With 2008 nearly over, (wow, the year went fast!) I thought it might be a good time to recap some relevant cruise news from this year. These blurbs certainly do not represent all that has happened in the industry this year, but I thought they were interesting, and, well, it's my blog...
Norwegian Cruise Line Continues to Make Waves
Well, it looks like Norwegian will continue with the F3 project after the squirmish with the shipmaker, but now it's down to just one ship instead of several. NCL should take delivery in May, 2010, and I, for one, am quite interested to see what this new ship will actually be like. We've heard the rumors about the Ice Bar so I'd like to see if they're really going to go through with that idea or not. NCL America has cut its operation in Hawaii to just one ship, the Pride of America, after originally having three there, but the good news is that the operation is now actually profitable. NCL will also begin its new Bermuda contract in 2009 and both NCL and MSC get to battle it out as to who has the youngest fleet in the industry.
Seattle Overtakes Vancouver in Alaska Cruise Port Popularity Contest
It's now official, Seattle has finally outstripped Vancouver in the number of cruise passengers travelling through its port. However, Vancouver certainly has nothing to feel badly about. First, since it's illegal for one-way cruises to or from Alaska to start in Seattle (due to the ships' registry), these cruises all have to start in Vancouver. This also means more hotel business for Vancouver since many people arrive the night before their cruise sets sail. Secondly, Vancouver also hosts Regent Seven Seas, which is the most upscale and luxurious cruise line sailing in Alaska. Lastly, Vancouver still retains the highest number of actual vessel calls. Plus, it's a damn beautiful city. So take that, Seattle!
Holland America Line Retreats? To Where?
As previously reported, Holland America has come up with an innovative new Retreat area to be installed on several of its ships, including the Statendam, Maasdam, Ryandam, and the Veendam, and the Rotterdam. The coolest thing about these new Retreats is that people will be able to sit in lounge chairs in nine inches of water on either side of the pool, while the middle section of the pool will be sixteen inches deep. The tradeoff is that these Retreats are being put in where the old aft pool areas were, and apparently passengers are complaining because they said that the aft pool area was the best place to relax on the ship. I personally think it's an interesting idea, and we'll see what passengers say in the future, as maybe they'll think the Retreat is an even better place to relax than before.
Bermuda is Back and Better than Before!
I guess Hamilton, Bermuda lost its cruise business in 2008, but things will be different in 2009 thanks to Holland America. The line signed a contract with Bermuda to operate its 1,350-berth Veendam in weekly service between New York's Manhattan Passenger Ship Terminal and both Hamilton and St George's.
The agreement started out as a late summer and autumn season of 10 roundtrip voyages starting August 10, but this month it was extended to a full season of 24 cruises starting in April. As the Veendam will be the first of the Statendam class to get her new Retreat (see above), Bermuda passengers will be able to sit in their deck chairs in the pool, should they so wish. Now all they need are little floating trays to hold snack foods by their loungers.
For more information on these developments, see The Cruise Examiner and Cybercruises.com. To book any cruises on these lines to these ports or any other, please contact Sheila McPherson, Your Personal Cruise Specialist, at (630) 868-6719 or toll free at (877) 823-8597 or visit www.serenitycruising.com.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Merry Christmas and a Cruisin' New Year!
I just wanted to put up a quick post to say thank you to my loyal readers of this blog (wherever you are!) and to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
I know that times are tough for all of us right now, but I also want to encourage those of you who are thinking about traveling this coming year to go ahead and do so as soon as possible. The travel industry in general is struggling right now and there are some really tremendous deals out there. It looks like it may be a long, cold, snowy winter here in the Midwest, so why not take advantage of some great deals and head off towards warm and sunny weather during the next three or four months? You could be lying on a beach getting a tan or frolicking in the ocean, while the rest of us are stuck here shoveling snow!
Cruising continues to be a fantastic all-inclusive way to travel and a great value compared to land-based resorts, so I hope to see you sailing away on a luxurious cruise ship this coming year!
Once again, thank you to my loyal readers, and I wish everyone of you out there a Merry Christmas and a Cruisin' New Year!
I know that times are tough for all of us right now, but I also want to encourage those of you who are thinking about traveling this coming year to go ahead and do so as soon as possible. The travel industry in general is struggling right now and there are some really tremendous deals out there. It looks like it may be a long, cold, snowy winter here in the Midwest, so why not take advantage of some great deals and head off towards warm and sunny weather during the next three or four months? You could be lying on a beach getting a tan or frolicking in the ocean, while the rest of us are stuck here shoveling snow!
Cruising continues to be a fantastic all-inclusive way to travel and a great value compared to land-based resorts, so I hope to see you sailing away on a luxurious cruise ship this coming year!
Once again, thank you to my loyal readers, and I wish everyone of you out there a Merry Christmas and a Cruisin' New Year!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Wine, Wine Everywhere... And Plenty of Drops to Drink!
Silversea Cruises, an ultra-luxury cruise line, has announced its enticing new collection of 11 Wine Series voyages for 2009.
According to a press release, "On each wine-themed cruise, discerning travelers with a passion for fine wines will enjoy sampling great vintages and learning about the tradition and art of winemaking in special tastings and lectures conducted by wine professionals, vineyard owners, winemakers and other epicurean specialists from renowned establishments, including California's Justin and Wente wineries, Italy's Castello Banfi and Chile's Santa Alicia Winery, to name a few. On many voyages, guests will also have the chance to explore some of the world’s most celebrated wine regions on guided shore excursions."
It seems that fine leather handbags and shoes go well with wine, as the family of Italian fashion visionary Salvatore Ferragamo also happens to own Il Borro, an acclaimed wine-producing estate in Tuscany. Ferragamo's grandson is slated to host Silver Wind's July 6 wine-themed sailing from Lisbon to Monte Carlo.
Guests will visit and interact with the Wine Experts onboard, experiencing fine wines through entertaining tastings and lectures, while visiting spectacular ports of call and enjoying the luxurious accommodations onboard the ship. This is a tremendous opportunity for wine enthusiats to savor new flavors and learn more about wines throughout the world, while living in the lap of luxury aboard a fantastic cruise ship!
Silversea's 2009 Wine Series cruises are as follows (rates are per person, double occupancy and do not include port charges):
Alaska & Pacific Coast
-- Silver Shadow departs July 20 on a 12-day, roundtrip voyage (#3917) from San Francisco with calls in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Wrangell and Victoria. WINE SERIES HOSTS: Eric and Arel Wente, owners of California's Wente Vineyards. Silver Sailing fares start at $6,646.
-- Silver Shadow departs August 25 on a 9-day, roundtrip voyage (#3921) from Vancouver with calls in Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, Wrangell and Victoria. WINE SERIES HOST: Master Sommelier Joe Spellman of California's Justin Vineyards and Winery. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $5,775.
Mediterranean
-- Silver Wind departs May 28 on a 9-day voyage (#2917) from Monte Carlo to Athens with calls in Livorno, Sorrento, Crete, Santorini, Rhodes, Kusadasi and Bodrum. WINE SERIES HOST: Stanislas Marchal, public relations representative for Vranken-Pommery Monopole. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $7,305.
-- Silver Whisper departs July 4 on a 7-day voyage (#4918) from Venice to Athens with calls in Split, Kotor, Corfu and Itea. WINE SERIES HOST: Georges Muller of Riedel Crystal (the wine glass company), expert on pairing wines with stemware. Silver Sailing fares start at $4,896.
-- Silver Wind departs July 6 on a 12-day voyage (#2921) from Lisbon to Monte Carlo with calls in Cadiz, Malaga, Ibiza, Barcelona (overnight), Cannes, Menton, Livorno and Corsica. WINE SERIES HOST: Salvatore Ferragamo, owner and managing director of Il Borro estate, Tuscany, Italy. Silver Sailing fares start at $5,797.
-- Silver Wind departs August 14 on a 7-day voyage (#2925) from Venice to Athens with calls in Hvar, Sibenik, Dubrovnik and Santorini. WINE SERIES HOST: Philip di Belardino, Castello Banfi Vineyard Estate & Winery, Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $6,115.
Northern Europe & The Baltic
-- Silver Cloud departs June 25 on a 9-day, roundtrip voyage (#1914) from Stockholm with calls in Helsinki, St. Petersburg (3 days, 2 nights), Tallinn and Gdansk. WINE SERIES HOST: Gary Eberle, owner of California's Eberle Winery (will co-host with a European winery, exploring Old and New World wines). Silver Sailing fares start at $6,646.
-- Silver Cloud departs August 26 on a 10-day, roundtrip voyage (#1921) from London with calls in Edinburgh (overnight), Invergordon, Oban, Dublin, Cork and Fowey. WINE SERIES HOST: Gordon Bell, brand ambassador and master of Scotch whisky. Silver Sailing fares start at $7,486.
South America
-- Silver Cloud departs January 4 on a 16-day voyage (#1901) from Santiago to Buenos Aires with calls in Puerto Montt, Puerto Chacabuco, Laguna San Rafael, Punta Arenas (overnight), Falkland Islands, Puerto Madryn, Punta del Este and Montevideo. WINE SERIES HOST: Daniel Soto, Santa Alicia Winery, Santiago, Chile. Voyage co-hosted by GUEST CHEF Luis Gonzalez Morales, chef/owner of El Remezon restaurant in Punta Arenas, Chile, specializing in traditional Patagonian cuisine. Silver Sailing fares start at $8,606.
-- Silver Cloud departs February 5 on a 16-day voyage (#1903) from Santiago to Buenos Aires with calls in Puerto Montt, Laguna San Rafael, Punta Arenas (overnight), Ushuaia, Puerto Madryn and Montevideo. WINE SERIES HOSTS: Silvina Barros of Trivento Winery and Vineyards, Mendoza, Argentina; Fernando Mediano of Emiliana Vineyards, Casablanca Valley, Chile; and Jofre Duran of Concha y Toro Vineyards, Maipo Valley, Chile. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $10,450.
Transoceanic
-- Silver Cloud departs April 15 on a 15-day voyage (#1910) from Barbados to London with calls in St. Lucia, Antigua, La Horta, Ponta Delgada, Falmouth and Cherbourg. WINE SERIES HOST: Trevor Burnett, brand ambassador for Grey Goose Vodka. Voyage co-hosted by GUEST CHEF of the Viking Cooking School. Silver Sailing fares start at $5,337.
To book any of these fantastic voyages or for more information, please contact Sheila McPherson, Your Personal Cruise Specialist, at (630) 868-6719 or visit my website at www.serenitycruising.com.
According to a press release, "On each wine-themed cruise, discerning travelers with a passion for fine wines will enjoy sampling great vintages and learning about the tradition and art of winemaking in special tastings and lectures conducted by wine professionals, vineyard owners, winemakers and other epicurean specialists from renowned establishments, including California's Justin and Wente wineries, Italy's Castello Banfi and Chile's Santa Alicia Winery, to name a few. On many voyages, guests will also have the chance to explore some of the world’s most celebrated wine regions on guided shore excursions."
It seems that fine leather handbags and shoes go well with wine, as the family of Italian fashion visionary Salvatore Ferragamo also happens to own Il Borro, an acclaimed wine-producing estate in Tuscany. Ferragamo's grandson is slated to host Silver Wind's July 6 wine-themed sailing from Lisbon to Monte Carlo.
Guests will visit and interact with the Wine Experts onboard, experiencing fine wines through entertaining tastings and lectures, while visiting spectacular ports of call and enjoying the luxurious accommodations onboard the ship. This is a tremendous opportunity for wine enthusiats to savor new flavors and learn more about wines throughout the world, while living in the lap of luxury aboard a fantastic cruise ship!
Silversea's 2009 Wine Series cruises are as follows (rates are per person, double occupancy and do not include port charges):
Alaska & Pacific Coast
-- Silver Shadow departs July 20 on a 12-day, roundtrip voyage (#3917) from San Francisco with calls in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Wrangell and Victoria. WINE SERIES HOSTS: Eric and Arel Wente, owners of California's Wente Vineyards. Silver Sailing fares start at $6,646.
-- Silver Shadow departs August 25 on a 9-day, roundtrip voyage (#3921) from Vancouver with calls in Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, Wrangell and Victoria. WINE SERIES HOST: Master Sommelier Joe Spellman of California's Justin Vineyards and Winery. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $5,775.
Mediterranean
-- Silver Wind departs May 28 on a 9-day voyage (#2917) from Monte Carlo to Athens with calls in Livorno, Sorrento, Crete, Santorini, Rhodes, Kusadasi and Bodrum. WINE SERIES HOST: Stanislas Marchal, public relations representative for Vranken-Pommery Monopole. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $7,305.
-- Silver Whisper departs July 4 on a 7-day voyage (#4918) from Venice to Athens with calls in Split, Kotor, Corfu and Itea. WINE SERIES HOST: Georges Muller of Riedel Crystal (the wine glass company), expert on pairing wines with stemware. Silver Sailing fares start at $4,896.
-- Silver Wind departs July 6 on a 12-day voyage (#2921) from Lisbon to Monte Carlo with calls in Cadiz, Malaga, Ibiza, Barcelona (overnight), Cannes, Menton, Livorno and Corsica. WINE SERIES HOST: Salvatore Ferragamo, owner and managing director of Il Borro estate, Tuscany, Italy. Silver Sailing fares start at $5,797.
-- Silver Wind departs August 14 on a 7-day voyage (#2925) from Venice to Athens with calls in Hvar, Sibenik, Dubrovnik and Santorini. WINE SERIES HOST: Philip di Belardino, Castello Banfi Vineyard Estate & Winery, Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $6,115.
Northern Europe & The Baltic
-- Silver Cloud departs June 25 on a 9-day, roundtrip voyage (#1914) from Stockholm with calls in Helsinki, St. Petersburg (3 days, 2 nights), Tallinn and Gdansk. WINE SERIES HOST: Gary Eberle, owner of California's Eberle Winery (will co-host with a European winery, exploring Old and New World wines). Silver Sailing fares start at $6,646.
-- Silver Cloud departs August 26 on a 10-day, roundtrip voyage (#1921) from London with calls in Edinburgh (overnight), Invergordon, Oban, Dublin, Cork and Fowey. WINE SERIES HOST: Gordon Bell, brand ambassador and master of Scotch whisky. Silver Sailing fares start at $7,486.
South America
-- Silver Cloud departs January 4 on a 16-day voyage (#1901) from Santiago to Buenos Aires with calls in Puerto Montt, Puerto Chacabuco, Laguna San Rafael, Punta Arenas (overnight), Falkland Islands, Puerto Madryn, Punta del Este and Montevideo. WINE SERIES HOST: Daniel Soto, Santa Alicia Winery, Santiago, Chile. Voyage co-hosted by GUEST CHEF Luis Gonzalez Morales, chef/owner of El Remezon restaurant in Punta Arenas, Chile, specializing in traditional Patagonian cuisine. Silver Sailing fares start at $8,606.
-- Silver Cloud departs February 5 on a 16-day voyage (#1903) from Santiago to Buenos Aires with calls in Puerto Montt, Laguna San Rafael, Punta Arenas (overnight), Ushuaia, Puerto Madryn and Montevideo. WINE SERIES HOSTS: Silvina Barros of Trivento Winery and Vineyards, Mendoza, Argentina; Fernando Mediano of Emiliana Vineyards, Casablanca Valley, Chile; and Jofre Duran of Concha y Toro Vineyards, Maipo Valley, Chile. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $10,450.
Transoceanic
-- Silver Cloud departs April 15 on a 15-day voyage (#1910) from Barbados to London with calls in St. Lucia, Antigua, La Horta, Ponta Delgada, Falmouth and Cherbourg. WINE SERIES HOST: Trevor Burnett, brand ambassador for Grey Goose Vodka. Voyage co-hosted by GUEST CHEF of the Viking Cooking School. Silver Sailing fares start at $5,337.
To book any of these fantastic voyages or for more information, please contact Sheila McPherson, Your Personal Cruise Specialist, at (630) 868-6719 or visit my website at www.serenitycruising.com.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Kiss Those Annoying Fuel Surcharges Goodbye!
After Carnival Corporation announced last week that it was eliminating fuel surcharges for all of its cruises departing after December 17, 2008, the other major lines have quickly followed suit. Royal Caribbean International, parent company for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Azamara; and NCL, parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line and Norwegian America, quickly announced they were also repealing fuel surcharges but the starting dates vary. I wasn't surprised that RCI and NCL followed suit so quickly, and I certainly think it's about time that these announcements were made, considering how the price of oil has changed in the recent months. To make it even better, Prestige Cruise Holdings, parent company of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, announced today that they are joining the party and will be eliminating fuel surcharges for all voyages departing in 2009.
All the cruise lines have, of course, reserved the right to reinstate the fuel surcharges if the price of crude oil reaches a certain level. For more information on what that target price is, check each cruise line's website.
For passengers who have already paid for their cruise in full, the fuel surcharges will be refunded by shipboard credit. Those passengers who have not yet paid in full will have their outstanding balances adjusted.
Keep in mind, though, that cruise lines vary in how they will allow you to spend your onboard credit; some may not allow you to use that shipboard credit to pay for your gratuities, or to cover any spa charges. You also probably won't be able to exchange that onboard credit for cash in the ship's casino, either, so plan on running up quite a bar tab to use up your fuel surcharge onboard credit! If you've paid in full and are expecting an onboard credit and you want to know how you can use it, check with your travel agent or cruise line before you set sail.
Any way you look at it, this is great news and let's hope that we never see fuel surcharges added to cruise fares again!
All the cruise lines have, of course, reserved the right to reinstate the fuel surcharges if the price of crude oil reaches a certain level. For more information on what that target price is, check each cruise line's website.
For passengers who have already paid for their cruise in full, the fuel surcharges will be refunded by shipboard credit. Those passengers who have not yet paid in full will have their outstanding balances adjusted.
Keep in mind, though, that cruise lines vary in how they will allow you to spend your onboard credit; some may not allow you to use that shipboard credit to pay for your gratuities, or to cover any spa charges. You also probably won't be able to exchange that onboard credit for cash in the ship's casino, either, so plan on running up quite a bar tab to use up your fuel surcharge onboard credit! If you've paid in full and are expecting an onboard credit and you want to know how you can use it, check with your travel agent or cruise line before you set sail.
Any way you look at it, this is great news and let's hope that we never see fuel surcharges added to cruise fares again!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Carnvial Ends Fuel Surcharges For Good... For Now, That Is!
Awesome news! Carnival Corporation announced today that it is suspending fuel supplements effective for all voyages departing on or after December 17, 2008. This suspension applies to all six of Carnival Corporation's brands, including Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn.
The fuel supplement will be refunded by shipboard credit for all bookings within the final payment period for departures on or after December 17, 2008. All bookings outside of the final payment period for departures on or after December 17, 2008 will be adjusted to remove the fuel supplement and guests will be provided with a revised final payment amount.
Carnival's executives cautioned that the fuel supplement could be re-instated if oil prices increase significantly. Carnival therefore reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to $9 per person per day should the price of light sweet crude oil according to the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index) increase above $70 per barrel.
I'm not surprised this is happening and I am certainly glad to see it! I expect that the other major cruise lines will follow suit pretty quickly, so we might be able to finally say goodbye to fuel surcharges... at least for a while!
The fuel supplement will be refunded by shipboard credit for all bookings within the final payment period for departures on or after December 17, 2008. All bookings outside of the final payment period for departures on or after December 17, 2008 will be adjusted to remove the fuel supplement and guests will be provided with a revised final payment amount.
Carnival's executives cautioned that the fuel supplement could be re-instated if oil prices increase significantly. Carnival therefore reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to $9 per person per day should the price of light sweet crude oil according to the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index) increase above $70 per barrel.
I'm not surprised this is happening and I am certainly glad to see it! I expect that the other major cruise lines will follow suit pretty quickly, so we might be able to finally say goodbye to fuel surcharges... at least for a while!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow.... On a Cruise Ship?
Princess ships are now preparing for another festive season at sea, and according to the latest reports, weather conditions are again pointing to unusual snow flurries onboard. Princess Cruises debuted this concept last year to rave reviews, so they've decided to do it again. Snow (yes, SNOW!) will actually fall in the ship's atriums, transforming the ships into floating winter wonderlands throughout December.
"What's better than the romance of a white Christmas, especially when it's an unexpected surprise?" said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president. "Our snowfalls were such a huge hit last year that this has now become a new tradition on Princess ships."
Princess Cruises has developed an innovative snow-making process which creates falling snowflakes that vanish on contact, letting passengers enjoy the excitement of snow flurries without the need to bundle up. Princess' daily snowfall will occur on all ships except for the Pacific Princess, Tahitian Princess and Royal Princess, as these smaller ships do not have multi-story atriums.
The fun holiday experience doesn't end with the snow, however. The ships are all decked out in holiday decor with Christmas trees on the vessels' masts and carolers strolling throughout the decks. Passengers can get into the fun with the "gingerbread challenge," where teams try to construct the most creative gingerbread structure. Or they can test their holiday craft skills by creating a personalized photo ornament. And for those of us who are cutlery-challenged, guests can learn how to expertly carve a holiday turkey from the onboard culinary experts.
Sounds like fun to me! I think this is a really great idea and I'd love to experience it for myself. For those of you who can get away this holiday season but haven't made any plans yet, consider taking a Princess cruise and REALLY get into the holiday spirit!
"What's better than the romance of a white Christmas, especially when it's an unexpected surprise?" said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president. "Our snowfalls were such a huge hit last year that this has now become a new tradition on Princess ships."
Princess Cruises has developed an innovative snow-making process which creates falling snowflakes that vanish on contact, letting passengers enjoy the excitement of snow flurries without the need to bundle up. Princess' daily snowfall will occur on all ships except for the Pacific Princess, Tahitian Princess and Royal Princess, as these smaller ships do not have multi-story atriums.
The fun holiday experience doesn't end with the snow, however. The ships are all decked out in holiday decor with Christmas trees on the vessels' masts and carolers strolling throughout the decks. Passengers can get into the fun with the "gingerbread challenge," where teams try to construct the most creative gingerbread structure. Or they can test their holiday craft skills by creating a personalized photo ornament. And for those of us who are cutlery-challenged, guests can learn how to expertly carve a holiday turkey from the onboard culinary experts.
Sounds like fun to me! I think this is a really great idea and I'd love to experience it for myself. For those of you who can get away this holiday season but haven't made any plans yet, consider taking a Princess cruise and REALLY get into the holiday spirit!
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