Travel industry insider Q&A: Stewart Chiron, The Cruise Guy

Stewart Chiron, also known as The Cruise Guy, has turned his passion for cruising into a remarkable career. In a way, his is sort of the ultimate travel industry dream story. Kid identifies travel obsession, pursues it, refines it, and then is lucky enough to devote his professional life to sharing his well-honed expertise. For cruising veterans, Chiron is a trusted source of information. For those of us who are less experienced as cruisers, The Cruise Guy’s insights are possibly even more invaluable.

Q: How did you develop your cruise expertise?

A: My cruise history began 23 years ago when I took a one-day cruise to the Bahamas. I didn’t like it for a day, and didn’t understand why people would do it for a whole week. In between my first and second years of college, I took a summer job with the very first cruise-only agency in the United States, The Cruise Line, Inc. It was very exciting as the opportunities were endless. It took almost 14 months after that to get me on my first real cruise. From then on I was hooked!

Back in 1989, cruising was far off the radar for most vacationers. I devoured the cruise brochures and quickly learned what consumers were really interested in. I developed a keen understanding of cruise trends, strategies and marketing. Over time, my research-based, objective perspectives allowed me to become one of the most quoted cruise industry experts, sought out as a regular contributor by leading news organizations on TV, radio, newspapers and magazines.

Q: How would you recommend that people go about choosing a cruise?

A: Buying a cruise is like buying a car. It’s an investment of money and time. You’ll be on these ships for three, four, or seven nights, or even longer, so you need to make the right decision.

Being on the wrong ship and paying the wrong price can easily ruin a vacation! Determine your desired destination and do your homework before calling and then booking.

Q: Are you bullish about the future of cruising for the short-term and the long-term?

A: The cruise industry is quite resilient. Ships sail at full capacity. The only question is at what price.

The cruising demographic is expanding. Higher airfares, fuel costs, hotels, and meals are prompting many to give cruising a chance. People who would never previously have considered a cruise are discovering the many advantages of cruising.

The cruise industry will continue to succeed in both the near and long term, in part thanks to the amazing new ships and destinations that are continually being introduced. The industry is also flexible. If an itinerary isn’t working, ships can be redeployed to more profitable destinations.

Q: How is cruising going to change in the next decade or two? Are there regions of the world where you expect to see particularly strong growth in routes, ports, and local demand for cruising?

A: Europe will continue to be strong for the foreseeable future, with more and more cities warming up to cruising. The South Pacific including Australia/New Zealand has large growth potential, as does Asia.

Main Caribbean departure points in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana will need to develop new ports-of-call to continue to drive interest. Ports like Grand Cayman must build piers or risk losing even more business.

As far as ships are concerned, it comes down to innovation and development. It wouldn’t surprise me if Royal Caribbean introduced dolphins or killer whales in their Aqua Theater pools aboard their Oasis Class ships! The possibilities are mesmerizing!

Q: Give us five helpful, concrete tips for finding an inexpensive cruise.

A: 1. Research but don’t book online. There are many deals, including specials for residents, military, and seniors, that may not be available online. You’ll never be sure you’re getting the very best deal, cabin or ship. Non-published deals are often better. Make the phone call.

2. Use a travel agent. There isn’t one advantage to booking directly with a cruise line. You’ll never receive the professional and objective advice that an experienced cruise agent can provide. A true cruise specialist can match you with the best ship and deal. Beware of cruise line and agency “order takers,” who are often neither well informed nor experienced! Ask for their qualifications.

3. Be flexible with your dates. Cruise prices often vary by sailing date. If possible, check a few dates before and after your desired sailing date to ensure maximum savings. Plan on booking your own air to ensure best price and schedule unless air is free/subsidized by the cruise line.

4. Book early. Book your cruise as far in advance as possible. Some of the most desired specialty itineraries such as Europe and Alaska require advance bookings to avoid paying higher air and cruise fares. The difference can easily come to thousands of dollars.

5. Consider travel insurance. A cruise is an investment of money and time and should be protected. Besides providing protection against cancellation, policies also cover interruption and travel delay, and are worth serious consideration.

Q: How many cruises have you taken? What was the best cruise among these? What about the most unusual?

A: I’ve now cruised well over 150 times and experienced almost every ship. Someone has to do it!

Some of my favorite cruise destinations are Hawaii, the Mediterranean, Alaska and the Caribbean.

Sailing to the Galapagos Islands may be one the most unusual cruise itineraries around. I found Celebrity’s Xpedition to be an excellent choice for the Galapagos.

Q: Do you recommend that people sail on new ships right after they’ve launched?

A: It’s great to be the first, but sailing within the first year of a new generation of ships can be very expensive. Wait until a generation’s second ship arrives as pricing on both will be reduced.

Travel mugs are indispensable at sea – Cruise tip

Take an insulated travel mug on your next cruise and it may become your favorite accessory.

Coffee and tea are abundantly available on board, but cruise cups are notoriously small, so you’ll need a few refills for a proper morning jolt. If coffee‘s not your thing, the mug comes in handy for preventing spills in busy buffet lines. Poolside, the insulation keeps drinks frosty.

Save luggage space by stuffing your mug with small items, scarves, ties, or a teeny bikini.

No travel mug? Thrift shops carry tons, and at less than a dollar, they’re cheaper than $10-15 on the boat.

[Photo: Flickr | poohjay]

Avoid “white space” in cruise travel – Cruise tip

I spent more than a decade as editor of a publication which featured cruise travel, so I’ve heard great insights from officers, the captain, travel agents and other travelers. One of the best I’ve heard is: Avoid the white space!

It’s what you DON’T see in those glossy brochures and Web site layouts of the ship’s decks that should be of concern as it will affect how much rest you will be able to get aboard ship, how much access you’ll have to amenities, etc. Sadly, I learned the hard way.

Then an officer explained to me: “Avoid the white space.” What that means is that because of security reasons, the layouts you see cannot list the location of common areas such as stairwells or even some group gathering spots.

What does that mean? You may be spending extra money and getting no return. I wanted a mini-suite for the extra room once. You would assume because you are paying more and getting more room, it would mean more comfortable accommodations. Take a close look at that layout, noting the dreaded white space, and you may find out that your room is located directly next to a main stairwell or below the basketball or shuffleboard area.

It isn’t about picking out the right cabin, necessarily. It’s about carefully seeing what is around you and knowing yourself well enough to know when it’s worth the money to get the extra stuff.

If you are ready to book a cabin and you see white space above you or to the side of you, ask a travel agent or a representative of the cruise line. Your extra dollars on the cabin could be better spent on more photos, an extra excursion or the like.

Find your door easily on a cruise ship – Cruise tip

On cruise ships, most hallways and doors look alike — especially after a few drinks.

To help identify your room, bring along a picture of something familiar, like the family dog — but NO personal pictures, for safety reasons — and tape it to your door along with a BIG stick-on Christmas bow, glittery streamers, or other eye-catching, but easily removable object.

No mistaking your room now! Plus, you’re frequently reminded of your great dogs, waiting for you back home.

Travel Trends: Cruising in Alaska is up, so why are people angry?

Alaska: The “Last Frontier.”

It’s a trip of a lifetime for many of us. We imagine towering snow covered peaks with flowing glaciers draping down their sides, eagles soaring overhead while brown bears pluck spawning salmon from wild rivers right in front of our camera lenses. In short, we dream of a pure untouched landscape straight from a lost primordial world. And in truth, this beauty and peace is just what most visitors to Alaska find.

Within the state, however, there has been a battle raging. Statewide tourism has seen a steady and substantial increase in the last decade. The recently published Alaska Visitor Statistics Program Report (opens in PDF) sponsored by Alaska’s Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED) shows a 25% increase in total visitors to the state between 2001 and 2008. The same report documents a nearly 30% increase in visitation via cruise ship travelers (Fig.1 “Total Visitors to Alaska Vs. Those Visiting via Cruise Ship Tour”). And there-in lies the seeds of debate.

Why?

This level of growth has come at the expense of other forms of travel.The ferry and highway systems have seen a 90% and 50% decrease, respectively, in non-resident use over the same time frame (Fig. 2 “Alaska Visitor Travel Methods”). The impression is that this trend is the result of a concerted effort by the DCCED and the Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA) to promote cruise ship tourism above others through marketing, infrastructure development, and the creation of a favorable, industry-specific business environment.

Fair or not, arguments against increased cruise ship-based tourism tend to be based around environmental worries — in short, the fear of negatively affecting the pristine environment that visitors come to see in the first place. These concerns came to a head in 2006. A citizen’s led initiative passed state wide elections to impose a $46 head tax on all cruise ship passengers.

This resulted in key industry leaders decreasing the number of tours they run in the Alaskan market. This, in combination with the national economic situation, has caused an estimated loss of nearly 140,000 visitors to the state… with fears of greater losses to come. The Alaska Cruise Association (ACA) simultaneously brought suite against the State of Alaska in federal court on grounds of unfair taxation. The Alaskan legislature responded by passing a bill to lower the head tax if the ACA agreed to drop the suit — which of course they did.

All of which makes for a great case study on the politics of grassroots environmentalism, state government, and big industry, but what does it indicate for the average traveler looking to finally take that once-in-a-lifetime trip to Alaska?

First, because there are less ships plying the waters than in the last few years, cruise prices have risen back to pre-recession levels — or nearly so — at around $600 from a low of nearly $350 just last year. Waiting lists are also, once again, often a reality. Not good news for the bargain traveler, but once off ship, many of the private tour companies, gift shops, and restaurants are offering deep discounts to attract customers.

However, beyond the monetary disappointments, there is a silver lining. Lower visitor numbers allow for a more intimate experience with the natural landscape — which is the main reason most travelers go to Alaska in the first place.

[Data sources: Alaska Visitor Statistics Program V, Interim Visitor Volume Report, Summer 2008 (Opens in PDF); and Department of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development]

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