In 2009, 14 brand new cruise ships, ranging in size from 82 to 5,400 passengers, will set sail. Many of the amenities and on board environments have never been seen on a cruise ship.
Royal Caribbean will launch Oasis of the Seas, the vessel they hope will redefine the meaning of cruise ship. Oasis will carry a record breaking 5,400 passengers and 2,000 crew, and will soar 16 stories above the ocean. But its impressive measurements aren't the big story. Oasis represents a radical reimagining of the standard cruise ship configuration. It has created neighborhoods – giving you a choice of where you want to live while onboard.
Central Park is one of the neighborhoods. An all natural area on Oasis, Central Park is a central canyon open to the sky on top. It offers six decks of balcony staterooms (which in the past are the lowest, windowless inside cabin category) along its walls, with views of the sky above and the park below.
There are pathways, seasonal flower gardens, and a canopy of trees. Restaurants open along the park range from an elegant-specialty to an al fresco cafe, Italian, a steakhouse, and a wine bar. Among the several bars around the park is one that moves up and down three decks while you drink.
With these new ships, come an impressive array of environment friendly technology. Air emission reduction, solar power, LED lighting, environment friendly hull coating, low sulfur fuels, impeccable food and water processing to name just a few. Alliances are being formed on national and international levels to protect the world’s oceans and marine life. With so many ships sailing our seas, the industry must stay on top of the fin print each ship leaves.
The value and bang for your buck of a cruise vacation surpasses many tours, land packages and independently created itineraries. You can go on a 5 day cruise of the Caribbean-in bare bones style-for $250 a day OR taste the refined life at $1000 a day. Smart marketing has created a style of cruising and a price point for every traveler. According to CLIA, the cruise industry standard bearer, “34 million Americans intend to take a cruise in the next three years”. Also impressive is that more than half of the current sales are from repeat cruisers.
To hedge their bets that the economy doesn’t erode yearly passenger increases – the perks and amenities now being offered by cruise lines have never been seen. How about a $1000 ship board credit added to your account when you arrive on Crystal.. That makes a $250 spa treatment a must have. Free shore excursions are offered by Regent and Oceania (now owned by the same holding group). Shore excursions are usually a large profit center for ships.
Theme and Affinity Group cruising is exploding. Like to play tennis? Try a 3 day cruise with fellow players and pros to tennis courts at a Bahamas resort. Or a 7 day cruise down the Columbia River with 100 fellow wine lovers that stops at wineries in the Pacific Northwest. Whatever your interest – you can be surrounded by like minded friends.
I have been cruising since the 1980s and can not remember ever being offered these kinds of options and inducements. Creativity and thinking outside the box will take every business and industry to new heights as we push out of this economic meltdown. Take advantage of how much more you can get for your vacation dollar. Once the news media agree that we are out of the economic choppy waters,……..these perks will quickly disappear.
by Jo Giraudo 2009
