It’s a Friday afternoon at Port Everglades and dockworkers are busy off-loading containers from a huge CCNI cargo ship that has just arrived from South America. Trucks are lined up to deliver and pick up freight. Cruise passengers are toasting on the pool deck of the Regent Seven Seas Navigator before departing for a week-long tour of the Caribbean and Mexico.
The hustle and bustle is palpable, as the growing Broward port leaps ahead to rank as the largest container cargo port in Florida in 2007, and — it expects — become the No. 1 cruise port in the world in 2011.
‘We have basically opened our eyes and said `Why not be the biggest and the best?’ ” said Port Director Phillip C. Allen.
Port Everglades is coming off one of the most successful years in its history and has big plans, despite facing challenges on economic and environmental fronts.
Topics: 'Regent'
Along with a flurry of new rules for travelers this year, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection has implemented another item that directly affects cruise travel.
As of February 18, all cruise ships departing from U.S. ports must send a passenger manifest to the department of Customs and Border Protection no less than 60 minutes prior to departure, which means that all passengers must be checked in and onboard prior to that time.
Some cruise lines have taken a proactive role and are implementing the procedure now. Most lines — Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Regent, Crystal, Oceania, Princess — have implemented a policy that states you must be processed and onboard at least 90 minutes before sailaway or you can be denied boarding.
Norwegian Cruise Line is formulating its official policy at this time and we will provide an update as soon as we know more; a message to travel agents asked that they advise their clients to be at the pier no less than two hours prior to departure. The message also indicated that if an individual attempted to check in within the 60-minute window, that individual would be denied boarding, but if a planeload of passengers was delayed, causing a late arrival at the port, the captain has the discretion to wait for them and delay departure of the ship.
CNN:
1. Where to go: Decide on the destination first, the ship second. Alaskan and Caribbean cruises have long been mainstays, but cruise lines are adding itineraries to unexpected places: Asia, the Indian Ocean, South America.
Next, look at the specifics — with Alaskan cruises, for example, ships tend to follow two routes. Inside Passage itineraries run round-trip from Seattle or Vancouver and call in southern Alaskan ports like Juneau and Skagway; Gulf of Alaska itineraries, which sail farther north, are typically one-way trips from Vancouver to Whittier or Seward, or the reverse.
2. When to go: Shoulder seasons can offer bargains and may be even more appealing than high season: a mild fall day can be more enjoyable than baking under the August sun in the Mediterranean. Alaska’s popularity with families means that going in May and September (when children are in school) often translates into fewer visitors — and better deals.
3. Which line to book: Select the cruise line, and the fellow passengers, that best match your personality. “This is crucial for the first time,” advises Anne Halsey-Smith of Gayle Gillies Travel in Rancho Santa Fe, California. “It will make or break your experience. If you aren’t matched to the line, you probably won’t cruise again.” Some have dress codes and assigned seating times for meals. Some, like Princess Cruises, are more kid-friendly. Norwegian Cruise Line is more casual than other lines and doesn’t have assigned dining times. Holland America’s offerings are more traditionally geared toward baby boomers. Finally, lines like Crystal and Regent are more upscale and, in turn, more expensive.
4. What it costs: Don’t look at the daily rate for a stateroom and then simply multiply by the number of nights you’ll be at sea. Remember to factor in airfare to and from the originating port, the costs of incidentals such as alcohol (unless the ship is all-inclusive) and shore excursions.
5. Beat the rush: Many cruise lines give discounts for booking far in advance. “It’s an issue of supply and demand,” Scully says. “As bookings come in, cruise fares go up in the most popular regions, like Alaska, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.”
6. Ship tips: Size matters. The size of the ship can dictate the itinerary. Smaller ships, like those operated by Cruise West (the largest of which carries only 138 passengers) and SeaDream Yachts, can dock at smaller ports and offer a more personalized experience.
7. Cabin splurge: Consider your itinerary when deciding whether to reserve a balcony stateroom. For a repositioning cruise across the Atlantic, when there will be nothing to see from your balcony but the open ocean for days, it may not matter. But on Alaskan and Mediterranean cruises, it’s all about the views.
8. Arrive early and stay on after your cruise: First, if you don’t book your flight through the cruise line, your ship won’t wait if it’s delayed. As canceled and delayed flights have become commonplace, it’s wise to arrive at your starting port at least a day before you are scheduled to set sail. Second, cruise extensions are an increasingly popular option. You can cap off a Crystal sailing, for example, with a safari organized by the line — with fewer hassles and less expenses than on a separate tour.
9. Before you board: Don’t waste time waiting in line after you’ve pulled out of port. There are enough activities to make the most adventurous cruiser happy, but popular shore excursions often sell out. Be sure to plan your onboard activities early.
10. Turn to an expert: When it comes to cruises, some professional advice is often indispensable (and it’s the main reason most cruises are still booked through travel agents).
“Over the past few weeks, Apollo Management — an investment firm that’s managed more than $28 billion of capital since its founding in 1990 — has vastly increased its
presence in the cruise business, building on its big February 2007 investment in Oceania Cruises.
Apollo agreed to acquire Regent Seven Seas Cruises from current owner Carlson, whose other businesses include Regent Hotels & Resorts and Radisson Hotels & Resorts. Expect little to change: Regent Seven Seas and Oceania will continue as separate operations under their current management teams.
“Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers an exceptional product, and its superb shipboard and shoreside teams have built an enviable reputation as the foremost luxury cruise brand,” said Frank Del Rio, Oceania’s cofounder and now chairman and CEO of Prestige Cruise Holdings, a new corporation created by Apollo to manage Oceania and Regent.
The Regent acquisition is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2008, subject to normal conditions for a transaction of this type, including regulatory approval.”
Photo by About.com
The cry came from a passenger just as we were being briefed on Antarctic protocol and conservation.
“Iceberg!”
All 190 guests on the Explorer II rushed to the starboard side of the ship to witness the giant berg, white with distinct horizontal stripes of cobalt blue and turquoise, that seemed to be bigger than several city blocks. Close by was a much smaller iceberg, sculpted by the wind and waves and covered with more than a dozen penguins.
At the stern of the ship, several albatrosses floated lazily along. In the distance, close to the jagged mountain peaks of Elephant Island with wide glaciers running to the sea, two fin whales surfaced every few moments to blow spray in our direction.
Antarctica is the highest, the driest, the windiest and the sunniest continent on Earth. It’s also the continent that holds 90 percent of the ice and 75 percent of the fresh water on the planet. During the summer months, most of the beaches are more crowded than any in Florida, except the crowds are penguins and seals.
Our home base for this 11-day eco-cruise was the Explorer II, a 10-year old luxury expedition ship with reinforced hull, leased by the upscale Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Normal capacity of the ship is 400 passengers but Regent keeps its Antarctic numbers to fewer than 200.
Antarctic cruises were in the headlines last month when the MS Explorer sank in Antarctic waters. But it will not affect Regent cruises (see related story on J15). Explorer II “is a modern ship with state of the art navigation and safety systems,” company spokesman Andrew Poulton says.
About 50 cruise ships a year now sail to or past Antarctica. Many of the large ones are simply in transit around the bottom of South America and skirt by the Antarctic islands and mainland without allowing passengers to leave the ship. Explorer II, with its limited passenger load, was allowed by international agreement to anchor almost anywhere and take visitors on its fleet of 12 Zodiacs for intimate interaction with the land, the ice and the wildlife. Key to the success of Explorer II was its team of 14 expert naturalists and scientists who guided the Zodiacs on our twice-daily trips and gave illustrated briefings about the wildlife, geology and politics of this vast mushroom cap at the bottom of the world.
Western Caribbean
The basic seven-night western Caribbean cruise is one of the best itineraries for first-timers. You can depart from a variety of homeports and get a mix of Central American and island ports, as well as days at sea. Princess’ cruise on the Grand Princess departs from Ft. Lauderdale and calls at the quintessential western Caribbean ports of Jamaica; Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico; and Princess Cays (Princess’ private island in the Bahamas).
Eastern Caribbean
The sister itinerary to the western Caribbean is the seven-night eastern Caribbean cruise. Many ships alternate between the east and the west each week, creating opportunities for back-to-back two-week sailings. Such is the case with one of the largest ships on earth: Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas. Its eastern Caribbean itinerary stops in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten with three days at sea.
Southern Caribbean
Most weeklong itineraries depart from Puerto Rico or Barbados because the islands are too far to reach from the U.S. mainland. To cruise in style, try Silversea’s eight-night voyage out of San Juan on the Silver Wind. With only one day at sea, you can visit Grenada, Barbados, Bequia, Dominica, Antigua, and the exclusive St. Bart’s.
The deep south
These off-the-beaten-path itineraries aren’t offered by every line, but they can be especially good choices during hurricane season because most storms don’t strike that far south. Regent Seven Seas’ 11-night cruise on the Seven Seas Voyager out of Ft. Lauderdale visits not only Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, but St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Puerto Rico, and Grand Turk as well.
Short Caribbean cruises
The great thing about the Caribbean is that it’s so close to the southern ports of the U.S. If you don’t have a lot of time for your vacation, consider a short cruise. You’ll definitely feel like you escaped the office without taking too many days off work. Celebrity offers a top-notch five-night cruise on the recently renovated Century. You’ll depart from Miami for Jamaica and Grand Cayman, spend two days at sea, then return refreshed and tan from your short break.
“Carlson and Apollo Management L.P have announced that Apollo will soon acquire Carlson’s Regent Seven Seas Cruises operations, with the transaction set to be completed 
by the first quarter of 2008.
The cruise operations will continue as a key part of the global Regent brand, with Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises placed under the ownership of Prestige Cruise Holdings, Inc. (PCH), a corporation controlled by Apollo which will manage certain cruise portfolio assets of Apollo.
NCL Corporation will remain a separate holding outside of PCH.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises will remain a wholly independent brand under the guidance of Mark Conroy, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and will continue to operate from its Fort Lauderdale, Florida headquarters, and Oceania Cruises will remain in its Miami headquarters, headed by Bob Binder, president of Oceania Cruises. Both Binder and Conroy will report directly to Frank Del Rio, chairman and CEO of Prestige Cruise Holdings.”
Photo by sevenseastravel
“Tauck World Discovery has announced a season of new itineraries. The new Tauck at Sea brochure highlights 18 itineraries covering the South Pacific, Mediterranean, Baltic Sea, Alaska and Galapagos Islands, Peru and Ecuador. And you can take your pick from Tauck’s sailing/motor yachts, expedition vessels, luxury “mid” ships and grand ocean liners.
Cruise Istanbul and the Black Sea for 11 nights, spending four nights in Istanbul and seven nights on Le Levant motor cruising yacht. Le Levant accommodates just 90 passengers offering superb dining and personalised service. Tours depart Istanbul on July 20 and 27 and August 3, 10, 17 and 24, 2007. See the Mediterranean by voyaging from Monte-Carlo to Athens for 11 nights. Spend two nights in Monte Carlo and Athens and seven nights cruising on the Regent Navigator. Destinations along the way include Sorrento, Sicily, Turkey and Greece.
Other Tauck at Sea itineraries for 2007 include a 15-night cruise/tour of Antarctica and the Falkland Islands aboard the Clipper Adventurer expedition vessel. See Alaska on the 14-night Grand Alaska cruise/tour featuring a seven-night cruise onboard the Regent Seven Seas Mariner or experience the Treasures of the Aegean on a 13-night cruise/tour, which includes a seven-night cruise of the Greek islands and Turkish ports of the Aegean Sea on board Wind Star or Wind Spirit.”
Photo by TraveltheWorld
Four of the best luxury romantic cruises? The following four ships have exclusive romantic getaways for taking your favorite person on a romantic cruise.
“1. SeaDream Yacht Club
SeaDream Yacht Club operates two small, all-inclusive yacht-like ships for about 110 passengers. These ships don’t have balconies, but they do have wonderfully romantic Balinese dream beds outside on the deck, which is never far from your cabin. The
SeaDream ships also have resort casual dress and a fun water sports marina. The ships are well suited for warm weather cruising, and the ambience is intimate and relaxed.
2. Silversea Cruises
The four Silversea Cruises’ ships are small, ranging in size from 296-382 passengers. Silversea features a great passenger space ratio and crew to passenger ratio, insuring lots of quiet, intimate space and great service. All the cabins are suites, and they are spacious enough that you could easily just stay in your suite the entire cruise. Like SeaDream Yacht Club, all drinks are included on the Silversea ships.
3. Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC)
All the cabins on the Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner are suites with balconies. Like Silversea, the cabins are spacious and perfect for hiding away for a romantic cruise. The smaller Seven Seas Navigator and smaller yet Paul Gauguin also deliver the same high quality and excellent service. Although the RSSC ships are larger than the other “top romantic” cruise lines, the spaciousness and quiet atmosphere are very conducive to romantic cruising.
4. Windstar Cruises
Windstar Cruises operates three romantic sailing ships that sail the Caribbean in the winter and the Mediterranean in the summer. The cabins do not have balconies, but they do have wonderful beds and terrific service. These small, modern sailing ships have computerized sails and do not roll as much as traditional sailing vessels. The ships do not have much entertainment, but who needs it when you have the “love of your life” along?”
Photo by steenbeke
“Most folks who gravitate to cruising are, by nature, wandering homebodies. We want to travel but also want a cocoon of familiar comforts. We are sentimental, too: If we have a
good time on a ship, our warm feelings often make us want to come back again and again. Some of us sail the same ship (or at least the same cruise line) year after year after year, sometimes planning reunions with other passengers we’ve met onboard.
But of course, as the Irish proverb says, “The best way to keep loyalty in a man’s heart is to keep money in his purse.” And thus were born cruise line loyalty programs, which offer discounts, upgrades, and other inducements to keep passengers coming back for more.
Nearly every cruise line has one, hooking passengers automatically after their first cruise through free subscriptions to glossy past-passengers magazines or members-only sections of their websites. What’s inside? Details about new itineraries and new ships, past-passenger discount and upgrade offers, announcements of special cruises available to past passengers only, and other goodies.
The message? “Come back. We miss you … and your money.”
Sure, it’s salesmanship, but what the hell. If you had a good time on your first cruise, why not take some freebies for coming back again?
Loyalty programs vary from line to line. Some — like those at Holland America, Disney, Windstar, and Star Clippers — offer standard, across-the-board perks for anyone who’s sailed before. Most, however, offer tiered incentives that add more value the more you sail. (See the table at the end of this article for a line-by-line breakdown.) Some lines measure loyalty by the number of cruises sailed, sometimes awarding extra points for cruises longer than one week. Others — Costa, Mediterranean Shipping Cruises (MSC), Cunard, Regent Seven Seas, Princess, Seabourn, and Silversea — measure past-guest levels by number of days sailed (or sometimes by number of days or number of voyages). Some also offer additional credits to passenger booking high-level suites or making large onboard purchases.”
Photo by dijitalsih
