News from Buy The Sea for October '08
Thank you to everyone who stopped by to visit with us at ITME this year. It was great to see all of you! Catch Caryn and Shari at FICP in Cancun this November!
There is lots of exciting news this month. New ships and cruise lines are popping up – several that are perfect for our market. So, without further adieu I wish you "happy reading."
Check out the recent additions to our site: Pearl Seas Cruises (Caribbean and Canadian sailings), Bora Bora Cruises (Tahiti), Variety Cruises (Greek Islands) and an update to the Ponant Cruises page introducing the name of the two new ships arriving in 2010, Le Boreal and L’Austral. We’ve also added information on Silversea’s Prince Albert sailing Tahiti.
News from Royal Caribbean International and a Fam Trip Opportunity
We are going to be running a buyers trip/symposium at sea in balcony cabins on the RCCL Navigator of the Seas, February 5-9, 2009. The cruise will sail r/t Fort Lauderdale with one stop in Cozumel. There will be a fee to participate to cover port charges, taxes, fuel and gratuities. Air will not be included. You will be allowed to bring one adult guest with you at the same charge. Although we do not have complete information, we would like to find out who is potentially interested in participating. Please let us know if you would like to be put on the list. Once we have complete details, we will contact you.
RCCL continues to add new neighborhoods on the Oasis of the Seas. Thus far we know about Central Park, the Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone and the Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center. New this week is "Entertainment Place" a complex that consists of a 1,380-passenger show lounge (the Opal Theater), a night club, a jazz club, a comedy club, a dance club and the ever popular Studio B ice rink. The fun never ends…Stay tuned!
News from Pearl Seas Cruises
Get ready for two new 208-passenger luxury vessels to grace the cruise industry. The first, the Pearl Mist, arrives in March 2009. This brand new all-balcony ship with staterooms ranging from 302 to 580 square feet, will offer the latest in technology, gourmet cuisine and an elegant ambiance. She is perfect for incentive charters. The winter finds her in the Caribbean doing many seven night sailings out of St. Martin to intimate ports in the Caribbean. In the summer, she will ply the waters of Canada sailing from Toronto to Quebec, New Foundland to Nova Scotia and Quebec to New Foundland and r/t Nova Scotia, again offering a multitude of incentive-length voyages from which to choose. With enough advance notice, sailing lengths can be shortened and itineraries customized.
News from Bora Bora Cruises
If you’ve got a BIG budget and are looking to produce a "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" style incentive, then look no further than Bora Bora Cruises. Their two intimate and upscale vessels, the Tu Moana and Ti’a Moana accommodate up to 40 privileged guests in 20 suites on voyages of six nights/seven days, round trip Bora Bora. Everything you can imagine is included. Your guests will be pampered in a style to which few can afford or are accustomed. If you want the world to be your oyster, then check out these Tahitian pearls! There’s nothing like them!
News from Variety Cruises
For something much sought after in this market and rarely found – Variety Cruises offers a selection of seven-night r/t Athens sailings to the Greek Isles. Due to Greek cabotage laws, very few cruise companies are permitted to sail such itineraries. Currently, the cruise line has fourteen vessels, ranging in size from 4 to 25 cabins. Launching in the fall of 2010 the line will introduce a new vessel with 36 cabins. The fleet consists of mega yachts and motor sailing yachts. The Harmony V with 25 staterooms will arrive in November of 2008. She will spend this coming winter in the Red Sea, along with her 22-cabin sister ship the Harmony G.
Chances are good that Variety Cruises will venture into the Caribbean and Alaska in the near future.
News from Silversea Cruises
Silversea Cruises recently introduced a new luxury expedition vessel, the Prince Albert II. The ship will be deployed in Tahiti from March to October next year. The Prince Albert II is ideal for an exclusive full ship charter. It features 66 suites and staterooms; the largest average size accommodations of any expedition ship.
Only five seven-night voyages will be made available for charter in 2009 due to limited capacity.
Prince Albert II
66 Suites/Staterooms (132 guests)
Papeete, Tahiti (round trip)
March 31, May 5, August 3, September 7 and 28
Starting at $75,000.00 USD (net charter rate per night)
For additional information about the Prince Albert II and/or images of the vessel, please click on the link provided below.
Click on this link to access to Prince Albert II home page.
News from Ponant Cruises
Ponant recently announced the names of their new Super Levant vessels. Coming to a sea near you in 2010 will be L’Austral and Le Boreal. Remember, these vessels can accommodate up to 264 passengers in unprecedented style. Forty of the balcony staterooms can convert to twenty balcony suites. And to the passenger, the transformation will be seamless. On these vessels, only seven cabins do not offer verandas.
News from Norwegian Cruise Lines
According to several sources, it appears as though NCL has canceled their contract for their first F3 ship. There is speculation as to which mega line will absorb the hardware. We’ve hear that it could be MSC or RCCL as the shipyard (Aker Yards) currently builds vessels for those lines.
We’ve heard that NCL wanted to make changes to the vessel and that Aker wanted to charge significant penalties. NCL was not interested in paying them – thus a dispute and a cancellation.
Initially, the F3 ships order was for Star Cruises. But then it was announced the two 150,000-ton ships, with a third as an option, would be used for NCL. Sources say initial costs were about $735 million Euros (close to $1 billion) per ship, and costs have since increased.
Earlier, NCL announced that the option for the third ship would not be used.
The First F3 ship was due for delivery in March 2010. It will be interesting to see what happens next. With so much time, money and personnel already invested in the F3 project, it is a shame that it won’t be coming to fruition for NCL in light of their losses in Hawaii. It might have been just what NCL needed for a big and exciting comeback. Stay tuned!
News from Sol Melia Hotels
Look for upcoming news announcing very affordable all-inclusive packaging at Grand Melia Cancun and Puerto Rica. Additionally, watch for rates to get more reasonable in Punta Cana at the two Paradisus Resorts. With the upcoming opening of Moon Palace, Paradisus will have a tough time commanding such a steep price differential. Add to that the fact that American has already cancelled flights to this destination (thus driving up rates) and buyers will be looking even harder for a bargain on land. Speaking of which, we have a dynamite partner in the DR in the event you are looking for a DMC. Ask us for details and contact information.
A Note about our DMC partnerships
Although we are known for our cruise and all-inclusive resort expertise, don’t forget that we are well connected with many DMCs around the world. Give us the destination and we will give you an established, experienced and reputable land operator. Our favorites include PV Incentives in Puerto Vallarta, DDP in Italy, Horizon in Greece, Amstar in the Dominican Republic, CEO Events in Cancun, GEP and USA Hosts in Florida and many more!
Our sales team is eager to hear from you:
Shari Wallack, President
shari@buy-the-sea.com
Caryn Rosenthal, Vice President, Corporate Sales
caryn@buy-the-sea.com
Sandy Cohen, Vice President, Incentive Sales
sandy@buy-the-sea.com
