Cruise-n-Views Newsletter
For Complete Up-To-Date Information On The Cruise Industry
Issue #024 March 09, 2004
FOR OUR NEW SUBSCRIBERS
Welcome to another issue of Cruise-n-Views Newsletter. If you are new to our newsletter, welcome. We are glad to have you as a subscriber and hope you enjoy the information this weekly newsletter provides you to stay up-to-date on all the exciting happenings in the cruise industry. We also hope you take part in this newsletter, by submitting questions you want answered, providing feedback to help us improve the newsletter to make it even more enjoyable, and even participating in occasional surveys and then reading the results of our readers once posted. The more participation from the readers, the better the newsletter will be.
Editor: Daniel A. Hoffman, MCC
This newsletter contains current news and information on the "Cruise" industry. It will also contain the "Views" of the editor on different issues within the industry. The editor owns and operates a cruise oriented travel agency located in South Central Pennsylvania. This newsletter will serve several purposes, including but not limited to, keeping you up to date on current events in the industry, offering views and opinions of the newsletter staff as well as views submitted by readers, providing information about cruise offerings and specials as well as cruise related products.
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Coming
Soon-The Return Of Capt. Lou.
In
This Issue
#1
Philadelphia's
Bermuda Program
#2 New York City
Starts To Wake Up
PLUS
-Carnival
Accepts Delivery
of Miracle
-Carnival
Ecstasy Sails
Year Round From Galveston-
- Cruise
Schedules Adjusted
Due To River Accident-
-Alaska
Tax Update-
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#1
PHILADELPHIA'S BERMUDA
PROGRAM
Last year was the first year that Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) used Philadelphia as a homeport for the Bermuda itinerary. It was also the first year for the Freestyle Dining Ashore Program. Both of these firsts will be repeated this year.
However, the Philadelphia port will be served by the Norwegian Crown instead of the Norwegian Sea as it was last year. The Norwegian Sea has been renovated and is now going to handle the Texaribbean route.
The Norwegian Crown will sail roundtrip to Bermuda with departures on Sundays from April 14th until May 23rd. It will also offer a six day cruise departing on May 30th.
The Norwegian Crown will be using the new modern cruise center located on the site of the former Philadelphia Navy Base, which was one of the nation’s oldest naval facilities, until it was closed in 1998. The 44,000 square foot facility underwent a 5.4 million dollar renovation to become a state of the art cruise terminal. It has a new baggage and security building which is located 1/2 mile from the main terminal. The facility offers plenty of parking for drive up passengers. After checking their luggage and passing security the passengers are then transported to the main terminal via a motorized trolley. They are then met and greeted by representatives of “Cruise Philly”, representative of the Port of Philadelphia and Camden, and the Delaware River Port Authority who operates the cruise terminal. Quite often the passengers are also serenaded by one of Philadelphia’s famous Mummers Bands.
This is the only itinerary that also offers the Freestyle Dining Ashore Program. Once the ship departs Philadelphia it has a full day at sea during which time the passengers have a day to explore the ship and it’s many facilities and offerings. Upon arrival in Bermuda, which will usually include two overnight stays in two different Bermuda ports, the passengers are given the opportunity to dine aboard ship as usual, or utilize the Dining Ashore Program.
The Dining Ashore Program allows passengers to purchase a lunch voucher with a $25 value for a $5 fee or a $50 dinner voucher for $10. This voucher is then honored at more than 50 restaurants on land. As stated, last year was the first year for NCL to test this new program. It received great reviews and comments from the passengers and therefore has been continued. Obviously, the land based restaurants also love the program since it is increased business for them. Another opportunity for NCL to show a local port community that it is indeed a “good business partner”.
NCL only offers this program in Bermuda, primarily due to the overnight stays on each cruise, and has no plans to offer it at any other ports of call.
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#2
NEW YORK CITY
STARTS TO WAKE UP
In the continuing saga of New York City failing to please the cruise industry, and as a result losing a considerable amount of cruise volume business to neighboring New Jersey, they are starting to wake up! But, is it too little too late?
After announcing a $50 million upgrade to the West Side Manhattan terminals, which received a very luke warm reception from the cruise industry since it did not truly address any of the major issues involved, the city has made another announcement.
This time they are announcing that they “WOULD LIKE TO” spend $250 million in renovations to the terminals over 10 years. As more of the details became available, it sounded less and less exciting. One of the city’s economic development corp. told the city council that these renovations are desperately needed. The city council was also told that they need to adjust their port fees that are charged to the cruise lines since they are about 80% higher than any other port in the country.
The plan revealed few details about the exact items to be included but did say that there are several “options” available for the city. Again the plan received limited warm greetings from the cruise industry since it did not include any real details and the fact that the city council has not even agreed to do it.
Carnival was the most outspoken on the issues stating that they obviously would welcome the reduction of port fees bringing New York City in line with every other port in the country. However, they were also very outspoken and very direct about one issue, and that was the use of temporary interim port terminal facilities for the Queen Mary 2. Carnival said they are not opposed to using temporary interim terminal space and has done so at other ports during construction and conversion of new modern terminal facilities. However, they made it very clear that that option is “not acceptable” and is “inappropriate” for the Queen Mary 2, or any other luxury cruise operation.
Passengers taking and paying for a luxury cruise experience, such as that offered by the Queen Mary 2 and many other luxury cruise ships, have the right to expect a certain level of accommodation, and that level does not include a hastily converted old warehouse into a temporary cruise terminal. On top of this, the city has known for several years that the Queen Mary 2 would be entering service in early 2004 and planned on using New York City as a homeport. They have had plenty of time to “get ready” to handle a ship of this size and statue, but as we have come to expect from this city lately, THEY FAILED!
As of now, Carnival has not announced any changes to the Queen Mary 2 itineraries, but has said they are continuing to look for “appropriate” facilities to handle her.
Carnival
Accepts
Delivery of
Miracle
Carnival accepted delivery of the 2,124 passenger Carnival Miracle from Kvaerner Masa Yards in Helsinki Finland last week. As reported here earlier, the ship was christened by former U.S. Army private Jessica Lynch.
The $374 million, 88,500 GRT ship is the fourth in the line’s Spirit class and is scheduled to sail from Jacksonville Fl. on a three day Bahamas cruise. This is the start of 12 three to six day cruises from that port and the first time that Carnival has used Jacksonville as a homeport.
After the 12 Jacksonville cruises, the ship will operate seven day roundtrip cruises out of Baltimore and New York until November 7th. At that time it will be positioned in Tampa where it will offer year round seven day service to the Caribbean.
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Carnival
Ecstasy
Sails Year Round
From Galveston
Starting October 23rd Carnival Cruise Lines will increase capacity from Galveston TX by 38%. The 2,052 passenger Carnival Ecstasy will replace the 1,486 passenger Carnival Celebration.
The Ecstasy will provide 4 and 5 day Mexico cruises. Between the Ecstasy and the Carnival Elation, which also sails year round from the same port, Carnival will handle approximately 300,000 passengers from that homeport next year. Galveston has only been a homeport for three years for Carnival, but obviously has proven to be a very well thought out port placement on behalf of Carnival Corporation.
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Cruise
Schedules Adjusted
Due To River Accident
The Grandeur of the Sea was stuck at the Port of New Orleans for several days following the closing of the Mississippi River by the U.S. Coast Guard after a collision between two cargo vessels.
The Grandeur of the Seas was scheduled to depart New Orleans Saturday night for a seven day cruise to Mexico and Grand Cayman. The maritime authorities told Royal Caribbean that they hoped the river would be open by Tuesday. If that was the case, RCCL said they would sail an abbreviated itinerary. They are considering some form of passenger compensation but will not make a final decision until the river was open and the final itinerary was determined.
Two Carnival Cruise Line sailings were also affected by the river closing. The Carnival Conquest was due to arrive and depart from New Orleans on Monday but had to be switched to the port of Gulfport. The cruise was changed to a six day cruise from a planned seven day cruise, passengers were bussed between Gulfport and New Orleans, passengers were given a pro rated refund of one cruise day, passengers were given a $50 credit to their onboard accounts, and were also offered a 50% discount on a future three to seven day cruise departing up until December 15, 2005, excluding holiday sailings. With that compensation package, I have to say, Carnival definitely took very good care of their passengers!
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Alaska Tax Update
The brilliant Alaska Representative Carl Gatto has again allowed his proposed $100 head tax per cruise passenger to come up in current session. Again, fortunately there are enough individuals in the Alaska State Legislature, who do have the common sense which is solely lacking by Rep. Gatto, who have raised rapid and serious concerns about such a ridiculous tax.
Many in the legislature state that even the much lower $5 per head tax proposal by Gov. Frank Murkowki would face major opposition. Basically all the testimony before House Special Committee on Economic Development, International Trade and Tourism, was very negative on the idea of any such head tax.
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