Is smoking on ships becoming a thing of the past? The new ship policy by MSC is sending the ship towards this direction.
CruiseMates.com:
MSC Cruises has introduced a “Clean Air” smoking policy throughout its fleet, designed to allow both smokers and non-smokers to enjoy their cruise in mutual respect.
“We have eliminated smoking in all areas where non-smokers and smokers would have shared the same spaces,” General Manager Emilio La Scala said. “We assigned a few rooms where smokers are welcome, but the majority of indoor spaces are now non-smoking.”
On each MSC Cruises vessel, smoking is only allowed indoors in the Cigar Room, the Casino and in one dedicated lounge. Passengers can also smoke outside, on one side of the sun deck, but no smoking is allowed in staterooms or on stateroom balconies.
The remaining areas of the ships are, therefore, totally smoke-free, for the benefit of non-smokers.
The introduction of the “Clean Air” policy and its extensive smoke-free zones has received the general approval of passengers.
“Thanks to the ‘Clean Air Policy,’ MSC Cruises has managed to satisfy both smokers and non-smokers by having 90% smoke-free ships,” La Scala says.
Photo by gregandersen
CruiseCritic.com:
“Cruise lines are increasingly embracing the sport of golf — both in onboard features and
on-land excursion selections. But matching the right cruise line, not to mention the right ship, to passengers’ individual skill and interest levels can be tricky.
Cruise lines have long included golf course outings in shore excursions and many, from the industry’s earlier eras, have incorporated some kind of driving range onboard. These days, though, cruise lines are getting much more techno-fancy, as well as emphasizing more personalized services, such as instruction and even pro-accompanied golf outings.
Carnival Cruise offers their own golf cruises. Golf pros are available for instruction onboard and during golf excursions. Ships have netted driving ranges. Fee-added amenities range from a 60-minute private lesson with “V 1 Digital Teaching Technology,” where golfers can compare their swings to top tour pros. A take-home video recap of the lessons is available. You can also rent golf clubs (per day) and buy accessories and clothing. There are onboard putting contests.”
Photo by overthemoon
Every travel alone on a Cruise? A new travel agency is looking to specialize in helping those who cruise solo.
Frommers.com:
“Solo cruisers rarely get a break. In a market in which cruise lines base their fares on two
passengers occupying every stateroom, solos routinely get socked with “single supplements” — fees that tack 50% or more onto their fare, just because they’re lone wolves in a forest of couples. Some lines and agencies offer a service that pairs solo passengers with others traveling alone, to share a cabin and split the cost, but who likes being set up on a weeklong blind date?
Solocruiser (www.solocruiser.com), a new online agency specializing in people traveling alone but not necessarily looking for a hook-up. The company offers three basic types of cruise experiences: escorted group cruises for guests aged 55+, group cruises themed on a specific interest (photography, culinary arts, etc.), and plain old low-cost deals for independent travelers, currently on lines like Holland America, Regent, Cunard, Silversea, Princess, NCL, and river line Amadeus Waterways. One of the site’s more interesting features is its “roommate finder,” a kind of personal ads section for traveling companions. The hitch? You have to make a deposit on a specific cruise before you can start your roommate search.”
Photo by Chris&Steve
Sail-World.com:
“Star Clippers, those doyennes of modern sailing ships, have announced that they will build their largest sailing ship so far. It will be an astonishing 518 feet (158 metres) long, and the rest of the dimensions are similarly astonishing. 
The company has been in discussions with shipyards to build the new five-masted vessel for delivery in 2010. Set to be the largest, most expensive sailing vessel ever constructed, the 7,400-ton barque is modeled on France II, which at 5,000 tons was the world’s largest sailing ship when it was launched in 1912.
The ship will be 61 feet at the beam with a draft of 20 feet. It will carry 37 sails for a total of 68,350 square feet of sail surface area. The rig will extend 217 feet above the waterline, and the open Sun Deck area will be an expansive 8,200 square feet.
The ship has been designed to make it capable of operating independently of any port infrastructure. With its Ice Class C hull, extra heavy anchor gear, davit dampening system and specially modified tenders, the ship will be able to sail virtually anywhere in the world.
It’s a big jump in size from the Royal Clipper – 48% bigger – and the Royal Clipper is currently the largest full-rigged sailing ship in the world.”
Photo by Sail-World.com
Norwegian Cruise Line is taking a whole new approach to cruise ships. It has created a hype website for its new Girl of the fleet.
CruiseCritic.com:
“Ships are commonly referred to as “she,” but Norwegian Cruise Line’s taking this maritime custom a step further with the launch of its Norwegian Gem, coining it the “It”
Girl of the fleet and creating a special Web site — gemitgirl.com — dedicated to hyping its launch.
These smaller Web sites, sometimes called “sitelets,” are created to explore a topic, concept or an idea too specific for a “regular” site — and are a hot trend in the cruise world. P&O recently launched virtualventura.co.uk to generate excitement for its upcoming Ventura and Royal Caribbean introduced it’s largest-ever Freedom of the Seas via freedomoftheseas.com.
NCL’s gemitgirl.com offers all of the nitty-gritty details you’ll also find on ncl.com like deck plans and itineraries, but is more interactive. It’s actually designed to look a bit like a MySpace profile: on the left, a big splashy photo and fun stats (favorite food: escargot from Le Bistro); on the right, a blog and select photos of her “friends” (here called the Entourage).
To join the “It” Girl’s Entourage you’ll need to create your own digital avatar, or virtual self. A few mouse clicks confirm your skin tone, eye color, hair, outfit and backdrop. Once created, your avatar is automatically pictured in the Entourage Gallery (look for me, TravelMel!). At the beginning of the process, you can choose to enter a weekly drawing to become “It” Girl’s BFF (Best Friend Forever) of the Week; the weekly prize is a $50 American Express gift card. You can also enter on the site to win a Nintendo Wii.”
Photo by Gemitgirl
Don’t want to pay for your Cruise? You might not have to if you get involved in the Cruise Industry.
CruiseVacationAdvisor:
“With some effort and a little work, you can go on a free cruise vacation at little or no out of pocket cost. Yes, it does require effort and work on your part. In that sense, it is not free, even though it is tempting to say so. In addition, you should team-up with a good travel professional, such as a travel agent, vacation planner, travel planner, etc.
In addition to receiving commissions from cruise lines to handle their booking process, travel professionals receive additional incentives to book groups. Usually, cabins or berths are part of the incentive package. Companies provide these incentives because they sell their inventory (cabins) faster, when they sell them in bulk.
The agent is in a position to handle problems the group may encounter. This way, the cruise lines work with one person (a knowledgeable professional) and not a group of individuals.By providing a free berth, the cruise lines also benefit because the agent experiences first hand the company’s “brand” and “product”. Presumably, after his/her experience, the agent then is inclined to sell even more.
Other incentives may include free group cocktail party, free group picture, and so forth. Travel professionals have flexibility in mixing and matching the incentives offered.”
