Announcing Carnival's Seuss at Sea Program

I loved Dr. Seuss as a kid, and still do!  That's why I'm really excited about Carnival's new announcement today... 

Today Carnival Cruise Lines announced an exclusive partnership with Dr. Seuss enterprises to bring the beloved children's brand and favorite characters to their fleet of 24 'Fun Ships!' An industry first, the Carnival Seuss at Sea program will offer a variety of exciting and immersive onboard youth, family, dining and entertainment experiences featuring the amazing world and words of Dr. Seuss.

The fun on Carnival starts in the main dining room with The Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with the Cat in the Hat and Friends. Playful foods straight from Dr. Seuss's imagination will be served including green eggs and ham, moose juice and goose juice along with traditional breakfast favorites. Carnival's wait staff will set the tone with Dr. Seuss-inspired uniforms and popular Dr. Seuss characters will join guests for interactive opportunities.

In addition, every ship in the Carnival fleet will have a selection of classic Dr. Seuss books, toys and themed activities for children to enjoy. Special showings of beloved Dr. Seuss movies will be shown on the giant screen of the Seaside Theater as part of their Dive-In Movies programming. On Carnival Freedom, which is undergoing a major refurbishment in May, and Carnival Vista, set to debut in early 2016, there will be a Dr. Seuss Bookville facility - a unique and dedicated Seuss-themed play space featuring iconic décor, colors, shapes and funky furniture inspired by the world of Dr. Seuss. While there, families may enjoy Dr. Seuss books and stretch their imagination through other family-fun activities including arts and crafts, toys and games.

An interactive reading event called Seuss-a-palooza Story Time, A Rhyming Good Time will bring to life the colorful world of Dr. Seuss for kids of all ages. Hosted on a sea day each voyage in a custom-created environment on board or within Dr. Seuss Bookville, this memorable storytelling event will feature some of the most beloved characters in the world of Dr. Seuss.

At other times during the voyage, children and families will have the chance to meet and interact with favorite Dr. Seuss characters and participate in special photo opportunities featuring colorful and zany Dr. Seuss-inspired artwork, as well as through events and activities such as the Seuss-a-palooza Parade where guests can join Dr. Seuss characters in a swirly conga line along the Promenade. A variety of Dr. Seuss-themed retail items will be available as well.

Roll-out of the Seuss at Sea program will begin aboard Carnival Splendor in February 2014 with implementation across the full fleet by 2015, as well as Carnival Vista when that ship enters service in early 2016.

I think it's going to be a lot of fun for the whole family!  What are your thoughts?  

Schlitterbahn Tips and Tricks!

We are back from our trip to the great Texan cities of San Antonio and Austin.  Seeing The Alamo, the missions on the Mission Trail, as well as listening to great music on 6th Street...  But what visit would be complete without a day spent at one of the largest water parks in the US... Schlitterbahn!   

There are four Schlitterbahn parks in the country, but the biggest is in New Braunfels, Texas... in between San Antonio and Austin.  We stayed in San Antonio on the River Walk at the Hyatt Regency, which was a great place to stay.  Nice hotel, clean large rooms, great views, rooftop pool and in the middle of all the happenings on the River Walk.

This was our first visit to Schlitterbahn, and we learned some tips that may be helpful to those who are newbies just like we were:

1. Get there early.  Even as early as an hour to get a good place to park and be one of the first inside the park.  

2. If you are a high trill water slide seeker, go directly to the Master Blaster first!  This is one of the most popular attractions at the park, and the length of the line when you get there will be the shortest it will be all day.  If it seems long at the start of the day, just want until later! 

3. There are two parts to the park... the original/west side, and the new/east side.  The thrill slides are in the newer side to the east.  They provide a tram that takes you between the two sides, all day long.

4. There are lockers in both sides of the park.  We ended up parking at the original side, putting our things in a locker, and taking the tram directly to the new side to get to the Master Blaster right away.  That worked out well because after we were done at that side of the park, we ended the day on the original side where our locker and car were located.

5. Wear shoes!  It's a big place and walking around barefoot all day can be uncomfortable.  Just make sure whatever shoes you wear will stay on your feet on the water slides!  We wore flip-flops, and just put them on our arms when we when on the rides.  It actually worked out just great.

6. If you are wearing a hat or sunglasses, you may lose them... prepare accordingly!

7. You may want to wear a shirt over your suit to keep the sun and heat off you while standing in lines.  It will get super hot! We actually saw people in the water and on the slides wearing full water shoes, long shorts and t-shirts like they were dressed for the day.

8. You are able to bring in your own food and drinks (no glass, no alcohol) so take as much as you want for your family and a picnic.

9. Purchase a Splash Cash card.  You can load this card with as much money as you wish, and use it to purchase anything around the park.  That way you keep your money and/or credit cards locked up, and the Splash Cash Card stays on a lanyard around your neck.  The best part, is whatever you don't spend... you will get refunded back to you.

10. Bring a change of clothes, towel and a plastic bag for your wet suit and clothing. After our day we were able to change and get dry so the ride home was perfect!

     

So, that's the scoop!  It's a lot of fun, but there will be a lot of people so prepare for crowds and lines depending on when you go.  Email me with any questions!  astimmel@cruiseone.com

Below/right is a picture of the Downhill Racer in the original side of the park... was one of our favorites!  Brought back childhood memories.  :)

Cunard's New Smoking Policy

Following feedback from our guests and the results of recent customer research, smoking will no longer be permitted on stateroom balconies. Smoking is currently not permitted in staterooms or public areas but the new policy will continue to permit smoking in designated areas of the open deck.  With regards to electronic cigarettes which do not emit smoke, these are not permitted in public areas but they can be used in staterooms, balconies and designated areas of the open deck.  This change has been for the safety and comfort of our guests and means that all guests will be able to enjoy full use of their private balconies without the effect of drifting smoke.  The change will take effect for all cruises departing immediately after the 2014 World Cruises, as listed below:

QUEEN ELIZABETH Q404 9 May 2014 QUEEN MARY 2 M404 9 May 2014 QUEEN VICTORIA V403 28 April 2014

Thank you,  Brian O'Connor Vice President, Sales (North America)   Stanley Birge Vice President (North America)

Family-Friendly Amenities on Today's Cruise Ships...

Hi all!  

Most of you already know that cruises are an ideal vacation for families with kids of all ages.  So I thought I would keep you updated with what today's cruise ships are offering for an eye-popping array of features that both your kids, and you, will love!

On a cruise, during the day, people do their own thing.  The kids are happy in the children's programs, mom may be in the spa, dad may be gambling... But everyone does their own thing.  Then regroup to experience a meal together, watch a show, or participate in a game.  It's a great way to reconnect.

Carnival Cruise Lines:

They offer a wide array of amenities and services for families... Camp Carnival for youngsters and Camp Carnival Night Owls for staying out late while the kids are entertained... WaterWorks with fun water slides... SportSquare with all kinds of sports to play... 

Some ships have a ropes course for older kids... 3-D movies... and Hasbro, The Game Show.

Disney Cruise Line:

It goes without saying that Disney cruises are ideal for families.  Musicals... First-run movies... Character meetings and fireworks!  They also offer the Dine and Play program that lets families eat dinner together, then send the kids off for evening activities.  Programs for all age groups... AuqaDuck water coaster... animated dining room.

Holland America:

This line offers several programs as well for different age groups.  Baby-sitting services are offered as well.  Especially noteworthy is the complimentary HAL Kids Culinary Workshop, aimed at kids 3-8.  Older kids can take the adult class!  Kids learn basic cooking techniques, kitchen safety, new ingredients and how to follow recipe instructions in the ships' Culinary Arts Center.

Norwegian Cruise Line:

The line's newest ship, Norwegian Breakaway, offers the largest youth and teen facility in their fleet.  Teens have a dedicated space, Entourage, at the top of the ship next to the video arcade... Activities and programs are available for different age groups... Air hockey, football, arcade center, video game stations... Wii sports!... Cirque du Jour which teaches kids circus activities... Fireworks... Nickelodeon at sea... And an Aqua Park with watersides and pools!

Royal Caribbean:

Royal Caribbean International outlines its family programs and offerings in a 12-page color brochure!  Offers children's and teens programs divided into age groups like the other cruise lines.  As well as... DreamWorks 3D movies... Dining with Shrek... Ice and water shows... FlowRider surf simulator... Zip lining... Rock climbing... Ice rinks... Mini golf... Aqua parks.  Some partners are Mattel, Fisher-Price, and Crayola.  

Needless to say, there are many options for fun when it comes to cruising with your family.  Something for everyone... Kids and parents alike!  

For more details on the specifics of what programs each cruise line offers, shoot me an email!

Astimmel@cruiseone.com

Carnival's Newest Ship!

Carnival Cruise Lines has shared the exciting news... Their 25th ship has just been named.  The "Carnival Vista"!  

The new 135,000-ton ship is scheduled to enter service in 2016 and will hold 4,000 passengers onboard.  She will offer a wide variety of dining, bar and entertainment options that are part of the line's groundbreaking Fun Ship 2.0 product enhancement initiative, along with a number of innovations unique to this ship.

Additional design details regarding the Carnival Vista, as well as homeport deployment and itinerary information, will be announced at a later date.

Stay tuned!!!

Tips for Cruising with Teens

Believe it or not, family vacations with teens don't have to result in eye rolling! 

CLIA recently provided a few tips to make sure teens have a great time on family cruises this year... and we wanted to share:

The most important thing to remember when vacationing with teenagers is that, even though parents may want to spend every waking moment with their teens, chances are that the feeling isn't mutual.  Because of that, a cruise can be the perfect vacation option for families with teens. 

Cruises offer great opportunities for teens to have time away from the family and, better yet, to have time with other teens.

In addition, cruise ships give teens the freedom to roam around while still being completely safe since, no matter where you go on a cruise ship, a crew member is never far away.

The best part about cruising for families with teens is that a teen's desire for independence can easily be balanced with a parent's desire for family time.  Choosing certain activities or meals to enjoy together each day will give your vacation structure, allow everyone to have a combination of family togetherness and alone time and, hopefully, even minimize the eye rolling! 

Starting planning your family cruise today... include the grandparents too for a fun and multi-generational vacation that your family will have a wonderful memory of for years to come!

PACIFIC COASTAL - SPRING CRUISE!

"Bill of Rights" For Cruisers

Cruise lines last week endorsed a "Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights". 

CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) said it's members unanimously endorsed a 10-point plan that in a power outage would guarantee the rights of passengers to emergency power, timely information and a trained crew.

Passengers would also be guaranteed the right to leave a ship if essential provisions cannot be provided, but only if the ship is already docked.

The idea for such a bill of rights was first floated by a New York senator in March with his six-point plan.  CLIA took the six-point plan and added four more than seem relevant.

This bill of rights seems to demonstrate the commitment of CLIA's cruise line members to be transparent and clear about that passenger right are in the rare event of a mechanical or power failure.

In many cases, cruise lines are already doing what the bill of rights requires... however it will be included in the cruise line's contract of carriage, making it enforceable.

For the full text of CLIA's Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights, send me an email!

Viking Plans to Cruise Mississippi, and...

In 2015, Viking River Cruises plans to bring a version of the Longships to the Mississippi River! 

This will challenge the traditional paddlewheel model that has come to define the overnight passenger vessel experience on the largest US waterway.  Most leisure cruises on the Mississippi have been offered on paddlewheelers modeled on classic 19th century steamboats.  Viking, however, says they see room for a smaller, sleeker, European-style vessel.

Viking also noted that while it is focused on the Mississippi, it will also be looking into other US river systems such as the Pacific Northwest... if the demand justifies it. 

I don't know about you, but we're looking forward to seeing Viking here in the US starting in 2015... a great way to experience their wonderful product right here close to home!

AmaWaterways gets more all-inclusive with drinks

AmaWaterways plans to offer complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks to passengers this year with lunch -- a first for the river cruise line.

The California-based company has offered passengers free beer, wine and soda at dinner since its founding in 2002, but until now drinks at lunch always came with an extra charge.

The complimentary drinks will be available on AmaWaterways' entire European fleet with the exception of the Russia-based AmaKatarina and the soon-to-debut, Portugal-based AmaVida.

Scheduled to begin operation on Portugal's Duoro River in March, the 106-passenger AmaVida is one of two new AmaWaterways ships arriving this year. Also new is the 164-passenger AmaPrima, which will debut on April 3 in Amsterdam. The AmaPrima will operate on Europe's Rhine and Danube rivers.

In addition the Duoro, Rhine and Danube, AmaWaterways operates river ships on Europe's Main, Mosel, Seine and Rhône rivers.

Princess Cruises adds more Tahiti, Hawaii sailings

Princess Cruises has added more Tahiti and Hawaii voyages for early 2014 in a change to its previously announced schedule.

The line says the 680-passenger Pacific Princess will offer three additional departures of its 10-night Tahiti & French Polynesia itinerary starting in late February 2014. Also added to the schedule is a 16-night New Zealand & South Pacific sailing from Sydney to Tahiti; a 12-night Hawaii & Tahiti voyage from Tahiti to Honolulu; and a 10-night Hawaii sailing from Honolulu to Vancouver, BC.

The new trips replace elements of the Pacific Princess' previously announced 2014 World Cruise, which is being cancelled.

While the World Cruise won't take place, what had been scheduled as the first segment of the voyage — a 35-night sailing from Ft. Lauderdale to Sydney — will remain available for purchase. The trip includes a transit of the Panama Canal and calls in Ecuador, Peru, Easter Island, French Polynesia and New Zealand.

The three new 16-night Tahiti cruises will include calls in three New Zealand ports — Auckland, Tauranga and the Bay of the Islands — as well as stops at the islands of Pago Pago, Bora Bora and Moorea before arriving in Tahiti.

How Not to Miss the Boat!! - Cruise Tips

Some great tips from Fodor's!

Trust us. You never, ever want to play a game of "catch the cruise ship." That’s when you miss the boat—literally—and are left to decide if you should bag the vacation altogether and head home, or if you should embark on your own version of "The Amazing Race" and try to catch up to the ship at the next port of call. Neither option is appealing so you should vow to never put yourself in that particular predicament.


Let’s start by examining the reasons why travelers miss the boat in the first place. Most often, cruisers miss embarkation because of a travel delay. Other times, individuals misjudge the time allotted in port, aren’t familiar with the region and local traffic, and don’t leave enough time to return to the ship. There are ways to hedge your bets in both cases to make sure you’re never left standing on the dock watching your ship weigh anchor and sail out to sea without you.

Make a Plan That Fits Your Comfort Level

It’s important that you arrive at the cruise terminal with plenty of time to spare before embarkation. The absolute best way to ensure this is to fly in the day before your cruise and stay over at a nearby hotel or motel. This way, even if you experience a major delay—airline issue or trouble on the road—you’ll be in town long before the ship sets sail.

Of course, not everyone wants to give up an extra day or invest in a hotel room for the evening. If you insist on flying out the day of embarkation, be sure to book the first flight of the morning. If you plan to fly in the day of the cruise, consider booking your airfare directly through the cruise line. Then, if there’s an issue, they are obligated to get you to the ship. Sometimes that means the ship is held in port for stragglers, and other times that means the cruise line will rebook you on alternative transportation so you can meet the ship at the second port of call.

Be Prepared

Like we said, fly out on the first plane of the day, and if you have to connect, do so in a major city that offers multiple flights to your destination throughout the day.

Keep all your cruise documents in your carry-on bag, and make sure you’ve got the address of the cruise terminal handy. Pre-book ground transportation so someone is waiting for you when you land at the airport. Alternatively, book ground transportation directly through your cruise line.

If you are running late, call the ship’s port agent so they are aware of the problem. The appropriate contact information can be found in your cruise documents.

It’s also wise to invest in travel insurance. Make sure the policy covers things like trip delays, lost baggage, and trip interruption.

Avoid Travel Delays and Misconnects

When it comes to travel, be an informed consumer. Sign up for automated alerts from your airline so you’ll be the first to know if your flight is delayed. You can also use free third-party services like TripIt that file all of your flight, hotel, car rental, and cruise details and itineraries right in your phone (iPhone, Android, Blackberry, or Windows Phone 7) or iPad. The upgraded (aka paid version of) TripIt Pro app instantly alerts you to flight delays, cancellations, and gate changes. It can also help you find alternative flights so if you have to rebook, you can tell the airline representative what would work best for you.

Know Your Options

Be your own advocate, and know what alternative flights will get you to your cruise port on time. If your airline has a mechanical issue, for example, ask them to "protect" you on another flight—even if that means putting you on a competing airline. Research all potential flights in advance, and carry that list of options with you. Hopefully you’ll never need to refer to the list, but it will be incredibly helpful if your original flight is cancelled.

If you do have to rebook while at the airport, don’t wait in the long line with everyone else. Call the airline’s toll-free number for faster service. If you have access to the airline’s elite lounge, you can head there and have an agent assist you in person.

Know When to Fold ’Em

Sometimes a vacation is just doomed from the get-go. People in the hospitality business call that a "trip in vain." It’s when, despite your best efforts, everything goes wrong. There’s a crash on the highway so your car service can’t get you to the airport on time. You miss your initial flight and are rebooked on a second flight, which then is delayed due to weather issues. You finally get to your destination only to find that your bags were misdirected and are at a different airport altogether, and your cruise ship has already sailed.

If you’re ever in that situation, you’ll need to determine if you’re going to try to catch the ship at the next port or head home. Your decision will hinge on a few things. For example, did you book your airfare directly through the cruise line? If so, the onus is on them to get you to the ship. If you booked transportation on your own, it’s up to you. What’s the next port of call? Is it an easy to reach destination or a far-off island with no airport? Did you purchase an insurance policy? Will you get a refund if you return home without ever setting foot on the cruise ship, or will you lose out on the fare you paid?

As you can see, it’s just so much easier if you’re never in this situation to begin with! Follow our tips and you’ll get to your cruise ship on time—every time. Bon voyage!