Christmas Markets Decorations for sale (Photo by John Shallo)
The first Christmas Markets were about survival and the chance to celebrate the coming holiday with family and friends. People gathered in the village square and around open fires. They offered light, warmth and merry-making. It also provided an opportunity to get vital supplies and a break from the long cold nights of Winter.
The first recorded Christmas Market was in Bautzen, Germany back in 1384. Earlier “December Markets” in Vienna date back to 1294. These early markets lasted only a few days and now they last for weeks.
As the popularity of visiting the Christmas Markets has grown, so has the demand for cruising to visit them. It offers a peaceful and relaxing way to watch the passing scenery and explore picturesque towns, castles and cathedrals. Remember, cruises during Christmas Markets are only available from November through late December.
Just remember to consider the following tips to help you have a great trip:
Dress in layers
Traveling from Florida to Amsterdam during winter meant we had to buy new clothes.
Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) interior view
You will need the following, as the weather can be cold and sometimes be accompanied by wind, rain and snow. Dress in layers to be comfortable.
Jacket of medium weight
Hat that can cover your head and ears
Lightweight gloves
Lightweight boots
Sweaters and pullovers
Thermal underwear
Try To Choose Short or Direct flights
Flying time from the US to Amsterdam is at least eight hours. Many fellow cruisers will spend longer flying from the west coast of the US. Add in connecting flights and it can become a long day. We recommend trying to book the shortest and most direct flight possible. A pre-cruise hotel stay before your cruise is well worth the investment. Viking River Cruises offers both pre and post-cruise packages.
Exchange money at a bank
You will get a better exchange rate and fewer fees exchanging your money at a bank than at the airport. We ended up exchanging $100 US to euros in the airport before leaving and then exchanging a larger amount later in the trip. You’ll be expected to tip your tour guides two euros and bus/van drivers one euro during your cruise. Unlike most cruises– which keep your credit card on file–you will settle your account with cash or credit on the last night of the cruise.
Try To Relax
Cruising is very relaxing by nature. Viking River Cruises take this to the next level. They pamper you at every turn, making a trip to Europe relaxing. Optional tours will be available when starting your cruise. These can enhance your cruise experience. Just be forewarned to not overdo a good thing; a full day of the included and optional tour starts at 7 am and sometimes doesn’t end until 12 hours later.
Quitevox device
Take it in
River cruising is very enriching and will keep you active. Stop and enjoy the simple things. You are not far from shore and can see people walking their dogs, passing trains, small villages and more.
You’ll go under countless bridges and through river locks. Tours on a river cruise differ from a traditional ocean cruise. Often a bus drives you from the ship to where you will begin a walking tour in the heart of the city or village.
Quitevox
Your tour guide lives in the region, and you can listen to them via your own Quitevox device that goes around your neck via lanyard and has a single earpiece. You can adjust the volume as needed and learn to enjoy this device. Use the free time at the end of your tours to shop, eat, and enjoy the many Christmas markets. Learning new cultures in a faraway place heightens one senses.
It takes a special, disturbing kind of person to identify as a cruise addict. But this is the channel where these freaks convene. – Yahoo Tech
What is a ROKU?
You can watch Cruise Addicts from your TV
Roku is a streaming media player and allow you to stream channels like Netlix, Hulu, Amazon Instant Video, Cruise Addicts and over 2,000 others easily to your TV. Whats even better, is most are FREE! They offer several devices that easily connect to your TV and now even have TV’s with Roku device inside. I become a big fan of the device and then created my own channel for my favorite subject, cruise travel. My family uses Netflix daily and barely watch cable TV anymore. We don’t use Redbox or any other DVD players because we can buy or rent the latest movies from Amazon’s Instant Video Roku Channel. Amazon also lets me watch any of the purchased or rented videos on my PC, Smartphone and ROKU anytime. Videos are stored in the Amazon Cloud, so theirs no worry. You can watch SD or HD videos, the player adjusts to your TV’s capabilities.
To learn more about the ROKU player visit their website at www.roku.com. If you have a ROKU player be sure to ADD Cruise Addicts to your devices channel lineup, just Click Here.
Viking Cruises offers destination-centric river and ocean cruising designed for experienced travelers
Video Showcases Open Water Tests for Viking’s First Ocean Ship Launching this Spring
Viking Ocean Cruises has announced the recent successful sea trials of its first ship – the 930-passenger Viking Star – set to debut in April. The trials, which took place in the Aegean Sea in mid-December, represented the vessel’s first voyage in open water.
During nearly a week of intense diagnostics, maritime experts executed more than 80 different tests designed to evaluate everything from Viking Star’s engine and propulsion performance to her navigation systems and cabin acoustics. Following the trials, Captain Gulleik Svalastog deemed her “one of the most agile, state-of-the-art and seaworthy ships on the water, destined to exceed the expectations of the most well-traveled guest.”
Currently back at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard for final outfitting and interior decorating, Viking Star will take on her first guests on April 11. She will then set sail from Istanbul, making her way through the Mediterranean and into the Atlantic on her way to be officially christened in the homeland of the Vikings. On May 17 in Bergen, Norway, guests onboard will be treated to a celebration that will be seen throughout the world. One of the most important days of the year in Norway – Norwegian Constitution Day – dignitaries from around the country and thousands of Bergen residents will gather along the waterfront to welcome Viking Star to port and to share in the festivities. Bergen Mayor Trude Drevland will serve as godmother to Viking Star and will officially “name” the ship during its christening ceremony.
Viking Star
Classified by Cruise Critic as a “small ship,” the 930-passenger all-veranda Viking Star – as well as its two sister ships under construction, Viking Sea and Viking Sky – is engineered at a scale that allows direct access into most ports, so guests have easy and efficient embarkation and debarkation. Light-filled and intimate, the ship features understated elegance and modern Scandinavian design. Highlights include:
All Veranda Staterooms: Guests can choose from five stateroom categories, starting from a 270 sq. ft. veranda stateroom, all with private verandas, king-size beds, large showers, and LCD TVs.
Two Pool Choices: In addition to the Main Pool with a retractable dome permitting any-season swimming, the ship features a glass-backed infinity pool, cantilevered off the stern, allowing passengers to swim surrounded by their destination.
The Spa: In keeping with Viking’s Nordic heritage, The Spa onboard is designed with the holistic wellness philosophy of Scandinavia in mind—from the centuries-old tradition of the sauna to a “snow grotto” where snowflakes gently descend from the ceiling through chilled air.
Explorers’ Lounge and Wintergarden: Spaces designed to facilitate mingling and storytelling, the two-deck Explorers’ Lounge at the bow is the perfect spot for taking in scenery through double-height windows over a glass of aquavit or pint of local craft beer; and the Wintergarden is a serene environment in which to relax and enjoy afternoon tea service complete with a hand-selected teas.
Dining Choices: Viking Star offers multiple restaurant locations and food choices—from The Restaurant and the World Café, serving a variety of global cuisines and regional specialties—to intimate dining experiences at The Chef’s Table, Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant and The Kitchen Table, all serving meals prepared with fresh, local ingredients. Furthermore, with multiple choices for outdoor seating during meals, Viking’s ocean ships offer more al fresco dining than any other ships.
Enriching Entertainment: Connecting passengers to their destinations through authentic experiences is central to Viking Cruises, and onboard venues include a dramatic three-deck atrium where passengers can enjoy musicians playing regional and classical music; the Star Theater, home of enrichment lectures from scholars and experts; an onboard cooking school where guests can learn local specialties; and Torshavn, a piano lounge where guests can relax, mingle, and exchange stories after a day of exploring.
Sustainable Features: Designed with the environment in mind, Viking Star features energy-efficient hybrid engines, hydro-dynamically optimized streamlined hulls and bows for maximum fuel efficiency, onboard solar panels, and equipment that minimizes exhaust pollution and meets the strictest environmental regulations.
The world’s largest travel and leisure company, aired its first-ever Super Bowl TV commercial entitled “Come Back to the Sea” – a 60-second spot combining stunning cinematic images of the ocean and stirring words from President John F. Kennedy to create an emotional storyline about people’s universal connection with the sea.
“We are tied to the ocean… and when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it … we are going back from whence we came,” President Kennedy says in his distinctive voice heard by viewers as they see illuminating scenes of the ocean’s natural beauty. In the commercial’s full voice-over, representing a short clip from his speech kicking off the 1962 America’s Cup, the President’s remarks describe the emotional and innate connection that people have with the sea.
The “Come Back to the Sea” spot was produced to create a personal connection with consumers, especially those who have never taken a cruise vacation, a key target audience for Carnival Corporation’s 2015 marketing initiative designed to increase interest in and demand for cruising. The “Come Back to the Sea” ad is now available at www.ComeBackToTheSea.com and on YouTube’s AdBlitz channel, along with the other spots from the big game, for consumer voting.
“We worked with true passion to bring this creative concept to life with reverence and elegance to strike a chord with consumers, and we are proud to share it on the world’s biggest stage,” said Arnold Donald, president and CEO of Carnival Corporation. “Our existing guests already know that each time they go back to the sea on one of our ships, it is a unique experience that helps them connect in a special way with themselves, family, friends and the world. We wanted to convey that same feeling with people who have never cruised by showing the magnificence of the sea and its special place in our lives, and why cruising is a great way to relax, reconnect and recharge.”
Donald added: “Our overall goal is to successfully share that cruising is not what some people think it is, and to debunk untrue common myths that keep people from taking a cruise. We want to start among those who haven’t cruised a conversation about why cruising is such a great vacation, at an exceptional value, and why cruising is an option to consider when planning a vacation. And, since we have nine distinctive brands that sail 100 ships to more than 700 ports around the world, we have a cruise that’s right for just about everybody.”
To capture the essence of cruising and showcase the experience of going back to the sea, Hollywood director Wally Pfister and the BBDO-Atlanta creative team shot for nine days in Barcelona, Spain, including five days onboard the Regal Princess ship, the newest ship in the company’s Princess Cruises line. Gathering breath-taking visuals of the open sea and unique moments in time from cruise vacations, the team produced a story that translates the unique and intangible experience of re-connecting with the sea into a 60-second commercial. Drawing on a wealth of storytelling expertise, Pfister and the team created a film-quality, documentary-style final spot with powerful visuals to help evoke an emotional response from viewers.
“When creating a commercial of this kind, we knew we had a big task ahead of us because we aren’t just asking consumers to purchase a product or widget, but instead, we are hoping to move them to feel a certain way about cruising,” said Pfister, the Hollywood cinematographer known for his work on Inception and The Dark Knight trilogy and director of the Carnival Corporation ad. “With this particular spot, we wanted to transcend the so-called typical cruise commercial and create something that felt as visually powerful as the weight of the words being delivered by our former President. We worked with great care to bring these beautiful images together with his speech about the sea in a meaningful and respectful way, and we hope the quality and emotions of the piece really resonate with viewers.”
This final commercial was one of four fully produced ads created as part of the company’s recently launched “World’s Leading Cruise Lines Marketing Challenge” that gave consumers across North America the chance to provide Carnival Corporation with input on its new advertising creative. Hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, this interactive crowd sourcing contest let consumers “join the company’s marketing team” and vote for their favorite creative concept with a chance to win a grand prize of a yearly cruise for life. More than 100,000 consumers voted on the ads and participated in the contest. The winner of the cruise a year for life prize will be announced next week.
The “Come Back to the Sea” spot featured during the Super Bowl is part of Carnival Corporation’s multi-brand marketing initiative that for the first time incorporates all nine of its global brands. Three other advertisements from the Carnival’s marketing initiative, “Getaway,” “Cruise Virgin” and “Message in a Bottle,” are available on WorldsLeadingCruiseLines.com, on the Carnival Corporation YouTube page and on the World’s Leading Cruise Lines YouTube page.
Together, these ads have totaled nearly four million views on YouTube. The ads will be used on multiple platforms throughout the year including television, digital and social to drive increased awareness, consideration and demand for cruising.
As part of Carnival Corporation’s marketing effort, consumers can use WorldsLeadingCruiseLines.com as a hub for new tools, functionality and content from the company’s nine brands. This includes the popular new “CRUISE-A-NALITY” tool, which helps people decide what type of cruise vacation and brand experience is right for them based on a series of personality-focused questions.
In addition, Carnival Corporation is encouraging travelers to contact a travel agent, who can offer valuable insight about cruising and how to help find the right cruise.
MSC Cruises Enhances Wedding Program In The Caribbean
Cruise Addicts sailing aboard the ultramodern MSC Divina, one of MSC Cruises‘ largest and most elegant ships, can now legally say “I Do,” with the cruise line’s enhanced wedding offerings.
MSC Cruises is offering couples the option of getting married shipboard or shoreside in several Caribbean destinations, including: Bridgetown, Barbados; Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Falmouth, Jamaica; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Nassau, Bahamas; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Couples can also get married on embarkation day in Miami.
“As destination and cruise weddings continue to gain popularity, we are thrilled that we can now offer guests the opportunity to legally get married shipboard or shoreside,” said Bonnie Levengood, senior vice president of marketing for MSC Cruises USA. “MSC Divina is a gorgeous ship and is an ideal wedding location for a couple looking to hold a unique event which combines celebration, fun, and relaxation into one special package at an extraordinary value.”
Ceremonies and receptions on MSC Divina are completely customizable with options for everything from photography and videography packages, music, fresh flowers, food and beverage packages, specialty items such as favors and aisle runners, transportation for shoreside events, and personalized stationary for announcements and invitations.
As an extra benefit, couples booking groups of at least 13 staterooms will receive a complimentary balcony stateroom. Those booking larger groups will receive a complimentary suite (30+ rooms in group) or Yacht Club (50+ rooms in group) stateroom.
The ship also offers a wide-variety of locations for romantic photo opportunities with the most popular locations including a traditional photo along one of the Swarovski crystal staircases and a trendy photo by The Garden infinity pool overlooking the ship’s wake.
MSC Divina is the first ship in MSC Cruises’ fleet to offer legal weddings. Ceremonies onboard can accommodate up to 150 non-sailing guests. Basic packages — which include items such as a pre-sailing Event Manager, local non-denominational Wedding Officiate, Wedding Day Ceremony Coordinator, bridal bouquet and boutonniere, cake for two, bottle of sparkling champagne or wine, and 1-hour of photography coverage — start at $1,600 for a shipboard event and $2,200 for a shoreside event, depending on the location of the wedding. For more information of MSC Weddings and Vow Renewal program visit MSCWeddings.com.
Cruise Shipping Miami 2015 is gearing up to offer the most comprehensive and robust roster of panel discussions featuring the industry’s most knowledgeable and experienced executives.
The panels will be grouped under several broad themes based on industry trends during the four-day conference. The 31st edition of Cruise Shipping Miami is scheduled for March 16-19 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
Organized by UBM Connect, thematic topics include The Geography of Cruise Tourism, Safety and Ship Operations, Market Segments and Cruise Product Development.
On Tuesday morning, March 17, the conference will open with the popular State of the Industry session. Participants in that plenary session will be announced in the coming weeks.
This program may be subject to alterations and additions.
Tuesday, March 17 3 to 4:30 p.m. (afternoon concurrent sessions)
The State of the Cruise Industry: North and South America Market trends, the health of source markets from Canada and the U.S. to Latin America, infrastructure developments, opportunities and challenges will be discussed. Cruise line leaders will consider key regions, from Canada/New England, down the U.S. East Coast to the Gulf Coast, Mexico, Central America and the Panama Canal. Alaska, the U.S./Canada Pacific coast, Hawaii and South America, from the Amazon to Antarctica, Brazil and the long Chilean shore are up for discussion, as well.
Speakers: Orlando Ashford, President, Holland America Line
Roberto Fusaro Managing Director, South America, MSC Cruises, and Chairman, CLIA–ABREMAR Lisa Lutoff-Perlo President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises Jan Swartz, President, Princess Cruises
The State of the Cruise Industry: Europe The fact that Europe has been able to boost demand for cruises by a hefty 43 percent since the global recession hit when other tourism sectors were flat shows its resilience. In 2013, a record 6.4 million Europeans cruised, and Europe drew 1 million cruisers from overseas. This panel focuses on Europe as a major source market and discusses how the different national markets are shared out. Will improving economies in many of the western European countries produce better yields? Can Europe benefit from the rising tide of Asian passengers looking to cruise overseas? A look at deployment patterns and Europe’s potential as a year-round market will also be analyzed.
Keynote address: Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman, MSC Cruises, and Chairman, CLIA Europe
Speakers: Kyriakos “Kerry” Anastassiadis, CEO, Louis Cruises David Dingle, Chairman, Carnival UK, and Vice Chairman, CLIA Europe Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Chairman, Silversea Cruises Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises Dominic Paul, Senior Vice President, International, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises, and Managing Director, RCL Cruises Ltd. Michael Thamm, CEO, Costa Crociere S.p.A.
Enhancement of Safety Measures at Sea This panel will discuss safety onboard, at sea and in port, including safety aspects of ship design, the next generation of life-saving devices and the latest developments in port security with views from cruise lines, regulators and suppliers. The panel will give an update on the work conducted by the Cruise Ship Safety Forum and discuss what is next on the agenda.
Moderator: Rob Griffiths, Director, Technical and Regulatory, Design & Engineering, CLIA
Speakers: Philippe Donche-Gay, Executive Vice President, Marine and Offshore Division, Bureau Veritas, and Chairman, International Association of Classification Societies Bud Darr, Senior Vice President, Technical and Regulatory Affairs, CLIA
Juha Heikinheimo, President, Napa Group Andrew Winbow, Assistant Secretary-General and Director, Maritime Safety Division, International Maritime Organization
Trends and Challenges in Marketing, Sales and Distribution What new types of marketing approaches are being used to tap into the multigenerational and millennial markets? What are the challenges of marketing to an increasingly diverse and international customer base? What will be the key components of an integrated marketing strategy going forward, and what has to happen to make multibrand campaigns successful? Is crowdsourcing a gimmick or effective? Are inclusive pricing models working? How are key distribution channel issues being addressed?
Moderator: Lin Humphrey Ph.D. Candidate and Marketing Lecturer, Texas Tech University
Speakers: David Crooks, Senior Vice President, Product and Operations, World Travel Holdings Ken Jones, Vice President, Group Marketing, Carnival Corporation & plc
Wednesday, March 18
9:30 to 11 a.m. (morning concurrent sessions)
The State of the Cruise Industry: Asia/Australasia – Will China Transform Cruising? The momentum for cruise tourism in Asia and Australasia continues unabated, with announcements from major cruise lines of significant increases in capacity in 2015 and beyond. With a market penetration rate of just 0.1 percent, many Asians have low awareness of cruise tourism, but a high receptivity toward it. In this session, some of the industry’s leading voices will give their views on the scale and nature of Asia’s and Australia’s potential. Will China transform cruising? Can the remarkable level of cruise penetration in the Australian market be achieved in Asia? Latest findings from CLIA’s Asia Cruise Trends Project will also be revealed.
Speakers: Alan B. Buckelew, Chief Operating Officer, Carnival Corporation & plc Dominic Paul, Senior Vice President, International, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises & Azamara Club Cruises, and Managing Director, RCL Ltd. Ann Sherry, CEO, Carnival Australia, and Chairman, CLIA Southeast Asia Gavin Smith, Managing Director, Royal Caribbean Cruises Australia, and Chairman, CLIA Australasia Jan Swartz, President, Princess Cruises
The State of the Cruise Industry: The Future of the Caribbean and How it is Being Reshaped How will infrastructure developments and the emergence of new destinations, combined with the need for fuel efficiency, reshape the Caribbean? How might the opening of Cuba impact deployment? Which areas will emerge in the cruise charts of the future, and which will decline? How is the region adapting to the increase in international source markets and addressing the shortage of multilingual guides? What is being done and what more should happen to create demand in the face of rising international competition?
Speakers: TBA
Energy Efficiency Onboard and Ashore Environmental stewardship is high on the agenda across the industry and energy efficiency is a key component. What are the latest technical advances in energy efficiency onboard and ashore in areas such as fuel economy, waste management, recycling and shoreside reception facilities? What role is class playing in enhancing the energy efficiency of newbuilds and existing tonnage? What is the next generation of energy-saving technology? How are ports and cruise terminals focusing on energy efficiency for cruise ship and passenger handling, and where can improvements be made?
Speakers: TBA
In the Galley and Behind the Bar: The Latest Trends in Hotel Operations/Food and Beverage Robot bartenders are shaking up the cruise world and cavernous main dining rooms are going the way of the shuffleboard. This session will serve what’s next in hotel operations with a particular focus on food and beverage trends.
Panelists will examine what goes into supporting all the dynamic F&B changes at sea, from equipment to human resources, training and scheduling, supply and logistics. How are advance online bookings impacting food service operations and delivery, beverage sales and guest satisfaction? What are the plusses and minuses of applying technology in service areas such as arming waiters and bartenders with tablets? Will more technology lead to lower staffing needs?
Moderator: Dietmar R. Wertanzl President, DRW Hospitality
Speakers: Brian Abel, Vice President, Food and Beverage Operations, Royal Caribbean International Deborah Golden, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Interbrands USA
Wednesday, March 18 3 to 4:30 p.m. (afternoon concurrent sessions)
Upscale Cruise Market: What’s Next? With several of the upscale brands building or planning new ships, what is the next generation of upscale cruise vessels going to look like and feature? With the brands all now looking for much higher load factors, what impact will that have on design? What is guest feedback saying about upscale cruisers’ requirements, both onboard and ashore?
Moderator: Tony Peisley, Director, A.R. Peisley International, and Author of the Seatrade research report “End of the Beginning for Cruising”
Speakers: Hans Birkholz, Chief Executive Officer, Windstar Cruises Sarina Bratton, Chairman, Asia-Pacific, Ponant Richard D. Meadows, President, Seabourn, and President, Cunard North America Edie Rodriguez, President and COO, Crystal Cruises Charles A. Robertson, Chairman and CEO, Pearl Sea Cruises Enzo Visone, Chief Executive Officer, Silversea Cruises
Specialty Cruising: Opportunities and Challenges in the Expedition, Coastal, Inland and River Cruise Sectors Expedition and adventure cruising has spread to every continent. How can cruise lines minimize environmental impact in the remotest corners of the world? What should ports and destinations do to cater to small-ship cruise calls? What’s new on the coastal/inland cruising scene? What are the medium- to long-term prospects for the river cruise sector and where is the next frontier for river and coastal/inland cruising?
Speakers: Dan Blanchard, Chief Executive Officer, Un-Cruise Adventures Helge Grammerstorf, Managing Director, SeaConsult GmbH; Managing Director, IG RiverCruise, and National Director, CLIA Germany Nicola Iannone, Executive Vice President USA-Canada, CroisiEurope
Staying Ahead of Public Health Issues What proactive work is the industry doing to stay ahead of Public Health issues? Norovirus, foodborne illnesses and other public health threats such as Ebola will be discussed and best practices shared. What can the cruise industry learn from academic and scientific research into Public Health issues? What has CLIA’s GI Illness (Norovirus) Task Force learned to date?
Speakers: Captain Jaret Ames, Chief, Vessel Sanitation Program, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Dr. Art Diskin, Medical Director, RCL Ltd.
Dr. Otto “Chip” D. Simmons, Research Assistant Professor, North Carolina State University
Get Connected: How Leaps in Broadband Connectivity May Transform Cruising Big gains, some transformative, are expected from all the recent advances in shipboard Wi-Fi. What implications does faster, more affordable broadband have for various onboard revenue streams? What new entertainment opportunities could arise? Does better connectivity really translate into higher guest satisfaction and greater crew retention? And how will the ability to easily connect with family and friends on board impact the cruise experience? Will the ability to convey cruise activities and offerings in real-time to those ashore help expand the market? What does research tell about the potential to draw consumers who otherwise would never consider cruising?
Speakers: TBA
Thursday, March 19 9:30 to 11 a.m. (morning concurrent sessions)
Cultivating Millennial & Multigenerational Markets This session will delve into the myriad ways cruise lines are adapting to tap into the booming multigenerational and millennial markets. How much of the business do these markets account for now, and what kind of growth is projected? How are these markets impacting ship design, changing the facilities, accommodations and activities on board, and the shoreside experience/excursions? How are marketing and sales efforts transforming to reach these groups?
Moderator: Scott Koepf, Vice President Sales, Avoya Travel
Speakers: Vicky Garcia, Chief Operating Officer, Cruise Planners Fredrik Johansson, Partner and Art Director, Tillberg Design Nancy Shretter, Founder and Managing Editor, Family Travel Network
Itineraries and Shorex: Thinking Outside the Box Extended stays and overnights are appearing more regularly in itineraries. How can ports, destinations and lines work together to maximize shorex revenue and the product offering, and how can overland tours fit into the mix? Creating shorex programs for the more active passenger and for families will be discussed, as will planning itineraries and shorex for the rising numbers of repeat passengers. Regions that offer port density can catch the planner’s eye, but what is the best way to get the marketing message across?
Moderator: Tony Peisley, Director, A.R. Peisley International, and Author of the Seatrade research report “End of the Beginning for Cruising”
Speakers: Carla Salvado, Marketing and Cruise Director, Port de Barcelona, and President, MedCruise, Rene Trepanier, Executive Director, Cruise the St. Lawrence
Newbuilding & Refurbishment With over 30 new cruise ships firmed, valued at more than $23 billion and a forward orderbook through to 2020, this panel will discuss the current and future outlook for cruise ship newbuilding. What does the future hold for Europe’s established cruise shipyards and suppliers, and what role will Asia play in the market, both for new ships and refurbs? Is the recent Carnival/CSSC/Fincantieri memorandum of understanding the key to unlocking China’s potential for new cruise ship construction? How is technology changing the way people experience new and refurbished ships?
Revitalizations and makeovers are becoming more daring, more complex and quicker. A look at cruise line, shipyard and suppliers’ strategies in the booming refurbishment sector.
Speakers: TBA
Open Decks, Water Parks, Fitness & Spas: What’s New in Active, Family and Wellness Areas? The open decks buzz with activity on today’s cruise ships, with interactive water parks, spectacular slides, ropes courses, surfing and even skydiving and other novelties. At the same time, quiet adult or serenity areas are all the rage. And fitness centers and spas are bigger, better and increasingly sophisticated. This session will examine the latest trends in active, family and wellness areas; how to make them appeal to all ages and how to increase utilization with better programming. The role of technology in these spaces, and trends toward covered or enclosed all-weather pools and multipurpose sports areas will be addressed, too.
Speakers: TBA
Cruise Shipping Miami, scheduled March 16-19, 2015, at the Miami Beach Convention Center, is the global flagship of UBM Connect’s Cruise Events Portfolio, which includes the annual Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific and the biennial Seatrade Med Cruise Convention.
Toast the most iconic journey in history, as we look back at 175 years of Cunard. From its maiden voyage in 1840, to the commemorative celebrations of 2015.
Recently Queen Victoria sailed past a fusillade of fireworks to mark the start of her 2015 World Voyage and show off her stunning new look. The ship set out from Southampton in tip-top form having just returned from an intensive 20 day refurbishment at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg. You can view footage of Queen Victoria’s refurbishment here.
Nine brand new single staterooms were installed as part of the refurbishment. In addition to refreshing existing furnishings, enhancements have been made to the outdoor spaces, beverage provision in the ship’s informal Lido restaurant and eight brand new internet stations have been installed on the upper floor of the library.
2,000 contractors representing thirty different nationalities worked a total of 600,000 man hours around the clock to replace all 215,278 square feet of carpet in the passenger areas. They also renewed all 3,167 mattresses on board and replaced over 19,685 square feet – 3.75 miles – of pipe work insulation. 2,695 gallons of paint were used inside and out, enough to paint 54 Boeing 737’s.
“The results of Queen Victoria’s refit are a true testament to Cunard’s ability to respond to passenger input. We are delighted to incorporate their wish for more outdoor space with enhancements to the Upper Grill Terrace and additional areas for sunbathing. We also provided more single staterooms for our single travelers. It’s this commitment to our passengers that keeps Cunard’s 175 year heritage going strong,” commented Rick Meadows, President of Cunard, North America.
Such a successful refit depended on a great working partnership between the ship and the shipyard and throughout the refit, Cunard’s shipboard White Star service standards were observed. To sustain the workforce over its tea-breaks for example, over 317 gallons of soup – served in true Cunard style, with croutons –and 2,000 cookies were consumed daily. 80,000 teas and coffees were consumed over the 20 days.
In honour of the company’s anniversary, Queen Victoria welcomed her World Voyage passengers aboard with a commemorative flag-raising ceremony which took place at the ship’s mast. This was to hoist the signature flag for the first time on board and as is traditional, was performed by the youngest crew member, 20 year-old deck cadet Fraser Browne. The flag will be flown at iconic landmarks across the world during all three of the fleet’s World Voyages and will be auctioned at their conclusion with all proceeds going to The Prince’s Trust, Cunard’s official charity.
A volley of fireworks illuminated the sky overhead as Queen Victoriaset sail. The ship’s first call will be Ponta Delgada in the Azores on 23 January before she sails to the Caribbean, transits the Panama Canal and heads for Hawaii and Australia.
For more information about Queen Victoria, Queen Mary 2 or Queen Elizabeth, or to book a voyage, call Cunard at 1-800-628-6273, or visit www.cunard.com.
Boudicca The Fred Olsen cruise ship
The Fred Olsen cruise ship Boudicca is carrying 784 passengers and 356 crew
A cruise ship carrying more than 1,000 people was left without power off Morocco after an engine room fire.
The fire at 04:00 BST left the ship “listing” and “in pitch black”, said Dave Tonkin, whose father is on board.
The ship was without engine power for about five hours.
Fred Olsen, the company which owns the ship, said it was now fully stable and had five engines running with two still not working. There was no danger to passengers or crew, it said.
Gavin Poole, from Wimbledon, south London, said his parents, who are in their 70s, texted him in the early hours of the morning.
“The texts said, ‘no engines, fire in the engine room, there’s smoke, we’re in life jackets and the captain says everything is under control’,” he said.
“I spoke to my parents a bit later at 07:30 BST and they were in their cabin still in their life jackets. The fire was out, but half of the ship had power and the other half didn’t, and it was listing.”
Ken Watkinson, a passenger on board the Boudicca, said the situation had remained calm throughout.
“Around midnight, they announced there were problems with the electricity. I stayed in my bed and this morning it is all back to normal.”
Meet Mama Lee. Mama Lee is 86-years-old, enjoys ballroom dancing, and has been a full-time resident of a cruise ship for the past ten years. It costs her about $164,000 a year, but it really sounds like she’s loving her permanent vacation.
