With the travel industry still working to offset the nation’s recession, the last thing needed is a flu epidemic that depresses travel demand any further. How many consumers will retrench from any future travel is, as yet, unknown? Much depends on whether the flu scenario unfolds in a bigger way or, as we truly hope, fizzles. As a consumer as well as a reporter, I acknowledge I’m a bit concerned. I’m not paranoid, for sure, but yesterday I informed Celebrity Cruises that an upcoming trip I’m planning to take in late June for a look at the Celebrity Equinox in Germany will depend on how intensive any flu exposure might be at the time of the trip. Being on a transAtlantic flight with hundreds of other folks for six hours during a flu epidemic isn’t prudent by any standard. I also have an elderly parent at home, so that’s another consideration. For now, however, I’m still eager to go. But I told them I’d evaluate further as the departure date nears. I suspect many other consumers who have planned summer vacations will do the same. While no one should panic, a hefty dose of caution likely will reign if things deteriorate. Cruise lines are clearly evaluating what to do at this moment and several big cruise companies have already shifted itineraries from Mexico. Yesterday, Robin Farley, a UBS Warburg financial analyst (one of the best out there with “right on” assessments in my opinion) put together some interesting numbers. She “quantified” Mexican voyages of Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. brands as 17 percent or so of total deployments. However, she trims that to 5-6 percent of deployments when considering that for many Caribbean voyages with Mexican port calls, the lines will (as both Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International did yesterday) simply substitute other Caribbean destinations. Overall, for every 20 percent reduction in yields for those Mexican itineraries, each major cruise company could potentially face a 1 percent drop in overall companywide yields, according to Farley’s assessment. Of course, nothing is certain right now. And that’s a fact. Other factors could raise or lower the yields even further. One big issue is containment. What happens when, and if, the flu navigates to those secondary Caribbean markets and also any major U.S. port destinations from which the cruises depart? That’s a bigger issue… But for now, consumers – myself included – have a right to be somewhat concerned from a health perspective. Still, we have an obligation to putting this situation in perspective. Reasonable attitudes, when so few people are impacted as yet, must prevail. Our economy is deeply impacted when people stop traveling. So, for now, I’m following the situation closely. And, I’m still planning for my trip – and hope that unless a bigger flu threat develops, others will do the same.
After a fun five days onboard the Carnival Fantasy, it’s time to head home and get back to work! I was aboard the recently refurbished ship (which looks fantastic by the way) for the second annual John Heald Bloggers Cruise. Carnival did a great job with the onboard programs and it was fun to meet all the bloggers from all walks of life. I even met a couple from my home town, Tampa, FL! It’s amazing in life how one has to go 1,000 miles to see people from home.
And of course John Heald is terrific — a one-of-a-kind guy who is truly revered by the guests onboard Carnival. He “truly makes” the cruise in terms of an experience and, frankly, I don’t know how he does what he does His schedule seems brutal but he loves people and tackles everything with gusto. The bloggers were very happy with all the activities and thrilled to see John. I too was happy to repeat on the bloggers cruise. It’s a lot of fun, exactly what Carnival promises for guests.
Getting off the ship today, I opted to bypass the provided transfer service to the airport. Instead, I grabbed a cab and headed for Jackson Square in the French Quarter. En route in the cab and after arrival while on foot, I felt everything looked very clean and neat. I know there are problems elsewhere in New Orleans, but tourists should feel comfortable in visiting the French Quarter. Just take the normal precautions you would in any big city.
I sat down at Cafe du Monde, ordered my coffee and beignets and chowed down. In the past I recall some of the waiters were rude, but not this time. People were friendly, and I gladly obliged when other tourists asked me to take their photos. The best part of Cafe Du Monde? Yes, the beignets are great, but “peoplewatching” is superb.
Gathering my things to depart the cafe, I eyeballed the carriages across the street. One of the highlights of a New Orleans visit is a carriage ride — with colorful carriages pulled by mules giving visitors an up-close tour through the French Quarter to view restaurants, shops, historic buildings, the wonderful architecture, Mardi Gras decorations, French balconies, and colorful streetscapes. So I hopped onboard and for $50 went off on a solo carriage ride (it was early so the price was cheaper than normal)… with a very knowledgeable guide who talked a mile a minute. There were so many facts flying they could make up an entire book. I gleaned bits and pieces; enjoyed seeing the sites; and taking photos for a future article.
In two hours, I had a bit of a mini-getaway – so much better than going from ship to airport without seeing anything. I’ve been to New Orleans repeatedly over the years. I found it refreshing to be back again. The city looked very attractive in the downtown and French Quarter areas. But the cab driver who drove me to the airport told me that tourism is hurting in this tough econom. Fewer tourists translates into really rough times for the folks who live there — as if they didn’t have enough heartache over the past few years. He said 1,600 people were registered as cab drivers pre-Katrina and just 800 today with more going out of business every day. Conventions — once the anchor for tourism — are still coming, but fewer participants are opting to come. Still, the city has a vibrant, upbeat personality. I enjoyed my Carnival Cruise on the Carnival Fantasy. New Orleans is a great spot for a pre- or post-cruise stay… and I had just a taste of it today. It was truly colorful with all the Mardi Gras decorations on display.
This post is probably pretty rambling as I’m writing it from the gate at New Orleans International Airport….so signing off… Cheers!
Carnival Fantasy's newly refurbished top deck exudes a tropical flair.
I’ve covered the cruise industry for nearly a decade as a journalist. And, I’ve written about the cruise lines’ and the travel industry’s efforts to attract more first time cruisers. So, this week, onboard the refurbished Carnival Fantasy on a sailing from New Orleans, I was pleased to interact with these newbies first-hand. I’ve learned a lot about what first timers expect and why they view cruising as such a great value.
My first clue that this five-night voyage to Progresso and Cozumel, Mexico was a first timer’s favorite was at the required lifeboat drill. As we sat holding our brightly colored orange life jackets in the Universe Lounge (Muster Station A) I found myself among people not exactly sure why they were there and wondering why the bars were closed. I held my tongue — not asking if the movie Titanic had any meaning.
Later, I helped a friendly woman next to me understand how the life jacket worked. She and her husband were from Minnesota. They’d driven to New Orleans to board the ship. Now that’s quite a hike. It’s easy to forget in this jet age that to many Americans, a vacation is still a drive vacation. This couple was most excited to be aboard. As we sat facing the Universe Lounge’s sparkling curtain, the female guest asked “how do I find out about shows.” I explained that she should check her Carnival Capers newsletter each evening.
As a veteran of 60-plus cruises, it’s easy for those of us who’ve been there, done that to realize that newbies have a slew of questions. They’ve taken a “huge step” in their minds to try out a cruise adventure. On this cruise I met a middle age man who seemed to live at the soft serve ice cream machine (just incredulous that you could get it over and over again). To him it was one of the joys of his cruise, apparently. Don’t ask what I was doing there to see him that much?!
Overall, people loved the food on Carnival, especially the Carnival Fantasy’s new Mongolian Wok station where Asian chefs stir fry the veggies, meat/seafood, and sauce of your choice. The guests also loved the waiters parading around the dining room at night singing “Hot, Hot, Hot” with guests in tow waving their dinner napkins.
And they loved the onboard activities – from bingo to a hairy chest contest (give the guys a few beers and they’re prepped to go!), from art auctions to trivia. Shore trips too were a hit. And Carnival’s pricing for the shore trips was better than on some lines I’ve sailed with.
I met many new cruisers ready to explore the world. It was exciting to see people who — in some cases — had never set foot outside the U.S. before and were eager to explore. The more Americans go abroad, the more all of us understand we’re part of something bigger than just our own borders. And the more foreigners get to know us. I spoke a few words of Spanish to shop keepers and tour guides. It went a long way toward building that friendship bridge that we seem as a country to have lost of late.
But my main point here is that all of us in the cruise industry, including travel media, travel agents and the cruise lines themselves must do a better job of educating people who have taken the step to book a cruise. Once onboard, we shouldn’t assume the newbies know everything. And on cruises that appeal to first timers, perhaps even more in the way of education should be accomplished.
I encountered dozens of couples waiting in stairwells and at elevator platforms upset that they’d miss their tour. Their tour ticket said “Be on the pier by 7:15 a.m” so they thought they absolutely must be there at that time – even if no one would let them off the ship. My attempts to explain to some of them that the delay was because the ship had not yet been cleared by Mexican Customs and Immigration, fell on deaf ears. But to these folks, the whole process simply was confusing. Their view? They felt Carnival was “late” (actually not the case as veteran cruisers know – one cannot always hurry government officials).” Finally, the announcement came that the ship had been cleared. All were happy to get to their motorcoach and begin their tours. Later in the day some of those same folks had long forgotten the early morning hiccups.
On this cruise, I met folks — many first time cruisers — from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Oregon, and even Germany and Australia. All mentioned the great value of the cruise – almost too good a deal to pass up. There’s no doubt cruising is a fantastic value — with food, entertainment and accommodations (including turn-down service and daily cleaning/servicing of your stateroom) included in the cruise fare. Right now the prices are low, which is leading to more and more new cruisers coming onboard. And that should bring a slew of people into the cruise marketplace for years to come. Once people sail, they usually repeat.
Carnival Fantasy is a good example of the value out there in the cruise industry. For $300-$400 per person (my estimate – talk with your travel agent about specifics), consumers can snag a five-day cruise to two exotic ports and enjoy pampering days at sea, fun entertainment and comfortable accommodations.
Carnival Fantasy is perfect for families, with a Camp Carnival program and a new Carnival Water Works area with water slides. Adults will appreciate the totally refurbished spa and fitness area. The new tropical look to the pool with gold umbrellas, a stage for entertainers and palm trees add the island flair many consumers seek. See my Web site, www.southerncruising.com and view the Photos of the Week for a slew of new original photos of Carnival Fantasy.
Bottom line: I was impressed with the ship and the upgrades. The multimillion dollar investment made by Carnival should keep people coming onboard for years to come. And the ship’s size and price points should attract more first timers.
I was thrilled at the high number of first timers I met onboard. It’s a good sign for the cruise industry – even in tough times – that the product is inherently good. And with the great deals right now, it’s easy for those who haven’t taken the plunge to say, “Let’s try it.” But for all of us veterans, let’s just remember we were first timers once too. We’ve figured it out, and I’m sure they will in time too – cruising rocks.
If you won’t go on a cruise because you think it’s all about pigging out, think again. Today’s voyages offer world-class fitness centers with personal trainers to assist. There are top-deck jogging or running tracks and often basketball courts. The dining room features light choices (low cal, low fat) or spa-type cuisine. You can request dishes without the sauce. There are even no-sugar desserts that look appropriately decadent. And don’t worry, you’re likely to stay fit simply by the sheer size of today’s ships. When you’re traveling on a ship that holds several thousand guests, the distances between activities will keep you fit. Just walking from your cabin to the dining room can be quite a hike. If you’re heading for a cruise, here are a few tips I suggest for those wanting to stay fit. (1) Visit the fitness center your first day onboard; get an assessment of your physical abilities and ask for a trainer to help you design a daily fitness regimen while onboard; (2) In the morning, enjoy a cup of java but then take a walk or jog around the promenade deck or the jogging track, respectively. Couple fun activities with an exercise element; (3) Take the stairs; ships are often 15 or so decks; hopping up and down between venues, rather than opting for elevators is a great way to burn calories; (4) Book shore trips that require walking or design your own tour around a city center. Just get out and move; (5) Head for late-night dance venues. There’s nothing like a fun night on the dance floor to burn calories; (6) Grab a buddy. If you brought a friend or made a new one onboard, pledge to do one activity per day together that burns — or at least “watches” — calories, such as meeting for coffee at the far end of the ship (a long walk) or having breakfast daily with both of you not going overboard with the sausages and breads; (7) But do eat breakfast, as it gets your metabolism going for the rest of the day; and (8) Remember that all these activities will allow you to splurge a bit here and there, so you’ll likely go home weighing no more than what you did when you arrived. You’ll still have fun, enjoy the cruise and its activities, but keep the pounds where they belong – definitely somewhere else.
Just two weeks ago I was among the media folks sailing on the new Silversea Expeditions’ Prince Albert II from Port Everglades, FL, on assignment for a national magazine to inspect the ship for readers. As part of the program, it’s true that journalists often get to do some interesting things one wouldn’t encounter sitting in an office cubicle. I don’t feel too guilty as I work 18 to 20 hours a week, seven days a week most days. That said, there is the cherished perk of getting out and seeing the world. On this specific trip, I took two shore trips operated by the expedition folks to get a sense of what they do with guests onboard this smaller, 132-passenger vessel. This particular day the media and line’s guests headed for Tulum, the Mayan ruins in Mexico’s Yucatan. I must say I’ve been to Tulum twice before. Yet, it never ceases to enchant. For me, it’s the perfect combination of history and nature, with its dramatic temple ruins perched on the edge of the sea. Of course, this brings up the thread of this post. I’ve never met a ruin I didn’t like. Something about the past and wondering how people lived, what their daily lives were like, and what happened to their culture has always fascinated me. My favorite ruins? Angkor in Cambodia takes top honors in my book, followed closely by the Roman city of Palmyra in Syria; the Pyramids in Egypt; and the magnificent ruins of Rome, Arles, Athens, Delphi and beyond. Tulum certainly isn’t the biggest of all Mayan complexes, but it’s explorable on a short day trip, which makes it doable for cruise visitors. Mostly, the ruins are visited in the morning and quite crowded with tour groups. On this trip, a repositioning voyage, we docked at Playa Del Carmen and ventured out mid-afternoon, unusual for a cruise itinerary. As a result, Tulum was blessedly deserted. With an umbrella for shade and water (a must), I strolled amid the blocks of decaying stone; felt the salt breeze in my face; and watched bathers on the beach below. Iguanas scampered across the pathways. I rested for a time seated on a rock under a tree – chatting easily (hello in Spanish, the rest of the conversation in English) with Mexican families who smartly opted to avoid the crush of morning tourists. They were clearly proud of their heritage and their children, including one two-year old. He resembled the Energizer bunny — he kept going, and going and going. Finally, they had no choice but to follow up the hillside, waving at me as though parting from an old friend. Perhaps this is the life lesson. I love to explore ruins, for sure. But it’s the personal encounters — often brief but lasting — with fellow travelers that deliver the heritage with a modern twist. That intangible perk of the job is priceless. www.southerncruising.com
Cruising ‘Round the Weather
When storm season hits in late summer and fall, cruise ships adeptly just sail around the hot spots. So while the printed schedule says a port call at Key West, cruisers may find themselves going ashore instead at Nassau, or perhaps Cozumel in lieu of St. Thomas. Fortunately, ships are mobile. So if passengers can go with the flow and adjust their mindset to enjoy their cruise whatever the itinerary, they’ll likely have a good time. Of course, sometimes cruises do have to be cancelled or shortened. Most ships, though, simply sail out of harm’s way, with the lines rerouting passengers to alternative ports. We wish the same could be said for cities like Biloxi, Gulfport and New Orleans, hit so hard by Hurricane Katrina three years ago. We visited Biloxi and Gulfport earlier this year for the Travel South conference and were encouraged by the rebuilding progress For example, the 19th century Beauvoir, Jefferson Davis’ former home, heavily damaged by Katrina’s wall of water, just reopened. That said, it’s the people along the coast, their spirit, and their safety we think about this week. We wish they could just sail out of harm’s way from future storms. We wish them to know our hearts and prayers are with them.
When it comes to “revealing” what’s planned for a new ship, the cruise lines have learned to dole out the details in tiny bits — driving journalists like me crazy (let’s just do the story once and be done!) but, of course, filling the lines’ promotional coffers with repeated stories on the new ship. Last week, however, there were some sizable “reveals.” Royal Caribbean, which already has a huge zip line attraction at Labadee, now plans one onboard its soon-to-be world’s biggest ship, Oasis of the Seas. Zip lines are hot everywhere, so it’s not surprising that the line would take the concept onto a ship. But we are even more intrigued by Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Ice Bar, in which the bar, walls, tables, stools, glasses and life-size sculptures are made of ice. While one wouldn’t think getting frigid is a concept vacationers might relate to… then just consider the Ice Hotel in Sweden, a highly popular place. Yes, the novelty itself is the attraction. NCL’s ice bar will host 25 people, who won’t freeze. They’ll be given fur coats, gloves and hats to keep warm. The room temperature will be a cool 17 degrees or below. All this talk about the latest and greatest, razzle-dazzle features brings back memories of an unusual image I saw just a few months ago — with Port Everglades putting out a promotional piece showing a pie-in-the-sky concept of a roller coaster on the top of a cruise ship. Well, I don’t think that’s really an out-of-the-question amenity… look what they’ve done at the top of a skyscraper in Las Vegas. In the end, not all cruise guests are interested in the off-the-wall amenities like surfing or rock wall climbing, but for most of us (myself included) who love to observe it’s a heck of a good time watching the rest of you. Would you head for an Ice Bar on a cruise ship? I’d be curious what others think? Cheers – EditorLady, www.southerncruising.com
When I cruise, the booking is just the first step. Then I go crazy trying to read, learn, and see everything and anything about the ports I’m visiting. I’m one of those folks who believes the cruise is the means to the destination, rather than the destination being an ancillary perk to the cruise. Yes, I love the ships and all they offer, but hey I’m about pounding the pavement on land to see the sights. When it comes to cruising from U.S. southern ports, river cruising is one option. We read this week that the Baton Rouge (LA) Convention and Visitors Bureau was reneweing its relationship with Videoglobetrotter.com. So reportedly, if you go to the site, you’ll be able to peruse a video about what’s to see and do in Baton Rouge, a river port destination I enjoyed immensely a few years back (the Huey P. Long political tour was a hoot, so take that shore trip if you get a chance). But there’s much more to see and do in Baton Rouge, which has one of the prettiest, most statuesque, modern capitol buildings around. My uncle was a state legislator there for a time in the 1960s. Anyway… back to the story… I’m digressing. Reportedly this video site allows travelers to “look before they book.” We like that concept so if you go to the site — as we plan to — and check it out, let us know what you think.
There’s no place like home as Dorothy once said. In the case of cruisers, there’s no place like cruising “close to home.” In CLIA’s most recent Market Profile, some 72 percent of those surveyed said additional “close to home” ports would increase their likelihood to cruise.While most of us still fly here and there, as needed, it’s clear that a cruise port that’s right in your backyard is a big plus. In my case, it’s just 15 minutes to the Port of Tampa or less than two hours to Port Canaveral. Not surprisingly, 71 percent of those surveyed by CLIA cited the ability to drive to the ship as a perk. Some 67 percent said they’d save money by not having to buy air travel. And 64 felt they could do without those airport hassles and TSA lines. Believe me, many folks I know echo those thoughts. As an ex-airline employee, I’m appalled but what I see these days at airports in the way of lines, hassles, fees and delays – but, hey, economic times have changed since the 1990s and the airlines have to do all they can to cut costs. It’s a horrid environment for them. Reportedly five U.S. airlines are teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, depending which analyst you interview. While I’d like to see the airlines do well, and get some of those services back, that’s about as probable as stopping global warming in its tracks tomorrow. So airline woes are my excuse to think about booking my next close-to-home cruise vacation. The trip is easy, you leave many of the transport hassles (except for gas prices) behind, and right now ”the vacation price is right” (as Drew Carey might say). Hmmm… I’m thinking early December. How about you? Are you going on a cruise vacation this year? If so, why? Inquiring minds want to know…
