Big News from Buy The Sea
First, if you get a copy of February's Corporate and Incentive Travel, make sure you read the feature story. Our company is showcased and the article talks about how to pick the right ship for your next program. We are very proud to be recognized and hope you will read the article. If you don't have a hard copy, simply go to www.themeetingmagazines.com. Click on Corporate and Incentive Travel and then "on the cover" and enjoy.
Although the article is devoted to picking the right cruise ship, don't forget that Buy The Sea can also help you pick the right resort. Attached is a list of our resort partners. Our arrangements with the resort companies are the same as those we share with our cruise partners. It costs you absolutely nothing to book through us.
Even more exciting - Buy The Sea has been named Celebrity Cruises Corporate Incentive and Charter Travel Partner of the Year for 2006. We are so proud to have received this honor from Dondra Ritzenthaler, VP of Sales, Ron Gulaskey, Director of Charter and Incentive Sales and Mitch Platt, Manager of Incentive Sales from Celebrity. We continue to support this outstanding company and highly recommend you consider their ships for your upcoming programs. Their products far exceed expectations on all levels - at corporate headquarters and onboard their vessels.
You will see some changes to our newsletters, most notably the addition of articles by our guest writer, Art Sbarsky. Art has held Vice President of Sales and Marketing positions at NCL, Celebrity Cruises and Crystal Cruises among others. Although he retired from corporate life several years ago, he actively cruises every product and writes for various industry publications. It is my great pleasure to bring his professional reviews and opinions to you.
News from Celebrity Cruises
With the introduction this year of the Celebrity Journey, followed by the Quest, Celebrity will be the only large cruise line with small charter ships in their fleet. Although these vessels are slated to cruise longer itins in the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Asia, Antarctica and Europe, she will be doing seven night sailings from New York to Bermuda all summer - beginning this year. Additionally, the cruise line has indicated that they will take the ships out of rotation to provide shorter charter opportunities. Of course the caveat will be to make a booking at least a year and a half in advance before future years' brochures go to print. As Celebrity is already a premium product, these new introductions take us to the next level with fine and alternative dining, open seating, upgraded service throughout, butler attention in all staterooms and something brand new for our clients to consider. We do not have pricing as of yet, but when you consider that the only other 700-passenger vessels on the market belong to Regent Seven Seas cruises and are somewhat out of reach for a portion of our clientele - this may be a shining star for everyone!
More great news.as we look into 2008, we anxiously await the arrival of the Solstice - a 2850-passenger ship with two sisters, the Equinox and the Eclipse to follow in 2009 and 2010. Celebrity is so tight-lipped about these new vessels that just about the only thing we can tell you is that the first ship will be sailing seven-night r/t south Florida itineraries beginning in the fall of 2008. My guess for the summer is European sailings, but likely on long itins. Remember, for large groups the company will break up rotations and let you charter. When the ship is in the Caribbean, it will absolutely be the top rated product in the large ship market. Imagine something between the existing Celebrity product and what Crystal Cruises offers. Large (215 square feet) standard cabins, concierge and butler service in higher level accommodations and suites, an upscale and elegant ambiance, the best food and service in its class, alternative dining, their signature martini bar, an elaborate spa with healthy cuisine to match and luxurious furnishings. What's not to love?
On another note.there is definitely talk of putting a Celebrity ship year 'round in the Caribbean. Can't say if it will be 4/5/5 or 7 night runs - but it is very likely to happen. Along with that is the distinct possibility of a seven night Med product. Personally - I cannot wait for the day to come. Additionally in 2008 and 2009 - Celebrity will completely renovate the Mercury and Galaxy to mirror the newly redone Century. Hooray! The entire fleet will be relatively brand new.
Lastly, Celebrity announced they'll soon be ending their 15-year association with celebrity chef Michel Roux--and don't expect another big name chef to replace Roux. Celebrity was at the forefront of bringing celebrity chefs onboard, and perhaps they'll be at the forefront taking them off. Many lines have celebrity chef partnerships, and some travel partners say it hasn't had much effect on sales.
News from Ponant Cruises
Here is a GREAT charter opportunity for eight nights, Athens to Nice on a 90-passenger all-outside cabin vessel:
October 11-19, 2008
| Day 1 | GREECE | ATHENS |
| Day 2 | GREECE | ITEA |
| Day 3 | GREECE | KATAKOLON |
| Day 4 | AT SEA | |
| Day 5 | ITALY | TAORMINA |
| Day 6 | ITALY | NAPLES |
| Day 7 | ITALY | CIVITAVECCHIA |
| Day 8 | ITALY | LIVORNO |
| Day 9 | FRANCE | NICE |
Here is an overview of the ship - Le Levant. Let me know if you are interested. In 2009 and beyond, we have many more opportunities.so let us know what strikes your fancy and if you would like us to customize a charter for you in the Med. This ships charters out for about half the price of Sea Dream..so it is a steal!
________________________________________
Your personal yacht is at your service. At first glance, the fine lines of Le Levant's silhouette strike you with their distinctive elegance. On board, you will find everything you need to make your journey a series of unique experiences.
Le Levant Features
________________________________________
. 45 fully equipped outside cabins.Double or twin beds, minibar, safe, hi-fi radio, satellite TV, VCR, telephone. Teak and marble bathroom with shower, hair dryer and bathrobes. Individually controlled air-conditioning.
. Length: 100 m / 330 feet
. Width: 14 m / 46 feet
. Draft: 3.5 m / 11.5 feet
. Cruising speed: 15 knots
. Tonnage: 3504 GRT
. 4,300 sq. ft. Sun Deck
. Engines: 2,970 kW
. Five decks
. Four anti-roll stabilizers
. Reinforced ice hull
. Excellent soundproofing
. Highest international safety standards
. Crew of 55
. Registration company: Bureau Veritas
. 95-seat Panoramic Restaurant
. 95-seat Gourmet Restaurant
. Large lounge
. Two bars
. Library
. Elevator
. Hair salon
. Steam room
. Fitness center
. Swimming pool
. Boutique
. Telephone by satellite
. Sailing under French Flag.
News from Princess
CROWN PRINCESS: WHERE CHOICES ABOUND, by cruise industry veteran, Art Sbarsky
Sailing on Crown Princess gave me a great chance to see how Princess Cruises has made even more evolutionary changes to their onboard experience. This is a cruise that features excellent diversity in dining, activities and entertainment.
Crown Princess offers 1540 rooms and a maximum guest capacity of 3599. The ship's total of 900 balconies is only exceeded by QM2. The normal crew size is 1200 but on this cruise there were 1250 crew aboard; over half were from the Philippines, Romania and India but there are 33 nationalities in total; I did not experience any language issues with any service personnel. Princess' service program C.R.U.I.S.E. emphasizes positive interaction between crew and guests and, except for a few occasions, it was certainly in evidence during the cruise.
The ship has undergone some new design adjustments resulting in the disco being moved forward and the underneath area used for an enlarged Sabatini's Italian restaurant and the Adagio lounge next door. Adagio, featuring piano music throughout the evening, thus becomes a lively before and after dinner spot. Sabatini's benefits as well since it's larger and the views during pre-darkness hours are splendid. One of the few areas which did not benefit from the rearrangement was the ceramics location; it's a separate, very inviting room on Coral Princess but here it's an outside alcove on pool deck.
A new feature is the Sanctuary, an adults-only, non-smoking outside area, far forward, with a total of 72 exceptionally comfortable chairs and loungers (some built for two), both in the sun and in the shade. During the ship's first sailing, there was no charge for the seats but it became very crowded; thus, on my voyage, the ship's second one, they implemented a $15 per half-day charge which served to lower the demand although it was still high on nice sea days. I suspect there will be some tweaking of hours, offerings and cost to make sure the balance is right. The special attendants in the area offer cold towels and an assortment of beverages and spa-type snacks (for a charge of course). There are also two private cabanas for spa treatments.
The lower level of the three-story atrium is also a popular spot as it features all sorts of daytime cabaret-type entertainment such as doo-wop singers, pianists, stilt walkers, magicians, opera/classical music, mimes and more. Around this central entertainment area are the Internet Café (which had some new-ship slowness issues; there's also wi-fi availability in some places around the ship); a future booking desk; Vines, an attractive wine and sushi bar (there's a charge for the sushi as well as the wine); the International Café, a combo bar and snacks area, open 24 hours a day (it serves to replace the late night buffet set up on other Princess ships) and offers food items ranging from delicious croissants and cookies baked right there to tomato and mozzarella sandwiches and tasty sautéed shrimp. Other items such as gelato and fancy seafood snacks cost a few dollars.
Entertainment options abound during the cruise: there were two production shows (to be increased to three once the third one is ready) which the audiences seemed to appreciate; multiple comedians; an opera singer; live music ranging from lounge pianists to jazz combos and classical strings to the nine-piece Princess orchestra; movies on large screens indoors and then "Under the Stars." This latter feature was very popular, even for the late night showing of Titanic. Popcorn, special chair/lounge cushions and blankets make it that much more of an event. Movies were also on the outside screen during the day and, while the picture is very sharp even in sunlight, it's not the same feeling. Princess has also introduced a video engagement opportunity whereby a guest can ask another guest to get married via video just before an evening movie showing outdoors. There was one on this cruise and it was relatively romantic and, thankfully, she said yes. Other entertainment and activity options added are the Ballroom Blitz, Bee at Sea (for all ages), and Peer Factor.
Activities for kids and adults ranged from cerebral to the fun. There were four lecturers on aboard, giving talks on subjects such as geology, behind-the-scenes stories from the White House and tales of the sea by one the industry's greats, John Maxtone-Graham. There were classes in photography and computers (a fee was charged), dancing, martini-making, cooking, towel-folding, ceramics (a fee for materials) and more. All of this was part of what Princess calls the "ScholarShip@Sea Program" which may the most extensive in the industry. But, happily for those of us who want pure silliness, there were the always zany and popular pool games. Add in the sports deck, the jogging track, miniature and cyber golf, the library and the art gallery, I defy anyone to say they did not have enough to do.
Princess has been very innovative in offering both Anytime and Traditional Dining options for dinner. Guests can choose one or the other before the cruise but have the ability to change once the cruise starts. For traditional diners, the Botticelli Dining Room has two sittings; Anytime Diners have both the Michelangelo and Da Vinci Dining Rooms to choose from. Guests can even reserve "Anytime" tables once on board, a welcome option. Two alternative restaurants which offer reservations but also carry a cover charge are the aforementioned Sabatini's Italian restaurant and the Crown Grill offering steaks/chops and shellfish. Both are certainly worth the extra cost. Further dinner options are the buffets offered in very casual Caribe Café; the outside grill for burgers, hot dogs, etc.; the pizzeria (I still believe this is the best pizza I've had at sea; this, crispy and a New Yorker's delight) and room service of course. Breakfast and lunch options include open sitting in Da Vinci Dining Room, buffets in Horizon Court and the pizzeria and the grill.
The kid's program is broken down into three age groups (3-7, 8-12 and teens) with daytime and evening programs offered with varying degrees of parental control. A welcome addition is the Youth Security patrol which has young adults walking around the ship wearing bright yellow t-shirts with "Youth Security" on the backs. With special training, this group (one per fifty kids) helps keep an eye on things such as running and making sure kids are not venturing into adults-only turf.
The nicely sized fitness center had lots of treadmills, bicycles and other exercise equipment. There were many types of classes offered ranging from complimentary Stretch and Relax, Meditation and a variety of health and beauty seminars to the classes carrying a charge such as Pilates, Spinning and Yoga. The spa and salon offered an extensive range of services from simple massages to exotic wraps and hot stones, from acupuncture to Rasul (a very enjoyable yet funky, private mud treatment for couples). Many spa and salon services could be ordered in advance through the Princess website.
All new ships experience some introductory problems but this ship was really ready. Only minor issues, which should be easily fixed, were in evidence. There were some comments from guests about the charges for certain items, such as the sushi at Vines, the specialty items at the International Café, the special gym classes, having a slice of pizza delivered to the Sanctuary, etc. But the industry is not now and really has never been all-inclusive. It's just less-all-inclusive than ever before as lines strive to generate additional on-board revenue. But, off course, all these items are optional and guests can avoid them without really taking too much away from the quality of the experience.
GRAND TURK: UNDISCOVERED BUT NOT FOR LONG
This cruise was a sea-lovers delight. Of the eight days, four full days and two half days were for cruising. And, making it even more pleasant in all four ports of call -- Bermuda, San Juan, St. Thomas and Grand Turk - was the ability of the ship to dock at every one. No tendering is a very nice thing.
The newest port for virtually every one on board was Grand Turk, highlighted by the new facility built by Carnival Corporation. This is a very underdeveloped island, still without major hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions. The main things to see are the historic lighthouse, the old jail, the town itself which does not offer a whole lot in the way of restaurants and bars and some utterly beautiful beaches featuring that wonderfully clear Caribbean water. But Princess has put together an extensive list of shore excursion opportunities such as biking, dune-buggies, 4WD safaris, fly and sport fishing, sightseeing via horse and carriage, hop on/hop off buses, stingray encounters, scuba diving and more.
The pier facility itself is well done and has plenty of easy access for buses, cars and all sorts of vehicles. But it also draws lots of attention with shopping opportunities, a huge pool, beachfront with lounge chairs not far from where the ship docks, and the main attraction, the largest Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville in the Caribbean.
News from Silversea
SILVER CLOUD is still at the top of its game, by cruise industry veteran Art Sbarsky
From food to service, from accommodations to public areas, Silversea's Silver Cloud is a truly luxurious experience for 296 guests (space ratio of 57). All rooms are suites; 80% of them have verandas. Most of the suites fall into the Veranda, Midship Veranda and Vista categories; the range is from 240-295 square feet and the verandas measure an additional 49 square feet. All of the expected luxury amenities are there including DVD players, complimentary mini-bar and liquor set-ups and upgraded toiletries from Acqua di Parma. Dining is a highlight to be sure, whether it's in the main dining room; the newly style La Terrazza, the nighttime Italian restaurant which feature a different regional menu each night (the ones I enjoyed from Emiliana and Pugliese were sensational); or room service (maybe the best room service pizza and pasta Bolognese I've had at sea). They also offer Saletta, an evening restaurant with a marriage of fine cruise and exceptional wines; at $150 per person, it really attracts those who are seriously into upscale wining and dining.
News from Carnival Corporation
Carnival Corp. Sells Windstar
Saying, "Carnival Corporation & plc's growth strategy is focused on expanding our core growth brands and opening new markets," Chairman and CEO Micky Arison announced this morning that Carnival Corp. has signed a definitive agreement to sell Windstar Cruises to Ambassadors International. Ambassadors operates Majestic America Line, now the largest river and coastal cruising company in North America (it includes Delta Queen Steamboat). Ambassadors President David Giersdorf formerly was an EXEC VP with Holland America Line/Windstar.
In the statement from Carnival Corp., Arison noted: "Last year we made a decision to cease operation of UK's Swan Hellenic and transfer its one ship to the Princess Cruises brand. Both of these are excellent products but simply do not fit into our future growth plans."
The Windstar sale (for $100 million) raises questions about Seabourn's future within Carnival Corp. Judging from Arison's comments in today's statement, one could argue that Seabourn also does not fit into the company's core business due to its size. It also does not fit into the idea of expanding new markets overseas. On the balancing side, Seabourn is building two new ships, so one could argue that with that growth it would fit better into Carnival Corp's portfolio. However, with the sale of Windstar, Carnival Corp. is now down to one small ship line.
At this point, we don't really know when the change of hands will take place, if and how management will change, if the line will be relocated, how pricing and itins may be revamped - but when we do hear something we will let everyone know.
Wind Surf's Extensive Changes
Windstar's largest ship, Wind Surf, is now sailing in the Caribbean, complete with enhancements made for the company's Degrees of Difference program.
On the main deck of the ship, the Yacht Club has replaced the library, and it seems to act as a meeting, relaxing, web browsing, reading, and coffee-drinking hub of the ship. There are now eight computers for 24-hour guest use, and the espresso bar is open 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. - midnight. The large screen TV, on this cruise at least, was mostly tuned into CNN International, the BBC news, or ESPN International (lots and lots of soccer). A library of CDs and DVDs (lots of both) and books (limited) are available for checkout.
The ship is now set up for wi-fi, so computers can pretty much be used anywhere. There's also the capability for guests to use their own cell phones everywhere except the dining areas. While some guests did seem to use one or both of these services, it was never intrusive to the point of being bothersome.
Bistro has now become Degrees, a no-charge alternative dinner restaurant, where reservations are definitely necessary. It featured a steakhouse menu for a few nights and then European, Indonesian, or Italian food the others. The Verandah casual restaurant has always been excellent for breakfast and lunch, but now they've added an awning for nicer outdoor dining. There's also an awning at the back of Compass Rose, making it a great relaxing spot, especially in the morning, when there's an extensive Continental breakfast available.
Two new 500-square-foot suites have been added on Bridge Deck, bringing the ship's capacity to 312. They each have living and dining areas, separate bedroom with walk-in closet, and a marble bathroom with shower and whirlpool tub. Guests in these rooms also get additional amenities such as unpacking service, dining with the Captain, evening appetizers, high tea service, complimentary bottled water in the suite, and chilled champagne upon arrival.
Many of the changes in the regular cabins were very pleasing. A new Bose docking station is for iPods--guests can either use their own or borrow one from the ship; a Nano is available for every room, already loaded with 500 songs. In the bathroom, there's excellent new lighting, a new variety of upgraded L'Occitane toiletries, granite countertops and porcelain sinks, a magnifying mirror, and refinished teak floors. The new Egyptian cotton bedding and pillows are soft and comfy, and the full-length mirror a welcome addition.
Also added are new weights and televisions in the gym, new audiovisual equipment for meetings, and a couples massage room and pedicure chair in the Spa.
By the end of 2007, the line's two smaller ships will have gone through the Degrees of Difference changes, with most of the Wind Surf enhancements being added. By that time, all three ships will have been reflagged under Dutch colors, making certain European itineraries that much easier to run. A good example of that will be the ability to do r/t Athens Greek Island itineraries eliminating the need to go to Istanbul if a client wishes to avoid Turkey.
With the news above, we will have to wait and see if the new owners make any major itinerary alterations. This could be good for the incentive market. Maybe they will be more open to doing shorter charters than Carnival Corp. was. We will wait and see and keep you informed along the way.
The Carnival Valor, by cruise industry veteran, Art Sbarsky
When you combine the successful approach to cruising used by Carnival Cruises - the "fun" concept" - with an innovative Western Caribbean itinerary, it's sure to be a winning formula. Thus it was on a cruise, 7-nights round-trip out of Miami. After a day at sea, there were four ports in a row: Grand Cayman, Roatan, Belize and Costa Maya. Another day at sea followed before the ship returned to Miami. Thus the ship went to places most cruisers have not seen yet. All four days were pretty much full-day calls; Grand Cayman and Belize were tender ports and the ship docked in Roatan and Costa Maya.
One effect of the ports all in a row is that the 3200 guests had the first and last day to completely enjoy the ship and all of its features while they were first settling in and then getting ready to get off. It seemed to make the flow very smooth. Days at sea were filled with a variety of activities, mostly fun oriented with no emphasis on lectures or learning. There were games, contests, bingo, art auctions, etc., all of which were well attended but none seemed to be overly crowded. This was also the most activity I've seen on a cruise at night. The lounges, bars and other public areas were jumping to say the least, whether it be the disco, the piano bar, the casino or the theater for late night comedy shows. The late night deck party was packed for a long time with dancers and revelers; the buffet served was easy to navigate despite the crowds. The pool area was always busy (especially the water slide) but it was also always possible to get a deck chair on one deck or the other. Maybe the best loungers were on the deck five promenades on the two sides of the ship since they had very comfy cushions. This was also one of the few quiet areas where one could get away from the hustle and bustle.
Carnival has been at the forefront of the overall elevation of the cruise product for years now and it showed on board in a number of ways. The dining program is much improved. The offerings in the main dining room were of considerable variety; everything was quite good and well-presented. Service in the dining room was also much improved from years ago. They've even turned it into a bit of a show by having the dining staff dance and/or sing at the end on each dinner. The maitre d' was very entertaining and guests really got into the spirit of it all. The alternative dinner restaurant, Scarlett's, is absolutely one of the finest options afloat. Sort of based on Gone With the Wind, it's a very handsome room serving a variety of options from steaks to chops to lobster tails with a great range of appetizers and side dishes as well. Service was great and, with a two-person combo playing a range of dancing/dancing music, it makes for a very relaxing/romantic evening at sea. The $30 per person charge is very acceptable. In addition to the regular buffets for both breakfast and lunch, there are specialty offerings such as the deli, an Oriental variety counter and the fish 'n' chips spot (a deck up from the buffet and never crowded for sitting). The deli was flat out spectacular, with roast beef, turkey, corned beef, pastrami and more for individually put together sandwiches. And, since it was open from 11 -11, it was also a wonderful option when coming back from a tour in the mid-afternoon.
Carnival has also successfully jumped on the stateroom bedding bandwagon, introducing the Carnival Comfort Bed: mattresses, sheets, pillows, and duvets of very high quality. The sheets are 200-thread count, cotton-rich and very soft. The pillows are either 100% synthetic down or 100% hypoallergenic down and feather. Naturally, they're all available for purchase.
As part of the enhancements Carnival has made to their past guest programs, Platinum Guests (those sailing for their 10th or more time) get Concierge Club Privileges. There's no special deck or lounge for the concierge club but these special guests get: personalized stationery, canapés, a logo item gift and access to the Carnival Concierge Club Desk at the purser's office. Also, there are guaranteed dining times, guaranteed supper club reservations, a special behind-the-scenes galley tour, complimentary wash and fold service, free entry to the slot or black jack tournament (saves $20), priority debarkation back in Miami and, perhaps most importantly, priority tender boarding. This last is of significant benefit since it does take considerable time for non-shore excursion guests to debark the ship in a tender port.
As for the ports, Grand Cayman has become extremely popular but overrun when the large ships are in. The stingray excursion, one of the best for kids of all ages, has taken a bit of a hit with the recent Steve Irwin incident but it's sure to bounce back. Roatan and Belize offer a wide range of things to do, especially water-oriented adventures. Costa Maya, a new gem of a port-of-call, is superb. The dock facilities make it easy to walk ashore into a shipping/entertainment complex that is only a few years old. The town is a short taxi ride away and features beaches, food/bars and some shopping. Shore excursions include Mayan ruins or a Mayan cultural tour (both are excellent) as well as dune buggy, ATV and jeep tours or the area. The developers of Costa Maya have done an excellent job with the development so it cannot be overrun such as some other ports.
Carnival Valor will be doing alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries through at least spring 2008.
News from Royal Caribbean International
Majesty of the Seas: No matter how much money is spent, a Sovereign-class ship like Majesty is never going to be mistaken for newer ships, such as Voyager-class ships or Freedom of the Seas. For one thing, the room sizes of some of the lower category staterooms just aren't as spacious as their counterparts on newer ships. But that's not to detract from Royal's $35 million renovation (completed in 28 days at a Grand Bahamas Shipyard), which is splendid, with the suites emerging as the best of any of the three recently-renovated Sovereign-class ships (the other two are Monarch and Sovereign) .
The most noticeable upgrades are in dining, with the new Windjammer even better in design than any Windjammer on any other Royal Caribbean ship. "The Windjammer is more open, there's better food selection, and easier access.
The top new addition is the Compass Deli, which provides a nice, healthier contrast to Johnny Rockets across the way and the nearby Sorrento's Italian Pizzeria. Compass features selections like jerk pork chops, veggie portabellos, and smoked chicken wraps. Excepting beverages (mostly energy drinks), everything is free.
Royal has now renovated all of its short cruise product ships, raising the question, why spend so much money on older ships, when the short-cruise market is getting such low rates? If Royal hadn't spent the money, satisfaction would be less (we all know what a 15-year-old cruise ship looks like when it's not significantly enhanced), and the cruise industry and Royal Caribbean would lose repeat customers. Hence, it's a good investment for the future.
On another note, get ready for the Liberty of the Seas, arriving in May 2007. She will be followed by the Independence of the Seas in May 2008. They are the sisters of the Freedom of the Seas that arrived last year. Both ships carry 3400 passengers in double occupancy accommodations. Following.look for the Genesis in September 2009 carrying a record-setting 5600 passengers. Where does it end? The major carriers are now building cruise ship cities. I do hope there will be ports to handle the growth. The best news of all is that these ships do have conference centers, wireless service, more group facilities, alternative dining, and an amazing array of activities. Some who have never cruised and those who have consistently had those mega programs that did not fit on 2,000 passenger ships can now begin to look outside the box. I say.BRING IT ON!
On another note, since RCCL and Celebrity have completely split company with two separate sales and operations teams - things seem to have improved tremendously on all fronts. We are thrilled to bring both of them new business, as our clients could not be happier with the progress.
News from Crystal Cruises
If you are looking for the best service in the business.look no further than Crystal Cruises. With two gorgeous vessels in the 1,000-passenger range - Crystal is the perfect charter and incentive product. Our biggest challenge that her scheduled itins are usually longer than seven nights, b ut there are about eight or nine a year you an choose from in the Med, Baltic, Aegean, Mexican Riviera and Caribbean. Outside of those..a charter would be necessary to obtain a shorter itin for your program.
Renovating For the Future, by cruise industry veteran - Art Sbarsky
Crystal Symphony: Highlighted by a color palette that is exceptionally pleasing to the eye and a lighting scheme that is very sophisticated, Crystal Symphony has emerged from its recent refurbishing as simply beautiful. The most recent changes were made during a nine-day drydock in Norfolk this past November. The $35 million dollars spent are visible in a wide variety of ways:
The Starlight Club, which used to be an enclosed room, has had the walls leading to ship's corridor removed, so there is a wonderful open feeling to the space, making it quite inviting and a good meeting spot.
Crystal used to have a partnership for its casinos with Caesar's Palace, but no longer. The casino has been dramatically redesigned, with a silver and black palette, and all gaming is under Nevada Commission rules. It's a real haven for gamblers, especially those looking for legitimate odds at the craps table.
What used to be part of the casino is now Luxe, a small nightclub, great for drinking, dancing, etc. There are Bizzaza mosaics, really cool Phillipe Stark one- armed bar stools, and surprisingly comfy modern couches and chairs. The new lighting system can flash electric color off the colored surfaces and black, silver, and white décor.
The shopping area is bright, classy-looking, and very spacious; there are no shops packed with merchandise to the point where guests can't get around easily. In the jewelry store, there's even a small semi-private space for those considering high-end purchases.
The Computer University@Sea room has about 20 computers for guest use and a large classroom for training. It features all new equipment and wireless access. Jade Garden, the ship's Oriental Restaurant, has been almost completely redone. The color scheme, which used to be almost institutional looking, is now a mixture of hues. The "fish pond" and its bridge have been eliminated.
The staterooms and penthouses have been transformed as well. There are various color schemes within individual categories (so if clients have a particular color they like, such as soft gold or light purple, a specific room might be available for them), and the furnishings are a very nicely done mixture of traditional and contemporary. Lighting has been improved with Murano-glass bedside lamps and LED reading lights. DVD players accompany the new 20" LCD flat screen televisions. The Rubelli fabrics and attractive leather headboard are very chic looking. The bathrooms have been reconstructed as well, with new twin glass sinks on the granite countertops.
Carpets and lighting in hallways and corridors have been redone, and various areas, such as the Bistro, have been freshened with new tiles, wall furnishings, and upholstery in russet and earth tones.
All in all, the $35 million renovation is a well-spent investment.
News from Disney Cruise Line
Disney To Build Bigger Ships
Walt Disney Company will build two new ships for Disney Cruise Line with scheduled launch in 2011 and 2012. Details were scant but the ships will be 122,000 tons each and two decks taller than the 83,000-ton Magic and Wonder. Both will have 1250 staterooms.
Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts said, "Disney Cruise Line continually sets sail with the highest load factors in the industry of nearly 150%." The company statement noted strong demand for new itineraries: "Trips to the Mediterranean and to the West Coast have recently set booking records within the company and booked 30%-50% faster than the existing itineraries at higher prices."
The ships will be built at Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, which has a strong track record with producing premium-class vessels.
News from Seabourn
With so many mass market products in the Caribbean, we sometimes forget that the luxury products do venture there in the winter months, and usually to more exotic ports of call. If you have clients booking Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton hotels in the Caribbean, then why not consider chartering a six-star cruise ship instead. It is pampering, completely all-inclusive and exclusive for your group only. You can customize the itinerary and much of the onboard delivery to suit your program.
Caribbean-Style Luxury, by cruise industry veteran Art Sbarsky
The longtime practice of luxury cruises going to ports rarely visited by large ships is gaining ground, as reports multiply that the usual Caribbean ports are getting stale. Art Sbarsky, just back from the Seabourn Pride, reports.
This "Grenadines and Venezuela" cruise, seven nights roundtrip from Barbados, tells volumes about the advantages of sailing from this deeper Caribbean port as well as the virtues of a smaller ship. We visited Tobago, Margarita Island (Venezuela), Grenada, St. Lucia, and the Grenadines (both Mayreau and St. Vincent), docking in four ports and tendering twice. Tender operation was fast and efficient.
The range and rigor of the shore excursions are impressive--more than you might expect on a cruise traditionally attracting older passengers. Guests did zipline tours, snorkeling, horseback riding, kayaking, waterfall hikes, and so on. One guest even preplanned her own scuba activities for every port.
Certainly the most popular shoreside activity was the barbecue lunch presented on a beautiful beach in Mayreau. The staff preceeded guests ashore and set up an unbelievable array of food items, highlighted by outstanding, locally-caught lobster.
Of course, fine dining, whether on beaches or onboard, is a staple of luxury cruising, with the evolution of alternative cruise dining venues amongst the industry's best changes. Seabourn showed great creativity in utilizing existing space to provide guests with two extra dining choices. The line recently introduced "Tasting @ 2," transforming the daytime casual restaurant into an evening spot with romantic lighting and lovely table settings in order to attract 45-50 guests nightly. The menus are very different from the main restaurant offerings and well suited to a more casual location (jackets on formal nights only; no ties at all).
The six different tasting menus present five or so different selections each night with lots of eclectic mixtures of ingredients (such as roasted garlic soup with chive chantilly and a crunchy rosemary brioche).
A great place to have dinner is the new Sky Grill, available five nights during this seven-night cruise. They've taken the bar area and turned it into an al fresco, candlelit, white table cloth location with staff serving grilled steak and seafood dinners, along with a magnificent buffet set-up. Seabourn is known for its exceptional service--with 160 crew for 200 guests--but with about 20 guests a night, the ratio seemed even higher in the Sky Grill.
There was lots of discussion amongst the guests about the two new ships recently ordered by Seabourn. They expressed interest in how the high levels of personalized service will carry over to the new 450-pax vessels. Bruce Good at Seabourn responds: "The style and service on the new ships will be set to the same standards--we are maintaining the same ratio of hotel staff to guests. Public spaces are being designed to 'yacht-like' scale to maintain the sociable atmosphere that is so much of Seabourn's personality."
On a side note.if you are a corporate buyer who books hotels and events in Las Vegas, you may consider contacting a colleague of mine named Michael Gasta. His company is called America's Guest. They are an independent meeting/event planning company, assisting buyers with site selection, contracting, program planning and exhibitor services. They direct the buyer to the perfect destination services, hotel or venue based on expectation and budget. AG also offers a VIP concierge service thru Key2Travel for attendees who may need to plan for restaurants, shows, night clubs, spas, golf and tours outside of the group events. With 25 years in Las Vegas their experience, knowledge and contacts are unmatched. Go to www.americasguest.net for further information.
