Christening season is upon us

Viking Cruise multiply River Cruise ship Christening

It's that time of year again: River cruise companies are rolling out the red carpet and getting ready to smash Champagne bottles against their newest vessels as christening season gets underway. So what, if anything, will be new this year?

As anyone who has been on at least two or three river cruises may know, river cruise ships are confined by length and width dimensions that are dictated by the locks and bridges along Europe's inland waterways; in essence river cruise ships are all very similar in size and can only include so many onboard features and amenities.

Well, sort of. If the ships were so totally the same, travel media and travel sellers wouldn't bother to make our annual pilgrimages across the pond to see what's new and different among all the new European river inventory. We are heading over there to scope out whatever tweaks and adjustments river cruise lines are making. And while I don't know what all the possible surprises that await this spring may be, I can tell you what I'll be looking for in terms of fresh takes on river cruise ships so that you, too, can be on the lookout.

Always high on the list is food, of course. Despite the limited amount of space on river cruise ships, lines have increasingly been making efforts to amplify and expand their culinary offerings. So, this christening season I'll be taking a close look at new and different takes on dining venues. Crystal in particular has ambitious plans for multiple dining venues on its forthcoming "river yachts", slated to launch this summer. And Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has teased us with some serious new dining ventures, as well, on its latest creation, the S.S. Joie de Vivre, launching later this month in Paris; think a Bistro resto; special al fresco dinners; chef's table, farm-to-table dining; and something it's calling a "progressive dinner" involving a tour of the vessel.

Next up is public spaces. As I tour these freshly christened vessels, I'm always looking for new and unique features in the lounge and bar areas, perhaps in the spa and fitness room or on the sun deck. Lately, river cruise lines have been breaking up these spaces to offer more diverse options. So maybe in the entryway to the lounge, there might be a new library or sitting room (something AmaWaterways has implemented on its newer vessels). Is there a new pool or whirlpool element? Not a lot of vessels in Europe have pools because of the unpredictable weather, so if there's a pool, that's noteworthy.

And then, of course, there's always the up-close-and-personal inspection of the staterooms and suites. Are there balconies off of the cabins? Are they full, step-out balconies or French balconies? Are the staterooms relatively roomy or pretty petite? What about the furnishing and decor: pretty standard or rather distinct? What kind of toiletries are stocked in the bathroom? How comfy are the beds? These are some of the questions I'll be arming myself with.

Off the ship, the excursions are key and often are what truly make the river cruise memorable. River cruise lines have been working to offer more active and interesting shore experiences, so I'll be looking for those "wow" activities, meals hosted in charming venues, fun hiking or biking trips that raise passengers' heart rates or more interactive outings, such as cooking classes or encounters with locals.

Lastly, there is, of course, the service  the people element. I will be looking out for whether there are new policies or service enhancements available, such as a concierge or butler service, another area where river cruise companies have been upping the ante.

All told, when christening season is through, we should have a better sense of some of the new trends emerging on and off the vessels and a reaffirmation of the fact that even within a relatively confined space there is always room for progress and innovation.

I think we all should talk

By Michelle Baran

Amid another busy river cruise ship christening season, talking shop and comparing notes about the competition with executives in the river cruise industry, it occurred to me that the river cruising sector could use a good old-fashioned coffee talk.

Whenever I meet up with executives in the river cruise industry, inevitably some of the same issues come up: things like whether crowding on the rivers in Europe is increasingly becoming an issue as more newbuilds continue to launch, and the pros and cons of onboard amenities like balconies and pools.

In a recent post, I addressed the fact that the river cruise industry could benefit from an association dedicated to the issues that are specific to this quickly growing segment of the travel marketplace.

But until that happens, I think those of us who cover river cruising, those who sell the product and, of course, the river cruise lines themselves would benefit from a meeting in which the heads of the major river cruise companies all got together and had a sort of working group discussion.

I have proposed the idea of moderating such a forum with some of the major river cruise lines, and interest was expressed. With all of our busy travel and work schedules, and with an already jam-packed calendar of industry events ahead of us, I’m not sure how and whether we can pull it off.

But I’m putting it out there anyways. This is a critical time for the river cruise industry. Things are developing quickly, and the business is growing at a lightning pace. This is exactly the time to tackle potential problems as well as to highlight the opportunities that lie ahead.

A certain degree of cooperation already exists between the river cruise lines — they aren’t entirely silent foes — especially when it comes to concerns that everyone has to address, such as staggering departures in a way so that lines can share limited port space and not overwhelm the smaller towns they visit by all pulling in at once.

But beyond that, there are topics that could use further dissection, and circumstances that could become detrimental to the industry if not addressed, such as crowding and sustainability.

A look ahead at 2014 launches and christenings

By Michelle Baran

OK, I’ll be honest: This end-of-year insight in which I summarize the christenings and launches for the following year has become an invaluable tool for me in planning my year ahead, and that’s largely why I’ve maintained this tradition over the past few years.

But my hope, of course, is that it can and does serve as a useful tool for all you travel planners out there, as well. Happy 2014!

March 17: Viking Cruises will hold a christening ceremony in Avignon, France, for the 14 Viking Longships that are launching next year. Viking has not said which or how many of the Longships will be in Avignon for the ceremony, but the three 2014 Viking Longships that are slated to sail in that region are the Viking Buri, Viking Heimdal and Viking Hermod.

March 26: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection will inaugurate the 159-passenger S.S. Catherine in Lyon, France, marking Uniworld's first expansion of its European fleet since 2011, when the vessel’s sister ship the S.S. Antoinette set sail.

April 5: The 223-passenger American Empress (formerly the Empress of the North) will be rechristened in Portland, Ore., and will sail on the Columbia and Snake rivers, after having been refurbished by the American Queen Steamboat Co.

April 15: Emerald Waterways, the first new river cruise line to launch since Scenic Cruises came onto the scene in 2008, will kick off with the launch of two newbuilds in Europe, the 182-passenger Emerald Star and the 182-passenger Emerald Sky. Emerald Waterways is aiming to be a more value-oriented alternative to existing river cruise lines.

July: Pandaw River Expeditions is launching two new 40-passenger vessels in Myanmar, the Kindat Pandaw and the Kalaw Pandaw.

September: Haimark Ltd. is introducing the 56-passenger Irrawaddy Explorer in Myanmar; as well as the 68-passenger Mekong Navigator that will sail in Vietnam and Cambodia.

November: AmaWaterways is introducing the all-suite AmaPura on Myanmar’s Irrawaddy River.

Late 2014: Sanctuary Retreats, a division of Abercrombie & Kent, is launching the 48-passenger, all-suite Sanctuary Ananda in Myanmar.

Also in 2014:

• Tauck is launching two newbuilds in Europe, the 130-passenger Inspire and Savor, that will each have 57% more suites than the company’s existing vessels.

• AmaWaterways will introduce two more ships in Europe in 2014, the 164-passenger AmaSonata and AmaReina. The vessels will be sister ships to the 164-passenger AmaCerto, which launched in 2012.

• Avalon Waterways is introducing three new river cruise vessels in Europe in 2014 — the 128-passenger Avalon Poetry II; the 166-passenger Avalon Illumination; and the 166-passenger Avalon Impression.

Focus on Cruising: It's showtime at the inaugural

By Tom Stieghorst

Star turns on the river

Competition among river cruise lines is as fierce as ever, and this spring's christening season was no exception, as river cruise companies rolled out the red carpet and even broke a world record. Read more.

It takes a village to name a cruise ship these days.

Last month, thousands of people came aboard the Norwegian Breakaway to participate in its christening at New York's Pier 88.

Among them were 400 Cruise Planners franchisees. Company COO Vicky Garcia said the agents were among the first to get a glimpse of the ship's new features.

"It's almost like a restaurant," she said. "Once you can taste it, you can sell it."

The invitation to go to a christening or a preview cruise is one that is coveted by many cruise fans. But the guest list is carefully curated.

Cruise lines are trying to get maximum impact from the introduction of assets that need the best start out of the blocks that management can provide. So they use naming ceremonies to forge deeper relationships with key groups that can make ships a success.

The groups range from travel sellers, the media and influential past passengers to charities, boards of directors, shipyard owners and investment analysts. All have a part in stoking the buzz.

Similar crowds converge on other ships at other ports around the world. In March, some 10,000 people took part in dedicating the MSC Preziosa in Genoa, Italy, where the whole city was feted.

In May, Hapag Lloyd Cruises named the Europa 2 in Hamburg, Germany, beneath a canopy of fireworks. And Princess Cruises will have royalty to draw attention to its Royal Princess debut in Southampton, England, later this month.

Of the half-dozen ships to be launched in 2013, the Breakaway commanded highest interest with U.S. travel agents, because it was the only one to be christened on this side of the Atlantic.

The ship drew big delegations from Avoya Travel, American Express, Travel Leaders Group and the luxury consortium Virtuoso, in addition to Cruise Planners, which held a national conference in New York to capitalize on the Breakaway inaugural.

Norwegian took full advantage of their presence. After a night of partying, agents had daytime training sessions to learn more about group sales opportunities, shore excursions and Norwegian's overall strategy.

In back-to-back sessions held in the Breakaway's comedy club, Norwegian sales executives Andy Stuart and Camille Olivere went through the same points over and over.

Some of it was numbers: 27 dining opportunities on the ship; 11 free and 16 premium. Some was shaping perceptions and reminding agents of Norwegian's "Partners First" pledge.

Some of it was surprisingly candid. After describing the new salt treatment room in the Breakaway's spa, Stuart said, "I don't really get it, but it's supposed to be really cool."

Olivere offered some behind-the-scenes strategy. For example, Norwegian no longer gives a flute of Champagne to each boarding guest, she said, because the same people serving drinks also clean cabins, and guests said it was more important to have their cabin ready when they arrive.

Agents filed out ready to sell not only the Breakaway but its sister ship the Getaway, due in Miami in January. Those on the inaugural cruise will get a $50 bonus commission for each Getaway booking.

Later, the same basic presentation was given in the ship's theater to the several hundred Avoya agents onboard.

Olivere urged them to be hands-on while they have the chance. "There are things you want to try out, or at least watch someone try out, so you can speak about it more passionately," she said.

Jeff Anderson, vice president of marketing for Avoya, said being able to sell with emotion was one of the best reasons for agents to participate in a christening and inaugural cruise.

"There's nothing like a firsthand experience," he said. Anderson said both Avoya and Norwegian recognize that when agents go on an inaugural cruise, their sales for the ship rise.

"We produce more when we're on it," he said.

Although agents got some classroom time, including a session with Norwegian's top training expert, Bob Becker, most of the time spent on the ship was theirs to enjoy.

"They really want you to play while you're onboard and put yourself in the customer's shoes," Anderson said.

A hefty percentage of the agents onboard hailed from the New York area, both because it was an easy cruise to reach and also because their clients are the big target market.

Staten Islanders Tina and Michael Meeks checked out the bowling match on Deck 7, a sort of half-scale version of the full bowling alleys on some earlier Norwegian ships.

Tina, a Cruise Planners franchisee, said she was very impressed with the indoor-outdoor seating arrangement in the Waterfront, which has a number of specialty dining outlets with water views.

"It's a big draw for all my clients," she said of the New York-based ship.

Todd Elliott, president of Cruise Vacation Outlet in Orlando, rises early to prowl the decks. When they're largely empty, he can notice details he might otherwise miss, Elliott said.

"I get a feeling for the ship overall. If you're one of the first of a handful to see the ship, it's a leg up on your competition," he said. He also said preview cruises give agents access to senior executives.

"They're very approachable," he said.

Making the rounds

While Stuart and Olivere were busy with agents, Norwegian CEO Kevin Sheehan was flitting from room to room addressing other constituencies.

He attended a board meeting. He held a press conference. He even found time to haggle with Bernard Meyer, CEO of Meyer Werft, the builder of the Norwegian Breakaway, over some expenses for the Getaway now under construction back in Germany.

Well before the inaugural, Sheehan had been hustling. As a newly public company, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. had released quarterly results two days ahead of the christening.

That gave the line an opening to invite finance channel CNBC aboard, and correspondent Simon Hobbes did a three-minute interview with Sheehan staged in front of the ship's colorful waterslides.

CNN and Telemundo were among other media to do features on the Breakaway, amplifying its profile and providing a positive image for the industry that earlier CNN coverage of the Carnival Triumph mishap did not.

By that point, Sheehan had been on the ship almost continuously since it left the Meyer Werft yard two weeks earlier.

At a stop in Southampton, he entertained more than 5,000 European travel agents in several days of preview activities.

By holding a fundraiser there for British charity Just a Drop, which delivers clean water to communities in developing nations, Norwegian promoted another group that has the potential to generate positive word of mouth for its newbuild.

Pledging one British pound for each agent attending the event, Norwegian raised at least 3,000 pounds (about $4,600) to help build projects in African villages to provide clean drinking water.

After arriving in New York, Sheehan saluted his new shareholders and welcomed his directors so they could see if the company's money had been well spent on the $840 million ship.

Board member Adam Aron sounded convinced. A former CEO of Norwegian himself, Aron said he had high expectations when he saw the design for the Waterfront area.

Onboard, Aron said his vision had been realized. "It's as good as I hoped it would be," he said.

Aron said holding a board meeting during the inaugural helps directors stay in touch with Norwegian's product, customers and distributors and leads to a better-run company.

Christenings have changed since Norwegian launched the modern cruise industry in 1966. In the early days, they were attended by owners and some guest VIPs, and were generally done at the shipyard.

Now lines often wait until ships reach their homeports for a christening. The former Carnival Destiny began sailing the Med under a new name last month after a $155 million makeover, but it won't be formally dubbed the Carnival Sunshine until it reaches the U.S. in November.

Christenings often leverage the star power of a celebrity godmother to gain a broader audience. Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton will do the honors for the Royal Princess, the highlight of six days of inaugural activities expected to involve 10,000 people.

When MSC Cruises named its 4,000-passenger MSC Preziosa in March, it drew on longtime brand icon Sophia Loren -- as it had for all its recent naming ceremonies -- to glamorize the occasion. MSC involved the city of Genoa with comedians staging a shore-side performance and a laser show at a famous lighthouse.

It also organized a "flash mob" salute on two other MSC ships in port, in which passengers received special lamps and instructions on how to participate in a nocturnal sound-and-light tribute.

The Norwegian Breakaway's christening was unusual in that most of the ceremony took place inside the ship, rather than dockside. While the center ring was the ship's main theater, guests could watch from nine other venues around the ship linked in a TV simulcast.

The action bounced around the ship, one moment at a Broadway dance number in the Manhattan Room, then to the Atrium Bar and Cafe to see Nickelodeon characters, then over to "Cake Boss" Buddy Valastro introducing his confectioneries to the crowd.

That way, even day guests could sample the full spectrum of the Breakaway's amenities.

To further extend the reach of the ceremony, Norwegian prodded attendees to tweet, post Facebook updates and use other apps to rope their social networks into the event.

Norwegian said more than 429,755 Facebook visits were generated over a five-day stretch by inaugural guests using the ship's WiFi and broadband connections.

After an hour of highlights around the ship, the focus returned to the Breakaway Theater, where the ship's godmothers, the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, did their signature kick line.

"Show-stopping crowd-pleasers for more than eight decades," according to their introduction, members of the dance troupe will be on the first month's worth of sailings and the first sailing of each month after that.

One of the 13 dancers stepped forward, cut a ribbon and the video monitor flashed to an exterior shot of a Champagne bottle crashing against the Breakaway's Peter Max-painted hull.

"We bless this ship and all who sail on her," the Rockette said, and the Breakaway took its place among Norwegian ships past and present, officially becoming part of the fleet.

 

Christen me, Kate

The cruise industry's next big inaugural takes place in England this month, where Princess Cruises will enlist the help of Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton to christen the $735 million Royal Princess.

Ten days of festivities will include ship tours, luncheons, a travel agent overnight, a pre-naming gala event, two two-day preview cruises and a plaque and key ceremony with the port of Southampton.

More than 10,000 people are expected to experience the ship in that time, according to Princess.

The visitors will run the gamut: past passengers, U.K. travel agents, Princess general sales managers and management from shipbuilder Fincantieri to international dignitaries, Carnival Corp. executives, investment bankers and analysts, and employees from Princess Cruises and Carnival U.K. offices.

Three charities -- East Anglia Children's Hospices, Well Child and Skills Force -- will each be given 100 tickets to sell to the gala overnight and naming ceremony, with each charity keeping the proceeds.

Snagging Middleton as the ship's godmother will assure massive coverage in the U.K. media and likely boost the number of reporters, photographers and news crews expected to attend from outside the U.K.

"We are delighted that the duchess will launch our new ship and can think of no better way to celebrate our company's British heritage and our commitment to the country," said Princess CEO Alan Buckelew.

In contrast with the Breakaway, the Royal Princess ceremony will be held quayside and observe traditional British protocol, including a performance by the Royal Marines Band and the pipers of the Irish Guards.

British singer Natasha Bedingfield will also perform, lending a contemporary touch.

The June 13 christening in Europe will help Royal Princess get off to a good start in the Mediterranean, where it will be offering a series of nine 12-day sailings between Barcelona and Venice this summer.

Then, when Royal Princess crosses to Fort Lauderdale in October for its winter season in the Caribbean, there will be another two-night preview cruise to introduce it to travel agents and press in the U.S.

The 3,600-passenger Royal Princess becomes the third vessel to be christened under that name for Princess Cruises, preceded in 1984 by a ship that was the line's first purpose-built cruise ship, and in 2007 by a ship Princess acquired from defunct Renaissance Cruises. Both now sail under new names for P&O Cruises. -- T.S. 

A cheat sheet for christening season

By Michelle Baran

Spring is upon us, which means that flowers will soon start blooming, young birds will begin chirping and river cruise lines will start unveiling their newest ships in what will be another densely packed season of christening ceremonies from Amsterdam to Chongqing, China.

Here, a cheat sheet of some of the season’s launches:

March 19: Century Cruises’ inaugural sailing of its 398-passenger Century Paragon begins in Chongqing, China.

March 20: Viking River Cruises launches an unprecedented 10 Viking Longships in a simultaneous christening ceremony in Amsterdam.

March 28: The 118-passenger Queen Isabel, a newbuild that Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is leasing from the Portuguese company Douro Azul, sets sail on the Douro River in Portugal.

April: Avalon Waterways christens its 128-passenger Avalon Artistry II.

April 2: Ama Waterways’ newly built Portugal vessel, the 108-passenger Amavida, sets sail on the Douro River (also being leased from Douro Azul).

April 7: Uniworld begins offering cruises on Italy’s Po River on its 134-passenger River Countess, a ship built in 2003 and refurbished in 2012.

April 12: Scenic Cruises’ 169-passenger Scenic Jewel makes its inaugural sailing from Mainz, Germany, to Amsterdam.

May 6: "1,000 Places to See Before You Die" author Patricia Schultz will christen Avalon Waterways’ new 166-passenger Avalon Expression in Cochem, Germany.

And a bit further afield …

Aug. 6: Valerie Ann Wilson, founder and CEO of Valerie Wilson Travel in New York, will serve as godmother at the christening of Ama Waterways’ 164-passenger AmaPrima in Vilshofen, Germany.