GOOD-BYE TO CRUISE WEST

The cruise industry has been abuzz the last two weeks about the apparent demise of Cruise West, a small-ship company that for almost 40 years provided a loyal client base with up-close-and-personal visits to ports of call. Earlier this year, the line announced plans to add a Great Lakes itinerary next summer, and just a couple of months ago teased all of us with its intentions to bring back Mississippi River cruising starting next spring.

However, word arrived about a week ago that CW suddenly ended a world cruise this month about halfway through its 10-month journey. In addition, the Seattle Times reported that 65 Cruise West employees were recently laid off and the reservations center shut down.

Although hopes had been held out for a purchase and/or restructuring, prospects have apparently not worked out at this point. As a matter of fact, the Times article goes on to quote the text from a bulletin issued by the Federal Maritime Commission:

“West Travel, Inc., doing business as the cruise line Cruise West, has notified the Federal Maritime Commission that it is canceling all cruises that were scheduled to begin this past Saturday, September 18, and on all dates that follow, with the exception of the September 22 Danube Cruise (in Europe). It completed cruises of the Spirit of 98 and Spirit of Endeavour that ended in Portland and Seattle on Saturday, September 18.”

We are saddened by this news. Cruise West cruises were never cheap, but they were, after all, on US ships operated by US crew. We’re not talking about less expensive international crew and operations here. But every client we have booked on Cruise West became a fan, especially those cruising to Alaska. Ship captains exercised their freedom to alter itineraries a bit, take a little longer en route for a wildlife sighting, and get much closer to glaciers than the big ships could for better views. The dress code was casual, and passengers numbered 80-130, not 1500-3000.

Moreover, we continue to receive inquiries about cruises on US rivers like the Mississippi and Ohio and hope financial backing will one day open the doors to such an operation. In the meantime, I fear we must bid farewell to a first-rate, family-run operation--felled, it would seem, by the tough economy and increasing fuel costs.

CRUISE LINE SALES
On a much brighter note, many lines are in the midst of sales and special offers right now. In my
September 7 posting, I mentioned the Royal Caribbean offer, but there are more: Carnival has a cash-back sale, and several upscale lines (Azamara, Oceania, Crystal, and Silversea) are offering onboard credit and/or prepaid gratuities and/or two-for-one pricing on select itineraries.

HOLY LAND 2011
We still have space on our Holy Land cruise October 15-26, 2011, on the NCL Jade roundtrip from Rome. We always have a great time on the cruises we personally escort and invite you to consider joining us and the many others who have already deposited. Call or email us for pricing and details.

Cruise West Resurrects Mississippi River Cruises

If you've always romanticized about a cruise down America’s heartland on the Mississippi River, renewed hope is on the horizon. Cruise West, a leader in small-ship explorations, recently announced two new itineraries sailing on the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland Rivers, beginning in March 2011.

The Spirit of Adventure, formerly known as Spirit of Glacier Bay, will fill the gap left with the demise of Magic America Line and her fleet of long-sailing “Queens,” including the popular Delta Queen paddlewheeler. For centuries, America’s Great River Road played a major role in commerce as a vital transit route for passengers and freight alike. Although Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn traversed the river the hard way—on a raft—you’ll hardly be roughing it on the Spirit of Adventure.

Known primarily for up-close-and-personal Alaska itineraries, Cruise West recently revitalized the overall guest experience on the fleet with several enhancements, including a more robust enrichment program and an updated wine list with food pairings complete with US Sommelier Association-certified onboard servers.

Though small in size, every stateroom features a wide picture window or porthole, bathroom, a writing desk and ample storage. The newly-added Explorer Class cabins feature eco-friendly amenities, including soft bamboo fiber linens and towels, and water-conserving shower hea ds. The ship’s decor is sleek with light wood accents and plenty of public space for presentations, viewings, and getting to know fellow passengers.

The focus of Cruise West itineraries, however, is always the destination itself. There is no casino or lavish entertainment, and dress is casual. Ships have been known to divert from an itinerary to accommodate a wildlife sighting. See something outside the window during dinner? Watch passengers and crew alike abandon their tables and head to the best viewpoint. The onboard Exploration Leaders bring years of experience as naturalists and educations and delight in sharing their knowledge with passengers. On these ships, you’ll wear your jeans and gain new insights about each port of call...without the throngs of people vying for attention. We’re talking a max of 102 passengers here. In general, it's really not a kid-friendly line, although there is a Kids' Package offering a 50% savings for ages 2-18. Cruise West caters mostly to well educated adults who simply love to learn while traveling. 

The price tag is not cheap, however. After all, this is an American product paying American wages and catering to American tastes. On the other hand, prices are pretty inclusive, covering many shore excursions, transfers, and gratuities.

In addition to Alaska and the new Mississippi River itineraries, Cruise West sails in the Galapagos, British Columbia, Europe, Patagonia, Panama Canal/Costa Rica, the Sea of Cortes, the St. Lawrence Seaway, Hudson River, the Eastern Seaboard, and the Columbia & Snake Rivers. Also newly added are Voyages of the Great Explorers around the world.