Alaska Cruises Facing Another Obstacle

Cruisers may soon be saying goodbye to Hubbard Glacier

cruising if a group of federal scientists has its way.

Photo  © Aaron Saunders

 

Long-time readers of this blog will know that, being based in beautiful Vancouver, the Alaska cruise industry is near and dear to our heart.  The economic downturn, controversial Alaskan Passenger Head Tax, and increased demand in markets like the Mediterranean have resulted in the biggest struggle the Alaskan cruise industry has ever faced.

Now, on the verge of a rebound, a group of federal scientists is seeking to severely limit cruise ship access to popular Hubbard Glacier - or ban it entirely.

 

The Seattle Times reports scientists from the National Marine Mammal Laboratory have suggested cruise ships in and around Hubbard Glacier pose a threat to harbor seals, which are utilised by some Native Americans as a form of subsistence. 

 

The group claims cruise ships may prematurely drive baby seals into areas of colder water when they should be feeding, and goes on to propose measures up to and including banning cruise ships from the areas around Yakutat, Alaska, which includes Hubbard Glacier.

This latest piece of negative news comes hot on the heels of Carnival's surprise announcement that it would be pulling Carnival Spirit from the West Coast, opting instead to have her sail year-round out of Sydney, Australia.  Carnival has yet to announce what ship will replace her in Alaska in 2013.

 

The West Coast, it seems, just can't catch a break.

For the Alaskan cruise market, this news is potentially devastating.  Hubbard Glacier is the second-most popular glacier after Glacier Bay, and is regularly visited by a lines like Celebrity, Holland America and Royal Caribbean.  Calls to Glacier Bay are so limited that they are regulated by expensive permits which much be  purchased years in advance.  The removal of Hubbard Glacier as a viable option for cruise lines could easily be the final straw for many lines already struggling with high port taxes, changeable laws and regulations, and enormously strict environmental requirements.  

Holland America Line CEO Stein Kruse took the State of Alaska to task last year, saying their policy on greywater release was so restrictive that even the clean drinking water taken aboard the ship in many ports would not be allowed to go into the sea as-is under the existing regulations. 

There's no doubt the harbour seal is an important component of the livelihood of many Native American hunters.  Let's just hope it doesn't come at the expense of Alaska's already shaky cruise industry.

Photo of the Week - January 16

Le Bistro aboard Norwegian Sky is shown

in this 1999 press photograph.

Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line.

Normally, I like to select one of my own photos as a Photo of the Week, but this time I wanted to showcase some of the truly excellent photographs that have been taken by the lines themselves.  Typically, the best photos will immediately give you a sense that you are there; the feeling that you could walk down a particular hallway, public room or deck just by looking at it.  

One photo in particular has always fascinated me since I first saw it in an issue of Cruise Travel eleven years ago.  It was of the then-new Norwegian Sky, which at the time was NCL's first newbuild since the Norwegian Wind in 1993.  It showcased the line's specialty Le Bistro restaraunt - a long, narrow room situated between the aft dining room and the midship staircase.  Running along the starboard side of the ship, its dark wood paneling, curved accents, and high-back rounded booths resembled a trendy club from the 1930's.  Indeed, it wouldn't take much of a stretch to imagine this room aboard the SS Normandie.

But for me, what really hit home was how fantastic this photo was.  It was obviously taken at night, and showcases how elegant this room appears during the evening.  We dined in this same room aboard sister ship Norwegian Sun in 2005, and it is every bit as pleasant as the photographs would lead you to believe.  In fact, it's still one of my favorite public areas on any of the over twenty ships I've sailed on.

More recently, NCL has photographed an alternate angle of this room aboard Norwegian Sky. 

Le Bistro aboard Norwegian Sky, and Il Adagio

aboard Norwegian Sun, are seen in this more recent

press photograph.

Photo courtesy of NCL.

While the image is also representative of sister-ship Norwegian Sun, it is clearly Norwegian Sky in the photo.  While the chairs have been re-upholstered since 1999, the big giveaway here is the carpet.  The bright yellow-and-green carpet with a purple flower in the middle is a holdover from Norwegian Sky\s brief stint as Pride of Aloha for Norwegian America, sailing roundtrips from Honolulu, Hawaii between 2004 and 2008.  

Hawaiian influence or not, this is still one of the nicest spaces NCL has ever placed on any of their ships.  For more information on Norwegian Sky and her near-sister Norwegian Sun, why not pay a visit to the Norwegian Cruise Line website?

Carnival Moves Spirit Down Under Year-Round

 Carnival Spirit, seen here in Vancouver, BC.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

Carnival Cruise Lines announced yesterday it plans to move the 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit to Australia on a year-round basis beginning in the fall of 2012.  It marks the first time Carnival has homeported a ship outside North America on a year-round basis.

Built in 2001 and part of the line's popular Spirit-class of ships, Carnival Spirit has traditionally operated cruises to Alaska in the summer months and a variety of Mexican Riviera itineraries out of San Diego in the winter.  In April 2012, however, the Spirit will leave San Diego for the last time, bound for her last Alaskan season, and then on to Sydney.

While Carnival announced it remains committed to the Alaskan market for 2013, it confirmed it would not be replacing the Spirit out of San Diego, citing the poor financial performance of her current Mexican Riviera itineraries. The same argument was made by arch-rival Royal Caribbean, who will be removing Mariner of the Seas from the Mexican Rivera market beginning this Sunday.

Cruises on the West Coast have taken a major beating in recent years.  Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego have all seen significant reductions in passenger numbers and port calls thanks in part to rising gang violence on Mexico's Pacific coast and Alaska's Passenger Head Tax initiative, part of which was rescinded last year.

But by and large, the main reason for the decline of West Coast cruising is simply a shift in passenger demand.  European cruises have increased in popularity to the point where it's not just European lines that offer year-round voyages to the region; several mainstream North American lines are also getting into the act. The Australia and New Zealand markets are increasingly growing in popularity despite long transpacific flights, and Asia could very well be the next 'it' destination as more lines dip their toes in the proverbial water on the other side of the Pacific.

These voyages also typically command better revenue-per-passenger, which doesn't necessarily mean they're more expensive.  Rather, it means cruise lines can expect to recoup their costs more effectively through these voyages, either through increased onboard spending including shore excursions, reduced port taxes, increased fares, or a combination of these. 

Fans of Carnival should be excited about these new Australian voyages, which will depart from Sydney and cruise for 8 to 12 nights to the Pacific Islands, or 13 nights to New Zealand.

For now, it seems, San Diego's loss is Sydney's gain.

For more information, be sure to visit Carnival's website.

Silversea Announces 10 Unique "Cooking School" Voyages

A cooking demonstration aboard Silversea's Silver Spirit.

This year, ten voyages will feature a cooking demo like nothing you've seen.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

If you've cruised before, chances are you may have attended one of the cooking demonstrations offered onboard many ships.  Usually intended as a fun little diversion on sea days, these demonstrations offer a brief glimpse at what actually goes on behind the scenes in the galley, where thousands of meals are prepared each and every day for guests like you and me.

This year, Silversea Cruises plans to turn that concept on its head by offering ten voyages featuring the popular Relais & Chateaux L'Ecole des Chefs interactive cooking school - currently the only offering of its kind at sea.

Relais & Chateaux was first established in 1954, and represents a collection of 500 of the finest hotels and gourmet institutions in over fifty countries worldwide.  They have also partnered with Silversea to create special menus for the line's popular Le Champagne specialty restaurant.

 Glass etchings in the Relais & Chateaux-inspired

Le Champagne specialty restaurant aboard

Silver Shadow.

Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

Now that you know who they are, here's why you should be excited by this announcement: this isn't just marketing hype or a glorified cooking demo; rather, it is an actual, hands-on immersion experience that aims to teach guests about new cooking techniques and allows them to experience new dishes and culinary delights that are relevant to the ship's itinerary.

For those like myself who are terrified of handling knives (just ask my fiancee), these immersion experiences start at the basics of proper cutting technique and advance from there.  No stone is left unturned as the classes cover sauces, spices, wine pairings and tasting, and cooking competitions between Silversea Culinary Trainer David Bilsland and the onboard galley team.  Bilsland spent several years as an instructor at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in London, reinforcing his talent with experience.

Another neat twist is the "Market to the Plate" experience. Offered on select itineraries, this excursion takes participants ashore on a tour of a local market, where ingredients are sourced for a cooking class.  There are also "Culinary Outing" excursions, where guests travel to a local hotel or restaurant to sample the regional cuisine.

If you're a foodie (or if you'd like to be, once you get the hang of those knives), you'd do well to select one of these ten voyages featuring this unique onboard enrichment program.  They are:

January 19, 2011 - Silver Shadow - 30 Day Circumnavigation of Australia

January 20, 2011 - Silver Spirit - 12 Day Los Angeles to Papeete (World Cruise Segment)

March 24, 2011 - Silver Cloud - 16 Day Panama Canal - Ft. Lauderdale to San Diego

April 9, 2011 - Silver Cloud - 16 Day Panama Canal - San Diego to Ft. Lauderdale

May 3, 2011 - Silver Spirit - 16 Day Athens to Southampton

May 17, 2011 - Silver Whisper - 14 Day Transatlantic - New York to Southampton

September 8, 2011 - Silver Shadow - 14 Day Transpacific - Seward to Tokyo

October 21, 2011 - Silver Spirit - 15 Day Transatlantic - Lisbon to Bridgetown

November 11, 2011 - Silver Wind - 16 Day Athens to Dubai

December 4, 2011 - Silver Wind - 17 Day Dubai to Mahe

Curious to know more?  Hop on over to the Silversea Cruises website for full details and pricing on each itinerary - and experience your inner chef at the same time.

 

Cruising 101: Tips for the Perfect Cruise

 Proper planning beforehand ensures you'll be able

to enjoy your cruise once onboard.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

Personally, I enjoy the planning stage of a cruise as much as the actual voyage itself.  I pour over deck plans, itineraries, brochures and guide books, eager to learn as much about the line, ship, and destination I'm considering as possible.

But not everyone is as ravenous for knowledge.  For many, they know where they want to go, and when they want to go there.  After all, a cruise is a vacation, right?  It is indeed – but there's still some important information you should check first before booking your next cruise.

 Every ship is unique and different, and tailored toward

providing a certain type of experience.

Pictured here is Holland America's Zaandam.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

The Ship Matters

For those who say a ship is just a ship: no it's not!  Each ship has its own distinct personality.  Some writers and seafarers have even gone so far as to say a ship has a soul – a theory this blogger firmly believes. I've heard people complain they wanted Cunard when they're on NCL and vice-versa.  Once you're onboard, its far too late to do anything about it.

 Even sister-ships can have different decor, features

and amenities.  Pictured here is the attractive Observation Lounge

aboard Silversea's Silver Shadow

Photo © Aaron Saunders

So spend time checking out the cruise line's website.  Many have virtual tours of their fleet, letting you get a glimpse inside the ship before you've physically stepped aboard.  Even within a single line, many ships may have different interior designs, colors, and amenities.  Don't assume that because you've sailed on the Zuiderdam that you know what Nieuw Amsterdam will be like.

An inside stateroom aboard NCL's Norwegian Star.

Located on the newly-refurbished Deck 12, it features

different decor from similar categories on lower decks.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

Know Thy Stateroom

This sounds basic, but you'd be surprised how often stateroom selection can create problems.  Take deck plans: they can be a color-coded mass of confusion to the first-time cruiser.  Knowing how to properly read a deckplan can help you choose the perfect stateroom, every time. 

Choosing what type of stateroom is relatively easy: do you want an interior, oceanview, balcony stateroom, or a suite?  Beyond that, however, things can get complicated.  For example, there may be five different categories of oceanview staterooms; which one is best?

 A computer rendering of a suite aboard Oceania's new Marina.

Photo-illustration courtesy of Oceania Cruises

 A comfortable standard oceanview stateroom

aboard Holland America's Rotterdam.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

Usually, multiple categories offer a slightly more desirable location within the ship.  A balcony stateroom on an upper deck may command a higher category – and price – because of its location rather than its features.  If location isn't as important to you, this can be a great way to save some money and still get what you want.

 A section of the deck plan for Baja Deck 11 aboard

Princess Cruises' Crown Princess.

Note the symbols next to the stateroom numbers; in this case, 

the red dot means the stateroom can accommodate up to four

people; the black triangle means it can accommodate three.

Illustration courtesy of Princess Cruises

Also check the description of any symbols on the stateroom you've selected; some rooms may offer an additional pull-out bed (sometimes called a pullman or berth), while other symbols can denote rooms with specific features, such as a tub or shower.

 A section of deckplan from Silversea's Silver Spirit.

Note how the elevator and stairwell banks line

up perfectly between Deck 5 and Deck 6, allowing 

prospective passengers to accurately see 

what is above and below them.

Illustration courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Finally, don't assume the deckplans line up properly; chances are the graphic design guru who laid them out in the brochure has never been on a cruise before.  To properly determine what is above and below you, first find an elevator bank or staircase on the deckplan.  Then look at the next deck.  If the stairwells line up, the plans are properly laid out.  If they don't, that lounge you think isn't below your chosen cabin might actually be. 

Be Port Savvy

Properly researching your ports of call can save you plenty of time and unwanted stress.  This can be extremely important in Europe, where the port your ship docks at may not be the key attraction.  A good example:

Day 2 – Athens (Piraeus), Greece – 9am to 5pm

The key attraction here is Athens, Greece.  But Athens is inland, which typically poses a problem for cruise ships.  Ships instead dock in the town of Piraeus, roughly an hour outside of Athens.  While Piraeus is mighty nice, you won't find the Acropolis or the Plaka district here, limiting the options of those who want to just get off the ship and wander. The further away the main attractions are, the more you'll want to take a shore excursion  in order to experience them.

The historic port of Southampton, England - pictured here -

is sometimes listed as the gateway to London.

Photo © Aaron Saunders 

 

It's also important to pay attention to these “dual ports” if one happens to be your embarkation or disembarkation port.  Another good example is London, England.  While a few vessels are small enough to dock right in the heart of London, the vast majority will tie up in Southampton or Dover.

But most importantly...

Have Fun!

Stay tuned to From the Deck Chair, as we run more helpful planning articles during the month of January.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises to Launch New Ship, Charter Another

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' Bremen, shown here in Antarctica.

The line plans to expand its fleet, adding two ships over the next

two years.

Photo courtesy of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Exciting news yesterday out of Germany: Hamburg-based Hapag-Lloyd Cruises plans to construct a brand-new, ultra-luxury vessel to be named EUROPA 2.  In addition, the line will expand its premium offerings by performing a bare-boat charter of Oceania Cruises' Insignia beginning in April, 2012.  That ship will be re-christened COLUMBUS 2.

Not only is this excellent news for fans of the German line, it is also an interesting arrangement.  EUROPA 2, which will compliment the line's existing 1999-built EUROPA, will actually be acquired by a third-party company outside of Hapag-Lloyd and the TUI group.  It will be chartered back to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises for a period of twelve years, beginning at the time of its launch in 2013.  STX France (formerly Chantiers de l'Atlantique in St.-Nazaire) will construct the vessel, who's exact particulars have not yet been released.

Oceania Cruises' Insignia, soon to be Hapag-Lloyd's

COLUMBUS 2.

Photo courtesy of Oceania Cruises 

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises announced it has also entered into an agreement to charter Oceania Cruises 1998-built Insignia in order to expand its premium product offerings.  Renamed COLUMBUS 2, Insignia has been chartered to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises for a period of two years beginning in 2012.  No word yet on if the ship will be refitted in any way before entering service with the German line.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises currently has a fleet of four ships, and specialises in ultra-luxury voyages in addition to luxury and premium expedition cruising, serving destinations like Antarctica and the Northwest Passage.  The line hopes these two latest acquisitions will allow the line to expand its already diverse itinerary offerings to appeal to a broad passenger base.

We'll keep you updated on these exciting developments as more details emerge.

Curious about Hapag-Lloyd Cruises?  Why not visit their website or check our our 2011 Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Preview we wrote back in December?

New Zealand Cruise Season Booming

P&O's Pacific Jewel is just one of several ships that

have helped boost the cruise industry in New Zealand.

Photo courtesy of P&O Cruises.

There's no doubt about it: Australia and New Zealand are rapidly becoming one of the most popular cruise destinations in the world, and no one could be happier about it than the Kiwis.  

The New Zealand Herald reports that passengers calling in New Zealand ports were expected to grow substantially over the next two years, almost reaching the 200,000-passenger mark by the end of the 2011/2012 season.  

In addition to the passengers and crew streaming ashore, when ships dock in New Zealand, they are replenished with local goods and services, including wine from New Zealand's excellent vineyards. This investment is expected to boost the local economy by $346 million at the end of this year, thanks in part to calls by nearly every major cruise line. 

Of all New Zealand ports, Auckland is the busiest with a projected 43 visits by 15 ships this year - a 25 percent jump over last year.  Indeed, the amount of interest from cruise lines has risen so measurably that Auckland's mayor is calling for the construction of a new, $200 million dollar cruise ship facility in order to better accommodate the increased demand.

But it's not just visitors from overseas who are cruising to New Zealand; a large portion of cruisers aboard sailings out of Auckland are New Zealanders eager to see their own country from the sea.

Never been?  There's never been a better time than now to go.