13 November 2009
This morning I attended the 2010 Europe webinar for Holland America Line. That venerable cruise line is betting heavily that Europe will be a hot destination for next year. In fact, they are dedicating their two newest ships the Eurodam (debuting this year) and the Nieuw Amsterdam (coming in July 2010) to full seasons in Europe.
The Mediterranean seems to be the big winner. The major cruise lines have extended their Med seasons into October of November in some cases (even year-round for a few). The Northern Europe season which usually involves the Baltic is much shorter because by October the weather starts to be chilly and less inviting for cruise guests. St. Petersburg, Russia is a major port with every visiting ship overnighting and some spending two nights in that port. In fact, a major trend is for many ships to overnight in places like Venice, Barcelona, Istanbul and elsewhere.
With the Euro heading higher against the dollar, the value of a European cruise has grown. Equivalent European hotels and resorts are usually far more expensive than most ship costs. Cruise Holidays is looking forward to having a new arsenal of tools for 2010 including better air choices, concierge services and hotel packages to top off a great cruise vacation.
Lots of choices for Europe in 2010, but it looks like the cruise lines are offering their best deals for those who book earlier. It’s a destination which most Americans find to be a magnetic draw. Plus, new river cruise ships and itineraries now add extra pizzazz for those who want to experience Europe.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Wine Jail and Other Silliness
12 November 2009
Some cruise lines have adopted “penny wise and pound foolish” policies when it comes to carrying onboard your own personal wine for use in your own stateroom. On a recent Royal Caribbean cruise we were asked to come and pick up one of our suitcases from security because it contained contraband material. As far as I could tell, the only contraband we had was a bottle of alcohol free wine I purchased for my wife to take on our cruise.
After arriving at a lower deck covered with dozens of bags, I was asked by ship security officers to open the bag. They pulled out the bottle and advised me that I would have to pay a charge to bring my wine onboard. It was then the dance began as I advised the security guy that it wasn’t wine, it was grape juice! He had to check with two other officials before they found a bar expert who confirmed it was a bottle of grape juice. With a minimal “sorry,” the security guard allowed both my bag and the grape juice to be claimed by me without any charges.
Enlightened cruise lines like Holland America Line allow passenger to bring a “reasonable” amount of wine onboard for stateroom use. Because the cruise lines are so driven by onboard revenue, the bean counters have taken over parts of customer service. Those travelers who bring a bottle of personal wine onboard are still most likely to buy wine and other drinks from the ship. It’s time for the shortsighted cruise lines to wise up and change their silly policies, or customer will move to more enlightened brands—at least that’s my opinion.
Some cruise lines have adopted “penny wise and pound foolish” policies when it comes to carrying onboard your own personal wine for use in your own stateroom. On a recent Royal Caribbean cruise we were asked to come and pick up one of our suitcases from security because it contained contraband material. As far as I could tell, the only contraband we had was a bottle of alcohol free wine I purchased for my wife to take on our cruise.
After arriving at a lower deck covered with dozens of bags, I was asked by ship security officers to open the bag. They pulled out the bottle and advised me that I would have to pay a charge to bring my wine onboard. It was then the dance began as I advised the security guy that it wasn’t wine, it was grape juice! He had to check with two other officials before they found a bar expert who confirmed it was a bottle of grape juice. With a minimal “sorry,” the security guard allowed both my bag and the grape juice to be claimed by me without any charges.
Enlightened cruise lines like Holland America Line allow passenger to bring a “reasonable” amount of wine onboard for stateroom use. Because the cruise lines are so driven by onboard revenue, the bean counters have taken over parts of customer service. Those travelers who bring a bottle of personal wine onboard are still most likely to buy wine and other drinks from the ship. It’s time for the shortsighted cruise lines to wise up and change their silly policies, or customer will move to more enlightened brands—at least that’s my opinion.
Out of the Malaise and Into the Sunshine
11 November 2009
We just returned from the 25th national Cruise Holidays Conference onboard Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas (see our story about our President’s Circle Award) in Baja. It was clear that Cruise Holidays stores throughout North America were optimistic about the future of our business in delivering great value vacations like never before. Being part of a wide ranging group of travel companies will arm Cruise Holidays with new tools and products exclusively dedicated to us and our customers. Needless to say, we’ll be announcing new products in short order, and we think our customers will like them a lot.
While certain dates during the winter and early spring months feature some extraordinary prices, even later dates for next summer and fall have enticing incentives. New cruise itineraries, new cruise ships, new land tour options have been added to make 2010 a year of opportunity for both of us..
It’s always fun for us to pass along anecdotal examples of things we’re seeing in our business. A couple of weeks ago we sent two nice ladies on a 7-day Mexico cruise on Holland America Line in an oceanview stateroom for less than $500 each including taxes! This is a price more suited to a road trip using modest hotels and fast food meals--not like a five star resort stay on a luxury cruise ship. The two ladies planned to just stay on the ship and never get off at any of the ports so they could maximize their pampering while onboard. In fact, they saved so much on their cruise, they’re now considering doing Europe next summer on the same cruise line.
Maybe you would like to follow the example of our two lucky cruises, just give us a call or drop an e-mail (rich@luxurient.com). And, if you haven’t visited our new location in downtown Woodinville (just behind the movie theatres) we invite you to stop by any time we’re open Monday-Saturday.
Rich Skinner
Co-Owner
We just returned from the 25th national Cruise Holidays Conference onboard Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas (see our story about our President’s Circle Award) in Baja. It was clear that Cruise Holidays stores throughout North America were optimistic about the future of our business in delivering great value vacations like never before. Being part of a wide ranging group of travel companies will arm Cruise Holidays with new tools and products exclusively dedicated to us and our customers. Needless to say, we’ll be announcing new products in short order, and we think our customers will like them a lot.
While certain dates during the winter and early spring months feature some extraordinary prices, even later dates for next summer and fall have enticing incentives. New cruise itineraries, new cruise ships, new land tour options have been added to make 2010 a year of opportunity for both of us..
It’s always fun for us to pass along anecdotal examples of things we’re seeing in our business. A couple of weeks ago we sent two nice ladies on a 7-day Mexico cruise on Holland America Line in an oceanview stateroom for less than $500 each including taxes! This is a price more suited to a road trip using modest hotels and fast food meals--not like a five star resort stay on a luxury cruise ship. The two ladies planned to just stay on the ship and never get off at any of the ports so they could maximize their pampering while onboard. In fact, they saved so much on their cruise, they’re now considering doing Europe next summer on the same cruise line.
Maybe you would like to follow the example of our two lucky cruises, just give us a call or drop an e-mail (rich@luxurient.com). And, if you haven’t visited our new location in downtown Woodinville (just behind the movie theatres) we invite you to stop by any time we’re open Monday-Saturday.
Rich Skinner
Co-Owner
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Fall is Value Season for Cruises
Last week we booked two ladies on a 7-night Mexico cruise and the price was a little more than $500 each for an ocean view stateroom on Holland America Line. They are going in November and are excited about getting such a great deal.
The Fall is always the most challenging time for the cruise lines to sell their inventory of staterooms. As a result, consumers have the opportunity to buy high quality cruises as bargain basement prices. The problem is that many folks think waiting to the last minute will get them the best deal, but, what is happening is that the cruise lines are selling out at their sales prices and are closed for bookings close-in to sailing.
Mexico from Southern California, and the Caribbean from Florida or other Gulf Coast states, have a wide range of cruises available at super discounts. The key is to snatch them up while the good deals abound.
The Fall is always the most challenging time for the cruise lines to sell their inventory of staterooms. As a result, consumers have the opportunity to buy high quality cruises as bargain basement prices. The problem is that many folks think waiting to the last minute will get them the best deal, but, what is happening is that the cruise lines are selling out at their sales prices and are closed for bookings close-in to sailing.
Mexico from Southern California, and the Caribbean from Florida or other Gulf Coast states, have a wide range of cruises available at super discounts. The key is to snatch them up while the good deals abound.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Where Do Dream of Going?
One of our cruise counselors just returned from a 14-night cruise around Italy on Azamara Cruise Line. She was treated to a mini-eruption of Mt Stromboli, a trip back in time in Venice, Rome, Taormina and Florence, and to the beauty and flavor that typifies why Italians and many other cherish the country. Our well-traveled vacation expert returned with a renewed energy and a renewed appreciation of both cruising and Italy.
Where might you like to go? Maybe it’s a getaway to turquoise waters, satin sand and warm tropic breezes, or a visit to the Land Down Under or the exotic Far East. Whatever your choice might be, the challenging economy is providing the best prices and values of the 21st century. And, Fall is a time where both cruise lines and land vacation destinations are offering specials to renew your outlook on life.
If you have questions call any of the travel professionals at Cruise Holidays of Woodinville and let them craft the perfect escape just for you (866 487 4001).
Where might you like to go? Maybe it’s a getaway to turquoise waters, satin sand and warm tropic breezes, or a visit to the Land Down Under or the exotic Far East. Whatever your choice might be, the challenging economy is providing the best prices and values of the 21st century. And, Fall is a time where both cruise lines and land vacation destinations are offering specials to renew your outlook on life.
If you have questions call any of the travel professionals at Cruise Holidays of Woodinville and let them craft the perfect escape just for you (866 487 4001).
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Cruise Lines Continue Major Discounting with a Few Unique Twists
All cruise lines are attempting to find ways to sell staterooms in light of a tough economic environment. Early booking discounts, guaranteed lowest rates, extra premiums, onboard credits and other inducements are being added to help cope with last-minute buying which has become the norm over the past six months of so.
Still, prices are at all-time lows and bargains can be found everywhere on every major cruise line. Smart cruisers are using this environment to upgrade their usual stateroom option. Suites and mini-suites have become much more affordable, not to mention staterooms on many of the ultra-luxury cruise lines. For example, we heard that Seabourn (a leading ultra-luxury cruise line) had to offer discounts of more than 50 % off list prices to fill its brand new Seabourn Odyssey which just entered service.
The seemingly only exception to the rule is Royal Caribbean’s new super mega-ship Oasis of the Seas which had raised its rates several times due to wide-spread consumer interest in cruising on a 5,000 passenger ship, larger than any cruise ship in the world. Costing well over a billion dollars to build, the Oasis is Royal Caribbean’s best bet to increase sales.
So, for anyone looking for a winter cruise vacation this could be the opportunity to sample luxury at bargain basement rates. One thing is certain, these kinds of deals won’t last forever.
Still, prices are at all-time lows and bargains can be found everywhere on every major cruise line. Smart cruisers are using this environment to upgrade their usual stateroom option. Suites and mini-suites have become much more affordable, not to mention staterooms on many of the ultra-luxury cruise lines. For example, we heard that Seabourn (a leading ultra-luxury cruise line) had to offer discounts of more than 50 % off list prices to fill its brand new Seabourn Odyssey which just entered service.
The seemingly only exception to the rule is Royal Caribbean’s new super mega-ship Oasis of the Seas which had raised its rates several times due to wide-spread consumer interest in cruising on a 5,000 passenger ship, larger than any cruise ship in the world. Costing well over a billion dollars to build, the Oasis is Royal Caribbean’s best bet to increase sales.
So, for anyone looking for a winter cruise vacation this could be the opportunity to sample luxury at bargain basement rates. One thing is certain, these kinds of deals won’t last forever.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Optimism Compared to Last Year
This time last year Cruise Holidays of Woodinville was in the middle of a full-fledged melt-down of consumer optimism relating to the national economy. Banks were looking shaky, gas prices were sky high, real estate prices were tanking and the news media was beating the “worst economic downturn since the depression,” drum. Folks were just plain scared!
Now we’ve seen trillion dollar bailouts; we’ve seen the stock market crater and begin a major climb out of the depths. While the economy in many parts of the country is still weak and floundering, in the Pacific Northwest things are rebounding at a better rate than most places in the nation.
In the cruise and land vacation business we’re now seeing a strong recovery. Consumers have decided to go ahead and take a vacation and take advantage of the low prices of the decade. Our store had a record sales month for July and continues to see strong momentum in August. Our customers have decided the world isn’t ending, and life’s too short not to enjoy the recharging break a good vacation provides.
But, this recovery is still a little tentative, because many folks are booking close-in dates for their cruises and land vacations. Cruise lines are working on offering their best prices for cruises in 2010 for those who might book early. Some are even guaranteeing that if a lower price comes along they will give it to passengers who have already booked (something Cruise Holidays of Woodinville has been doing for the past six years).
It’s hard to forecast the future, but we’re definitely seeing green shoots of optimism on the part of our customers. It’s like the pumpkin plants I have growing at home, the vines have several potential pumpkins developing, but there’s no way to know how big they might become—in the meantime we’ll continue to water, fertilize and nuture them the best we can.
Now we’ve seen trillion dollar bailouts; we’ve seen the stock market crater and begin a major climb out of the depths. While the economy in many parts of the country is still weak and floundering, in the Pacific Northwest things are rebounding at a better rate than most places in the nation.
In the cruise and land vacation business we’re now seeing a strong recovery. Consumers have decided to go ahead and take a vacation and take advantage of the low prices of the decade. Our store had a record sales month for July and continues to see strong momentum in August. Our customers have decided the world isn’t ending, and life’s too short not to enjoy the recharging break a good vacation provides.
But, this recovery is still a little tentative, because many folks are booking close-in dates for their cruises and land vacations. Cruise lines are working on offering their best prices for cruises in 2010 for those who might book early. Some are even guaranteeing that if a lower price comes along they will give it to passengers who have already booked (something Cruise Holidays of Woodinville has been doing for the past six years).
It’s hard to forecast the future, but we’re definitely seeing green shoots of optimism on the part of our customers. It’s like the pumpkin plants I have growing at home, the vines have several potential pumpkins developing, but there’s no way to know how big they might become—in the meantime we’ll continue to water, fertilize and nuture them the best we can.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
