Best Cruise Lines

Best Cruise Lines Hike Fuel Surcharge

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:58:00 +0000

I barely had time to update the comprehensive listing of best cruise lines' fuel surcharges on our website, when another change was announced. After taking a massive hit on its bottom line last week through an agreement with the Florida’s Attorney General’s office, Carnival Corporation & plc will be increasing the fuel surcharges it collects on The Yachts of Seabourn, Cunard, Princess, Holland America, Costa and Carnival Cruises.

Today, April 7, Bill Harbor, director of corporate marketing at Carnival Corporation, announced that effective April 21, the fuel surcharge will increase to $7 per day for each of the first two passengers in a cabin, and a new fee of $2 per day will be assessed on each additional passenger in the same cabin.

The new fuel surcharge rates will not exceed $98 per voyage for each of the first two passengers in a cabin and $28 per voyage for any additional passengers. Bookings made on or before April 20 will not be assessed the new rates.

I’m sure it will not be long before Royal Caribbean Corporation’s lines – Azamara, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean Cruises – follow Carnival’s lead. As most of the best cruise lines have opened reservations through the 2008-9 season, booking cruises now for next year will save some money and guaranty the cost of your cruise trips. Thanks to the Florida Attorney General’s office, the cruise lines learned they cannot add these new fees retroactively.

Airlines’ impact on cruise trips

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:36:00 +0000

This has been a trying week for everyone who booked flights for their cruise trips on a low-cost / alternative airline. Aloha Airlines ceased operations on Sunday after 61 years in operation; ATA Airlines, based in Indiana, followed on Wednesday; and this morning, Skybus Airlines shut its doors.

Aloha and ATA served the Hawaiian market, with flights typically priced much less than the larger commercial carriers.

Skybus, which began flying on May 22, 2007, served more out-of-the-way destinations but offered “no-frills, low-cost” flights, starting at $10 each way. With bases in Columbus, Ohio and Greensboro, NC, the company modeled its operations after the European carrier, Ryan Air.

Risk management is the primary advantage of booking flights for cruise trips through the cruise lines. If a flight is late or canceled, the cruise line’s responsibility for flights it books is to ensure its passengers board the ship at the next port. Typically, and excluding any special offers for “free” air, the cruise lines assume this risk with an accompanying hefty price tag.

To save on costs, many cruisers book their own flights. A word of caution considering this week’s events in the air line industry, the abysmal performance of U.S. airlines in recent months and announcements by airlines of cut-backs in schedules – if you purchase airfare independently of your cruise fare, first purchase travel protection insurance.

Don’t purchase this coverage through the cruise lines – their policies will offer little, if any, protection for any travel purchased independently of the cruise line – and most of the best cruise lines self-fund their policies, so there is no coverage if the cruise line should cease operation!

Many companies offer travel protection plans to cover all pre-paid and non-refundable costs for your cruise trips – read the policies and the exclusions carefully before purchasing the policy, then book your fights. If an airline or other supplier doesn’t perform, your vacation will be protected.

Best Cruise Lines Fuel Surcharge Update II

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:54:00 +0000

Another cheer for the Florida Attorney General's office!

Passengers on Carnival Corporation & plc’s best cruise lines who booked their cruises before November 7, 2007 and were charged a fuel surcharge, will see a refund. Today the company announced a voluntary agreement, similar to that announced earlier this month by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., with the Florida Attorney General’s Office.

The refund applies to guests who booked their cruises prior to the fuel surcharge’s implementation and departed on or after February 1, 2008. The best cruise lines involved include the Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, The Yachts of Seabourn, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Costa Cruises.

Refunds will be processed based on the cruise departure date according to the following schedule:

For cruises departing on or before April 4, 2008, passengers will receive a refund in the same form they used to purchase their cruise;
For cruises departing from April 5, 2008 through June 23, 2008, passengers will receive an on-board credit in lieu of a refund;
For cruises departing on or after June 24, 2008, the fuel surcharge will be deleted from their account balance.

For bookings made on or after November 7, 2007 – the date Carnival Corporation & plc announced the fuel surcharge – the fee remains in effect.

All the lines, with the exception of Disney, followed Carnival and Royal Caribbean’s lead in implementing a surcharge. Will these best cruise lines now take the initiative to refund the charges assessed on bookings under deposit before their surcharges were announced? Or will they try to hold on to their excess profits?

Best Cruise Lines Fuel Surcharge Update

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:29:00 +0000

All passengers who booked a cruise on the best cruise lines owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) prior to November 16 (the date the fuel surcharge was implemented) will see the increased charges for the fuel surcharge removed from their invoice.

On Monday, March 10, 2008, the company, after negotiations with the Florida Attorney General’s office, announced that it would eliminate the fuel surcharge (note: the Attorney General announced on Tuesday that the refunds could total $21 million dollars!) assessed on these passengers. This policy affects guests on Azamara Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International Cruises.

If you booked your cruise on one of these best cruise lines before November 16, paid the increased cost and have already cruised, you will receive a refund for the additional charge. If you have paid in full and will be cruising in the future, you will receive an onboard credit for the amount of the fuel surcharge.

Passengers, who booked before November 16 and were charged the additional amount but have not paid in full, will have the surcharge removed from their invoice.

Here’s hoping more of the best cruise lines will follow RCCL’s lead, treat their passengers fairly, and remove the fuel surcharge for guests who booked their cruise trips before the surcharge was implemented.

Best Cruise Lines for Families

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 02:39:00 +0000

Are you thinking of a family cruise vacation and want one with the best programs for your kids and a good range of standard cruise amenities – pool, spa, good dining, evening shows and a range of destination – for all family members? Following are my suggestions for the best cruise lines programs for kids:

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line remains my number one choice for best cruise lines for families, especially for those with children – or adults – who love the Disney characters. An experience on a Disney cruise is total immersion into the world of Mickey and Donald and Minnie and all the other family favorites. The Disney Wonder and Magic are top-rated cruise ships with luxurious features and a full-range of amenities for every age (including adults’ only areas for those who need a break from the excitement).

Offering 7-night cruises through the Caribbean and 3 or 4-night cruises with an optional stay at DisneyWorld, Disney is a premium family cruise vacation experience.

Royal Caribbean

For families with active, older children – those for whom the Disney characters have disappeared into depths of overfilled closets – who are eager for extreme experiences, I suggest Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Featuring rock-climbing walls, ice skating rinks – even wave /surf simulators on the newer ships – plus the Adventure Ocean program for ages 3 through 17, a cruise with Royal Caribbean provides a great setting for an active family cruise vacation.

Families can join together while learning to scuba dive in the pool; kids can join Adventure Ocean’s daily activities or join their new friends in the teen-only nightclub in the evenings; adult family members can explore the daily onboard activities, lounge at the pool, indulge in the spa or just relax with a good book.

Each evening, the mini-golf course provides a place for families to unwind after the meal. And whilst mentioning meals, I learned at the Boston Travel Show last week a fleet-wide priority is to improve the food. This is good news and promises increased quality and diversity for dining.

Carnival Cruises

Carnival has been working hard to change its image from the “Party Animal” cruise line to one that is family-oriented. As part of this initiative, Carnival offers a diverse kids program that is especially beneficial for families with children in different age groups.

Camp Carnival offers activities for kids between the ages of 2 and 11 years old in three separate age groupings. A range of fun activities are scheduled so kids can join others their age or take a “day off” to be with their family.

A separate program – Circle "C" – offered for kids ages 12 to 14, features daytime activities designed for teens. Every night, Circle “C” members get together in their “private” club to dance and mingle with new friends.

Club O2 is designed for teens from ages 15 to 17 and features group sports activities (basketball, volleyball) with a mix of movies, pool parties and on some ships, a special lounge only for Club O2 members. Carnival also offers a choice of teen-only shore excursions that teens can enjoy with their friends.

To celebrate its 36th anniversary, Carnival announced earlier this week its “Funtennial Celebration” -- special promotions and savings on all cruises booked during March. Each week offers different special – including cabin upgrades and onboard credits. Every guest who books a cruise will be entered into a weekly contest with a grand prize of a free cruise for two in the Owners Suite aboard either the Imagination or the Inspiration.

If you’re planning a family getaway for later this year or next, March is a good time to choose Carnival. The details are “highly confidential” and each week’s offerings will be announced on the preceding Saturday. Give me a call toll-free at 1-888-825-4529 or send an email to learn about the special of the week.

Small Cruise Ships

The best large cruise lines provide a wide range of activities for family cruise vacations. If, however, you’re looking for a more personalized family vacation experience that combines on-the-ground adventure in different ports with educational exploration, come back for my next posting on the best family cruise vacations on small cruise ships.

Choosing the Best Cruise Lines for your Cruise Trips

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:56:00 +0000

Gala awards, traveler’s surveys and readers polls on the best cruise lines are more common than snow-free days in New Hampshire in February. Recently I read that the Europa, one of the Hapag-Lloyd (a relatively little-known-to-the-US-market European line) cruise ships was proclaimed the very best in every area – service, itineraries, cabins, cuisine, on-board programs and so forth – but does this make it the best cruise line for you? Maybe not….

If you’re a seasoned traveler with ample resources (special pricing for a 15-day Polynesian adventure on the Europa’s sister ship, the 164 passenger Bremen, is $6,500 per person -- originally priced at $10,140 per person -- based on double occupancy) and a true appreciation for stimulating lectures, incredibly creative on-board activities and an “expedition of knowledge” plus exquisite cuisine, my answer is “yes.”

But if you’re seeking a venue for a family reunion, or a close-up encounter with wildlife in a remote jungle, or non-stop activities to occupy your children and give you a chance to relax and bask in the sun, Hapag-Lloyd is not the best cruise line for you.

My suggestions, before you begin to search for your ideal cruise trips among an overwhelming number of options, are to consider each of these three key factors:

Destination – where would you like to travel? Are there any regions in the world you would like to see? And when do you plan to cruise?

Price /value – how much do you plan to spend? The transportation costs to arrive at the embarkation and disembarkation ports and the costs of having a good time on board should be added to your budget.

Amenities – what do you and the people traveling with you really enjoy doing? Cruising is the ideal time to try something different while enjoying activities you like.

Matching the features of the ship and destinations, within any price constraints, with your interests and desires is key to ensuring you’ll choose the best cruise lines for your cruise trips.

Cruise lines fuel surcharge heads to court

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 03:44:00 +0000

As predicted, outraged cruisers have turned to court to fight the “fuel surcharges” implemented late last year by the cruise lines (check out the updated and complete list of all these surcharges on my website).

Earlier this week, Florida attorney Harley Tropin filed a class action suit in Miami court on behalf of a New York client alleging that several of the best cruise lines "agreed to act in concert with one another by imposing these fuel surcharges based on purported increased fuel costs. In doing so, defendants sought to opportunistically leverage their cartel power to charge their customers higher fuel surcharges." Notice of the lawsuit was published in the Tampa Bay Business Journal on February 14.

More details on the suit can be found in Chris Elliott’s blog.

The suit seems to apply only to those who purchased tickets after January 1. Whether this also will affect those who were notified after booking their cruises they owed additional money is unclear.

While the suit names only the Carnival Corporation & PLC, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, Norwegian Cruise Line, Ambassadors International (Windstar and Majestic America), Silversea Cruises, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises in addition to the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), it also mentions several unnamed co-conspirators – “On information and belief, certain cruise line operators, trade groups and/or other entities, unnamed herein…”

As the case evolves, it will be interesting to learn whether these unnamed co-conspirators are additional cruise lines, or perhaps the travel agents who sent out letters announcing the increase to their already-booked clients and collected the additional funds in exchange for a $10 “administrative fee.”

Best Cruise Lines offer Secret Bonus

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:34:00 +0000

Beneath the waves of the cruise line’s fuel surcharges is a little known secret, buried deeply in the financial statements of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and Carnival Corporation & plc. – onboard credits for shareholders.

These major corporations own several of the best cruise lines: the newly launched Azamara line and Celebrity are among Royal Caribbean’s fleet; Holland America, Princess, Cunard, Costa and the Yachts of Seabourn are owned by Carnival.

If you are a shareholder of at least 100 shares of Carnival Corporation & plc stock, you are entitled to an onboard credit of $250 on sailings of 14 days or longer, $100 on sailings of 7 to 13 days and $50 on sailings of 6 days or less. Of course there are conditions: your cruise must be booked by February 28, 2008, you must sail by July 31, 2008 and only one shareholder offer can be applied to a stateroom.

If you own the required shares and you’ve already booked your cruise, but haven’t sailed, you will receive this credit after submitting the required paperwork. Application for the onboard credit must be made before your cruise departure date. The credit is also good for any sailings aboard one of Carnival’s Fun Ships.

Royal Caribbean’s offer is similar but may be less restrictive – I could not find mention of a date when the offer ends. Shareholders with at least 100 shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd stock at the time of sailing are entitled to a $250 onboard credit for cruises of 14 nights or more; a $200 onboard credit for cruises of 9 to 13 nights; a $100 onboard credit for cruises of 6 to 8 nights and a $50 credit for cruises of 5 nights or less.

Sailings on Celebrity’s Xpedition to the Galapagos are excluded from this offer and only one credit can apply to a stateroom, but you can receive this benefit every time you cruise – as long as you own at least 100 shares of stock.

Ride the wave of onboard credits if you’re a stockholder in one of these corporations and enjoy an added bonus on your next vacation aboard one of the best cruise lines.

Fuel Surcharges Final Comments

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne) — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 23:40:00 +0000

Now that the holiday season has ended and the arctic weather in New Hampshire has subsided for a day or so, the thought of heading southward for a relaxing week or so in warmth and sunshine is very appealing. As much as I would love to get away from the snow and ice, I’m still too outraged at the best cruise lines’ fuel surcharges to make plans for a brief escape-away.

During the latter part of December, several more of the best cruise lines hopped aboard the fuel surcharge express and announced assessments for 2008. For anyone

Three Cheers for Disney Cruise Lines!

who is planning a cruise in 2008 but has not booked it, be sure the quoted price includes the surcharge as it can add a significant cost to your vacation.

For those of you who booked a cruise prior to the fuel surcharge announcements and are so excited to get away that the increased costs do not matter – enjoy. But for anyone who is outraged by the charges, I suggest checking out Christopher Elliott’s comments on his Travel Troubleshooter blog.

The facts do not add up to support the cruise lines’ increased charges. For example, in announcing Third Quarter Earnings on October 22, 2007, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL) posted a “better-than-expected” 14 percent rise in quarterly profit. This led to a more than 6 percent increase in the price of its shares.

In its announcement, RCCL stated it had taken steps to reduce fuel consumption by installing new diesel engines and using drag-reducing paint. These measures produced savings that were “nearly sufficient to offset the rise in fuel prices.” (Reuters News Service, October 22, 2007)

What happened in a month? The price of crude oil increased but certainly not as much as the amounts the cruise lines will reap with their increased charges. Using an approximate number of 1,000 occupied cabins per ship, this sudden and unanticipated fuel surcharge amounts to about $70,000 per sailing on a Voyager-class RCCL ship.

My guess is that the decision to implement fuel surcharges was made to court Wall Street analysts with impressive earnings and boost the executives’ year-end bonuses.

All at the expense of and without regard for the cruising public. In my next posting, I’ll share a suggestion for recouping some of the added costs if you are planning to cruise on an RCCL or Carnival PLC ship.

Best wishes for a safe and rewarding New Year and three cheers for Disney Cruise Line, my recommendation as the BEST Cruise Lines for its impeccable service, high value and refraining from boosting its profits at the expense of its clients.

Photo credit: Disney Wonder and Magic, Disney Cruise Lines

Jumping on the Fuel Surcharge Bandwagon

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 04:57:00 +0000

MSC Cruises joined the growing list of best cruise lines with fuel surcharges on November 21, with a $6.00 per day per person, to a maximum of 2 passengers per cabin, charge. Rick Sasso, President and CEO of MSC Cruises stated in his letter to travel agents: “This was a very difficult decision for us to make. The surcharge only represents a small portion of the increase in fuel prices and we look forward to the day when fuel prices stabilize to a level that will allow us to eliminate this supplement.”

MSC is the only cruise line to indicate a possible end to this added cost. The other lines have tacked it on to their cruise fares along with government taxes and port fees. This is not a good precedent, for it seems the fuel surcharge is now a permanent additional charge that will mainly bolster their bottom lines.

It was surprising to note that Windstar Cruises implemented an $8.50 per person per day fuel surcharge, effective December 15. Windstar’s own definition of its 3 vessels is: “ships are officially motor-sail-yachts (msy), but the designation belies the vessels' unique rigging. Unfurling in two minutes at the push of a button, billowing white sails reach to the sky.”

With one of the highest fuel surcharge levies among the best cruise lines (a complete listing of the fuel surcharges for each cruise line is posted on our website), one wonders whether the fee is based on a valid assessment of fuel costs (in this case, primarily wind power) or whether the new owner, Ambassadors International Inc (NASDAQ: AMIE), is taking advantage of a new-found opportunity.

Disney Cruise Lines is alone among the best cruise lines to resist the temptation to camouflage a price increase and call it a fuel surcharge. Will they succumb to the trend? Perhaps they’re waiting to analyze the fallout from last month… and determine whether possible law suits and federal /state investigations are worth the additional income. Stay tuned.

Best Cruise Lines Camouflaging a Price Increase

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:35:00 +0000

The Carnival Corporation & PLC, on November 7, announced a fuel supplement on all their cruise lines for all sailings after February 1, 2008. Most of the best cruise lines followed Carnival’s bandwagon within a week.

The Carnival Corporation & PLC includes in its roster Cunard, Holland America, Princess Cruises, the Yachts of Seabourn and of course, Carnival Cruises. In addition to Carnival’s lines, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL), Orient Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Azamara, Oceania, Majestic America, Windstar, Viking River Cruises and Cruise West now have “fuel” surcharges in place. Crystal Cruises instituted a fuel surcharge in 2006 and increased its fee for 2008 sailings. A complete breakdown of each line’s fees is listed on our website.

Jack Anderson, executive director of the “World’s Leading Cruise Lines” announced that the decision to pass their increased fuel costs on to their passengers was due to “today’s challenging economic environment.”

I tend to view this as a clever way for the best cruise lines to camouflage an across the board price increase – the facts are not supporting the surcharge. Carnival’s net income for the second quarter 2007 was reported as $390 million, compared to $380 million for the second quarter 2006. Without delving deeply into Carnival’s financial statement, the impact of rising fuel costs in the beginning of 2007 appear to have had minimal impact on Carnival’s ability to make a substantial profit.

On October 22, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd posted a “better-than-expected” 14% rise in quarterly profit and “shrugged off” concerns about rising fuel prices to its investors according to Reuters. I’ll delve more deeply into RCCL’s contradictions next time.

NCL, with the newest and presumably the most energy efficient ships in the industry, has assessed the highest costs in the industry on cabins with more than two passengers. Families of four can expect to pay $140 more for their 7-night cruise. NCL did show a net loss of $24.6 million for the 2nd quarter 2007, but their loss decreased by $10.5 million from the 2nd quarter of 2006. They, too, seem to have been able to cope with rising fuel costs and increase profitability.

Are we to believe that the cruise lines have forgotten to place options on 2008-9 fuel contracts to minimize the effect of escalating fuel costs? Like many people, we signed a contract for our home heating fuel to insure a fixed cost for the 2008 season. It is inconceivable that the cruise lines, with their massive buying power, did not do the same.

Let us look at the cruise contracts – the agreement between the cruise line and you, their client. Few people read all the fine print – be sure to have a magnifying glass ready if you do. From comments on various insider travel sites, it seems the contracts hold the key to allowing the cruise lines to add whatever increased costs they can quasi-justify – in some cases, even after payment in full has been made.

Could the cruise lines retroactively raise the price on cabin space already sold – no. But can they camouflage an increase under the veil of rising fuel prices to increase their bottom line profitability, yes! And they have camouflaged it well. In communications from the cruise lines, travel agents have been cautioned that it is important to list the fuel surcharges as a separate line item on all invoices.

As of this writing, MSC Cruises, the Italian cruise line subsidiary of shipping giant Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the world’s largest privately-owned shipping line (we know they must have future fuel contracts in place!), and Disney Cruise Lines have not assessed a fuel surcharge. Here’s hoping they stand firm against the impulse to boost their bottom lines at our expense as the other best cruise lines have done.

Best Cruise Lines for a short winter escape

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:53:00 +0000

Did I say the best cruise lines for a short escape? Determining the “best” may be by default because the choices are so few. I decided earlier this week that 3 or 4 days in warmth and sunshine sounded really appealing to break up the frigid temperatures and mounds of snow that will soon be upon us.

In my quest for the best short cruise, I found, with only a few exceptions, short 2-night escapeaways are almost non-existent and the choices for 3-night cruising getaways from Florida are limited to the Bahamas.

Royal Caribbean and Carnival sail two ships each from Florida to the Bahamas. Both Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas and Carnival’s Fascination sail from Miami; in northern Florida, Royal Caribbean’s Sovereign of the Seas and Carnival’s Sensation sail from Port Canaveral.

All the ships have 3 and 4-night itineraries every week; some include stops in Freeport, a private cay (island) for a day in the sun or Key West in addition to a full day shopping or beaching or snorkeling in Nassau.

What is the difference? Really not all that much. These are not the “best” ships in either fleet. Royal Caribbean has upgraded both the Majesty and Sovereign (photos are of Royal Caribbean's Majesty and Sovereign) with new features, flat screened TVs, comfy bedding and enticements where you can spend your money, but the ships are the older ones.

While there may not be any entries for Best Cruise Lines among these ships, they can provide a good time for relaxing, getting away from life's hecticity and short chance to escape.

In terms of pricing, they’re all about the same, depending on the date and which cabins are available. The least amount I would spend for my 3-night cold-weather escapeaway, for an interior cabin in the bowels of a ship is about $260 per person including taxes and port fees. Check it out -- with the recent refurbishment of the Majesty, the lowest-cost interior cabin really looks pretty good! --

The most luxurious of the short cruises is with Disney’s Wonder – Disney Cruise Lines is a frequent member on all the elite Best Cruise Lines lists. In the 2007 Travel + Leisure “World’s Best” awards, Disney was rated as number 4 in the Best Large Ship category; earlier this year, it received honors with the Conde Nast Traveler Gold Awards and ranked in the 10 in the “Top 80 Ships in the World” award.

A 3-night cruise to Castaway Island and Nassau in February is about $120 per person more than the fare with Royal Caribbean or Carnival, but the difference in total quality is…. priceless.

The Wonder departs every Thursday afternoon from Port Canaveral (a simple flight to Orlando and quick transfer and I can be onboard the ship!) and returning early Sunday morning. The schedule works well for a long weekend, and this is sounding really good -- but…. a weekend with families, kids and Mickey isn’t quite how I envisioned relaxing in the sun and warmth.

Having said that, however, one of my life goals’ checkboxes is to have a family reunion – with kids and grandkids and great-grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins, too – surrounded by Goofy and Mickey and Friends. I imagine the ecstasy of small children with the wonders and delights of Disney afloat will be contagious…. but I’ll save that adventure for a time when I can gather our family together so we can all enjoy the experience.

The bulk of the 2008 “short” cruises are 4 or 5-nights; choices are plentiful between Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity’s Century and NCL’s Jewel. While Royal Caribbean’s Empress of the Seas has a few (very, very few) 3-night sailings, they depart from San Juan… and that’s a bit too far to fly for a quick getaway to warmth.

All I want is to sneak a few days into a long weekend and be able to feel the ocean breeze blowing through my hair, to smell the salt in the ocean, and to look up and see the twinkling stars in a wide-open sky, with a few lights from buildings far, far away in the background. I don’t have the time to cruise down to the Panama Canal or even to take a short 5-night cruise over to Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

I haven’t quite exhausted my quest for the best cruise lines for my brief winter escapeaway. A different experience awaits me in Fort Lauderdale…..

Latest US Passport Requirements for Cruise Trips

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 18:54:00 +0000

To continue my digression from choosing the best cruise lines (yes, I'm still working on the best short escape-away cruises ! We had a temporary break from the drizzling, cold weather here – long enough to take one last cruise around Lake Winnepasaukee before stowing our 14’ “yacht” away for this year – and the urgency to plan to get away to warmth was delayed…), the US Department of Homeland Security has issued another reprieve to the impending US passport requirements.

As many people know, the government may issue regulations and laws, but putting them into action doesn’t always happen according to schedule. Such is the case with US passport requirements.

According to the latest set of enforced regulations, a passport is required to enter the United States from any foreign country, including Canada and Mexico and all the non-US Caribbean islands, by air.

If you’re planning a relaxing all-inclusive vacation in the Dominican Republic, or Jamaica or the Riviera Maya and you’re going to fly, you need a passport. Or, if you’re planning to fly to St. Maarten or the British Virgin Islands to start your cruise, you need a passport.

(As a note, there are a few exceptions, including military personnel and “trusted traveler cards,” to the US passport requirements -- but most of us aren't affected by the exceptions. The regulations are complicated enough to try to understand without adding more to the discussion so I'm going to ignore the exceptions to the rules.)

You can cruise to the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada with only a certified birth certificate -- the one with a raised seal (if you don’t have one, order it from the Town Hall in the city where you were born) and a government-issued photo ID (such as a drivers license or military ID), but if there’s an emergency and you want to return home by plane, you will be denied entry into the US. Yes, this has happened…. more than once.

In a worst-case scenario, if you’re on a cruise ship that docks in Cozumel, you break your leg while exploring the ruins, and want to fly back home to go to the hospital, you will be denied entry to the United States if you do not have a passport. The airline’s personnel should check your passport before allowing you on the plane. But, even if you somehow get on the plane, the Homeland Security folks are prohibited from allowing you entry into the United States.

Homeland Security can make exceptions. But – and this is a very big but, you first have to get on the airplane – without a passport, it will be a challenge, especially in a foreign country where communicating a sense of urgency may be a problem. If you make it to your US destination, you’ll then have to convince Homeland Security that there is a valid reason you are entering the US without a passport and you actually are who you say you are. Allowing you into the US is at the discretion of the Homeland Security personnel…

Homeland Security projects that by Summer 2008, a passport will be required for land (car, bus, train, motorcycle, foot) and sea travel to every country. The date for implementing the US Passport Requirements has been pushed back several times because the passport processors cannot keep up with demand. This past summer, passport applications were backlogged 3 and 4 months.

The best time to apply for a passport is now, when travel to international destinations is slow and the passport application processors have had a chance to catch-up. By January, February and March, people will be planning their winter getaways and summer vacations – demand for passports will be up and the wait will increase.

Soon enough – even if it takes another year or two – every person, including children, in the United States will need a passport to enter the United States from anywhere in the world except United States territories (the US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands and Swain Island) and Commonwealth (Puerto Rico).

You will need a passport unless you absolutely positively never ever plan to visit any other part of the world – and this includes taking an Alaska cruise! Only the American-registry small cruise lines are able to cruise in Alaska without stopping in a “foreign” (Canada, in this example) port. Even if you plan to stay on board when the ship docks in a “foreign” port – you need a passport to board the ship at the US port.

What are you waiting for? The cost of a passport isn’t excessive. Why not apply for one now, when you don’t absolutely need it. You’ll be able to go anywhere you want at any time without giving it a second thought. Eliminate some of the stress from thinking about US passport requirements and instead, have fun choosing your best cruise lines.

Do Best Cruise Lines Offer Fake Experiences

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne) — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 20:34:00 +0000

I’ve been delayed with my planned discussion of the best cruise lines for short 2 or 3-night cruises from Florida in the winter (slim, very slim choices this year for those of us who would like a quick getaway from cold, sleet and snow…) by the onset of cold weather in the NorthEast and all the related winter-preparation activities…. stacking logs for the wood stove, sending the porch furniture into cold storage, replacing the window screens with storm windows.

Then, while following a website link in an article last night, I came upon an entry in Arthur Frommer’s (founder of the popular Frommer’s Travel Guides) blog that I found disturbingly one-sided and biased.

Do you think we’re wasting our vacations with "safe," " fake" experiences on Vegas-style mega-cruise trips?

In Frommer’s October 23rd entry, he posted a reader’s comment to an earlier discussion questioning why anyone would chose to vacation on one of the mega-cruise ships, which remind him of “giant Las Vegas casino-hotels.” The reader agreed with his viewpoint by stating: “Why would someone spend money to be on a boat so vast that you don't even feel like you're at sea--and in fact, with so many amenities, activities and perks that are similar to what you could get in Vegas or at an all-inclusive land resort?”

They seem to be missing the point that if you’re in Las Vegas or an “all-inclusive land resort,” you’re in one place – not moving effortlessly from city to city / country to country. (And as another note, every mega-cruise is not “all-inclusive” – far from it: tipping is not only expected, it is required; drinks are an additional charge and often seriously over-priced; fees are charged for “premium” dining, water sports and many activities onboard the ship.)

The reader went on to say she wants “… travel to be an EXPERIENCE of something new, daring, unfamiliar and completely different from what I know... and I want to be THRUST into it! What's the point of traveling, be it by land or sea, if you're going to be involved in the fake, safe, dare I say, near Disneylandian version of another country or region?”

It’s great that some people want a travel experience to be an adventure, incorporating mingling with local people, venturing into new terrains, and throwing in a bit of “danger” to add to the sense of excitement. Not everyone wants that.

Cruising is a great way to experience somewhere new – or even somewhere familiar – and not have to worry about how you’re going to get there, where you’re going to eat, whether the bed in the hotel will be comfortable, and so on and so on. I’ve just returned from a 3-week adventure through eastern and northern Australia. My experiences were fantastic, but packing and unpacking almost every night and rising in the wee hours of each morning to board a tour bus to travel hours to reach the next destination or sit in the next airport got to be a bit much.

Additionally, on a cruise, most of your mandatory costs are paid before you set foot in your cabin. As the value of the US dollar continues to erode, the real cost of comparable hotels and food in Europe and even Asia and the South Pacific is much higher than the cost of a cabin with 3-4 meals per day on a cruise ship.

One of the super benefits of cruising is about choice – do you prefer a big ship with all the “bells and whistles” and 3,000+ people or small cruise ships, focused on experience / adventure and highly personalized service or something in-between? Perhaps a relaxing river cruise that meanders along the great rivers of Europe, with stops in charming villages and historical sites? It’s a shame Mr. Frommer and his reader chose to ignore the benefits and many choices in cruise vacations. For the most part, the world’s best cruise lines offer value for our travel dollars and provide experiences we enjoy.

Best Cruise Lines Awards Announced and more

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne) — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 03:11:00 +0000

This year, I happened to miss an invite to Conde Nast Traveler magazine’s gala festivities at the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum in New York on October 10 for the 2007 Reader’s Choice Awards ceremony; in fact, I also was elsewhereing when over 28,000 readers completed a questionnaire to identify the world’s best cities, islands, resorts and of course, the best cruise lines.

First, the formal results – I must admit, it’s a bit of a read, but it makes for real interesting observations. However, if you don’t manage to get through it, you’ll find my comments, translating the complex into simplicity, at the end to give you Cruisin'Genie’s take on the reality behind the gloss and glamor.

For the Reader’s Choice Awards, cruise ships were divided into two categories: Best Large Ships (at least 500 passengers) and Best Small Ships; readers were asked to rank pre-set entrants (write-in entries were allowed to give a sense of a level playing field) according to:

● Activities/Facilities
● Cabins
● Crew/Service
● Design/Layout
● Food/Dining
● Itineraries/Schedule
● Shore Excursions

Competition is fierce for this prestigious award – in existence since 1988, the “Reader’s Choice Poll” is one of the oldest and most respected awards in the travel industry. The invitation list to the award festivities reads like a “Who’s Who” of travel, with the CEOs of major travel industry companies reigning in their excitement and anticipation while emcees Debra Messing and Scottish actor Alan Cumming provided amusing tales of their travel adventures.

It’s interesting to note that this year, not one of the best cruise lines, large or small, made it to the “Top 100 Best of the Best” list (in 2006, SeaDream Yacht Club was #95 on this list and #1 on the Best Small Ships list). For 2007, Crystal Cruises regained its #1 position in the best large ship category, sending Regent Seven Seas down to the #2 spot, but Regent Seven Seas took the #1 spot in the best small cruise ships category. SeaDream fell to the #4 position.

Hmmm…. on the day press releases from cruise lines that fared well in the Reader’s Choice Awards were circulated, Cunard (in the #7 spot for Large Cruise Ships) announced its selection as the number one best large cruise ship in the 2008 Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships and best overall for food and for service. Is it the very best, or not?

There are a lot of travel awards for the Best Cruise Lines: Conde Nast also produces the “Gold List 2007” (SeaDream pulled the highest score in this poll) and the “Cruise Poll 2007” (Celebrity’s Constellation was chosen for the #1 spot for Best Large Ships – but for this award, a “large” ship must be over 1,500 passengers. Cunard doesn’t appear until the 25th position).

Travel + Leisure published its 2007 “World’s Best Awards” earlier this year. For the cruising awards, a ranking for “value” was included in the survey tabulations. Crystal Cruises received the top honors for the Large Cruise Ship category and SeaDream was #1 for Small Cruise Ships.

Trying to keep the rankings for all of these awards straight can be a challenge – and what does it really mean that a ship you’ve chosen for your next cruise vacation hasn’t made it to the top, or even the top 10 of the best cruise lines awards?

The very best cruise experience for me – or for you -- may not be the #1 cruise ship on the latest “World’s Best” awards. The awards are a good form of recognition for quality in the industry, but they don’t guarantee that the award winners will deliver the very best experience for every passenger – it depends on the ship, the other passengers on the sailing and the experiences we want.

Before signing off, there’s a great event this month – “World’s Largest Cruise Night” – an annual event in the cruising world, sponsored by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) and its member cruise lines. Many cruise lines, whether or not they are members of CLIA, offer special deals and promotions today, this week and for some, through the end of this month.

For the most part, these offers are better than other special sales held during the year, so if you’re thinking of a cruising vacation, it’s worth taking the time to check out the October deals. For a sampling of what is available, I’ve listed some of the specials from the best cruise lines on our website. Hey click on our 'website' link back a bit if you missed it... Enjoy!

Here’s to sharing the best cruise lines experiences.

Blog Action Day Protecting the Worlds Oceans

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 10:24:00 +0000

In celebration of blogspot.com's October 15th 2007 Blog Action Day, "Best Cruise Lines" is pleased to lend a voice in support of the Day which is all about "Blogging for the Environment". Congratulations to Blogspot.com for pioneering the initiative!

Our voice today is in support of OCEANA - 'Protecting the World's Oceans'

For all of us who love the water - especially cruising on it - we need to remember that we have a responsibility to travel with a light footprint and protect the fragility of the ecosystem beneath the surface.

OCEANA does great work...The following is their mission statement --

"WE LIVE ON A WATER PLANET. Oceans cover 71 percent of the globe, and they are as important to us as they are vast. Not only do they control our climate; they are the primary source of protein for 1 billion people around the world. They drive our economies. For millions of sailors, swimmers, and vacationers of all stripes, they offer a refuge from the metal and concrete that encase our working lives.

Oceana seeks to make our oceans as rich, healthy and abundant as they were in our grandparents’ youth. We look to a future in which dolphin sightings are common along any temperate coast; in which the mighty swordfish, marlin and tuna are abundant once again; in which whales and sea turtles thrive, cod are plentiful on both sides of the Atlantic, local fishing cultures evolve rather then decline and in which fish are a safe, growing and plentiful source of food around the world.

In the last few decades we have seen the benefits of restored rivers and lakes – for ecological and economic health – in many parts of the world. We can reap the same benefits from healthy oceans. We can restore ocean ecosystems that will sustain us, entertain us, amaze us and generate jobs around the world for centuries to come."
(source:Oceana.org )

As a small contribution to Blog Action Day 2007, how about joining with Best Cruise Lines and cruisin' over to Oceana - review the work they do - and consider joining ...

To making a difference, one step at a time....

Genies Best Cruise Lines Bottle

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne) — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 22:55:00 +0000

After too many years in the corporate world in positions that weren’t a good “fit” and a stint at college teaching (which didn’t really fit that much better), I decided to follow a life-long passion for travel and writing. My husband and I opened a professional travel agency in a very small town in New Hampshire, where we are able to “cruise” Lake Winnipesaukee in our small sailboat, and absorb every cruise and travel publication that finds its way to our mailbox.

As owners of a travel agency, we are usually too busy to take advantage of the many opportunities for “fams” and reduced-price trips to exotic destinations, so we choose our travel carefully and share a delight in experiencing the world. I have enjoyed most of our cruises (the ship that sunk is not in that category!) and am on the look-out for our next cruise experience.

In our business, we are not a high-volume internet cruise agency – in fact, I specialize in customized travel to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific (so expect the odd inclusion on exotic cruising DownUnder!) – but I’ve inspected a lot of ships; been on a range of cruises, read the latest information on cruise ships, destinations and trends daily; completed many of the specialist programs for cruise lines and enjoy working with clients to plan a cruise vacation that meets – and often exceeds – expectations they have only dreamed of.

Join our Best Cruise Lines voyage of discovery to find the best for your cruise trips.

Welcome Onboard the sequel

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne) — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 18:57:00 +0000

Last time before I got my boarding call, I was about to tell about the hard lessons my husband and I learned on our first cruise together...

I’ll not delve into all the gory details of our first cruise experience, but do need to share:

● When we noticed at the Cozumel pier that there were several sleek, shiny and large vessels dwarfing the tired, rusted and narrow vessel we called “home” for the week, reality struck and we knew we had not chosen one of the best cruise lines for our maiden cruise vacation;

● My seasickness was unbearable as soon as the ship began to flail in a few medium waves -- our ship was so ancient, it really didn't have much of a stabilizer system;

● We are the only people I know who lost weight on a cruise;

● Our on-board bill exceeded the cruise fare by over 150% (and I tried to save money on the Internet??). While many of you are familiar with this experience, we were shocked at the final total and the price we paid for some of the worst shore excursions imaginable;

● On a voyage shortly after ours, the ship sank! Yes – and I doubt anyone misses her.

Our life directions have changed since our infamous experience with the Premier Cruise Line and we’ve been fortunate since then to have been able to enjoy several cruises that met and even exceeded our expectations.

We’re looking forward to more cruising in our future – the depth and wealth of destinations and ships available now far exceeds my first or even second cruise experience. But before we take our next cruise, we’ll have defined our expectations of cabin space, food, entertainment and features – and researched all the options to make sure we’ve found a good match.

In my Best Cruise Lines blog, I’ll share the up-to-date and latest insider information on the cruise lines, cruise ships, newest “hot” itineraries and special deals in the cruising world.

Whether you are one of the 10 million people in the US who took a cruise vacation last year; or one of the 78 million who hasn’t cruised yet; or your expectations of cruising didn’t equal the experience – or you’ve enjoyed the cruises you’ve taken but are looking for a different experience on your next vacation, please cruise on back to read our updates and leave your comments as our quest for the Best Cruise Lines unfolds.

Best Cruise Lines Welcome Onboard

noreply@blogger.com (Jeanne) — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:14:00 +0000

My first experience on a cruise ship was definitely not an experience on one of the best cruise lines. I sailed from New York, over 30 years ago, on a transatlantic crossing of Holland America’s Staatendam to spend two months trekking across Europe and returned on a Norwegian Cruise Line vessel (the name has long since been forgotten) – in the midst of a major hurricane off the Canadian coast in the Atlantic Ocean.

That trip marked the beginning of my continued thirst for travel – but many years passed before I wanted to step aboard a cruise ship again. Time has totally changed the character of the cruise industry (and fortunately, good stabilizer systems have greatly improved a ship’s ability to resist rocking and rolling….).

About 7 years ago when our lives revolved around fast-paced, high-stress jobs in a major congested urban location, my husband and I decided we needed a relaxing vacation and chose a 7-night cruise to the Western Caribbean. The articles I read on the Internet about advanced stabilization systems aboard the new ships calmed my concerns about seasickness and hurricanes and we ventured into the world of cruising.

We chose an itinerary that had the fewest days at sea and stopped at several ports in Mexico and Central America. Off I went to the Internet to find the best deal for our cruise. Little did I know (at that time) that not all ships are created equal and purchasing a cruise vacation from an Internet-based call-center type operation may be a good way to find the lowest price if you are a really experienced cruiser, but it wasn’t a good move for a busy executive/novice cruiser type.

I called the 1-800 phone number on the web site and stated our choice to the order taker; several weeks later, we received our cruise documents in the mail and set off for Fort Lauderdale. The nameless person on the internet did not mention that my choice of ships would not ever make it on any “best cruise lines” list or that my husband, with a UK passport, might have a Visa problem. Let The Buyer Beware – we learned a hard lesson on our first cruise together.

Must fly, just heard my boarding call - it's a long haul from DownUnder back to Lake Winnipesaukee. Will complete my welcome when I get home on Sunday - all about the hard lessons on my second cruise...