Glorious Seclusion At Sea

Worldwide cruising organisation Cruise Lines International Assocation (CLIA) recently highlighted the growing trend for cruise lines to add special secluded areas on their ships, and went on to list the different ways they have created these special 'private' areas aboard even some of the largest vessels.

I thought it was worth highlighting this, so I'm reprinting most of the CLIA press release here as it makes for really interesting reading...

FORT LAUDERDALE, August, 2013 --- There’s so much to experience on today’s cruise ships and now, as ships create tucked away spots for private dining, sunning and small gatherings, cruisers can add seclusion to the diverse attractions of a value vacation at sea.

“Increasingly, cruise lines are creating intimate spaces for guests, even on the largest ships,” says Christine Duffy, President & CEO of CLIA. She notes that while vacationers love the entertainment and activity experiences of cruising, many are also looking for quiet time and increased personalized service—“and they can get this now from a concierge level cabin with its own lounge or by having a romantic dinner for two under the stars in a secret nook of the ship.”

The following is a sampling of some of the wonderful features being created on CLIA North American fleet cruise lines for passengers seeking a tranquil retreat or exclusive enclave.

Balconies are among the most popular privacy features, and ships, from luxury to mega, are upping the percentage of cabins with balconies. One line has even figured out a way to provide views and balconies for inside cabins. For example:

• Disney Cruise Line’s newest ships have private verandahs on 70 percent of staterooms and suites, while more recent duo Disney Dream and Fantasy have 'virtual' portholes..
• Princess Cruises' new Royal Princess, which made its debut in June, has balconies on ALL outside cabins.
• Royal Caribbean’s refurbished Navigator of the Seas will emerge next year with “virtual” balconies (below) – LED projection screens showing live images taken by exterior cameras--for interior cabins.
  

 

Club sections take exclusivity and pampering to new levels. Similar to luxury hotel concierge floors, many ships have club or concierge level cabins with upgraded services and intimate lounges. For example:

• Holland America Line’s Neptune Lounge, open to guests in a Neptune or Pinnacle Suite, is a private lounge with a widescreen TV, continental breakfast and coffee, tea and snacks throughout the day as well as concierge service.
• Oceania Cruises’ Executive Lounge, available to guests in Owners, Vista, Oceania and Penthouse Suites, features complimentary soft drinks, coffees and snacks throughout the day and a dedicated concierge; a separate Concierge Lounge is provided for guests in Concierge Level Veranda Staterooms.
• Disney have their own Concierge level on Disney Fantasy and Dream, adding a gorgeous extra amenity for guests on that level.

 

Cabanas, usually rentable by the day or for the whole cruise, put guests in the heart of the action while indulging them with special services. For example:

• Celebrity Cruises’ “The Alcoves,” on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection come with fresh fruit, chilled towels, use of a pre-loaded iPad and more. An attendant is also on hand to arrange for spa treatments, food and other services.
• Holland America Line’s “Cabana Club” on the Nieuw Amsterdam offers airy, tented cabanas with plush upholstered seating where guests receive extras such as bathrobes, chocolate-covered strawberries, champagne and a pre-loaded iPod.
• Princess Cruises has The Sanctuary, a similar private retreat on all its recent ships, with the option for cabana hire.

 

Adults-only areas are becoming increasingly popular, especially on kid-friendly sailings. While spas have long been serene retreats, adults-only spaces for everything from dining to swimming and sunning are now popping on a wide array of ships. For example:

• Disney Cruise Line’s Quiet Cove Pool and Cove Bar invites adults to sunbathe, swim, sip a cool drink or soak in a hot tub overlooking the ocean.
• Royal Caribbean's glass-canopied Solarium pool area and café, with cantilevered whirlpools that jut out over the sea, are popular adults-only spots.
• Carnival Cruises Lines’ Serenity adult-only area, offered on many of its ships, features plush lounge chairs, bar and food service, whirlpools and soothing music. 

 

The cocooning concept goes one step further with the creation of the new wave of elite

sections on some ships. Here, guests find everything they need in their own private retreat. For example:

• MSC Cruises’ MSC Yacht Club (left), called a “ship within a ship,” wraps guests in a private pool, solarium, restaurant and butler-serviced suites.
• Norwegian Cruise Line’s “The Haven” has butler-serviced cabins that surround a private two-story courtyard with pools, whirlpools, a massage room, private restaurant, cocktail bar and concierge lounge. 

 

Exotic dining spaces set the scene for personal evenings. These very private areas can be ideal for special anniversaries or other occasions. For example:

• Paul Gauguin Cruises’ M/S Paul Gauguin offers private dining on the watersports marina for up to four guests to enjoy gourmet cuisine at a table set with white linen, fine china and crystal glasses along with live Polynesian entertainment.
• Oceania Cruises’ Riviera and Marina both offer Privée, a dining room that can be reserved for up to 10 guests, where the plush décor features a white Venini glass chandelier, white baby crocodile throne chairs and backlit onyx-clad walls. 

 

And there's more of course, with new twists and additions to the formula all the time. It just goes to show the cruise industry is incredibly adept at evolving its formula and reacting to guest needs for more sea-going experiences.

 

For expert advice, travellers can turn to CLIA travel professionals, who stay current on the latest offerings and trends, and can help clients select the ship with the features that will fulfill their dreams. To find a CLIA travel professional in your area, visit www.cruising.org and click on Vacations. In the UK, visit www.cruisexperts.org and, for an example of a top cruise agent specialist, see www.cruiseline.co.uk.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

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Norwegian Breakaway's Aqua Park

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced the latest feature-packed details of forthcoming new ship Norwegian Breakaway for 2013, and these will take recreation and outdoor fun literally to new heights when it launches next April. 

The ship’s top decks will feature the first Aqua Park at sea with five full-size water slides, including twin Free-Fall slides, the first ever at sea. There will also be a three-story sports complex that includes the largest ropes course at sea, a nine-hole miniature golf course, basketball court, rock-climbing wall and more. The line also announced that the ship will feature Nickelodeon experiences for the whole family and will include a Nickelodeon themed Kids’ Aqua Park.

The Aqua Park is Norwegian’s biggest innovation yet and features five multi-story water slides. Breakaway is the first cruise ship to feature the Free Fall – two side-­by-side slides where guests will stand up and have the floor drop from underneath, propelling them into a thrilling loop. 

Offering another first with a twist are two additional side-by-side twister slides – called The Whip - that deliver an unforgettable adrenaline rush as they plunge guests on a spiral race to the finish line. For those who prefer a more relaxing ride, there is a family-friendly open-flume body slide. The Aqua Park also features a Kids’ Aqua Park, two swimming pools, four hot tubs and the Breezeway Bar & Grill, a semi-open air eatery.

Adult Only Areas

Breakaway will also feature several adult-only outdoor areas. Spice H2O, located at the back of the ship on deck 16, is an adult-only escape with contemporary Asian influences, offering day-time relaxation and night-time exhilaration. 

Sun loungers surround a huge video screen, complete with two hot tubs and a soothing dual waterfall feature, perfect for cooling off from the sun. At night, guests can dance under the stars or chill at the bar with accompanying lounge area, featuring comfortable seating while admiring the ocean views.

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's leading cruise-agent specialists.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

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Cruise Shipping Miami - Day 2

After the strong but relatively sedate opening day to the world’s largest annual cruise convention, the second day is typically a much more dynamic, almost frenzied, affair as the main Exhibition opens, multiple press conferences take place (often at the same time!), and we have the State of the Industry address.

This latter is eagerly awaited by everyone in the industry and never more so than in the wake of the terrible Costa Concordia accident on January 13. It is a chance to hear from the key cruise chief executives and learn how they see the past, present and future of the business, often in fairly lively fashion.

Sometimes, they can be a bit snippy towards each other; often there is some robust jousting as all try to make a point or two at the expense of their rivals; but mostly it is an upbeat and almost rabble-rousing cry to the rest of the industry – the agents, suppliers, builders, port authorities and destinations – to be positive and forward-thinking in the months ahead.

Usually, they have a lot to be bullish about, with just about unbroken passenger growth across the board in the past 10 years and lots of nice, shiny new ships to be proud of.

But this year they had to deal with the 600lb gorilla in the room – the terrible circumstances of January 13 and the ongoing negative image of cruise safety has been raised in some areas of the media, with subsequent drop-offs in cruise bookings and the loss of all that heady positive momentum.

And deal with it they certainly did, starting with the first three speakers, who all mentioned Concordia in some way, most notably Carnival Corporation vice-chairman and chief operating officer Howard Frank (below), who not only made the proper acknowledgement of the profound impact of the incident but then went off-script to deliver a heartfelt defence of the Costa brand and its many loyal staff. The crew of Concordia, he insisted, were the “true heroes of this tragedy, and, as time unfolds, all their stories will be told.” Robust, feisty stuff.

Where that leaves the villain of the piece, Italian Captain Francesco Schettino – or Captain Gutless as many media have dubbed him – is anybody’s guess. But Frank did also go on to give a big shout-out to the people and country of Italy for their strong support in the wake of the incident.

Moderator Christine Duffy (above), the head of Cruise Lines International Association, also addressed the issue head on, but by pointing out cruising’s excellent safety record prior to Concordia and highlighting the industry’s strong growth since 2000 – when numbers have doubled worldwide – and the prospect of some 231 ships under the CLIA banner by 2015, representing 360,000 beds.

That led in to the main round-table (actually, a U-shaped table) discussion moderated by Duffy and featuring six senior cruise line heads, Gerry Cahill (Carnival Cruise Lines), Adam Goldstein (Royal Caribbean), Dan Hanrahan (Celebrity), Kevin Sheehan (Norwegian Cruise Line), Stein Kruse (Holland America) and Pierfrancesco Vago (MSC).

Each was given an opportunity to talk on the subjects raised by Duffy (probably carefully crafted beforehand, but still deftly handled by the CLIA chief, after only a year in the job) and each one made some significant, positive points.

The first three topics all covered health and safety issues either directly or indirectly related to Concordia, but then things gradually transformed into discussions on the new Environmental protection Agency Regulations that begin in August (and are dramatically reinforced in 2015), requiring ships to use low-sulfur fuels close to the mainland in the USA, Canada and Europe. Then it was on to new ships, the ever-popular subject of globalization, the travel agent community, destinations and reasons for optimism.

The two-hour session (below) flew by, and then it was on to a round of press conferences and interviews during the ‘lunch’ break (if swallowing half a sandwich and a coffee at lightning speed can be considered ‘lunch’!) .

We had the opportunity to talk to David Dingle, the chairman of Carnival UK (all the 5 main Carnival brands sourcing passengers out of Britain – P&O, princess, Holland America, Carnival and Cunard), on the subject of recent events and the effects on the UK market, and he was convinced cruising is already bouncing back and will get a major boost from two events this summer – the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June, which will feature a Cunard tribute, and P&O’s 175^th anniversary event in Southampton on July 3, which will feature all SEVEN of the line’s ships for the very first time.

A dizzying round of press conferences then followed, from Princess Cruises (announcing more details of next year’s new ship, Royal Princess), Hong Kong (mainly about their amazing new passenger cruise terminal due to open next year), Singapore and Indonesia (about cruise growth in south-east Asia and Singapore’s new terminal opening later this year) and then Copenhagen.

We also had a wonderful meeting with American Cruise Lines chairman Charles Robertson, who is eagerly promoting the advent of the new Queen of the Mississippi on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers this August and told us of the company’s growing interest from the UK and Australia. This dramatic classic paddle-steamer will bring traditional upscale river-cruising back to the Mississippi but also offer the most luxurious accommodations and style of any American river-cruiser.

It is a superb and should appeal to lovers of all things stylish in the river-cruise field, especially as the line has just placed an order for ANOTHER paddle-steamer as a result of the demand they are seeing for the Queen of the Mississippi.

The afternoon session saw us listening to David Dingle again, as part of the Opportunities In A Changing Europe workshop session, looking at the many reasons for continued growth in European cruising – and the challenges, like the EPA and some potentially serious taxation issues from the lame-brain mandarins of the European Community in Brussels who, if they have their way, will tax every cruise line out of European waters.

Short-sighted doesn’t even begin to describe it, but suffice it to say these unelected buffoons think cruising should be subject to VAT and other sales taxes for things like drinks on board, and cruise lines should also pay EXTRA taxes on things like the shore excursions they sell and casinos they run.

How do you spell barmy? How about B-R-U-S-S-E-L-S.

Another two hours went by quickly and then it was time for us to take a quick look at the exhibition floor, notably some of the destinations with high-profile booths, notably Hong Kong, Alaska and Chile. There is a LOT to take in here and we will be back on Thursday for a more in-depth look.

 
Finally, we had been invited to a press reception at the Van Dyke Café on nearby Lincoln Road with Norwegian specialist cruise line Hurtigruten, one of our big favourites here at World of Cruising. It was mainly their US office but it was good to hear that this innovative adventuring company with the authentic Norwegian style has a strong following on both sides of the Atlantic and they continue to see good growth especially for their Arctic and Antarctic voyages.

Then it was time to grab a quick bit of dinner and head back to our hotel (the wonderful Grove Isle Resort & Spa in Coconut Grove) and get some work done before turning in for the night. Tomorrow, we start at 8.30 with a Norwegian Cruise Line press conference before heading into a morning session on Luxury Cruising.

Definitely two to look forward to…

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Hello everyone and just a few lines to thank you for all your support during the year. Steve has to go in to “Dry dock for refurbishment” over the holiday period and will be back in service on January 2nd.

However, there are loads of goodies already lined up, among which are a stunning safari/wildlife river cruise in East Africa from AMA Waterways, “Strictly Dancing” with P&O and new cruises in Antarctica and The Galapagos.

In the meantime, there are FREE copies of World of Cruising magazine on offer through the The Cruise Line’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/TheCruiseLine. All you have to do is ‘like’ the Facebook page and then send your postal address to info@cruiseline.co.uk and they’ll send one out in the post to you. Hurry whilst stocks last!

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to you all.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.

Dame Shirley Bassey To Name P&O's Adonia

Dame Shirley Bassey is to be Godmother to Adonia, the latest addition to the P&O Cruises fleet. Dame Shirley will name the stylish ship in a glittering ceremony in Southampton on Saturday May 21.

Adonia is considerably smaller than the larger ships of today. Carrying just 710 passengers, the ship will be able to reach off-the-beaten-track ports of call, yet is big enough to provide an extensive range of onboard facilities. Exclusively for adults, she will offer an atmosphere that is intimate and refined.

The main restaurant will be the Pacific Restaurant and there will be two further Select dining venues, Italian-styled Sorrento and a steakhouse and grill. There will also be a buffet restaurant, with some al fresco dining, and a barbecue area out on the Lido deck.

For entertainment, Adonia will have eight bars, including P&O Cruises signature Crow’s Nest observation lounge; Anderson's, the familiar club-style lounge bar; and Raffles, which will also offer a coffee shop menu throughout the day with pastries, chocolates, hot drinks and afternoon tea. There is also a traditional library with fireplace and views on three sides.

Another feature will be The Curzon Lounge, where passengers can enjoy a drink with a sea view during the day and, by night, enjoy a performance by the Headliners theatre company, concerts, dancing or after-dinner speakers.

There will be the signature Oasis Spa, offering a range of treatments and therapies such as hot stone massages and body scrubs, Aromatherapy, and reflexology. There is also a well-equipped gym with panoramic sea views.

Adonia’s well appointed cabins will feature Egyptian cotton linen and tea and coffee-making facilities (so popular with British passengers), while more than 75 per cent of the cabins will have a private balcony.

For more information, visit P&O Cruises or, for great deals, check with the UK's leading specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.