Tag Archives: Cruise ships

Gawkers galore get ghoulish look at sunken Costa Concordia

Posted on by alanwhitt

And here I thought only Americans love a disaster.

Alan Whitt

Alan Whitt

Lo and behold, that isn’t true.

It didn’t take long after the sinking of Costa Condordia for the island of Giglio to become a tourist attraction … for all the wrong reasons.

Just like gawkers at a freeway accident, folks in Italy apparently are just a ghoulish. I guess that is a pretty impressive sight – a 122,000-ton, 1,000 foot long cruise ship turned on its side.

Who’s ever seen that before the Costa Concordia tragedy?

The locals see it as an eyesore … while tourists relish the photo op. In the last year, people have ferried to the island by the hundreds to to see what all the fuss is about. If there had been a way for folks to have seen the Titanic go down they would have … ignoring the death of thousands.

And since the salvaging and removal of the rusting ship is taking longer than anticipated, that formerly beautiful view looking out from shore remains just a memory.

To top it off, locals aren’t allowed to capitalize on the disaster because they’re forbidden to do so.

Visit Allure Quest Travel Experience and We 2 R 1 Honeymoons on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, insightful videos, the latest travel news and vacations to book.

Cruise lines have unlimited pot of potential customers to persuade

Posted on by alanwhitt

Cruise lines are taking advantage of the fact that only about 3.1 percent of North America’s population have taken a cruise.

How so?

Alan Whitt

Alan Whitt

Since so few have sailed, when they finally get around to cruising they won’t know what they’re missing.

Yes, this has been the golden age of cruising … with massive ships loaded with amenities and options only dreamed of 20 years ago. And with 15 new ships coming over the next three years you can expect that trend to continue.

But as those ships are built, they’re starting to follow the airline’s flawed model by cramming more passengers into tighter spaces.

For instance, even though Royal Caribbean’s new Sunshine-class ships debuting in 2014 are slightly smaller than the line’s Freedom-class ships, each will hold 500 more passengers. To do that you’ll have to eliminate some public spaces. Since we haven’t seen plans are for Sunshine-class ships, we have no idea what’s being taken away.

That detail won’t matter to the 96-plus percent who haven’t experienced the pleasures of a cruise. They’ll be awed by FlowRiders, ice bars, ice skating, 3-D theaters, water shows, outdoor gardens and everything else that makes a modern-day cruise such a unique vacation.

For the veteran cruisers who remember the days when voyages were truly all-inclusive, the addition of pay restaurants and other money-making amenities brought about much disappointment.

But for those who started cruising after those things were added, it’s just part of a cruise to them. You can’t miss what you never had.

Frequent cruisers like me also remember when a deal truly was a deal … when a cheap cruise could be found on a regular basis.

Right now we’re in what is known in the cruise industry as “wave season,” a period from January through March where the best deals can usually be had.

But cruise lines have to pay for those new ships. If you’re expecting deep discounts on cruises … forget about it. The best you can expect are onboard credits, upgrades and other perks that really don’t cost them much. And they’ll make up for those freebies with drinks, slot machines, specialty restaurants, cupcakes and massages – things that will cost you.

Ah, the good old days. We’ll never see those again.

Visit Allure Quest Travel Experience and We 2 R 1 Honeymoons on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, insightful videos, the latest travel news and vacations to book.

Royal Caribbean at it again with four newbuild ships over six years

Posted on by alanwhitt
As Royal Caribbean's enthusiastic fans continue to speculate about the line's new Project Sunshine ship, images such as this one from Falmouth, Jamaica, continues to make the rounds. The vessel on the right is said to be the ship in question, but Royal Caribbean has released nothing to confirm it.

As Royal Caribbean’s enthusiastic fans continue to speculate about the line’s new Project Sunshine ship, images such as this one from Falmouth, Jamaica, continues to make the rounds. The vessel on the right is said to be the ship in question, but Royal Caribbean has not confirmed it.

I’m trying to decide which Royal Caribbean newbuild news excites me more – the fact that they’ve building a third (2016) and possibly fourth (2018) Oasis-class ship … or the new generation Project Sunshine ship scheduled for delivery next year.

Alan Whitt

Alan Whitt

Since I’ve sailed on Oasis of the Seas, I guess the inquisitive side of me is more anxious for the Project Sunshine ship. That’s because I know that Royal Caribbean has to have a few surprises up their collective sleeves for their very enthusiastic fans.

Not much has been released on the Project Sunshine ship. If the ship is successful (and do you doubt it will be) Royal Caribbean has an option for a second ship in 2015.

Right now the message boards are all over the place with speculation as to what will be added … including a ferris wheel! This ship will be slightly larger than the line’s three Freedom-Class ships at 158,000 tons and will carry just over 4,100 guests based on double occupancy.

The new Oasis-class ships will weigh in at 225,282 tons and carry 5,400 passengers just like Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.

When Oasis of the Seas debuted in late 2009 many wondered if Royal Caribbean was pricing itself out of the range of normal cruise passengers. That theory was immediately rebuked with sold out ships at premium prices.

“The Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas have fundamentally transformed the cruise experience for our guests,” said RCCL Chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain. “These ships have consistently generated outstanding guest satisfaction ratings and continue to produce superior financial results. We are thrilled to be adding a sister to this extraordinary class of vessels at a compelling price. Being back building in France just adds to the pleasure.”

The many original amenities have proven so successful that Royal Caribbean is currently undergoing a fleet-wide revitalization program to add those innovations to all of their ships in some form.

Visit Allure Quest Travel Experience and We 2 R 1 Honeymoons on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, insightful videos, the latest travel news and vacations to book.

Remember when …? Dining deal no bargain by yesteryear’s standards

Posted on by alanwhitt

Remember the days when all food was included in the price of your cruise … and it was gourmet dining all the way around.

Alan Whitt

Some of you probably don’t. That’s because it was so long ago.

By the time I got around to my second cruise in 1999 – 13 years ago on a brand new Voyager of the Seas – pay-extra specialty restaurants and hamburger joints were already part of the landscape.

Many people never partake of these extra-costs venues, preferring instead to eat all they care to at establishments already included in the price – even though the food quality isn’t the same as it was 15 years ago.

Back then many said they would never pay for a meal on a cruise ship. Well guess what? They do.

After awhile you become immune to all the additional pay establishments and just go with the flow.

Heck, it’s just money … and if a cruise lines wants it we’ll just fork it over in the name of having a great time.

And then the cruise line does us a favor. They take what once was free and sell it at a reduced rate by combining three dining establishments into a package deal.

Its called smart marketing. On Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, they’ve created dining packages that combine some of their signature eateries to give customers a special experience.

For instance, The Central Park Dining Package sells for $65 per person for nights at Italian eatery Giovanni’s Table, upscale 150 Central Park and the Chops Grille steakhouse in the Central Park neighborhood with its 11,000 trees, scrubs and plants.

It really is a bargain by today’s standards. Those restaurants booked individually would coast $90 total.

But here is why this is smart marketing.

Yes, Royal Caribbean is selling their product for less. But normally a cruise passenger likely would book only one of these establishments. Now, they can sell three of them at once.

Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, insightful videos, the latest travel news and vacations to book.

No ghost story: New, improved Titanic will set sail in 2016

Posted on by alanwhitt

You won’t need a Jules Verne time machine to cruise on Titanic.

Alan Whitt

Not unless it takes you into the future. If you’re patient, you can buy passage on the Titanic in 2016.

Huh?

No, not that Titanic. It’ll remain on the bottom of the north Atlantic – the final resting place for hundreds who sailed on the ill-fated maiden voyage 100 years ago.

We’re talking about Titanic II, a replica to be built at a Chinese shipyard by an Australian billionaire as “a tribute to the spirit of the men and women who worked on the original Titanic.”

I’m sure its going to be a bit eery when Titanic sets sail on its maiden voyage from England to New York … just like the original.

The new Titanic will be nearly an exact replica, with modern shipbuilding technology and obviously improved safety systems the primary enhancements.

This Titanic – one of five luxury cruise ships commissioned by billionaire Clive Palmer – will be welded together while the original was riveted. It will also be fuel efficient, and have an enlarged rudder for greater maneuverability.

The ship’s interior will honor the original with design work underway, assisted by a historical research team to maintain authenticity.

Titanic II will hold similar number of passengers – less than 1,700 – but will be considerably smaller than today’s biggest cruises. The world two biggest ships – Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas – each holds 6,000 with all berths filled.

Check out Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, videos and the latest travel news.

Cruise ship bracketology – We’re down to our own Final Four

Posted on by alanwhitt

This time of year there are brackets for just about everything … but none nearly as popular as the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament that will crown a champion next Monday.

Alan Whitt

I’ve got a dog in that hunt as my Buckeyes from THE Ohio State University ready for battle as one of the four best teams in America.

O – H … I – O!

As cruise ships set sail this weekend you can bet your last dollar that you’ll be able to watch the final three games of the season onboard.

If you’re lucky enough to be on one of those ships with the giant outdoor movie screens you will watch it in style as you sail across the Caribbean, relaxing poolside with a drink in one hand and a burger in the other.

Those screens are amazing. I watched the Buckeyes take down Gonzaga in third-round action March 17 as we sailed out of Ft. Lauderdale on Liberty of the Seas.

I imagine that next Monday night will find diminished numbers in the main dining rooms during second seating while the game is underway. Head to the buffet, load up and get ready to cheer on your favorite team. Grab a few slices of pizza at Sorrento’s on Deck 5, or burgers and dogs at Windjammer on Deck 11 and you’re ready to party.

As we prepare for college basketball’s Final Four … I’m down to my personal cruise ship Final Four.

The parameters are ships that I’ve sailed on but itineraries also play a role in advancement.

The cruise on Liberty of the Seas was my 36th sailing with six on two ships. That gets me down to 32 ships. We start with my 16 top cruises – eliminating the likes of Costa Atlantica (Northwestern), Carnival Valor (Texas Tech) and Pride of America (San Jose State).

We immediately pared our Sweet Sixteen to the Elite Eight, and finally to our Final Four.

That eliminates some good cruises: MSC Poasia … the cleanest ship I’ve sailed on and a different experience with it’s genuine Italian flair; Sapphire Princess … an elegant cruise ship and probably the best menu I’ve had on a seven-day cruise – every day; Adventure of the Seas … mostly because of the Southern Caribbean itinerary sailing from one of my favorite ports – San Juan, Puerto Rico; and both Radiance of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas … a class of ship that is basically 50 percent glass with spectacular views from just about anywhere, especially the glass elevators facing the sea.

The Final Four comes down to Oasis of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Celebrity Solstice Carnival Destiny. Oasis is the tournament’s No. 1 seed, Destiny the requisite Cinderella of the bunch.

Oasis of the Seas – the biggest, most spectacular cruise ship ever – takes on Carnival Destiny in the opener. This is a close call. Why? Destiny was my first cruise and jumpstarted my passion for sailing with John Heald as cruise director. If there was a Cruise Director Hall of Fame, not only would Heald be in it … it would be named for him. I’ve sailed on this ship three times. Alas, Oasis has too much power and innovation to overcome, with so many amenities that it’s nearly impossible to experience all of them on a seven night cruise. Goodbye Destiny … you had a good run.

In the second matchup, Celebrity Solstice wins going away. Liberty of the Seas is fantastic – evidenced by my three sailings on her. But Solstice is hands-down the most gorgeous ship I’ve ever sailed on. Let’s uppercase that EVER. Liberty is beautiful, but its five-night itinerary means you’ll usually want more when you leave this ship.

So we’re down to Oasis of the Seas vs. Celebrity Solstice.

Oasis has tons of weapons and goes on the offensive immediately. Rock climbing walls, ZipLines, floating bars, 32 cabin categories, two-story lofts, an outdoor park and the first carousel at sea are just a few of the amenities.

Solstice is smaller by more than 100,000 tons, but like Oasis it pays tribute to the outdoors with the Lawn Club, a golf-course quality field of green begging one to walk through in your bare feet as well as the only glass blowing exhibition on the seven seas. Add in a culinary expertise that borders on gourmet even at the buffet, and you’re in for a treat.

I get my second sailing on Solstice in 2013 when she sails for the first time to Alaska on round trips from Seattle.

Alas, Oasis going against Solstice is comparable to a John Wooden coached team versus just about anyone.

She’s a worthy champion to be sure.

Royal family: Princess releases virtual tour of newest ship

Posted on by alanwhitt

If you’re a fan of a particular cruise line – or simply a cruise connoisseur like me – there’s always excitement and anticipation as a new ship begins to take shape. You clamor for those first images, curious to find out what they’ve come up with next.

Alan Whitt

Today that ship is Royal Princess, the first of two new ship for Princess Cruises and their first since Ruby Princess debuted in 2008.

Royal Princess is actually more than a year away from completion with a June 2013 launch date. that’s why the excitement level is so high.

Today Princess released the first in a series of virtual tours of the new ship to travel professionals, and I thought I would share it with you, some of my closest friends.

Today’s tour is of the ship’s Piazza and Atrium, the main artery of every Princess ship.

Check out this virtual world where Princess Cruise’s largest ship (at 141,000 tons) currently resides.

Of course, as more are released I’ll be more than happy to share them with my readers.

Behave or be gone, troublemakers get the heave ho

Posted on by alanwhitt

Rules are rules. Break them and you may pay a price … even on your vacation.

Alan Whitt

Bad behavior never takes a holiday. There’s always a few jerks out there who can’t seem to enjoy themselves without causing trouble.

But cruise lines, airline companies, theme parks and resorts all have rules in place that allow the majority of law-abiding customers to enjoy ourselves with minimal exposure to idiots.

Some companies will give naughty customers a slap on the wrist if they promise never to be bad again. Others may literally send the offending knuckleheads to their rooms without dinner for their boorish behavior.

But others will exact a more hefty penalty.

A Royal Caribbean customer was recently barred from leaving a ship in port after he and another passenger were involved in a heated altercation.

A onboard cruise line representative informed the guy they were going to kick him off the ship but since he was traveling with his teenage kids it got too complicated. He was banned from the ships bars for the duration of the cruise.

His travel agent was concerned that Royal Caribbean was going to ban him from future Royal Caribbean cruises, a permissible practice that is seldom used.

If you pay close attention to the fine print in your cruise contract, it’s clearly spelled out in black and white.

In those instances the passenger is made to remain in their cabin for the remainder of the cruise, and they’ll get an official letter informing them that they are no longer welcome on their ships.

I was recently on a Southwest flight from Nashville where a woman was removed from the plane for smoking in the rear restroom before takeoff. She denied it (all the while reeking of cigarette smoke) but they plopped her in a wheelchair and wheeled her right out of there.

First, couldn’t she have taken a smoke somewhere in the airport before getting on the plane? There was a smoker’s lounge not far from the gate.

Second, doesn’t everyone know its gonna be tough getting away with that in the tight confines of a cramped airplane.

Regardless, it’s good to know that vacation hot spots have my best interest at heart … and won’t allow boneheads to ruin my hard-earned time off.

Allure of the Seas leads way as 2011′s most popular cruise ship

Posted on by alanwhitt

It’s no coincidence that of the Top 10 Most Popular Ships in 2011 half were built in the last two years – with the top three debuting in the last year.

Alan Whitt

People love shiny new things, and these ships are the latest in a line of mine-is-bigger-and-better-than-yours seafaring playgrounds.

Leading the way is Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas – or is it King of the Seas? Right behind are Norwegian Epic and Carnival Magic, the biggest and newest ships for Norwegian and Carnival cruise lines.

The downside to the popularity of these ships is that the cruise lines can command top dollar for them – no matter what time of the year you sail.

But Allure Quest Travel Experience has a way for you to sail on the most popular cruise ship in the world at a bargain price. Keep reading, and we’ll get to that later.

Each of these ships include amenities that are new to their respective cruise line, and in some cases to the industry.

Gargantuan Allure of the Seas (225,000 tons!) boasts the first 3D theater at sea; Norwegian Epic has the first cruise ship ice bar and cabins built for single passengers; and Carnival Magic offers dual water slides at it’s water park as well as family cabins with two bathrooms that accommodate five passengers.

Here’s the complete list of the Top 10 Most Popular Cruise Ships of 2011, as determined by the Internet cruise authority Cruise Critic:

  1. Allure of the Seas; 2. Norwegian Epic; 3. Carnival Magic; 4. Oasis of the Seas; 5. Celebrity Solstice; 6. Disney Dream; 7. Ruby Princess; 8. Liberty of the Seas; 9. Carnival Dream; 10. Norwegian Gem.

The oldest ships on the list are Liberty of the Seas and Norwegian Gem – both debuting in 2007.

OK, you’re probably wondering about that bargain mentioned earlier.

Well, Allure Quest Travel Experience has a limited number of balcony cabins on Allure of the Seas for a May 27 sailing available for $1,259 per person. That same cabin anywhere else goes for more than $1,800.

Just think, if you react right away, you could find yourself sunning and sailing onboard the biggest – and now the most popular – cruise ship on the planet, and at a price the guy in the cabin next to yours is likely going to be envious of.

Allure Quest Travel Experience – P.O. Box 150862, Nashville, TN, 37215 – 615-818-8241 – alan@allurequest.com.