Holland America 2010 Grand Voyages

In an announcement sure to put the imaginations of those who long to spend life at sea in overdrive, Holland America has announced 4 new "Grand Voyages" (formerly known as World Cruises) for 2010. The offerings include a 114-day Grand World Voyage and three ranging from 51 to 70 days.

The flagship Amsterdam returns to world cruising in 2010 with the 114-day voyage departing Jan. 6 from Fort Lauderdale. The ship will sail an eastbound route, but first moves west through the Panama Canal and down the coast of South America before rounding Cape Horn and exploring Antarctica. Amsterdam will then cross the Atlantic to Africa, sail around the southern tip of the continent to the Indian Ocean and on to Asia and Canada en route to Los Angeles. Guests can disembark in Vancouver on April 25 or Seattle on April 26, making the voyage 109 or 110 days. Segments ranging from 17 to 47 days are available. The itinerary, which takes the ship to 40 ports on six continents, features 12 overnight calls -- the most ever included on a Holland America world cruise. With the overnights, guests will have two full days in Panama City, Panama; Callo (Lima), Peru; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cape Town, South Africa; the Seychelles; Mumbai, India; Singapore; Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing, China; and Kobe and Yokohama, Japan.

The Prinsendam will sail two back-to-back Grand Voyages in 2010. The 793-guest ship first departs Jan. 13 on a 70-day Grand South America and Antarctica cruise round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. During the voyage, Prinsendam will circumnavigate South America and spend seven days exploring the Amazon River. On the other end of the continent, the ship spends three days cruising in Antarctica.

This Grand Voyage aboard Prinsendam also features opportunities to visit Machu Picchu and Iguaçu Falls, passage through the Panama Canal, four equatorial crossings and nine ports in Brazil. Calls include Iquique and Isla Robinson Crusoe, as well as overnight stays in Manaus and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Buenos Aires; Callao (Lima), Peru; and Fuerte Amador, Panama. Then Prinsendam departs Fort Lauderdale on March 24 on a 54-day roundtrip to the Mediterranean and Black Sea. The ship crosses the Atlantic and calls at ports in Morocco, Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Russia, Georgia, Greece and Turkey. After sailing westward back across the Atlantic and calling at Bermuda, the cruise ends in either New York -- shortening the voyage to 51 days -- or Fort Lauderdale. The Grand South America and Grand Mediterranean and Black Sea voyages aboard Prinsendam can be combined to form a 124-day journey roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 13, 2010.

In the fall, Amsterdam departs Sept. 24 on a 69-day voyage from Seattle to Asia. After visiting Tokyo, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, China; Saigon, Vietnam; Bangkok, Thailand; and Kampong Saom, Cambodia, Amsterdam continues on to Darwin, Australia, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Following calls throughout Australia, the ship heads east through the South Pacific and visits Honolulu before ending at San Diego on Dec. 2, 2010. Overnight stays are scheduled in Sydney, Australia; Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Thailand, and Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, China. Shorter segments are available on all of the Grand Voyages.

Reservations are open for the 2010 Grand Voyages, and early-booking bonus amenities for full-cruise guests include airfare, prepaid hotel service charges, shipboard credit, luggage delivery service and limousine transfers when booking select stateroom categories; amenities vary by cruise and booking date. Cruise fares start at $20,999 per person, double occupancy, for Amsterdam’s 113-day Grand World Voyage departing Jan. 6, 2010, and $19,999 for the 109-day Grand World Voyage, also departing Jan. 6, 2010. Fares begin at $13,899 for Prinsendam’s 70-day Grand South America and Antarctica Voyage departing Jan. 13, 2010 and $9,499 for the Grand Mediterranean and Black Sea Voyage departing March 24, 2010. The and for Amsterdam’s 69-day Grand Asia and Australia Voyage departing Sept. 24, 2010 is priced from $11,499. Fuel supplement charges are additional.

Holland America Extends WLCN Offers, Too!

Based on extremely robust sales (believe me, they're busy - I've been on hold with them for long durations this afternoon), Holland America has decided to extend out their World's Largest Cruise Night promotions through Sunday, October 19! This gives you a couple more days to consider their 12 pages of promotions (Holland America WLCN Savings), and give me a call or email to book.

Carnival Reveals Fuel Supplement Reduction/Removal Plan

Carnival has revealed their plans for removing and/or incorporating fuel supplements in the future, setting out specific guidelines for refunding of existing supplements, and incorporating future supplements into fares. Because the plan is pretty complicated, I'm going to put the release to the industry here in its entirety for your reading pleasure:

Over the past few months as fuel prices have declined, we have had many questions about our fuel supplement. While fuel prices today remain very volatile, we have given this careful consideration and I am pleased to update you on some new and important information regarding the fuel supplement for Carnival Corporation & plc brands.

Six of our brands, Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn have announced that effective October 31, 2008, the existing fuel supplement will be eliminated for all new bookings on 2010 departures. At the same time, a price increase on 2010 sailings will become effective.

Additionally, the company has established specific guidelines under which the current fuel supplement may be reimbursed to consumers for 2008 and 2009 voyages. For 2008 and 2009 departures, if the price of light sweet crude oil according to the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index) is $70 per barrel or less at the 2:30 p.m. close of business as reported by Reuters on each of the 25 consecutive trading days ending five trading days prior to the guest’s
cruise departure date, the fuel supplement will be refunded in the form of a shipboard credit.
Guests who book a 2010 cruise prior to Oct. 31, 2008, will still be charged the current fuel supplement but will also be eligible for a refund of the fuel supplement in accordance with the same fuel price conditions that are being implemented for current 2008 and 2009 departures.

We are implementing these initiatives due to recent trends in declining fuel prices in an effort to migrate away from charging a separate fuel supplement. If fuel prices stabilize below $70 a barrel, we will be able to effectively eliminate the fuel supplement. However, there is still a risk that fuel prices could move higher which would require us to maintain or reinstate a fuel supplement but we are hopeful that the goal of eliminating the fuel supplement can be achieved.

What does this really mean? Don't even think of looking for a rebate on cruises already booked unless, just before your sailing, crude pricing is below $70/barrel for the month prior to your cruise. And if that happens, be pro-active on your cruise to ensure you get the promised onboard credit. So if fuel drops to $70 a barrel or less for 25 days in December, 2008, but your cruise isn't until May, 2009, your fuel supplement will remain on your booking. However, if the fuel supplement is $70 or less for 25 consecutive days in April, start paying close attention for your May sailing - you may be eligible for an onboard credit refund.

Second, for new 2010 bookings starting October 31, fuel supplements will be incorporated into the price of your booking not a separate line item. This means likely they will not be taken out, even if fuel price is reduced in the future.

Thinking about booking one of the Carnival brands for a 2010 sailing? Do it prior to October 31! Otherwise, no chance of getting any type of fuel supplement refund, and you will see a price increase across the board on November 1.

Finally, watch for other lines to come out with plans of their own to incorporate fuel supplements into their pricing and/or how they would remove or refund them in the future.

Confusing? You bet. If you have questions, let me know. I'll be keeping on top of these to be sure

Holland America Creates Explorations Team

We're all familiar with a traditional "cruise director" staff - those people who organize the onboard activities such as trivia games, pool fun and evening entertainment. Holland America is taking that concept a step further, creating what they're calling their Explorations Team.

The Explorations Team will be comprised of event staff with specific expertise ranging from technology to travel who will offer guests a menu of “edutainment” programs. The Explorations Team will be a cohesive team dedicated to enhancing the overall cruise experience and includes an onboard party planner, a travel guide, a “techspert” and dance directors. On cruises lasting 12 days or more, a book club leader will also join the team. “People learn through experience and our guests are looking for programs, events and activities they can personally connect with,” said Richard D. Meadows, executive vice president for marketing, sales and guest programs. “Our goal is not only to entertain guests but to offer them the opportunity to learn a new skill or discover something about a new port or country; the choice is theirs, and the Explorations Team is in place to facilitate that choice.”

The onboard party planner will schedule, implement and host events in the Culinary Arts Center, significantly expanding the program that already brings more than 70 culinary experts onboard each year for cooking demonstrations and seminars. The line has invested more than $14 million in the professional show kitchens found on each ship and will use the space for more activities such as wine tasting, craft classes, floral arranging, and table and lifestyle presentations such as creating the line’s towel animals. The travel guide will host lectures and be a source for information on the ports of call. A destination expert, the travel guide will be available throughout the cruise to interact with guests on a one-on-one basis, answer questions, and give presentations on the destination’s history, culture and geography. On Grand Voyages and on Prinsendam, rotating guest speakers fill the role of travel guide.

The “techspert” will be on hand to teach guests how to take advantage of technology, whether helping guests make the most of their vacation photos, arranging a digital scrapbook, blogging, creating a slideshow or editing a movie. Classes and workshops will be available throughout the cruise. Novices can learn about Web 2.0 and how to work with digital photos. Dance directors show guests how to dance. Classes and dance events are available throughout each cruise. On cruises lasting 12 or more days, a book club leader will host book discussions in the Explorations Café. Book titles will be posted online before the cruise so guests will have time to read the chosen book. The book club leader will plan and facilitate two to three discussions for each book. Books chosen will relate to the sailing destination whether by author or topic. For example, on an Australian itinerary the book may be “In a Sunburned Country” by Bill Bryson or in Asia, “Saving Fish from Drowning: A Novel by Amy Tan.” The Holland America Line Explorations Team will be implemented fleetwide.

This type of group has long been a feature of luxury lines, and I think it demonstrates Holland America's committment to improving the quality of their onboard offerings and drawing in cruisers looking for more from their cruises.

Holland America Debuts New Martini Menu!

Just when you thought the martini craze was winding down...

Holland America Line has introduced a new menu of martini cocktails on board its fleet of 14 ships. Featured on the menu are 19 Grey Goose martinis and a sampler platter of miniature martinis called the martini flight. The martini flight includes Holland America Line’s signature martini, the Yellow Tulip, a mixture of Grey Goose vodka, lychee juice, pineapple juice, guava juice, coconut cream and fresh lime juice. Other martinis included in the flight are the Peartini, Cosmopolitan, Sunshine Martini, Rum Sundae and High Tide Martini. A house specialty will be a Martini for Two with aged Cognac served with a dish of caviar and traditional garnishes. Holland America Line’s new martini menu will be featured in the Explorer’s Bar on its newest ship, Eurodam, in the Pinnacle Grill Bar of its Vista-class ships and in the Ocean Bar on Amsterdam, Maasdam, Rotterdam, Ryndam, Statendam, Veendam, Volendam and Zaandam.

Launched as a precursor to the highly anticipated Martinis that will be a part of the upcoming Mix specialty theme bar area, Holland America Line’s new martini menu was inspired to infuse a splash of sophistication to its bars and lounges. Mix will incorporate three theme bars -- Martinis, Champagne and Spirits & Ales. These enhancements are part of a new $200 million Signature of Excellence upgrade to Statendam, Maasdam, Ryndam, Veendam and Rotterdam that will start next spring with completion planned for late 2010.

Royal Caribbean Expands “My Time Dining”

Following the trend in the industry (one of the few times Royal Caribbean can be accused of following a trend rather than setting one), they've announced that they're expanding the "My Time Dining" program on selected ships through 2009. In fact, the Oasis of the Seas will debut with My Time Dining as an option when she sets sail in December, 2009, and through the November 27, 2010 sailing.

My Time Dining is similar to Princess' Personal Choice or Holland America's As You Wish dining, where you can arrive to a particular dining room any time between 6:00PM and 9:30PM each night. You may make reservations once onboard if you'd like to lock in a particular time. In order to participate, you must pre-pay gratuities.

The ships participating in the program are:

• Brilliance of the Seas® - Now through December 23, 2009
• Freedom of the Seas® - Now through December 27, 2009
• Independence of the SeasSM - Now through December 26, 2009
• Jewel of the Seas® - Now through December 21, 2009
• Radiance of the Seas® - Now through December 20, 2009
• Serenade of the Seas® - Now through December 26, 2009

Flexible dining options are definitely getting to be more popular. Next up, expect Carnival to dip their toes in this water as well. That would leave Celebrity as the only all-traditional dining in their main dining rooms.

That Was Quick! Turks & Caicos Cruise Port Scheduled Reopening

Carnival Corporation today announced the expected date to reopen the Turks & Caicos Cruise Port, with the first cruise ship call scheduled for October 8 with the Carnival Destiny.

This quick a reopening isn't unprecidented, as Cozumel re-opened in approximately the same amount of time after Category 5 Wilma slammed over the island 3 years ago. And I expect the reason for the quick reopening is for the same reason - the island desperately needs the income cruisers bring.

"We believe we can complete repairs to the cruise center within a 30-day period and bring cruise ships back to Grand Turk," said Giora Israel, Carnival's vice president of strategic planning and port development. In addition to its existing staff on the island, Carnival Corp. & plc will bring in a number of additional skilled workers who will not only repair the cruise center complex, but also assist in the repair of some of the island's key attractions.

"We will be investing millions of dollars in the coming months to help Grand Turk quickly rebuild its cruise-focused tourism. Bringing tourists back to the island as quickly as possible will play a major role in driving the island's overall recovery," said Israel.

The Grand Turk Cruise Center is the largest private employer on the island and the cruise center staff, combined with shore excursion operators, comprises approximately 80% of non-government jobs in Grand Turk.

Carnival Corporation & plc will also be providing financial and logistical assistance to shore excursion operators to enable them to resume their businesses. Cruise passengers and crew members will be provided the opportunity to participate in volunteer-oriented excursions for those who wish to assist in the island's recovery effort.

Turks & Caicos Off The Itineraries… For Now

In the wake of Hurricane Ike, which crossed over Grand Turk as a Category 4 hurricane, Grand Turk is being moved off the cruise line itineraries, at least for the near term. While the pier itself sustained little damage, having been built to withstand a Category 5 hurricane, as was the cruise center itself, most of the residents and other businesses on the island have suffered significant damage, and are in no position to be accepting cruise passengers at this time.

Carnival Corp lines (Carnival, Princess, Holland America, etc.) make up the bulk of the passengers to Grand Turk, and they are investigating other options. However, they have made a commitment to return as quickly as possible, as they understand the importance of tourism to the economy, and thus to the recovery of this island. Many residents are employed, directly or indirectly, in the cruise industry, so a return to work to them is doubly important.

In addition, passengers will miss this highly-rated port. However, I think most will understand that the decision to remove this port from sailings in the next few weeks is done for their benefit, but also for that of the residents who need to repair their homes and island before they can welcome visitors.

Hopefully this wonderful port will return soon to full capacity!

New Bars on 5 Holland America Ships

Holland America today made an announcement regarding their 5 older ships and a bar reconfiguration. While this will be a new concept to the Holland America fleet, it follows similar successful venues on other lines such as NCL. It will be interesting to see how this works, but I've enjoyed it on other lines.

Holland America Line will upgrade and reconfigure centrally located bars and lounges aboard five ships. The highlight is a large new space in the heart of the ship, called Mix, that incorporates three specialty theme bars -- Martinis, Champagne, and Spirits & Ales. These enhancements are part of a new $200 million Signature of Excellence upgrade to the Statendam, Maasdam, Ryndam, Veendam and Rotterdam. “A focus of this latest Signature of Excellence series of enhancements is our entertainment venues, where we’ve created the ultimate place to both socialize and be entertained,” said Richard Meadows, CTC, executive vice president of marketing, sales and guest programs. “Our guests are looking for an upscale, trendy spot where they can gather together and be part of this exciting new ambiance.”

Mix is designed as a destination lounge where guests can mingle throughout the day and night while being entertained by a pianist. Champagne offers 20 champagnes and sparkling wines by the glass or bottle. The centerpiece of the bar is an ice-filled countertop that chills champagne bottles. This venue will offer events such as late champagne breakfast, pre-lunch Mimosa and Bellini hour, champagne tea time and pre-dinner champagne hour with caviar canapés. Martinis serves up 25 Grey Goose martinis in individual shakers as well as a full range of cocktails. Guests can also enjoy a martini flight made up of several mini martinis.

The martini flight includes Holland America’s signature martini, the Yellow Tulip, a mixture of Grey Goose vodka, lychee juice, pineapple juice, guava juice, coconut cream and fresh lime juice. Other martinis included in the flight are the Peartini, Cosmopolitan, Sunshine Martini, Rum Sundae and High Tide Martini. A house specialty will be a signature Martini for Two with aged Cognac served with a dish of caviar and traditional garnishes. Spirits & Ales will feature an international selection of beers and premium whiskeys and brandies. The Ocean Bar will be enhanced to refresh its look. Guests can take ballroom dancing lessons from the line’s staff. The resident three-piece music combo will perform here.

Anyone else getting thirsty?

Holland America Returns to Bermuda in 2010!

For those cruisers who love Bermuda, and who have been disappointed in the options to cruise there the past few years, it is time to celebrate. Holland America has announced they will return to the pink sands of Bermuda in 2010!

Sailing between New York and Bermuda on 7-night itineraries, the Veendam will visit both St. George's and Hamilton. The itinerary will inaugurate in August, 2010, with 10 sailings that year, then returning in 2011 for a full season of sailings starting in May, with 20 or more sailings anticipated.

In a notable twist for ship lovers and historians, the Veendam II was the first Holland America vessel to visit Bermuda more than 70 years ago in 1926. Of course, the current Veendam is a bit larger and more updated, but especially with the new Signature of Excellence enhancements just announced (see below), she will continue her legacy of premium cruising to Bermuda.