grille-signature steakhouse with a $25 per person cover charge.  Popular on all other ships in the fleet, I bet some of the new offerings on this ship give it a run for the money, literally.
• Vintages- also a signature offering on other ships in the fleet, this one will have an extensive tapas menu (that alone will make it a busy place) as well as a selection of cheeses at this popular wine bar with a la carte pricing.
• Park Café- A casual dining choice providing a high level of variety and flexibility, Park Café will be an indoor/outdoor gourmet market with walk-up counters. From freshly prepared salads and made-to-order sandwiches, to paninis, crepes and hearty soups, guests will order directly from the chefs behind food stations. European pastries, sublime chocolates and decadent fudge will round out the offerings. Open for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner and late night treats.

Pool and Sports Zone

• Solarium Bistro-Located in the Solarium, the contemporary bistro will offer health-conscious dining for breakfast and lunch in a casual setting. In the evenings, Solarium Bistro will transform into a romantic and intimate dining setting for specialty healthy-fare dinner and dancing under the stars. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; dinner has a $20 cover charge.
• The Wipe Out Café-The casual self-service buffet will offer a variety of options from pizza, hamburgers, sandwiches and fresh salads to quick snacks and desserts, for young cruisers on-the-go. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center

• The Vitality Café-Located at the entrance of the Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, the Vitality Café will feature healthy snacks, sandwiches, wraps and fruit, in addition to refreshing juices and smoothies from the Vitality spa menu for the calorie conscious guest. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

More Oasis Dining Options

• Opus Dining room-The three-level main dining room will revive the grandeur of the 1920s and feature French art deco design. Catering to guests’ varying preferences, the newly introduced My Time Dining and My Family Time Dining, as well as the traditional main and late seating options will be offered. My Time Dining provides guests with the option to enjoy the dining room ambiance with Royal Caribbean’s renowned Gold Anchor Service whenever they wish during dining hours. Guests choosing My Time Dining will not have a pre-assigned table, but will be seated in the ships main dining room and will order from the same traditional dinner menu. My Time Dining guests can make daily reservations for specific seating times or choose to walk in. My Family Time Dining accommodates parents and children by offering an expedited 40-minute dining service for young cruisers, ages 3-11. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Windjammer Marketplace-Offering great flexibility for breakfast, lunch and dinner, this next generation of the popular self-service buffet area will feature multiple islands, each serving a variety of different menu options
• Izumi-The new Asian cuisine restaurant will feature a sushi bar and hot rock cooking, as well as other Asian fare in a more formal setting. Open for lunch and dinner;Ala carte pricing.
• Room Service-guests wanting to enjoy a meal in the comfort of their staterooms will be able to choose from the complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, as well as the recently introduced Dine in Delights menu, which offers name-brand culinary options ranging from the Original Johnny Rockets hamburger to Ghirardelli Chocolate Cookies. Open 24 hours a la carte pricing for Dine In Delights and $3.95 service charge for in-room deliveries between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.  Sorry kids, no free steaks at 3am.

Oasis of the Seas update: 9 days to Florida

Royal Caribbean International

On her way to Port Everglades to sail year-round 7-day Caribbean sailings, Royal Caribbean Internationals Oasis of the Seas passed one more test barely making it under Denmark’s Great Belt Bridge with just two feet to spare.  (See Video)

Oasis will make her debut on November 20 when the ship will be shown to the world for the first time aboard ABC’s popular morning show Good Morning America.  We will be on board for that sailing and will send you all the latest information.  The official naming ceremony will be 10 days later and the ship will embark on it’s first cruise December 1.

Oasis is just one of the new cruise ship’s we are covering too. Subscribe to me today to get all the latest information on the new Carnival Dream coming soon as well as the two new Disney Cruise Line ships, Dream and Fantasy,  coming in 2011 and 2012.

Dang good question

So I get this email right?

“Is something going on with cruise prices?  I have been getting some emails about pricing for 4 and 5 day cruises for under $200 a piece.  Are the ships trying to fill up?  If so, this sure does sound like a great time to cruise. What’s the news?”

What to do but respond accurately:

Nothing new really.

A large number of people who might have booked far in advance didn’t and are tending to still cruise, they’re not stopping that…but they are waiting and cautious about committing to a vacation or other big ticket item…or they were I should say.

It appears that the tide is turning on the economy and people are out buying again. That’s just perfect for cruises. Since so many buyers did not buy a long time ago as they usually did, that created a huge surplus of cabins available. Not to let those cabins just sit the cruise lines encouraged the heck out of group cruises.

Well, see the thing about groups is that it makes the cruise lines feel good and feel confident because lots of cabins are “spoken for” meaning there are travel agencies with blocks of rooms to sell. So part A of their plan worked very well. They offered more incentives for groups and got lots of agencies to commit to group space.

The problem was with part B of the plan. Regardless of where the available cabin came from, people still were not buying. They might get in on a cruise but cancel when payments were due, not ready to commit. So while the cruise lines are feeling all warm and fuzzy about having so many cabins committed they really did not have anything special there at all. They just had more cabins back on their hands a bit later, when the travel agencies reached the end of their option period on the cabins and gave them back to the cruise lines. Now they’re having a fire sale rather than have cabins sail empty with nobody to pay the tips, lose money in the casino, have a drink, etc

That’s one reply to your excellent question.

Another would be; boys will be boys and the cruise lines are getting more creative in their marketing efforts, grabbing your attention one way or another. Look at the fine print. I see this every day; big flashy headline price that is a whole lot more by the time they pay.

There’s still no free lunch.

These deals that sound unbelievably good normally are not exactly as good as they seem.

If you are seeing ads from anyone other than the cruise lines themselves, more and more fees are being charged it seems. Lots of non-refundable processing fees, lots of extra, sometimes hefty, cancellation fees that you agree to let them charge when you buy.

I never liked those but have seen some that do make a bit of sense and are starting to crop up some. Those are the small handling fees some agencies are charging for handling short cruises. Often the cruise lines have those so low priced that the agencies are really not getting much at all out of it financially. You really don’t want them operating like that. Your professional travel agent can create such value for you over the years that you want to take care of them.

I realized that was one way to look at it and it reminded me of how very important the business relationship between travel agents and their clients is.  I get it.  I think more and more people who have been burned by their Internet Cruise Brokers, attempts to just “do it online themselves” or even those who deal directly with the cruise line…you would think at least that would be worry-free…and to a good extent it is, except that the cruise line is never going to look for a lower price for you and automatically apply it.    They would have to do that and then some to beat the value a good travel agent affords us.

I have a daughter who recently graduated college with a degree in public relations.  She moved to Chicago where she works with a major public relations firm on the cutting edge of social media.  You don’t have to read these people’s blogs, tweets, Facebooks, or what they doodle on the back of a cocktail napkin very long to see how front and center building relationships is.  Travel agents have known this all along.

A good one is waiting for all of us.

Carnival’s Funship Sensation more fun now

Carnival Cruise Lines has introduced a new children’s dining program that provides kids with delicious supervised meals with their fellow young cruisers in the ships’ casual poolside restaurants while parents enjoy a night to themselves.

The new children’s dinners – the latest component of the line’s complimentary “Camp Carnival” program – are available fleetwide and take place in the ships’ Lido Deck eateries, the “Seaview Bistros.” Dinners take place from 6-7 p.m. After which children are welcome to partake in regularly scheduled “Camp Carnival” activities until 10 p.m.

The children’s dinners are available nightly on three- and four-day voyages except for the first night of the cruise. On voyages of five days or longer, the dinners are available nightly except for the first and last night of the cruise.

A different menu is featured each night and includes items such as spaghetti with meatballs, chicken quesadillas, hamburgers, hot dogs, roasted chicken drumsticks, pepperoni pizza, fish sticks, chicken nuggets, roasted turkey, and grilled salmon steak. Popular side dishes include French fries, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. A 35-item salad bar is also available. Desserts include assorted ice cream and seasonal fresh fruit.

Other popular dining options for children sailing aboard the “Fun Ships” include 24-hour pizzerias, a grille serving hot dogs and hamburgers and 24-hour ice cream/frozen yogurt stations. Children’s menus are available in all main dining rooms. A special children’s turn-down service offering freshly baked chocolate chip cookies on the first and last night of the cruise, and the “Fountain Fun Card,” which, for a one-time fee, provides unlimited soft drinks throughout the cruise, are also available.

The new children’s dinners complement the wide variety of fun morning-til-night activities included in the line’s popular “Camp Carnival” program, featured on all 19 “Fun Ship,” which are expected to host some 400,000 children this year.

“Camp Carnival” activities are geared toward children ages 2-15, who enjoy such amenities as indoor and outdoor play areas, computer labs, arts and crafts centers, video game rooms, a new EduCruise science/geography program and more.

New Disney Dream fueled by imagination

Disney Cruise Line

When the new Disney Dream debuts in January of 2011, Disney Cruise Line will once again break new ground with creative new features never before seen on any cruise ship.

Doubling the size of the fleet with sister-ship Disney Fantasy in 2012, the cruise line will “be able to take families to even more places they never imagined they could visit – in true Disney style” said Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo.

New features abound in the new mostly Art-Deco and sail alternating 3 and 4 night cruise to the Bahamas and their private island, Castaway Cay from Port Canaveral .

Here are my favorites:

The AquaDuck Theatre sweeps away guests on a high-speed flume ride featuring twists, turns, drops, uphill acceleration and river rapids…all over the deck of the ship. 765 feet in length, four decks tall and sliding 13 feet out over the side of the ship in a clear swing out loop where guests can look 150 feet down to the ocean below at 20 feet per second this is not for the faint of heart. I will never get my wife on this.

A Virtual Porthole for inside cabins features the latest in stateroom innovation. Using High-Definition cameras, guests see real-time video outside of the ship. Why did no one think of this before now? All of the sudden, interior cabins, once considered less desirable, have a whole new life. Those who say “I’ll just book an inside cabin and save the money, I never am in the cabin much anyway” might be hanging out in there now. Think there will be some giant squids to see?

More for adults featuring The District, a nightly entertainment area with five different and unique lounges, Senses Spa an Salon with all the latest treatments and favorite Palo returns with every seat offering fabulous views of the surrounding ocean.

Disney Cruise Line reveals details of new ships

Disney Cruise Line

In a live webcast today, Disney Cruise Line revealed details of the latest ship in the fleet, Disney Dream which will be sailing from Port Canaveral in 2011.

With all the fanfare and hoopla you might expect from Disney, Chairman Bob Igor opened the program with special announcements for Castaway Club Members including the appointment of perky veteran cruise director Rachel Quinn as cruise director of the new Disney Dream.

Sailing in 2011, followed by the Disney Fantasy in 2012, Disney Imagineers have been hard at work creating new, different and exciting features for the new ship which will have what Igor called “the Disney Difference”.

“Marvels” being created on the new ship include

• Disney Skyline bar which will show the skyline of various cities around the world, changing as the night continues
• Virtual portholes in the ships interior cabins will make inside cabins seem like oceanview cabins with a Disney character stopping by from time to time
• The Walt Disney Theater and Buena Vista Theatre will show first-run movies
• The Aquaduck is a high speed thrill ride like a roller coaster on a cruise ship, curving up and down and even out over the side of the ship, dropping down within inches of the ocean below

Oasis of the Seas Update: Southampton, here she comes!

Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International announced today that new fleet star Oasis of the Seas will make a “technical call” in Southhampton on Monday, November 2 before heading to Florida on a TransAtlantic crossing.

Mainly to drop off hundreds of workers not not needed on the TransAtlantic sailing, the stop will be brief but afford local cruise-lovers an opportunity to see the 361 meter long ship in person.

Heralded as one of man’s greatest building marvels, Oasis of the Seas was delivered to Royal Caribbean International yesterday in Turku, Finland by shipbuilder STX Europe, 12 days ahead of schedule.

On Friday, Oasis begins her first Transatlantic crossing, arriving in Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades to be unveiled to the public for the first time on ABC’s popular morning show Good Morning AmericaNovember 20th.

Readers can follow along on a special website, www.OasisOfTheSeas.com, as the ship makes her way to Florida with daily webisodes and Google Map applications pinpointing the location of the ship.  On November 19, join us onboard as we send along live video reports including a kickoff concert performance by recording artist Rihanna, the first Sailaway celebration, profiles of the various areas of the ship and more.

Today’s webisode is all about the over 9,000 piece art collection aboard the ship dubbes “a museum at sea” where we get a sneak peek at some of the sculptures designed especially for the ship

Subscribe right here for all the latest information or follow me on Twitter @OrlandoChris for instant updates.

A ride on Majesty of the Seas

Simply sailing from Miami is part of the fun

Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas offers a value-priced short cruise sailing from Miami. This is a great cruise for those within driving distance or those who might combine one of these sailings with a land vacation in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area.

This is not one of Royal Caribbean’s new ships with all the bells and whistles they’ve become famous for like Oasis of the Seas debuting at Port Everglades next month.   But the ship is well-maintained and the service on a par with any other in the fleet.

Embarkation in Miami is a breeze. By completing registration information online we were able to print a SeaPass which makes things move along very nicely. I like Royal Caribbean’s terminal operations and the ease of which one can get in and out of the Port of Miami, still the busiest cruise port in the world. I was somewhat surprised to find security lax in comparison to other, recent, visits. It has been the norm for several years here to be stopped on arrival and required to show identification. Not this time. In the terminal itself, it looked like even the cruise lines security requirements had been loosened up a bit.

Surely, the cruise lines x-ray stop is not as thorough as the airlines but on this occasion they seemed much more interested in moving the line along than what was in our luggage.

On this cruise, being just a 3 day, we’d not packed much and opted to carry on everything in our individual luggage, one for me and one for my wife. Again I was surprised that I didn’t even have to take my laptop computer out of the bag. I guess it all works out though because I am writing this at the end of the cruise and the ship hasn’t been blow up yet.

OUR CABIN

We’d opted for the least expensive, inside cabin on this cruise. The accommodations were tight at 120 square feet but had everything we needed and offered plenty of storage space. A highlight of this cabin was the shower. Unlike some other seafaring showers, this one packed a punch equal to any land based showers and offered plenty of space. Considering the age of this ship I’d expected the old-fashioned phone booth variety. This one was about double phone booth size. Still not what one might find in a hotel but, again, adequate.

One part of the cabin experience that I found odd was the television programming. I’d heard that Royal Caribbean (RCL) had a new person in charge of this area and that things had really improved. Not on this ship. We have been in the habit of watching at least one movie on each cruise. If you’ve not done this you really should. For years after when the film you saw onboard is mentioned or you see clips of it elsewhere you’ll remember it and say “Oh, we saw that on the cruise! This was the first time were we’d not been able to find a schedule of what was playing in the daily Compass ships newsletter. We did manage to figure it out though and saw our movie.

An area of cabin operations that was quite impressive was our cabin steward, Sydney. This guy did a great job of getting in and out of our cabin when we were gone. He paid attention. Some don’t. He didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. He didn’t blow us away. He just paid attention. We had a small soft-sided cooler we’d brought because we like to have extra ice in the cabin. We didn’t even mention filling it up or keeping it full; he just did it.

He paid attention.

We found service in every area of the ship to be consistently attentive. That’s saying a lot. Often there are some areas better than others. On this ship all areas were efficient and friendly.

What more could you ask for?

In the past I’ve heard others say and even on occasion said myself “they treat you like kings on a cruise” I’d found that pretty truthful and accurate in the past but had kind of shied away from it on recent sailings. The staff on this ship brought that phrase back into the spotlight with brilliant clarity.

ONBOARD ACTIVITIES

What we like to see

What can I say?  I won in the casino and that washes away a whole lot of negatives.  Not that there were many on this sailing but you get the idea.

The cruise director and staff also did a really good job of packing all the activities you might find on a longer cruise into this short one. It did not just seem like there was something going on all the time, there was. Pool games, dance lessons, rock-wall climbing, a full blown kids program in Adventure Ocean, nightly production entertainment, all the elements were there.

This would have been a great “sample cruise” for someone who had not sailed before in the entertainment area. It was also a great cruise for locals from the Miami area. With a high percentage of Hispanic guests onboard, music contained a higher amount of Salsa and Latin-beat selections.

The Cruise Director and staff were paying attention; they gave the guests what they wanted.

TECHNOLOGY

Even computer access was great. On other ships the connection has been slow, this one was good and fast. Wi-Fi access was also a breeze to get signed up for and various packages could be purchased at reasonable prices.

Cell phone use was also available at all times on this ship. A strong signal made communicating with the outside world doable if one wanted to. Again, somebody was paying attention. I did not see many using cell phones but the service was available to those who needed it.

FOOD

Let me start by saying that we tried something different on this cruise. We never ate in the dining room. We had tried this on Royal Caribbean’s Sovereign of the Seas a few months earlier with great success and I wanted to see if that was a fluke or if there was consistent quality in the buffet operations.

What I found was that this is the one area of this ship that needs work. The taste of the food is always a very subjective element and difficult to define. One person may like the flavor of a particular item while another doesn’t care for it. The trick on a cruise is to offer a wide enough variety so that there is truly something for every one. In most cases I’ve found that there is a lot of variety and finding something you like is not an issue. Here too, the variety, for the most part, was there.

There are, however, certain aspects of foodservice that are not difficult to define at all. Food handling procedures are one of these items. I was in the restaurant business for 20 years and know a thing or two about the workings of a mass feeding operation. One of the simple, basic, and critical rules written in stone is “Cold things Cold and Hot things Hot”. This operation failed miserably in this area at every turn.

Here are a few examples

Part of every buffet is a cold section with deli meats and cheeses. These are placed on a bed of ice to maintain a safe, cold temperature. Several times I saw where the ice was allowed to completely melt and the food left to come up to room temperature. On this ship part of the Windjammer service area is in the open where the ambient temperature was 80 plus degrees, a breeding ground for food-related illness.

On the hot side, the same could be said for just about everything. I wish I had a thermometer with me because I’d bet that most hot products wouldn’t make it past 100 degrees, again in the danger zone. The only products we had on this cruise that were truly hot were cooked to order omelette’s at breakfast and cooked to order pasta for dinner.

TIP: Get to know the Pasta Chef who works in the dining room preparing pasta dishes to your order. Best food on the ship.

I’ve run into this before, this is not unique to this ship. But on other ships we’ve had alternative restaurant choices. On this one, it’s the dining room, buffet or room service, that’s it.

The thought crossed my mind that it would not be entirely inaccurate to say “If you want some good food on this cruise, bring it with you” But I think that might be a bit harsh.

As mentioned, variety and taste are very subjective areas and difficult to rate. Except when it came to desserts on this ship. Somebody must have gotten a real deal on cake mix because cake was the anchor of the dessert menu that caused the menu to sink.

Don’t get me wrong.

I like cake.

But this flavorless, unfrosted, lackluster substitute, which might have been a treat to a prison inmate, was just horrible. That wouldn’t be a problem if it was just one part of the menu but often it was the entire menu with the exception of Chips Ahoy quality cookies.

This area of the ship had “we’re really trying to cut costs” written all over it.

It was at this point that I started looking for other signs of a tight budget manifesting itself into an effect on the quality of operations.

Don’t get me wrong; I think any business needs to be run in an efficient and cost-effective manner. That’s just good business.

But when budget-controlling measures affect the quality of operations to the point where they begin to define the operation then I think somebody needs to be really sure that’s what they want to do.

It’s hard for me to imagine that Royal Caribbean wants to be known for being the cruise line with the lousy desserts. Or the cruise line that can’t afford to buy enough plates so guests wait for them at the buffet line or can’t hold them in their hands because they are too hot because they just came off the dish machine and were run to the buffet line. I doubt they want to be known as the one who let spills sit on the floor, creating a safety hazard.

But maybe they were just not paying attention.

I watched one day at lunch as a uniformed officer/manager roamed the dining room completely oblivious to what was going on around him. He wasn’t paying attention. He never spoke to any of the crew. He never spoke to any of the guests. He just walked around doing nothing about elements of the dining experience screaming at him for attention. These were easy-fix things too. A guest wandering around looking for a glass of water, a spilled drink all over the floor, dirty tables everywhere with other guests looking for one to use to name a few.

To be fair, I think everything they needed was in place, they just weren’t utilizing what they had to work with well.

There seemed to be plenty of chefs, foodservice crew and managers but yet the rolls were obviously baked too far in advance. Maybe they don’t have enough ovens to make it happen. Maybe they have to bake bread earlier in the day so the ovens are available to make more cake later in the day.

If they’re serving up this low quality of food in an attempt to save money they’re really missing the boat. If they took a look at the volume of food that was left uneaten on plates they might get a clue. This was not that guests took more than they could eat. This was that they took one bite and didn’t continue eating. I would bet that this ship makes more pizza than others in the fleet. It was not uncommon to see guests eating pizza at the same table as their buffet plate which had barely been touched.

Who’s fooling who here?

On paper they might find that the flavorless institutional cake is less expensive to produce but what are they really saving if they throw it all away?

If you’ve followed my reviews you might be tempted to say “has this guy EVER been on a bad cruise?”

No, I haven’t.

On the bright side:
• The pizza was awesome and room service had some highlights worth mentioning. What made the pizza consistently good is that they never got too far ahead on it. It was always piping hot and fresh out of the oven. The pizza guy paid attention.
• On room service the Tuna Pita sandwich, Cheesecake and even the Hamburgers were very good. Ok so skip my personal opinion that they tasted good and stick to the facts. The hamburgers, for some reason, came hotter from room service than on the buffet line. Somehow the hot food was hotter and the cold food colder.
• The midnight Caribbean buffet served on deck including ice carving demonstration was worth staying up for. Lobbing off the pigs head was a bit much for the kids who probably didn’t sleep real well that night but still a cool deal

With the exception of foodservice, this ship is great. Royal Caribbean does so many things right that it really slaps you in the face when they drop the ball. I hope there are plans in the works to fix this because it is definitely broken.

How to find a cruise

Photo: Royal Caribbean International

The first thing you do NOT want to do is visit the site of an Internet Cruise Broker. While the attractive pricing may grab your eye, in the end their “find everything right here” way of presenting cruise information is almost always deceiving. more…

The most efficient way to go on your own is to visit the major cruise lines website and their “find a cruise”pages. I like this method because you can

• Count on the offers being legtitmate and available.
• See what shore excursions they offer to go with their sailings
• Compare pricing on several sailings or ship

They too like to put their best foot forward and position high-profit sailings front and center. So don’t pay too much attention to their pricing. It almost always does not include taxes and any decent travel agent can make it a better value. But there is no better way to find just what you are looking for

So do your research, find some possible sailings and let me know which ones you would like value pricing on. Remember:

“the Internet is for searching, Travel Agents are for booking”

Florida Pilots: A friend to those who cruise

If you have been on a cruise and watched carefully as the ship either leaves or comes back to shore, you will have seen what looks like a small speedboat with the word “PILOT” on it.  That pilot is one of a select few individuals with a skill necessary to get your large ship in and out of the port.

A topic of discussion in recent years, as cruise lines look to control expenses more and more, is the wages paid the Harbor Pilots in Florida, viewed as excessive.  A study by the Florida Alliance of Maritime Organizations, released last week, says Florida’s 88 pilots at the state’s 14 combined cruise and cargo ports ear an average salary of $368,000, viewed as excessive by the organization.

As reported in the Jacksonville Business Journal, Florida Harbour Pilots Association spokeswoman Sarah Bascom said the study was an attempt by the cruise industry to cut costs and damage port security by eliminating the requirement of pilots who understand the local waters.

By world-wide accepted definition, Harbour Pilots are a key element to the safety of ships, passengers, crew and the environment.   One of the most challenging parts of any ship’s voyage is making it through the channels and narrow waterways that lead to the port and then the final docking of the ship.  Pilots meet the ship before it enters difficult to maneuver waters, comes aboard the ship and assists the crew in their docking routine.  The pilot sails away with each ship leaving the harbor, returned to shore by the pilot boat after the ship has cleared local waters.

Is $388,000 too much to pay?

Probably not if that pilot assures the safety of ship, crew and the port. Think about that the next time you are sailing away on the next cruise.

What I think about: Cheapskates

First let’s get things straight on terminology by defining two types of people.  Cheapskates and Value-Oriented Consumers.

Value-Oriented Consumers want to get the most for the money they spend.  These are people who know spending a bit more for something that will last longer is better in the long-run.  Here is an example of what I mean by that.

I have a pair of slippers I bought from LL Bean at least 20 or so years ago.  I don’t wear them  every day but when we lived up North they were great for a firewood run in the Winter.  There are paint drops of the Burgundy wall color that was popular decades ago that won’t go away.  They’re a bit worn but, to me, they’re all the slippers I’ll ever need.  Now here in Florida, I’ll put them on to run the dog out or just have around in the Winter when the temperature gets less than 50.

At the time I bought them, they were a bit more expensive than other slippers I might have bought but these were made well.  I had been ordering from LL Bean for years, starting back when you got a catalog, filled in an order form and sent it in or called them on the phone.  The notion of ordering “online” was not even an option yet.   I remember ordering these slippers and calling in the order only because there was a variety of choices and I wanted to talk to someone about which to choose.  I felt confident relying on their recommendations and placing that order because I knew they took anything back, no questions asked, much like former retail dominator Sears had when I was a child.  My dad always shopped there as did most everybody’s dad I knew because they would always take something back if it did not work out for you.

I think I got my education in what kind of consumer to be at Sears.  Or maybe it was the local hardware store where men were on duty who knew just what you needed for whatever it was you came in there for.  That was just the way business was done.  Consumers built relationships with stores, brands, even particular sales people who stayed put in their jobs in the time of life-long employment.  That’s not to say there were not fly-by-night companies that would try to take advantage of consumers.  There have always been and always will be those sharks out there who are not concerned about building a long-term relationship, earning our business and counting on us to make a living over a lifetime.   Venture Stores come to mind as does any one of a mind-full of other failed business’.

The Value-Oriented Consumer knows what they want and if they don’t they know where to go for expert recommendations, good pricing and they consider that business their source for whatever it is they sell.

We had a florist we used who I had worked for as a boy sweeping floors.  They had done flowers for my wedding, and any other special occasion along the way.  At one point, the salesperson we always talked to there, moved to a different florist, so we moved with him.  There was commitment on both sides.   Sure, that florist dropped the ball once along the way, making a holiday wreath for us that just was not what we had in mind at all, but quickly replaced and made good on the deal.

Are you getting the hang of this concept of “Value” yet?  It involves attempting to have a long-term business relationship with a company that “gets it” .   Gets YOU.

The social media Twitter/Facebook/MySpace craze of today focuses on building relationships as a cornerstone of the movement.   That’s wonderful.  If they do it.  In the long run, consumers will come out way ahead IF they find and use a business that believes in this concept of value also.  Both sides have to “get it”

In the world of today, so much has changed but so much is the same.

We have computers, instant access to online resources that might appear to be a good substitute for a good business relationship with a company but they are not.

Every once in a while I hear a doctor or someone else with (supposedly) a lot of smarts who will say sarcastically, “Oh sure, if it says so on the Internet it must be true!”  and I think “Uh yeah, so what’s your point?”  believing that what I see on the Internet IS true for the most part.   I mean, sure, I’m not stupid, if I see something unbelievable on the Internet I won’t believe it.  Plain and simple.  But some people just really like to believe that if someone has a slick website then they must be telling the truth and what they see before them is fact.

That right there may be the single most destructive thought the age of technology may have brought us.  It plays to the worst side of us, the side that wants to believe whatever we see that supports our point of view.  With billions of web pages, it does not take much looking to find just what we think we want.  That’s if we let ourselves get all caught up in it all and forget the lessons learned, the gains made and the viewpoint that made sticking with a business and developing that long-term relationship over time such a smart strategy

You see, in the olden days that was the only choice.  It was Sears, Montgomery Wards or JC Penney , maybe Macy’s to choose from for most stuff.  Having a job working for Sears for 40 years was a common thing and there were lots of people doing that.   The Information Age, Age of Technology, Computer Age, whichever you want to call it, eventually ruined that.  A by-product?  Maybe

Now, we have to go out of OUR ways as consumers to seek out and stick with business’ who…well…”care” about us

That is the task premiere for a Value-Oriented Consumer.   Much like moving to a new city, Value-Oriented Consumers have to find those people, those business’ that “get it”.

Cheapskates are easy to define as they are so one-dimensional.  They go for the flashy headline advertising to get “the best deal” missing the point altogether.

Cheapskates want so badly to get that $199 cruise that they disregard the facts.   In reality they have to pay port charges, taxes and government fees that often nearly double that price.  Add in a fine-print item like a non-refundable processing fee or cancellation fee that most people don’t find out until later and this is not the stuff that long-term, mutually beneficial business relationships are made of.

Cheapskates go from one source to another with no regard for the future, as though the only thing that matters is the price they pay today.  That short-term thinking is killing business in America, maybe all over the world, and opening the door for those smart enough to be Value-Oriented Consumers to start a “new” movement in how business is done.  A movement that should sound or feel somewhat familiar after reading this because it’s all been done before.  Business is surely “sourcing” stuff to get the best value but up until recently that has meant the best price.

After going for the best price always and getting burned a high percentage of the time, business is learning.   Consumers are learning.

Business is learning to offer what will be mutually beneficial to their customers in the long run, not just focusing on the day-to-day which created the environment that brought us Payday loans, cheaply made goods, poorly excecuted services and where we are right now.  The old business model of putting things out on bids to three different sources and using the cheapest one with price being valued way too high led our country to the brink of disaster and a economic period that will surely be called the Great Recession decades from now with exactly the same heaviness as the “Great Depression” was from a former generation.

All society’s greed did was create a group of Cheapskate consumers not focused on the long-term.  Not focused on building relationships.  Not focused on doing it right, whatever it was they were or still are doing.

But I’m seeing more and more people these days looking for the long-term benefits that brand loyalty can bring.  We were a “Tide” family when I grew up.  That was the laundry detergent we used and there was no changing that.  Tide got lazy though.  Tide got lazy, forgot about our relationship, and opened the door for Cheer to come in and take over by doing what?  Building relationships by providing a superior product with excellent customer service and a desire to be our laundry detergent.   Think about other companies that lost their way and are not around any more.  Think of the consumers that spent their time and money with those companies only to be left alone looking for another source.

Does the airline industry teach us anything here?    How about the mighty American car industry?  How did they let the door open to foreign imports who have taken so much market share from them?

Frequent flyer programs may have made one airline more attractive than another.  More features and better craftsmanship may have made one car company more desirable than another.    The Cheapskates were in the driver’s seat on that one for sure.  Driving business to give them exactly what they thought they wanted, business complied…for the most part.   Some did not.  Coca-Cola never changed its formula and didn’t Kentucky Fried Chicken.   But they practically gave away their products at a price below what that product deserved in order to gain market share.  In order to satisfy the short-term thinking Cheapskates

Cheapskates either just don’t know or are stupid.

Value-Oriented Consumers are smart but might very well have been cheapskates in the past.

Business is headed back to Value-Oriented Consumers who shun the cheapo Internet Cruise Brokers and embrace highly skilled and experienced Travel Agents.  Instead of putting stuff out for bids, companies are working with one supplier to source their needs at a competitive price.   That price might not always be the lowest but the commitment of that business to the consumer more than makes up for it in the long-run.  The focus is back on the long run.  Just now.  Just starting back for many.  Some will “get it”, others won’t at all and they will die the financial and business death of others before them who didn’t “get it”.

The housing bubble burst, Wall Street crashed in a way not seen since that last “Great” bad time,  Obesity (with a big “O”) is fast becoming the number one killer in America, taking over for long-time favorite Cancer and unemployment tops 10% in more areas than it has in decades.   People are starting to reevaluate how they do things and “tightening the belt” is not the answer.  The belt is so tight in some areas that there is no room to go anywhere except a new direction

Because we learn.

Some learn.

Others don’t learn.

Others never will.

Some people will buy a dozen pairs of slippers in their lives while others will buy just one or two.   I am excited that every day I see more and more of my clients or those I come in contact with who do “get it”,  want and demand the very best value and come out miles ahead in the long-run.  That’s exciting to see.  What burns me, what makes me mad and people I have no use for are the Cheapskates that don’t “get it”.  I have served plenty of them, once or maybe twice, before they went on to the next “low-price-at-the-expense-of-all-else” short-term business relationship.

That’s what I think.  What do you think?

Countdown to Oasis Of The Seas- Rihanna to headline

The ship’s Aqua Theater area hosts the largest pool at sea with multi-media capabilities
Royal Caribbean International

Kicking off the launch of Royal Caribbean Internationals Oasis of the Seas sailing from Florida’s Port Everglades will be popular recording artist Rihanna, appearing at the ship’s outdoor AquaTheatre on November 19th, the cruise line announced via Twitter today

Just as Oasis of the Seas will be introduced to the world as the largest cruise ship ever built with 5,400 guests and over 2000 crewmembers, Rihanna will debut her new album and be the first performer to take the stage of the amphitheater.

We will be on board and plan on sending live reports, videos and other updates for the event which also includes a live broadcast of the popular morning show, Good Morning America.

• More on Rihanna, Barbados native and no stranger to the Caribbean
• More on Oasis of the Seas, soon to be a regular in the Caribbean

New laws keep cruise passengers and crew safe..ok and ships too

Called a big win for everyone who sails on cruise ships departing from a United States port,  the US House of Representatives passed legislation today that will escalate efforts to make both passengers and crew safer at sea.

The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety act of 2009, a provision included in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 allows funding for the U.S. Coast Guard and includes the cruise safety provision.

Far more than any previous attempts have accomplished, this act calls for specific rail heights,  peep holes in cabin doors and video systems that will help in documenting crimes at sea.  Supported by the Cruise Lines International Association which represents most major cruise lines, the legislation makes formal what most cruise lines have been doing all along.

Legislation was first introduced in 2008 by Senator John Kerry as the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2008.  Reintroduced in March of 2009, consumer group Friend of the Earth noted “You wouldn’t think that minimal security requirements and environmental protections would require federal legislation,” said Friends of the Earth President Brent Blackwelder. “But many cruise lines have failed to reduce pollution and afford their customers even these minimal protections

New Oasis of the Seas will take Florida along for the ride

Central Park will be open to the sky and feature walkways with trees eventually over 40 feet tall
Royal Caribbean International

When the largest cruise ship in the world, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas starts sailing from  Florida’s Port Everglades next month, she’ll take a bit of Florida with her.

South Florida nurseries are busy preparing over 12,000 plants for installation on the ship.  Broken up into “neighborhood” areas, the Central Park-themed open air space, wider than a football field, will be home to a wide variety of plants, trees and shrubs.

In addition to 25-foot green “walls” that span four stories, paved pathways and scenic flower gardens will create what Royal Caribbean refers to as the “Wow” effect, a company slogan for over-the-top projects, ships and just their way of doing business.

A big boost to local growers suffering from economic woes, the hope is that they will also get a boost in business from sister-ship Allure of the Seas, set to be delivered about this time next year.  As reported in the Miami Herald, business at local nurseries had been down about 10% but the order from Royal Caribbean has proven to be a real “shot in the arm” for business.

Carnival Sensation- Extreme Makeover worked wonders

This aerial view of the refurbished Carnival Sensation shows many of the new additions to the ship
Carnival Cruise Lines

With the addition of the new adults-only Serenity Retreat, Carnival Cruise lines has taken Florida-favorite Carnival Sensation to a new level of guest satisfaction.

As part of a recent multi-million dollar facelift and refurbishment called “Evolutions of Fun” , the Carnival Sensation sailing from Port Canaveral offers more than ever before.  In addition to the kid-free oasis Serenity Retreat featuring two hot tubs, shady and sunny areas for adults, kids have not been forgotten.

The new WaterWorks are features a Twister Waterslide and Splash Park.  Inside, Camp Carnival has added separate upgraded spaces for different age groups like Circle “C”: for the 12-14 year-olds, Club O2 for those 15-17 and cruisers 2-11 enjoy their own area as well.  The addition of more than 50 interconnecting staterooms make family sailing easier than ever before too.

Always providing something for everyone in the way of fun, the Sensations Club Vegas Casino has all the popular games. The Fantasia lounge, the ships main showroom, features a revolving turntable stage, orchestra pit and recessed speaker system.  The Sun deck features a 9-hole mini-golf course, the ships disco has a state-of-the-art sound and light system and Spa Carnival offers soothing treatments and massages as well as other treatments at an additional charge.

Never at a loss for opportunities to dine well, start at the new Café on the Way coffee bar inside on the Promenade deck with specialty coffees and sweets.  The Seaview Bar and Grill features hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, salads, roast beef, chicken, fish…to name a few in self-service fashion.  The main dining rooms, Fantasy or Ecstasy, have both early (6pm), late (8:15pm) or the new Your Time dining where you simply walk into the dining room anytime between 5:45 and 9:30 for dinner on your schedule

The Sensation is one of Carnival’s Fantasy class ships which has gone through a total renovation which included the addition of more cabins with balconies.  Previously, the only way to get a balcony on this ship was to book a Suite or Penthouse Suite stateroom.

Within easy driving distance from Orlando, the Carnival Sensation offers a great short-vacation experience with something for everyone

Ports ready for Oasis of the Seas

When Royal Caribbean Internationals new Oasis of the Seas makes Florida home next month, Port Everglades will not be the only port to have made substantial improvements to accommodate the ship.

Each of the seven ports has had to make change and improvements to handle the 5,400 guests and 2,000 crew members that will be on board every time Oasis stops.  Here is a run down of the ports and what they have in store for visitors

• Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas- like other ports, dredging the area leading to and around where these huge ship will dock has been a challenge.  In St Thomas, it was also an environmental issue.  Originally planning on the West Indian Co dock, the ships will call at Crown Bay, the new port built by Carnival Corporation several years ago.
• Philipsburg, St.Maarten- built a new pier and support area for Oasis during a $50 million improvement project to accommodate the bigger ships including a new trolley transportation system for the piers which has also been installed
• Nassau, Bahamas- moved more than 1.9 million cubic yards of earth, sand and debris from Nassau harbor to widen and deepen the channel used by both Oasis and Allure to access the island at a cost of $42 million.
• Labadee, Haiti- Royal Caribbean’s popular 260 -acre private island, actually a peninsula on the mountainous and secluded Northern coast of Haiti, has a new aqua park for children with trampolines and slides.  The big new attraction though is a 4000-foot long zip line ride over Dragon’s Tail Beach.
• Costa Maya, Mexico- made the pier longer with a $2 million improvement project at the last minute when it appeared that new port, Falmouth Jamaica would not be ready on time
• Cozumel, Mexico-after closing due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Dean in 2007, Cozumel as reopened bigger and better than ever with improvements to what was there before and a new beach club
• Port Everglades- As previously reported, a $75 million investment in what will be Oasis and Allure’s  homeport will earn the port $10 for each guest who embarks or debarks, paying the investment back in just 6 years
• Falmouth, Jamaica- this would probably be the one with the most changes since this port is being build specifically for the Oasis class ships.   At $121 million, this new port tops the list on who spent the most and it offers a lot for guests.  Riding 30-foot bamboo rafts down the Martha Brae River should be popular as well as sampling the famous Jamaican “jerk cuisine” at various stops throughout the area

Oasis of the Seas starts out with an Eastern Caribbean itinerary calling in St Thomas, St Maarten and Nassau.  In May of 2010, Oasis begins alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings.  Initially the Western itinerary will include Costa Maya and Cozumel.  Later in 2010 it will drop Costa May and begin sailing to Falmouth, Jamaica.

• Video of Oasis of the Seas

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Cruise lines divert ships to avoid Hurricane Rick

The Carnival Splendor is one of the cruise line’s newest ships
Carnival Cruise Lines

Florida’s Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise lines are scrambling to change the direction of ships sailing off the West coast.

In a Tropical Update issued by Carnival late Monday, they note that “the storm is forecast to make landfall on the southern tip of Baja California on Wednesday”  As a result Carnival Splendor will visit Ensenada on Monday,  Puerta Vallarta on Thursday and Cabo San Lucas on Friday.  The Carnival Spirit, also on the West coast, will operate its scheduled itinerary

Sister-brand Princess’ Sapphire Princess is sailing in the opposite direction of Hurricane Rick and should not be affected

Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas is heading south to Ensenada and the cruise line will determine today if Radiance can continue on to Cabo San Lucas.

I am always impressed with how serious the cruise lines take these situations, doing whatever they need to do to keep guests safe.

Carnival Destiny- suprisingly good

Surely the end result of the embarkation process, what time we get on the ship, is what really counts. We were on board the Carnival Destiny by 12:15 but not without a few bumps in the road.

The first bump happened when I followed the signs to their exact directions for luggage drop-off at the Port of Miami. Never mind that I gave our luggage to porters loading on to the Carnival Liberty, a different ship. Luckily, my wife Lisa noticed that we sure did drive a long way from where we dropped the luggage. Realizing the error, I ran back to where we had dropped off our luggage and caught it just before it was going to be loaded on the wrong ship.

You would think that after a bunch of cruises that this sort of thing would not happen.

CRITICAL TIP: Ask porter “What ship are you loading here?”.

Even though our luggage was clearly marked with our own tags as well as the paper Carnival tags printed on our home computer (worked fine, stop moaning) the porter had tagged it with Liberty tags anyway.

Inside the new terminal things seemed to move along at a good pace on one hand. On the other hand, for some reason the old guests from the last cruise were taking forever to leave the ship. It looked as though we would board late but by 12:15 we were on the ship.

Our timely embarkation would not have been possible though without the services of the VIP lounge.

This was our first cruise with Carnival after hitting Platinum past-guest status. One of the perks (more later on the rest) of that is use of the VIP lounge. This attractive and pleasant separate space enabled us to check in quickly and have a nice place to wait until time to board. When that time came, we were escorted along with the other “VIP’s” on to the ship, for the most part ahead of everyone else

So basically, as soon as we turned ourselves over to Carnival, things moved along very nicely.

Our Stateroom

We have sailed on the Carnival Victory, a similar ship, three times and enjoyed the extended balcony offered by some of the category 9A cabins. When I saw that one of the corner cabins with a 45 foot long balcony was available, I grabbed it

This cabin is just perfect for us. In addition to the over-size balcony, the layout of the cabin is just perfect for two people. Large picture windows as well as the clear glass door leading out to the balcony are a big plus. Our location on deck 8, right below the Lido deck made easy runs up for coffee in the morning, sun during the day and snacks at night. In addition, being at the opposite end of the ship where disembarkation was happening for visits to the ports, there was very little foot traffic there too.

If that was not good enough, our cabin steward was one of those amazing people who you never see but always gets everything done. This guy went beyond our wildest expectations too, anticipating our needs and handling requests we made with a high priority.

Another perk of being Platinum past-guests is complementary wash and fold laundry service. Our cabin steward handled this flawlessly. We are also Platinum members on Princess Cruise Lines which also offer the complementary laundry service but do so with noticeable disdain. I can hear them thinking as I ask about the service “Oh great, another Platinum member. I’ll be fetching laundry all week”

Not so on Carnival where our steward was happy to help and often delivered our laundry back the same day.

This guy was really trying

The Food

It seems to me like there used to be more courses on the menu. Now it seems as thought there are just two courses plus dessert. I think it is the way the menu is laid out.

While you can indeed order a Starter, Salad/Soup/Entree and Dessert, the menu encourages combining the Starter/Salad/Soup as one selection. It was a bit confusing at first but we got used to it.

CRITICAL TIP: Order whatever you want from the menu and let them figure out when to serve it. That’s their job and if two or three of one course’s offerings look good, get them all.

How things work out with your waiter is always kind of a subjective part of a review. One guest may like a lot of attention and chit chat while another wants to be left alone. Two very different approaches to a table but the right one for those with a preference one way or the other.

Oh wait, I guess there is a third style of service other than “Be around all the time, I like to talk” or “Leave me alone, I want to eat” I’ll call that third style “Hello? Does anybody work here?”

We had the third style.

This was a really nice man from (insert name of country where funny-talking people are made) who could not have been a nicer person. Sort of like commenting on the nice people in the Casino, that means that the service was awful. But not awful in a “make me mad” sort of way, awful in a “Oh my I pity this guy” who was struggling constantly with the ships computer system that allows input of the guest order.

We were sitting right next to the waiter station and could see him forgetting then remembering then forgetting again. That was a good place to be sitting though so we could serve ourselves off the trays of food he would bring then abandon as he disappeared into some back room abyss.

I still can’t figure out where he went or what he did.

I thought about mentioning it to the Maitre d’ but he had already made is obligatory “See? Here I am; tip me later” stop by the table. Finding him now would prove too daunting a task. The food itself? Not the highlight of the cruise and barely adequate.

That was a big surprise. I had really expected the food to be better. In other areas, it was. Tea time pastries were wonderful. Grill items on deck were fabulous. Pizza was good, fresh and flavorful.

But the dining room food, except for desserts, was not good. I know this is a subjective area and if it was close to being good I would have counted it a win. But some times things are so far off what you know they should be like that it’s not even a close call.

To say the dining experience was bad would be a bit severe. Consider other important elements like conversation with your table mates. Seriously, if Lisa and I were dining by ourselves at a table for two, these food problems would have slapped us in the face. We would have talked to the Maitre d’ who, believe it or not, cares and does more than stop by the table once during the cruise. He can fix stuff like this. But we really did not think about it at the time. We refuse to let problems like this negatively effect our cruise.

We had a good time with our tablemates and really enjoyed talking to them each night about what everyone did (or didn’t do) during the day.

The star of the show for us was the Chocolate Melting Cake dessert which made all the previous fade away as waves of chocolate satisfaction re-directed our attention elsewhere.

Yes, it is that good.

Buying Stuff

Top selling items in the gift shop

Bon Voyage gifts

Robes and towels

Standing in the gift shop line, waiting to buy some booze, I noticed that there was a nice display of commonly forgotten items available for sale. Toothbrushes, finger nail files, some of this and some of that filled the space right by the cash register. One thing I noticed was a huge display of the medication, Preparation H.

Several thoughts crossed my mind:

“Wouldn’t you think that someone who needed this product would have brought it from home?”

“I mean really; if you have this condition, you know it and it’s hard to believe that you would leave your medication behind (no pun intended)”

“Does this mean that a large number of guests on the ship develop this problem while on board?”

“If so, what does this say about our eating habits on the cruise ship?”

Funny the things that cross your mind while waiting in line.

Waiting was also the name of the game on Bon Voyage Gifts.

On the first night we were supposed to have received:

• Champagne and Chocolates
• Chocolate Delight
• Fruit Basket
• Anniversary cake

We got champagne but no chocolates, no Chocolate delight, the fruit basket but no cake.

CRITICAL TIP: Always bring confirmation of your Bon Voyage gift order.

This happens all the time. They’re pretty good about fixing problems with the orders but in my experience about half the time it comes down to having to prove you bought them.

Several calls to the Information desk resulted in us getting everything except the Chocolates that went with the Champagne

On the other end of the efficiency scale for buying stuff was our purchase of some Carnival towels and a bath robe.

I really like the high-quality beach towels and fabulous robes the cruise line is using now. On sale for $22 on the towels and $49 on the robe I saw a great value. I had purchased the same towels on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 for $50 each and a similar but not as nice plush robe on Princess for over $100.

The towels were just as good as the Cunard ones and the robe was way better than the nice ones on Princess so I filled out the flyer that came with our assorted paperwork of the day. One of the coolest parts of the whole thing was that our cabin steward had those to us within the hour, packaged nicely for the trip home.

Platinum perks

• Snazzy stationery
• Wash and Fold Laundry
• Awesome complementary logo item
• More than expected

As a Carnival guest with more than 10 cruises to my credit, I had the benefit of Platinum past guest membership. We already talked about the VIP lounge earlier but there are more perks and Carnival really does it right.

One of the first elements of the Platinum package that we saw upon entering our cabin was the personalized stationery provided. Platinum in color (clever), it was right there on the desk when we entered. I wondered who I would be writing to on the cruise. Santa?

The wash and fold laundry service is the most talked about benefit, making cruise board regulars around the globe drool in anticipation. Rightfully so, they do a good job, returning by afternoon the same day all the laundry given to the cabin steward by 9am in the morning. The only sort of disappointment was that a dress shirt I turned in, returning washed and folded, could have used the dry cleaning/pressing service offered. Still, the idea of having no laundry to do when we got home was a great one!

Another great idea was what they chose for our compementary Carnival Logo Item. I was expecting a bag of some sort, a picture frame or some other inexpensive gift like on Royal Caribbean. Instead we got two really nice stainless steel thermos’ just right for two cups of coffee. Our location right below the Lido deck made using them for our morning coffee a no-brainer.

The whole past guest program was really executed well, including the unanticipated plate of chocolate delights sent on the night before last with the simple words “Good Night” written on the plate in chocolate.

All things considered, this was a really good cruise. I would surely sail this ship again. I guess that sums it up very well!

Cruisng from Florida: Senior and Resident rates for all

I woke up this morning to less than 50 degrees outside!   That’s dangerously close to 4o degrees, the temperature at which many thin-blooded Floridians (myself totally included) do not leave the house except for an emergency.   It seemed only appropriate to write an article for Examiner.com that reminds Seniors, Floridians and pretty much anyone else who might be in the market for a “get away from the darn cold” cruise in a few months that now is the time to be looking for one.   So here, some tips on all that….

Carnival Cruise Lines

As a cold snap descends upon Florida, a gentle reminder that even the Sunshine State is not immune to the approaching Winter, our population grows some as Snowbirds return from up North.  The cruise vacation industry has some excellent values for them as well as Florida residents.  Here are some tips that will be sure you get the best value

• Keep up on pricing- Ask your travel agent to always send you the “Happy Hour” specials every week, a sale that is run most Tuesdays on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises.   These are most often the best values of all but you have to be able to sail within 30 to 90 days.   This is about as close to a “last minute bargain” as you can get.
• Everybody is doing it- Along the same lines. most major cruise lines publish sale information every week.   Ask your travel agent to put you on the mailing list for those too.   If you are concerned about getting too much email or that your email address will be sold to some joker who wants to sell you oceanfront  timeshares in Topeka, set up a different email address at someplace like yahoo.com so it all goes there.
• Know the rules- Remember, it takes just one “senior” (person over 55) per cabin and one “Florida resident” in each cabin to get the special value you may see.  Know too what the fine print says in offers you may see.  They make it small as though it is not important but it often has a major impact on what your end decision will be.
• Your Travel Agent- “The Internet is for looking, your travel agent is for booking” is good advice that in the long run will put you in a better position.  Not just for price but for the benefits having a travel agent on your side will afford.  Look around on the Internet to research itineraries, special offers, etc so you have an idea of what you’re looking for then get with your travel agent to make it happen
• Processing Fees = Run!- You should never have to pay anyone to use their service to buy a cruise.  While travel agents work for you, they are paid a commission on your booking at no additional cost to you.  That’s the way it has been in the past and the way it should be now.  Again, you might not see that “processing fee” or “cancellation fee other than that charged by the cruise line” unless you read the fine print.  These are most often charged by Internet Cruise Brokers, not your best choice of booking sources.

Right now there are still a lot of very good values for Seniors and residents, not just Florida but other states as well.  Your Cruise Lines International certified travel agent is the best source for cruise vacation information.  Building a long-term business relationship with your travel agent will pay big dividends over the course of your cruise history

Cruise Dress Codes Get More Relaxed

As a result of guest feedback convincingly in favor of a less formal policy, most all cruise lines have relaxed the dress code in recent years. This week’s announcement by Regent Seven Seas Cruises is typical of even high end cruise lines who encourage their guests to adhere to the following guidelines:

Daytime Dress Code (until 6 p.m.)

During the day, resort style clothing (including shorts, warm-up suits, jeans and sneakers) is acceptable
in all public areas. Bare feet are acceptable only on the Pool Deck. Note: Bathing suits, while acceptable at the Pool Bar and Grill, are not considered appropriate in any indoor venue.

Evening Dress Code (after 6 p.m.)

Two types of dress code have been established for evenings in public areas: Elegant Casual and Formal Optional. The number of Formal Optional nights is dependent upon the length of the cruise, as follows:

• Cruises of fifteen nights or less will be Elegant Casual for the duration (that means NO formal night)

• Cruises of sixteen nights or more will have two Formal Optional nights

Elegant Casual: Skirt, or slacks (no jeans) with blouse or sweater, pant suit or dress for ladies; slacks (no jeans) and collared shirt for gentlemen. Sport jackets are optional. Note: Jeans, T-shirts, baseball caps, shorts, sneakers and bathrobes are not considered appropriate in any public area after 6 p.m.

Formal Optional: While guests are welcome to dress each evening as per the Elegant Casual dress code, during Formal Optional evenings, guests may opt for a more formal choice of clothing including gowns and cocktail dresses for ladies; tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suit with tie for gentlemen

While the trend for a more casual vacation experience has been building for quite some time, it was Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) “Freestyle Dining” that started it all. Breaking away from the industry standard of an Early or Late Seating, NCL gave guests options of not only a main dining room experience but alternative restaurants as well, some included in the price, some for an additional charge.

Other cruise lines have engaged the alternative dining trend by offering specialty restaurants for an additional charge. Focused on a more upscale experience like a fine steakhouse or multi-course Italian feast, specialty restaurants were limited to one or two on each ship for the most part. But even on those ships main dining room diners are getting more and more options.

An ever-increasing option is open seating. Pioneered by Princess Cruise Line’s “Anytime Dining” the program works basically the same on all lines that offer it allowing diners to dine when and with whoever they want. Recently, Carnival and Royal Caribbean both added their own versions which, while administered a bit differently between brands offer the same flexibility and casual ambiance guests say they want.

Countdown to Oasis of the Seas- a primer

It all started as “Project Genesis” but is about to become reality as the world of cruise vacations gets ready for   Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas, arriving in Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades in less than a month.

As previously reported, Port Everglades has been working hard to prepare for the arrival of 220,000 ton Oasis of the Seas in November followed by sister-ship Allure of the Seas in 2011.  Now, the cruise line has started to release some of the details about inaugural events taking place starting on November 19th.

New ships are nothing out of the ordinary for Florida though. With more ships sailing from Florida ports than any other area in the world, we have seen all the latest and greatest the cruise industry has to offer.

Until now.

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class ships will offer a totally unique cruising experience, much like their Explorer class did years ago with the addition of the Royal Promenade, a shopping and entertainment area running the length of the ship on the inside.  So what is “new” with Oasis of the Seas? Here is a brief run-down on some of the areas causing the most interest.

• Loft Suites- There are several different categories.  The “Crown” Loft Suites- at 545 square feet, these two-level suites with floor-to-ceiling, double-height windows will include an upper-level bedroom overlooking the living area below with a fabulous view of the ocean and a 114 square foot balcony. “Sky” Loft Suites at 722 square feet features a bath with a shower for two and a 410 square foot balcony. “Royal” Loft suites- feature two deck high stateroom with panoramic views. Master bedroom and bath on second level. Bath has a tub, shower, two sinks and bidet. Stairway to second level. Four twin beds (can convert to Queens). Bath with shower on main level. Private balcony with whirlpool and dining area. Dining area with dry bar. Living room sofa converts to double bed. Closets on each level. (1,524 sq. ft., balcony 843 sq. ft.). Stateroom can accommodate up to 6 guests.
• Central Park- One of the highly touted “neighborhoods” on Oasis with 334 staterooms overlooking a park over 300 feet long and 60 feet wide, Central Park promises quiet areas for reading along with lush tropical foliage, flowers, shrubs and trees.  Taking a cue from the popular Promenade View staterooms on Explorer and Freedom class ships, the 254 non-smoking balcony staterooms open into the ship, overlooking the park.  Retail stores, shops and boutiques will be featured including a portrait studio, art gallery and more. Restaurants and dining options available include signature eatery Chops Grille, a Royal Caribbean favorite with top quality steaks open for dinner, 150 Central Park, an exclusive dinner restaurant with top quality cuisine and an observation window allowing a view of the food preparation. Vintages, another returning favorite and signature wine bar regular cruisers will remember from other ships serving a tapas menu as well as the Central Park Cafe for anytime dining at breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks and midnight treats.
• Royal Promenade- One of the most popular areas on Royal Caribbean’s Voyager and Freedom class ships, the Royal Promenade is included on Oasis of the Seas with some big differences including Crystal Canopies on the roof that let natural sunlight in during the day to illuminate the space. Twice as wide as previous versions, those familiar with the Royal Caribbean will recognize favorites, Sorrento’s Pizzeria, Cafe Promenade, the Schooner Bar, Boleros Latin bar and the Champagne bar as well as Jewelry, gift and souvenir shops plus the Guest Services and Shore Excursion desk.  New is the Rising Tide bar, the first elevating bar at sea which will slowly ascend and descend three decks to allow cruise passengers the ability to enjoy a cocktail as they move through Central Park and various public spaces.  The 18 Promenade View Staterooms will no doubt sell out fast on each sailing. Accessible by stairs from the Royal Promenade, the Entertainment Place hosts signature Casino Royale, an ice skating rink and the ships main theater, the Opal Theater.
• The Boardwalk- this neighborhood is all about families and introduces many of the coolest features on this new ship such as the AquaTheatre a new aft outdoor amphitheater-like area featuring the AquaTheatre pool, a technological wonder that will be the largest fresh-water pool at sea and the first-ever hand-carved Carousel at sea.  Favorite Johnny Rockets will be located here as well as the surfer-themed Seafood Shack along with a coffee and donut shop, candy shop, Ice Cream parlor and more.  Accommodations include 6 AquaTheatre View suites, 221 Boardwalk View balcony staterooms and 8 Boardwalk View staterooms.  High above it all, a thrilling zip wire ride will race diagonally over the boardwalk, 90 feet above the deck.
• When Oasis of the Seas enters regular service in December she will be the larges and most revolutionary ship at sea with 16 decks that will carry 5,400 guests on 7-day Caribbean cruises

Not about cruising: Let’s shake on it

So the other day I’m watching a new episode of the TV show Cops right?   I started recording the new season on FOX setting my TiVo for “New Episodes” only right?   I did this mainly because we have enjoyed the show in the past but syndication of the long-running series has episodes from who-knows-when all over the place.  We like watching shows like this though. MSNBC prison shows are a favorite too.

I’m not sure why but I’ve always liked prison shows.  Escape from Alcatraz, the Birdman of Alcatraz (to go back a while) and all-time favorite Brubaker with Robert Redford rate high.  So Cops has always been a favorite too.  Oh yes, it goes beyond reality too, this interest.  The CSI shows are tops on the series list (well, not the New York one, Lt Dan doesn’t work for me in that one), Criminal Minds, The Closer, etc, are of big interest somehow.  Maybe because I have never been arrested for anything in my life.  Maybe I was Al Capone in a previous life.  I really don’t know why but I know these shows.

I saw one brief scene on Cops though that made me pause the other day.

It wasn’t some buffoon criminal who had attempted to do something stupid (some of these people really need to find a different line of work).   It was not some unbelievable situation someone had gotten themself into that looked so simple sitting at home watching remotely.  It was something I simply take for granted that did not happen.

It was during an incident when a police officer was interviewing people to figure out who was at fault.  After a short exchange with one person of interest it was determined they were not involved  The suspect extended his hand to shake the hand of the police officer saying “Thanks for what you do”.  What came next said so much to me about where we are as a society.

The officer looked at the man’s hand and said “We don’t shake hands”

My traditional background has not been able to shake that thought ever since.  I was brought up to respect the law and those who work to enforce us and protect us from harm.  Long before the tragedy  of 9/11 made it fashionable to approach a member of law enforcement, a firefighter or emergency worker thank them for being keeping us safe,  my dad did that when I was a little boy.

What has made a show of respect and gratitude something that those people need to be concerned about?

At the time, it came across to me like the thought going  through the officer’s mind was “because I am not wearing gloves and I don’t know what disease you might have”.  Later I wondered if it was because of legal reasons they don’t want to touch people for fear of being sued for something.   Maybe it was for their personal safety the officer needed to keep a certain distance.   Regardless of why, It made me wonder.

We speak so much about building relationships but yet this most basic (to me anyway) of relationships between all of us and those who protect us has changed so much.   What does this say of us?

Port of Palm Beach- another choice for cruising from Florida

Great Lakes Cruise Company’s Clelia II recently made a call at the Port of Palm Beach on her way back up North for a series of Northeastern Fall Foliage itineraries.  This private yacht-like ship accommodates just 100 guests in 50 Oceanview suites.

The significance of this call at Palm Beach by the Clelia II is that the Port Authority has been promoting the facility as a destination of port of call for small, luxury cruise ships.   “The Clelia II’s visit reflects the Ports determination to expand its business during an economic recession said Port Chairman Edward Oppel.

Currently, the only regularly scheduled ship at the Port of Palm Beach is the Palm Beach Princess, a twice daily casino cruise.

But at just 35 miles South of Port Canaveral and 80 miles North of Miami, the historically cargo-oriented port has ambitions.  A new $26 million multi-level terminal with full passenger terminal facilities is up, running, and capable of handling two vessels carrying 1,200 passengers each.

The first question that comes to mind is “So how many ships are there that hold only 1,200 passengers or less? ”  Surely the mega-ships with thousands more won’t be calling there.  There are a number of seasoned cruisers who do like smaller ships though and that might be just where the Port of Palm Beach finds its niche.

Worlds Largest Cruise Sale

That’s no joke and you owe it to yourself to at least check it out

Sponsored by the Cruise Lines International Association and most major cruise lines, this is a one day event, today only, where travel agencies all over the world are working overtime to get the best values of the year for you.  They call it the “Worlds Largest Cruise Night”  because many travel agencies stay open extra late, invite people in to have cookies and milk then pump them for a booking.   I’ll be watching whatever we recorded on our TiVo last night and wishing them the best.   I like the “Virtual” version of this much better where you can click your way to a great value.

Check with your travel agent today for what they have to offer or click here for my personal favorites (ok so this is a self-serving advertisement- still, these are great deals)

On Twitter?  search for #WLCN (Worlds Largest Cruise Night) #Cruise and #Cruise Values.  That should do it.

CAUTION:  Watch out for the Internet Cruise Brokers. These guys will be rabid today, probably didn’t sleep all night, arm wrestled each other for breakfast and will be eating nails for lunch in preparation to take you on.

Oh and hey, if you see an unbelievable offer that you want me to check out for you, send it along.  I’ll cut through the hype and find out if it is real or not.

Port Everglades adds new gangways for Oasis of the Seas

Port Everglades

In preparation for the arrival of Royal Caribbean International’s new Oasis of the Seas next month, Port Everglades has installed two of the latest in Mobile Elevating Gangways.

Automatically following the ship’s movement if effected by tide, wave or wind fluctuations, they are connected to the ports data network providing remote on line maintenance.

Complying with new South Florida building codes, these new gangways featured tempered glass  and a more open environment, providing better orientation for guests both getting on and off the ship.

The addition of both Oasis of the Seas, starting year-round sailings in December and sister-ship Allure of the Seas in 2011 should make Port Everglades the number one cruise port in the world.  Each of the 5,400 passenger ships is anticipated to add 584,000 passengers annually at the port.

Why Port Everglades and not Port Canaveral or the Port of Miami?  One big reason would be the close proximity of the Fort Lauderdale airport to the cruise port, just a 10 minute cab ride away.

Carnival Cruise Lines keep us safe

Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Cruise Lines has announced a new, improved system for conduction the mandatory Safety Briefing on board.  Formerly called the “Lifeboat Drill” passengers were required to go to their staterooms, pick up their lifejackets and proceed to designated areas of the ship to await further instructions either immediately before or after sailing.

With Carnival’s new program, guests will no longer be required to go to their stateroms to collect thier lifejackets but will go directly to their muster stations from whereever they are on the ship.  They will know where their designated muster station is by the letter indicated on their Sign and Sail card, the identification card given to each guest before they get on the ship.

No longer will guests experience unncecessary acctidents or heat exhaustion while waiting at the muster stations on a Summer cruise.

In another safety-related area, Carnival is taking extra measures to guard against the spread of infectious diseases including the H1N1 Influenza Virus.  All guests and embarking crew are given a pre-boarding health questionnaire and medical staff will be available toconduct additonal screening of guests, crew and visitors if necessary.  Anyone who ha an illness of international public health concern will not be permitted to sail

Celebrity Century Goes To Europe

Celebrity Cruise Line’s announced that they will be redeploying the Celebrity Century to the Mediterranean in the Summer of 2010.

The Century, popular with Floridians because of her 4 and 5 night Caribbean sailings, is being sent to Europe because of “even stronger demand” in that market said Celebrity Cruises President Dan Hanrahan adding that “with our new , widely-heralded Celebrity Solstice scheduled to sail in the Caribbean year-round, our guests can enjoy the best seven-night Caribbean cruise experience in the market”

Celebrity Century will continue to sail four and five-night Caribbean cruises from November 2009 until early May 2010.

We reviewed both the Solstice and Century with high marks for both in all areas. We will miss the Century’s shorter itineraries, perfect for those flying in with a week vacation who wanted to add a 2 or 3 day pre or post cruise stay in Florida.

Another great ship for a 4 or 5 night cruise from Florida?

Believe it or not: the Carnival Destiny. We sailed this one not long ago on a five-night and were astounded at how nicely everything went and especially how fabulous the food was.

New Video From Princess Cruises

Princess cruises puts out some pretty remarkable videos about it’s brand.  This one, titled “Experience Princess Cruises” gives a really good idea of what it is like to sail on a Princess Cruise Line ship.

New Pier 18 at Port Everglades

Construction of Cruise Terminal 18 at Port Everglades is right on schedule and will be completed for the November arrival of Royal Caribbean International’s new 5,400-passenger cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas.

As the largest cruise passenger terminal in the world, capable of handling the 5000+ guests that will be embarking on Oasis of the Seas and sister ship Allure of the Seas coming out next year it also has to handle the 5000+ guests disembarking at about the same time.

Royal Caribbean and Port Everglades worked together to add many new features to this terminal making it possible to board the ship within 15 minutes of arriving at the pier.

• Parking availability- 1000 parking space in flat lots (Parking lot 18 and Parking lot 19) within walking distance of the terminal, with overflow to pother port parking garages
• Entrances- The entrance for bus and trucks will be separate from the car and taxi entrance
• VIP Access/Check-in- There will be a completely separate entrance for Suite Guests
• Check-In- To make sure there are no lines, there will be 90 different check-in counters
• Children’s Area- While you take care of everything, let the kids hang out in the new children’s play center located on the second floor seating area
• Embarkation/Debarkation- How do they handle those crowds?  With separate arrival and departure halls
• Finding your way from Shore to Ship?  Lots of electronic signs offering directions and other informationOasis of the Seas arrives at Port Everglades on November 11

Princess Introduces New Alaska Cruisetour Designed Especially for Families

Family Fun Tour Adds Value with Variety of Included Extras and Discounted Fares

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (October 9, 2009) – With its stunning scenery, abundant wildlife, and plethora of active adventure opportunities, Alaska offers the perfect family vacation.  To make it easier for families to plan a trip to the 49^th state, Princess Cruises has added a fun new cruisetour option designed especially with family groups in mind.
The 12-night cruisetour offers the best of Alaska by land and sea and includes a variety of special features not usually included in a cruisetour package.  Families will have the opportunity to travel on a jetboat, pan for gold, take an interactive tour of Denali National Park, and experience what Alaska is like in the winter when it’s many degrees below zero.
The cruisetour (number: FUN) is offered at a 25 percent discount for all berths, so all members of the family are included in the special pricing.
“This is really the ultimate family vacation,” said Charlie Ball, president of Princess Tours. “Alaska is a wonderful travel destination with kids, so we wanted to make it easy and affordable to plan the perfect Alaska experience for everyone in the family.”
The Family Fun cruisetour includes a seven-night Voyage of the Glaciers cruise plus a five-night land tour featuring one night at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, two nights at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and two nights at Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge.  At sea, families can also take advantage of Princess’ many onboard programs especially for children, including a special Junior Ranger program in Glacier Bay National Park.
In addition, the following special extras are included in the tour:
Daily Breakfast – Everyone in the family can start their morning off with the most important meal of the day.
Direct-to-the-Wilderness Rail Service with Lunch – Princess’ acclaimed Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service gets families to their wilderness lodge faster, and includes lunch aboard the train.
Three Rivers Jetboat Tour (Mt. McKinley) – An exhilarating alternative to taking a motorcoach to Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, this tour travels from Talkeetna to the lodge by jetboat, with stops along the river to view historic encampments and learn about the native wildlife.
Arctic Blast (Denali) – Family members can experience winter in Alaska – in the summertime.  This special chamber is chilled to wintertime temperatures, so visitors can find out what happens to hot water when it is thrown in the air and whether soap bubbles can survive the cold.
Music of Denali Dinner Theater (Denali) – This rollicking musical comedy tells the legend of the first expedition to the summit of Mt. McKinley, accompanied by a hearty, family-style meal featuring smokehouse ribs and Alaska salmon.
Experience Alaska with Alaska Geographic Tour (Denali) – A more intimate tour of Denali National Park, this special experience includes a variety of interactive experiences, including an enhanced view of the Denali ecosystem and current research taking place.  The narrated bus tour takes guests 15 miles into the park to a beautiful river valley where they embark on a short walk to the historic Savage River Camp, where they can participate in a number of hands-on experiences.
Denali Sourdough Expedition Breakfast (Denali) – While fueling up for the day with a family-style, Alaskan roadhouse-style breakfast, guests experience an unforgettable journey up Denali through breathtaking images in Laurent Dick’s Climb Denali.  Participants have the opportunity to meet this real mountain climber and ask questions about mountain climbing.
Riverboat Cruise and El Dorado Goldmine Tour (Fairbanks) – Families can enjoy traveling on an authentic sternwheeler for a fully-narrated cruise along the Chena River and try their hands at gold panning at the El Dorado Gold Mine, where they will learn about Alaska’s gold mining history.

Fares for the Alaska Family Cruisetour (#FUN) start at $1,743 per person for the first and second berths, and $1,191 per person for the third and fourth berth passengers.

Princess offers a variety of land/sea Alaska experience with itineraries ranging from three to eight nights.  All cruisetour options feature at least two nights in the Denali National Park area, stays in Princess’ own riverside wilderness lodges, and a seven-day Voyage of the Glaciers sailing with Glacier Bay National Park.

Royal Caribbean streamlines cruise check-in

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

Florida favorite Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines announced today a new Luggage Tag Mailer program for all guests who have Electronic Travel Documents.

Designed to “save time at the pier and expedite on board luggage delivery” said the cruise line in communication with travel agents, the new program addresses what was a big issue in the past with guests prior to boarding.

Previously,  with Royal Caribbean’s electronic document program, guests would receive luggage tags at the pier upon arrival which often proved awkward and time-consuming.

As part of an ongoing program to streamline the embarkation process at Port Everglades in anticipation of new ships Oasis and Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean has looked very carefully at what they are doing and made bold steps to improve the process.

The cruise line has also been working on better procedures for getting off the ship as well.  last year they introduced new procedures fleet wide to further ease the departure process on all ships. The company also added programming for guests who are staying on board for multiple sailings. “We listened to our guests’ feedback regarding the opportunity to transform the departure experience and responded with the launch of a refreshed process fleet wide,” said Lisa Bauer, senior vice president-hotel operations at Royal Caribbean. “Early testing aboard Freedom of the Seas has yielded very positive guest feedback, with the enhanced communications cited as one of the most helpful tools for our guests on departure day. We also continue to see an increase in guests sailing with us for multiple cruises and our focus on special communications and programming for these guests will also greatly enhance their overall cruise experience.”

Disney Cruise Line wants you to host a party…but should you?

Disney Cruise Line

With social marketing all the rage now you would think that forward-thinking Disney should have the very best cutting-edge resources to draw from when setting out on a networking and community pitch.

Well of course they do silly; they just do it differently.

In an email, Disney Cruise Line tells us “you could be one of the 2000 Disney cruise enthusiasts selected to host a party of the year on November 14th- A Disney Cruise Line House Party”  House parties will be taking place all across the country, with hosts and guests relaxing, rejoicing and enjoying a taste of the Disney Cruise Line® experience right in their own home. Guests will also learn about Disney’s brand new destinations, itineraries, and the brand-new ship, the Disney Dream.

What is a House Party? It’s a party held in your home, celebrating something cool you want to share with your friends and family. You set up a free party page to get the buzz going and spread the word, and the folks at House Party provide you with creative party ideas, favors, tips, and more. Then you receive a fantastic party pack from Disney Cruise Line®, with products to make your party spectacular — all you do is invite your guests, share your great cruising experiences with them, and enjoy your party!
Host spots are limited — don’t miss out!

word-of-mouth-advertising.com

The “house party” much like the “cruise nights” hosted by local travel agencies, draw on the concept of a “pied piper” who brings in friends and family in a fun, familiar and relaxed setting to get them excited about travel.  In this case, Disney Cruise Line is skipping the travel agent and going right to the group leader.

As it turns out, Disney Cruise Line is working through a company called House Party that specializes in setting up these events.

At the end of the day, on line resources have been used to create an offline network of friends all talking about Disney Cruise Line.

As mentioned earlier, your local travel agent may also be involved in something like this for just about any cruise line.  In fact, the Cruise Lines International Association sponsored “Worlds Largest Cruise Night” is coming up in November and features live in-store cruise nights as well as Virtual Cruise Nights with information about cruising available at your convenience.  Check with your travel agent for details.

That’s the “but should you?” part in the title of this article.  You will gain so much more in the long-run by using a travel agent to do this.  Travel agents have the contacts and information on ALL cruise lines, not just Disney , and can determine a good fit for your group cruise which may or may not include a Disney sailing.

New Ships Coming To Florida

During a time that history may refer to as the “Great Recession” , cruise lines are debuting new ships giving guests sailing from Florida more choices than ever before.

Coming up in December, Royal Caribbean’s 5400 passenger Oasis of the Seas starts sailing from Port Everglades.  Almost 4 football fields long, the $1.2 billion, 18 deck high ship with a crew of 2,165 and 5400 passengers will be followed by sister ship Allure of the Seas in November 2010.

Carnival Cruise Lines new Carnival Dream, biggest ship in the fleet at 130,000 tons promises some new features NOT found on the last new one, Carnival Splendor, including what they call “Cove balcony” cabins, more secluded and quiet areas for adults and additional dining options to name a few.  Sailing from Port Canaveral the Dream adds another big ship in addition to recently acquired Freedom of the Seas sailing under the Royal Caribbean flag, an upgrade from Mariner of the Seas which was moved to the West Coast.

Celebrity Eclipse, sister ship to Celebrity Solstice and Equinox, sets sail on August 29th with a  four night Southampton Inaugural cruise.  We sailed on the Solstice’s inaugural sailing last year and really liked that one.  More…

The 4,200-passenger, 150,000-ton Norwegian Epic will begin seven-day eastern Caribbean cruises from Miami July 17

Regardless of what you are looking for; a short cruise or long cruise, one with non-stop action or laid-back relaxation, you will find it sailing from a Florida port.

Cruising from Florida? Expect to pay for checked luggage

While cruise lines allow an unlimited amount of luggage, airlines are limiting it and in most cases, charging to carry it.

United airlines just announced a new program calledPremier Baggage.  For $249 per year, the flier and up to eight fellow travelers under the same confirmation number can check up to two standard bags each with no additional fees.   It’s geared toward and tied to frequent flyer accounts but anyone can use it.  You can even give it as a gift to a friend or family member.  (What a great stocking stuffer?) Traveling with a family of four, those bag fees can add up fast.

I remember one cruise when we were living in Kansas and flying to Florida.  On that cruise we had 14 bags between the four of us in our family.  I remember that because I had to call a limo service at 4am the day of our flight to get us and all our luggage to the airport.  It was that or leave one of the kids home and since we already paid for them I figured we should bring them along.  If we did that today, we could have easily paid for this service.

OK now who is feeling smart for living in Florida or someplace else where you can drive to the port?  I may just bring a bunch of extra luggage on our next cruise just to show off curb-side at the pier for those poor saps who had to pay.

Many other airlines are charging for checked luggage as well as prime seat assignments and just about anything else the can think of.

Are the cruise lines next?   Not in the near future but they are starting to show signs that they want to leave this option open, much like they showed signs of zero tolerance for booze smuggling on to the ship.

While, “no limit” was the mantra of all cruise line rules on luggage, we are starting to see ” a reasonable amount” show up in cruise contracts and on the cruise line websites.  A couple years ago we saw “a reasonable amount” of soda, water and a bottle of wine per guest as pretty commonplace.  Now the wording is going much more strict to “Guests are not allowed to bring alcoholic beverages…”

Carnival Cruise Lines Guests “are encouraged to limit their checked luggage to two suitcases per person” now along with other detailed information presented on their website.  No rules yet, but getting there.

I can see the point too.  I don’t know how many times I have been packing up to go home at the end of the cruise and noticed how much of what I brought along that I did not use.  Oh wait, that’s every time; even now that we have made a science out of packing to where one bag covers two of us.

Is $249 for a year of no fees for extra luggage a good deal?  It might very well be.  With the way so many air carriers copy one another this could show up on a number of airlines.  United notes that $249 is an “introductory price” indicating that they may raise the price in the future.

Somehow I am not feeling like they are being overly generous with the introductory deal.

How about you?

Cruise Discounts

Florida Department of State photo

Resident Discounts-

These are most commonly given to states from which the cruise lines are not drawing a lot of clients. The contagious satisfaction of going on a fabulous cruise is what they want to spread. In a virus-like manner, cruisers like to talk about their cruise. They’ll tell anybody about it. If the topic comes up in the office, the grocery store, church or with a complete stranger, everyone who has done it has a story to tell. Most all of them (95%+) are happy stories. If the cruise lines can get people talking in a state or country where they don’t do a lot of business, those people will sell it for them.

Royal Caribbean is the king of Resident Discounts, offering them most often. Princess comes in second with “regional discounts” . Others are hit and miss but none of them offer a resident discount all the time. Most common state to get a resident discount: Florida. There are a lot of ships and a lot of people who like to cruise and can do so often in Florida.

Senior Discounts

The basic rule of thumb is that at least one guest in a cabin must be 55 or older to get a senior discount. Be aware though, this is not like the movie theater; not every cruise line gives senior discounts. Those that do don’t all the time. Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity commonly give a discount for seniors when they need to fill up a ship. That’s not only as they get close to sailing either.

Often, when a sailing first opens up for booking, a senior discount comes along. Later, if a sailing is not selling as well as the cruise lines had anticipated, they may offer a senior discount again

Last Minute deals

Don’t count on them. They exist for those who can sail with as little as 30 days notice. As recent as several years ago you could bank on last minute deals being there to the point where you could almost book airfare for a particular cruise on a given date but NOT buy the cruise until 30 days before sailing at a reduced rate. That really never was a very good idea as the ship could sell out then you would be stuck with airfare to nowhere. Royal Caribbean does this last-minute sale every Tuesday.

Military Discounts

Again, filling up the ships is good for business. If they can do it and benefit those who may have put their own lives in harms way to protect us, all the better. Carnival offers this most often but others do as well. Again, none of the cruise lines offer it all the time on all sailings but do ask your travel agent if you qualify. Active or retired as long as you have proper ID, you can get it for your entire cabin. Sometimes you can get it for more than one cabin.

Past Guest discounts

This is a very popular, common and appropriate discount. The cruise lines want to keep you coming back and will often make it worth your while to sail again and again with them. Perks, amenities and even pricing in some cases are afforded to repeat guests. After you’ve sailed a line, you are then a past guest. Record your past guest numbers and be sure they get entered into your bookings. Your good travel agent will keep these on file and use them to your advantage. Your Discount Internet cruise broker will most often fail to apply them to your booking even if you have them available.

How to find out about the deals?

Sign up for everyone’s mailing list
Get an email address other than the one you use for your regular daily email. Go to every cruise lines website and sign up for their mailing list. You will be the first to know of specials, discounts and extra-value sailings being offered. Using an email address like @gmail.com or @yahoo.com keeps the junk mail you eventually will get as the cruise lines sell your email address to others.

Twitter it
Following trusted sources of information is always a great idea.  Today that is made much easier with Social Media

Want to know if your “deal” is legit? Email it to me and I’ll tell you!

Shore Excursions- A primer

Good Morning

Last week we talked about using your cell phone wisely on the cruise to avoid a $5000.00 bill when you get back home which is kind of a buzz kill on the “oh my I am so relaxed from taking a cruise” thing. We also talked about taking advantage of the free stuff on the cruise as there is indeed a lot to do on the ship that is included in your cruise fare. Some say so much you can’t possibly do it all. I don’t know that I would want to even try to; sounds like work to me and that’s sure not what I go on a cruise for.

This week we’re going to talk about some of the shore excursions you can take on your cruise and which ones are the best values. See if this helps and if so, great; you’re on your way to taking care of that concern you may have had. If this does not help, send me an email or call me and we can go over each port to find some good choices for you.

Ok, Let’s get down to it then…

-Grand Cayman-

Stingray City
This is one of the most popular ones in the Caribbean and something everyone should probably do at least once. You can do this one of three ways, each of which take a short boat ride to a sand bar where these things live. Snorkeling is probably one of the most popular ways, SCUBA diving is another and a glass bottomed boat is the third. This is one were you can do it through the ship or through another vendor like www.Shoretrips.com (look online but call them and ask for Liz to book)

Atlantis Submarine ride
You can do this a lot of places. I mention it in Grand Cayman because that’s where we did it and, to me, this is a “once in a lifetime” is plenty ride but surely something everyone should do. If you have a fear of close spaces, not so much for you. But you will see any movie with a submarine in it through different eyes for the rest of your life if you do it.

-St Maarten-

Yacht Racing
Expensive but worth it and the experience of a lifetime. The America’s Cup Racing shore excursion you can book through the ship is an experience you’ll be talking about for a long time. This is not a ride though, they put you to work actually manning the ship doing sailor stuff.

Bae Rouge
A cab ride to the French side of the island and a few hours at a beach called Bae Rouge is a great day and not all that expensive. There are some facilities there but this is not about watersports and local cuisine. This is simply one of the prettiest beaches in the Caribbean and one that is NOT overrun by tourists. This is one of the places the crew members of the ships go

- Ocho Rios, Jamaica-

Dunns River Falls and more
The big attraction here is the 600 foot Dunns River Falls, a slopey, somtimes slimey, walking thing where you can actually walk up the falls which is pretty cool. But Jamaica is so much more and one of my very favorite places to go. One of the best ways to see it is by grabbing a cab for a half day tour of the island. My friend Lincoln Stewart has been doing this for years and whenever I have hooked up friends with him for a tour they have come back telling of it being the highlight of the cruise. Let me know, early, if you want more on this, he fills up fast.

-St Thomas-

Sapphire Beach
Shoppng is a big one here, especially jewelry. Megans Bay is the big tourist draw and that’s a beach thing. If it’s beach you’re looking for I suggest a cab ride to Sapphire Beach, another of the prettiest in the Caribbean. This one has a full array of water sports, a gift shop and more. It’s free to visit but you can rent chairs and umbrellas if you want to.

Obviously this is not a complete guide to shore excursions in the Caribbean. The idea here is to get you thinking about what you might want to do ashore. The best way to find the excursions that are good for you is to first explore the cruise line websites. While you’re looking, take notes on the excursions you find most interesting…and be realistic. If if there is no way Aunt Bertha would do the Extreme Hang Gliding Experience, don’t write that down. On the other hand, if doing the Extreme Hang Gliding Experience is just what the doctor orderd to snap Aunt Bertha out of her funk and back to life, maybe pencil that one in on the side.

Personally, I think you should not be looking for Shore “Excursions” but rather for Shore “Experiences”. I wouldn’t bother getting off the ship if you’re going to do one that requires getting on a big bus with 50 other people. You’ll get lost in the crowd, if you’re in the back of the bus you can’t hear, it will be hot and uncomforable and dilute the experience all to heck.

A good Shore Experience you’ll carry with you for a lifetime and the richer it is the better. You may visit a certain island many times or never again, who knows. Make it count!

Next week: More on Shore Experiences: we have just scratched the surface today!

Florida Cruise Ships Collide

Tampa’s Carnival Legend and Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas sailing from Port Everglades collided in Cozumel last night, leaving both vessels damaged.

The 88,500 ton Legend was pushed up against the 80,700 ton Enchantment by a strong wind while maneuvering away from the dock in Cozumel. Both ships received minor damage and will continue on their itineraries, a five-night Caribbean cruise for the Enchantment and a 7-night for the Legend. Still, passenger on board watched as a tug boat unsuccessfully tried to get between the two ships.

On a personal blog site,” TheOneBob” reports “OK, so we’re sitting in port. A few of us are on the pool deck watching the Carnival Legend pull out of port. As we’re watching it, it’s getting closer and closer. It looked like the wind was pushing the other ship toward us. I looked down and saw a tug boat try to get between the two boats, but it was too late. Then the collision became inevitable. There was some crunching and breaking glass noises and the ship rocked to one side a little. It was such a slow crash that it was barely noticeable. We could see scraped paint on the other ship, Really, nobody was hurt and we’re waiting for the all-clear from the Harbor master to leave port.”

Carnival really does have the Funships

I have always enjoyed Carnival cruises.

Since our last Carnival cruise on the Carnival Fantasy we had sailed the Celebrity Century, Cunard’s Queen Mary2, Norwegian Sun two times,and Royal Caribbean’s Sovereign and Freedom of the Seas. After all those, it was refreshing to come back home to Port Canaveral and the Carnival Glory.

At 110,000 tons, the Glory is one of the big fish in the cruise business. But on this one, which reminded me a lot of the Victory, Destiny and Triumph, Carnival has done a great job of breaking up large, open spaces, into smaller, more intimate areas. Taking a page from past renditions of FunShips but adding their typical unique twist done ship by ship, they have made a great addition to cruises sailing from Port Canaveral.

At the time of this sailing it was a tie between the Disney Magic or Wonder and the Glory for the “big, nice ships” prize ( If there was one). Now with Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas adding a totally different cruise experience to the mix of what is offered from Port Canaveral, it’s a tougher choice.

Glory is the clear winner, though, in many other areas. The main area, “Fun”, has Carnival clearly in the lead. That’s saying a lot when stacked up against the magical Disney brand. But since we had not only been away from Carnival for a while but had sailed on several other lines, the “fun” atmosphere really slapped me in the face. I missed it and did’t even know it.

Suddenly, what was missing on those other lines was very apparent. Here was a ship capable of holding up to 3700 passengers and darn near every single one I saw was over-the-top happy to be there. The atmosphere was relaxed but the air was full of anticipation, excitement and (again) “Fun”.

Upon embarkation, guests were advised that cabin’s would be ready about 1:30PM and to head to the lido deck for lunch. First, we had a great luncheon in the dining room. By the time we got up to the Lido deck it was packed. The familiar multiple food stations were all running full throttle keeping up with the demand quite nicely. I think it was here that I remembered how well Carnival knows “fun”.

On this visit I spent a lot of time touring the different categories of cabins. Still, my favorite and what I think is one of the best values at sea, is a category 9A corner balcony cabin. Very much like the one’s we’d sailed several times on other Carnival ships, the 9A’s on this ship have a unique layout. The big drawing point, though, is the huge wrap-around balcony.

Touring the Category 11 and 12 cabins was a lot of fun too (and about as close as I will ever get to staying in one). If I die and come back as a cruise ship cabin it would be in one of these categories. Not that the inside, outside and other balcony cabins are not nice, they are. After sailing all those other cruise lines mentioned earlier, some with cabins a lot smaller and most with cabins of varying sizes, it was nice to see the consistency that Carnival applies to their cabins. Each is comfortable and well equipped. OK so the Penthouse Suites have a bigger whirlpool bath than the somewhat smaller standard suites, even the inside cabin showers were quite functional and a fair size.

This visit was just a tour and luncheon on the ship, perhaps about the same amount of time one might spend aboard if in a wedding party. I did’t want to leave. I can’t wait to go back. My record is perfect; I’ve never met a cruise ship I did not like and the Glory I loved!

Cruising from Florida 101: Getting Started.3

So we’ve talked about Internet Cruise Brokers andCertified Cruise Travel Agents, but what about just picking up the phone or going on line to book directly with the cruise line?  Why not just eliminate the “middleman” and deal directly with the source?

You can do that and will probably get exactly what you paid for.  You might even get a complementary upgrade or some other perk not available with the Internet Cruise Broker.  But when it comes to comparing dealing directly with the cruise line to using a Certified Cruise Travel Agent, there is no comparison.

You see, while the Certified Cruise Travel Agent is paid a commission by the cruise line, they work for YOU…or they should.

A good one does.

A good agent works on building a long term business relationship with you. They want to be your go-to person for cruises now and in the future.  If nothing else, they have your repeat business at stake and want to do a good job for you so you will come back again for all cruise-related needs.

In Central Florida, like the rest of the planet, there are a lot of travel agents to choose from.  If you have been booking on the Internet, stop  and find one.  Ask a trusted friend who travels who they use.  Check with the local Better Business Bureau or Cruise Lines International Association for agents who have completed their certification training.  Then send that potential agent an email.  Give them as much information as you can; where you want to sail to, what your cruise history is (if you have one), how much you want to spend, where other vacations have been and what you liked or disliked about them.

Given enough information, a Certified Cruise Travel Agent should always be able to provide a better value for you.  They will respond promptly to your inquiry, ask probing questions to get a better idea of what cruise might be a good fit for you and start to develop that long-term business relationship rightfrom the start.

This is the way business was done for decades before the Internet enabled us to do so much on our own.  Now, in perspective, the Internet is a great tool for research but as the saying goes; “The Internet is for looking, Travel Agents are for booking”

Cruising From Florida 101: Getting Started.2

I feel bad for those who may have had their cruise vacation plans disrupted by trusting InternetCruise Brokers who ignored them after the sale or went out of business as we discussed in Part One of this series.

This is a really good reason, one that savvy travelers know, to concentrate on “Value” rather than simply “Price”. Yes, that advertised price of $199 for a cruise sounds great initially. But in almost all cases the end price nears double that once port charges, taxes and fees that everyone pays are added in, not to mention optional buried fees one might fall into.

The smart way to go is to find a Certified Cruise Travel Agent who offers the best value, not just the best price. Almost always, when all expenses are considered, the Travel Agent has the better value in the long run. And isn’t that what really counts? A professional, Certified Cruise Travel Agent can be your friend in the business that provides a really necessary service, much like you might use an accountant to help with your finances. The business relationship between you and a Travel Agent is one of trust that is built over time. “Your” agent will come to know and take a personal interest in what is best for you. He or she will be constantly on guard of your vacation plans, taking advantage of special offers, using their behind the scenes contacts and up to date knowledge of the industry on your behalf.

The best part? This costs you nothing. Travel Agents are paid a commission by the cruise line. You truly have nothing to lose and everything to gain There are Travel Agents who are simply sales people and Travel Agents who offer a service that will offer you great value in the long run. And the long run is what you need to think of because you’ll probably be cruising quite a bit in your lifetime

Here then are some simple ideas to consider when choosing between an Internet Cruise Broker and a Cruise Travel Agent:

• Concentrate on Value, not Price- look at the whole picture and be honest with yourself about it
• Always insist that your payments go directly to the cruise line- if they won’t do that, go elsewhere
• Carefully read the fine print- look for junk fees like change fees, cancellation fees, booking fees, etc. If you see them, run!
• Always pay with a debit or credit card- they provide some protection if that Internet Cruise Broker goes broke and shuts down
• Be sure they will honor any lower prices you qualify for. Most Cruise Brokers won’t do it but ask the cruise line to lower the price anyway. They lower the price, regaining some or all of the commission they gave up to get you that initial low price.
• Try emailing or calling them to ask a question and note the response time. This can be a real good indicator of how it will go after the sale

Next up?

Why not just eliminate these middlemen and book directly with the cruise line?

That is not a good idea and I’ll tell you why

The answer may surprise you!

Cruising from Florida 101: Getting Started

There are three basic ways to book a cruise.  Directly with the cruise line, an Internet Cruise Broker or a Travel Agent.  Which is the best way?  Let’s find out.

First, let’s start with the Internet Cruise Broker. That would be one of the many online companies that offers unbelievably low prices on a cruise. In most all cases those are unbelievable prices because they are not accurate or do not fully represent what is being offered.

The first misleading expense is hidden fees. I call these Burried Fees because you have to dig to find them. They are there for all to see but you will find them most commonly toward the end of their “Terms of Service” , far after the boring text turned off the reader. Most all of these fees are not necessary and simply sometihng that Internet Cruise Broker has levied upon each buyer, should they fall into the trap.

One that can add up quickly are “change fees” where you may be charged $50 or $100 for namespelling corrections. In the past, the cruise lines DID charge this fee but it as been dropped for quite some time. If you see this fee it should be a red flag to pay special attention to the details before buying. Processing Fees are another one that runs up the price of the cruise and is often charged by Internet Cruise Brokers.

But if you can get past all the potential or actual junk fees charged the low price may still be a good one. Reason enough to buy from your Internet Cruise Broker?

No way! One of the biggest areas where Internet Cruise Brokers fail is what happens after the sale.

The job of almost all Internet Cruise Brokers stops once you pay.

They simply don’t have time for you. To get those low prices they give up a good deal of their commission. They still have bills to pay so they rely on a huge volume of buisness to survive, often bending the rules or taking your money but not turning it over to the cruise line. Not long ago, I happened to visitwww.CruiseValueCenter.com, one of the big Internet Cruise Broker  websites, to find they had shut down and were offering site visitors advice on how to recoup money they had paid. If that is not enough reason stay clear of an Internet Cruise Broker, I don’t know what is.

Next up:  Why use a travel agent?

“Ok, so what’s NOT included with my cruise?”

This is a question everyone should know the answer to.

If you’re not sure, read on.  If you already know, skip this and go back to Twittering around or whatever it is you were doing before this.

It is true that much of your cruise vacation is included in the fare.  But that’s once you’re on the ship.  We need to back this up a bit and talk about what you paid for your cruise.

If you bought it from us, the price included all the port charges, taxes and government fees.  That’s important if you happen to be surfing around and see a price for a cruise that looks too good to be true.  Most often it is too good to be true, especially if it came from an Internet Cruise Broker. Those guys almost always withhold some fee, tax or other charge to make their big deal look more attractive.

You have got to resist the urge to embrace this and it can be harder than you think.

Some people want that great price so darn bad that they overlook the fine print or even the huge print just to have the bragging rights.  I remember a few years ago standing out in the middle of the street here talking to a neighbor.  He went on and on about the $199 cruise he bought and what a great deal he got.  Well listen, I know this business and there really are very few $199 cruises out there to be had.  I also knew this one he

was talking about was not one of them.  But I politely nodded and let him feel savy and powerful for a moment.

The point is, you need to be realistic and budget accordingly.

Why in the world would a travel agent tell you something like this?, you might ask.  Simple; from the beginning we have always told you the total price of your cruise, exactly what to expect and now it’s time to talk about your Total Vacation Cost.

Frankly, we have been on cruises where we did not spend anything other than the price of the cruise.  It can be done.  Ok that was a lie, I had to have a Diet Coke and those are not included so I charged that but that was all.  Hmm.  Now that I think of it, that was the cruise where they had just installed new gadgets on the slot machines that would allow you to charge money (tokens) on your cabin by using your cabin key/shipboard account card.  I had to try that so I charged $10.  I think it was $12.50 we spend over and above the price of the cruise.  It can be done.  You can spend nothing on the ship

The question is:  “Do I want to or should I?”

That’s where we need to start thinking about what you want to spend on the stuff that is not included in the price of the cruise like

• Spa Treatments
• Shore Excursions
• Gift Shop Purchases
• Tipping
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Internet Access and more

In the coming weeks, we will work through what you need to plan on and I want to get real numbers for each of you to use.  Not to scare you off but if a realistic plan does scare you off, maybe that’s for the best; you can cruise another time.

So now you have some homework.  Over the weekend, go to your group cruise website, or the cruise line website and take a look at your itinerary.  Consider what you would like to do ashore, on the ship, going to the ship or coming home.  Then send me an email with your ship, sailing date and any questions you have come up with.  No questions?  Send tips for others you think might be helpful.  No tips? Send jokes.  Clean jokes.  Everyone loves a joke.

And even though how much you spend on board is no laughing matter, let’s have some fun with it and see if we can make that Dream Cruise Vacation a reality without breaking the bank.

A moment to remember

Good Morning

I don’t think it would be possible to begin this day with anything other than a moment of thought and reflection on the anniversary of what has become “911″ in everyday conversation.  So much more than just a number, we need to take a moment and remember those who died on that horrible day.   Do you remember where you were?  I was working in my office and had CNN on as I do most days.  Somehow I knew from the initial report that this was going to be one of those life-changing moments.  Two VCR tapes later (probably 1000’s of tweets if this were today), coverage on CNN was still going on, covering a developing story that would go beyond the initial death and destruction and highlight an American spirit not seen in quite some time.  I remember my mother, now in her 90’s, saying “This feels just like Pearl Harbor.  I can’t believe I am living through this again” in disbelief.  I hope that was the end of such tragedies.  I’d like to believe that.  And I wanted to take a moment to think about those who died, those who rescued and everyone who was touched by this event in one way or another.

Ok now on with the booze smuggling tips!

Hurricane season kind to cruise ships…so far

The 2009 storm season has been a relatively easy one to date with little effect on the itineraries of ships sailing from Florida ports.  Last week, Carnival Glory sailing from Port Canaveral ran a modified itinerary, calling at Grand Turk as opposed to a scheduled day at sea.  Not a bad trade really.

But what happens if a storm is headed in the way of your cruise?

Well first be glad you didn’t book a Caribbean land vacation. They can move the cruise ships out of harms way.  The islands? Not so much.

The cruise lines make the safety of their guests, crew and vessels their highest priority. Unlike other vacation settings, by virtue of being a completely mobile vacation, cruising allows passengers to continue their vacations by altering itineraries should Mother Nature intervene. The cruise lines are prepared to keep their passengers and ships out of harm’s way. It is quite unlikely that the Captain will seek out a hurricane then command the ship to go full speed ahead right through it while hollering “Yaaaaaahooooo!!!” on the ship’s loudspeaker system.

“Passengers should rest assured that CLIA member lines have the latest technology and information to closely monitor weather conditions and take all actions necessary to make certain its passengers enjoy a safe and enjoyable cruise vacation,” said Terry Dale, Cruise Lines International Association president and CEO.

In the event of severe weather, certain operational protocols are in place for cruise lines, including:

• Today’s cruise ships feature the most technologically advanced weather forecasting systems and equipment available, allowing officers and company officials to forecast weather-related disturbances in advance.
• Today’s cruise ships are completely mobile and able to alter, cancel shorten or extend ship itineraries to keep guests safe in instances of threatening weather.
• In the event that ports of embarkation and debarkation are closed due to severe weather conditions, cruise lines can use a nearby alternative port. In these cases, cruise lines coordinate the logistics of loading food and supplies and getting passengers to and from the original port.

So yes, pay attention to hurricane forecasts and bookmark the Tropical Update page on your cruise line’s website that alerts guests to possible itinerary changes. But don’t be afraid to take advantage of some of the best fares of the year this fall during the tail end of hurricane season.

So far, so good.

Relationships, Transparency and Honesty

This week the difference between several types of clients really hit home.

As a travel agent specializing in cruise vacations and working with clients all over the world, I get associated with all kinds of people.  I am currently, have been, or will be in contact with a wide and diverse variety of travelers who share one thing in common.  They all want to go on a cruise.  But that is about where the similarity ends.  How they go about it, what they are looking for, and what they will get out of it varies widely.  Over the years, I have been able to categorize people into several stereotypical groups based on their behavior before, during and after our experience together.  Few people fit a category exactly but many share commonalities that are notable.

Bargain Hunters To The Death

This bunch is looking for the rock-bottom low price at all costs.  Nothing is more important than price.  These people commonly use me and/or another travel agent to research what they need then go buy it from an Internet Cruise Broker.  I can tell these people from the first phone call or first email.  Some do convert to another type later on, but all come in the door looking for and firmly believing that the rock-bottom low price is their goal.

They are dead wrong.

Some never budge from this type and over the course of their cruise history, miss out on so much.

If buying a cruise were like buying, say, contact lenses, then 1-800-CruiseBargainBin might be a very good choice.  With contact lenses,  a medical professional examines my eyes and makes a prescription for a certain specific brand and type of lenses, specifying exactly what the variables are to be as far as brand and power.  I accept that recommendation and am now free to shop around for the lowest price.   I could buy my lenses right there at the doctors office.  But I found that for this product, there are on line sources that give me the exact same thing.   The price is less and they get delivered to my door; those are the two variables that are important to me.  Also important to me is that I can see with them in.  If I can’t, I go back to my medical professional who adjusts my prescription.  I don’t have to do it this way.  I have been to Wal-Mart for eye exams too.  It was relatively quick and easy and at the end of the day, I could see good with the lenses I got there.  That worked for many years.  But life changes, I was diagnosed with diabetes, and now an Ophthalmologist is the person I need to see, not an Optometrist.  So Wal-Mart is out but I am getting a higher level of care at about the same price.  Now, the service aspect of it is important to me.  Since, for now, my eyes don’t change much, I’ll still buy those lenses on line.  But I know that if I started seeing differently that the on line buying source would be of no help to me at all.

The point is that buying a cruise is not at all like buying contact lenses, there are many more variables involved, some that change over time and using a travel professional is the way to go.  This type of buyer knows this. They understand what value is.  They know value is more important than price.  They know that in the long-run they end up way ahead using an agent rather than an Internet website.  They probably do shop for standard items with few variables that never change on the Internet like shoes, clothes, parts for things around the house, or other easy to define products.  They wisely check the return policy and do business with companies that deliver quickly and  make returns easy.  They know that the closest similarity in the buying process to a return policy on a cruise is cancelling before final payment so they can get their money back.

You can’t send back a cruise that doesn’t fit well.

That seems like a really easy to understand statement that everyone should know and understand.  But some people get so into buying on line that they forget.  They want that low price so bad that they overlook details.  What happens is that they realize later that this was not the cruise for them.  By the time they do, precious months of seniority on their booking has slipped away, reducing their chances of complementary upgrades and time they could have been using to fine tune plans for what they will actually do on that vacation.  They shortened the window of time they had to be looking on line for that piece of luggage they need to go on sale.  They basically shot themselves in the foot on value.  The saddest part of all?   Unlike the contact lens scenario noted previously, a good travel agent can get you a good price AND provide you with top-tier support throughout the buying cycle.

Where the Internet Cruise Broker has moved on to another potential client seconds after making your sale, that’s where a personal travel agent’s job begins.

Savvy Traveler

The way this traveler does business should be a goal for every one.  They did their research, got with an agent who they trust, considered their recommendations and bought a cruise based on sound research, the recommendation of a professional in the business, and then put that part of the process to rest.  Once that was accomplished, they immediately turned to the thought of Shore Excursions, On board Activities,  Events leading up to the cruise, Planning and all the other activities essential to making their vacation a fabulous experience, custom designed for them and them only.  They seek the advice of their  easy-to-contact agent from time to time, building a long-term business relationship and becoming more that just another “client” but a friend.  They might check prices periodically on the cruise line website for price movement, reporting same to that agent for swift price reductions or cabin upgrades along the way.  They do that as part of a whole program of ongoing activities, not the sole reason to go on line when thinking about their cruise.  These people are booked on the right ship at the right price, one that they can afford.

These are the people you see on board having a great time and not moaning about every little thing that might not be quite right.  These people have commonly cruised  a lot, many having more than one cruise booked at a time.  They know the value of booking as far in advance as possible.  They may also be in a position to go on a cruise at the last minute if a good value becomes available.  This is not necessarily an older group of cruisers but for sure a more organized, thoughtful and caring bunch.  If you are reading this and someone I booked a cruise for more than twice, you are probably in this group.

New Kids On The Block

These are people who have never been on a cruise before.  They have wisely sought the advice of a professional travel agent much like they might seek an attorney for legal matters, a good transmission shop for that type of work or a good contractor to do some work around their home.  They may have surfed the Internet which may have helped them if they stuck to the cruise line websites.  If they went to BobsBargainCruiseBarn.com they probably have a skewed idea of reality.  They may just be thinking about a cruise as one of several other options for a vacation.  They don’t know yet the great value a cruise can be.  They might end up buying from an Internet Cruise Broker believing that the lowest price is what they need.  But they need much more than that.  They need what travel agents call “hand-holding” through the process.  Lots of attention, lots of information, easy access to a personal source of information and more; that’s the basic stuff they need.  If  they buy that bargain price at the broker website they’ll get just that and no more.  They need the “more” and are almost always surprised to find out that the “more” is well worth the time it might take to find a good personal agent.

Sometimes I see these people just once because after their first cruise they are experts.  Now they know what they are doing and they don’t need any help.

Sometimes I see these people again and again.  After the first cruise they too are experts and rightfully so; most cruise lines operate basically the same on the surface.  They all have ships that float, the embarkation process is basically the same and results in you getting on the ship,  cabins are basically the same having beds and a bathroom, the list goes on.  But these people realize that they need to have a professional travel agent in their pocket.  Not for when something goes wrong; that doesn’t really happen all that much.  But for keeping things going right and most commonly better than right.  A travel agent, especially one who specializes in cruises, has their finger on the pulse of what is going on all the time.  They know promotions that could be applied to an individual booking to create a better value.  They know which t’s to cross and which i’s to dot and when.  Because they have a vested interest in you now, they give your booking the personal attention it will not get from a broker.  These people automatically go to the Value Oriented type as soon as they get back from the first cruise and book again.

Value Oriented

This group is price oriented but they get it.  They know that the rock-bottom low price is not always the best price.  If that did not make sense to you, you are not one of these people.  But it would serve you well to at least consider being one of them.  This group keeps the Internet in check and uses it for research.  The web puts a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips, just waiting to be explored.  On line booking engines like Travelocity.com or even the Internet Cruise Brokers, can help a motivated dreamer to narrow down a list of hundreds of sailings to some that might work for them.  The Value Oriented personality knows this.  They see clearly that the $199 advertised price does not include port charges, taxes and fees.  They take the time to read the fine print and discover that the Internet Cruise Broker they were going to use charges non-refundable fees and has various booking restrictions.

I am happy to say that I have a lot of clients in this group.  They may have been in another group at one time.  Many were New Kids On The Block at one time while others have booked different ways in the past but realize the value of a travel agent in the process.  That’s an important thing to note, that “realize the value of a travel agent” statement.  To me, it’s simple and I see the value of what I do every day.  To others, that realization may never come or it takes a major disaster to bring the value of a travel agent into focus for them.  They know the travel agent is not the “middle man” taking his cut of the pie, running up the price.   They know they almost always get a better price and do always get better service than any other source including the cruise line itself.  I have a clear picture of this and how it works because originally I thought dealing directly with the cruise line would be the way to go; they DO own the ships after all.

I found out quickly that there was nothing to be gained by booking through the cruise line.  Nothing.  By strict rule, they can not offer a price lower than a travel agent can sell the same thing for.  It may appear that they do if one gets an email, flyer in the mail, or sees a flashy add on their website.  But almost all cruise lines don’t tell the full price, almost always leaving off at least the port charges and taxes.  I hate to say it but they are much like the Internet Cruise Brokers in that way.  Of the times I booked directly with the cruise line for our individual sailings, I never got anything extra, no extra….what is that word?…Oh yes:Value!  No extra value from booking with the cruise line directly.  If you did not know that consider this one paragraph reason enough to have read this.  You could stop right here and have learned a very valuable lesson.

Dreamers and Time Killers

Lots of people in this type are killing time at work.  Maybe there has been a lull in the work load on the job.  Maybe they have other things they should be doing but given Internet access, they use it to dream about a future cruise. These are the people in your office you should be mad at when management takes away your Internet access.   They might surf the Internet to begin with but that can get confusing.  They want to make sense of it all and surfing no longer satisfies that need.  They need a person (me or some creature like me) to interact with in order to fulfill the dream, make it real.  A lot of these same people join group cruises that have a reduced initial deposit.  For $25 they buy bragging rights, a light at the end of the tunnel or simply make the dream more real.  Many of them won’t go on that cruise and cancel when the full deposit becomes due for one “logical” reason or another.  But for those months they had a deposit on a booking, technically they were indeed going on a cruise.  The great thing is that they can cancel that cruise before payment is due, get their money back and all that dream, all that hope, all that relaxing alternative brain-use was free.  Pretty good deal.

Now don’t get me wrong: these are not bad people.  I have some of the most fun in my job interacting with this bunch.  These people also play a big role in my continuing education, a service some people in some jobs have to pay for!  During the course of playing this game in a days time I research lots of cruises to give a viable option package to them to choose from; one that is custom-designed for them with no clicking, searching, interpretation of rules or restrictions or other considerations.  I weed out the sailings that don’t meet their criteria, the ones that truly would not work for them and come up with recommendations that can blossom into a fabulous cruise experience.

For others, I don’t get that chance.  Through their own research, effective or not, they have locked into a particular ship and sailing and are shopping around for the best price.  If given the opportunity (rare) I’ll try to probe deeper and see what the criteria was for deciding on that particular cruise.  The price shopper in them usually won’t allow that; convinced I would probably just want to sell them a more expensive cruise.  I might too; but it would be a better value and a better fit for them.

This group brings me to the reason for writing this today.  As I mentioned previously, this week the difference between several types of clients really hit home.

I do a lot of group cruise business.  For those traveling together who have 5 or more cabins-worth of people going along, that is almost always the way to go.  Even those who have maybe 3 or 4 cabins but a lot of potential group members in family or friends are good candidates for a group cruise.   While the booking process is similar, there are benefits and amenities available to groups for about the same price per person as an individual reservation, if not lower, that make for a better value but more work for us up front.

Last week we went through the process of finding a cruise and getting it set up as a group for a client.   We found their cruise, got them a good price, lots of group amenities, set up a group website for them, and started booking guests into the group.  All pretty normal stuff until I got a request from an on line cruise-bidding company to bid this exact same cruise for this same group leader.

The foundation of a successful relationship with a travel agent is trust and a desire to make that a long-term relationship.  A traveler has nothing to lose and everything to gain from that kind of a relationship.  If I am that traveler and I know that my personal travel agent has my best interests in mind, feel like that agent is working behind the scenes to add value to my booking, I stick with them.  It is the logical thing to do.  It’s what the Savy Traveler and Value Oriented people already know, what the New Kids On The Block or Dreamers and Time Killers may learn and what the Bargain Hunters To The Death will never understand.

Frankly, I was personally offended.

Not offended that they were still checking prices, everyone should do that.  But offended because they had not given me the opportunity to respond to some lower price they had seen somewhere.

Checking prices is something that is a good idea.  We check prices on a regular basis and pass along savings booked guests qualify for when we see them.  But we don’t always see promotions a guest may receive in the mail, via email or just stumble upon on the Internet.

No problem with checking prices.
No problem making lower prices happen when possible.
No problem educating clients on how to look for lower prices.

Big problem on violating the business relationship I thought we had been working on that would benefit that client so very much.

This won’t change anything about our business relationship, but it might keep it from moving forward as quickly and beneficially as it might have had our hearts both been in the right place.  That group leader might come around.  That group leader and others like that group leader, might teach themselves the value of working on that long-term business relationship, one with full transparency and clarity.

Full transparency and clarity; two really good words.   I hope they define most all of my business relationships because I know in the long run that having a clear picture builds the trust necessary to ” have it all”.

I have a guy that I call for landscaping stuff, a guy I call for home remodeling stuff, a place I trust to take my car for service and so on.  Those are the go-to guys I have for those things.  I know and trust them as the source of information on those topics.  I know and trust that if I ask them something they don’t know, they will find out or direct me to a source they trust for the information or service.  This is all good stuff.  When I was a kid, this is how people did business.  Over the course of time we got away from that.  We became a “best price no matter what” society in general, giving birth to Internet Cruise Brokers (their run is coming to an end,  Google “YTB”),  Discount Mortgage Lenders (that didn’t work out really well),  causing airlines to stop paying commissions to travel agents (my,  how good their business is today?),  and other industries who, in my opinion, brought us to the recession/brink of disaster situation we are in/working out of today.

A bright sparkling star on the horizon can be found in the young people of today though.  There is a new generation unfolding that values the building of relationships, transparency and honesty above all else.  My daughter Sydney, a recent college grad currently on an internship in public relations, is all about this.  And it’s not just her.  On Twitter, Face book and other social media forums, this foundation trinity of: Relation Relationships, Transparency and Honesty pervade cyberspace and is beginning, just beginning, to take a hold on what will be the way America if not the world does business in the future.  While those Internet forums may be unfamiliar to many, the message is clear:  We’re going to do this right and you can’t stop us.

This is great stuff.

So, “back to the future”?  Somewhat; if that helps us wrap our heads around it.  But watch out, I think these kids have something here.  What if they can turn back time and bring us to an economy based on Transparency, Building Relationship and Honesty?  How cool would that be?

The New Celebrity Equinox

From a friend in the UK, this one looks so good…

The Celebrity Equinox left Southampton last Friday on her maiden voyage to the Mediterranean. But in the two weeks before she sailed, Celebrity put on a remarkable show to the UK travel trade. 
 
During this show, the big guns from head office told us that with these new ships there were two things they were trying to be.
One was “stylish not trendy” and the other was “elegant not formal.” These are just a couple of the touchstones that guide the new Celebrity, as they begin to take bookings on the third of these Solstice class ships, Celebrity Eclipse, which will be based in Southampton next summer.

So let’s have a look at this second of the five new Solstice ships to come from the shipyard of Meyer Werft at Papenburg.

Celebrity and the UK
There was no question that Celebrity pulled out all the stops to host the UK trade, offering a series of five 1- and 2-night cruises from Southampton and hosting about 5,000 travel agents and 2,000 clients, as well as a good number of suppliers and media people. Not only that, the hosts were three big guns: Richard Fain, chairman and ceo of parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises, Dan Hanrahan, ceo of Celebrity Cruises, and Robin Shaw, managing director of Celebrity’s UK office. In fact, Fain admitted that the costs for this exercise were “unconscionable,” although there was good reason for it.

So why such a powerful cast? Well, one thing they told us on our two-night cruise was that Celebrity is aiming to take 5% of the UK cruise market next year. To do that they will have to book 75,000 passengers, and combined with sister company Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas, which already sails from Southampton, this will present huge competition to P&O and Princess and to some extent to Cunard as well, not to mention the likes of MSC and NCL over at Dover.

Celebrity ships have cruised from UK ports in the past, but this will be the biggest program ever and the first time since Chandris ran the Australis and the Regina Magna on cruises from Southampton that they have had such a serious presence in the UK.
Yes, Celebrity is going back to its Chandris roots, although it doesn’t say as much as the earlier ships handled the £10 a head emigrant trade to Australia before going into cruising when that stopped. A much more upmarket Celebrity will now be looking for UK business.

The Ship Inside
If you liked the previous decoration on Celebrity ships, which have always been somewhat refined, you will find the decoration on Celebrity Equinox a bit more futuristic, like a “Popular Mechanics” vision of the future. There is lots of architectural sculpture and metallic embellishment throughout the public areas and the carpets are swirly rather than comforting.
In some areas, such as the bar outside the Murano extra tariff restaurant the swirly carpets, the swirly painting of the columns and the artwork and unique light fittings can tend to overwhelm than relax one.
Unusual metallic lighting fixtures are offset in many areas of the ship by art, particularly a good part of the Galaxy art collection that was removed when that ship became Mein Schiff with its German-market associate TUI Cruises. Personally, I feel more at home on the Century and Millennium class ships but then Celebrity are probably trying to attract a younger more trendy crowd.
As one of its Hollywood interior designers, Tim Magill of 5+ Design, said, the idea was that she should look more like a dinner jacket than a ball gown, if you follow that logic.

There are three particularly large areas on this 122,000-ton ship that can carry over 3,000 passengers that I like to call Hold numbers 1, 2 and 3. Hold number 1 is the three-deck high show lounge, a very impressive room indeed, which features the usual Celebrity stage elevator that can raise a piano or a set from beneath the stage. Hold number 2 is the atrium, which contains a tree suspended in mid-air and open glass elevators on each side of the hold, onto which faces a library where it must be difficult to remove the books from shelves that are two decks high!

And Hold number 3 is the double-deck dining room that has a balcony on the top level. Unlike the Century and Millennium class that have dining rooms at the stern, the Equinox main restaurant has no stern view. The galleys have been located there instead, a throwback to the old Horizon class. One must suppose that the ride is a little nicer in a rough sea, but it is a shame that the only aft-facing restaurant is now the extra tariff Tuscan Grill (Celebrity call it the Tuscan Grille but a grille is what one finds on the front of a BMW or a Studebaker).

Hard deck surfaces, somewhat like stone or tile flooring, have been used in some parts of the ship. Particularly in some of the more open areas where large balconies overlook the rooms below, this can mean a lot of noise. It seems to be a current trend for bars and restaurants to have many hard surfaces that create echoes but now this has been taken to sea.
Not for the first time, however, as some Carnival ships have the same hard decks in public areas. Presumably these are easier to clean and to maintain but they do affect the noise level and at times one needs to look around to find a quiet place to relax in.

This is particularly true of the Martini Bar and the Coffee Bar. One needs to search out Michael’s Club further aft to find somewhere a quieter. Ironically, the wine tasting lounge called Cellar Masters directly opposite the noisy Martini Bar, does offer a more tranquil setting, as does the Passport Bar down the stairs on the other side of the ship. In this case, the elevator banks operate as a sound barrier.

One last thing, although all the Celebrity executives apparently tried out every style of new chair that is used on board the Equinox, someone forgot the stateroom couches, which are very hard!

The Ship Outside

The exterior hull of these ships is quite mould-breaking and many have found them to be striking, or even handsome. One of the most interesting views, however, is above the boat deck, where seven stories of balconies rise above the sea like some cliff side luxury beach resort. In fact, however, the ship is not that far removed from a 1,400-room resort hotel in that 85% of her cabins now have private balconies.

Below all these balconies is a promenade along the boat deck and at the forward end of this on each side are private deck areas where one can relax in a good old-fashioned steamer chair with cushion and read a book. But there are only forty-two of these steamer chairs on a ship that can carry more than 3,000 passengers.
The vast majority of deck furniture is the sun loungers and other chairs surrounding the three pools up top. Oh, and up forward on top there are some nice loungers as well, somewhat marred however by the sound of bouncing balls coming from the basketball court in the middle.

Unique is her stern, however, which slopes down from the top towards the sea. Celebrity has added what it calls an interceptor, a yacht-like transom that wraps around the ship’s stern, effectively lifting her hull slightly to cut the ship’s drag as she cuts through the water.

Her hull was in fact designed by yacht designer Martin Francis, who succeeded another yacht designer, the late Jon Bannenberg, who had worked with Celebrity since the line’s first ship, the Horizon of 1980. All Celebrity ships have therefore been designed with yachts and mega-yachts in mind.

The Lawn at the top of the ship is interesting but one wonders how practical it really is. And the glass-blowing display is good for one viewing and then you’re done. It has created the advantage, however, of the ship being able to make its own naming bottle, which was smashed against one of her funnels rather than the hull, as is the usual practice.

Speaking of usual practice, and just as an aside, the lifeboat drill on these new ships is held without life jackets. This will be the procedure on the new Oasis class ships of Royal Caribbean as well, where they have gone as far as considering removing life jackets from the cabins and stowing them all at the lifeboat stations.

The Equinox also joins a return to two funnels, something that goes back to ocean liners such as the first Queen Elizabeth and the France, to name just a couple. More recently, all of Disney’s ships have been designed with two funnels as well. But in the case of the Solstice class, both funnels are aft and they are real, each one serving a separate engine room. This arrangement gives the ship 100% redundancy, meaning that in case of trouble in one engine room, the other one remains intact.

But Why Must The Gym Face Forward?

It must come from all of us travelling in aircraft these days, with no forward view and windows facing only sideways, but why is it that so many ship designers under-rate forward-facing lounges in large ships? The Queen Mary 2 is probably the best ship in the world for this, with its Commodore Club, Library and Atlantic Room on three different decks.
The only forward view on Celebrity Equinox, however, is from the Sky Observation Lounge. But one deck down, one really must ask oneself why on earth people on treadmills, especially treadmills that face the side of the ship, should have such a splendid view of the sea when they could easily be located in the bowels of the ship?

Outside the gym, there is an open deck area that faces forward and this would be a particularly good place to be on entering port, but is marred by speakers playing the very loud techo-rap that is played in the gym. This lack of imagination is not exclusive to Celebrity’s designers as Carnival ships have their gyms forward as well and the Sea Princess even has a cafeteria there. Still, it is a real shame to waste such precious space on a fitness area.

Crew Matters

Crew matters in more ways than one, but the most important is in ensuring that people come back as repeat customers. Celebrity takes great pride in its crews and to host two weeks on a new ship, they ensured there was no lack of experience from those on board Equinox. This showed in the consistency of the service that was offered.
To ensure this level of service, about half the crew came from the Solstice and 45% from other Celebrity ships, leaving only a small proportion of the crew as first-timers. No doubt this was helped by the fact the Celebrity had only very recently delivered the Galaxy to Germany.

While interviewing several Equinox crew members to see how Celebrity kept them happy, they were quite happy to talk about their employers. The new Solstice class ships have a crew of 1,253 that is accommodated over three decks of well-designed crew cabins, and on top of the normal crew bar they have their own crew disco and even a crew casino, although this consists of machines and not table-top gambling.
But one of the biggest responses we got was that Celebrity offer six-month contracts with six weeks off whereas one former Holland America employee told us that he had had to sign one-year contracts with them. Things like this make a big difference when it comes to crew being able to see family and get a rest every once in a while.

The Green Ship

Here are some more facts about the new Celebrity Equinox. The first is that the top of the ship features more than 200 solar panels that can produce enough electricity to power 7,000 LED lights. The second is that the acres of windows on board have been specially chosen to reduce heat transfer from outside the ship and thus save on air conditioning. The third is that a special non-toxic silicon coating has been applied to the hull to reduce resistance and save fuel.
The fourth is that water consumption has been reduced through the use of river rocks instead of ice in the buffets, reduced-flow dishwashers in the galleys and shower heads that require less water.

Not only is this a green ship but the competition must be green with envy and will have quite a fight on their hands in the UK market with her sister ship next year. And I haven’t even mentioned Aqua Class or Blu or Silk Harvest yet! Overall, the ship is bright, new and spacious, the crew and service fantastic and the food consistently excellent. Celebrity has not missed a trick since its parting with Michel Roux and still maintains, if not exceeds, the very high standards that it set for itself from the beginning.

A new golden age of cruise travel?

I was looking through some cruise brochures yesterday (I do this on Saturday’s while sitting around the pool) and a thought crossed my mind:

“Interesting; the biggest, newest ships have so many more features and options.  Why?”

The two biggest, newest and brightest stars on the horizon are the Norwegian Epic and Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas.  These two new ships have more features and more choices for accomodations than anything ever built before.  While very different in and of themselves, both of these ships will offer some common elements that are interesting to think about.  Let’s look at three of them

1. There are no Oceanview staterooms
2. They both offer top-end accomodations presented in a secluded area
3. They are both priced higher than any other ship in their respective fleets

The loss of Oceanview staterooms (cabins with a window) is no big loss to me personally.  We did a Oceanview cabin one time and I thought

“Waste of money, it’s like watching the ocean on TV, might as well get an inside cabin and actually watch the ocean on tv via the ship’s bridge cam” .

But that’s just me.   Others do like Oceanview cabins but the industry trend has been to get away from them.  Many of the new ships out right now have reduced the number of them to where I can’t even hold some for a group cruise.  Looking at older ships though, balconies are the rage and have been for several years.  Older ships going into drydock commonly come out with more balconies than they went in with.  The demand is for balconies over Oceanview so it is no surprise that the newest ships don’t have any.  Still, it does reduce one option a potential guest has to choose from when making a buying decision.  Some won’t care, they didn’t want an Oceanview anyway.  Some will care because they liked the Oceanview.   In my experience those really needing an Oceanview need that point of reference that the window and what is outside of it provides.

For the cruise lines, they get to charge more for that cabin because it has a balcony now.  That’s fair, a balcony offers a better cruise experience.  My time on a balcony is precious.  Being at sea, completely surrounded by the ocean in all directions is so peaceful and offers so much to me that it’s worth it.  I have passed on many sailings when I could not afford a balcony.   I am not one of those people who says “Who cares what cabin I get as long as I am on the ship” .  There are a lot of people that feel that way and truly do not spend much time in their cabin.  I’m glad we have the option of inside cabins for them; that’s a good match for what they want out of their cruise.  I don’t see those going away any time soon but one look at Oasis of the Seas and you can sure see where the focus is; balconies one way or another.  In fact, in addition to the traditional Promenade View inside cabins offering a window view of the Royal Promenade that runs the length of a football field inside the ship, they are offering similar “inside” cabins but with balconies that open inside the ship.

I also thought

“I think the cruise lines “get it”.  I think they realize that the best cruise experience includes a balcony and financial gains aside, a balcony cabin does add to the whole “cruise of a lifetime” experience that I think they have been getting away from recently”

The addition of secluded areas for the top-end accomodations harkens back to the Golden Age of Ocean Liners (think the movie “Titanic”) and a class system that was undeniable.

Modern ships still had that up to this point but in a more indirect way.  One could book passage on a high-end cruise line like Silversea or Regent Seven-Seas where all the staterooms were oppulent and geared toward a higher-income level guest.  Is that a class system at work?  You bet.  Is that a good thing or a bad thing?  I don’t think it is either, it is just differenet marketing to groups of like guests.  That notion smacked me in the face when arriving at Port Canaveral not long ago for a sailing of the Carnival Glory.  We had not sailed on Carnival for a while and it struck me as unique that there were barbecues, pickup trucks and a party atmosphere somewhat like I had experienced when we lived in Kansas City before a Chiefs football game.  I had not seen that on Princess, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, or other lines.

Don’t get me wrong.  I am not in any way looking down on Carnival guests in any negative way, just an observation.

If I was to document the scene at Carnival though with the scene at Cunard, for example, I know I would see different groups of people.  Not that Carnval guests don’t cruise on Cunard or vice versa, we do.  But Carnival is all about the “fun” and they have that down pat.  Cunard is a more refined experience.  Those, to me, are some real extremes.  So who are these new ships, Oasis and Epic,  built for?

I think they are built for everyone.  Bargain hunters are not going to find a $199 cruise on either ship any time soon.  A $1000 per person inside cabin is more like it and that in and of itself will turn a lot of people off.  I have even heard comments from other travel agents wondering when the price will come down because they sure can’t sell either ship to their customers priced as they are now.  Clients tell me to let them know when the prices go down and they will take a look.   I don’t know that I will be making that call any time soon.

You see, I think this is a good thing;  feature-heavy ships offering the best possible opportunity for us to fully embrace what cruise travel is all about:

Ulitmate Relaxation

A cruise vacation offers the single-most effective way to get away from real life, relax and get the perspective we need to go forward with life in a productive way.  That is really good for us.   No matter what “relax” means to you, you need to do it.  I am always reminded of the dancing waiters and dining room show they do on many cruise ships when I think of this topic.  How anyone could possibly be thinking about work, bills, commitments or any of the parts of everyday life that bear on us IF they fully embrace this scene has always been beyond me.  On our first cruises, traveling with our children, they would get up and dance around the dining room with the so many other guests, being silly and having a great time.  Some guests don’t like this part and embrace other opportunities to relax.  A spa treatment, a cozy place to read a book, shore excursions, a night at the disco, or any one of a number of other opporunities offer the same “get away from it all” value.

Once away from it all, we can take stock of where we are and where we want to go.  This is the true value of a cruise vacation and one that has left me feeling a little bit different after each sailing.  It’s what makes some guests into cruise addicts as it offers more relaxation, clarity and focus than any other vacation option.  ”Time away” is easy to define;  you’re just not at work or home.  You can get that with camping, a day-trip outside of where you live or other way less expensive options.   To get the clarity and focus towards the future, a cruise vacation does it like no other.  I think Norwegian Cruise line and Royal Caribbean get it and these two new ships are opening a door to the past and the future for all of us.  I think these ships are saying

“We know what you need and are here to deliver it.  Yes, it will cost you more but oh the benefits to you when it’s all over”

So my advice is consistent:  Book as far in advance as possible, plan on it costing more, but do it.  Take a ride on one of these new fabulous ships but don’t step foot on one in the wrong frame of mind.  If you’re looking for a bargain, these are not the ships for you.  If you are looking for a life-altering experience that will allow you the clarity to forcefully impact your life in the future starting the moment you get off the ship,  book one right now.

Again, it is all about “value”.  This just keeps coming up, maybe more now that ever in light of our current world-wide economic concerns.

A traditional way to compare cruises to determine value has always been the  cost per person, per day.  That’s still a good way to calculate monetary value when comparing the exact same sailing on the same ship in the same category cabin with multilpe sources to buy from.  But “monetary value” and what I believe will be the new and more accurate “Total Value” is what we realy need to concentrate on.  Total Value includes price but, more importantly, includes the onboard experience front and center.  Those who “get it” will have no problem understanding this concept.  These will be the people, like me, who have experienced feeling a little different after a cruise.  They come away a different person.  They might not be able to put their finger on exactly what happened to make that a reality but it IS a reality nonetheless.  All these new features, layouts, cabin choices and the overall focus of these new ships offers us the unique opportunity to maximize the clarity and focus we can gain from a cruise vacation experience.

So those are the golden words:

Clarity

Focus

Cruise Vacation Experience

Can you get that from less-expensive sailings on different lines?  You bet!  Coming up on our 40th cruise soon, I know this for a fact.  Each and every one has fostered a new viewpoint, a new starting place and offered the renewal I needed regardless of if I realized that or not.  I grew as a person as a result of each cruise I have been on.  I  have always been a little bit different when I got off the ship than when I got on.  If you are fortunate enough to have experienced this also, you know exactly what I mean.

It is not the food, itinerary, ship, or price that keeps me coming back.  It is not the people I go with or those I meet on board.  It is the clarity and focus I end up with that I can not get anywhere else.  It’s hard to put a price on that but the price of your cruise is a good place to start.  That’s the money part; deal with it.  Get with a travel agent, preferably one that specializes in cruises only but NOT an Internet Cruise Broker, one with a passion for cruising that “gets it” as a starting place.  There are plenty of them out there.  Get to know them either in person or through any one of the many electronic media avenues available to us today.  Start building a long-term relationship with a good travel agent in much the same way you might consider a doctor or other trusted advisor.  The fact is that their involvement in your cruise vacation can make a huge difference in it being the fabulous life-improving experience you can have and a great cruise.  Both are good, life-improving is better.  Why?  Because they can handle all the details of it for you at no cost and most often at a lower cost and/or better value than you can get anywhere else.  That (and this is the important part) leaves you to dream.

Yes: Dream

Dream at night while you sleep, daydream while at work, on the way to the grocery store, sitting around watching TV or hiking on a trail.  The dream you have with you because you booked that cruise which will allow the clarity and focus you will experience is priceless.  The experience itself, done right, will change your life.   Again, if you have done this, you know exactly what I am talking about.  But if you have not, take what you will view as a chance and give it a try.  In the right frame of mind you can maximize the value of what many look at as a simple vacation into a life-changing experience.  No matter how good your life is now, it can be better.  Better may mean that you impact the lives of others in a positive way more than you have in the past.  Better may mean that you got more out of the experience than you might have otherwise.  But “better” is exactly what you make it.  Here you have the opportunity through the clarity and focus obtainable on a cruise vacation experience to see that.

These new ships offer a new dream to be possible.  Good things will come of this.

I found a better price (you crook!)

I  love it when someone emails me about this.  I got one today from one of our group cruise leaders.

“Chris:  hat answer do I give someone who says, ” I found a better price for the cruise ($535.00) on a couple of sites.”  I have someone getting ready to register, but called me with this question.  I recall you mentioning this before, but I forgot what you said.  Please advise”

The short answer is, “You’re wrong” but that is usually not enough and this will come up from time to time’

Most commonly they have found sites of Internet Cruise Brokers (bad word in the travel business. think “used car salesman”)who misrepresent what they are offering or they are just looking at it wrong.

The next best answer is “Go ahead and go through the booking process where ever it is you found that price but just don’t pay”  They will have to do that to get to what the real price is on those sites.

But the best answer, one you could copy and paste into a reply to an email would be:

“You might want to check again, many of those sites commonly do not include the port charges, taxes and fees or their processing charges, document charges, shipping charges or booking fees (none of which you are paying).  They also won’t include the group benefits of a $100 onboard credit and one-hour open bar cocktail party.  Our price is the lowest available unless you want to pay the full $250 per person deposit right now and use the Early Saver rate which Carnival guarantees to be the lowest.  In turn, that deposit is non-refundable, no changes can be made to the booking after it is paid and it will not be eligible for the complementary cabin category upgrades we will get as a group.”

When they go back and look beyond the attractive teaser rate they find that it is actually much higher about half the time and the other half of the time they find that rate is no longer available.

There is no way someone has a rate of $535 on this cruise.  The Carnival Early Saver rate, again, guaranteed to be the lowest is $686 for an inside cabin.  Your group rate is $726.  Considering the onboard credit alone (take $50 off that $726)  your group price is a better value.  Add in just the cocktail party and convenience of NOT having to pay a Non-Refundable deposit of $250 up front for a cruise they won’t sail on for more than a year plus the upgrades they will get being part of the group and the group is the best value.  It always will be.

If the price actually did go down, you would get the lower price with the group.  The price won’t go down.  This is a summer sailing and the price will go up.  The only reason we got this price is because you planned this so far in advance.  The cruise line rewards our forward thinking with a lower price.  In fact, they are already bugging me about filling up those cabins we have on hold or giving them back.  If we were to start this group today, the price would be $756 per person, an increase of $30 per person already.

The pricing objections you write about happen all the time and you can just have them call or email me if you want to.  The explanation will mean more coming from you because they know you.  For all they know I am just the crooked travel agent trying to pull one over on them.  You, they know and trust.

Now the next thing that will be coming up is people who think they will wait to book and get a “last minute bargain”.  THIS is the one I just hate.  This is almost always tragic and one of the few calls I dread getting.  I get one or two on most groups from someone who waited until the last minute thinking they will be smarter than everyone else in the group and get a better deal.  Most often we are long out of cabins by then and the prevailing rate is much higher than the group rate paid by those who booked in advance.  On the phone I can just feel them going from an euphoric high when the call begins to a very low bad place by the end after they get the bad news.

What’s that old saying?  ”If it seems too good to be true, it probably is”  Yes, that applies here

How To Cruise For Free

Catchy title huh?

Well, it’s more than that, this is a thing you really can do.  We do.  You can too.

How?  The answer is something that is quite timely, given the state of today’s economy and the belt-tightening that so many feel every day.

Many years ago when we started cruising it was Lisa, Sydney, Whitney and I, a typical (if there is such a thing) family of four.  Then it was easy.  We took the skills we had learned from raising our family through some tough times and applied them to our love of the sea.

Let’s go back to that time and see what history taught us.

Our first cruise was on the Carnival Fascination, just before 9/11, when the world was a bit different place to live in.  At the time, we had not vacationed much as a family, opting to pay for the kids activites, needs and cheerleading (good choice: keep ‘em busy = keep ‘em alive) , building our business (or anything that remotely qualified as that), keeping up with the neighbors (stupid waste of money) and all that stuff that goes into making a typical suburban life.

Our vacation before that was a wonderful week at Disney World that cost a fortune we didn’t have. The enduring memory I have of it was raining all the time and the kids fighting all the time at the Happiest Place on Earth.  I think it was right after that when our “business” suddenly included raising and showing Bernese Mountain Dogs.  I remember one of the kids once saying “You like those dogs better than you like us!” and replying “The dogs are a constant source of joy; what’s your problem?”

It was time for something different and a cruise seemed to fit the bill.

Still, I was concerned , thinking it would be all old people, shuffleboard and nobody like us aboard.  So we booked a lovely suite with a balcony, thinking if it turned out to be what I had imagined we would have some place to hide until it was over.

By the end of the first day we all agreed that it was the best vacation ever and the only regret we has was that it was not a longer cruise.  We were instantly addicted.  On the way home all I could think was “How in the world are we ever going to afford this new habit?”  Priorities changed right then and there.  Very quickly we rearranged what was important.  Taking lessons we learned as a young couple in the 80’s when 99 cents a pound pork steaks were “good eating” we fed our new habit.

Here are some of the things we did:

• Holiday, Birthday, Anniversary gifts?  Out the window: that money went towards deposits on cruises
• College fund?  Forget about it; we’d seen too many other kids drink their way through college and not appreciate the expense, let alone the silver platter it was handed to them on
• New cars? We’d had plenty to the point where I remember co-workers asking “Another new car? Oh, did the the last one run out of windshield washer fluid?”
• Movies and a night on the town?  We’ll stay home thank you and enjoy formal night at sea instead.
• Eating out in general?  Way less expensive to cook; a skill I had gained from an earlier life in the restaurant business.
• New clothes and keeping up with the latest fashions?  Ok there were limits to this plan when you have daughters in high school and live in a trendy suburb.  Oh I wish I could have half the fortune we donated to Abercrombie right now…but on the other hand, that stuff was well made, I still have some from that era that will last me forever.  One of my first lessons in what “value” means.
• We stocked up on stuff that was on sale.  Sam’s Club became our store of choice on all things possible.  I still have a hard time believing we justified a 300 pound bag of chicken wings as a business expense on our corporate account but it all worked out.
• I am pretty sure we invented Booze Smuggling on cruise ships, cutting our bar tab from a record of a kings ransom to pretty much zilch.
• Ok that’s enough, you get the idea

To me, the whole idea was to create memories that would last a lifetime and cruising was the perfect fit.  The complete package.  All these ideas and things we did made it possible for one of our cruises every year to be pretty much free.  Had we chosen inside cabins instead of balconies, taxis instead of limousines, the same clothes instead of new ones for each sailing and more, we probably could have made that two out of the three or four a year we did.

Was there a down side to all this?  No: nothing that really matters.  In the whole scheme of things we wound up with a whole lot of great memories as planned, the kids learned interactive skills that they use today and will carry with them the rest of their lives and we did one of the most important things possible: We lived!  You can too.

Dive in head first during this recession and develop the skills that will keep your heads above water.  Once the recession is over, hang on to those skills for dear life and apply them to whatever it is you love to do.  If cruising is that love, here is your blueprint to make that happen.  If it is something else, apply those skills to make that happen.  But don’t get caught up in the details so much that you miss out on life.  It’s just too short!

Holiday Cruising

There is something special about sailing on a holiday that goes beyond just celebrating the event.

I have always said that if there was just one time of the year I could cruise it would be around the December holidays.  The ships are all festively decorated.  All the passengers just seem to be in such a great mood.  Even the dining room menu has something special to offer us.   From the moment we walk on the ship, there is a wonderful air of anticipation that can’t be denied.  After 30-some cruises, sailaway, the moment the ship leaves the dock, is still my favorite part of the experience.  Often bringing a tear of joy or two when I look around on deck and see everyone having such a good time, this is what it is all about.

If you read some of the reviews we have on our website for holiday sailings, that happy theme dominates the tale of those sailings.

A summer holiday sailing is no less festive, making cruises that are at sea on the Fourth of July, America’s Independence Day, one of the most sought-after and expensive times of the year to sail.  There’s a good reason for that and those who are at sea right now or will be for the upcoming holiday are about to find out why.  If you have not sailed on a holiday, gather up your friends and family. Try it once you’ll be hooked.  No cleaning the house for company, no huge trip to the grocery store for all the stuff you need, and no choking through Aunt Roberta’s green bean casserole just to be nice.  It’s a great way to go.

Looking ahead a few days to the upcoming July 4th holiday, I wonder if tryng something new wouldn’t be a good idea here on land too though.  Independence Day is one of if not the most patriotic of all holidays.  I was reminded of that today when talking to a retired friend who served in the US military for many years.  We were lucky enough to sail with Norm and I must say, there’s nothing quite like showing up in the dining room on formal night with someone in full  dress uniform along.  The respect that uniform commands is undeniable.  And rightfully so.  These are people who have put their lives on the line to keep us free, to allow us to live in a country free from so many of the horrible things that happen in the rest of the world.  Whatever their job in the miltary may have been, they did their part.

We should do our part too.

This weekend, between the picnics, fireworks or whatever else you may be doing, find someone in uniform, walk up to them, shake their hand and say “Thank You for protecting us”.  You don’t need to know them, what they do now or did when they served their country.  It does not have to be a member of the military; someone in law enforcement, a firefighter or emergency service worker of some sort works too.  Take a minute, just a minute, to pause, get in the game, and make a difference in your own way.

At a time in our history when economic troubles touch us all in one way or another, when our worlds are changed as high-profile celebrities pass away and we look forward to an uncertain future, embrace those who bring order and stability.

They deserve it and so do y0u.

Thank you Norm.

Killing Time Before Your Cruise

I hate waiting.  It’s not so much that I am impatient, it’s more like “Hey, I’m going on a cruise and I want to go right now!”  Ok well maybe a little impatient.  But there are some great ways to kill the time that that end up making the actual cruise itself a much richer experience.

One great time-killer is a party…and who doesn’t like a party?

If you are part of a group cruise, try setting up occasional parties with those you will be sailing with.  More than learning their drinking and social habits, you can be much better prepared for the cruise once it rolls around.

Much like studying the deck plans before you get on the ship to help avoid bumping into walls the first half-day (always a good idea), studying the ports you will visit is also a good idea.  Often groups will assign a specific port to a person, couple or family and they become the expert on it, reporting back to the group at one of the planning parties.  This can be a lot of fun.  I’ve seen it be as simple as that expert reporting briefly what they know of the port already to elaborate presentations that include visual aids, speakers who may have lived there, theme food nights, etc.

The more you get into it, the better.

If you’re a single person cruising by themselves or a couple, make each month a theme.  Scan the Internet for information, go to the library for books or videos, contact the embassy of the country/island you might visit (those people love to tell you all about it) and get some good information on what to expect.  Social networking venues of all kinds can be incorporated into your plan as well.  You don’t have to get a big group together to make this work for you.

A side benefit of it all is that you might learn who in your group to avoid on the ship!   If Johnny can’t hold his liquor on land, odds are he’s going to be in trouble on the ship as well.  If Suzie is a flirt at the planning party, she’ll probably be big big big trouble at sea..or lots of fun,  however you look at it.

The down side is that if you’re a couple it’s hard to avoid the other person you’re sailing with and if you’re a single trying to avoid yourself you need medical help pronto.

A Day In The Life Of A Cruise

Like an endless buffet, a typical cruise offers a huge array of appetizing choices from sun up to the wee hours of the night. It’s up to you whether you do it all or never leave the comfort of your deck chair.

Your options begin first thing in the morning. Have a three-course breakfast in the main dining room, opt for the a la carte selections at the buffet restaurant or stay in bed and order room service.

By mid-morning the presentation about the next port-of-call is just getting started. Maybe you’d rather check out a novel or a video from the library, join an aerobics class in the gym, practice your golf swing, or stake out a good sunny spot by the pool. For lunch visit the taco bar by the pool, have Chinese food at the buffet, hamburgers and hot-dogs from the grill, or the full lunch in the formal dining room. Afterwards, why not take a nap, or indulge in a cone of frozen yogurt from the ice-cream bar, check out the reflexology workshop in the spa, or have the fruity cocktail-of-the-day. Before dinner there’s time for a quick dip in the hot tub or maybe a trip to the hair salon.

Then, get all  up for drinks and dancing in one of the lounges before being treated to an exquisite five-course meal in the dazzling dining room. (or not and relax someplace else) Then head over to the Vegas-style Broadway show, try your luck in the casino or hustle over to the disco. Before you know it, it’s time for the midnight buffet-at least have a look! Night owls should check out the after-hours comedy act, go dancing, or take a stroll out on deck. And, don’t forget to have a quick slice at the 24-hour pizzeria before calling it a night. Tomorrow’s another full day!

This day is not on any particular cruise line. The activities described here may or may not be available on the cruise of your choice. And, at the same time, there are many other activities, too numerous to mention, that are offered on various days and on various cruise ships.

On a day in port, the options are completely different. However, even on these days, meals are always served on-board. Do some sightseeing and shopping, return to the ship for lunch and relaxation, and then begin all over again-wander, shop, hit the beach, a little tennis, or whatever you enjoy doing. Return to the ship, rest up, and get ready for a night full of activities. Tomorrow’s another full day-again!

Luggage; the right tool for the job

I learned over the years that pretty much any job was made easier when I used the right tool for the job.  If you cook, you know that the right pot or pan is often a key ingredient in the success of a recipe.  If you need to cut a piece of wood, there are a number of saws that can be used.  Dog owners know that all leashes are not alike.

Taking the same view about luggage makes just as much sense.

First, consider the application. You are going on a cruise, not an jungle safari.  I never really understood that until we did a Transatlantic sailing on the Queen Mary 2.  We had always cruised round-trip from American ports before.  On this cruise we began in New York, ended in England and had to fly back home.   No way were we going to be able to bring 3 or 4 suitcases per person.

So we took a lesson from flight attendants we had seen in the airports.   Many of them had luggage that was slender enough to fit through an x-ray machine, but longer than normal to accomodate much more inside. So we searched online to find something like that which would work for us.

At www.ebags.com we found just what we needed in This Victorinox Tourbach™ cargo bag boasting a large u-shaped opening for the main compartment and dual side pockets

But what turned out to be the best benefit was not so much being able to carry everything in one bag, but being able to do the self-disembarkation offered on most cruise lines.   As opposed to waiting around for the normal disembarkation process when leaving the ship (can be hours and a real headache), if you can carry all your luggage off yourself, you walk off the ship pretty much as soon as it is possible to do so.   This is a real time-saver for those with an early flight or those driving to and from the ship.

So now we sail with one of these bags, a carryon and maybe a purse or briefcase.  It’s easy to do and forces us NOT to take everything including the kitchen sink.

Cabin Categories

A question we get a lot has to do with cabin categories and might go like this; “What is the difference between all these categories of cabins? Each cruise line has their own way of classifying cabins.  On Carnival it’s a number and a letter like 4A.  Princess uses two letters like BB or AC.  Royal Caribbean uses a combination of both with designations like E2 or PR.

The easy way to sort this out is to remember that there are really three kinds of cabins; inside cabins with beds, a bathroom, places to store clothes, a tv, a phone and maybe a refrigerator or desk but no view.  You can’t see out of them.  Oceanview cabins are for the most part the same as an inside cabin except that they have a porthole or window to look out of.  Entry level balcony cabins can be the same as the inside and Oceanview except they have a balcony attached that you can walk out on to.

Where the difference in designation like, say, 4A and 4D come is for the most part where the cabin is located on the ship.  The prime real estate is the dead center of the ship because there, the movement of the ship can be felt less and it’s closer to everything.

Odds are if you are reading this that you are booked on one of our cruises or have retunred from one and are still haning around. (That’s good, we like havingyou)  So why talk about cabin categories when we are already booked?

Because it might not be too late to change.

It is really quite common actually.  I have started out in a lower priced category and moved up as we came closer to sailing because our budget has done well.  I have gone the other way too, moving to a less expensive cabin for whatever reason.

The point is that there is a cabin category for everyone and while they are similar in design elements as noted previously, there are some noteworthy nuances exclusive to each category.  Let’s take a look:

INSIDE CABINS

• Great if you like to sleep in- very dark
• Even though dark you can still see outside and what the weather is- on the cabin tv via the bridge cam
• Starting prices can be misleading.  All the cruise lines do this; advertize a really “cheap” deal then we go find out that it is in a cabin with bunk beds and that taxes are not included.
• Tend to be mostly on the lower decks.  This could be good or bad depending on your outlook.  No, the higher class guests are not on the higher decks…well except on Cunard. or so they say.

OCEANVIEW CABINS

• May be “obstructed view” meaning they really don’t have much of a view of the ocean..if you look straight out.  If you look more down you can often see past the lifeboat that is in the way otherwise to the ocean below
• Some may have picture windows, other portholes
• Great choice if claustrophobia is an issue- stay away from inside cabins

BALCONY CABINS

• The cruise lines add more and more of them because they are very popular
• Offer a private outside refuge on a day when the pool area might be very crowded
• Awesome place to watch the ship sail away and leave your real life behind
• Basic balcony cabin could be about the same as the inside or oceanview. except that there is a sliding glass door that opens to a wonderful world.

Tips to make your cruise the best it can be

Pay attention to the amount of time you will have in each port.
It’s important to consider how much time your cruise will spend visiting each island. Have you always dreamed of visiting Jamaica? Well, if your ship is only in Montego Bay from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., you might be disappointed that you don’t have time to see much. If you want to maximize your days in port, ask for the latest dinner seating (if your cruise offers timed sittings). That way, you don’t have to rush back to the ship for dinner.

Don’t assume you need to take the shore excursions the cruise line offers.
The cruise lines really hype up their shore excursions, and for good reason: In addition to selling alcohol onboard, this is one of their main revenue streams. Many of the excursions are overpriced and can be put together on your own. If you’re just looking for a day at the beach, hire a cab and ask the driver to take you to the nicest one in the area. You don’t need the cruise line to plan this for you. You can also hire your own car or moped in many ports. In addition, many of the same-day trips can be booked with independent operators as soon as you get off the ship. Do consider the ship’s shore excursions if they offer opportunities to see multiple sites or if you have limited time in port. Also, if you are someone who will constantly worry about getting back to the ship in time for departure, go with the ship’s group; they will definitely arrive in time

Do some homework before shopping onboard or on land.
Oh, the Caribbean, land of duty-free shopping! You could go broke in one shopping trip! Luxury items such as jewelry, perfume, china and electronics are imported from all over the world and often offered up to 50 percent off what you would pay for them in the United States. But this is not always the case. It pays to consider what you want to buy before leaving home and checking on the prices in the United States. That way you will know if you are really getting a deal. Remember that you can bargain and should, even in established stores.

Ask A Question: ANSWERS ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW

Janice from Kissimmee Florida asks this question about travel insurance:

I’m trying to decide between TravelGuard and CSA. My TA recommended CSA, so I’m leaning toward that, but I noticed that insuremytrip.com includes an asterisk for CSA that says “Coverage on this policy is less than requested or may be limited.” I’m not sure how this applies, because the coverage with CSA actually appears to be greater than with TravelGuard (ie, the dollar amounts for coverage are larger and it includes flight insurance, which TravelGuard does not for the plan I’m considering). Any thoughts? Thanks!

Great questions and common concerns!

Ok first, what are you trying to do? Do you have specific, real reasons for buying travel insurance or are you just playing it safe?

I only ask because your answer has a LOT to do with which direction you go.

Do you have any pre-existing medical conditions or reasons to believe ahead of time that you might have to cancel your cruise? Like maybe a job that could/would get you called away at the last minute or a relative that might have a health issue that would keep you from going. Or maybe you even have airline tickets on a carrier you have real worries about being in the air at the time you need them to be. USAir, for example, was dropped by Travel Guard for a while and not covered by any policy. Later they took them back and are covering them but those can be important considerations.

Another consideration is if you have group health care insurance, will it cover problems on a cruise ship or an island? Ours, for example, covers illness anywhere in the world but at the “out of network” rate (duh) since we wouldn’t be going through our primary care doc in, for example, St Thomas.

If you don’t have any real concerns and are playing it safe, good for you. It surely is the safe and smart way to go. I personally never bought it until Lisa got Cancer and had a real reason for it.

The quotes you get on Insuremytrip.com can sometimes be misleading. This is really NOT an area where the cheapest is the best…but I think you’re finding that out. If you were buying a box of Cheerios that would be fine, they’re all the same. Not so with travel insurance.

I’d say go with what your TA recommends if you trust them. In many states agents must be licensed to sell it and have been trained about the coverage’s they offer. If you have ANY questions at all though be sure you get the answers from your TA or from the insurance company itself. They all have 800 hotline numbers and people standing by 24/7 to answer your questions before during and after they sell you.

Or you could ask your home/auto/life agent who you may know better or have known longer and trust more. They might not handle it but they all know somebody who does. Also, check with your credit card company. Some include travel insurance when you buy your vacation with their card

What’s with the “etc” now?

If you (are one fo the few that) come here frequently you know this is all about cruise vacations.   Originally called “Essential Cruise Information” the purpose of this blog was to have a place to put stuff that didn’t fit elsewhere.  My website, www.LifeIsCruising.com offers a ton of information and for almost ten years now was quite enough.  My weekly newsletter every Friday titled “Get Ready For Your Cruise” has even more.  Combined they make for a good way to learn about cruising, kill time until your cruise and plan for the next one.  But there are some things that just didn’t fit either one.  Have you ever tried to put something in an email and thought “This would be WAY easier to do over the phone”?

That’s kind of the thought behind this blog

…or it was

Now, being on Twitter, (Orlando Chris), Facebook, MySpace, Plaxo, and some others I don’t even remember, things have seriously gotten out of hand.   I find myself feeling guilty for not keeping up with all this stuff.  So I’m adding a new dimension:  what I think about other stuff too.   Your first thought might be very much like mine was “So, who cares?”

Apparently a lot of people do.   Today’s electronic media makes it possible for me to follow people almost down to their individual thoughts.

I think you can look at that two ways:

1. No thanks: Too much information.  I really don’t care what you’re doing on the way to class
2. Cool: This is like socially acceptable eavesdropping (spying) and who doesn’t want to be a spy?

Basically,  I am giving in and putting everything online.

Now before you throw away the TV and expect top notch entertainment, listen:  You’re not going to pressure me into posting stuff here all the time.  I might just not have anything to say!

Like today; nothing    Well, something,  but this is it.

Royal Caribbean Announces Allure of the Seas’ Inaugural Season

Royal Caribbean International has announced the inaugural season of Allure of the Seas, 42 sailings to the Eastern and Western Caribbean on seven-night voyages every Sunday beginning December 12, 2010. Allure of the Seas, and sister-ship Oasis of the Seas, constitute the Oasis class of ships and will be the world’s two largest cruise ships when they debut in November 2010 and 2009, respectively.With the arrival of Allure of the Seas, vacationers will have a choice of a Saturday (Oasis of the Seas) and Sunday departure for an Oasis-class cruise vacation. Bookings for Allure of the Seas’ inaugural season will open on April 2 for Diamond and Diamond Plus level members of the Crown & Anchor Society and April 8 for all Crown & Anchor Society members. General bookings will open on April 13.

“Through the last four decades, Royal Caribbean has earned a history of innovation and redefined cruising with each new class of ships we launched,” said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “Allure of the Seas and sister-ship Oasis of the Seas represent the ultimate expression of our vision and determination to provide an experience unlike anything found on land and sea. With Allure of the Seas, we will offer family and adventurous vacationers two spectacular ships from which to choose for an unforgettable cruise.”

Allure of the Seas will depart from its homeport of Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale and alternate a seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itinerary. Both itineraries will feature three days at sea. On the Eastern Caribbean itinerary, Allure of the Seas will call at St. Thomas (Charlotte Amalie), St. Maarten (Philipsburg) and Nassau, Bahamas. The ship will call at Falmouth, Jamaica; Cozumel, Mexico; and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach on the northern coast of Haiti, for the Western Caribbean itinerary.

Revenge at sea

I just had to post this:

By Christopher Elliott

Travel columnist

msnbc.com contributor

Cruising isn’t what it used to be. Just ask Steve Roberts, who recently sailed from Costa Maya, Mexico, to Nassau, Bahamas on the Carnival Glory.

Although his floating vacation was billed as an “all inclusive” experience, Roberts found it was anything but that. Dining in a premium restaurant cost $30. Drinks were extra, too. And at the end of the cruise, Roberts says he was asked to pay a mandatory gratuity.

“But the worst part was being assaulted by about a thousand ship’s photographers, taking our photos every day, so we could pay an outrageous fee for as many prints of the digital photos as we wanted,” he says

So Roberts did what more cruise passengers are doing these days: he said “no.”

That’s just what the cruise industry doesn’t want to hear. Amid a sinking economy, the major cruise lines have been cutting everything from their staffs to itineraries to, of course, ticket prices.

At the same time, cruise lines have quietly imposed new fees in an apparent effort to raise onboard revenues. Perhaps the most aggressive to date has been Royal Caribbean, which recently added a $14.95 surcharge for passengers ordering a filet mignon in its main dining room and a $3.95 “late night service charge” for onboard room service orders placed between midnight and 5 a.m.

Royal Caribbean says the fees are not about money, but convenience. Passengers who want to order a signature steak in the main dining room, as opposed to visiting one of its specialty restaurants, can now do so. And the room service fee, a spokeswoman added, is meant to “encourage responsible food ordering.”

Carnival’s $30 fee for its specialty restaurants, as well as its gratuity, is a choice, according to Tim Gallagher, a Carnival spokesman. “Guest feedback tells us they appreciate these options,” he says, adding that a Carnival cruise remains a “very inclusive” vacation. “There are people who cruise and never spend a dollar in the casino, shops, spa or on shore excursions, photos or bingo.”

Make that lots of people. To say that it’s a buyer’s market for cruises might be an understatement. Passengers know it, and they seem to be enjoying their new power. It’s almost as if the archetypical cruise passenger — you know, the overfed, newlywed and nearly-dead kind — has been replaced with a more whimsical and mischievous character, like Captain Jack Sparrow.

We should have seen this coming. In addition to the epidemic of fees and surcharges, cruise lines have more or less had it their way for years. After the fire sales that followed 9/11, cruise prices rose like the tide, and passengers were slammed with more than just onboard fees. Their vacations were often held hostage to illegal, mandatory fuel surcharges that were imposed even after they had paid for their vacation in full.

“Payback is a funny concept,” cruise expert Paul Motter told me, adding that there’s some evidence that passenger discontent has been bubbling up, including a recent class-action lawsuit against Park West Gallery, which offers onboard art auctions, and a $40 million settlement in last year’s fuel-surcharge scandal.

But are passengers really in a mood for revenge? I asked Terry Dale, the president and chief executive of the Cruise Lines International Association, about current passenger attitudes. He told me cruisers were out for bargains, not blood, and were finding “exceptional value” this year. In fact, cruise lines are offering their valued guests more than ever, including “complimentary amenities, shipboard credits, relaxed and reduced deposit requirements and special fares for booking 2010 cruises,” he says

Maybe he’s right.

Maybe travelers are just buoyed by the lowest cruises prices in a generation, and nothing more. But in a series of interviews with passengers and industry experts, a slightly more complex picture starts to surface — that of profit-starved cruise lines pulling out all the stops to attract new customers and of penny-pinching passengers who know they have them over a barrel at last.

Cruise Shareholder Benefits Instructions

Cruise travelers who own at least 100 shares of stock in Carnival Corporation (CCL) or Royal Caribbean (RCL) can receive up to $250 in onboard credits during their next vacation at sea. Just follow the instructions below to secure your shareholder benefit. 

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity

The onboard credit is offered exclusively to shareholders that directly own a minimum of 100 shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. at time of booking. To take advantage of this offer, the following items must be submitted: A photocopy of your shareholder proxy card or a current brokerage statement showing proof of ownership of at least 100 shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Your name (the owner of the 100 shares will receive the onboard credit.) Your home address, telephone number and e-mail address Your ship and sailing date Your confirmation number Your Captain’s Club or Crown & Anchor Society Number (if any) Please send the above to: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Investor Benefit P.O. Box 02511 Miami, FL 33102-5511 Alternatively, you may fax all of the required documentation (in a single fax) to 305/539.4645, or mail .jpeg images of all required documentation to shareholderbenefit@rccl.com.

Carnival Corporation

Carnival Cruise Lines,  Princess Cruises,  Holland America,  Costa,  Windstar,  Seabourn,  Cunard Line

The onboard credit is available exclusively to shareholders holding a minimum of 100 shares of Carnival Corporation or Carnival Plc. Employees, travel agents cruising at travel agent rates, tour conductors or anyone cruising on a reduced-rate or complimentary pass are excluded from this offer. This benefit is not transferable, no combinable with any other shipboard offer and cannot be used for casino credits/charges and gratuities charged to your onboard account. Only one onboard credit per shareholder-occupied stateroom. Shareholders must provide the following information with the initial deposit to your travel agent: Name Proof of ownership of Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc shares (i.e. photocopy of shareholder proxy card, shares certificate or a current brokerage or nominee statement). Reservation number Ship and sailing date

Fire Sales On Cruises?

Probably not the best choice of words but accurate nonetheless.

It doesn’t just “seem” like all the cruise lines are giving away cruises, they are.  It’s hard to keep up with all the special offers coming directly from the cruise lines.  Not from some shady Internet Cruise Broker, the cruise lines themselves have so many offers going on right now.   I spend quite a bit of time every day just keeping up.  My frank reaction is that they have gone bezerk.  

Normally, the cruise lines, master marketers of their products, focusl on one or two promotions at a time.  Now, they have so many that I have added a special page to my website, www.YourCruiseDream.com, just to post all the offers I get notified about every day.  And I do change it every day.  That’s good news for those looking for great value.

Uh oh, there I go again with that word: “value”.  Rather than single-mindedly locking in on “low price” which is what stupid people do.  Smart, savy travel buyers are more savy and smarter than ever now by continuing to focus on value.   Hmm, this is turning out to be quite a bit more frank than I had suspected so let’s just stay with that and see where it goes.

There is no $199 cruise.  It’s just a simple fact.  That is what they call a “lead-in” rate and does not include at least taxes.  That’s important because taxes on a $199 cruise can be as much as 30% more.  Ok, you say, so that’s still a good price.  No No No, wrong thinking.  You’re still locking in on price which is exactly what they want you to do.  Keep looking.  What about port charges?  If those too are not included they could be up to 60% more.  

Today I booked a cruise for the third guest, always discounted, in a cabin on a Carnival cruise.  The cruise fare was $40 for a 4 day cruise.  Man, what a deal huh?  Well sure but the port charges and taxes were $223.  Not such a good deal now.  So why do the cruise lines do this?

Two reasons:  To suck you in to buy from them and to screw travel agents out of commission.  

Surely, they do get your attention with $40 for a cruise…or $199…or some other fabulously low price.  To some people, getting that $199 price is so important that they ignore the fact that the actual price they have to pay to get to walk on the ship is almost double that.  I have a neighbor who wanted bragging rights for his $199 cruise so very bad that he told me all about it.  I suppose everyone wants to be perceived as a smart shopper.  The problem is that a smart shopper checks grocery store ads and knows that $1.67 is a heck of a price for a gallon of milk.  It takes more than that to be smart about buying a cruise.  YOU HAVE GOT TO CONSIDER THE WHOLE PRICE.  Let’s call that the “What it takes to walk on the ship” price because that is indeed what you have to pay.

The second part, the screwing of the travel agents, should actually be of more concern.  Travel Agents were, are and will always be your very best way to buy travel other than airfare.  The variables in an airfare purchase are much more efficiently crafted and technology has reached a point where it is better to do it yourself.  Unless you are traveling outside of your country, then you need a travel agent there too because when you get into international flight variables and requirements, they know, you don’t.  

On cruises, travel agents, good ones anyway, keep up with all that is going on and offer great value (there’s that word again) because they don’t cost you anything to use.  Rather, they save you money and get you more for the money you spend.  That’s a perfect definition of Value as it applies to travel:

They Save You Money And Get You More For The Money You Spend.

It Is All About You…or it should be

One way to look at dinnertime is to make it the centerpiece of the evening, the main event.  This is nothing new as traditional dining at a set time has been around forever. The trick is what you do before and after. 

 

But let’s start with the dinner itself.  Here is an example of how it might go…

After you are seated in the dining room drink orders are taken and your server presents the evening’s menu. Dinner usually consists of six or seven courses from appetizers to desserts. Can’t decide between shrimp cocktail and paté? Have both. Can’t choose between steak and shrimp? Have both. Your server wants happy diners. A pleasant request is almost always accommodated. (You can even have doubles on Lobster Night!)

If you are not a foodie, don’t worry. There are healthy choices on the menu at every meal. If you have food allergies or require a special menu, tell me at least three weeks before the cruise. Otherwise, be adventurous. Try new dishes. If you are not sure what something on the menu is, ask your server. He or she will do everything reasonable to ensure that you enjoy meals onboard. If you do not care for the food or it is not cooked to your request, it is acceptable to politely request a different serving.

If you are not accustomed to dining with multiple courses and a vast array of silver and glassware, just remember the old adage, “outside in.” Use your utensils from the outside in toward your plate as courses come to the table. Personally, I don’t pay any attention to this and probably don’t use the right fork often.  The way I look at it (now that I think of it, as I usually don’t) is if someone at the table is horrified that I used the wrong thing to stick food in my mouth so what?  If I was chewing carelessly and food was falling out of my mouth or I came to dinner without shoes that would be something else.  But what fork I use is an issue?  I don’t think so.  Those people need to get a life.

 

Anyway, servers will remove used silverware or after each course. I’m never sure if that is so I won’t steal it or if they indeed ARE concerned about my poor choice of forks.  They need to back off  on that.  If you want to play the game remember “eat to the left, drink to the right” and you’ll never have problems remembering which bread plate belongs to you.

Although the days of extravagant midnight buffets are over on most cruises, each cruise line usually hosts one magnificent showcase midnight buffet toward the end of a cruise. Even if you can’t eat another bite, bring your camera. It is remarkable gastronomic photographic moment.

 

Framing dinner as the centerpiece of the evening is not for everyone.  A growing number of guests don’t like to dress up or want the structure of a fixed time for dining.  Depending on which cruise line you are sailing, there may be a number of other options.  But with the exception of paying to dine at one of the ship’s specialty restaurants, the best food IS in the dining room in most all cases. 

 

Why would you not want to have the best food?

 

Skipping dinner is a big mistake but one the cruise lines think is a great idea.  They would much rather we all go to the buffet. It takes way less labor to feed you and usually less cost for the food too.  

 

Don’t you do it!  …at least not all the time  You will be missing out on one of the best experience cruising has to offer.

 

Before dinner, stop by one of the lounges for a cocktail, after diner take a stroll on deck before rushing back to the cabin to change out of your nice clothes.   Sailing with teens?  Cut them loose after dinner and let everyone have some fun…whatever that might mean to you.  We had few rules for our children when on a cruise.  Actually just one: ”Don’t do any thing that would require me to talk to security or identify your body”  Those kids are grown up and gone now. Yes, they survived. 

 

Don’t impose “rules” on yourself either.  Just one:  “Get the most out of this because you can’t do it over”.  You may go on lots of cruises but each one will be a different experience.  Some will be better than others.  You might meet people who you will be in contact with for a lifetime because you shared a dinner table with them.  Many of you reading this right now know it is true because that is where I met you.  Others have no idea what I am talking about and that is a real shame.  Unfortunately that “I don’t want to dress for dinner so I am not going” mentality spreads like a virus.  Those people probably don’t do a lot of things that they could do and cheat themselves out of a rich, sometimes life-changing experience. 

Regardless of what you do before or after dinner, do something.  For me, one of the best parts of a cruise is relaxing in a lounge before dinner with Lisa.  It’s something we just don’t do in real life but it is a priority on a cruise, one of the few.  Of all the entertainment options and other things you can do, dinnertime is the most important of them all.  Not even so much for the food, but for the experience.  Do yourself a favor: Enjoy it!

 

You NEED to bring booze along on your cruise

Believe me, when you see scary creatures like this (reminds me of that creepy clown in the movie “It”) you’re going to want a drink.  Here is how you get it on the ship.  The cruise line will let you take on one bottle of Champagne or a bottle of fine wine.  Notice they mention “fine” wine.  That would mean no wine in a box in case you were wondering.

What?  No wine in a box?  The nerve of those people!

Fine indeed, we will just sneak on our own liquor store. Here are some tips to get that done!

But Hey, I have had a few drinks and don’t know one side of the ship from the other.  How do I tell?

What’s a good way to remember which side of the ship is Port and which one is Starboard?

On Princess that’s easy.  Chances are there is  different color carpet to help you remember.  This really helps when you first step off the elevator. Here’s a catchy phrase to help you remember:   

Port wine is RED and should be LEFT alone
Red being the colors on the left side of the ship as well

I personally just remember that left is port because they both have four letters.  Or you could think “Oh well port is opposite of right unless the word were porter and then right and porter would have the same….oh wait, I counted wrong, that won’t work. 

Left=Port works.  See I have another little trick:  If I know where port is, I automatically know where starboard (right) . Like Charlie Epps on the show NUMBERS I just spun up a few algorithm’s, felt socially awkward in a nerdy sort of way for a while and it all worked out.

 

 

If you pay real close attention to other ships at sea you’ll notice a green light on the starboard side and a red light on the port side of the ship.  That lets other ships (and us too) know which direction another ship is headed- important information if you are on an iceberg and see the Titanic in the distance.

Oh yes, booze.  Next time!

Be Safe

Tips To Keep You
Safe At Sea

1. Check out the report card
Whenever you get 1,500 or 2,000 or even 5,000 people together in one place, you are bound to share a lot more than a good time (remember the Norwalk-like virus?). Luckily, ships get report cards – just like you did in elementary school. The best reports come from the Vessel Sanitation Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which routinely inspects ships for cleanliness, repair, food preparation and storage, water quality, hygiene, pest management and many other things. Check out your ship’s report card on the CDC website before you book your passage. It will let you know the results of the last inspection and exactly what grade the ship received. It will take you back to fifth grade, believe me.

2. Keep your guard up
It is natural to let your guard down on vacation, especially on a cruise ship. Life is good, the water is warm, the booze is flowing, the food is scrumptious – the ship seems like Paradise Island. You are living large, and that’s precisely when you’re most apt to get into trouble.
You need to be aware of your surroundings on a ship just as you would in a big city. Don’t walk down darkened hallways; keep your distance when tempers flare; don’t accept drinks from strangers. If your gut tells you something is wrong, it probably is. And don’t keep it a secret, either; notify the Purser’s Office the minute you suspect trouble.

3. Use the ship’s safe
Leave the Rolex watch and the Gucci handbag at home – no one is looking and you’re on vacation, so you don’t need to worry about the time. Keep most of your cash and valuables (especially your jewelry, return tickets and passports) in the ship’s safe.
The lightweight safe in your cabin is fine for storing small everyday items like your address book and tip money, but never put anything in it that you can’t afford to lose. Do you know how many of those cabin safes are left locked when passengers disembark at the end of a cruise? Now guess how many crewmembers know the bypass code for opening them.

4. Watch what you eat
If you are lactose intolerant in the United States, you will be lactose intolerant on a ship. If stateside seafood makes you puff up and itch, so will the onboard seafood. With the myriad options for dining on a cruise ship, you can certainly be adventurous. Just don’t be reckless.
Shipboard water is usually pretty good, but you should always insist on bottled water on shore. And make sure it is a sealed bottle (yes, I have seen “bottled” water refilled from the tap on a ship and on a plane).
Know how your food is prepared, too. Is it heavy on the mayo in the hot Caribbean sun? Is the steak served tartare? And if you are served something you don’t like, for heaven’s sake, send it back. On a port call in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, I was served some “almost-still-clucking” chicken – not what I was expecting at a purportedly five-star restaurant! So be aware, and don’t be afraid to ask that your food be prepared the way you like it.

5. Watch the booze
Booze will always compromise your judgment, perception, and behavior. While everyone likes to have a few umbrella drinks aboard ship, don’t let them get out of hand. Why not? Because booze on a boat is the same as booze on land – only you are moving forward at 20 knots and perhaps pitching back and forth in 20-foot seas.
And trust me, it is never a good idea to see if you can lean out over the railing like Kate Winslet in “Titanic.” Nor should you try to walk what you perceive to be a gangplank. Most of today’s ships are equivalent to 10-story buildings … moving forward … with 12-foot propellers underneath. Can you say “Cuisinart”?

6. Watch the gambling
Crooks cruise too, so cash-in your winnings periodically and take them to the Pursers desk and ask them to apply it to your account; if you win big, ask for an escort. Don’t ever make a scene; it will only draw attention to you and make you a target for crime. For the same reason, be careful about flashing your money outside the casino, too. If you win, congratulations! Just keep the celebration low-key.

7. Watch out for the crew
No, they are not out to get you, but you need to understand that these are folks whose standard of living is most likely lower than yours by a considerable margin. You will likely be perceived as the wealthiest of the wealthy. Most crewmembers are honest and hard working, but don’t give them any opportunity to take advantage of you. Jewelry on the night table – even your loose change or iPod – is but a quick grab for a cabin steward, a maintenance worker, or the kitchen worker who refreshes your fruit plate.
Most ships don’t allow crewmembers to interact with guests outside of their regular duties. The exceptions tend to be the cruise director and the captain’s staff. While you may be tempted by that cute little honey from Serbia named Irena (or that hunk from Hungary), never agree to go to a “crew-only” section of the ship – the invitation may be a set-up to ensure that your cabin is vacant.

8. Land ho!
Be careful on your shore excursions. The cruise lines organize the shore trips because they are moneymakers for them; in return, you get some assurance of quality and security. You can save a buck (or many) by going it alone, of course, but beware. Make sure you negotiate any fares and fees upfront. Most cab drivers are honest when the cards are on the table, but if you do not agree in advance, the sky will be the limit and you may find yourself in a police station for failure to pay the fare.
If you are not happy – speak up early. Once in St. Maarten, a cab driver took my kids and me into an “ambush” of local vendors – all friends of his.

9. Report anything suspicious
While the crew-to-guest ratio looks pretty low in the brochure, much of the crew actually works behind the scenes and is not permitted any guest interaction; moreover, many may not speak your language. Most of the senior crew will be looking out for guest safety, but they cannot be everywhere at once. As Ultimately, your safety is your own responsibility. Keep your eyes and ears open. If something looks odd to you, it probably is. Is there a creepy guy hanging outside the teen club? A man who is asking dozens of single ladies to dance? A couple that is fighting in public left and right? Take a walk to the Purser’s Office and let the staff know. They will appreciate it, and you might just head off tomorrow’s top story.
Now that you are rethinking that cruise you just booked, sit back and take a deep breath. This information should not be a vacation-breaker. It’s just common-sense advice taken from Main Street and put on the Lido Deck. According to the U.S. Maritime Administration, which keeps tracks of passengers sailing on cruise ships, 9.4 million people cruised in 2008, so it can’t be all that bad. In fact, cruising is a fabulous experience, and it’s probably a lot safer than crossing your own street.

Just think safe, and it will be smooth sailing all the way.

Keep Working On Your Best Cruise Value

The fine print holds all the answers

You have done your research, found your cruise, agreed on a price and booked it.  That part is over and now all you have to do is wait, dream, wait, get excited, wait and eventually pack.  Nope; there is much more to it and right now, right after booking, is the time to start.

 

Price is indeed important but often there might be a better one down the road.  You might even qualify for it.  The trick here is to keep track of what you are paying and what might happen with the price.   A good way to do that is to check prices at the source periodically.  Go to the cruise line website, find your cruise, and make note of the price as if you were buying at that time.  You might want to create a spreadsheet on your computer or keep a little book handy to record the date and price. 

 

If you find a price that you qualify for, call your travel agent.  They should be able to get that price for you too. It makes sense when you think about it.  If you have not reached the date final payment is due yet, the cruise line will lower your rate.  If they did not, you could simply cancel and rebook at the lower rate in most cases.  One big exception is one-day or special “new bookings only” sales.  They won’t apply to your existing booking. Even if you did cancel and rebook the cruise line will catch it and deny the booking.  Remember, you were required to give them your first and last legal name and date of birth to register; they know who you are. 

 

The very most important part of the great offer you may see anywhere, including the cruise line sites, is the fine print.  Go ahead, let the flashy headline catch your attention.  But before you get too excited, get out the magnifying glass and read the fine print very carefully and completely.  I know I get calls an emails all the time saying “Oh look, I found my cruise for $400 less at Bob’s Cruise Bargain Barn!!”  Well Bob is a savvy seller of travel and knows that headline touting an unbelievably low price will catch your attention.

 

Don’t you believe it; read the fine print.  Then if you really do have a better price, email your travel agent.  They should not hesitate at all on lowering your price.  If they do, you’re working with the wrong agent.

 

But as always we need to concentrate on value, not price.  Maybe you are on a group cruise at a special rate and another one comes along a bit lower.  Consider any special amenities you might be getting along with your group rate.  Losing $50 onboard credit, a bottle of wine and a complementary cocktail party to cancel and rebook to save $20 is just dumb.  You’re not dumb. You read this so you are smart, right?

 

You don’t have to gain weight—but maybe you should?

Much is said about the fabulous food you’ll find on your cruise. If you have cruised before you know how true that can be. Surely, most of us do not have an executive chef standing by in our kitchens 24 hours a day to create a little masterpiece for us. But you sure do on your cruise! There are two schools of thought about cruising and food. 

Some people vow to not gain weight and are pretty much successful about it. They use the stairs instead of the elevator, get up early to walk the deck of the ship in the morning, participate in activities, go to the well-equipped exercise area and more. If you’re a walker, there’s nothing quite like doing it on your ship at sea. Indeed, taking the stairs is way more exercise than standing in the elevator and you don’t have to wait for them. If you have a regular exercise routine, there is no reason you can’t stick with it and enjoy the really different experience a cruise offers. There are menu options for just about every concern and they are good too. 

Some people go a different direction, vowing to not be concerned about what they eat. Many may gain weight but lose it quickly when they get home. Many don’t care since they have been waiting for this so long and truly want to get the most out of it. For them, there are plenty of options for enjoying a wide variety of cuisine on the cruise. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are served either on the ships buffet or in the dining room. Most ships have specialty restaurants for an even more upscale dining experience. Oh and what an experience those can be. In the Specialty restaurants and on Formal Nights in the dining room, the culinary staff puts its best foot forward. 

Personally I fall somewhere in the middle of both as I think many do. I often start out doing the stairs instead of the elevator and that works for a while. Soon though that turns into using the stairs going down but not up. Lisa and I walk every morning at home. I do try to do that at sea and it is a really great change of scenery. That usually lasts for a day or two then the allure of being early to the breakfast buffet for my first breakfast overpowers the exercise urge. In the dining room I try to make responsible choices until something comes along that I would not normally have at home. That strategy pretty much dooms the healthy approach. All in all I do usually gain some weight on a cruise and it takes a couple weeks to get back to normal after. Knowing this I always bring along some clothes that might be size or two larger than normal. 

It did not take me long to realize that every cruise is indeed the “cruise of a lifetime”. Each is different and unique. After each one I feel a little different. It took me a while to realize that really getting into the whole experience was the key to getting the most out of a cruise. So enjoy the food as much as you can. It’s one ingredient in the recipe that makes for a great cruise experience and brings you back refreshed and renewed

All About Discounts

All about Discounts I would love to sit here and tell you that the cruise lines give discounts because they love certain groups of people and really, honestly want to be nice to them.  That would be a lie and I’ll never do that to you.  You may not like what I have to say but you can count on it being the truth. Cruise lines discount for one reason and one reason only: to fill up the ships.  You see, the cruise lines biggest goal right after safety is sailing with full ships.  That’s right, when they talk about our safety being important, they mean it.  But right on the heels of safety comes occupancy.  They have GOT to sail with full ships to make the money they need to make all their dreams come true.  Empty berths generate no money.  Don’t let me paint this picture in a negative way at all. This is just business, good business, and most of the cruise lines have this mastered.  When a sailing opens for booking, from that moment until the day of sailing, the cruise lines have a pretty good idea of how it will sell.  They know from experience that on a given ship saiing a certain itinerary at some time of the year that booking  “patterns” will be followed.  For the most part.  Economic events, World news, and other unpredictable factors can influence booking patterns.  The tragedy of 9/11, for example, dealt some horrible cards for all parts of the travel business.   The cruise lines know that discounts attract business.   Everyone wants a good value.  Some people want a “cheap price”.  Those people are headed in the right direction but not getting the big picture.  Those who want a “good value” have clearly seen the way to go.  A cruise for $199 may sound like a real steal until one reads the fine print and sees that there are several hundred dollars in port charges, taxes and fees.  Oddly, those people will still buy often for the bragging rights to say “I got a great deal on a cruise; it was just $199!”  That’s just plain stupid.  Value is what it is all about.  Discount Internet cruise brokers were popular up until recently when now savy cruisers realized “value” was more important than cheap price.  For about 5 years, it seemed that all was lost for travel agents and that they would be replaced with Discount Internet cruise brokers.  At some point though, the tide turned when a growning number of cruisers realized that a price was paid for that dirt-cheap cruise fare.  A price that was often too high. Lack of service, hidden costs and junk fees, bankruptcy, unethical business practices and more spoiled the wonderful world of the Discount Internet cruise broker to where they had a reputation just under that of Shady Used Car Salesman.  The final blow that signaled in no uncertain terms how unprofessional these Discount Internet cruise brokers were was when Royal Caribbean made the announcement that they were going to refuse to sell to organizations that they viewed as “card mills”, a sales organization of the likes of pyramid schemes. Then, all of the sudden, the travel agents who weathered the storm saw business picking back up as now savy cruisers realized there was more to planning a successful cruise than just finding the low price.  Guided by a skilled travel professional who’s goal was to form a life-long business relationship with his or her clients rather than “make a quick buck”, cruisers found a “friend in the business” who was looking out for their best interests, helping them every step of the way. One of the ways these travel professionals helped was by finding, identifying and applying any and all discounts available to each of their clients.  This was something the Discount Internet cruise brokers would have nothing to do.  Oh, they watched prices and discounts alright, most commonly pocketing any savings for themselves.  Even when a client would call them to ask if they would get them the new, lower price they saw advertised on the cruise line website, for example, they refused. In other words, smart people find and use a good travel agent, one that specializes in cruises most commonly.  Stupid people buy exclusively from Discount Internet cruise brokers. A good travel agent with your best interests in mind will take full advantage of the discounts being offered at any given time.  Here they are and how they work: Resident Discounts- These are most comonly given to states from which the cruise lines are not drawing a lot of clients.  The contagious satisfaction of going on a fabulous cruise is what they want to spread. In a virus-like manner, cruisers like to talk about thier cruise.  They’ll tell anybody about it.  If the topic comes up in the office, the grocery store, church or with a complete stranger, everyone who has done it has a story to tell.  Most all of them (95%+) are happy stories.  If the cruise lines can get people talking in a state or country where they don’t do a lot of buisness,  those people will sell it for them. Royal Caribbean is the king of Resident Discounts, offering them most often.  Princess comes in second with “regional discounts” .  Others are hit and miss but none of them offer a resident discount all the time.  Most common state to get a resident discount:  Florida.   There are a lot of ships and a lot of people who like to cruise and can do so often in Florida.  Senior Discounts- they’re not for everybody The basic rule of thumb is that at least one guest in a cabin must be 55 or older to get a senior discount.  Be aware though, this is not like the movie theatre; not every cruise line gives senior discounts.  Those that do don’t all the time.  Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity commonly give a discount for seniors when they need to fill up a ship.  That’s not only as they get close to sailing either.  Often, when a sailing first opens up for booking, a senior discount comes along.  Later, if a sailing is not selling as well as the cruise lines had anticipated, they may offer a senior discount again Last Minute deals Don’t count on them.  They exist for those who can sail with as little as 30 days notice.  As recent as several years ago you could bank on last minute deals being there to the point where you could almost book airfare for a particular cruise on a given date but NOT buy the cruise until 30 days before sailiing at a reduced rate.   That really never was a very good idea as the ship could sell out then you would be stuck with airfare to nowhere.  Now, its a stupid move as the majority of ships DO sell out early. Military Discounts Again, filling up the ships is good for business.   If they can do it and benefit those who may have put their own lives in harms way to protect us, all the better.  Carnival offers this most often but others do as well. Again, none of the cruise lines offer it all the time on all sailings but do ask your travel agent if you qualify.  Active or retired as long as you have proper ID, you can get it for your entire cabin.  Sometimes you can get it for more than one cabin.  Past Guest discounts This is a very popular, common and appropriate discount.  The cruise lines want to keep you coming back and will often make it worth your while to sail again and again with them.  Perks, amenities and even pricing in some cases are afforded to repeat guests.  After you’ve sailed a line, you are then a past guest.  Record your past guest numbers and be sure they get entered into your bookings.  Your good travel agent will keep these on file and use them to your advantage.  Your Discount Internet cruise broker will most often fail to apply them to your booking even if you have them available. How to find out about the deals? Sign up for everyone’s mailing list.  Get an email address other than the one you use for your regular daily email.  Go to every cruise lines website and sign up for their mailing list. You will be the first to know of specials, discounts and extra-value sailings being offered.  Using an email address like @gmail.com or @yahoo.com keeps the junk mail you eventually will get as the cruise lines sell your email address to others.  Want to know if your “deal” is legit?   Email it to me and I’ll tell you Chris.Owen@YourCruiseDream.com

You Can Turn Around The Economy Right Now

This is very simple.  It’s not about price it’s about value and quality.

You don’t hear about them on the doom and gloom news, but I know a lot of businesses that are thriving right now.  They know and have known for a long time that quality is the name of the game.  I learned this when I was 12 years old at my first job sweeping the floors at a company called Ranchview Floral and Interiors in Leawood Kansas.  They were the premiere florist and interior decorators in town.  When someone wanted the job done right be it a floral arrangement or decorating the interior of a house, this is where they came.  Even then, over 40 years ago, the focus was on quality which in turn led to value and a very successful business that endured many a recession, adverse business conditions and the like.  

They were by far NOT the “cheapest” place to go.  But quality has an enduring value that made for a lot of happy customers.  

This same, simple principle applies to every business.  Take the Travel Business for example.

While so-called “Internet Cruise Brokers” offering deeply discounted fares are going broke almost daily, quality and value oriented operations are thriving.  

Why?

Because “low price” is a very deceptive term that sounds really great up front but if not coupled with  full-service, quality oriented business practices often ends up being quite costly. You see, those Internet Cruise Brokers make very little profit because they sell at such a very low price. After the sale there is very little attention paid to their clients, if any at all, resulting in what often turns into a disasterous relationship.  Down the line a good travel agency follows up on the details that can make or break a vacation, offers expert advice in their field, and almost always ends up producing the better value for its customers.  They do that by focusing on quality.  Yes, their prices must be competitive to begin with, that has always been the case.  But often, if prices go down after the sale, they pass along those savings to their clients, washing out what one might have saved with a price-only focus business.  From beginning to end they provide their customers with the knowledge they need to get the most out of their vacation and have thier best interests in mind.  Internet Cruise Brokers simply don’t have the time for that. It is not what they do.

I bet you can think of a business or two in other industries that has a similar story.  

It is time for business to go back to the quality that made America great.  

At one time Sears had everything with a total satisfaction guaranteed policy, at Ford Quality was job #1 and Coke was “the real thing”.  Focusing on simple but enduring concepts like that, they dominated the marketplace.  

I don’t think to say that todays ecomomy is “bad” is accurate.  I think it is “adjusting” and will fall back to what made it great for decades: A focus on quality.  Find these businesses, work with them and you can turn the ecomomy around right now.

 

Revised Packing List

From time to time we go on short preview cruises from the cruise lines.  These are ususally two or three day cruises where we may not even get off the ship, taking the time onboard to try all the services and see what the crew and ship herself are all about. 
 
Last weekend we tried the MSC Orchestra. That cruise was pretty much doomed from the beginning…well, even before the beginning
 
We had decided to go later to the pier.  If you have been reading this at all you know that we always suggest going to the pier early.  I’ts not so much an insider tip but maybe it should be.  Arriving at Noon (we usually suggest between 10:30 and 11:00 AM) we were greeted with a pretty long line.  Long lines are nothing to be scared of in the world of cruises because the cruise lines have become very good at handling them.  Somewhere between rarely and occasionally something goes wrong at the pier that slows things down. It could be
 
A computer malfunction prefenting the cruise line from checking in guests- personally I don’t understand this part.  It was not all that long ago when we did not even have computers (ok, showing my age, get over it) and cruise ships were able to board.  In retail businesses they have a backup plan on how to stay open, run those charges by hand and process them later.
A Coast Guard Inspection- This is rare.  The Coast Guiard usually boards the ship well before it reaches port and takes care of whatever business they have on board
A surprise Health Department inspection- simply slows things down.  Most all cruise ships score high in this area
A US Customs Inspection- if they suspect something bad is on the ship, this can take hours- but its for our safety so feel good about that- these people are really good at what they do and like the Coast Guard, they call the shots as to when the ship is cleared to disembark their passengers and bring on some more
An FBI Inspection- if a crime or tragedy happened at sea you can bet the FBI will be called in, again another safety thing that we should welcome but not be scared of because the cruise lines have been very good about catching up and getting back on schedule after pretty much any incident
A traffic jam- they happen at sea too.  On that MSC cruise we were on last weekend the Orchestra was followed very closely by four other ships all docking at the same time. 
It is really important to note here that delays from any of these events are not common but do happen.  With that in mind, here is a new, revised packing list that includes two optional items, an  “Embakation Kit” and a “Disembarkation Kit” which might prove useful.  Want to look really cool and prepared?  If the need for one of these comes into play you will for sure look like the best prepared guest in line, getting on or getting offf the ship..and who doesn’t want to be cool? Many of these things  you may already be bringing with you so it is mostly a matter of placing them in your carry-on luggage rather than the luggage you check (the stuff with the smuggled booze) with the porters at curbside

 
Embarkation Kit
 
Small, wooden, foldable camping stools- driving to the port? check garage and yard sales in the months before your cruise, they will be there, flying in? Stop at a Walmart along the way
Liquids- bottled water is a good bet
Skip the fashion statement and wear comfortable clothing and especially comfortable shoes
Snacks- the buffet is not accessible when standing at the pier waiting to get on
Reading material, I-pod, cards, someting to pass the time but only for all but one person in your party who needs to be listening for reports about what is going on- the rest of your group can relax,
Sunscreen or a hat- plan accordingly for being in line for hours outside
 
Travel Documents, Wallet Items, and Paperwork

airline tickets or e-ticket confirmation
cruise documents
passports and visas (if necessary) or proof of citizenship (check with your cruise line for requirements) – without them you may be denied boarding with out a refund
vaccination certificate (if required)
driver’s license and auto insurance card – in case you decide to rent a car when ashore
medical insurance cards and medical history (especially if traveling alone)
copy of prescriptions and list of all medicines you are taking
another picture ID – if you don’t take driver’s license
credit cards – be sure to call credit card companies before traveling to alert them you are traveling outside your normal area
ATM card
pre-paid phone card for making calls in port
cash or traveler’s checks (be sure to keep traveler’s checks receipt in separate location)
3 copies of airline tickets, cruise tickets, passports/visas, itinerary – pack 1 copy in carry on, 1 copy in checked luggage, and leave one copy with someone at home
contact numbers to report lost/stolen credit cards or traveler’s checks
emergency numbers at home
currency conversion chart if necessary
wallet or fanny pack
watch – dual time zone watch is perfect!, I-phone is better
Reading Material and Necessities

glasses, contacts, contact cleaner
extra reading glasses
sunglasses
reading sunglasses
guidebooks and other port of call information
foreign language phrase book or dictionary
maps if appropriate
reading material – books to read while on the plane or lounging by the pool
journal or notebook and pen/pencil – for making notes to tell your friends back home about your experiences
business cards with email address to give out to new cruise friends
home and email addresses of friends/relatives back home – for sending postcards, emails, or gifts
photo album
Electronics and Camera Equipment

plug adaptor and converter if appropriate- probably not
cell phone and charger
PDA and charger
laptop computer
binoculars
disposable underwater camera – for snorkeling or beach days
digital camera and manual
extra memory cards for digital camera
batteries for digital camera
battery charger
extension cord/power strip with multiple plug-ins
small travel alarm clock – battery operated
small flashlight
Medicine Kit

prescription drugs and any other essential medications in carry on bag
ear plugs or “ear planes”
small first aid kit (band aids, Q-tips, vaseline, dramamine, antibiotic cream, bandages, anti-diarrheal medication, cortisone cream, aspirin/tylenol/advil)
germicidal hand cleaner
handi-wipes (for cleaning hands when ashore)
hand lotion
rubbing alcohol or foot lotion for soothing tired, hot feet
bug spray (not for your cabin on the ship, but for those pesky mosquitoes ashore)
sun screen/sun block and lip sunblock
Other “Necessities”

duct tape or strapping tape
extra plastic cable-lock ties for securing luggage for return trip (better than locks, but one-time use only)
extra luggage name tags (in case yours are lost on the outbound trip)
zip loc bags of all sizes and garbage/laundry bags
corkscrew (be sure to put in checked luggage)
Swiss Army knife or something similar with screwdriver head, etc. (be sure to put in checked luggage)
small umbrella
collapsible travel pillow for those long airplane flights
Crazy glue
playing cards
sports gear (e.g. snorkeling gear)
shoe horn for getting those shoes back on your swollen feet
sewing kit and scissors (pack in checked luggage)
travel-sized Woolite or Spray Downy or Fabreze
clothes pins
empty folding tote bag – for souvenirs or the beach
hats/caps/visors
insulated large coffee mugs so you can go get your cabin mate coffee in the morning rather than waiting on room service
Women’s Cruise Clothing Packing List

(ok I did not write this part)
bras (include strapless if needed for evening wear)
panties
lingerie/night gown/pajamas/robe
compression stockings (for airplane flight to prevent swollen ankles)
exercise/walking socks
trouser socks or pantyhose
camisole/slip
purses (day and evening)
belts
scarves
gloves and stocking cap(if expect cold weather)
walking shoes
walking sandals
rubber sandals for reef walking and beach
evening shoes
costume jewelry and extra watch
swim suit
swim suit cover-up/pareo/sarong
thongs/flip flop shoes
work out clothes and jog bra
dress/outfit for informal nights on ship
dress/outfit for formal nights on ship
dress/outfit for casual nights on ship
shorts
tops of all types (sleeveless, short-sleeved, long-sleeved)
capri pants
slacks
windbreaker jacket
sweatshirt
evening sweater
raincoat with hood
Women’s Miscellaneous

blow dryer
curling iron or curlers
comb/brush
hair gel
hair spray (non-aerosol)
shampoo
conditioner
shower cap
bar soap in plastic container
deodorant
toothbrush
toothpaste
dental floss
toilet paper
mouthwash
tweezers
make-up mirror
make-up and make-up bag(list can be endless!)
make-up remover
cleanser
moisturizer and freshener
nail polish and remover
nail clippers and file (be sure to pack in checked luggage)
razor and shaving cream
Men’s Cruise Clothing Packing List

underwear (briefs or boxer shorts)
undershirts if you wear them
pajamas
compression socks (for airplane flight to prevent swollen ankles)
exercise/walking socks
black dress socks
belts (I always forget this)
gloves and stocking cap(if expect cold weather)
walking shoes
walking sandals
rubber sandals/shoes for reef walking and beach
evening or dress shoes  
tuxedo jacket and pants (or dark suit)
tuxedo tie, suspenders, and cummerbund
tuxedo cufflinks/studs
sport jacket
regular ties
tuxedo shirt
dress shirts
swim suit
work out clothes/T shirts
shorts
casual shirts
slacks (casual and dress)
windbreaker jacket
sweatshirt
raincoat with hood
Men’s Miscellaneous

comb/brush
shampoo and hair products
bar soap in plastic container
deodorant
toothbrush
toothpaste
dental floss
mouthwash
toilet paper
tweezers
nail clippers and file (be sure to pack in checked luggage)
razor and shaving cream (or electric razor and supplies)
Disembarkation Kit

 Fruit- collect some fruit from the buffet the night before- you will have to leave it behind on the ship but you will be happy you have it if there is a long wait
 Beverages- this could be coffee, water or just about anything you might need – we made the mistake of not bringing any one time and said never again
Cell phone- if someone is waiting for you back home- keep them updated on your progress if it is slow- also handy if you’re flying back home and late disembarkation will cause you to miss your flight. 
Airline Schedules- Before you leave you should have a list of backup flights that depart after yours along with workable numbers to he appopriate airlines both flying in to port and flying out.  Odds are you won’t use them but its another one of thoes things that make you more prepared, costs nothing and kills time between booking and sailing
I-Phone
Writing materials- write your grocery store shopping or to-do list while waiting to get off the ship. Write letters to family and friends about your cruise. How long has it been since you wrote a hand-written note to someone?  This would be a great time to do it or catch up on Thank You notes you might be behind on
Agan let me say, problems getting on and off the ship can usually be minimized by being ready to board early and ready to get off early. Arrive at the pier at 10:30 or 11:00 to beat the crowd.  Even if the ship is late boarding you will be one of the first.  On our cruise last weekend, the first hundred or so guests made it on the ship before the computers broke down and were crowned “The Most Savy Travelers” on board.  Whenever possible, take advantage of the ships “self-assis” disembarkation option, walking your own luggage off the shp rather than setting it out the night before and having to weed through the sea of luggage after the cruise ot find yours.  Check with the Pursers or Information desk early in the cruise as the numbers of guests allowed to do this is oftern limited.

A week later

Oh, I received my $200 future cruise vouchers too. You might think that would be a joyous moment. Not so much really. In the cruise line Guest Relations departments they weigh such matters as this cruise experience as to how much of a “failure of service” was experienced.

A week later, as is usual, the pain of the moment had subsided but this cruise is still very solidy the crown champion of extremely rare disaster cruises. This was one you read about but doesn’t happen to you. I am sure there are cruises that were worse but this one has a firm hold on last place on my list of “Cruise Lines I Would Like To Sail Again Really Soon”. That is a short list too.

If there is a list of all time horrible cruises, this one is surely on it.

Titanic
Poseidon
Whatver the name of that ship was that George Clooney drove in “The Perfect Storm”
MSC Orchestra 2-night wonder cruise
The Ghost Ship
Enron

I guess there IS such a thing as a bad cruise

MSC Orchestra

Having never sailed on an MSC ship I decided to take a two night ride on the MSC Orchestra. I didn’t know a whole lot about MSC besides the basic training we get as Travel Agents. When I thought of MSC I did have several thoughts that came to mind through the experiences of others. Maybe we should call those pre-conceived notions. They were

• MSC is the largest container shipping company in the world
• I had heard on multiple occasions “There are lots of pushy Italians and other Europeans”
• I had also heard that “the food is fabulous, absolutely fabulous” from some and awful from others
• Any dealings I had had with MSC over the phone or through email indicated a class in phone skills and email etiquette would be a good idea

So I wanted to find out which of these notions were accurate, which were not and get a good feel for the ship and the cruise line in action. I have been fortunate (or not) enough to sail 43 times with 9 different lines and always been able to get a good feel for a ship or line with one small voyage.

This two-day sailing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale to Nassau, Bahamas and back should compare well. I had done many 2 or 3 night introduction cruises before and knew the drill.

• I would not get the same “feel” as I would doing a 7 day or longer cruise
• I had to cover a lot of ground really fast to collect the information and documentation I needed to make a accurate report

With that in mind we chose to arrive at the pier at 1PM, two and a half hours later than we would normally have done. Going early is always the smart way to go. Much like flying in to the departure port a day early as insurance against a delayed flight, arriving at the port so you can be at the front of the line almost always benefits by getting you on board well ahead of the crowd that will come later.

In this case coming early would have been a really good idea. But I had not come at 1PM since our first cruise. As a result we never stand in a very big line because it is behind us.

When we arrived to part at Port Everglades we could have had a really bad time finding a parking space but we got lucky and found a place right away. Approaching the terminal we saw a little line so I was not concerned and thought this was not a bad idea

It was only after we turned the corner and found what would be a line about three football fields long. With no apparent direction the line had formed a sort of serpentine shape, wrapping around Pier 4 then bunching up. No problem though I thought, these cruise lines really move the lines pretty quickly. I estimated the wait time to be about an hour, 45 minutes if we were lucky.

That bright side 45 minute to an hour estimated quickly stretched into an hour, then two hours then three hours then 4 hours until it started moving. But lines are lines and even in the most capable hands like the king of lines, Walt Disney who, from the grave, keeps things moving right along at the parks every day of the year.

I have a pretty good idea of how long it takes to move a bunch of people too from quoting wait times to people in a number of busy restaurants decades ago. Something was really wrong here.

The problem here was not that they had a big line but that we were kept in the dark about what was going on. I have experienced catastrophic delays on other lines and seen everything from a cruise line rep telling us and updating us on what was wrong then reassuring us that they were doing all they could to get us on as soon as possible to cruise line reps setting up a buffet and offering complementary beverages. Either was always accompanied by a good dose of really sincere apology.

This time we had no information so the crowd mentality starts to take over, members agree to hold the place in line for some elderly people that they can go to one of the few benches to sit down and occasional chants run through the group. Next time I am going to add “Start doing the wave and other wacky group games if line is dead for hours” to my to-do list.

It should have been a good sign that this was not going to end well when the vending trucks you might see by the crew entrance, well out of the way of the embarkation activities are coming within service distance of the crowd. We were going to be a while. Ok yeah it would have been nice for someone to tell us what the problem is or provide some food and beverages. Heck, we would have all been up at the buffet with that initial gorge of our gaping maws anyway. But the line started moving after about four hours. When it did it seemed to go rather quickly, at a pace one would expect for a group so large. Once inside the terminal we were placed in a rope line that went back and forth 23 times; about 75 feet each time. (That equals 1725 feet)

This line was not unanticipated.

Why would they intentionally be planning on having so many people in this queue? What an unpleasant first impression.

But it got worse. After that initial queue we were went into another area where there were five queue’s 300 feet long each. (Another 1500 feet) Let’s do the math; that’s a total of over 3000 feet of line. They were planning on it being a long wait.

Lucky for us we had filled out the online advance check-in and it looked like 90% of the other guests had not. We were put in a much shorter “Express” queue which also doubled as the World Club past guest entrance. I don’t think I have ever been so happy to have done that. On other lines it has almost become unnecessary.

In the beginning of the boarding card craze, it was like going through the express line at the grocery store, there was a line but it moved along way quicker than if you were behind three or four people with full carts. Carnival (who started it); Princess, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean have gotten so good at it though that they rarely set up a rope queue at all.

Finally when we got to the check in station we were told that it was a computer problem causing the delay. They had been down for several hours.

(Can you say “reboot” and see what happens?”)

At this point things were going about as anticipated except that the check in rep told us we would have to stop by the purser’s desk to present our credit card to guarantee onboard purchase. By chance I noticed that the rep next to this one was swiping cards and gathering authorization signatures just fine. When I brought it to her attention she conferred with one of the ships officers and after a lengthy discussion agreed to do ours. Good, the thought of 2300 people more at the purser’s desk in the next 24 hours could have really been a mess. The crowd pretty much universally agreed that they had robbed us of a good part of this short cruise and that needed to be the end of that.

I wanted to thank that officer for saving me from that and waved to get his attention. That was when I first saw it

The MSC Stare

Most cruises are identified with a theme or have established a 2, 3 or 4 word slogan that fits. Carnival has “The Fun Ships” and I think of wildly happy crew members. Princess has “Escape Completely” and their happy crew members while a lot less wild, make pleasant eye contact and say hello when you pass them in the halls. Celebrity has “Starring You” which while I have never seen an actual celebrity on one of their ships; they are masters at creating a great feel on board. Royal Caribbean for years challenged us to “Get Out There”

All of those and others seemed genuinely happy to see us and honestly wanted us to have a good time. I had grown accustomed to that. This mean, unemotional, detached look this officer gave me was scary. But being optimistic I hoped that this was just a junior officer who should probably be working down in the torpedo room rather in a guest contact area.

So very unfortunately this would not be the last time I saw it. I never once saw an officer laugh or seem at all happy except when talking with other officers in their native language.

This attitude would turn out to be the reason for many unpleasant experiences aboard the ship. I have seen this before in other businesses and it always ends in the business going broke. There are just too many competitors to not have your best job on display all the time. That is where it starts. When the management is lacking in customer service in major ways, many of the negatives I had about this ship, the crew and the cruise line happen and turn off customers.


Here then are specifics on what was experienced while on board the MSC Orchestra. I picked areas to evaluate that either struck me as really different than other lines or simply easy to compare along with a grade.

Embarkation
Grade: F

The F is for the poor job they did communicating with the waiting crowd. Handled properly they could have minimized the fueling effect it had on growing negative attitudes. The thing about those is that once they start and get in most peoples heads, they taint other experience onboard which might not have been as good as they could have been but would have been tolerated.

The passengers would have been upset but with the strong knowledge that the cruise line would stand behind their decisions and actions. They would make it right. The level of commitment to that universal business model simply was not there with the management of this event and the ship. That’s two different departments; shore operations and ship operations. They both failed. Would the ships maintenance department fail as well; the ones that shovel the wood into the burners that make the ship move?

So far no but if we had to drive one of the lifeboats home we had done this route so many times that we could probably do it.

Cabins
Grade: B

These were nice, new cabins with a unique feature. In order to keep the lights on in your cabin you had to put your card into a reader by the front door. When you were out of the cabin the lights went off which they had to do because you had to take your key to get back in.
I think that is a fabulous way for them to save energy and in turn save money that does not inconvenience the guest. Good Job there. That also triggered a light in the hallway that the stewards could see (I guess with their heightened awareness training because I sure never saw it) that indicated if you were or were not in the cabin. No more barging in as someone stand in the hallway drying off after a shower since the bathroom is too small for we fluffy people.

I give them a C as average because they were pretty much the standard cabin you might find on any cruise ship.

Cabin Steward
Grade: B
I would later find out that each steward had 24 cabins to clean twice each day. That would explain never seeing ours. No time for small talk, special requests, complaints or compliments. There was much to complement for too. They did a really good job every time they did their run through the cabin.

Embarkation Buffet
Grade: F

Ok let’s try to keep count. So far we had no contact while waiting, passed by some contract security people with the stern but expected demeanor like the TSA at airports and gotten our first MSC Stare. Not looking really good at Creating A Good First Impression 101. They had to have cheated horribly on the final to pass. Hmm, maybe they dropped out?f

This was going to be the first time we had the opportunity to try the legendary great food. I was excited because I used to have some very dear friends as a young boy who were really Italian and those people really knew great food. I couldn’t wait to try the Fettuccini Alfredo to see if it was as good as the wonderful product they served on Princess. I make a pretty darn good meatball when I put my mind to it so I was really looking forward to that too. We knew there was no way to enter points in our Weight Watchers thing so we were totally off diet to the point that I really wanted to see what their idea of authentic Italian Pizza was.

The food was simply awful.

I wondered if it was that it was ready 4 hours ago and since people were not boarding it just lost its luster. No, there was no luster on these products ever. I had a former career when I was much younger in the restaurant business. One of the things I did was manage a large volume cafeteria in Kansas City. We served 4 or 5000 people a day on two straight line cafeterias. That was their first problem.

I wonder if the people that designed this ship had ever been on a cruise on any other line. If they had they would have discovered the latest common design, the revival of the “scatter” line cafeteria with stations that one can go back and forth too. With a straight line cafeteria everyone has to pass by everything. That’s great if you are selling the ala carte. You can use strategic product positioning to put the high dollar or high profit products within easy reach.

But they were not selling these products; they were included in the price. The obvious name of the game is to get them through as quickly and efficiently as possible.

With the scatter style cafeteria, guests can simply walk by the station that does not have anything they want rather than waiting in line (again and not a popular activity with this bunch) They move through quickly and are at the table enjoying your food with the minimum travel time and eating the food as you wished it to be.

But that was just the tip of the iceberg. The meatballs were lousy and cold, the pizza was burnt and sort of like the “pizza” I made as a kid with Hungry Jack biscuits, pizza sauce and cheese. Mine was better.

What looked like it could be a flavorful dish was bland and cold or warm depending on what it shouldn’t be. You would think Spicy Cantonese Rice would be a real taste sensation. No, very much like
Green Giant Steam In The Microwave-safe Bag quality, only cold.

While seated and eating we saw a lady approach a manager. She was just furious. It seems that over an hour ago, she had given her card to one of the servers to go get her a Diet Coke and they had never returned. After getting the MSC Stare while explaining her problem the manager told her to go the Pursers desk and get a new one. Stupid me, I was thinking they might want to find that server, get the card back and get this lady her Diet Coke. No, she was sent packing without her Diet Coke (well they couldn’t get her one now anyway: she had no card!)

Probably just as well, they serve Pepsi Light anyway. Those were cool though, they had a foil cover over the part where you pull the tab and apply your lips. (I had lowered the bar for all things dazzling

I gave up on trying keeping up the counting thing after this.

Breakfast Buffet
Grade: F

Let’s just finish off the buffet area with this report about breakfast.

By this time it had become painfully obvious that these people had chosen to work with the bare minimum crew on hand to take care of business. They are cheapskates.

It’s a classic pattern.

• We don’t have enough guests sailing
• We lower the price
• We have more guests sailing but uh oh; we are not making as much money on them
• We cut back on the labor and put out as much low cost food as possible

The breakfast buffet was one of the best examples of this I had seen and here is why

• No omelet station. Thank god, the line would have moved even slower. I had chosen to go up for breakfast really early so there was no line. At 10:00 the line went out of the door of the cafeteria and far out on to the pool deck, on both sides.
• Bacon from last week. This was more old, crumbled and nasty than any I had ever seen in public. This had reached the point where it could have been used as an ingredient or seasoning but that’s about it.
• They messed up the canned baked beans. Ok this is an odd English thing that seems to be on a lot of cruise ships. I can see the allure of them as they are really cheap. But the master chefs of MSC had watered them down. I guess they thought they would go farther and feed more people.
• While they did not have an omelet station they did have “plain omelets” pre-made and ready to be picked up. I fail to see the difference between a plain omelet and scrambled eggs (they had those too). I kept looking for an eclectic array of creative toppings maybe thinking it was a “make your own omelets” idea that was just not well thought out. The closest thing I could find to a topping was the scrambled eggs sitting next to them. Later on about 20 feet down the line were some cold, canned “sautéed” mushrooms.
• The coffee station was manned by a crew member who was pouring the coffee for the guests. I sat right next to this area and watched. As the guests arrived the line grew long at the coffee station (OK “line” is officially a bad four letter word at this point) The reason for the hold up is that the crew member had a little shield for each guest explaining that they had “strong” and “weak” coffee and they had to choose one. He went on to give his personal recommendation (oooh! Step back Emeril Bam!) for the strong coffee but watered down. Most agreed to the strong but watered down. This could have been an American thing though with the Americans always choosing strong over weak to this crew member struggling (unbelievably) hard to communicate. The guests were having trouble with his recommendation though and it took a while for them to inevitably pick his recommendation and that really slowed down the line. The other problem was people who understood him to mean that the strong was regular and the weak was decaf. When specifically asked if they had decaf he said “I don’t know, maybe at the other station”
• Double shot glasses for water. I forgot to mention that I had heard that they were charging for water in the dining room on the last cruise without the option for complementary tap water. Horrible idea for the American market, glad they did not do it. But these glasses were about as big as two shot glasses. I assumed it was to prevent waste of the complementary frozen concentrate Juicy Juice dispenser liquids. Understandable and acceptable for “high cost?” juice-like substance but where were the glasses for the low cost tap water?
• The crew member with the refill cart. There was one for both dining rooms. I watched as she went a certain distance with one cart, stopped when she was empty, went back and filled up on some other ship in a different ocean then came back and traveled the same route. She appeared to be stopped along the way by about half of those she had served on the previous run then continued on down the road. I think the ones at the end of the other dining room have probably become dehydrated and soiled themselves waiting for her to get there. They couldn’t leave or they would get nothing and they didn’t want to miss her

Casino
Grade A++ and F

This one gets two grades. An A++ because I won two big jackpots on the slots, an F because I waited 45 minutes for the one crew member working the whole casino other than dealers at gaming tables to pay out the excessive sum.

There’s something about winning big in the casino that makes other things ok. I had seriously forgotten about the embarkation fiasco and school cafeteria operation.

Safety Drill
Grade A++ and F
This one also gets two grades. The A++ because they cancelled it on the first day, rescheduled it the second day and checked to see if everyone was in attendance by knocking two times on the door and going away.

The F because in reality I should have been concerned about this gang actually finding and hitting an iceberg, sinking the ship. Again though as previously mentioned, I was pretty sure I could get a lifeboat back to Florida from here. I would also not have had a line for getting on my lifeboat, would have the chef there serving delights and free drinks for all.

Driving the Ship
Grade C
This is usually an area not even mentioned as the ships crew that does the actual maneuvering of the ship are so good at it. Just watching them move the ship into or out of port is amazing to me.

Imagine my surprise and fear when we were stopped dead in the water outside of Nassau while the other ships caught up and passed us.

Ships Shops
Grade B
Pretty much the typical assortment of jewelry, cologne, clothes, and logo items (probably not a lot of folks on this one wanting a memento to remember this) and booze/cigarettes. I took off because of the limited selection in the shops and the attitude of the people in the booze shop. They were really mad that people wanted to buy booze.
The more booze they bought the more intense their MSC Stare was. I wanted 8 bottles of booze and you would have thought I had asked them to swim to shore to fetch me some snacks.

Those are a whole lot of negative leading to a recommendation to not sail this line. At least until I get reports that things have improved dramatically.

But there are positives too which I saved for last. I have always been of the mind that there is no such thing as a bad cruise. This one put that notion to test like no other. History will prove this one to be the standard for bad cruises. Still, we had a good time because there are things that even MSC could not screw up. One was the view from our balcony while the ship is moving through the ocean. Another was finding a nice lounge to have a drink before dinner. Sure, we needed one before facing the uncertainty of what might be coming, but they have several nice, quiet, and comfortable lounges. For the most part they run a pretty good operation too with plenty of crew members around. Well except for the casino. That one girl working the whole casino for drinks was just sad to see.

Value was a big underlying problem on this ship. Since they were such cheapskates we paid for most everything beyond the basics. Ice cream was never complementary as it is on all other cruise lines at one time or another (or all day on Carnival). I ordered two tall Bloody Marys this morning in tall glasses. That was $27.50 which I thought was a crazy high price.

I already mentioned the cabin stewards and for the most part the rest of the hotel department with the exception of food servivce was right on top of things.

Would I do this again? No
Will I recommend this line to anyone? No

As patient and understanding as I am, I’m writing MSC and will demand a 100% refund just if they are interested in standing behind their product. If they want me to ride on one of their ships again they will need to give me a free cruise. I doubt that either of those things will happen. They probably don’t even realize that they created 2300 bad will ambassadors.

Packing for your cruise? Don’t forget the toilet paper!

…especially if you use Charmin, Angel Soft or some other equally plush brand.  

Every cruise line I have ever been on uses what must be called Rough And Ready Industrial Strength.  I think the purchasing departments have confused cruise passengers with Elephants.  While by too many trips to the buffet I may look like one,  by the end of the cruise I feel like I was drugged and violated in my sleep by an elephant.  

(Too graphic?) (this candid article is just one of the many bonuses you’ll find here that just don’t quite seem appropriate elsewhere in cyberspace)

I’m writing this because I always forget to pack toilet paper.  I remember this the first time I need to use the “facilities”.  Get prepared for that too.  Operating the facilities you’ll hear a sound much like that of a torpedo being launched from a nuclear submarine. Your business travels with lighting speed away to some unknown place.  

Actually,  I just thought of a good way of remembering to pack toilet paper as even more essential that Duct Tape or my George Foreman Grill 

I am going to bring a case next time.  I’ll just tag it and check it with a porter.  I checked, there are no rules about how much toilet paper you can bring with you.  Smuggling should not be necessary, at least for a while.

The plan is to set up a little table outside of the dining room then sell it to guests on their way back to the cabin. Who would NOT want to buy one?  I think no one would pass me by.   A good marketing strategy would be to wait until about the third night.  By then the need should be painfully obvious.    I thought I might also write my cabin number on each roll “Need More?  See cabin 8525 between 3 and 5 (well I don’t want to tie up my whole day)”  Actually if I could get the wife and kids to just walk around the ship everywhere they go with a roll in each hand that would probably do it.  (Think: adorable childen operating Kool-aid stand business) Imaging how popular they would be!  Why didn’t I think of this when they were in high school?  Think of all the money we could have saved buying their cheerleading junk- nothing says self-esteem on it more than someone who has a product that is in high demand.

I often thought “Why couldn’t I have invented this?” when using the facilities at home.  I think this might be the next best thing!

Do you have tips about such matters?  Please share them here?

Coming soon: Why its a good idea to bring children to fetch things for you