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.