Cruise Ship News

So why haven’t you ever taken a cruise??? According to The New York Times, Casting Off the Myths of Cruises, only 15% of Americans have ever been on a cruise. 

It blames “myths” like the belief that cruises are boring, over-eating affairs for older people, says Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive of Royal Caribbean Cruises, the Miami-based cruise line.

Now the industry and Royal Caribbean hope that consumer frustration with air travel combined with new features on cruise ships like onboard surfing will help attract more travelers. Royal Caribbean’s $5.2 billion in sales in 2006 make it the No. 2 player behind Carnival, also based in Miami.

The article continues with some very interesting questions answered by Mr. Fain. 

I know I’ve talked about this before but About.com has a list of the top ten reasons why people avoid a cruise.  If you, or any of your friends, are having second thoughts about booking that cruise please check out the answers to these “myths”.

Ever dream of going on a world cruise?  Living on a cruise ship would be my first choice, but until I win the lottery (I keep forgetting to buy a ticket), that probably won’t happen.  So perhaps I’ll have to settle for the next best thing.  A cruise around the world.  An exciting announcement from Princess Cruises says that they will offer two global itineraries in 2009.

The 670-passenger Tahitian Princess and 710-passenger Royal Princess will offer similar 107-day itineraries that set sail from Ft. Lauderdale in January 2009. The Tahitian Princess sailing leaves on January 14, ending in Dover, while Royal Princess sails on January 20 and winds up in Rome. In addition, passengers can choose from two extension options for the Tahitian Princess voyage, giving world travelers the option of finishing this journey of a lifetime in Dover, Rome, Stockholm or New York. Both itineraries feature travel to South America, the South Pacific, Australia, Asia, India and Egypt, with differing European segments. Each voyage will call at a brand new port for Princess — Port Blair in the Andaman Islands, a picturesque stop in the Indian Ocean.

Wow!  The itineraries are awesome, and travelers can even add extensions to the original cruise!  With the prices starting at around $21,495.00, I’m afraid that I will still need to win the lottery, (unless anyone out there wants to donate to my “cruise fund”) to go on this cruise.  I can still dream, can’t I ???

Okay, so how many people know that car engines are used to run cruise ships?  According to a recent article in Wheels, written by Jerry Garrett, Hyundai could be one of the companies that will be bidding on several major cruise ship contracts in 2009.  

In recent years, the Koreans have become major players in the ship building industry; in fact, Fortune reports Korean companies now represent seven of the top ten positions in the industry. 

But the Koreans have specialized in the building of oil tankers and container ships, the latter of which were an outgrowth of Hyundai’s need to ship its Korean-made cars to foreign markets, like the United States. Those types of ships represent profit potential of about $800 per ton…

Europeans have long dominated this industry, but Hyundai Heavy Industries, the auto company’s parent, recently finished a small passenger ship for a European buyer…

No word on what engines Hyundai might use if it were to build a cruise ship, but it would definitely wind up being the most powerful Hyundai ever; the QM2 uses four Rolls-Royce diesel electrics that generate 157,000 horsepower.

So, it makes sense that Rolls-Royce would be the choice for the Queen Mary 2, but which cruise line would you pair up with Hyundai and why?  I’d love to hear your comments!

Carnival Cruise Line was the first to try a “smoke free” cruise ship but unfortunately the idea was eventually scrapped.  Perhaps the timing was wrong.  Is the timing any better now that more people are realizing the effects of smoking and second hand smoke?  Even cities and counties are putting smoking bans into place. Being a non smoker, and, having had a heavy smoker next door the first time I was able to finally book a balcony cabin, I’m all for smoking bans on ships-especially on balconies!

Enclosed is a letter sent from Mark Conroy, President of Regent Seven Seas to travel agents.  

Dear Traveler ,
The issue of smoking on board cruise ships has become quite a hot topic in our industry. And while Regent Seven Seas Cruises is respectful of the lifestyle choices of our guests and will always give smokers a warm welcome, we also recognize the need to restrict where smoking is permitted so as not to cause discomfort to, or provide a health or safety hazard for, the majority of our guests who do not smoke. In light of continuing legislative changes in smoking policies around the world as well as the health and safety issues involved, RSSC will be changing our smoking policy in suites, staterooms and on private balconies. Not only does smoking present a fire hazard, but it is also an inconvenience to other guests as the smoke, or its odor, invades surrounding suites, balconies and public areas, creating discomfort for the guests in these areas. Smoking will therefore be prohibited in all suites, staterooms and balconies fleet-wide.

This change will take effect on the following dates:
    * Seven Seas Voyager: December 21, 2007
    * Seven Seas Mariner: December 21, 2007
    * Seven Seas Navigator: December 27, 2007
    * Paul Gauguin: December 29, 2007
Failure to comply with this ban will result in guests being asked to leave the ship at their expense, without refund or credit for the unused portion of their cruise. This decision was made after much deliberation, and we would appreciate your assistance in communicating our new policy to your clients. Partners with clients booked on voyages after the policy takes effect will receive additional communications from Regent later this month. To view our entire smoking policy, including a detailed list of public rooms/areas where guests can smoke, please click here. Thank you for your support of Regent Seven Seas. We look forward to continuing to welcome your clients aboard our ships and providing them with The Regent ExperienceSM.
Kind Regards,
Mark S. Conroy
President, Regent

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Smoking Policy
While we will always give smokers a warm welcome on our ships, we also recognize the need to restrict where smoking is permitted so as not to cause discomfort to, or provide a health or safety hazard for, the majority of our guests who do not smoke. Cigarette smoking is not permitted in any enclosed dining areas, whether it be the ships’ main dining rooms or the alternate dining venues. Cigarette smoking is only permitted in designated areas of the outdoor Pool Grills. Other than open deck areas, the following are the only public rooms or areas where cigarette smoking is now permitted:
Seven Seas Voyager:  Connoisseur Club, Casino, Voyager Lounge (designated area), Horizon Lounge (outside area only), Pool Bar
Seven Seas Mariner:  Connoisseur Club, Casino, Horizon Lounge (outside area only), Stars Nightclub (designated area), Pool Bar
Seven Seas Navigator:  Connoisseur Club, Casino, Stars Lounge (designated area), Galileo¿s (outside area only), Pool Bar
Paul Gauguin:  La Palette (outside area only), Le Grill (designated area), Pool Bar Pipe smoking is only permitted in the Connoisseur Club aboard Seven Seas Voyager, Mariner and Navigator.  Pipe smoking in open deck areas is considered an extreme fire hazard and is not permitted. Cigar smoking is only permitted in the Connoisseur Club aboard Seven Seas Voyager, Mariner and Navigator, and in the designated area of the Pool Bar area aboard all four vessels.
Update as of July 5, 2007:
In light of continuing legislative changes in smoking policies around the world as well as the comfort, health and safety of our guests and crew, both in terms of the proven dangers of second hand smoke and the fire hazard that smoking presents, Regent Seven Seas Cruises will be changing our policy of smoking in staterooms, suites and on private balconies. Not only does smoking present a fire hazard, but it is also an inconvenience to other guests as the smoke, or its odor, invades surrounding suites, balconies and public areas, creating discomfort for the guests in these areas.  Smoking will therefore be prohibited in all staterooms, suites and balconies fleet-wide.
This change will take effect on the following dates:
Seven Seas Voyager:  December 21, 2007
Seven Seas Mariner:  December 21, 2007
Seven Seas Navigator:  December 27, 2007
Paul Gauguin:  December 29, 2007
Failure to comply with this ban will result in guests being asked to leave the ship at their expense, without refund or credit for the unused portion of their cruise.

Are you an amateur piano player?  Ever been aboard a cruise ship with a piano just sitting there waiting for someone to come along and tickle its ivories?  Were you tempted?  Did you sit down and play a few bars?  You may not ever get a chance to do this again, unless of course, your hands are insured!  No, this isn’t a joke, according to an article written by Alan Hamilton in TIMESONLINE. 

Mr Studley, 40, and his wife Carol were recently on board the luxury cruise ship Silver Whisper from Southampton to the Mediterranean when, during an overnight mooring in Monte Carlo, he was encouraged by fellow-passengers in the ship’s bar to run through his repertoire.

Crew members stopped him. The music was fine, but there was a problem; unlike Liberace or his hero, Richard Clayderman, Mr Studley had not insured his hands.

So, all you amateur piano players, just in case you’re tempted to play every time you pass a sitting piano, it’s time to go out and get your hands insured! 
 

Just when I’d finally convinced my husband to take an Alaskan cruise, Alaska goes and ruins its image!  Since we live in an area that experiences the four seasons I’ve never been able to convince my husband to take an Alaskan cruise. But recently he’s been leaning in the direction of choosing a cruise that takes him, in his words, “to a place that’s cold”, even though it gets plenty cold where we live.  I think he changed his mind because everyone we talk to that’s been on an Alaskan cruise raves about how beautiful it is.  Then I come across an article in The Corvallis Gazette Times written by Cathy Ingalls which states:

The required $50 excise tax for passengers on large cruise ships was imposed by Alaskan voters last August as part of a citizen’s initiative that sponsors said would help protect the state’s water quality and its fisheries along with providing funds to improve port and harbor facilities and support commerce and regional tourism.

Alaska is believed to be the only state that charges people to visit.

No, it’s not the $50 that upsets me, if you go on a cruise you know there are going to be extra charges.  It’s the fact that Alaska should be thrilled that over 950,000 people cruise to Alaska each summer.  Gee, do you think that maybe that has boost their economy a bit?  I don’t mind paying my fair share, but I don’t appreciate getting “soaked” either.  Almost makes you head South instead of North for our next cruise!

A recent press release on PR.com gives us a solution that may be just the thing to help Grandma join the family on a cruise vacation!  Driver friendly, lightweight, collapsible, Scooter Vacations has the answers.  Electronic Convenience Vehicles, or ECVs, are the newest gadgets available to help people get around more easily on a cruise ship.

Scooter Vacations announces today that it has begun delivering its luxury mobility scooters to renters departing on Port Canaveral cruise ships. The company’s scooters are accepted on all cruises embarking from this Atlantic-coast port-of-call, including those operated by Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line. Further, Scooter Vacations’ flagship model—the Distinction SUV—has proven especially popular for out bound vacationers because its fold-up design easily collapses in seconds for compact storage within a passenger stateroom where space is often at a premium.

Traveling can be difficult for seniors or anyone with mobility issues.  We’d like to see Scooter Vactions expand to other areas such as Fort Lauderdale, Miami, New York! 

Marty Markowitz, President of the borough of Brooklyn, is bursting with pride!  As reported in  The New York Times,

On Thursday, Mr. Markowitz’s own ship came in. He arrived in Brooklyn on the Queen Mary 2 after a free six-day cruise from Southampton, England. Mr. Markowitz was quick to point out that he sailed not just as a passenger, but also as the borough’s official ambassador. Between breakfasts of petit filet mignon and dinners of lobster flambé with cognac and truffles, harp recitals and black-tie soirees, the mostly European passengers were treated to an hourlong talk from Mr. Markowitz on the wonders of Brooklyn. More than 450 people attended it, he said.

“I know it sounds crazy to us,” Mr. Markowitz said yesterday, “but there are many people who don’t know Brooklyn and are curious to know about us.”…The Queen Mary 2 typically sails with a dozen or so guest lecturers, on topics ranging from politics to psychology to art history.

… Mr. Markowitz, who a few years ago told Newsday that an ocean cruise was “the ultimate vacation, a smorgasbord on water,” said one of his regrets was having broken his diet at the buffet table

I certainly agree with Mr. Markowitz about an ocean cruise being an “ultimate vacation.”  Add to that distinguised speakers and an elegant ship like the QE2 - what more could you ask for?  Well, I for one have never been on the QE2.  I wonder if they need a speaker from Indiana? 

In November of 2005 Michael Groves was a hero.  According to a story in the Daily Mail, pirates (no, not Johnny Depp) attacked the Seabourn Spirit as it cruised the Indian Ocean.  Thanks to the quick thinking of security officer Michael Groves, the pirates fled the scene after 30 minutes.

According to the article:

Mr Groves, from the West Midlands, was working on board the £500-a-night liner Seabourn Spirit as it cruised the Indian Ocean 100 miles east of Somalia in November 2005. It carries 200 passengers and 150 crew. Alerted by a look-out at 6am, Mr Groves rushed to the deck to see the pirates brandishing machine guns and a rocket launcher. As they shot at him with Kalashnikovs, he unreeled a high-pressure hose and returned fire with a jet of water, forcing them to retreat.

In the brief respite, he began to prepare the other weapon in the ship’s armoury - the sonic cannon - known technically as a Long Range Acoustic Device. The LRAD is an acoustic weapon developed by the U.S. Navy to repel small boats. It can direct a 150-decibel blast of ear-splitting noise at its target.

Eventually, after taking both automatic weapons and RPG fire, the ship’s crew managed to repel the pirates. Fortunately, the most popular U.S. cruise destination is the Caribbean, where pirates are uncommon.
 

Another cruise cancellation has occured, this time on Princess’s Sea Princess. As reported in the BBC news, the Sea Princess, with over 2000 passengers on board cancelled the cruise because of a “technical fault”.  Evidently one of the luxury ship’s propulsion motors is to blame according to the Hampshire News.  What would have been a memorable 14-day Mediterranean cruise for these passengers has turned into a nightmare.  Unfortunately this is a great example as to why you buy travel insurance, but that won’t help if you’ve only got 2 weeks of vacation coming and that just got ruined.  So what would you consider to be a reasonable compensation?  Princess is offering a full refund and 25% discount on another cruise but what about air-fare, (or perhaps the last of your frequent flyer miles that you used)?  I’m sure the cruise lines have protocols that they follow in these instances but does everyone get reimbursed the same?  If you make more of a fuss do you get reimbursed more??   If you’ve ever been in this kind of situation please share your story with the rest of us.