Cruises ‘better value’ than a decade ago

Cruise holiday prices are almost £2,000 cheaper per couple than they were 10 years ago, a leading line claims. Research by P&O Cruises found that a two week cruise this summer in an ocean view cabin cost £1,579 per person, compared with the same holiday ten years ago at £2,520.

P&O Cruises managing director Nigel Esdale said: “The cumulative inflation rate between May 1998 and May 2008 is 32%, so if cruise holidays had increased accordingly, then our prices should be more than double those in this summer’s brochure. “In actual fact, this year’s prices are more than £900 cheaper per person, almost £2,000 cheaper for a couple than ten years ago.”

An ocean view cabin for two people on Oriana this year costs £3,158 – 37% less than ten years ago when the same cabin would have cost £5,040, according to P&O Cruises.

“Compare that to a loaf of bread, which cost 48p and is now £1.08, or a pint of draught bitter which cost £1.70 ten years ago and is now around £3 a pint or even the well documented price of a litre of unleaded petrol which cost 67p per litre in 1998 and is now £1.12,” said Esdale. “Household expenditure on everyday items has practically doubled, whilst cruise holidays have become more affordable than ever.

“Considering a cruise holiday today includes accommodation, almost all food, entertainment and even flights, the research proves the exceptional value it provides at a time when the credit crunch is hitting our wallets in every aspect of our daily life.“Passengers can eat in the restaurant of a celebrity chef, try bungee trampolining and circus skills, enjoy a martini in a contemporary designer bar or see a West End style show at minimal cost.”

Virgin Holidays Cruises managing director Robin Deller said: “We have seen a significant increase in cruise sales in 2008. “We believe this is mainly due to the fact consumers are now fully aware that a cruise holiday really does provide the best value for money. “This trend seems set to continue as more innovative ships appealing to the ‘new to cruise’ passenger and to families enter service.”

Cruiseline Tipping Policies

A Quick Guide to Tipping

Cruiselines Where Gratuities are not Included in Cruise Cost
P&O Cruises sticks with the cash and envelope system for passengers on fixed dining, but clients on Ventura or Oceana, who have opted for Freedom dining, will be changed £1.60 a day for the waiters. Envelopes will be provided for the stewards. Tipping is optional.

Princess Cruises adds $10 per person per day to the bill for all passengers. This can be removed on request.

Norwegian Cruise Line adds $10 per person per day service charge for adults, $5 for under-12s, which is mandatory. NCL also adds a mandatory 18% gratuity to all spa treatments.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines recommends £2 a day each for the cabin steward and restaurant waiter. Envelopes are supplied at reception.

Crystal Cruises includes gratuities for British passengers who have bought a flycruise package.

Cruiselines Where Gratuities are Included in Cruise Cost
Ocean Village
Island Cruises
Thomson Cruises
Silversea
SeaDream Yacht Club
Yachts of Seabourn
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Hebridean International Cruises

Ocean Village Unveils New Caribbean Destinations

Ocean Village is to run 14-night cruises in the Caribbean in winter 2009-10 to give access to new destinations not accessible on one-week sailings.

Three different fly-cruise itineraries will run by the line’s two ships with prices starting at £1,199 per person, including a 45% early booking discount.

New destinations on departures from Barbados include Samana in the Dominican Republic,

Grand Turk, Mayreau in the Grenadines and Colon for the Panama Canal.

All holidays are for 14 nights, reflecting a clear passenger preference for two weeks away – more than 85% of current Caribbean passengers opt for this duration, according to the company.

Prices Revealed for Oasis of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International has revealed that prices for nine-night fly cruises on mega ship Oasis of the Seas will start at £1,299 per person.

The ship is one of the most hyped vessels of all time and, with capacity for 5,400 passengers, will be 40% larger than the current largest ship in the world, Independence of the Seas, which is also owned by RCI. Oasis of the Seas will make its first sailing on December 12, 2009 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The inaugural season will begin with 19 consecutive seven-night sailings to the Eastern Caribbean, with ports of call at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Nassau, Bahamas. From May 1, 2010, Oasis of the Seas will alternate its Eastern Caribbean itinerary with the Western Caribbean itinerary, which will call at Labadee, Royal Caribbean International’s private beach destination in Haiti; the new port of Falmouth, Jamaica; and Cozumel, Mexico.

The ship will feature the first ever outdoor park at sea, called Central Park. Cabins will go on sale on September 3rd and the company is so confident of strong sales that it has decided not to offer early booking discounts.

MSC Places New Ship Orders

MSC Cruises has placed orders for two new ships. The Italian line reportedly placed orders with the French Aker yard for two Musica-class vessels.

The ships are due for delivery in February 2011 and February 2012, further expanding the company's fleet.

MSC introduces its biggest ship, MSC Fantasia, in December. The 133,500-tonne ship will bring the fleet up to ten vessels, rising to 12 before the two new orders.

P&O Cruises Revamps Shore Excursions

P&O Cruises is offering holidaymakers the chance to drive a Ferrari for the day or race a private yacht if regular coach-based shore excursions no longer excite them.

P&O Cruises managing director Nigel Esdale said: “We are attracting more new cruise passengers than ever before and these holidaymakers are looking for something a little different to do on shore than a guided coach tour.

“We can now offer them experiences that simply would not be possible on any other type of holiday.”

Ferrari driving is available to cruisers in Italy, from the port of Livorno, while racing a private Beneteau 40 yacht can be done for those stopping off in Antigua. Zip wiring trips through the rainforest are also available to cruisers in Jamaica, while in Grasse, near the port of Cannes, holidaymakers can create a personal fragrance with master perfumers.

Meanwhile, glaciers and ice-fields can be explored from Reykjavik. Many of the new excursions are available now, with some offered from 2009.

TAKE A CRUISE AND COME BACK LOOKING TEN YEARS YOUNGER

NCL Freestyle Cruising has taken holiday rejuvenation to the next level as it becomes the the first cruise line to offer BOTOX® Cosmetic, Restylane® and Perlane® facial aesthetic treatments on board in its Mandara operated spas, in partnership with global provider of spa services Steiner Transocean, LLC (“Steiner”).

The treatments, which are part of Mandara’s medi-spa programme, are currently available on select NCL ships, including Norwegian Gem - currently based in Barcelona - Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Spirit, with plans to launch fleet-wide this autumn.

Guests simply book in for a 30 minute consultation period with a medically-licensed doctor, and an individual treatment plan is created to tackle those areas showing the telling signs of aging.
All facial aesthetic treatments are under the careful supervision of Steiner’s Medical Director, Dr. Brad Herman, a Miami-based, board-certified plastic surgeon and his team of medically-licensed doctors who have been trained specifically in the administration of these treatments.
“Our spas are the best at sea and we are always looking for new ways to enhance the guest experience,” says Stephen Park, general manager, NCL UK.

“NCL has always been the most innovative cruise line, and being the first to offer these popular medi-spa treatments is a further example of our product development and offering.
“We are excited to be able to offer Botox treatments for those passengers sailing on Norwegian Gem on her popular Western Mediterranean itineraries out of Barcelona and look forward announcing that not only do we have the youngest fleet at sea – but we also have the youngest looking passengers!”

Leonard Fluxman, president and chief executive officer of Steiner Leisure, says, “We believe this expansion of our medi-spa services provides yet another opportunity to perpetuate our philosophy of imparting inner and outer beauty for our guests. As beauty and wellness needs continue to evolve, we always strive to present our guests with a premium selection of treatments that suit their individual lifestyle and preferences.”

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a simple, non-surgical treatment that can safely and effectively soften lines and reduce wrinkles. BOTOX® Cosmetic has been used therapeutically for over 18 years, and according to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, has been the number one non-surgical cosmetic procedure in the US since its FDA approval for cosmetic use in 2002.
Guests who want to reduce lines from the nose to the corners of the mouth can opt for the number one selling dermal filler in the United States: Restylane® or its sister product Perlane®. Restylane® and Perlane® treatments can provide volume and fullness to the skin with instantaneous and long-lasting results.

These medi-spa treatments supplement NCL’s wide-range of skin, body, massage, and hair and nail care already available on board. Other treatments available at sea include GoSmile Tooth Whitening, Microdermabrasion and Ionithermie Cellulite Reduction Program, a body contouring treatment instantly improving the look of cellulite.

MSC CRUISES LAUNCHES ONLINE CHECK-IN

MSC Cruises, the world’s fastest growing cruise line, has launched MSC Express, a new and innovative check-in service, available at all major ports in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

This new system will allow passengers to significantly reduce the time it takes to get on board the ship by utilising a simple, fast track system.

The first port of call for passengers is the new www.mscexpress.net website, which for extra convenience is also accessible via the www.msccruises.co.uk website. Once logged on, passengers simply enter their booking information - reservation number, passenger name and surname, together with the ship name and departure date.

After inputting these brief details, a second screen is displayed where passengers’ personal details need to be entered in order to complete online check-in. This then produces a printout which allows passengers to be fast tracked through check-in at the port, thanks to the new addition of dedicated MSC Express desks. Passengers simply present their printout and tickets at the desk on the day of embarkation, vastly reducing waiting times and queues.

“MSC Cruises has a commitment to providing innovative solutions that help our passengers have the most enjoyable trip possible. The addition of online check-in and dedicated MSC Express desks is an extra convenience that cuts queues and waiting times at the port, meeting the growing demands of busy clients.

“We hope that this new service will help our passengers to start their trip sooner and ultimately get their holiday off to the most relaxing start possible,” said Guilio Libutti, MD, MSC Cruises UK and Ireland.

The MSC Express service is currently available to passengers departing from the ports of Genoa, Civitavecchia.

P&O CRUISES TO BAN SMOKING ON SHIPS

P&O Cruises is to ban smoking from all inside areas on three ships in its fleet.

The operator will not allow smoking on Oceana, Ventura, and the adult-only Artemis from this October. From that date smoking will be limited to designated outside areas and on outside cabin balconies.

P&O Cruises managing director, Nigel Esdale, said: “Since Britain went smoke free in July 2007 the British public has become accustomed to being in a smoke free environment with 76% of the general public supporting the ban.

“We hope that becoming smoke free will give all our passengers, especially children, a cleaner and more pleasant environment in which at enjoy their holiday on board.

“Cruise ships already provide so many ways to have a fun and healthy holiday, such as spas and fitness centres, and this is another step towards an even healthier holiday experience for all.

“Ventura and Oceana are both child friendly, and between them could have over 1,000 children on board at any one time, therefore we want to ensure they are breathing clean air on board as well as clean ocean air out on open deck.”

FRED. OLSEN MUSICAL CRUISES

Music has always been a very big part of any Fred. Olsen cruise; evening entertainment, daytime classical recitals, live piano-playing in bars, steel bands on deck in the Caribbean – all add to the very special atmosphere on board.

Now the cruises that feature music as a key theme have been brought together in one specialist brochure, making them easier for music-lovers to select.

The Music at Sea brochure features every kind of musical entertainment – Classical, Big Bands, Rock and Roll, Jazz, Latin and Opera are all represented.

Balmoral’s cruise round the British Isles, BL025, departs Dover on 7th October 2008 for 12 nights and features the Big Band Sound in the form of Bill Tole’s Jimmy Dorsey 8, with comedy from Al “George Burns” Long and leading vocalist Lorri Hafer, who has toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. They will entertain guests with the unmistakable sounds of swing during the cruise, which is priced from £875 per person.

Black Watch’s Iberia cruise of eight nights departing Dover on 24th October 2008 (BW866) visits La Rochelle, Bilbao, El Ferrol (Spain), Oporto and Cherbourg. This cruise has a theme of Jazz and Popular Classics with entertainment provided by the Phoenix Dixieland Jazz band and prices for the cruise start from £498 per person.

Black Watch’s next Iberia cruise, BW868 departs Dover on 23rd November for eight nights with prices from £495 per person. This cruise has the same itinerary but a very different musical style is featured, with classical music provided by Classical Connections with a programme covering a wide range of musical styles from grand opera and operetta to songs from the musicals.

The tempo speeds up on Balmoral’s 13-night cruise to the Canaries from Dover leaving 30th November. This cruise features Rock and Roll, with the music provided by the Steve Lowe Band and the sixties theme is guaranteed to have the Baby Boomers on board rocking in the aisles! The cruise calls at Lisbon, then the islands of Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera and Madeira, with prices from £896 per person.

Braemar is based in the Caribbean over the winter offering a season of fly/cruises. Her 5th February 2009 departure, BM221, is a fly/cruise of 15 nights with flights from Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted to Miami and visits the islands of Dominican Republic, Curacao, Isla Margarita, The Grenadines, Barbados, Dominica, Antigua and Tortola and the very appropriate musical theme is Hot Latin. Prices are from £1,195 per person.

Prices are per person, based on two sharing an inside twin cabin and include all meals and entertainment on board, as well as the special musical themes, port taxes and, in the case of fly/cruises, return flights and airport taxes.

Expanded Cruise Programme for 2009 from P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises, newly published, 2009 brochure features holidays to 182 destinations in 60 countries. It has also had a full redesign in response to customer research and is now destination led as opposed to ship led, therefore making it easier for customers to use when looking for a cruise holiday.

P&O Cruises managing director, Nigel Esdale, said: “Cruise holidays paid for in sterling have always offered excellent value for money but, with the current exchange rate, cruises are now one of the most cost effective ways to visit Europe. Real savings can be made by families, and couples, as all the little extras, which turn out to be not so little, in hotels and resorts, like entertainment, supervised children's clubs and night nursery are all included in the cost of a cruise.“Our 2009 programme is our biggest yet, with the first full year of operation for Ventura. We have more ships, more ports and an even greater breadth of appeal.”

The fleet of six ships will be sailing to all of the classic cruise ports across the Mediterranean, Baltic, Norwegian fjords, Canary Islands and the Caribbean, as well as calls into the USA, Mexico and South America.

New ports of call include Antwerp in Belgium, the island of Hvar in Croatia and La Spezia in Italy. Ventura, the largest and newest superliner built exclusively for the British market, will sail her first full year programme, with 19 departures from Southampton and 10 fly-cruise holidays from Barbados within the 2009 brochure.

Early booking incentives are available for bookings made before 31 August 2008, including up to 45 per cent Pricebreakers discount.

Costa weighs up new Destinations

Further destinations are under consideration by Costa Cruises as the company seeks to build on its success in developing new markets. Details are due to emerge in September as the Italian line plans for deployment of an expanded fleet for 2O1O. Costa has been instrumental in introducing mass appeal cruises to regions such as Dubai, the Indian Ocean and Asia. UK managing director Marco Rosa declined to disclose new locations under consideration but confirmed: "We are looking to some new destinations and should know by September."

Costa plans a double naming ceremony of the 3,78O-passenger Costa Pacifica and the 2,826-passenger Costa Luminosa in Genoa on June 5 next year.The larger ship will then enter service in the western Mediterranean while Luminosa will sail to its summer homeport of Amsterdam where it will offer voyages to the North Cape. The line plans to add five new ships by 2012, bringing the fleet size up to 17 vessels

MSC SPLENDIDA’S FLOATING OUT CEREMONY

A momentous floating out ceremony took place on 20 July at the Aker Yards in St. Nazaire, France. Accompanied by a fleet of eight tugboats in line with tradition, MSC Splendida, the newest addition to the MSC Cruises fleet, was floated out. At the end of the floating out ceremony (which lasted about 1 hour), this giant of the sea reached the dock approximately half a mile away, where she will remain until her construction has been completed.

MSC Splendida and sister ship MSC Fantasia are the two largest ships to be built by a European ship owner. Both will be 133,500 tonnes, six times as tall as the Tower of Pisa and equivalent to a 23 floor building. Each will have 1.637 cabins able to accommodate 3,274 passengers (on double basis) and 27,000 square metres of public areas including a theatre with seating for 1,649 plus the wellbeing centre - AUREA SPA, measuring 1,615 square metres. Additionally these ships will have four restaurants and two buffet areas, four pools, 12 hydro massage pools, Sports Bar, Jazz Bar, shops, casino, disco, FORMULA 1 simulator, 4D interactive cinema, Squash Court and a Children and Teenager’s Area of 400 square metres with a pool, waterslide and dedicated disco.

These two ships will herald a new era for cruises by introducing MSC Yacht Club, a VIP area with 99 elegant suites, dedicated butlers and communal spaces furnished to the highest standards. Whilst the countdown to MSC Fantasia’s launch has already started (christening in Naples, December 18th, 2008), MSC Splendida will be christened in Barcelona during the summer of 2009.