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Luxury Cruise Ship Blog
River Cruises are Soaring in Popularity 6/23/2007 9:55:47 AM Link River cruises are soaring in popularity worldwide. A River cruise
may not have the glamorous image of ocean cruises but they do have
key advantages. While this type of cruising has been around a long
time, river cruises have become mainstream in the 21st century.
Cruise
The difference between luxury river cruises and regular river
cruises can be found in the size of the boat. Luxury river cruises
will usually be ships that hold just over 200 passengers and have
more extra space for additional amenities like a full-service
restaurant or larger passenger bedrooms.
Luxury European river cruises and luxury cruises to any destination
will be all inclusive, so you will have your food and room all paid
for with the price of your cruise ticket. River cruises tend to be
more informal than the traditional cruise. River cruises are also a
great introduction to cruising in general for first-time cruisers
and are often less expensive than larger cruise vacations.
Unlike an ocean cruise or bus tour, river cruises visit a port
nearly every day. You will enjoy scenic river cruising in between
ports of call, and see the best of Europe up close. Basic cruise
tips and information for first-time cruisers is applicable for both
river cruises and ocean cruises.
Experience
Luxury European river cruises will not offer an exorbitant amount
of evening entertainment like some of the huge oceanic cruises do.
Comparatively, river cruises tend to be tamer than oceanic cruises
and offer a slightly different flavor of travel. A River cruise
is better suited for adult travel.
Destination
Luxury European River cruises can be found in France, Germany,
Amsterdam, and more, along such popular rivers as the Rhine River,
the Elbe River and the Swan River in Australia. While European
river cruises are the most popular, river cruises are also
available in Asia and North America.
There are a few river cruise companies operating on the scenic
Yangtze River in China, and those principally catering to the
English-speaking market include Victoria Cruises, Viking River
Cruises, Regal Cruises and the deluxe Orient Royal Cruises.
Viking River Cruises itineraries journey along the rivers of Europe
and Russia, allowing you to explore fascinating destinations up
close and in comfort.
Conclusion
River cruises mean that you can sightsee all day long, both from
your ship and on shore excursions. Luxury River cruises are journeys
along the great lifelines of ancient continents through many
beautiful cities.
Next, Here's A Quick Way To Decide Which Dining Option Is Best?
www.theluxuryShips.com
Toll free 1-877-22-SHIPS | Big Ship vs. Small Ship 6/16/2007 9:46:10 AM Link Big ship vs. Small ship -If you like the idea of a floating resort with
tons of distractions and tons of people, then a big-ship
cruise is for you. Small Ships-this is by far the most
important decision you have to make: the type of experience
you have will really be defined by what size ship you pick.
Small ship cruises offer you the opportunity to enjoy
cruising in ways you cannot experience on a large ship.
Ships
On a large ship, you'll find state-of-the-art fitness centers,
spas, sports courts, swimming pools, and even computerized
golf. In addition to upscale nightclubs and fine dining,
mega Ship cruises also have live casino rooms featuring all
of the most popular gaming activities, such as blackjack,
roulette, craps, video poker, and slot machines. Large ships
can't sail into narrow passages or small ports. Large ships
offer Lots of on-board activities. They can't slow down or
stop when there's wildlife In some case. Big ships port of
calls are massive undertakings. If your dream is to see
Alaska up close, without having to battle the crowds, then
you'll want to set sail on a small ship. Very large ships
do indeed offer economies of scale, but this comes at the
price of a substantial loss of flexibility, with fewer ports
becoming available as ship size increases.
Small ships are more likely to feature expert lectures on
Alaska-specific topics, such as marine biology, history, and
Native culture. Small ships may have as few as 20 passengers
and rarely more than 150. Small ships take you beyond the
confines of conventional tourism for meaningful experiences
with people and places. Though these aren't quite so sprawling
as the mega ships, you'll still find a wide range of activities
and food choices. Most of these ships focus on the local
nature and wildlife and pride themselves on their sensitivity
to the environment. Often, the ship will feature a distinctive
decor and meal selection that captures the ambiance of the
region you're visiting. The atmosphere is generally more
informal and you have the opportunity to get to know the crew
and your fellow passengers.
Cruise
Many of the major big ship cruise lines create their own
productions from start to finish, along with elaborate costumes
and professionally choreographed dance routines, to always
offer new and exciting shows. Small ships access calm coves
and remote island beaches for hiking, swimming, snorkeling and
sea kayaking. Small cruise cruising offers a casual atmosphere,
bring your fleece and gor-tex for off-ship activities like
exploratory shore walks and zodiac adventures.
Adventure
Small ships cruise up-close with naturalist guided landings on
the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia Island, the Falkland
Islands and more in search of unparalleled scenery and abundant
wildlife. Small ships can sail where big ships can't go, into
shallow water ports, for example, or right up to the shore.
Small ships can go 65 miles up Misty Fjords, while large ships
can't even enter the fjord.
Passengers
Mega ships-these floating resorts carry up to 3000 passengers
and have enough distractions for a year, it seems. I was first
struck by the size of the ship -- when my taxi pulled up to the
ship's terminal, all I could see was what looked like miles of
white steel dotted with circular windows (it actually measures
over 100,000 tons, has 13 decks and carries nearly 3,000
passengers plus over 1,000 crew members). Small ship cruising
appeals to travelers who prefer a relaxed, comfortable travel
style with the emphasis on the destination.
Aboard
On a small ship a family can experience the exchanges with
other people and other cultures that occur traveling with small
groups. In addition, all of your meals are included while
you're aboard ship, and most small ships feature included
sightseeing excursions and a fun program of entertainment,
including lectures, folklore performances, dancing, and more.
Experience
Small ships are staffed by the friendliest crews anywhere,
who provide excellent service with a smile, make you feel
right at home, and extend what we like to call hospitality
from the heart. Travel beyond the resorts by small ship or
yacht, exploring up-close on board your cruise, hiking with a
naturalist, snorkeling or even by sea kayak. Unlike big ships
and large scale international ports, a small ship allows you to
experience places where the nature, history and culture remain
fresh, where the flood of tourists has not overrun them and will
not overrun you. Small ships have flexible schedules and often
linger if whales or other wildlife are sighted nearby, and if
you request it, the ship's personnel will wake you at night for
some particularly remarkable wildlife sightings. Traveling in
a small ship is friendly and more personal. Small ship cruises
offer you the opportunity to enjoy cruising in ways you cannot
experience on a large ship. The small numbers make for a true
"up close and personal" experience.
Conclusion
Finally, one of the favorite attractions on a Big Ship is the
spa and beauty salon, which offers full-service pampering and
beauty treatments. Small ships provide an inviting, unhurried
way to see the world. A growing trend in the travel is
traveling on small ships, which allow guests to enter ports
that larger ships cannot, intimate groups with small sizes,
but still have everything taken care of for you.
Next, "Discover The Allure Of River Cruises"
The Captain
www.theLuxuryShips.com
Toll free 1-877-22-SHIPS | 'Here's A Quick Way To Save and Simplified Your Wedding' 6/9/2007 11:26:02 AM Link Cruise weddings allow you to plan a beautiful marriage at a
fraction of the cost of a traditional land wedding. Cruise
weddings take place while the ship is in port, and couples
can choose have their marriage on-board the ship, or at a land
location.
Weddings
Cruise weddings are great because it takes the pressure off
of you with all the plans. Cruise line weddings can take place
on-board in a public room on the ship, or on a romantic shore
such as a beach or a glacier. Destination and Cruise Weddings
usually cost less than traditional weddings. Shipboard
weddings allow you to combine your ceremony and reception with
a cruise honeymoon, and offer the option of your family and
friends joining you on the vacation (If you want them to.
Regardless of what you choose each matrimony cruise comes with a
marriage planner to assist you in creating a unique and romantic
celebration aboard an elegant cruise ship or romantic port
of call. A vows renewal ceremony is available on any cruise to
reaffirm your marriage.
Ceremony
A luxury cruise ship is a fun and exciting location for your
memorable wedding celebration. After the celebration, couples can
opt to have anything from an open bar and hors d?oeuvres
reception to a sit-down luncheon in a ship?s formal restaurant.
Packages
Cruise weddings range from an intimate celebration with cake
cutting and pictures with 8 guests for $650 to $850 to a deluxe
romance package with a reception and half hour open bar for up
to 20 guests for $1,550. From a private ceremony for just the
bride and groom to a larger more elaborate wedding with 100 or
more guests, there are many cruise ships that offer beautifully
designed lounges to hold you special reception.
Conclusion
According to Cruise Lines International Association, cruise
weddings have grown at a phenomenal rate the last few years.
This is a unique alternative that allows you to combine your
ceremony and honeymoon vacation into one complete, special
package. If you love cruise weddings, but can't actually go
on a ship to get married, have a cruise theme marriage on the
shore.
Next, Big Ship vs. Small Ship
the Captain
www.theLuxuryShips.com
Toll free 1-877-22-SHIPS
| Bumped From Your Cruise Bumped From Your Cruise
Imagine this!
You booked your cruise nine months in advance and was eagerly
counting off the days until embarkation. Then, six weeks before
departure, you get call with a surprise: You and your friends
had been bumped off the ship to make space for a charter group
or Celebrity who wants the whole ship.
You may have heard of being bumped off an airline flight, but
did you understand you could be bumped off a cruise ship?
Definitely, you can.
The most publicized instance of cruise bumping occurred last
fall when Carnival Cruise Lines canceled sailings for three
ships over a six-month term so the vessels could house New
Orleans residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Carnival
offered its bumped customers full refunds and the possibility
to rebook their cruises on any Carnival ship. Guests who
re booked received a $100-per-person shipboard credit. Carnival
notes that the bulk of guests accepted the extraordinary
circumstances and booked other Carnival cruises.
But most bumps don't go so gently, specifically when some
passengers get bumped and others don't. So who gets bumped
and why.
The usual argument is over booking, occasionally as in your case,
when a charter group turns up. Other reasons include itinerary
changes on multi-segment cruises and changes in vessel
availability. Accordingly, the luckless 'bumpee' can be just about
anyone. The determination can depend on how a traveler booked
his cruise, what stateroom category he's in, and even how he
booked his airline tickets.
The law is on the side of the ship proprietor. There are no
federal or state laws prohibiting a cruise line from bumping
passengers because of overbooking. Each cruise line has its own
bumping policies, which are stated in the terms and conditions
of it passenger contract.
In your particular case the cruise line's passenger contract has
a special provision for charter bumps. It states: 'In the
circumstance of charters of the vessels, truces, lockouts, riots
or stoppage of labor from whatever cause or for any other reason
whatsoever, the Owner or Operator of the ship identified in this
brochure may, at any time, cancel, advance or postpone any
scheduled tour and may, but is not obliged to, substitute another
ship or destination and shall not be liable for any loss
whatsoever to passengers by reason of any such cancellation,
advancement or postponement.'
Jargon like this should cause you to pause. Not only does it
specifically designate charter's (which are voluntary business
opportunities) in a listing of otherwise uncontrollable
conditions,it plainly states that the company will accept no
liability for any passenger loss 'whatsoever.' 'Whatsoever' is a
word you absolutely don't want hanging around your cruise
vacation, yet you will discover it in most every cruise line's
passenger contract.
However, you can discover ways to get what you want. So what is
the poor bumped traveler to do'
First, dig in your heels. You don't have to go down without a
battle. If the cruise line calls to bump my client, my client
does not have to permit it,' says Kyle of www.theLuxuryShips.com.
Kyle has had around a dozen cruise guests involved in a cruise
bump, and each time it was because the cruise line needed more
rooms in a specific cabin category. Kyle advises all clients to
either decline to be bumped or to bargain for upgrades, refunds,
shipboard credits, pre-cruise rooms or whatever compensation
would make the customer happy. 'It's just like an airline bump,
but much more is involved and it is a bigger investment,' he
points out.
As it turns out, only one of Kyle's clients accepted a bump, and
that was after the cruise line offered her an upgrade to a suite
and a refund of $500 to take a sailing two weeks after her
scheduled cruise. Kyle believes this customer was singled out
for the bump because she had purchased her airfare via the cruise
line and so would not incur any fees to change her tickets.
But for those travelers whose vacation schedules aren't flexible
and for those who just don't wish to be bumped. Kyle says, stand
firm.' Normally, the cruise line will accept your decision and
proceed on to the next candidate.
Doing the right thing. Many cruise lines try to accommodate
clients' needs and work with them to fulfill their travel
expectations. Each situation is evaluated based on circumstances
and handled on an individual basis.'
Bump insurance
There is no travel insurance policy that covers getting bumped
from your cruise. The best defense against an unwanted bump is
a good travel agent, one who will be an advocate for you and throw
the weight of their agency's future business behind you. After all,
cruise lines worry about getting the heave-ho, too. | | |
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Luxury Cruise Ship Blog
