Inside look at NCL's Gem

I just recently returned from New York where I had the privilege of attending the naming ceremony of the brand new Norwegian Gem. In keeping with NCL's ongoing commitment to think and act out of the box, the Godmother of the ship was chosen in a unique fashion. Instead of the traditional naming conducted by a celebrity or member of a royal family, the sparkling new ship was christened by the winner of the NCL "IT" girl video contest. It was a case of "You Tube Meets Family Feud" so to speak. Loyal female NCL cruisers (sorry guys) were asked to submit a creative video about why they wanted to be the NCL "IT" girl based on the GEM's marketing buzz word ad campaign. The winner was Cindy Cardella, a 31 year mother of 3 from New Jersey. She got to pull the magic lever (from inside the theatre because it was 30 degrees outside) that smashed the traditional giant champagne bottle against the ship. We then sailed out for a 2 night cruise for the trade and press that showcased the amenities of the ship.

For those who haven't cruised on NCL recently or just don't get the whole "Freestyle" thing, the ship is a great example of the evolution of the cruise industry. First seating is when you want to go to dinner and so is second seating. You can eat at 7:11 PM or 9:23 PM. Dining in the two main restaurants as well Tequila Latin, The Garden Café, La Cucina, Blue Lagoon and Topsiders is included in the fare. Many traditional cruisers balk at "paying for food" on a cruise but I think of the $15 or $20 cover charge as the gratuity for the staff. Can you dine in a good restaurant ashore for $30 to $40 for two? No way. On the GEM, the alternate dining venues include the Tepanaki (think Benihana at Sea), Sushi Asian, The Bistro (chic European) or Cagney's Steak House. So many choices you will think you have found Bliss. But not so, because Bliss is the name of the nightclub complex on deck 6 that incorporates a disco, South Beach style lounging and ersatz VIP rooms AND 4 regulation bowling alleys. Throw in a few slot machines and you've got one very unique venue. And everyone makes it past the velvet ropes!

The truth of the matter is that Freestyle is not for everyone. Some people just like being told when and where to eat. And frankly, to see the various shows does require some degree of scheduling. But at the end of the day, if cruisers take the time to understand in advance how the system works and appreciate the ultimate in on board flexibility they get hooked on the Freestyle Cruise concept for life.

And the suites on the GEM are to die for. In fact, NCL has the largest suites at sea, including the magnificent 3 bedroom 5,000 + square foot Garden Villa complex replete with butler, private hot tub and sun deck. Billed as a "cruise with a cruise" the two Garden Villas are joined by equally exciting, if somewhat less enormous, Courtyard Villas, Penthouses, Owner's and Romance Suites.

NCL is a company on a tremendous fast track. Just a few years ago, the company operated older ships, had lost a little of its luster and struggled financially. Today under it's aggressive leadership team and buoyed by a $1 billion dollar investment by Apollo Management (who also owns majority interest in Oceania and Regent Seven Seas Cruises), Norwegian Cruise Line operates the youngest fleet of ships in the cruise industry with two more "F3" class ships to be introduced over the next four years.

So, cast off the lines because you ain't seen nothing yet!

To see more of NCL’s Gem, click here

Europe with Your Family

Planning a family vacation? Not sure where to go? Well don’t mark Europe off your list of potential destinations. It’s a common misconception that traveling to Europe with the kids is a daunting task. And it’s easy to see why many people feel this way. Ten hour flights, different hotels every night and days of exotic foreign food are enough to make any kid just a little cranky. Throw in a Dad who has to lug the suitcases and a Mom who watches her wallet shrinking, it's no wonder that an excursion to SeaWorld might be preferable.

But traveling to Europe with your family can be easy…and dare I say it…fun! Cruises are a great way to see several European destinations without the hassle of a typical land tour. With the introduction of new European itineraries from some of the more family friendly cruise lines such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean, you and your family can take a trip that they’ll remember forever.

The pros
You get to stay in the same place every night! No packing and unpacking, long bus or train rides or uncertainty. After exploring the port, it’s back to your ship and all the comforts of home. Your picky eaters will get to enjoy those American classics they love, making dinner time that much easier. And let’s not forget that all your meals on board are included in every cruise you take, easing "Euro menu sticker shock". Somewhere, ashore tonight, there is a family paying $30 per person for fish and chips!

Children's programs for all age ranges and babysitting services allow travelers time to mingle with their peers and make new friends, plus offers the adults some time alone.
There are also occasional days at sea to recuperate and rest your weary feet. Touring different cities day after day can become tiresome for the little ones so it’s nice to have time to enjoy all the amenities of the ship and rest up

And let’s not forget the greatest "pro" of them all…You’re in Europe!!! Most ports in Europe are steeped in history and beauty and will make your vacation educational as well as fun. I know, education may not be a big selling point to the kids while planning, but there is something exciting about actually getting to see all the places your kids have only read about in school. Cruise lines offer many different types of shore excursions at each port so it’s a breeze to pick some that will satisfy even the toughest critic in your bunch!

The Cons
There’s no way around it. Until technology catches up with our imaginations, you will have to take a plane to get to your departure port. But modern technology has made these trips a little easier. Personal TVs, portable DVD players, i-pods and the like all help to entertain you and the kids. While flying business class for the whole group may be a tad expensive, foreign flag airlines tend to offer a bit more legroom in the back because their planes are used for virtually 100% international travel. Book flights early and be sure to check your airlines web site to make sure your seats are away from the lavatories and galleys. A good web site to check out "best seats" is www.SeatGuru.com It may also be a good idea to book an overnight flight so that you will be more inclined to sleep for a large portion of the journey.
The second con is that you don’t get to spend all long days in some ports. Most stops are from 8 to 10 hours in each city. This may not give you and your family enough time to see every single sight in the port. It’s best to think of these kinds of cruises like an appetizer sampler at your favorite restaurant. You’ll get to have the best of the choices, but you may have to come back a couple times if you want to try the whole menu.

So while you’re planning your next family trip, take a look at the many Europe cruises available. They’re an easy, exciting and relatively affordable way to take your family to new destinations around the world!

Shore Excursions: A Beginner’s Guide

Many first time cruisers often wonder if they should buy shore excursions directly from their cruise line or just wing it when they get to the port. And while there will always some discord among experienced cruisers, most will give you the same answer: It depends on what you want to do and where you are going!
When planning your cruise and excursions it is important to ask yourself about your personal traveling preferences. A little research about the ports themselves will also go a long way. Here’s a quick and easy guide on picking travel excursions.

Step 1: Take a look at your itinerary and do your research
Almost every cruise line has a description of the highlights of each port and what shore excursions will be offered from the cruise line. Also there are various online sites dedicated to providing information on destination ports. Using these tools, you can find the options available for you and your traveling companions.

Step 2: Decide on which excursions and spots appeal to you
After looking at all your options, pick a few that hold your interest. You may decide on a walking tour through the city, snorkeling with the kids, or a bus tour of the historical sites.

Step 3: Compare the benefits and potential downsides
Now that you have decided on what type of excursions you are interested in, you are ready to make some decisions. This is the time when your personal preferences come into play. Do you like organized outings? Will you worry about missing the ship? If you answered yes to these two questions then a cruise line sponsored excursion is probably your safest best. These excursions often provide guides, some inclement weather insurance, and a guarantee that the cruise line will know exactly where you are and will wait if your tour is delayed. But if these two factors don’t faze you then you may want to consider other arrangements. Here are some tips:
Beach/Shopping/Local Bars: These often can be done without purchasing the excursion from the cruise line. Taxis and vans will be waiting outside the pier to take you to a number of destinations. You can just tell them what you had in mind and they will take you there and often come back to pick you up (but don’t pay them the return fare until after they drop you back off at the port). This option is especially great for ports that your research has shown is relatively safe and has nearby attractions
Water sports and city tours: With these tours you can find several options. Excursions are available from the cruise line, before you depart from home from an independent tour company or directly at the pier upon disembarking from the ship. These independent tour companies often offer the same tours at a lower price, but do not have the same guarantees that come with purchasing a tour from the cruise line. Choosing one of these tours does involve some risk on your part. They may take you to a substandard area, not provide quality tours or may be late in returning you back to the ship. If you choose to go this route it is important to use your best judgment and instincts. If you feel uncomfortable with the tour provider at any time, do not book with them or ask to be returned back to your ship.
Destination Excursions: Sites like museums, historical places or natural attractions, especially in regions like Europe and Alaska, are often best seen with a knowledgeable tour guide. This is especially true if the attraction is a "must see" part of your trip. In this case, don’t risk it. Book the excursion with your cruise line. You’ll feel better knowing you’ll visit the exact places you want to see with a reliable tour operator. And often times, the organized shore excursions from the ships offer priority entrance and tickets to traditionally high demand attractions.
After your cruise: If you are looking to book an excursion for your pre or post cruise vacation, check out GreatPorts. They provide great information on all the attractions in every North American departure port as well as information on reliable independent tour operators.

A Look at the Queen

The much anticipated arrival of Cunard’s Queen Victoria is finally here. And Cunard fans couldn’t be happier. The hype and excitement over this new ship has been discussed for months now on almost every cruise media available .The christening of this ship took place yesterday by the Duchess of Cornwall and she’ll set sail on her maiden voyage on today.

So why all the hoopla over the Victoria? In the days of mega ships and every amenity imaginable available, it may seem somewhat surprising that cruisers are so excited by a ship that is relatively small in comparison. Weighing in at 90,000 tons, the Victoria is much smaller than the adored Queen Mary 2. And this is a key selling point for the many Cunard fans. One of the main criticisms of the Queen Mary is that the ship is too large and impersonal. This new, smaller vessel is said to focus on elegance and superior service that is reminiscent of the classic cruise liners of the past. And sneak peeks of the ship lead me to believe the designers may be right on target.

One of the grand features on the Victoria is the ballroom. Called the Queen’s Room, it boasts gold-leafed ceilings, crystal chandeliers and even hand-crafted inlaid wood floors. The ship also has the first at sea two story library complete with a spiraling staircase, a two floor shopping area and an authentic British Pub.

If elegance is the name of the game, then the Queen Victoria seems to be right on track. But will she live up to all the hype? I am certainly ready to hear what the inaugural passengers have to say. As always, we’ll keep you posted!

The Great Debate

Royal Caribbean’s new Genesis class ship will launch in October 2009. And with this new behemoth of a ship comes a vast array of questions. “Where will it dock?” and “Will it be too congested” are two of the top contenders. Considering the massive increase in the size of these ships (with the Freedom class measuring 154,000 tons to the Genesis class ships with a record breaking 220,000 tons), these questions definitely hold some weight.
Royal Caribbean has announced that both of the new ships will reside in Port Everglades, requiring one of the terminals to be remodeled to accommodate this influx of passengers. And who’s going to pay for this remodel? You guessed it! All future passengers will pay a surcharge of $5.70 when they arrive and leave. This is on top of the $9.95 port user charge that every passenger currently pays.
Is it fair? I guess that depends on how you look at it. This editor is a huge fan of Royal Caribbean’s city like ships, so I’m happy to pay the fee to travel on what will be the largest ship in the world. In the grand scheme of things, it just means I’ll skip those last two poolside Bahama Mama’s. But what about those of you that are skeptical? Is the fee worth it? Will you even like traveling with 5,000+ of your closest friends?
This is one of those crucial moments where you must reflect on what you value from a cruise vacation. Ask yourself the question “What is my favorite part of a cruise?” If your answer was a small ship atmosphere, with numerous intimate lounges and extremely personalized service, well then this class of ships may not be for you. But if onboard activities, fun atmosphere or sultry Caribbean ports came to mind, then these ships just might be your cup of tea.
One major task that Royal Caribbean will face is how they will manage this huge increase in passengers onboard. Dining arrangements and tender services are going to require a major overhaul as well as embarkation and disembarkation procedures. It will be interesting to see how they plan to serve 5,000 prime rib dinners in the typical 4 hour period allotted for dining. My guess? They’ll introduce multiple dining times and several dinning rooms along with multiple tender areas around the ship. Or follow in NCL’s footsteps and have open seating and allow passengers to choose times for disembarkation. This is also where the new surcharge comes in to play. $11.40 seems like a small price to pay for a more efficient embarkation terminal and system. Royal Caribbean’s plans are not yet published, but we’ll keep you posted as information becomes available. As for me, put my name on the passenger list! I know where I’ll be cruising in 2009.

Happy Sailing!
Michelle

From the Jungle to the Small Screen…

Well kind of! We’re proud to announce that Cruise Jungle has formed a partnership with VBN.tv to bring you all some great cruise related videos.

Coming soon, Jungle fans will be able to watch videos and programs featuring some of the worlds largest and most exciting cruise lines. The programs will be on-demand and interactive to give our viewers a whole new perspective on cruising. Currently VBN.tv broadcasts interactive children’s and family programming for entertainment and educational purposes. I’m personally excited to see what kind of insider tips and on-board videos are in store for us. This is a whole new way to find information on the cruising industry. We’ll keep you posted on when the first videos will be available. Until then, visit VBN.tv or check out our cruise line videos available on the site. www.cruisejungle.com/web/cj/video

Happy Sailing!