750,000 reasons to like Disney Cruise Line

by Chris Owen on

It’s been all over the news, the launch of Disney Cruise Line’s new Disney Dream, the line’s first new ship in over 10 years. Adding Disney Fantasy in 2012 more than doubles the size of the Disney fleet, bringing the line up to speed and beyond with new-ship features, new capacity to dominate the family cruise market and a new brighter outlook towards the future. But as is so typical of the American success-story company, as they look ahead, they look back.

It’s been so long since Disney launched a new ship that a world of media eyes descended upon Florida to sail along and see just what the legacy of Walt Disney had built. Most told of new features like the AquaDuck onboard water coaster, virtual portholes for interior cabins, the latest technology and new onboard entertainment.

On a short two-night preview cruise of the new Dream, Disney added one extra element hosting a fund-raising cruise for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America that raised $750,000.

Just being able to do that would be plenty for most organizations. But in typical Disney style the company brought along a number of Boys and Girls club members for the ride, treating them to an experience they’re not likely to forget any time soon.

Also along for the ride were normally land-based Disney cast members and their families who paid to sail along on the fund-raising cruise, see the new ship, and be part of it all.

As the ship prepared for “sail-away”, always a festive time on any cruise, company officials, dignitaries, cast members and friends packed the ship’s top deck. Disney Channel celebrities, the ship’s entertainment staff and the entire stable of Disney animation stars worked the crowd into a total Disney-immersion frenzy.

But it was bringing those Boys and Girls club members out on stage that sent the event wild, drawing the largest response from all. The deer-in-the-headlights look on the faces of those kids, unaccustomed to a rock star reception, gave way to smiles of appreciation with a side of “Yes, I DO have a future now!” . Once high-risk youths were safer, happier and had a much brighter future in no small part due to the Disney company and a relationship with the Boys and Girls Clubs that dates back to the 1950’s.

How appropriate for a ship all about dreams.

Photo: Chris Owen

Theme cruises: agony or ecstasy?

by Chris Owen on

For some it doesn’t get better than this: a whole week totally immersed with their keen interest or obsession. For others who just happen to book on that same cruise it can be a totally different experience.

Theme cruises appeal to groups of people varying from very broad interests like “motorcycles” and “rock music” in general to smaller, more specific interests like Harley-Davidson motorcycles or the Beatles.

Promoters commit to the cruise lines for anything from a block of rooms to a partial or full ship charter, depending on the size of their group. On these sailings anywhere from a small additional fee to fees equal to or greater than the normal price of the cruise will be added. Still, loyal fans are happy to pay as specific on-board programming can add great value for them.

Fans of the the classic TV show The Brady Bunch have a chance to Dance With The Stars At Sea as Florence Henderson and assorted Brady characters are featured on an upcoming theme cruise. On that one, sailing next January, special events are included ranging from private performances, dance exhibitions, group dance lessons, and stand-up comedy. Hosted jointly by CruiseGourmet.com and Crown Cruise Vacations, prices start at $1154 per person, double occupancy.

Pricing on theme cruises can be difficult to pin down when calculating value though. On this sailing the category 11 inside cabin they quote at $1154 per person (+taxes and pre-paid gratuities) is selling for $779 today. So right at $375 per person was added on to cover the events, performers and group functions.

If you happen to be part of the group, you joined because it is worth the premium price to completely indulge yourself. If you are not one of those groups and happen to stumble in to one, it can have a major impact on your cruise experience.

I got a call the other day from a friend who started the conversation with “Did you know I was gay?” I’ve known this guy for years and never really thought about it, not that I would care but it’s just something that never came up. As I was thinking of what to say, why he was telling me this, etc he continued with “We had a great time with the Gay Bears Club, they were a bunch of great guys but I was sure surprised.” adding “At first I thought there was a pro-wrestler convention on the ship but then figured it out.”

That was a partial charter group and other stories of people unknowingly booking into a sailing with a large number of theme-cruise passengers have not turned out as well.

A recent Jam Fest cruise was supposed to be rock and roll and fun and games on MSC Cruises Poesia to the Western Caribbean. Instead they got a full dose of US Customs and Border Protection medicine when the ship was raided and passengers busted for illegal drugs and contraband while docked at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Sometimes, cruise lines themselves sponsor theme cruises. John Heald, the popular senior cruise director/blogger from Carnival Cruise Lines has a John Heald’s Bloggers Cruise that includes onboard events and activities. Here too, just booking on one of those sailings does not make you part of the group. For that you’ll pay a higher fare.

Theme cruises are one good reason to book using a travel expert/agent who can usually find out if there are special interest groups on your cruise. The booking will have to be done through the event promoter for those that want to go.

Photo: Carnival Cruise Lines

Surely you can’t be serious? Airplane! returns to the big screen!

by Scott Carmichael on

First of all – yes, we are serious. And stop calling us Shirley! AMC Theaters is bringing the best aviation slapstick comedy back to the big screen – but only for two days!

On Saturday January 29 and Tuesday February 1, select AMC theaters will bring pilot Clarence Oveur (R.I.P), flight attendant Elaine Dickinson and Ted Striker to almost 100 different locations. Show times are listed on the special AMC Airplane! page, along with the theaters.

Oh, and if you arrive on time, you’ll be able to claim a full-size commemorative Airplane! poster at your theater. We’ll close with one of the funnier parts of the movie – and a segment I’m pretty sure wouldn’t go down to well in today’s society…

Cheap Cruises: Best discounts

by Chris Owen on

Special offers, promotions and sales can sometimes be great cruise values. They happen at different times of the year, usually to promote some special event like the launch of a new ship, new itineraries or opening sailings in the future for booking. Another way to save on cruise vacations is with discounts that are readily available most of the time. Let’s take a look at some common ones that are normally available year-round.

Past-Guest Discounts are available after one sailing on a number of lines. Carnival Cruise Lines often offers past guests special pricing and a complementary in-category upgrade. This discount is commonly offered far in advance to encourage guests to sail again and again on the same line.

Senior Discounts are available on some lines for guests 55 or older. To qualify, at least one guest in the cabin must be 55 or older, not all. A common trick to make that work for grandma, grandpa and the kids/grand kids is to split up the seniors for booking purposes. They don’t do bed checks on the ships so switching back once on board is usually easy to do.

Military Discounts are available on many sailings. Spearheaded by Carnival Cruise Lines, other lines offer them as well. Like a Senior discount, one guest in the cabin that is active or retired military is all that is needed to get the discounted fare. The cruise line will require proof in the form of a military ID provided within a couple days of booking.

Resident Discounts are sometimes offered for certain states but not others. Florida resident discounts are common on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, not so much on other lines although Princess has regional rates you may qualify for. This is why your travel expert wants to know what airport you might be flying out of.

Interline rates are also available sometimes from cruise lines for employees of other carriers like airlines and can often be applied to more than one cabin. The cruise line will require proof of employment to get the rates which are usually some of the lowest.

Many of the best discounts that lead to cheap cruises come closer to sailing too. It is not uncommon for Royal Caribbean or Celebrity to offer no discounts at all far from sailing, adding them on closer to sailing to help fill up the ship. Check with your personal travel expert for all the latest information as it may apply to you.

Cruise Deal Watch: Still some Valentines Day values available

by Chris Owen on

Norwegian Cruise Line likes to do things big. New Norwegian Epic debuted last Summer full of never before seen entertainment options that put the cruse industry on notice: These people mean business. Now, with Valentines Day fast approaching, the line has some special offers sure to ring in romance on the high seas.

Offering special savings on 12 different sailings that include Valentines Day, the line is throwing in a complementary four-category upgrade and e-coupons in on-board savings of up to $400. In addition, the line is featuring two of their special packages with Valentines Day in mind.

The Romance Package features sparking wine and strawberries in your stateroom upon embarkation, a spa pedicure and manicure for one person, two massages and tea service in your stateroom.

The Deluxe Romance Package includes sparking wine and strawberries in your stateroom upon embarkation plus a choice of Exotic Frangipani Body Nourishing Wrap for one or and Exotic Coconut and Milk Ritual Wrap for one along with breakfast in bed, a keepsake portrait and dinner for two in the ship’s exclusive Le Bistro restaurant with a bottle of wine.

Question: Who decides who gets the stuff for one? Do they flip for it?

Popular Valentines Day sailings sell out pretty fast and often demand a premium price. Checking around, we found very few extra value sailings. Actually, this was it.

Still looking for something special to do on Valentines Day? Among other options, maybe a City Boat Tour will work for you.

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Flickr photo by ses7