Cruise-n-Views Newsletter
For Complete Up-To-Date Information On The Cruise Industry
Issue #025 March 16, 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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HE HAS
RETURNED!! ARTICLE NEXT WEEK
In
This Issue
#1
Passengers With Disabilities Can and Do Enjoy Cruises
#2 Update on River Closing
PLUS
-Cruise
Specials
-Q
& A-
- Queen
Victoria
Opens For Pre-Booking-
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#1 Passengers With Disabilities Can and Do Enjoy Cruises
Many times we are asked about handicap accessible cruise ships and other issues related to travel for this segment of our population. More and more cruise ships, and all new cruise ships coming on line, have handicap accessible cabins available.
Going one step further, a private travel agency, worked very close with and got outstanding assistance from Holland America Line to operate several cruises for individuals with service dogs.
So far, two of these cruises have sailed and a third is scheduled for departure this month. This was a program put together by a private travel agency and a local service group and then promoted to the local groups in the surrounding area. This type of program can be offered by any travel agency willing to take the time and effort to make needed arrangements. More and more travel agencies are putting together such packages since there is indeed a need and demand for this service.
On the most recent cruise there were 54 people and 18 service dogs on the cruise. The service dogs were of three types: guide dogs for visually impaired, seizure alert dogs, and mobility assist dogs. For those not familiar with the last group of service dogs listed, the mobility assist dogs, they assist their owners with maintaining balance, pulling wheelchairs, and picking items up for their owners. It turns out several of these 18 service dogs were veteran cruisers having already sailed on the first group cruise put together.
Holland America Line reported that they did not have a single complaint during the entire cruise about any of the service dogs from any of the ships passengers. The travel agency as well as many of the cruise passengers themselves commended HAL on their assistance. There was a veterinarian, a veterinary technician, and two professional handlers onboard as support staff.
HAL assigned a “dog steward” to the group to provide any needed assistance as well as being responsible for setting up a grassy box area on an open deck for the dogs to use as needed. A wind chime was placed in this area to assist the visually impaired with locating the grassy box area. The housekeeping manager also met with each of the passengers to see if their department could be of assistance. For those of you familiar with service dogs, you know and understand their importance to their owners and also know that these dogs are more like people than animals and actually behave better than some humans!
Both cruises operated by this agency have gone like clockwork with no major problems or issues and more are planned for the future as the word spreads in that local area. Goes to show, “Cruising IS for everyone!”
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Check
it out while special pricing lasts! |
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#2 Update on River Closing
We told you about the accident on the Mississippi river in last weeks newsletter and the effects it was having on several cruises. Here is the final recap of what happened.
The accident involved a supply ship and a container ship that collided. The recovery efforts involved recovering the bodies of three supply ship crew and searching for two missing crew members.
The river was closed for four full days. The ship most affected by this event was Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas. Full details on that ship shortly. Another ship affected was Carnival’s Conquest. It had to be redirected to Gulfport instead of New Orleans and then had to wait for all passengers to be transported to and from the New Orleans terminal. These transfers were handled via motor coaches, which normally would not be a major problem. However, unless that is also Mardi Gras week!! Needless to say, transportation was slow and long. Remember, not only did passengers have to be transported but also all provisions that were located at New Orleans to be loaded onto the ship for the upcoming cruise had to be moved to Gulfport. These transfers delayed the departure as the ship was not able to depart Gulfport until Monday night. As a result of this delayed departure, the ship had to eliminate its scheduled call in Montego Bay. All passengers were given a prorated refund for the day of missed sailing as well as a $50 per person onboard credit and a 50% discount on a future cruise.
Carnival’s Holiday was also affected and was diverted to Mobile for docking. With much fewer passengers and provisions needed, the ship was able to depart only a few hours late and was able to maintain its intended itinerary.
Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas was scheduled to depart New Orleans on Sunday. They had hoped to be able to depart the following day, but that was not to happen as the river was closed for three more days. Since the ship was basically stuck in port in New Orleans and it was Mardi Gras week, what else, everybody was offered the opportunity to attend Mardi Gras parades and festivities and enjoy New Orleans nightlife. The cruise line had hoped to be able to sail to at least one of the scheduled ports of call. When the following day came and it became clear that the river was not going to be reopened for another day the decision was made to give the passengers a choice.
All passengers were told they could stay or go home! All passengers received a full refund and a 25% discount for any future cruise, whichever choice they made. Again, since it was Mardi Gras week, only 100 passengers choose to disembark and go home. The remainder stayed onboard, enjoyed the ship and all of it’s amenities, was free to come and go as they wanted for Mardi Gras parties, and then still had a cruise to nowhere when the river reopened. Not bad, remember they got a full refund for the cruise, so bottom line, they got completely free room and board in New Orleans during Mardi Gras! Not a bad deal!
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Photo Gallery
Sun Princess
(More Photos of Sun Princess Next Week)
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Two
photos of the main center lobby on the Sun Princess
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Two
photos of the casino area
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Left
shows arcade area and right is one of many lounge areas
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Standard
outside cabin-left in twin layout- right in queen layout
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Sitting
areas located within a suite
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Suite's
bathroom, featuring both a whirlpool and a shower enclosure
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Sleeping
area and walkin closet of suite
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CRUISE SPECIALS
Holland America Line
(All prices are per person double occupancy and include all taxes and fees. No additional charges. All offers based on availability)
**PLEASE
NOTE**
These are special sale prices from HAL and
are only valid for this week. If interested, act quickly
April
10 , 2004
Zuiderdam
7 days: Roundtrip Ft Lauderdale
Eastern Caribbean
Inside: $449 DDC Club Member
Inside: $489 Non Member Price
Oceanview:
$599 DDC Club Member
Oceanview: $639 Non Member Price
Balcony:
$729 DDC Club Member
Balcony: $769 Non Member Price
April
4 , 2004
Oosterdam
7 days: Roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale
Western Caribbean
Inside:
$499 DDC Club Member
Inside: $539 Non Member Price
Balcony:
$749 DDC Club Member
Balcony: $789 Non Member Price
April
25 , 2004
Rotterdam
10 days:Roundtrip Baltimore
Southern Caribbean
Inside:
$799 DDC Club Member
Inside: $839 Non Member Price
Oceanview:
$899 DDC Club Member
Oceanview: $939 Non Member Price
Balcony:
$1999 DDC Club Member
Balcony: $2039 Non Member Price
*****
WEST COAST SPECIALS
*****
April
13 , 2004
Ryndam
10 days: Roundtrip San Diego
Sea of Cortez
Inside:
$719 DDC Club Member
Inside: $759 Non Member Price
Oceanview:
$799 DDC Club Member
Oceanview: $839 Non Member Price
April
19 , 2004
Statendam
16 days: San Diego to Vancouver
Circle Hawaii
Inside:
$1199 DDC Club Member
Inside: $1239 Non Member Price
Oceanview:
$1399 DDC Club Member
Oceanview: $1439 Non Member Price
Balcony:
$2599 DDC Club Member
Balcony: $2639 Non Member Price
For
booking request or information on any of the listed cruise
specials, please contact us at:
Cruises@Cruise-n-Views.com
**********
Q & A
Question: I saw an article about a company who chartered an entire ship for their company’s rewards program. How does that work? I know you can book a cruise well into the future so how can a ship be chartered privately?
Jim D.
Answer: That is a question that does not have a short quick answer. Yes any ship can be booked as a private charter. It usually occurs with the smaller cruise ships and the specialty lines, but can occur with any ship on any line. The cruise lines must walk a very fine line when agreeing to a private full ship charter. If the charter is planned a full year or two in advance then it is not a problem since very few if any of the cabins have been booked yet. If it is under a year or a year and a half in advance, then the cruise line must make a determination if it is feasible to allow the charter. The rule of thumb is, if the ship is over 40% to 50% booked already, they will not allow the charter to be booked. It would be difficult and costly to rebook that many individual passengers. If it is under 40% booked, then they need to decide the cost involved as well as the inconvenience to the passengers already booked. They need to offer those booked passengers a very nice incentive in order to keep them happy. The cruise line does have the right to simply cancel the cruise and refund the money, but they will very seldom ever do that as it would be devastating negative publicity. As stated at the start, this is a tough question to answer as many outside factors have to come into play to make the decision, but hopefully this explanation covers the basics for you.
Thanks
for the question. If you have a question please send it
to:
Editor@Cruise-n-Views.com
**********
Queen
Victoria
Opens For Pre-Booking
For most of you the question is, What or who is Queen Victoria? Well, Queen Victoria is the next new cruise ship by Cunard Line. Not much had been talked about with Queen Victoria since Cunard did not want anything to over shadow the debut of the Queen Mary 2 that recently received so much publicity.
Well now that Queen Mary 2 has started sailing to rave reviews and sold out bookings, Cunard Line has decided it was time to start promoting their newest ship, Welcome, Queen Victoria!
Queen Victoria will be an 85,000 ton vessel and carry 1,968 passengers. It will have a completely covered promenade deck encircling the entire deck. It will also have a front facing observation lounge and a large Lido pool area with retractable magra-dome for maximum use including inclement weather.
There will be exterior glass walled elevators covering 10 decks located on both side of the vessel. 67% of outside cabins and suites will offer private verandas. The ship will sail cruises in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and in South America.
Of course the ship will offer the superior White Star Service and amenities that Cunard Line has become famous for over their 165 years of continued operations.
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