Cruise
CARNIVAL TO SPEND UP TO $700 MILLION ON FLEET-WIDE UPGRADES
Carnival Cruise Lines will spend up to $700 million—more than half of last year’s earnings—over the next few years in fleet upgrades to avoid high-profile headaches like the disabled Triumph over the past few years. Upgrades will include a second backup generator for many ships, in addition to improved fire prevention, detection, suppression and water mist systems for the entire 101-ship fleet. Engine room redundancies will also be addressed as Carnival attempts to bolster profitability and confidence in its brand. (Miami Herald, 4/19/13)
2012 BREAKS RECORDS FOR UK PORTS AND PASSENGERS
Figures released from the Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) show that 2012 was a record year for United Kingdom (UK) cruise ports. Passenger embarkations demonstrated a yearly increase of 10 percent (up to 962,000 in 2012), putting British ports on course to hit the million mark in 2013. There was a similar increase in passengers visiting UK ports during their cruises. The 11 percent increase saw 723,000 passengers visit British ports, double the 2007 figure. The number of UK ports receiving cruise calls also increased to a record 52. Cruise continues to account for one in every eight of all overseas British package holidays. (Cruise Industry News, 3/05/2013)
COUNTRY CRUISES
On the heels of the smashing success of the first sailing, Norwegian Cruise Line will host its second, 7-night, country music-themed cruise featuring more than a dozen bands. The Norwegian Pearl will depart for the Western Caribbean on Jan. 12, 2014 from Miami with headliners like; Trace Adkins, Montgomery Gentry, Wynonna and Lonestar. (USAToday.com, 01/23/13) Visit Cruise.com or call Omega at 1 888-333-3116 to book it.
HOW TO GET THE BEST CRUISE DEAL
Use a travel agent that specializes in the cruise industry. They will be able to answer all your questions, find you the best deals and get you a lower rate if prices go down between the time you book and the time you travel. Book early to secure up to 50 percent off advertised prices. Or book late to get lower prices when cruise lines try to fill any empty cabins as departure dates approach. Travel in a group and consider off season cruising. (EturboNews.com, 12/18/12)
CRUISE NEWS
Growing demand has inspired plans by Royal Caribbean Cruises to build a new port facility in Bridgetown Barbados. The two-year project will be done in two phases, will employ about 700 people and cost approximately $300 million. In November, developers will begin reclaiming 15 acres from the sea for 100,000 square feet of land on which to construct two piers, arrival and departure facilities and parking lots. (TravelPulse.com, Sept. 10)
CANNY CRUISES TO CARIBBEAN
Flexible travelers can find bargains on a variety of unusual cruises in the “repositioning” season from late October to early December, as ships head west from Europe across the Atlantic to spend the winter plying the warm waters of the Caribbean or South America. To help offset the cost of relocating the ships, cruise lines get paying passengers on these one-off journeys by offering discounted fares. On these longer voyages—usually about two weeks—the daily cost can work out at less than half that of a regular cruise. ioL Travel, 8/29/12
Cruise News
Cruise lines have taken note of the substantial revenue airlines have generated over the past 4 years through baggage and priority seating fees. Taking a page from airlines, Carnival is introducing a new premium package of services for a price. The offering includes; early embarkation and cabin access, express baggage delivery, priority dinner seating, tender access and disembarkation preference at a cost of $49.95 per cabin. Other cruise lines are watching closely to see how cruise passengers receive the introduction of a-la-carte fees for specific conveniences. (TravelWeekly.com, Aug. 17)
CRUISE NEWS
Crystal Cruises is offering Christmas and New Year sailings to Australia and New Zealand aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. Crystal Symphony offers a 16-day cruise departing Auckland on Dec. 20 visiting Tauranga, Napier, Christchurch and Dunedin, New Zealand, before spending two nights in Sydney then cruising Millford, Dusky and Doubtful Sounds, ending with an overnight stay in Melbourne. The itinerary will also feature a complimentary New Year’s Eve fireworks celebration in Sydney’s harbor. Crystal Serenity will depart from Miami on Dec. 21 for a 14-day voyage exploring Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Lucia; Barbados; Guadeloupe; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Ponce, Puerto Rico (a maiden call); and Key West, FL. (Travelpulse.com, July 17)
DISNEY TO OFFER FIRST MIAMI DEPARTURES AND NEW EUROPE PORTS IN 2013
Disney Cruise Line will operate sailings from Miami for the first time starting in 2013. The company offers one six- and one seven-night Caribbean sailing before assuming a schedule of three-, four- and five-night cruises from Miami to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean. The cruises will be operated by the Disney Wonder or Disney Magic. Disney also is expanding its European offerings in 2013. Beginning June 1, the Disney Magic returns to Europe for a four-night, seven- and 12-night sailings. The new 12-night sailings visit destinations such as Venice, Italy, and Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast on one itinerary and Ephesus, Turkey, and the Greek Isles including Athens, on another. (Travelpulse.com, June 27)
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE DEBUTS LIMITED-TIME KIDS CRUISE FREE SALE
Norwegian Cruise Line is launching a Kids Sail Free limited time offer which gives children 17 and younger, sailing in third and fourth berths, the chance to cruise for free when their parents make a new reservation on select fall sailings to Alaska, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada & New England, the Caribbean, Europe or Hawaii by July 7, 2012. (Travelpulse.com, July 1)
