CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES REPORTS RECORD BOOKING WEEK, RECEIVING MORE THAN 165,000 RESERVATIONS

Carnival Cruise Lines set a one-week reservations record booking 165,308 guests between Feb. 7-13, 2011, eclipsing the previous one-week reservations record set nearly four years ago.

Bookings were at unprecedented levels across the line’s fleet, which operates three- to 16-day voyages from a wide range of convenient North American homeports as well as European cruises.

Carnival President and CEO Gerry Cahill noted that while the economy is improving, consumers are still seeking value – one of several factors spurring the record reservations activity. He cited strong travel agent support and targeted marketing and sales initiatives such as the company’s national “Didja Ever” TV and social media campaign, and a “72-Hour Sale” offering complimentary upgrades.

“Clearly, consumers are taking advantage of the incredible value that a Carnival cruise provides, not only in terms of our fun on-board experience but also our many convenient close-to-home departure points and wide variety of short itineraries,” Cahill said. “This activity reaffirms that even in today’s economic climate, consumers still want to have fun and view their vacations as an important part of their lives,” he added.

Carnival is “The World’s Most Popular Cruise Line®,” with 22 “Fun Ships” operating three- to 16-day voyages to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Europe, the Pacific Islands and New Zealand.

This Just In…Brain Food Floats!

April 29th, 2010 . by Lyn Edwin Cathey

Regardless of which term you prefer to use; Enrichment Program, Edu-tainment, Info-tainment, Purposeful Pleasure, Cultural Learnings to Make Benefit for Cruise Passenger…whatever…these on-board blends of education and entertainment are growing fast in popularity. In fact, I’m wondering if growth will continue until it surpasses food & dining as the primary reason to cruise? (Yes, I’m asking this question in all seriousness.)

Wait! Before you jump ship, thinking this is the food-for-thought equivalent of a Half-Baked Alaska, hear me out.

Reflected in cruise line advertising, passenger surveys and attendance metrics, on-board edu-tainment has become such a huge draw that cruise companies are spending lavishly on additions and enhancements, constantly improvising to maintain a competitive edge.

Example: The newest Celebrity ships have state-of-the-art glass blowing exhibition facilities – located next to a lawn area. (Yes, real hot liquid glass next to real growing grass, not Astroturf. The lawn serves as sitting area, putting green, lawn bowling course, etc.)

Passengers can sit on benches or in the grass and watch glass blowers at work. The show itself consists of professionals – supplied by the Corning Museum of Glass of Corning, NY – creating works of art before your very eyes. Long, well insulated poles are utilized to manipulate 2,000 degree glowing globs of molten silica. It is quite a show!

Personal Note – To me, that super-heated, pulsating mass of glass looks alive…ready to pounce at any moment. So, like Steve McQueen in the 1958 horror movie The Blob, I float around the periphery, poised, ready to run should it lurch in my direction.

Celebrity has obviously spent a tremendous amount of time, money, and creative energy – not to mention prime on-board real estate – to bringing this special interest attraction to reality, along with it’s unique, lawn-side venue. Which begs the ultimate question – is it paying off? Has on-board glass blowing proven popular?

While admittedly unscientific, my own survey says…well, maybe. The observed abundance of grass stained white shorts immediately following a demonstration indicates to me there is sufficient attendance with animated responses.

Here now, for your edification, is a quick review of some of the nomenclature versus actual content of programs for the three most popular premium cruise brands:

Celebrity Cruise Lines – Offered under the heading “Celebrity Life” with three sub-categories:
Savor – culinary & wine tasting courses
Discover – computers, photography & all things digital, art, writing, languages, glass blowing, etc.
Renew – spa treatments, fitness classes and wellness seminars

Holland America Lines – A new program titled “Explorations“, implemented by on-board Explorations Teams, consisting of a party planner, lifestyle coach, a “techspert” (technical expert), destination lecturer, dance instructor and book club leader. And, surprise, surprise, they work together as a team to lead:
Lifestyle & Wellness Classes – nutrition, yoga, Tai Chi, etc.
Cooking Classes – taught in state-of-the-art Culinary Arts Theaters by the ship’s chefs
History & Culture – seminars, guest lecturers and book club literary discussions
Digital Workshops – computer literacy, photography, the Internet, etc.
Dance – lessons and dance related activities

Princess Cruise Lines – Risking confusion with an email address, this line has implemented their enrichment programs under the too-clever-by-half moniker “Scholarship@Sea“. Besides the usual Culinary Arts and Wine Tasting offerings, “@Sea” programs abound:
Photography@Sea – beginners, advanced & Photoshop
Ceramics@Sea – complete with on-board kilns
Navigation@Sea – do you have to bring your own GPS?
Computers@Sea – basic literacy, Internet, etc.
Scrapbooking@Sea – ok, but is it graduate level?

In conclusion I have to ask:
Is there any danger that overdosing on these programs might cause brain swelling due to information overload? At this point in time medical science simply does not know. For now, we should error on the side of safety-at-sea. We don’t want otherwise well intentioned cruise lines to unwittingly contribute to a national epidemic of Informational Corpulence .

See you in class – Large Animal Taxidermy Lite – 12 noon, deck six – buffet lunch provided.

Bye Bye, Midwest Express

I'm sad. Our home town airline is going, going, gone. It's like hearing that your favorite restaurant or clothing store is closing, being replaced by a McDonald's or Wal-Mart. Another victim of the "lowest cost is best" movement.

The good news is that Milwaukee has now become one of the most competitive airline markets in the country. Flights from Milwaukee are some of the least expensive when compared to Minneapolis (dominated by one airline) or Chicago O'Hare. Of course, there's less non-stop flights to choose from but more are being added frequently. Except for San Juan and Miami we currently have very good non-stop service to most major cruise ports and several airlines to choose from.

Who turned on the phones?

OK, OK.... I'm bad. Getting time to update my blog has been a problem. I promise I'll be better. There's no doubt the economy has had it's effect on the travel biz. But it seems to have caught up... just about the first of Feb. somebody turned on the phones and requests for cruises started to flow in. Thanks everyone.

Why Do You Like to Cruise?

Recently a independent research firm asked that question to returning cruisers:

The majority of respondents (47 percent) said cruises offer a “more satisfying experience compared with traditional vacations” with “more activities and destinations to see in a short time vs. traditional vacations.” Another 23 percent said cruise vacations offer the advantage of “seeing multiple destinations without having to pack and unpack several times.” Also ranking high among determining factors was cruise pricing, considered to be “comparable to or better than most other vacation options” (20 percent of survey respondents).

The Cruise Captain often hears about how a cruise is a wonderful family vacation. My clients tell me everyone in their family could each do something they liked then get together over the dinner table to share experiences.

When was the last time your family sat done to dinner together? Why not do it on a cruise?!

Fed up with planning and booking travel?

In a report released today from Forrester Reseach, an independent research company, frustration over using travel websites is growing. They say "Customers are forced to figure out extra fees, wade through fine print and understand industry terms... in addition to educating themselves about destinations, flights, and hotels." They continued by reporting that more and more folks are turning to traditional travel agents to meet their needs.

I agree. Many calls I receive are from people totally befuddled after searching the Internet for a cruise vacation. Often folks feel that the Internet will save them money however I often find deals and specials they haven't found after hours of searching. And sometimes do-it-yourselfers make mistakes that can cost them more to correct or even ruin their expensive vacation. A professional travel agent has the tools and knowledge to help you plan the best vacation at the best price.

Travel Humor

Every once in a while a travel agent receives a complaint. I thought I would share a few received by British tour operator Thomas Cook Travel...

"It's lazy of the local shopkeepers to close in the afternoons. I often needed to buy things during 'siesta' time - this should be banned."

"We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our swimming costumes and towels."

"The beach was too sandy."

"No-one told us there would be fish in the sea. The children were startled."

"My fiancé and I booked a twin-bedded room but we were placed in a double-bedded room. We now hold you responsible for the fact that I find myself pregnant. This would not have happened if you had put us in the room that we booked."

"We bought 'Ray-Ban' sunglasses for five Euros ($6.50) from a street trader, only to find out they were fake."

"Topless sunbathing on the beach should be banned. The holiday was ruined as my husband spent all day looking at other women."