NCL Epic and New Promotions

After being away from the office 10 days, we've spent much of the last week simply catching up, and I'm way behind on my blog posts.  Ben did get our conference photos loaded, however, and you can access them all here.  Pictured here are Ben and me with our vice president, Dwain Wall during the Agent of the Year presentation.  We're still in shock, but mighty proud!

I'm also behind on letting you know about promotional offers that are about to expire, so let me address those first.

NCL Epic:  Promotional rates on select sailings between now and March 5 booked by November 15.
Royal Caribbean:  Onboard credit offer on ALL Europe departures in 2010, 2011, and 2012 booked through November 15.
Azamara Club:  Onboard credit offer for Europe, Asia, West Indies, Panama Canal and Sea of Cortez sailings booked now through Novembr 15.  
Carnival: Europe Onboard credit or cash back promotions on sailings booked now through November 14 on the barnd new Magic.
Celebrity:  New lower prices on Caribbean sailings of the Solstice and Eclipse booked now through November 15.
Crystal:  2-for-1 fares, free air, and up to $2,000 per couple in onboard credit, booked now trhough December 31.  On select sailings, Cruises Inc adds additional onboard credit and pre-paid gratuities.

Yes, cruise lines are often throwing promotions into the mix, but remember this:  rates will still likely go higher, so discounts and other offers may not be as sweet as they are now, even with the promotions.  We'd love to help you take advantage of these offers, so please call soon!

Now, back to the Epic.  Wow.  We truly were impressed with this ship.  Much has already been written about the ship, those oddly configured bathrooms in cabin, and the entertainment, but we want to offer some of our views, as well.  Admittedly, conference workshops and events keep us so busy that we didn't get to see and do as much as we'd have liked, but in the the next couple of posts, we'll offer our highlights.

With the Epic, first and foremost, think options:  18 restaurants, 15 bars and lounges, the largest water park at sea, as well as largest casino at sea, and some of the most beautiful suites on any ship.  You're probably thinking, "Yes, but some of those restaurants cost extra money."  True, but compare the base price to, say, the Royal Caribbean Oasis and Allure of the Seas.  NCL always prices lower so that passengers can use the savings to try these eateries.  Prices range from $2.50 in the a la carte Noodles Bar to $30 for Cirque Dreams and Dinner show in the Spiegel Tent.  You can't beat it. Learn more about some of them next time! 

Cruises Inc Agents of the Year 2010!

[Following is my first post from our National Conference cruise, delayed because of technical issues.]
 The Cruises Inc National Conference Cruise is well underway on the new Norwegian Epic. Today, I will post a brief blog while we are docked in Costa Maya, but I confess this one is to brag a bit.

Last night [Sunday, October 17] was Awards Night for both Cruises Inc (independent contractors like Ben and me) and our sister company CruiseOne (franchise owners). Drum roll, please! Ben and I were honored to receive Cruises Inc. top producer awards for AMA Waterways, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Princess Cruise Line.

We were also recognized as million dollar sellers.

Best of all, we were named Cruises Inc Agents of the Year 2010--a total surprise, since we first received this honor back in 2004. We feel, however, that we must share it with our wonderful clients who continue to value us as their agents, and we send a huge thank you from this amazing ship! We must also thank our corporate staff at Cruises Inc and our parent company, Wolrd Travel Holdings, for the tremendous support they continue giving the agent community.

And kudos to NCL for going the extra mile to ensure a great conference for us. With over 800 onboard in our combined companies, we comprise the largest group yet on the Epic. Despite the logistical challenges, NCL is doing a fantastic job in accommodating all our needs.

More on this amazing ship in my next posts.

The Norwegian Epic

The Norwegian Epic has arrived in Miami! She made her way across the Atlantic June 24 following short preview season in Europe. Country music star Reba McIntire, the Epic’s official godmother, christened her new godchild on July 3. Then, in addition to the usual fanfare and inaugural celebrations, the Epic served as host venue for the grand Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks event in New York. Did you watch? I confess I’m a fireworks snob and can’t get too much out of much less than what the big guys produce. This was quite a show! At the conclusion of this one, we switched over to the Boston Pops fireworks display and always enjoy it, too, both for the excellent choreography and to relive my family’s experience of attending the event when John Williams conducted the Pops back in the 80s.

Anyway, back to the Epic. She made her way down to Miami, arriving at Bicentennial Park July 7 for more inaugural events and her maiden Eastern Caribbean voyage which departed today from Miami. For passengers wanting longer voyages, the ship offers back-to-back Eastern/Western Caribbean sailings giving both sets of popular ports of call and much more time to enjoy the ship. Check out NCL's videos of the ship, her features, and inaugural events.

Reviews have been pretty darn good. Although Ben and I have been unable to attend the inaugural sailings, our agent colleagues and passengers alike have posted comments. The entertainment slat—from Blue Man Group to Legends at Sea, Second City, Howl at the Moon, and the Slam Allen Blues Band in “Fat Cats”—get thumbs up in almost every review I’ve read. NCL has pulled out the stops in this regard.

NCL excels when it comes to suites, and those on the Epic are nothing short of amazing. Standard and balcony cabins take some getting used to, however, because of the layout and a modified bathroom configuration. Innovation always brings challenges! Single cruisers have not been disappointed with the studio staterooms, though, which are smaller with a shared living area and come without a single supplement—a real financial plus.

Has all of this chatter gotten your attention? Our agency offers excellent extra value-adds on for sailings 8/28/10 and 5/7/11. You can be one of the first guests aboard the Epic and receive up to $150 per cabin onboard credit, as well as a reduced deposit. On Western Caribbean itineraries, you’ll visit Costa Maya, Roatan & Cozumel; going East, you’ll hit St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Nassau. Rates begin at $659 (Eastern) for an inside cabin. Balcony upgrades are available, too!  Please call us for details.

CRUISE LINES ANNOUNCE PRICE HIKES AND 2011 ITINERARIES

Upscale line Regent Seven Seas is the latest to announce upcoming rate hikes. After March 31, prices will increase on many of the line’s voyages, although the free air offer and free unlimited shore excursions offer may still be available. Azamara’s 2-for-1 savings and $500 onboard credit offer will also expire the end of this month.

 

RSSC’s announcement follows on the heels of similar notices from Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and Carnival. That should tell you that cruise bookings are going very well, thank you very much, and ships are beginning to fill. Get those vacations booked now!

 

We’re also seeing the first of 2011-12 itineraries opening up now. NCL, Princess, and Oceania just announced Europe itineraries. Capacity is expanding in that region, too. Royal Caribbean, Princess, and NCL will all send more ships to Europe in 2011, with more ports of all and overnight stays—music to many a traveler’s ears. Alaska isn’t gaining any more ships, however, so plan to book that Alaska cruise as early as possible. Fewer ships mean fewer berths—and prices increase as ships fill.

 

As a matter of fact, this is a great time in general to get your 2011 vacation on the books! Remember, unless you’re booking under Carnival’s Early Saver Fare with its nonrefundable deposit (but at a big savings), your cruise deposit will be fully refundable if your plans change. We can move you to a different date or cancel you completely.

 

Please don’t buy into the notion that you’ll get a better deal by waiting until the “last minute.” Does that work occasionally? Yes, if you live near the departure port, keep a flexible schedule, and aren’t picky about cabin choice or location.

 

The risks?

• Cabin choices relegated to leftovers at the very front or back of the ship or near a noisy location
• Dining choice relegated to late (after 8 pm), when you prefer to dine early (around 6)
• Higher priced airfare to your embarkation port
• Prices were actually much cheaper 9 months out!

Four weeks from today, Ben and I will be on our way to Portugal for our AMAWATERWAYS river cruise. Watch for live blogs coming your way!

 

 

 

Norwegian Epic

The Oasis of the Seas was the Big News in 2009, and her sister ship Allure of the Seas will likely make a pretty big splash herself in late 2010. However, the ship to watch this year is the Norwegian Cruise Line Epic who will make her debut this summer.

At a “mere” 153,000 tons, she’ll not be quite the size of the 220,000-ton Oasis and Allure, nor will she sport their signature open public decks like Central Park and the Boardwalk. Passenger capacity is lower, too, at 4200 compared to 5400. But she’ll compete quite nicely in the innovations category.

For single travelers, long penalized on ships by having to pay double occupancy rates for the pleasure of staying in a cabin by themselves, the best news is the introduction of the Studios. These special cabins, designed and priced for single occupancy, start at $799 (cruise/port charges) on the ship’s seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, and there are no—repeat, no—single supplements added!

So, do the math here. Compare this price with a standard inside cabin on the Epic at $649 per person. When you add the single supplement, a person cruising solo would normally pay double the cruise/port charges amount at $1298. In a Studio cabin, this traveler will pay almost $500 less! That’s a considerable savings. Now, these cabins are smaller than normal cabins at just 100 square feet of living space, but they still contain a full-size bed and separate areas for the bathroom, sink and shower, all in a contemporary design. In addition, guests in the Studios have private access to the exclusive Studio Lounge. Here, guests can grab a cup of coffee in the morning, meet up with fellow cruisers, or relax with a drink in the evening. Since many of the Studio staterooms are connecting, there is also the opportunity for friends to travel together while giving each their own private space.

Stated Kevin Sheehan, NCL’s chief executive officer, in a recent press release, “We are breaking the mold of traditional cruising once again by offering a stateroom designed and priced specifically for solo travelers, making cruising a more attractive travel option.”

The Epic doesn’t stop with this new cabin category for single travelers , though. Ben and I met with some of our corporate staff over dinner in San Antonio last night (they are here for a conference), and we talked about some of NCL’s innovations over the years and how people sometimes forget the line’s contributions to the cruise industry. From delivery of its flagship Sunward in 1966 and the stretching of the Song of Norway in the late 1970s, to the addition of the Broadway show Grease, Freestyle dining, bowling at sea, and intra-Hawaii itineraries, this company has set more than one trend. Not every innovation has worked out as planned (Hawaii itinerary a great idea; three ships doing the same route, not), but then, with innovation comes risk.

Want an interesting read on cruise line history? Pick up a copy of Devils on the Deep Blue Sea—The Dreams, Schemes and Showdowns that Built America’s Cruise-Ship Empires, by Kristoffer A. Garin.  You’ll learn about some of the risks, successes, failures, and, most interestingly, the intrigue of this industry we’ve grown to love.

Back to the Epic. On this ship, you won’t find the traditional shows that rotate through one main theater on different nights of the week. Instead, you’ll be treated to vastly different shows, each in its own venue that you can see on almost any night of your cruise. Fat Cats is for jazz and blues lovers; head to the adult-only Spice H20 at the ship’s aft to swim by day and dance at night when the area is converted to a sultry, Ibiza-inspired beach club. Or, check out the Blue Man Group, Second City Comedy Troupe, or the Cirque Dreams and Dinner tent.

How about the only Ice Bar at sea—one of only 14 true ice bars in the world? Kept at the very un-tropical temperature of 17 degrees, the Ice Bar invites guests to don a cozy faux fur coat, a hat, and gloves to enjoy a cocktail. Frozen Margarita, anyone? 
And if you have no intention to cruise solo, maybe you’d prefer booking one of the largest Villas suite complex at sea—60 in all—or simply one of the Epic’s many New Wave Staterooms where you may find curved walls, concealed contour lighting, or even domed ceilings. Expect contemporary design throughout.

Learn more about staterooms here and public areas here.

There is much more news to come on the Epic, of course, and bookings are in full swing. She crosses the Atlantic to the US on June 14 and then does a series of inaugural sailings before her maiden seven-night Caribbean itinerary July 10. Our agency’s conference on this brand new ship—a huge coup for us—is set for October 16—we are psyched!

By the way, looking for a real deal on the Norwegian Gem sailing 14 nights roundtrip from Venice? We have a group established with a few cabins still remaining in the group inventory. Category BC balcony cabins are priced $800 below current published rates, and four Category J inside cabins priced $620 less. A deal! This is a back-to-back itinerary calling on the ports of Split, Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Dubrovnik, Athens, Izmir (Ephesus), and Nafplion. I don’t know how long NCL will let us keep these cabins, so call soon if you’re interested!