At Flytographer, a local photographer to capture vacation memories

By Jeri Clausing

In the age of selfies and social media, everyone’s a photographer, and snippets of our daily lives and travels are on constant display.

But while we are all busy snapping and posting pictures of our meals, our hotel rooms and our toes sticking up from a lounge chair at the edge of that beautiful beach, many travelers also return home to find they don’t have any great pictures of themselves with their friends, family or spouses that capture the truly special moments from their trip.

It was just such a dilemma that inspired Nicole Smith to found Flytographer, a service that hooks up photographers in 160 cities around the world with travelers looking for candid, quality pictures from their special trips.

Recently named a top travel gift for 2016 by TripAdvisor and Forbes, Smith said she came up with the idea for the business in 2011, when she was on a girl’s getaway weekend in Paris with her best friend, who she hadn’t seen in four years.

After trying to capture the event through selfies with “that floating head effect” and blurry pictures taken by the occasional stranger that she said made her look “like I had seven chins,” Smith said they asked a third friend who had joined them for brunch to follow them around with her phone and snap some candid shots.

“She did that for about 20 minutes,” Smith said. “I looked at my phone and I literally got goose bumps because she captured that weekend like we never could."

Smith started Flytographer in 2103. The company now has more than 300 photographers in most major cities and on every continent except Antarctica. And she said they are adding more every week.

Honeymooners are among Flytographer’s biggest customers, Smith said; some were given the service as a wedding gift.

Smith said the service is also big with couples on anniversary trips, as well as families and multigenerational travelers, who are gathering in some of the world’s most beautiful destinations and “can’t trust Uncle Bob to take the pictures because he never nails it."

Such shoots from family trips, she said, are a great alternative to a studio or backyard photo session.
Solo travelers also like to hire Flytographer, she said, because “obviously it’s hard to capture memories when you’re alone."

“We also hear from solo travelers that they love having this wing man, who is a true local,” Smith said.
That local angle is an added benefit to the service. Smith says the company only hires “someone you would want to have a drink with in that city, not someone who’s going to boss you around,” and “locals who are genuinely passionate about playing host."

The company has a travel agent program that pays a minimum 10% commission. This year it was a sponsoring exhibitor at the International Luxury Travel Market in Cannes, France.

Costa trials onboard robots

Pepper robots are being used on board Costa and Aida cruise ships

By http://www.passengership.info/

Costa Group has signed an exclusive agreement with French company Aldebaran to use its Pepper robots on board vessels to assist passengers on Costa and Aida cruise ships. Pepper is the world’s first robot that reads main human emotions.

Michael Thamm, chief executive of the Costa Group, said: “With an emotional robot on board our cruise ships we are once again continuing our tradition of innovation. For us, this is an important step towards a digital future for our brands.”

Pepper has successfully completed a trial on board AIDAstella. The first batch of Peppers will join the crew and start helping on board AIDAprima and Costa Diadema in spring 2016, guiding guests when they embark and while on board. They will also be on hand to provide recommendations and tips on restaurants, events and excursions. They can communicate in German, Italian and English. By summer of 2016 the rest of the robots will be joining the crew aboard the Costa and Aida fleets.

Pepper was developed in Japan and is the first humanoid robot capable of recognising the main emotions and to take his environment into account and proactively act accordingly. Pepper is well equipped with features and a high-level interface for communicating with those around him, to move fluidly and analyse expressions and voice tones using the latest advances in voice and emotion recognition.

The robot measures 120cm tall and weighs 28kg. Its movement is provided by three omnidirectional wheels while a 3D camera detects people and their movements and it has a 10 inch touch screen.

It has still to be decided whether the Peppers have to meet STCW training requirements.

Meyer Werft deploys Dassault’s passenger ship design solutions

Naval architects can use the 3D Experience platform to design complex cruise ships

German shipyard Meyer Werft has started using Dassault Systèmes’ 3DExperience design and product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions to engineer and build passenger ships. It is using the On Time to Sea and Designed for Sea industry-specific software to improve the efficiency of designing and building cruise ships and ferries, and to enhance the skills of its workforce.

Meyer Werft has deployed Dassault’s programs in its new technology and development centre in Papenburg, Germany. Here the shipbuilder is pooling most of the design and development work from its 500 designers and engineers. Dassault’s software will also support additional teams in Papenburg and at sites in Rostock, Germany and in Finland that are involved in building cruise ships, river cruise ships, ferries and other vessels. The 3DExperience platform assists the complex task of designing and engineering cruise ships, which could have more than 10 million individual parts and assemblies. The complexity, diversity and large volume of data involved require efficient solutions to design and build these ships.

With the software, Meyer Werft’s design and development teams can use a unified digital environment to monitor the entire lifecycle of a ship, from its construction and operation to its decommissioning. Virtual design, engineering and project management applications help seamlessly address complex needs in product development and process requirements. “Thanks to the 3DExperience platform, we can foster collaborative creativity that fulfils the highest technical demands of passenger ship owners worldwide from hull shape, hydrodynamics and fuel consumption, to capacity and onboard comfort and entertainment,” said Meyer Werft technical director Philip Gennotte. “Today’s shipbuilding is a highly modern industry that requires a combination of ideas, knowledge and technology in order to introduce sophisticated, future-oriented touristic concepts.”

MSC Seaside bookings open

The MSC Seaside is scheduled to sail its maiden voyage in December 2017.

MSC Cruises said it has begun accepting bookings from repeat customers for MSC Seaside, a new ship that will be based in Miami.

Guests who are members of MSC’s Voyager Club will get their standard 5% discount, plus a bonus Classic drink package applicable to first and second guest in a stateroom. Bookings for the general public open Dec. 29 with the same drinks package offer.

The 4,100-passenger ship is expected to sail week-long Caribbean cruises; its first cruise is scheduled to leave Dec. 21, 2017. Prices start at $589 per person, MSC said.

Seaside will feature a unique 360-degree ocean level promenade on Deck 8 that will include indoor/outdoor shops and restaurants, as well as a buffet area and a pool, which are traditionally located on a cruise ship’s higher decks.

Norwegian Cruise Line toughens cancellation terms

Norwegian Escape, Getaway, and Breakaway.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced new terms for canceling booked cruises that will require earlier decisions about backing out of trips and impose higher penalties on cancellations.

The changes, which take effect on bookings made after Jan. 1, are complex. But on one common product, the cruise or cruise tour of 7 days or longer, the least costly cancellation will require forfeit of 25% of the cruise fare for bookings cancelled 76 to 89 days from sailing.

The current policy is loss of deposit for bookings cancelled 56 to 75 days before sailing.

Cancellations 60 to 75 days out come with a 50% penalty, those from 31-60 days a 75% penalty and within 30 days, 100% penalty.

The current schedule penalizes cancellations from 29 to 55 days out at 50%, and those from 15 to 28 days at 75%.  Currently, when guests cancel within 14 days of sailing, they lose their full fare.

Standard deposits will be $100 per person on cruises of two to six days, $250 on cruises seven to nine days and $400 on voyages 10 days or longer.

Final payment will be due 75 days from sailings of two to six days and 90 days on longer voyages. Holiday sailings will require final payment 120 days from sailing, except for the Norwegian Sky.

Anthem of the Seas Now Sailing in the U.S.

Anthem of the Seas enters New York

Anthem of the Seas sailed past the Statue of Liberty and around Manhattan on a night of such warmth and clarity that it was hard for me to realize the month was November. I sat in the ship’s beautiful conservatory and marveled at how welcoming such a huge vessel could be.

A ceremony marked the arrival of the Royal Caribbean International ship in the U.S., and Anthem made a glowing entrance. The onboard entertainment, dining and accommodations incited the same excitement seen in the U.K. for the vessel earlier this year. Americans were particularly enthusiastic about features such as the large virtual balconies in the inside staterooms, where people with live-streaming “windows” saw more dolphins and whales on the transatlantic crossing than many of those with balcony staterooms.

Doug Grau, director of sales for the Western U.S. for Royal Caribbean, says the active lifestyle activities available onboard — from a skydiving simulator to circus school — are an especially good match for Western travelers, who tend to be energetic and outdoors-oriented, falling within Royal Caribbean’s psychographic. The top-flight entertainment, including the amazing “We Will Rock You” Broadway musical, tribute bands and cabaret shows, is also a particularly strong draw for the West. 

“There is huge interest in Western states for Anthem (Quantum-class) and Oasis-class ships, and 30 percent of Royal’s sales coming out of the West is for these ships,” Grau said.
However, Grau finds a gap between agent experience and demand. When he talks to agent groups and asks how many have sailed with Royal Caribbean, most have; however, when he asks how many have been onboard during the past few years, only a handful respond affirmatively. Grau notes that when Mariner of the Seas came to the West, it was the first time many agents had seen the ship — and it was nearly 10 years old.

At the rate that the line’s ship design and customer experience has changed, this means Western agents are missing out on the modernized Royal Caribbean, Grau says.

“If you aren’t selling these ships, your customers are buying them elsewhere,” Grau said. “I tell them it is well worth the investment to attend the East Coast Cruise 360 sessions and inspect a number of recent ships. Large ships scare a lot of agents, who are afraid their clients will be caught in long lines and tied up for hours when embarking. We’ve done everything possible, both in terms of design and technology, to make the experience human-sized and comfortable. We have more rooms that hold 80 or 90 people than ever before.” 

These efforts are paying off. At Anthem’s embarkation on Nov. 4 in Cape Liberty, N.J., Royal Caribbean representatives with iPads checked passengers in as they were dropped off at the port. Common questions I heard from guests were, “Is that all?” and “What do I do now?” The answer: “Go right to your stateroom and enjoy the ship.” 

My own check-in experience, complete with credit card scan and photo ID, which I had not done in advance, was five minutes from start to finish — considerably shorter than check-in on ships less than a quarter the size of Anthem. 

During Anthem’s first cruise from the U.S., Royal Caribbean announced an order for a fifth Quantum-class ship to be delivered in fall 2020.

“It is such a pleasure to announce the order of another Quantum-class ship as we are welcoming Anthem of the Seas to North America," said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. 

Fain says although there have been some tweaks in food, drink and entertainment, the Oasis and Quantum ships cross international markets with ease. 

"These ships have been received with excitement by passengers and crew and have performed exceptionally well across the globe,” he said. “We fully expect that momentum to continue as we add to this innovative class." 

Jazz artist Herbie Hancock to play QM2 crossing

Herbie Hancock

Jazz legend Herbie Hancock is the latest artist to be announced in Cunard Line’s jazz-at-sea themed transatlantic crossings on the Queen Mary 2.

Hancock will perform three 45-minute shows on the Aug. 1 voyage from Southampton, England, to New York. 

A pianist, Hancock played early in his career with Miles Davis and wrote several modern jazz standards such as "Maiden Voyage" and "Watermelon Man." 

Jazz singer Gregory Porter is scheduled to play on a crossing departing Oct. 25 from New York as part of Cunard’s partnership with Blue Note Records and Blue Note Jazz Clubs.

Caribbean cruise pricing strengthens, analyst says

Norwegian Star in Cabo San Lucas By Dave Jones

Prices have substantially risen for cruises in the Caribbean, according to a survey taken by Wall Street brokerage Susquehanna Financial Group.

In a report published Dec. 14, analyst Rachel Rothman said first-quarter prices in the Caribbean are up 13.8% at Carnival Corp., 7.6% at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and 26.1% at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Rothman noted that the comparison at Norwegian is skewed by the replacement of the Norwegian Pearl and Epic with the newer Getaway and Escape in the Caribbean.

For the second quarter, the survey showed Carnival’s Caribbean pricing is up 15.7 %, while RCCL and NCLH are down 5.8% and 6.6%, respectively.

In the Mediterranean, Carnival’s first-quarter pricing is up 23% but Norwegian Cruise Line is down 6.5%. The report noted that Royal Caribbean and NCLH's Oceania and Regent Seven Seas brands don’t offer Med cruises in the first quarter.

Report: MSC in talks to acquire a private island near Bimini

MSC Cruises may be in the process of acquiring an island in the Bahamas for use as a private destination, according to comments made by a Bahamian minister. 

A private island would fill a competitive gap in MSC's Caribbean product with other major cruise lines there, all of which have their own islands as part of their itineraries. 

To date, MSC has not had enough ships sailing from South Florida to justify its own stop in the Bahamas. But starting in 2017 it will have a new ship, the MSC Seaside, sailing Caribbean itineraries in addition to the MSC Divina, which currently sails from Miami.

Ken Muskat, MSC's executive vice president for sales, public relations and guest services, said he couldn't comment on the possibility, saying, "It all has been pure speculation thus far." 

Buzz about an MSC private island intensified after Bahamian Prime Minister Perry Christie brought up the project in a communication to the House of Assembly in late November.

Christie said MSC is considering an island about 20 miles south of Bimini known locally as Ocean Cay. 

"We are negotiating an [agreement] now that they're going to put a new destination there, hire Bahamians, and as a result of approval they will also start an academy to train Bahamians in Freeport," Christie was quoted as saying in the Nassau Guardian newspaper.

He said the budget for developing Ocean Cay as a cruise port ranges between $100 million and $200 million.

Ocean Cay covers 95 acres and was built through a dredge-and-fill process in 1970 as a base for a sand-mining operation. It was recently discussed as a site for a liquefied natural gas import terminal.

Lindblad signs $94.6 million contract for two new ships

The ships will be outfitted with modern expedition technology, including a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and video microscope.

Lindblad Expedition Holdings said it signed a contract to build two new ships for delivery in 2017 and 2018.

The contract calls for Nichols Brothers Boat Builders to construct two 100-passenger coastal cruisers at its shipyard on Whidbey Island in Washington state.

The first ship is contracted at $48 million and the second at $46.8 million, Lindblad said. 

The ships will be U.S. flagged. Nichols Brothers also built two of Lindblad’s current vessels, the National Geographic Sea Lion and National Geographic Sea Bird.

Of the 50 cabins, 22 will have balconies and eight can be configured into four adjoining cabins for families, Lindblad said.

Lindblad said the two ships will be outfitted with modern expedition technology, including a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), video microscope, and a hydrophone and bow cam designed for immediate bow deployment to hear and film humpback whale vocalizations and see bow-riding dolphins.

Carnival reshuffle 'will help differentiate P&O and Cunard'

Carnival reshuffle 'will help differentiate P&O and Cunard'

The reshuffle of Carnival UK’s leadership team will help to create “better brand focus and differentiation” between sister brands P&O Cruises and Cunard.

Speaking at the Clia Cruise Forum in Tilbury, David Dingle, chairman of Carnival UK, said the changes would be particularly beneficial to Cunard in helping to drive international growth for the brand.

In August the line revealed Gerard Tempest, formerly chief commercial officer for Carnival UK, was to leave the company. In his place positions were created at the helm of P&O, with Paul Ludlow put in change, and Cunard, a position which is still being recruited for.

Dingle said all businesses should constantly be under review to ensure their efficiency and development.

He said: “In the UK we went through a period where we tried to create as much organisational synergy for our brands as possible because through that you have greater efficiency, particularly cost efficiency.

“You have to be careful to differentiate still. Going round full circle again (reviewing the business and changing the leadership team) we believe it’s time to drive the brands harder, particularly for Cunard.

“We want to grow the international sourcing of the brand so we have to have much greater brand focus so that’s why we want to have some really brand specific leadership.

“We continue to develop the P&O brand and we’ve revitalized it over the past months and now we want to move forward and capitalise on that and dare I say think about what the next P&O cruises new ship might look for, should we decide to order it.”

P&O Cruises' Britannia to host Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway

P&O Cruises' Britannia to host Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway

P&O Cruises is to host a special episode of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway live from the top deck of its flagship Britannia in Barcelona – and will launch a competition in the New Year for agents to be on board.

Throughout the next series of ITV’s award-winning show, 200 viewers of Saturday Night Takeaway will have the chance to win 100 free cabins on a 14-night cruise from Southampton to the Mediterranean and back, which will include an overnight call in Barcelona where the special episode will be filmed live on board.

The sailing will leave Southampton on March 27, 2016 and call at Cadiz, Barcelona, Civitavecchia (Rome), Ajaccio, Corsica and Gibraltar before returning to Southampton on April 10.

Top TV duo Ant and Dec will be joined for the special show by celebrity guests, and will stage all their usual stunts, performances and competitions in front of the winning viewers, regular passengers and those agents who win a place on board.

The competition for agents to join the sailing and be part of the show will be run exclusively in Travel Weekly in early 2016.

P&O Cruises senior vice president of sales & marketing Paul Ludlow said: "We are delighted that Britain's most popular Saturday night show will be broadcasting live from Britain's biggest and newest cruise ship.

“P&O Cruises is an inherently British brand and with Saturday night entertainment being such a popular British tradition, we thought this would be a great partnership. And there is nothing more iconic for great family fun than Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.

“This will be a spectacular event and our guests will be able to join in the fun on the evening as Ant and Dec present a memorable show from Britannia in Barcelona."

Ludlow said the tie-up with Saturday Night Takeaway would really “open up the concept of cruise” to the masses and drive more new-to-cruise sales.

“Over the course of the series, we estimate that Saturday Night Takeaway, and the cruise giveaway and live show on board, will be seen by over 22 million people.

"They will get a glimpse of cruise and the product and it will start a conversation that people might not have had otherwise.

"We expect to see a return from so many million people seeing Britannia. We will be putting cruise into people’s conscious,” he said.

Ludlow said this was the first time P&O Cruises had entered into such a tie-up, but added: “People will have seen P&O as a brand really evolve over the last 18 months to two years.

"It really celebrates its Britishness and represents the best way for Brits to go off and do something quite adventurous but come back to somewhere that understands their tastes and that feels comfortable.”

Commenting on the opportunity for agents win a place on the sailing and the chance to be part of the live show and to meet Ant & Dec, Ludlow said:

“Inherently, most people are going to book a cruise through a travel agent and so we want to involve agents in this, so that they feel as excited as we are about it.

"We will run a competition exclusively in Travel Weekly for agents to win places – so watch this space in the New Year.”

Customers already booked on the 14-night sailing will be contacted and told about the live filming in Barcelona.

The impact on their cruise will be explained and they will be offered the chance to cancel with a full refund, or to carry on as normal. Ludlow said he “expected the majority to stick with us”.

Anyone interested in making a future booking on the sailing will be told what is happening on board before any money has changed hands.

Saturday Night Takeaway’s executive producer, Pete Ogden, said: “I am thrilled to be working with P&O Cruises to shoot a live episode of the series on board Britannia. 

"It is a huge undertaking, but I am confident that we will work together to make it a spectacular event.”

What makes Norwegian Escape unique?

What makes Norwegian Escape unique?

Visit https://flic.kr/s/aHsknU5bR4 for more photos of the Escape

Above Photos by Dave Jones
Article By  orlandosentinel.com
Follow this link for our Review of the Escape

Norwegian Cruise Line debuted its newest and biggest ship last month when Norwegian Escape began sailing out of Miami.

"She showcases with her beautiful finishes, her decadent suites and her out standing design how the company that began almost 50 years ago as Norwegian Caribbean line out of Port Miami has truly evolved," said line president and COO Andy Stuart at the ship's christening ceremony in November. "Every element of the on board experience has been elevated."

The 4,200-passenger vessel is part of the new Breakaway Plus Class of ship, which is a little bit bigger, but also very similar to the Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway. There are several facets of the ship, though, that set it apart.

The biggest Guy Harvey painting ever

The noted artist and marine conservation activist has a growing empire of merchandise, hotels and more. He's now got 31,700 gallons of paint across 1,100 feet showcasing 12 marine species in his signature style.

Images of the Norwegian Cruise Line ship Norwegian Escape, which debuted in October 2015 and sails year-round from its home in Miami. The hull art is by Guy Harvey.

"The Norwegian Escape is now the largest billboard for the conservation of marine life bringing new awareness not only for all of those who set sail on her but also for those who just look at her," Harvey said at the christening. "Healthy oceans make all of this beauty that you see in my artwork possible."

Margaritaville at Sea

A new partnership with Jimmy Buffet brings the first Margaritaville at Sea as well as a Five O'Clock Somewhere Bar. Since it's one of the free dining options on the ship, it proved extremely popular on the ship's first sailing, meaning crowded with more than hour-long wait times, but over a seven-night cruise, there should be time for everyone to waste away at sea and eat their Cheeseburger in Paradise.

Children of the '80s embraced on Norwegian Escape

The Miami connection

There are a lot of South Florida touches on board Norwegian Escape that you can't find on any other ship. Perhaps the most iconic is the re-created space that pays homage to Tobacco Road, Miami's oldest bar, which closed its doors in 2014. The neon sign with the missing "5" in "til 5 a.m." makes the space stand out. Two decidedly more modern Miami touches are the presence of Wynwood Brewing Company in the District Brew House. The 3-year-old microbrewing company that has taken South Florida taps by storm of late now offers three of their creations on board including the popular La Rubia Blond Ale. The bar has 24 beers on tap and dozens more in bottle. It's a brand new space, taking the place of what are cabins on Norwegian Getaway and Breakaway.

"It's a beautiful space," said Wynwood founder Luis G. Brignoni. "I think the concept of having a lot of craft beer...it was a big undertaking and I think Norwegian has done an excellent job, the way they treat the beer, the way they take care of it."

It pairs nicely with another Miami-inspired space, the Food Republic, a new dining concept from the 5-year-old Pubbelly Group, which has opened several restaurants across South Florida. This restaurant is about fast food, small plates, a shared dining experience and modern touches, like ordering on an iPad. Certain plates can be ordered from the Food Republic and served over in the neighboring District. There's a bacon-wrapped chorizo date that when consumed with the Wynwood group's Pop's Porter is lights-out good.

"It's a fast-paced restaurant," said Jose Mendin. "You sit down, you share with your friends. It's the way we like to eat. It's an amazing experience for us to present to you. ... I like to eat from my friends, take a little bit from here, a little bit from there and that's what we want you to do. We want you to pass the dishes around the table, have fun and just enjoy the flavors we have to provide to you."

An Iron Chef

Iron Chef and James Beard Award winning chef Jose Garces has two venues on board. The marquee space is Bayamo, a seafood restaurant with Spanish flair named after a Cuban city. It's an extra-cost dining space and with price points that put it among the more expensive premium dining spaces at sea. For a lower price point, Garces also offers up Pincho Tapas Bar with smaller plates. Bayamo and Food Republic are the two new restaurants amid a mix of 28 dining options on board that are part of Norwegian's freestyle concept of cruising, in which passengers choose when and where they want to have dinner. Some are free, but most cost you a little extra.

The entertainment

The ship has three major shows. Two of them performed in the main theater are adaptations of Tony Award-winning Broadway shows. Paying homage to the '20s and '30s is "After Midnight," with an on-stage jazz ensemble and the big-band music of Duke Ellington based around Harlem's Cotton Club. The '50s and '60s get their due in "Million Dollar Quartet," a dramatic version of the time Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins spent a night recording together at Sun Records. The last show, performed in the ship's supper club, highlights the music of the 1980s through a melded story of John Hughes films like "The Breakfast Club" and "Sixteen Candles."

The largest ropes course at sea

The adventure quotient on board has been raised on Escape with an expanded three-story ropes course that features ziplines and pioneering obstacles plus the ship's fear-inducing ability to walk the plank. There are two "planks" that jut eight feet out over the side of the ship and allow those on the ropes course who can brave it to walk out over the open water. There are multiple ziplines, and one of them also goes out over the side of the ship.

The largest Aqua Park at sea

Norwegian Cruise Line has a good handle on water slides across its fleet, and Escape features four. The Family Slide is the tame one with lots of twists. The twin Free Fall slides are the extreme ones featuring bomb-bay doors that open up and send you down on what Norwegian bills as the fastest slides at sea. New to Escape is a slide called the Aqua Racer, which allows for single or tandem riders going through a trippy, multicolored tube that at one point also juts out over the open see, visible through a stretch of clear acrylic. It's on the tame side, but a visual treat. It's all part of the Aqua Park, which has a giant area dedicated to younger children with spouts and buckets and the like.

The Mondavi family's wine bar

Wine fans can check out some serious legs at The Cellars, a Michael Mondavi Wine Bar. If you have the wherewithal, try the M red wine. It's a $200 bottle produced from 13 acres of land in northern California. Whether you get that or one of the more reasonably priced glasses, be sure to compare the wine's bouquet to the vases of soil at the venue that are taken from the land on which the wine's grapes were grown. There's a fun, black glass game to be played as well, challenging you to guess whether you're drinking red or white.

The biggest Haven ever

The Haven is Norwegian's ship-within-a-ship concept, and Norwegian Escape's Haven is the biggest in the line. Those who pay the premium price to stay in The Haven's suites get their own restaurant, own pool and own lounge. It's definitely got a solitude feel to its spaces, a welcome respite from the calamity that's going on at the water park and sports areas on the other end of the ship.

Snow

As part of the ship's Mandara Spa, there's a tiny little room filled with Snow. It's part of the largest Thermal Suite at sea, which also includes a steam room, salt room and several other rooms designed to open and close pores and/or bloodflow. The Snow Room features real snow and it's meant to stimulate blood circulation.

The new features mix well with venues that can be found on Norwegian Cruise Line's other ships such as Cagney's Steakhouse and O'Sheehan's Bar and Grill. Sailing year-round out of Miami on seven-night Caribbean cruises, Escape is the largest ship to ever call PortMiami home.

"What you will find once you spend time on board is she truly epitomizes the Norwegian Cruise Line experience," Stuart said. "She brings to life the freedom and flexibility that only a Norwegian cruise can provide with a decidedly premium experience from bow to stern."

Viking Star to sail Caribbean cruises from San Juan

Viking Ocean Cruises said its first sailings in North America and the Caribbean will occur from September 2016 to February 2017, when the Viking Star will sail from San Juan.

The ship will make a series of nine 11-night round trips from San Juan, visiting Tortola, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts, Guadeloupe, St. Maarten and St. Thomas.

Prior to arriving in San Juan, the Viking Star will do several re-positioning cruises, starting with a 15-day Bergen to Montreal trip that departs Sept. 18.

From Montreal, the ship will do a 13-day voyage up the St. Lawrence River, through the Canadian Maritime and New England to New York.  A 15-day Eastern Seaboard itinerary departs New York for San Juan on Oct. 18.

At the end of the season, the Viking Star will offer an 18-day San Juan-to-Barcelona cruise that departs Feb. 25, 2017.

Since its debut in April, Viking Star has been sailing in the Mediterranean and elsewhere in Europe.

Aboard the Escape, tips from Norwegian’s sales pro

Photo's taken by Dave Jones
(flickr photos https://flic.kr/s/aHsknU5bR4 )
My Norwegian escape Review

Norwegian Cruise Line’s ace sales instructor Bob Becker was onboard the Norwegian Escape’s preview cruise in early November. Becker, whose official title is senior vice president of consumer research, gave a well-attended talk to agents in the ship’s main theater.

Becker made many of the points he’s made in past sales presentations, but if you’ve never heard them it can be an inspirational hour or so. Here are a few of the pointers from the Norwegian Escape session:

• Help people buy what they need, not what they want, Becker advised. What they want is availability and a price quote. An agent can do a better job of sniffing out what they need than an OTA.

• “Have I ever been in your bedroom?” is a question Becker said he asks of customers who want an inside cabin. “I bet it has a window. So why go on vacation and stay in a closet?”

• Another bit of advice for agents is to do business on the phone or face to face, not over the Internet. 

“There are no relationships in email,” Becker said. When he gets an email inquiry, Becker said he sends back a form letter asking the prospect to call him to discuss his vacation.

“If they don’t call back, bye-bye,” said Becker, adding that long back-and-forth email exchanges can be one of the biggest hidden time-wasters for agents.

• Social media can also fall into that category, Becker said. “Don’t let Facebook screw up your day.”

Becker said that an agent’s information technology time should be reserved first for a customer relationship management system, then email, and only after that for Instagram and Facebook.

“Social media is ‘in addition to,’ not ‘instead of,’” said Becker. 

• Another Becker gem is to find the customer’s hot spot, something that can be used to your advantage in crafting a custom solution for that client. “Who will be joining you on this vacation?” is one of his favorite questions.

Knowing whether a cruise is intended to be a multigenerational family trip or a romantic getaway for two is the first step toward picking a line, ship and cabin for that customer.

Follow up with questions about the names and ages of the customer’s travel party, he recommended. “If they tell you their kids’ names and ages, they already trust you enough to give you their credit card.”

Crystal opens reservation books for river cruises

Crystal's luxury ships will sail the Danube and Rhine rivers plus several waterways in France.

Crystal Cruises on Monday unveiled details of its five river cruise itineraries and opened bookings.

Inaugural voyages for the five vessels will be exclusively available for booking to members of Crystal Society, the line’s loyalty program, from Nov. 30 through Dec. 15, 2015.

The newly acquired Crystal Mozart, a former Peter Deilmann vessel, will sail its maiden voyage on the Danube River on July 13 after an extensive redesign. Crystal will reduce the number of suites and increase suite sizes, transforming a 203-passenger vessel into a 160-passenger one.

It will sail the 10-night “Danube’s Capital & Wachau Valley,” visiting Austria’s Wachau Valley as well as Dürnstein, Melk, Linz and Vienna in Austria; Passau, Germany; and Bratislava, Slovakia. It will also sail the 11-night “Countries of Eastern Danube” that will call in Vienna; Esztergorm, Kalocsa, Budapest, and Mohacs, Hungary; Vukovar, Croatia; Romania’s Iron Gates; Belgrade and Novi Sad, Serbia; and Bratislava, Slovakia. The Crystal Mozart will also sail several Christmas market and holiday cruises through Austria, Germany and Slovakia.

Additionally, Crystal has ordered the construction of four yacht-style river vessels at the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Germany — the 110-passenger Crystal Bach and Crystal Mahler, and the 84-passenger Crystal Ravel and Crystal Debussy.

The Crystal Debussy will make its maiden voyage on the Seine River on June 4, 2017, after which it will sail five-, seven- and 10-night voyages along the Seine. The ship’s smaller size will allow it to dock near the Eiffel Tower and guests can extend their stay in Paris, according to Crystal.

The Crystal Bach will have it first departure on the Rhine and Moselle rivers on June 18, 2017, and will sail a 14-night itinerary with stops in Amsterdam and Antwerp, Netherlands; Basel, Switzerland; and Rudesheim, Nijmegen, Cologne, Cochem, Koblenz, Mainz, Speyer, Kehl, and Breisach, Germany. It will also sail a 10-night Christmas markets trip in the region.

The Crystal Ravel will sail the Garonne and Dordogne rivers in France’s Bordeaux region beginning Aug. 8, 2017. There will be a seven-night Bordeaux, the Wine Region & Beyond itinerary that will begin with two nights in Bordeaux, before cruising to Cadillac, Pauillac, Blaye and Libourne, France, before heading back to Bordeaux.

The Crystal Mahler will make its maiden voyage on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers on  Aug. 29, 2017, after which it will sail the 16-night “Grand Europe” itinerary, the longest offered by Crystal. It will include overnights in Budapest, Vienna, Passau and Amsterdam.

Seabourn to sail Alaska cruises

Seabourn said it will cruise in Alaska in the summer of 2017, its first time in that market in 15 years.

The Seabourn Sojourn will offer 11-, 12- and 14-day itineraries sailing from Vancouver and Seward, Alaska.

In addition to popular stops, Seabourn said ships will visit hidden gems of the Inside Passage that larger ships can’t access.

While there, guests can take advantage of Ventures by Seabourn, an optional program of Zodiac and kayak excursions led by the Seabourn Sojourn’s expedition team of naturalists, science, wildlife and historical experts.

Alaska prices start at $7,999 per person, Seabourn said.

Fathom to offer conversational Spanish classes

Fathom to offer conversational Spanish classes

Fathom cruises will include conversational Spanish classes for passengers to learn a handful of useful phrases before their arrival in Cuba or the Dominican Republic.

The social impact cruise brand said the Spanish, for those who don't know it already, will help guests work alongside and engage with locals, which will heighten the satisfaction of the cruise.

Fathom said it will also offer dance lessons that feature some of the popular dances, such as merengue in the Dominican Republic and the salsa in Cuba. 

A cinema series will showcase films made in and about the two countries. 

Stores on the 704-passenger Adonia will offer a "one-of-a-kind" collection of merchandise from "purpose-driven businesses that empower local entrepreneurs around the globe," Fathom said.

The Adonia will keep its Ocean Grill restaurant and Glass House bar, but Ocean Grill will offer an experience "that extends beyond the flavor-rich foods to help travelers further immerse and understand the cultures they will encounter," Fathom said.

Fathom, a Carnival Corp. brand, begins cruises next April.

Gladys Knight, Trace Adkins to perform on Carnival ships

Carnival Cruise Line released the initial set of artists that will perform in its Carnival Live program of ship concerts for next year.

Shows will kick off in February in St. Thomas with R&B legend Gladys Knight. Other artists that will give shows include the rock band Journey, country star Trace Adkins and disco icon KC & the Sunshine Band.

Carnival Live performances will be offered on cruises departing from eight U.S. ports with concerts taking place while vessels are docked in Cozumel, Nassau and St. Thomas. 

Ticket prices for next year’s concerts will range from $40 to $75 for general admission. VIP tickets are available for $150 to $250 and offer seating in the first four rows, a photo opportunity with the artist and a commemorative concert pass.