Surprise! Alaska picked as most-desired cruise destination

by Chris Owen on

A recent poll by Princess Cruises revealed Alaska, not the warm-weather-dreamy Caribbean, as the number one destination choice for cruising in the coming year. The poll, fielded from the line’s 76,000 Facebook fans, had some other surprising results as well.

Among other results, one-fourth of those responding chose Alaska as their top choice to visit this year, followed by the Caribbean (15%) and Europe (14%) Hawaii (8%); Panama Canal (7%); Africa (5%); Australia (5%); Amazon (4%); Asia (2%); Canada/New England (2%); Mexican Riviera (2%); New Zealand (2%); South America (2%), and India (1%).

The pool also revealed that the most desired traveling companion by far (68%) was the respondents “other half” followed by good friends (15%) almost leaving kids at home with a measly 6% vote.

Asked what celebrity they might choose to travel with, Oprah (19%) beat out Jack Black, Tina Fey (no doubt in Sarah Palin mode),Bono, Heidi Klum, Mario Batali, Michelle Obama, Peyton Manning and Justin Bieber among others.

Top choice for what Princess fans want on a vacation? Relaxation (50%) was far ahead of Adventure, Entertainment, Culture and Romance.

So lets add this up. Most people want to go to Alaska with Oprah and/or their “better half” to relax. Almost nobody wants to go to India with Justin Bieber for romance.

I think that works for me. What about you?

%Poll-58380%

Photo: Princess Cruises

Janet Jackson as entertainment on a cruise ship?

by Chris Owen on

Kinda.

On new Norwegian Epic, the popular Legends in Concert tribute show has changed some of the acts.

New to the ship will be Janet Jackson, Neil Diamond and Aretha Franklin impersonators doing six 45-minute shows over during a seven-day cruise.

Las Vegas’ famed standard of live tribute shows has rounded up the largest collection of live tribute artists and celebrity look-alikes in the world for over 25 years. At Sea, the performers are rotated every four months on Norwegian Epic, the latest ship from Norwegian Cruise Lines.

Among other entertainment options on a Norwegian Epic cruise including a Cirque Dreams and Dinner dining experience and a performance by The Blue Man Group, Legends in Concert has proved to be a popular option.

“The Legends in Concert show in the Epic Theater and Legends Unplugged (stars say naughty things) in the Manhattan Room are a favorite of our guests,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s CEO and recent star of TV reality show Undercover Boss who recently impersonated crew members on the ship.

Replacing Britney Spears, Rod Stewart and Michael Jackson, the new performers will also do the Legends Unplugged show on three other nights in the ship’s supper club.

Replacing Kevin Sheehan on Undercover Boss will be Ronald Croatti, President and CEO of UniFirst, one of the nation’s largest producers of work-wear and uniforms.

Flickr photo by chvad_sb

The worst cruise line values

by Chris Owen on

Cruise vacations can represent one of the best vacation values around, that’s for sure. The all-inclusive nature of a cruise makes it one of the easiest ways to go when budgeting too. Some cruises are better values than others though. Here are some of the worst cruise line values.

Cruises from New York
This is the whole supply and demand thing. Few ships sailing from the area with lots of demand equals higher prices in many cases. Summer sailings are a good example where fares for a 7-day cruise can easily be 30 to 50% higher than sailings from Southern ports.

Balconies on old ships
Old ships weren’t built for today’s demand. In the olden days of cruising, ships had mostly inside cabins and Ocean-view cabins with just windows. Just a few cabins had balconies, the popular option today. That makes balconies on old ships prime real estate that gets a premium price.

Sailing solo
While options are slowly improving, sailing by yourself is a horrible value compared to sailing with someone else in the cabin to share the cost with. Cruise lines base everything on double-occupancy and with few exceptions charge solo cruisers twice the cruise fare. Kudos to Norwegian Cruise Lines who introduced single studio accommodations on new Norwegian Epic last Summer, a first for the cruise industry.

Sailing during peak season
Spring Break, Summer, and sailings which fall on holidays or pretty much any time school is out demand a premium price. On the flip side, times when kids are IN school have some of the best values, especially Fall sailings. Some of the best? First week in November or December.

Brand new ships
They always demand a premium price. On the latest, greatest new ship that’s not surprising. Normally, you’ll pay more to be one of the first on the most innovative ships out there than an older sister-ship of the same class.

A good way to measure and compare the value of a cruise, or any vacation package, is the cost per person, per day. Cruise lines like this number because it compares very well to other vacation options.

Another part of “value” though is more of a personal matter. It may very well be worth it to sail solo if the alternative is to not sail or sail with someone you would never take your clothes off in front of. Sailing during peak season may be the only time you can go, or you are just dying to try that new ship with all the latest bells and whistles. Your travel agent can help by being aware of or watching for special promotions, discounts or offers over the life of your booking that will soften the blow of these otherwise worst cruise values.

Flickr photo by kthypyrn

Cruise ship delayed due to illness outbreak

by Chris Owen on

Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas returned to the Port of Tampa today with a ship full of passengers and a little something extra, an outbreak of intestinal flu.

“During Radiance of the Seas’ last sailing, a number of guests experienced some gastrointestinal illness,” Royal Caribbean said in a statement. “In an abundance of caution, we will conduct some enhanced sanitizing on board the ship and within the cruise terminal to help prevent any illness from affecting the next sailing”

The ship is expected to be delayed by about five hours said Doug Parker of CruiseRadio.net who has been in contact with guests preparing to board the ship for it’s next sailing. “Those guests have been told to be at the pier at 5PM for boarding at 6PM, departing at 9:30PM” Parker said.

The cruise line is asking guests who might be sick to reschedule their cruise instead of boarding too. “If you have experienced any gastrointestinal symptoms during the past three days” the company told passengers reports Reuters.2,110-passenger Radiance of the Seas had been on a five-day cruise to Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico and was scheduled to leave Saturday night on the same itinerary

Flickr photo by prayitno

Breaking: Jam Fest cruise busted: No high times on high seas

by Chris Owen on

It was supposed to be rock and roll and fun and games on MSC Cruises Poesia this week on it’s Jam Cruise 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.

Called Jam Cruise 9, the Cloud 9 Adventures event cruise scheduled from January 4th through 9th was to visit Roatan, Honduras and Costa Maya, Mexico.

The January 4Th operation resulted in 15 seizures of Marijuana, LSD, mushrooms, hash oil, Ecstasy, prescription drugs and drug paraphernalia in mostly small quantities, CPB spokeswoman Migdalia Travis told SunSentinel.com

Agents and K-9 officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the U.S.Marshals Service; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Broward County Florida Sheriff’s Office participated in the raid, Travis said.

Bummer.

Flickr photo by Jemingway