Day 8 – Disembarkation
The disembarkation process was very quick. You basically tell the staff the night before the time you plan to leave and they will order a taxi for you. When it is time to leave, you then pay your bill and walk off the ship as they load your luggage into the waiting taxi.
This really is a no hassle form of travelling. We had a very enjoyable time. It is as advertised – a “floating hotel” that comes with you as you visit cities along your route. You are normally just steps from the city centre and can do what you want / when you want. The food is very good. There is less choice but every meal is freshly prepared using local produce. We could buy local wines and drink them on board, and you are never in a line-up. At the end of a week you know all of the staff and many of your fellow passengers. Every tour was very informative and the guides were helpful. Any excursion was accompanied by a representative of Viking who ensured that everyone was looked after. Our only complaint was that the internet had spotty coverage and Viking informed us that in 2009 they are upgrading their internet service. Only question is…..where to next?
We moved our belongings to the Fleming’s Hotel. It is a VERY modern hotel and is only 8 years old. It is located on the U3 subway line so after a quick check-in we went back into the old city via the subway (3 stops) for a day of walking the streets and taking in even more atmosphere. Tonight’s dinner is at a traditional Vienna Heurigen. http://www.pfarrplatz.at/heuriger-eng.htm it is the former home of Beethoven and should make for a fun end to our Danube experience.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Christmas Markets Vienna
Day 8 Vienna
Our day started at 8:30am with a one hour bus tour along the ring road of Vienna “Ringstrasse”. The road is lined with an impressive collection of museums, grand residences, palaces, monuments, and concert halls. It really was like trying to take a sip of water our of a fire hydrant as the tour guide pointed our the attractions in rapid succession. It is hard to grasp the sheer number of sites collected along this 4km stretch. We started our walking tour at the glorious St. Stephan’s Cathedral. Our guide pointed out famous shops and monuments. We walked by The Spanish Riding School as well as the former Royal Palace. After the tour we enjoyed a classic Vienna tradition – a brauner grosser (large coffee with whipped cream) and some pastries. The coffee is served on a silver plate with a glass of water. I had a slice of sacher torte – a dark chocolate cake. We then took some extra time to visit some of the high end fashion shops before taking the subway back to the ship.
We spent the afternoon touring the Schonbrunn Palace. It is a UNESCO world heritage site. Our guide walked us through each room of the Royal Apartments and we had an hour at the end to explore the Christmas Market. The setting sun brought the Christmas lights to life on the giant tree in front of the palace.
Later in the evening we attended a concert in the former stock market building. The 6 musicians, two dancers and two singers made the evening pass by quickly. Their performance was light hearted and very enjoyable. The first half featured the music of Mozart and the second half featured Strauss. The drive to the concert gave us a quick look at the spectacular light display at city hall.
Our day started at 8:30am with a one hour bus tour along the ring road of Vienna “Ringstrasse”. The road is lined with an impressive collection of museums, grand residences, palaces, monuments, and concert halls. It really was like trying to take a sip of water our of a fire hydrant as the tour guide pointed our the attractions in rapid succession. It is hard to grasp the sheer number of sites collected along this 4km stretch. We started our walking tour at the glorious St. Stephan’s Cathedral. Our guide pointed out famous shops and monuments. We walked by The Spanish Riding School as well as the former Royal Palace. After the tour we enjoyed a classic Vienna tradition – a brauner grosser (large coffee with whipped cream) and some pastries. The coffee is served on a silver plate with a glass of water. I had a slice of sacher torte – a dark chocolate cake. We then took some extra time to visit some of the high end fashion shops before taking the subway back to the ship.
We spent the afternoon touring the Schonbrunn Palace. It is a UNESCO world heritage site. Our guide walked us through each room of the Royal Apartments and we had an hour at the end to explore the Christmas Market. The setting sun brought the Christmas lights to life on the giant tree in front of the palace.
Later in the evening we attended a concert in the former stock market building. The 6 musicians, two dancers and two singers made the evening pass by quickly. Their performance was light hearted and very enjoyable. The first half featured the music of Mozart and the second half featured Strauss. The drive to the concert gave us a quick look at the spectacular light display at city hall.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Christmas Markets Melk
Day 7 – Melk
After a brief bus ride we entered the Melk Abbey. The baroque styled Abbey overlooks the Danube and was founded 900 years ago by St Benedict. It is still a functioning monastery with 30 monks in residence and is also a private school for 900 students. The church was designed in the high baroque style. After our tour we wandered the streets of Melk. Only a few shops were open during the lunch hour and the Christmas markets are only open on Saturday. We decided to spend our time enjoying a true Austrian coffee (with a glass of water and a treat) and then later had a delicious bowl of soup at a local restaurant/hotel. We spent the afternoon sailing the afternoon sailing the scenic Wachau valley.
After a brief bus ride we entered the Melk Abbey. The baroque styled Abbey overlooks the Danube and was founded 900 years ago by St Benedict. It is still a functioning monastery with 30 monks in residence and is also a private school for 900 students. The church was designed in the high baroque style. After our tour we wandered the streets of Melk. Only a few shops were open during the lunch hour and the Christmas markets are only open on Saturday. We decided to spend our time enjoying a true Austrian coffee (with a glass of water and a treat) and then later had a delicious bowl of soup at a local restaurant/hotel. We spent the afternoon sailing the afternoon sailing the scenic Wachau valley.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Christmas Markets Salzburg
Day 6 Optional Tour Salzburg
Our coach tour started at 8:30 am when we were met by our driver and accompanied by a Viking representative. Approximately half of the cruise guests opted to go to Salzburg. The 1.5 hour bus trip passed by spectacular foothill mountains and every few minutes we would spot a new village nestled into the countryside.
Salzburg is the birthplace of the great composer Mozart and this historical fact has shaped the local community. Over 9 million tourists visit the town every year and all stop at the home where he grew-up as well as his birthplace. Our guide for the walking tour explained in detail the accomplishments of the town’s most famous composer. We also visited the stunning exterior of Schloss Mirabell, featured in the classic film, The Sound of Music. The guide pointed out the Mountains that the Van Trapp family was to ascend to reach Switzerland – in fact the other side of the mountain is still Austria and their target destination is over 200 miles away, obviously a Hollywood fib. We also saw the graveyard that was featured in the movie as well as several other movie locations.
Following a visit to The Church of Salzburg, we stopped for lunch at a restaurant that was founded in the year 900. We entered an upstairs dining room and we were mesmerized by the stunning Christmas decorations. In the centre of the room was a 20 foot Christmas tree decorated in gold ornaments. Lunch included a delicious turkey breast and a uniquely local desert dish – salzburger nockerl, which is like a large meringue with a raspberry sauce.
The balance of the day had us shopping at the local Christmas markets and we purchased a chocolate treat called a salzburger mozarttafel to sample. Our bus departed at 3:30 for the return to Linz When we arrived back at the ship, we decided to tour the city of Linz which was only one block from the dock. We looked at the Christmas markets and the local shops. This is a fantastic place to shop but we simply ran out of time. We decided to eat in the town and 10 of us enjoyed a dinner at a local restaurant and returned to the ship for a late night departure.
Our coach tour started at 8:30 am when we were met by our driver and accompanied by a Viking representative. Approximately half of the cruise guests opted to go to Salzburg. The 1.5 hour bus trip passed by spectacular foothill mountains and every few minutes we would spot a new village nestled into the countryside.
Salzburg is the birthplace of the great composer Mozart and this historical fact has shaped the local community. Over 9 million tourists visit the town every year and all stop at the home where he grew-up as well as his birthplace. Our guide for the walking tour explained in detail the accomplishments of the town’s most famous composer. We also visited the stunning exterior of Schloss Mirabell, featured in the classic film, The Sound of Music. The guide pointed out the Mountains that the Van Trapp family was to ascend to reach Switzerland – in fact the other side of the mountain is still Austria and their target destination is over 200 miles away, obviously a Hollywood fib. We also saw the graveyard that was featured in the movie as well as several other movie locations.
Following a visit to The Church of Salzburg, we stopped for lunch at a restaurant that was founded in the year 900. We entered an upstairs dining room and we were mesmerized by the stunning Christmas decorations. In the centre of the room was a 20 foot Christmas tree decorated in gold ornaments. Lunch included a delicious turkey breast and a uniquely local desert dish – salzburger nockerl, which is like a large meringue with a raspberry sauce.
The balance of the day had us shopping at the local Christmas markets and we purchased a chocolate treat called a salzburger mozarttafel to sample. Our bus departed at 3:30 for the return to Linz When we arrived back at the ship, we decided to tour the city of Linz which was only one block from the dock. We looked at the Christmas markets and the local shops. This is a fantastic place to shop but we simply ran out of time. We decided to eat in the town and 10 of us enjoyed a dinner at a local restaurant and returned to the ship for a late night departure.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Christmas Markets Passau
Day 5 Passau
The day started with a 9:00am walking tour of Passau. Once again we were docked just a few feet from the town. Our guide was a young lady who was born and raised in Passau. She explained that the 50,000 residents of the town are mostly Roman Catholic, in fact they have 50 Catholic churches! Her background made the tour more ‘authentic’ and less historical. She talked in detail about her own family Christmas traditions. Our tour included a stop at a local chocolatier / baker who has been in business for 4 generations. They gave a talk on gingerbread making and let us sample three types of gingerbread and a hot mulled wine punch. We concluded the tour at St Stephan’s church where we saw what is Europe’s largest pipe organ and a fantastic example of Baroque architecture – and to this point, the most beautiful church we have seen.
At 3:30 our ship departed and we bid farewell to Germany as we crossed into Austria. The late afternoon departure allowed for a glimpse of the Bavarian mountains that line the Danube river. Small towns which were blanketed with a dusting of white snow made for an idyllic setting. Our German experience left us with a new appreciation of the tradition and passion these people hold for Christmas. There is no “Happy Holidays”, no “Holiday Tree”, no piped-in Christmas carols played in endless repetition, no plastic Santa, and no reindeer. They do have a real respect for the true meaning of Christmas.
The day started with a 9:00am walking tour of Passau. Once again we were docked just a few feet from the town. Our guide was a young lady who was born and raised in Passau. She explained that the 50,000 residents of the town are mostly Roman Catholic, in fact they have 50 Catholic churches! Her background made the tour more ‘authentic’ and less historical. She talked in detail about her own family Christmas traditions. Our tour included a stop at a local chocolatier / baker who has been in business for 4 generations. They gave a talk on gingerbread making and let us sample three types of gingerbread and a hot mulled wine punch. We concluded the tour at St Stephan’s church where we saw what is Europe’s largest pipe organ and a fantastic example of Baroque architecture – and to this point, the most beautiful church we have seen.
At 3:30 our ship departed and we bid farewell to Germany as we crossed into Austria. The late afternoon departure allowed for a glimpse of the Bavarian mountains that line the Danube river. Small towns which were blanketed with a dusting of white snow made for an idyllic setting. Our German experience left us with a new appreciation of the tradition and passion these people hold for Christmas. There is no “Happy Holidays”, no “Holiday Tree”, no piped-in Christmas carols played in endless repetition, no plastic Santa, and no reindeer. They do have a real respect for the true meaning of Christmas.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Christmas Markets Regensburg
Day 4 Regensburg
Our ship arrived at Regensburg in the early morning and docked only steps away from the ancient city founded in 179 AD. After breakfast we were met by a local guide who was not only a history professor but she also had a wonderful sense of humor. She provided a one and a half hour tour of the medieval city. Regensburg was spared from bombings during WWII and therefore is home to Germany’s best preserved medieval architecture. We were taken to the 12th century stone bridge, the old town hall, and the most impressive St. Peter’s church with its towering stained glass windows.
We had free time in the afternoon to visit the local shops. Absent was any real sign of “tourist trap” stores which made the afternoon pass by quickly for even us guys who don’t see shopping as a sport. We enjoyed wonderful Bavarian sausages for lunch along with a cold draft beer. These sausages are a local specialty and even after much prodding, our server would not reveal the secret recipe. We found a small restaurant (Hofbrau Dom Regensburg) www.hb-am-dom.de for dinner that served authentic Bavarian dishes. The waitress and waiter were dresses in local costumes and even though the restaurant was busy, we were the only non-locals dining there.
Our evening was concluded back on the ship where we enjoyed a bottle of wine that we had purchased in town and then we were entertained by a one-man band who had the whole ship clapping and laughing along with his routine. The ship departed at 9:45pm for our next stop.
Our ship arrived at Regensburg in the early morning and docked only steps away from the ancient city founded in 179 AD. After breakfast we were met by a local guide who was not only a history professor but she also had a wonderful sense of humor. She provided a one and a half hour tour of the medieval city. Regensburg was spared from bombings during WWII and therefore is home to Germany’s best preserved medieval architecture. We were taken to the 12th century stone bridge, the old town hall, and the most impressive St. Peter’s church with its towering stained glass windows.
We had free time in the afternoon to visit the local shops. Absent was any real sign of “tourist trap” stores which made the afternoon pass by quickly for even us guys who don’t see shopping as a sport. We enjoyed wonderful Bavarian sausages for lunch along with a cold draft beer. These sausages are a local specialty and even after much prodding, our server would not reveal the secret recipe. We found a small restaurant (Hofbrau Dom Regensburg) www.hb-am-dom.de for dinner that served authentic Bavarian dishes. The waitress and waiter were dresses in local costumes and even though the restaurant was busy, we were the only non-locals dining there.
Our evening was concluded back on the ship where we enjoyed a bottle of wine that we had purchased in town and then we were entertained by a one-man band who had the whole ship clapping and laughing along with his routine. The ship departed at 9:45pm for our next stop.
Christmas Markets Nuremberg
Day 3 Nuremberg – Cruising The Main / Danube Canal
Our day started off at 8:30am with a guided tour (via motor coach) of Nuremberg. Viking provided a local tour guide who was an American that had been living in Nuremburg for the past 18 years. The first part of the tour addressed the city’s infamous past. Nuremberg was a key centre for the Nazi movement and housed the party’s main parade grounds. We passed by the coliseum which was being built to allow party leaders the opportunity to spew propaganda to tens of thousands of followers. The interior was never completed but one can envision the magnitude of the plans the Nazi’s developed. A short drive later we got out of the coach at the Nazi parade grounds. This was the spot where Hitler would stand and inspect the thousands of troops and artillery. The guide provided pictures that made the grounds come to life and sent a chill through your body as we came to terms with the history of the area. Our next stop was a brief visit to the site of the Nuremberg trials. Since this is still a functioning courthouse, you are not able to ‘visit’ the interior. Our final stop was back in the old city at the site of the 400 year old Christkindelsmarkt. Here you are struck by the true Christmas spirit that the locals are passionate about. The market is filled with everything Christmas – all locally produced – all natural – all glittering. A light dusting of snow put you in the mood for some Christmas cheer. So off we went to have some fresh gingerbread cookies and a cup of mulled wine. We then returned to the ship and we were quickly on our way to Regensburg.
The canal is an engineering marvel. There are 16 locks that raise the ship over 1300 feet and was completed in 1992. It’s only when you pass through the locks that you appreciate the fact that these river cruise ships will never be any larger. We pass under bridges and through locks that allow for only inches of clearance. In fact the entire control room on the upper deck can be lowered into the floor so the ship can pass under several low bridges.
Viking provided a guest speaker for the afternoon of cruising. He is an expert in European history and spoke for close to an hour about the history of the area and the background to the formation of the EU. I would guess about half of the 150 passengers attended the talk while others played board games, read in the library or maybe caught a nap.
Our day started off at 8:30am with a guided tour (via motor coach) of Nuremberg. Viking provided a local tour guide who was an American that had been living in Nuremburg for the past 18 years. The first part of the tour addressed the city’s infamous past. Nuremberg was a key centre for the Nazi movement and housed the party’s main parade grounds. We passed by the coliseum which was being built to allow party leaders the opportunity to spew propaganda to tens of thousands of followers. The interior was never completed but one can envision the magnitude of the plans the Nazi’s developed. A short drive later we got out of the coach at the Nazi parade grounds. This was the spot where Hitler would stand and inspect the thousands of troops and artillery. The guide provided pictures that made the grounds come to life and sent a chill through your body as we came to terms with the history of the area. Our next stop was a brief visit to the site of the Nuremberg trials. Since this is still a functioning courthouse, you are not able to ‘visit’ the interior. Our final stop was back in the old city at the site of the 400 year old Christkindelsmarkt. Here you are struck by the true Christmas spirit that the locals are passionate about. The market is filled with everything Christmas – all locally produced – all natural – all glittering. A light dusting of snow put you in the mood for some Christmas cheer. So off we went to have some fresh gingerbread cookies and a cup of mulled wine. We then returned to the ship and we were quickly on our way to Regensburg.
The canal is an engineering marvel. There are 16 locks that raise the ship over 1300 feet and was completed in 1992. It’s only when you pass through the locks that you appreciate the fact that these river cruise ships will never be any larger. We pass under bridges and through locks that allow for only inches of clearance. In fact the entire control room on the upper deck can be lowered into the floor so the ship can pass under several low bridges.
Viking provided a guest speaker for the afternoon of cruising. He is an expert in European history and spoke for close to an hour about the history of the area and the background to the formation of the EU. I would guess about half of the 150 passengers attended the talk while others played board games, read in the library or maybe caught a nap.
Christmas Markets Bamberg
Day 2 – Bamberg Daytrip
We decided to organize our own day trip to Bamberg. The train runs frequently from Nuremburg and costs less than 10 Euros so we caught the 10:40 train to the town of Bamberg. The high speed service had us arrive 45 minutes later and we started to explore the city. Most shops were closed due to the fact that it was Sunday morning but we did find a small Christmas specialty store whose owner is a part-time tour guide. She was more than happy to offer up a few pointers on what to do and see.
We stopped for hot chocolate and enjoyed an apple desert before crossing a bridge that served as a gateway to the old city. We visited a couple of old churches including St Michael’s that dates back over 600 years. One can only marvel at the history and architecture that unfolds in abundance. Before we knew it, it was time to return to the train. 5 hours had passed in what seemed to be a blink of an eye. A quick stop back to the Christmas store to thank our impromptu guide turned into an opportunity to share a glass of Champaign and wine with the store owner as we explored her small boutique. The 3:45pm train has us back in Nuremberg in time to catch a taxi for a quick trip to the “port” where the Viking Spirit was awaiting our arrival. Check-in was more like that you would experience at a boutique hotel than a cruise ship. Within 3 minutes we were checked-in, bags delivered, and a friendly hostess showed us to the spacious stateroom.
After a brief orientation we went to the main dining room for our first gourmet dinner. The German inspired meal did not disappoint. A glass blowing demonstration was held back in the lounge for a very interesting and amusing performance by a local artisan. The day was over but was one that will not soon be forgotten.
We decided to organize our own day trip to Bamberg. The train runs frequently from Nuremburg and costs less than 10 Euros so we caught the 10:40 train to the town of Bamberg. The high speed service had us arrive 45 minutes later and we started to explore the city. Most shops were closed due to the fact that it was Sunday morning but we did find a small Christmas specialty store whose owner is a part-time tour guide. She was more than happy to offer up a few pointers on what to do and see.
We stopped for hot chocolate and enjoyed an apple desert before crossing a bridge that served as a gateway to the old city. We visited a couple of old churches including St Michael’s that dates back over 600 years. One can only marvel at the history and architecture that unfolds in abundance. Before we knew it, it was time to return to the train. 5 hours had passed in what seemed to be a blink of an eye. A quick stop back to the Christmas store to thank our impromptu guide turned into an opportunity to share a glass of Champaign and wine with the store owner as we explored her small boutique. The 3:45pm train has us back in Nuremberg in time to catch a taxi for a quick trip to the “port” where the Viking Spirit was awaiting our arrival. Check-in was more like that you would experience at a boutique hotel than a cruise ship. Within 3 minutes we were checked-in, bags delivered, and a friendly hostess showed us to the spacious stateroom.
After a brief orientation we went to the main dining room for our first gourmet dinner. The German inspired meal did not disappoint. A glass blowing demonstration was held back in the lounge for a very interesting and amusing performance by a local artisan. The day was over but was one that will not soon be forgotten.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Day 1 Christmas Markets
Day 1 Travel to Nuremburg.
We boarded our KLM flight from Toronto to Amerstam. The 747 was the equipment used and proved to be a most enjoyable method of getting to Europe. Six hours of flying time passed quickly as we enjoyed a failrly good airline meal, compimentary wine and spirits, and friendly service. An hour before landing a small breakfast snack was served.
Amsterdam's airport is a fabulous option for European connections. We were through passport control in just a few minuites and had time to shop in the vast array of shops located in the terminal. It made us want to return to see what the city has to offer.
Our short one hour flight to Nuremburg was efficient and comfortable. The Nuremburg airport is small which means you get you luggage quickly and there is no problem getting a taxi. It costs 15 euros to get into the old city where our hotel Victoria served as our pre cruise base.
The hotel itself is located within the old city and provides a great base for you to explore the city. The room is typically european sized but clean and modern. The reception area is stocked with hot tea to welcome you back from your adventures. There is an Irish pub located in the basement which serves only beer and wine. A good option for food is a restaurant located beside the hotel - "Gasthaus Pillhoffer". Solid German food with some local dishes at a reasonable price. English speaking staff will serve you promptly and the locals were more than willing to help us Canadian plan our next day. We are heading out to wander the old city before retiring for the night
Friday, November 14, 2008
Disney introduces 3D theaters at sea
Leave it to Disney to revolutionize theater entertainment at sea.
The entertainment giant is about to unveil the cruise industry's first 3-D theaters, to debut next Friday on the Disney Wonder and Dec. 6 on the Disney Magic.
Disney Digital 3-D, as the company is calling its proprietary technology, is being installed in two theaters on each of the 1,754-passenger vessels and will allow for the showing of the first 3-D movies at sea. But Disney has even grander plans for the technology.
Starting in early 2009 the company will pull off another first with the debut of a once-per-cruise theatrical extravaganza that combines 3-D movie projection with in-theatre special effects. Tridimensional images will combine with lasers, fog, streamers and lighting effects to create an immersive experience.
“With Disney Digital 3-D we can provide extraordinary cinematic experiences for our guests that no other cruise line can offer,” notes Tom McAlpin, president of Disney Cruise Line.
The 3-D theaters will be used to offer passengers exclusive viewings of first-run Disney films the same week they roll out in theaters on land. Indeed, Disney is timing next week's launch of the 3-D technology on the Wonder to coincide with the debut of its much-awaited new 3-D animated Disney film Bolt (John Travolta; Miley Cyrus).
The company plans a special midnight screening of Bolt on the Disney Wonder as the calendar turns from Nov. 20 to Nov. 21 -- the day the movie debuts in theaters on land. Characters from the movie will be in attendance.
Disney's move comes during a period of unusual innovation in cruise industry entertainment. Just this week Celebrity Cruises is unveiling the first glass-blowing shows at sea on the new Celebrity Solstice. The ship will be christened later today in Fort Lauderdale. Over the past year Royal Caribbean also has announced several groundbreaking entertainment concepts for its soon-to-launch Oasis of the Seas, including an outdoor AquaTheater for live water shows (another industry first).
The age-old tradition of watching movies at sea also has been revolutionized over the past few years by the arrival of huge outdoor movie screens on the top decks of ships. Just last week Princess Cruises, which pioneered the concept in 2004, announced it would add outdoor theaters to nearly all of its ships over the next three years due to strong demand.
The Disney theaters getting the 3-D technology on the two Disney ships are the Buena Vista Theatres (the traditional movie theaters on the two ships) and the Walt Disney Theatres (which house staged musicals and other productions).
Based in Port Canaveral, Fla., Disney's two ships sail three-, four- and seven-night itineraries to the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
Source USA Today
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Fans of those big outdoor movie screens that have been popping up on cruise ships in recent years -- and there are a lot of you out there -- got some good news today from Princess Cruises.
The line that pioneered the "Movies Under the Stars" concept in 2004 says it plans to take the monster screens fleetwide over the next three years in a big expansion.
Princess already has the 300-square-foot screens on the top decks of seven of its newest vessels -- the Caribbean Princess (where it all began), Crown Princess, Emerald Princess, Grand Princess, Star Princess, Sea Princess and soon-to-debut Ruby Princess. Over the next three years the line will add them to seven more ships.
The rollout will begin on the Golden Princess next May, followed by the Dawn Princess (June 2009), Coral Princess (October 2009), Sun Princess (April 2010), Island Princess (October 2010), Diamond Princess (November 2010) and Sapphire Princess (2011).
Princess uses the high-tech, LED screens day and night to show movies, sporting events such as the Super Bowl and concerts by the likes of Tina Turner and Elton John. The line even has been known to offer midnight showings of cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Princess beefs up Hawaii
Princess Cruises has launched a new Hawai'i cruise itinerary that will continue through April, providing a seasonal bright spot in a visiting-cruise schedule that sank in numbers after NCL America reduced its Hawai'i-based ships from three to one.
Advertisement
For its 2008-09 schedule, Princes Cruises put its 951-foot Golden Princess into service in the Hawai'i market. The ship offers 14-day round-trip Hawai'i cruises from Los Angeles that include calls at Hilo, Honolulu, Kaua'i and Maui, through April 1, 2009.
Programs onboard the ship include a variety of cultural presentations and demonstrations, interpretive lectures, learning to play the 'ukulele, other hands-on activities and Hawaiian cuisine, said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president.
Monday, November 3, 2008
FAMILIES GIVE TOP MARKS TO CRUISING
Families take cruises and they cruise often because the price is right, the value for money spent is outstanding and the cruise experience offers unique advantages over comparably priced land-based vacations. Those are the conclusions to be drawn from a just released online survey of more than 1,000 households by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and Cruise Critic, the top online resource on cruise information.
“Experts tell us that family vacations are one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry and this certainly is true for cruises. It’s not just the amazing new generation of ships and shipboard activities and facilities for young travelers,” said Terry Dale, president and CEO of CLIA. "Most important, families are choosing to cruise because of price and, even more important, value. They recognize that a cruise vacation offers advantages and features that are simply not found on any other type of vacation.”
Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor in chief of Cruise Critic, agrees, "The cruise vacation is an attractive way to travel because many elements of a stress-free family trip are wrapped up into one tidy package for passengers. From accommodations and meals to entertainment and activities, the almost all-inclusive cruise experience appeals -- particularly to families -- because of the tremendous value and convenience it offers."
Among the key findings:
* Families take a lot of cruises. Almost half (46 percent) of respondents have taken two to four cruises with children under the age of 18; 15.2 percent have taken five to seven cruises, and 4.8 percent have taken more than ten.
* Outstanding value. Over 83 percent of families said cruise vacations are very good or extremely good value.
* The price is right. Among all family cruisers, 73.4 percent said that their last cruise was the same price or less than a resort vacation, with almost 50 percent saying that the cruise was slightly or much less costly.
* Multiple advantages over resort vacations. Family cruisers listed many key advantages to taking a cruise over a family resort stay, including: the opportunity to visit multiple destinations (62.8 percent); the all-inclusive nature of a cruise vacation – accommodations, meals, entertainment and shipboard activities included in one price – (57.7 percent); onboard kids programs and facilities (30.2 percent); the variety of onboard amenities (28.0 percent); and onboard entertainment (20.3 percent).
* Destination rules. 36.6 percent of families said that the destination or itinerary was the primary deciding factor in choosing a family cruise. Almost 30 percent were most motivated by price.
* Planning is easy. Almost 70 percent of respondents said that planning a cruise was easier than planning a resort vacation.
* Cruising is relaxing, hassle-free and provides for quality family time. The survey found that 44.3 percent of families spend about half their time together on a cruise, while 42.7 percent said they spend all or most of their cruise vacation together as a family.
* Over 30 percent of respondents said quality shared family time was the best thing about a cruise while over 20 percent cited the hassle-free “don’t need to plan anything” quality of a cruise as the most enjoyable feature of a vacation at sea. The opportunity to see multiple destinations, kids’ enjoyment of the cruise experience, the quality of shipboard service and amenities, and kids’ facilities and services were other leading reasons to choose a family cruise.
* Cruising can be a great choice for a multi-generational vacation. Over 60 percent of respondents say they sometimes or always travel as an extended family (with grandparents and/or grandchildren.)
* Almost 76 percent of families reported that their kids took advantage of kids-only activities, facilities and/or entertainment onboard ship.
“Experts tell us that family vacations are one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry and this certainly is true for cruises. It’s not just the amazing new generation of ships and shipboard activities and facilities for young travelers,” said Terry Dale, president and CEO of CLIA. "Most important, families are choosing to cruise because of price and, even more important, value. They recognize that a cruise vacation offers advantages and features that are simply not found on any other type of vacation.”
Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor in chief of Cruise Critic, agrees, "The cruise vacation is an attractive way to travel because many elements of a stress-free family trip are wrapped up into one tidy package for passengers. From accommodations and meals to entertainment and activities, the almost all-inclusive cruise experience appeals -- particularly to families -- because of the tremendous value and convenience it offers."
Among the key findings:
* Families take a lot of cruises. Almost half (46 percent) of respondents have taken two to four cruises with children under the age of 18; 15.2 percent have taken five to seven cruises, and 4.8 percent have taken more than ten.
* Outstanding value. Over 83 percent of families said cruise vacations are very good or extremely good value.
* The price is right. Among all family cruisers, 73.4 percent said that their last cruise was the same price or less than a resort vacation, with almost 50 percent saying that the cruise was slightly or much less costly.
* Multiple advantages over resort vacations. Family cruisers listed many key advantages to taking a cruise over a family resort stay, including: the opportunity to visit multiple destinations (62.8 percent); the all-inclusive nature of a cruise vacation – accommodations, meals, entertainment and shipboard activities included in one price – (57.7 percent); onboard kids programs and facilities (30.2 percent); the variety of onboard amenities (28.0 percent); and onboard entertainment (20.3 percent).
* Destination rules. 36.6 percent of families said that the destination or itinerary was the primary deciding factor in choosing a family cruise. Almost 30 percent were most motivated by price.
* Planning is easy. Almost 70 percent of respondents said that planning a cruise was easier than planning a resort vacation.
* Cruising is relaxing, hassle-free and provides for quality family time. The survey found that 44.3 percent of families spend about half their time together on a cruise, while 42.7 percent said they spend all or most of their cruise vacation together as a family.
* Over 30 percent of respondents said quality shared family time was the best thing about a cruise while over 20 percent cited the hassle-free “don’t need to plan anything” quality of a cruise as the most enjoyable feature of a vacation at sea. The opportunity to see multiple destinations, kids’ enjoyment of the cruise experience, the quality of shipboard service and amenities, and kids’ facilities and services were other leading reasons to choose a family cruise.
* Cruising can be a great choice for a multi-generational vacation. Over 60 percent of respondents say they sometimes or always travel as an extended family (with grandparents and/or grandchildren.)
* Almost 76 percent of families reported that their kids took advantage of kids-only activities, facilities and/or entertainment onboard ship.
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