NCL Power Hour Right Before Prices Increase

NORWEGIAN OFFERS A POWER HOUR

OF SAVINGS BEFORE PRICE INCREASE

            Norwegian Cruise Line is giving customers one extra hour to book a cruise vacation before the line implements its largest rate increase in company history with prices going up by as much as seven percent fleet-wide on Friday, April 2, 2010.  The company’s call center will stay open until 1 a.m. the morning of the increase giving everyone a last chance to book current pricing on the line’s 10 Freestyle Cruising ships along with its newest and largest ship, Norwegian Epic.

            Price increases will take effect on more than 125,000 rates across the fleet on every ship and every sail date through 2012.  For instance, a seven-day Hawaii cruise on Pride of America will go up from $1,389 to $1,489; a 12-day cruise on Norwegian Sun through the Baltic will rise from $3,099 to $3,319; and a seven-day Alaskan vacation on Norwegian Pearl will change from $1,699 to $1,819.  Prices are based on double occupancy in a balcony stateroom.

He who hesitates pays the cost!

Remember when you used to get these great looking ticket packages in the mail? The nice folders with your luggage tags, documents, shore excursion information and other goodies? Sad to say, but even Cunard has announced that it's moving to e-docs, in an effort to provide "excellent customer service". That brings to mind one of my mother's favorite signs in a restaurant: "In order to improve customer service, we have changed to self-service."

It's the end of an era. Perhaps even more so than watching the QE2 sail off into retirement. The cruise lines are quick to tell you that it's environmentally friendly (which it is), but I have to wonder how much they're worrying about the environment and how much they're worrying about the costs of printing and postage.  Change is inevitable, but I will look back fondly at the old documents I used to receive.

Up to a 2-Category Upgrade

Up to a 2-Category Upgrade

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How to book a cruise

How to Book a Cruise

1. Determine which area of the world you want to enjoy.  Are you looking for a sunny beach during the winter?  Ancient ruins over summer vacation? Off season bargains in top locations?  The hardest job is often to figure out what you want.
   
   
2. Do some research, go to the library, speak to friends who have visited the places you’re interested in.  Search the internet for reviews of destinations by past visitors and for tips on what to see and do, and what to avoid.
   
   
3. If your trip is important to you, see a professional cruise specialist.  If you don’t cut your own hair, do your own taxes and handle all your own legal work you shouldn’t book your own cruise.  Let a professional who is knowledgeable about the different ships, itineraries, decks, services and price strategies help you.  Even if they charge a small fee, it is well worth it – frequently an agent will get you better pricing than what you see on the internet, and they will back you up in the event of any problems.  They can recommend shore excursions, assist you with pre- and post-cruise planning, make sure your cabin is the best one on the ship to fit your individual needs, etc.  There’s a lot of value added in using a travel agent just as there is in using a realtor to buy or sell your home.
   
   
4. Once you’ve booked your cruise, read up on the countries you’re going to visit.  Not only will it help you gain a better understanding of the places you’ll visit; even historical novels or historical romances will help you understand the people and the customs of the countries you visit.
   
   
5.  Get your paperwork in order, keep it all in one envelope, put that envelope in the pocket of your carry-on luggage.  That way everything will be in one place when you’re running out the door and trying to remember if you shut off all the lights, discontinued the newspaper and put a hold on the mail.

Just signed up for Cruise Shipping Miami (formerly known as Seatrade, kind of like Joe Robbie Stadium will always be Joe Robbie stadium no matter how many times they change the name).  Anyway, this is my annual chance to meet and chat one on one with representatives of all the cruise lines and ask some of those questions that have always bugged me ... like why does Royal Caribbean name a ship Liberty of the Seas and then Carnival names a ship the Carnival Liberty, or Royal Caribbean names a ship Jewel of the Seas and then Norwegian Cruise Lines names one the Norwegian Jewel? What's THAT all about anyway?  Do the cruise lines need a book like the ones that expecting parents read "1001 Names for Baby"?

But it's also a great opportunity to attend seminars, run into old friends from former cruising life and play "do you remember?"  There are some people I don't really want to run into, or rather I'd like to run them over with a Mack truck, but my mother taught me to be polite so polite I will be. Besides, Mack trucks are expensive and hard to get through the convention center front doors.

My Roxborough High Reunion group just got back from the Southern Caribbean (yes, while the Northeast was digging out once again they were having pina coladas by the pool).  All had a great time - how could you not?  Hey, why not get YOUR high school to do a shipboard reunion?  Sure beats the high school gym and you don't have to decorate with crepe paper!

Riding the Wave - Prices Heading Up

Earlier this week I predicted that once Carnival announced that it would be raising it's rates, the rest of the cruise lines would quickly play follow the leader.  In this case being right is not the cheeriest news I can bring you. 

On the one hand, I guess higher rates represent an improved economic picture, on the other hand, well - those were some hard-to-turn-down deals that kept popping up on my radar every week! 

Today Norwegian Cruise Lines announced increases of up to 7% beginning on April 2nd.  (Couldn't they wait until tax refunds are received?).  So the message that's starting to pop like a cork out of a champagne bottle is that cruisers probably want to lock in that cruise they've been thinking about now, or they'll pay more for it in a few weeks.  In fact, I'm expecting a trickle up effect - if it works for the mass market cruise lines, then we'll soon see the end of those lovely 2-for-1 fares, free air and high shipboard credits that the luxury lines have been touting for the last year or so.   I will definitely miss THEM! 

Bottom line is that to watch your bottom line, it's still best to book early - last minute deals seem to be heading out to sea!