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.

Holland America Signature of Excellence - Phase II

As part of their ongoing Signature of Excellence efforts, Holland America has announced $200 million in further enhancements to the Statendam, Ryndam, Veendam, Maasdam and Rotterdam over the next 2 years. The improvements will take place during extensive dry docks, with the Veendam being first up in Spring, 2009, and the last ship to be completed in late 2010.

The upgrades to these ships will include a new resort pool concept, lanai staterooms, new entertainment and enrichment options, new stateroom décor and more.

The most dramatic alteration will be to the aft portion of the ships, allowing for a new resort-style pool area on Lido Deck called The Retreat, which will have a shallow area where guests can lounge in chairs and dip their fingers and toes in the water or relax on a bench and dangle their legs in the water. (You'll find me there! That sounds heavenly!) A new pool bar and an upscale pizzeria called Slice will be installed, as well as a canopy and wind screens to provide additional covered seating for the Lido Restaurant.

All staterooms will receive new décor, carpeting and soft goods. Each ship also will have an additional 44 to 46 staterooms, 32 with verandahs and the remaining inside.

Keeping in line with the current popularity of "Spa" cabins, the four S-class ships will have verandahs added to 12 staterooms near the spa on Deck 9, and along with three inside staterooms, become spa staterooms featuring enhanced spa amenities. On the Rotterdam, 23 staterooms on Verandah Deck will become spa staterooms.

On all the five ships, 46 new lanai staterooms will be created by replacing existing windows of 42 staterooms (on Lower Promenade Deck 6) with lanai doors that open directly onto the walk-around promenade, and adding four additional staterooms.

The program also involves enhancements to several public rooms. A Merabella luxury jewelry shop will be added. The casino and piano bars will be reconfigured into a multi-themed area called Mix with three separate bars -- Martinis, Champagne and Spirits & Ales. Next door, the casino will be redesigned. The main show space will be transformed into the Showroom at Sea with the ambiance of a glamorous nightclub. The Ocean Bar will be refurbished and carpets will be replaced in most public areas. The new Sky Room on Sports Deck will feature the latest in multi-generational video games and high-tech entertainment.

Entertainment and enrichment, or “edutainment,” is taking on a new, contemporary look and feel across the fleet. A new Explorations Team employs cruise staff, each specializing in a particular area, to educate and entertain guests with an expanded menu of activities including flower-arranging, hands-on cooking, dancing, and working with digital photos, blogs and movies. Each team consists of a party planner, a travel guide, dance directors and a “techspert.” On longer cruises, a book club leader joins the team to lead lively group discussions.

These enhancements should provide a nice facelift to these classic ships in the HAL fleet, and keep the fresh and vital and very appealing.

HAL Changes Air/Sea Policies

While one Carnival Corporation brand, Princess, made a move to be more consumer friendly, another sister brand is making a move on their air/sea bookings which could effect you decision to book air through them.

The cruise lines in general don't really like making your air reservations, and do it as a service, or to stimulate sales (such as for exotic destinations). But because they don't like it, and make very little off it in general (even though often their prices are higher than if you booked direct, unless there's an air special on your sailing), they're getting more and more restrictive.

Holland America has announced that they're going to start enforcing the stipulation that, until your cruise and air fare is paid in full, the air pricing is NOT guaranteed. Same goes for the air taxes and air fuel supplements. Of course, the air and cruise are fully refundable up to final payment date, but it's something to take into consideration when adding on cruise air to Holland America bookings - you might just want to pay in full, then remove the air if you find a better deal later.

HAL is being forced to make this change due to their air suppliers not wanting to guarantee rates out a year or more in advance. Don't be surprised if other brands, both Carnival Corp. sister brands such as Princess, and others follow in the near future as their air contracts come up for renewal and pricing for 2009 and beyond.

Holland America Opens 2009 Alaska Bookings

Many of you have been anxiously awaiting this, and Holland America has finally opened their 2009 Alaska season. Technically, if you call HAL, they'll tell you the cruisetours aren't yet open, but I do have it available to book right now.

The Veendam, Ryndam and Statendam will be doing their cruisetour departures between Vancouver and Seward featuring Glacier Bay and the College Fjords on most departures, while the Westerdam and Zaandam will do 7-night Seattle roundtrips featuring Glacier Bay and the Amsterdam will also sail roundtrip from Seattle visiting Hubbard Glacier. From Vancouver, the Volendam and Zuiderdam will sail roundtrip with Glacier Bay visits.

The cruisetour itineraries remain the same as this year's, which will facilitate selection of your preferred itinerary.

If you've been waiting for Alaska to open up, now's the time to book!