The Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) has confirmed that 2006 will be the most successful year since 2003 for growth, with an increase of 17% and a record 1.25m passengers.
The cruise market is proving to be increasingly resilient at a time when the traditional package holiday market is under pressure. It is currently one of the fastest growing sectors in the travel industry and, as always, a discussion point at dinner parties and the like. And keeping fit is no bother. All the modern ships have a gym, usually outstanding, and some, such as the new Norwegian Pearl even have a tennis/basket ball court, complete with spectator facilities.
”I gather that you are into cruising. We would like to go on one. Where do you suggest and how much will it cost?”
Impossible questions to answer.
In fact ”how much will it cost?” is really the first question. A budget must be the major consideration. Perhaps number two is ”how long?”, followed by whether the participants want to fly to/from their embarkation/disembarkation port, and big ship, small ship or something in between. The quality of the product is dependent on the price and the age of the cruisers is another consideration. And where in the world do you want to cruise to, at what time? Complicated.
2007 ” a busy year
Next year, eight new cruise ships will be launched including NCL”s Norwegian Gem, sister ship of Norwegian Pearl (the graffiti special), Costa Cruises” Costa Serena, Cunard Line”s Queen Victoria and Carnival Cruise Line”s Carnival Freedom. In the summer, Thomson Cruises will be adding a fifth ship to its fleet with the Calypso and MSC”s Rhapsody will be cruising from Dover for the first time. Further extra capacity for the UK market will come from Princess Cruises, NCL Freestyle Cruising and Royal Caribbean International. Ocean Village is launching its new Ocean Village Two, which will have a significant impact on the number of new cruisers to the market, as 60% of Ocean Village passengers are first timers. In total, the market is expected to grow by another 100,000 UK cruise passengers, taking the total number to 1.35m and an increase of 8% in 2007.
2007
This year saw a host of announcements concerning future new ships and the expected continued boom in the cruise market. At one end of the scale Seabourn Cruise Line (part of Carnival) announced that it would build two new ultra luxury cruisers, for delivery in spring 2009 and somewhat larger, and at the four-star plus level NCL confirmed its F3 project. Built in Italy the Seabourn sister ships come in at 32,000 tonnes with 225 luxury suites, 90% of which will have private verandas. Combined, the two vessels will more than double Seabourn's current fleet capacity of 634 berths. The F3 NCL ships, at 150,000 tonnes, compete head on with the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas series at 160,000 tonnes. Monsters of 200,000 tonnes and 6,000 passengers plus are planned for the next decade.
Crossing the Atlantic
The air route between London and New York easily remains the busiest long haul operation of them all with around 28 flights per day in both directions, BA and Virgin increasing frequencies and Silverjet joining early next year.
If you want to go by sea the choice is somewhat limited with only the QM2 offering any kind of frequency (but at very attractive prices). However at the start and end of the summer season most cruise lines position their ships to and from Europe, the majority having their home port at New York or Florida. These can be 10/14 day crossings with perhaps one stop and plenty of sea days, as typified by NCL with Norwegian Gem. Barcelona to Boston, 10 nights continuously at sea, and Norwegian Dream, Miami via Bermuda to Cork. Alternatively you can travel on the six-star Crystal Symphony whose return home voyage in 2007 is a five-stop 14-day northerly route via Greenland to Lady Liberty. Just as with QM2 you can fly one way and cruise in the other direction. East to west in September/October you gain the benefit of some 25-hour days, and in the other direction, in the spring, it is straight home with no jet lag. Norwegian Jewel, seen here, is another ship that crosses the Atlantic.
Crystal Symphony
Crystal Symphony is a remarkable ship and it is this vessel that for our annual review ABTN takes a more detailed look. Last week it took on a Christmas atmoshere in the atrium.
In the autumn (fall for American readers) Symphony was the subject of a remarkable $23m (”12m) refit which took the ship out of service for only just over a week. It was a very well planned operation.Introduced in 1995 Symphony set new standards of luxury at sea, at 51,000 tonnes, 950 passengers and 545 crew, offering virtually everything that the biggest ships could esteem to (including superb stage shows) and a quality of service that it has maintained to this day. Some say it has got even better. Certainly the awards roll in. This quality does not come cheap although if there is a critism it is that tipping needs to be attended to (there is a more or less mandatory service charge), nor are there courtesy alcoholic drinks, both offered gratis by competitors. However this is compensated by a regular circuit of cocktail parties (those for new Crystal guests are balanced by the same for old hands). Soft drinks, teas and coffees, plus ice cream, come free.
It has emerged with a dazzling new nightclub and a complete redesign of its main entertainment deck in what it terms a decidedly sophisticated and contemporary style. Crystal Symphony”s comprehensive refurbishment, its largest ever, has transformed all staterooms and bathrooms, completely reconstructed a social lounge and casino, refashioned boutiques, shops and the popular Bistro caf”, in addition to dozens of behind the scenes improvements.
Two years ago Crystal debuted a brand-new Feng Shui-inspired spa; the Vintage Room private dining facility, today one of the ship”s most popular features; an expanded computer University@Sea; a redesign of specialty restaurants and complete refurbishment of all penthouse accommodations. This time around the balance of the staterooms have been tackled with a complete redesign. Notable appointments including Murano glass bedside lamps, Rubelli fabrics and handsome leather headboards, giving the rooms a very chic appearance, and the final touch, 20” LCD flat screen televisions. Bathrooms are newly reconstructed with a contemporary style showcasing oval glass sinks atop granite countertops. A total spend of $35m in two dockyard visits.
A leisurely cruise
The Crystal way of returning to New York is a leisurely meander via some northern ports that most would consider out of the way. Last September saw Symphony deparing
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Nuuk fishing boat harbour
t Dover, transit Edinburgh (Rosyth) and Invergorden (for Inverness) , before visiting the Faeroes, Iceland, Nuuk the capital of Greenland (yes it has a capital) and finally passing the Statue of Liberty to berth on the Hudson River. A first class trip on a first class ship. Competitors have come, and in some cases gone or re-branded themselves, but it is Crystal that wins all the awards and sets the standard that others try to follow. As you board there is champagne and a staff member takes your hand luggage escorting you to the stateroom. Your stewardess then meets you and shows you around. One feature is that cabin service is never more than five minutes away, the on-duty staff all having bleepers.
It is a quiet ship, with only a 0900 announcement by the Captain giving the ship”s position and the weather forecast. One-third the tonnage of the latest Las Vegas style monster floating hotels it has all the amenities that are required on a cruise ship, including a cinema that doubles as a fine lecture hall, two superb specialist restaurants, a nursery and a really excellent library. Plus the theatre and Broadway quality stage shows.
Concorde was quicker, but cramped; the Heathrow premium services are superb but often a long walk with ”Fast Track” quickly becoming a misnomer; whilst the Stansted operators perhaps don”t offer the finesse of the their Gatwick and Heathrow competitors but gain with ease of use. However if you want a really relaxing crossing there is nothing to match the Crystal experience. 510 of the 630 guests on the most recent of east to west transatlantic crossing were past customers. 34 Brits, a sprinkling of Europeans and colonials, perhaps 100 Americans. And the 400 balance from California. Average age 55. A nicer crowd you could not wish to meet. Many of the Crystal cruises have themes including Latin America and ballroom dancing, golf, jazz, comedy, and politics. All lead by real experts including stars of the stage and screen, top golfers and diplomats. The cuisine is outstanding and, yes, there is a casino for those who must. And a smoking area too.
And then return on the busy noisy jet!
To round off this Christmas review we commend for cruise types and prospective cruise types Douglas Ward”s 2007 Berlitz Guide To Ocean Cruising & Cruise Ships. The Guide, now in its 22nd year of publication, provides a frank and fair up-to-date account of cruising and rates 276 cruise ships. (696 pages, ”16.99 ISBN 981-246-984-2).
http://www.berlitzpublishing.com
http://www.cruiseinformationservice.co.uk/