USAToday.com reported that travel agents attending the CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. National Conference last week on board the Carnival Pride say they're seeing a surge in last-minute bookings for fall and early winter as consumers grow more confident about the economy.
"Within the past two to three months the pendulum has swung upwards," says Ralph Santisteban, a Miami-based CruiseOne agent who has been in the business for 11 years. "I think they've been waiting to make sure they could leave with a clear [conscience]." Santisteban and other longtime cruise-selling agents at CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. say they're seeing people who have put off booking vacations all year long finally pulling the trigger.
"People have said 'enough is enough, I'm going,'" says Becky Piper, a CruiseOne agent in the Cleveland area. "I think they've realized that they still have a job, and they're mentally exhausted and need a vacation." Piper says her business began bouncing back in July after a horrible start to the year. As of March, her bookings were off 60% year-to-date from the previous year, she notes, but after a good July, August and September she's now caught back up and even is ahead a bit for the year.
The travel agents at the CruiseOne/Cruises Inc. conference, which took place last week on the Carnival Pride during a seven-night itinerary out of Baltimore, admit that heavy discounts by the big cruise lines has been a key factor in bringing back demand. Santisteban says customers definitely remain cost conscious. "The person who used to call to ask me for a suite is now calling to ask about a balcony," he notes. "The person who would call asking for a balcony is now calling to ask about an inside."
That said, the booking window -- how far people book in advance of a voyage -- is starting to move back out, say agents, and pricing is starting to edge upwards after months of rarely seen discounts. "Pricing is moving up, but what's funny is the client's expectations is that the pricing is still where it was (a few months ago)," says Piper. "It hasn't been an easy year," Piper adds. "But I really believe things are getting better."
CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. are part of World Travel Holdings, which bills itself as the nation's largest cruise retailer. The company also owns Cruises Only and Cruises.com, which sell cruises on their websites. It is important to note that each CruiseOne franchise is independently owned and operated, and CruiseOne agents like me offer unique personalized service that you can't get by booking on the internet or through a call center.
I would agree with my CruiseOne colleagues that pricing has started to creep upwards, but even if pricing is headed higher than it was a few months ago, there are still tremendous deals out there. However, I think the trend with my clients is that the booking window is holding steady from where it was early in the year, but this is still a shorter window than in the past.
Remember that it's not too late to book a cruise for the end of 2009, and you can take advantage of special deals in celebration of World's Largest Cruise Night, which is on October 13. Check out my website for more information at www.serenitycruising.com.
Showing posts with label suites. Show all posts
Showing posts with label suites. Show all posts
Monday, October 12, 2009
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, October 6, 2008
Disegalitarianism: My Thoughts
This weekend, Peter Greenberg, otherwise known as The Travel Detective, discussed on his radio show, a recent article on BudgetTravel.com regarding disegalitarianism being the new trend in the cruise industry. What is diseglitarianism, you ask? Well, it basically means people who spend more on their cruise vacations expecting special perks, like priority seating in ship restaurants, around the pool, and access to areas of the ship like exclusive spas or nightclubs.
First, I don't know for sure if this is an actual trend in the industry, but there are definitely things going on that reflect it. For example, NCL already has premium Garden Villas on some of its ships which are located on a private deck. Guests in these suites are catered to at their every whim and are entitled to special perks such as priority tender seating, so they can get on and off the ship at ports of call whenever they please, plus VIP Immigration status so they get to be first in line. There is also talk of there being nightclubs with exclusive access on the upcoming F3 NCL ships.
Second, it has appeared, at least to me, that the service level in some areas of some ships has gone down since cruise lines began instituting the policy of charging gratuities charged to shipboard accounts. I don't want to name any ships or cruise lines in particular, but I have noticed this. This may be partially driving the desire for more perks because passengers want to be treated as if they are special and may not be feeling as much of that vibe anymore.
While I've never actually stayed in a suite on a cruise ship, I have stayed at luxury resorts before and have flown first class, and I enjoy the little perks that come along with those types of accommodations. After all, who wouldn't? But, at the same time, the more you cater to the higher-paying guests and the more exclusive perks you give to them, the more you emphasize the "classes" in our society. In truth, we are not a classless society, but I don't think we need to be constantly reminded of that fact when we're on vacation. Plus, the more we make certain parts of cruise ships open to only certain people, the more it reminds me of Titanic and ships of her day, where 3rd class passengers stayed in cramped quarters on the lowest decks and were referred to as "steerage". And we all know what happened to a great many of those 3rd class passengers when the ship sank! So let's not even go that route and try to contain the perks and exclusive areas on ships that are given only to those in the priciest accommodations, and treat everyone on board like they're special. After all, everyone could use a little time to be pampered now and then, especially when we're on vacation!
First, I don't know for sure if this is an actual trend in the industry, but there are definitely things going on that reflect it. For example, NCL already has premium Garden Villas on some of its ships which are located on a private deck. Guests in these suites are catered to at their every whim and are entitled to special perks such as priority tender seating, so they can get on and off the ship at ports of call whenever they please, plus VIP Immigration status so they get to be first in line. There is also talk of there being nightclubs with exclusive access on the upcoming F3 NCL ships.
Second, it has appeared, at least to me, that the service level in some areas of some ships has gone down since cruise lines began instituting the policy of charging gratuities charged to shipboard accounts. I don't want to name any ships or cruise lines in particular, but I have noticed this. This may be partially driving the desire for more perks because passengers want to be treated as if they are special and may not be feeling as much of that vibe anymore.
While I've never actually stayed in a suite on a cruise ship, I have stayed at luxury resorts before and have flown first class, and I enjoy the little perks that come along with those types of accommodations. After all, who wouldn't? But, at the same time, the more you cater to the higher-paying guests and the more exclusive perks you give to them, the more you emphasize the "classes" in our society. In truth, we are not a classless society, but I don't think we need to be constantly reminded of that fact when we're on vacation. Plus, the more we make certain parts of cruise ships open to only certain people, the more it reminds me of Titanic and ships of her day, where 3rd class passengers stayed in cramped quarters on the lowest decks and were referred to as "steerage". And we all know what happened to a great many of those 3rd class passengers when the ship sank! So let's not even go that route and try to contain the perks and exclusive areas on ships that are given only to those in the priciest accommodations, and treat everyone on board like they're special. After all, everyone could use a little time to be pampered now and then, especially when we're on vacation!
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