Cruising in 2010 - The Year in Review

As usual, the year had it's highs and lows, it's foolish pranks and a crisis or two.  Cruising began recovering from the recession of 2008, but it seems that it was an accident prone year.  The amount of new tonnage on order for 2012 and 2013 is keeping the shipyards in full production mode. Here's the roundup:

• Cruise West ceased operations after nearly 30 years, a devastating blow to a wonderful family owned operation.
• Royal Caribbean introduced the 225,282-ton, 5,040-passenger Allure of the Seas along with 2009 sister Oasis of the Seas. Allure of the Seas claims to be 2" longer than Oasis of the Seas.
• Carnival Splendor suffered engine room fire resulting in stranded passengers and cancellation of 10 future cruises.
• A California RV salesman released the anchor on Holland America's Ryndam while the ship was under way. He reportedly admitted to the act, claiming he was drunk at the time. I don't think drunkeness is an arguable defense.
• President Obama signs the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2010, designed to enhance the personal security of American passengers aboard cruise ships.
• NCL introduces its 153,000-ton, 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic, which includes outstanding entertainment by the Blue Man Group, a great restaurant selection, and a lot of other fun stuff. Guess size counts.
• The eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano screws up the world's travel plans for a month, but Celebrity Cruises makes a bold PR move by sending brand-new ship Eclipse to rescue stranded British travelers in Spain, before she's even christened.
• A 14-year old passenger from Carnival's Carnival Victory was killed by stray gunfire during a gang shootout in St. Thomas.  St. Thomas reacted with improved security measures and reiterated it's great track record as a vacation destination.
• Princess ordered two 141,000 ton, 3,600 passenger ships for 2013 and 2014. 
• NCL announced construction of two 143,500 ton ships for 2013 and 2014 - where are they going to put them all! 
• NCL takes first steps toward becoming a public company, announcing an initial public stock offering.
• Disney took delivery of its new, 128,000-ton, 2,500-passenger Disney Dream which will debuted to the public yesterday.
• Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas was bounced around by wind and big waves off Alexandria, Egypt, resulting in bumps, bruises and the accompanying hysteria and landlubber's fear that the ship was sinking.
• Expediton ship Clelia II is hit by a big wave near Antarctic, limps toward port.
• The port of Philadelphia, citing declines in ship interest, decides to get out of the cruise business, while Savannah, Georgia and Brownsville, Texas start studying their options to get in.  Jacksonville, Florida gets a bigger ship, newer ships head to Orlando.
• Alaska reduces its ridiculously high cruise-passenger tax rate under pressure from the cruise lines, which were taking their business elsewhere. Oceania and Princess commit to future Alaska calls.
• Cunard debuts its 90,400-ton, 2,092-passenger Queen Elizabeth at a gala Southampton ceremony, with the actual Queen Elizabeth presiding.  Loved her hat.
• Oceania's 65,000-ton, 1,258-passenger Marina the line's first purpose-built ship ever, completes sea trials en route to a January 2011 debut.  We'll get back to you if Oceania ever hires a female executive.
  
• Costa lays the keel for its new, 114,500-ton, 3,780-passenger Costa Fascinosa (Can anyone say Carnival Fascination in Italian?)
• Carnival plans cruise world's first private label beer for pub aboard new Carnival Magic.
• MSC debuted the 86,600-ton MSC Magnifica, its eleventh vessel, and orders another new 137,936 ton, 3,300 passenger ship for 2012.  I hope somebody is building some new islands in the Caribbean to send all these ships to.
• Holland America introduces its 86,000-ton, 2,106-guest Nieuw Amsterdam.
• Seabourn debuts its new, 32,000-ton, 450-passenger Seabourn Sojourn, a sister to last year's Seabourn Odyssey.
• Royal Caribbean makes deal with DreamWorks for new, family-oriented onboard entertainment.
• Princess's 113,000-ton, 3,070-passenger Emerald Princess loses power after leaving Ft. Lauderdale, and drifts around for four hours.
• Carnival begins offering year-round cruises from Charleston, SC, and plans big Bermuda season for 2011.
• In the Gulf of Mexico, Carnival Ecstasy swerves to avoid hitting a drifting buoy , sending passengers and unsecured objects flying. Hysteria and videotape at 11.
• Two disasters: 1) Huge waves strike Louis Cruises' 40,876-ton, 1,464-passenger Louis Majesty off the coast of northern Spain, killing two passengers  2) three crewmembers are killed when high winds force Costa's 1,494-passenger Costa Europa into pier at the Egyptian port of Sharm el-Sheik, piercing the ship's starboard hull.
• Silversea introduces new, 36,000-ton, 540-passenger Silver Spirit, a decidedly five-star ship that, through a typographical error, is listed as getting only four stars in the new Frommer's Cruises and Ports of Call. Oops.
• Royal Caribbean takes heat (by those who hadn't done their homework) for continuing calls at the resort of Labadee, Haiti, after the January earthquake wreaks havoc in and around the country's capital, Port-au-Prince — this despite the fact that its ships were also delivering relief supplies.  

Fuel Surcharges May Be Reinstated

Cruise Line Fuel Surcharges Coming Next?  That's My Prediction.

With the price of fuel rising (again) and cruise fares expected to remain low this winter, I would not be at all surprised to see the cruise lines reinstate fuel surcharges.  All of them have retained the right to do so, and have a disclaimer to that effect on existing reservations.  I'm not a financial genius (if I were I wouldn't be selling cruises), but I'm just waiting for the ball to drop.

$100-per-barrel oil could renew airline surcharges

Crude oil is nearing $100 a barrel, which could force major airlines to impose fuel surcharges or raise fares. "Every dollar that fuel rises erodes their earnings," said Jim Corridore, an equity analyst at Standard & Poor's. "It's not good news to see fuel prices back up. Once we start approaching $100 a barrel, you'll start to see fuel surcharges come back." Bloomberg (12/22) 

The Elf Keeps Going

Last night he gift wrapped the kid's bedroom doors, and then got a little tangled up in the paper and ribbon and left a mess in the living room.  Note: he's been drinking - see the beer bottle.

The Elf on the Shelf

My sister's kids have an Elf on the Shelf.  For those of you who are not well versed in Elves, the Elf on the Shelf shows up awhile before Christmas; an ambassador for Santa, if you will.  He keeps an eye on the girls and boys and reports directly back to Santa each day.  Every morning he is found in a different place in the house (because he needs to watch the kids from all around) and they have to find him.

Well, we're not sure what got into the Elf this year (maybe he ate some bad fairy dust), but he's turned quite mischievous.   No longer a quiet observer, he's taken Christmas into his own hands. So far he has

Held a snowball fight in the family room with the Grinch

 

Eaten my sister's Milano cookies (something no sane person would attempt)

Led all the animals on safari

 Ziplined across the living room (he saw pictures of Dorothy doing this on the Allure of the Seas and wanted to try it himself)

 

Used my sister for target practice  (really bad elf)

And done a little cross-dressing (an elf of questionable taste), stealing clothes from my niece's doll and make-up from my sister:

Fortunately, when he decided to go fishing it was only for pretzel gold-fish.

The elf needs an attitude adjustment, but there's not much time before Christmas.  I've suggested he be handcuffed and returned to Santa (express mail), but he's a wily one and hasn't yet been caught. 

Am thinking he needs a one way cruise to the North Pole.  Wonder what he'll do tonight?

Anybody have any ideas what to do with this reprobate?  I should think my sister would be afraid to go to sleep at night.  What could be worse than an elf gone over to the dark side?

Too Many Ships? Bah Humbug!

Too many ships in Florida bringing down pricing?  Bring it on!!!

From an article in Travel Mole (www.travelmole.com)

South Florida: too many ships?

More and more cruise ships sailing out of Port Everglades may create a problem, at least for owners but certainly not for travelers. “The abundance of berths will mean more choices aboard top-rated ships -- and often at surprisingly low prices,” concludes The Miami Herald. Three more new ships -- from Holland America, Celebrity and Seabourn – are arriving in South Florida. This winter, there could be as many as three dozen ships carrying 90,000 passengers at any given time. That’s driven prices down for cruisers. Even on upscale lines, prices sometimes fall below US$100 per person per day, double occupancy. Accidents such as an engine fire that disabled the Carnival Splendor are not expected to impact prices, say cruise officials who think most would-be cruisers think such problems are rare. By David Wilkening

Royal Caribbean More Than Fair to Brilliance Passengers

From a report this morning in Travel Pulse - an online newsletter for the travel industry: "Royal Caribbean International will refund cruise fares to passengers onboard Brilliance of the Seas, which listed during a severe storm Dec. 12 as it approached Alexandria, Egypt. The company is also giving them an onboard credit of $200 per stateroom and $400 per suite." 

Now I think that's more than fair.  When was the last time you saw an airline offer to refund passengers for an unpleasant incident, much less offer them credit (so they could pay for pillows and blankets?) on a future trip.  I think they've done the right thing.  I've never heard of Amtrak giving credits for future trips.  Does Greyhound do that? 

As for the captain putting the passengers, crew and ship in danger ... I just don't believe that.  According to the reports the rough seas lasted for 10 minutes (TEN minutes).  I'm not a certified cruise ship captain, but I've been out in a few boats and I know squalls can develop.  I know you have to expect the unexpected at sea.  I know that the sea is very big and my ship (whatever ship I'm on, even the Allure of the Seas) is very small.  I respect that.   I was on a huge cruise ship coming out of port in Amsterdam when the ship took a roll and every bottle in the bar fell and smashed.  It gave us all a jolt, but at no point were we in danger.  Let's not exaggerate.  "The ship laid over on its side"? I don't think so, but I'm willing to believe a 15 degree tilt.  Many people voluntarily take a 15 degree tilt (or further) on cruise ships after a couple of hours at the bar. 

It's not that I don't have sympathy for the two passengers with broken bones, but when a sudden jolt hits, people can fall and people are breakable.  Even on vacation.

So what's with all the fuss lately about ships in storms, ships losing power, ships rocking and rolling?  "The wave of bad news for the cruise lines is due to a combination of factors, experts say -- poor winter weather, simple coincidence and the increased availability of cell phone cameras and laptops that spread dramatic pictures quickly. "(ABC News) "People ran to their computers to report this," said John Deiner, managing editor of CruiseCritic.com. "They didn't wait until they got into port, they wanted people to know right away."  Of course headlines like ABC's "Horror on the High Seas" don't help. 

And I think that's largely the case.  Whether the news bureaus decide to focus on the cruise lines also depends on what else is going on in the world.  Today poor weather is a highlight and this event increases the  thrill factor.  That's what sells newspapers - if anything sells newspapers these days, I hear subscriptions are down substantially. There's a headline for you "Newspaper Subscription Take Headlong Slide" or how about "Newspapers Facing Their Final Demise"?

I heard also that there was a pile-up on I-40 due to the storm conditions in the mid-west.  But I don't see anybody selling their cars or canceling their Christmas trips over the river and through the woods.  Anybody turning in their season tickets for their favorite football team because the Metrodome roof caved in?

For centuries men (and women) have gone down to the sea in ships.  That's why there are shipwrecks.  There wouldn't be car wrecks without cars.  No train wrecks without trains.  There hasn't been a shipwreck of disastrous proportions that I can think of offhand since the Windjammer ship "Fantome" sank off of Belize in 1998. That's a whole 'nother story, give me a call and we can go through it.

The news media nearly destroyed tourism to Miami in the 1980's - to the point that some hotels blocked news broadcasts from the more sensationalist networks.  We live in an era where everything is supposed to be padded, protected, coddled and preserved.  Don't ride your bicycle without a helmet, send your child to school with a peanut butter sandwich or drink hot coffee from McDonalds.

Yes the ocean can be a dangerous place, it's also fascinating, alluring, mysterious, beautiful, soothing, timeless, tempting and exciting.  Save me a cabin - I'll go!

The above is an opinion, feel free to disagree; opinions are like belly buttons - everyone has one.

Stupid Passenger Tricks - The First in an Intermittent Series

I've decided to write a series on dumb passenger tricks.  The series will appear intermittently as these episodes are reported .  Most stupid events that occur on ships are directly related to quantities of alcohol consumed. The following was inspired by the report I read this morning on Travel Weekly Daily Bulletin, which I am quoting verbatim:

Drunk passenger drops anchor

(Cruise)

A drunk passenger aboard Holland America Line’s Ryndam released the vessel’s stern anchor as the cruise ship was returning to Tampa from Costa Maya, Mexico, on a weeklong western Caribbean itinerary last weekend.

Although deploying the anchor could have caused significant damage, the Ryndam was unharmed.
The FBI has charged Rick Ehlert, 44, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., with attempting to "damage, destroy, disable or wreck a vessel." That’s a felony charge.

The ship was in motion with about 1,950 passengers and crew onboard at the time of the incident.
A subsequent review of the ship’s surveillance video showed Ehlert entering a restricted work area, donning work gloves and releasing the anchor at 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 27 while still dressed in his formal attire from the previous evening. Ehlert was traveling with his girlfriend.

Once the ship docked in Tampa, he was met by agents of the FBI and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service and admitted to being drunk, throwing a life buoy overboard and disabling the anchor.
He claimed to own a 50-foot boat that had a similar anchor system.

Holland America confirmed that the details in the FBI affidavit "accurately reflect what happened, to the best of our knowledge."

Wonder what Ehlert’s bar tab was for that night?

— Gay Nagle Myers

And was it worth being carted off by the FBI and having your actions made public for all the world to see?

There's Nothing to Do (nothing at all) Part II

I forgot about miniature golf.  If all else fails you can scare up a rousing game of miniature golf.   Par 3 course.  Pictured is the additional putting green.

Sculptures of Beaded Dresses seen from aft elevators

Glass Birds in Central Park

Not feeling like Arnold Palmer?  So take a few lessons in the casino, do a little karaoke, or just a sing along with others.  Participate in a trivia contest, or have a slice of Sorrento's pizza and a cup of coffee from Starbucks while you people watch on the Promenade.  Buy yourself a little real or faux jewelry, grab that new Coach purse or wallet you've had your eye on, and then relax in a bar that travels up and down three stories while you drink.  (No matter how much you drink, you are not imagining that the bar is rising and falling.  It really is.) 

Get the kids together and do a little hula hooping, bean bag tossing, coloring and playground climbing on the Boardwalk.(After you ride the carousel.)  You might also stop for an airbrushed tattoo and then build a stuffed animal to call your very own. 

Britto Sculpture by Pool

Don't forget to ooh and aah at all the sculptures and other art work around the ship.  And we haven't even gotten to the wine tastings and the magicians.

I also forgot to mention that this village-in-a-ship stops with surprising frequency at various Caribbean Islands.  (Who woulda thunk it?) So if you're that bored you can always get off the ship for a few hours.   Maybe you can find a museum, rum factory or old sugar plantation to tour.  A dolphin or two to swim with. A horse to ride through the surf, or a submarine to ride underneath it.  Perhaps some windsurfing, snorkeling, hiking, para sailing, or whatever it is you do on gorgeous tropical islands.  If you can't think of anything, give me a call.

Nope, nothing to do, nothing at all.

And the Fun Just Keeps On Going

 There's Nothing to Do on Allure of the Seas  
(nope, nothing at all)

This is for every potential passenger who has ever told me they don't like cruising because it's "boring".  Here's what I've done in two days:

• zip lined across the ship
• watched a parade
• had one of the best meals ever (and a couple of other meals as well)
• shopped
• was mesmerized by an ice skating show
• saw a 3D first-release movie
• learned to surf
• had a "chair massage"
• strolled through Central Park
• watched a superb theater production "Blue Planet"
• took in a live comedy act
• made a donation in the casino
• explored the sauna
• tried to climb the rock wall
• perused the library
• did a little Wii bowling
• danced some 70's era disco
• enjoyed one helluva parade
• oohed and aahed over a diving exhibition
• saw a fountain show (fountains synchronized to music, light and video
• listened to a little live Calypso music
• walked miles and miles - top to bottom and end to end of one BIG ship
• took a salsa lesson
• attended a lecture by noted artist Peter Max
• shot some hoops
• watched a second ice skating show
• took a yoga class
• got a Coney Island hot dog
• rode a merry-go-round
• had some ice cream

I think I slept a couple of hours and toured a few cabins as well.  Now if there's not something there to amuse just about everyone (did I mention the kids zone, water park and teen disco, not to mention video games and in room movies?) - well you just need to build your own amusement park. 

How could you not have fun on this ship?  They have fairy princesses, dragons and knights in shining armor. Not to mention penguins, pandas, lions, and animals I haven't watched enough cartoon movies to name.

They have manicures, pedicures, saunas, teeth whitening and acupuncture (I'm thinking of having all my medical and dental work done on cruise ships in the future).You can select from 106 flavors of Coca-Cola products from one vending machine or choose either chocolate or vanilla ice cream from another.  Zoltar the Magnificent can tell your fortune. 

So if you can't think of anything thing to do, you're all wet, and I'll meet you at the water park to prove it.

 

Till then ...cowabunga dude, I'm going to learn to hang ten.  Have fun or go home!

All Out Amazing, Allure of the Seas!!

 Now THIS is a Ship!!

Twin Smokestacks of the Allure of the Seas

Although its sister ship, the Oasis of the Seas, has been in service for over a year now, I don’t think any journalist has yet to adequately describe the brilliance of the Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.  It’s preposterous to think that I could, not having ever published anything more than a newsletter, but somewhere, somehow, somebody should try (harder). Maybe it’s like so many other major destinations (Leaning Tower of Pisa, Niagara Falls, Great Wall of China – know what I’m talking about?); despite seeing lots of pictures, going to seminars, reading lots and lots of articles – you just haven’t seen it until you’ve seen it with all your senses.  I could not have imagined these ships.  They are immense in size, spectacular in organization and masterful in ingenuity.  All day I’ve been trying to figure out what I could say about the Allure of the Seas, and perhaps at the core of it I have to say that I was wrong.  Huh? Who me?

When Royal Caribbean first announced these ships, I was dead set against them.  The concept horrified me.  Too big, too ostentatious, severely overtaxing to the islands they visit … you get the picture.  About three years ago Royal Caribbean held a naming contest for the first ship in this class (which became “Oasis”); at the time my submissions ran towards “Monstrosity of the Seas”, “Behemoth of the Seas” or possibly even “Disaster of the Seas”.  None of these submissions won, as you can see. 

Other Ships at Port Everglades Suffer Big Ship Envy

This ship should have it’s own spot on the map.  It is Coney Island at Sea, with a little Las Vegas and Orlando mixed in.  But that’s too simple a recipe - add a dash of Asia, a little Latin America and a good cup of Caribbean too.   It’s a wonderland of sights, activities, foods and entertainment.  I don’t think you can do it all in a week, but you’ll get a lot of exercise trying.  Let's talk size (again): one circuit of the running track is about ½ a mile.  Lay out all 17 decks side by side and that's got to put it somewhere around 4 square miles (I think - feel free to correct my math), not all decks being equal.  Whatever. In short, I think this ship may be larger than the island on which I live ... or maybe it just seems like it ... but make no mistake about it, this is one BIG ship.

Wine-by-the-Glass Vending Machine

And with more to do.  My town doesn’t have a 1,380-seat  theater, jazz club, ice skating rink, comedy club, rock climbing wall, zip line, cupcake shop, or casino.  I don’t think my grocery store carries 106 flavors of Coca-Cola products (there is a 106 flavor Coca-Cola dispenser on board) and I know they don’t have wine-by-the-glass vending machines. They do have a carousel, but so does the ship.  Let’s see, what else: a daily paper, chapel, library, conference center, television studio, surfing, water park, miniature golf course, art gallery, spa, fitness center, acupuncturist, medical spa (Botox, Restylane, Perlane) and teeth whitening. 

Did I mention Dreamworks Studios and Shrek?

Mercedes Benz on the Promenade

Posing With the Passenger

The first thing to catch my eye was the classic Mercedes Benz parked on the “Boardwalk” and carrying two teddy bear passengers – they hooked me right there.  Actually, the first thing that hooked me, now that I think about it, is that embarkation took less than 10 minutes – and eight of them were due to having my bag searched - I forgot to remove my nail scissors. 

Bottom line for tonight … new wonders around every corner, an adrenaline jolt just watching the ship pull out of port, passengers who know more about cruising than I think I’ll ever know.  But hey, this sailing is 90% travel agents and 10% media and cruise industry, so that may not be remarkable.  Nonetheless, I’m impressed.  Okay, the cabin is small; in fact I’m glad I’ve lost a few pounds, because every pound counts in these cabins.  I’m glad I’m traveling with a skinny friend.  But I don’t intend to spend much time in this cabin.  I’ve got a lot of ground to cover in the next 24 hours!!!