Sorry to be negative, but I I just cannot get excited about P&O’s forthcoming ‘Azura’ which will enter service in April 2010. In fact I did not get excited about her sister ‘Ventura’, which entered service in 2008…
Please see Menu right (Industry Comment) for the full article.
Malcolm
“Royal Caribbean (RCI) has intensified competition in the ex-UK cruise market by opting to base one of the world’s three largest ships year-round in the UK for the first time. The 4,000-berth Independence of the Seas (IOS), which in 2007 was the first new ship the line dedicated to the UK, will sail its first ex-UK winter season out of Southampton in 2010″.
Will Brits want to cruise from Southampton in the winter?
Loyal readers will recall that I discussed this announcement a few post back, when the news first broke. Well, given the amount of discussion generated on the net chat forums, that I have decided to take a closer look at the announcement.
One of the biggest questions surrounding the announcement is whether Brits really want to cruise from a cold and often wet Southampton in the winter? P&O and just about every other cruise line do not think so. All of the P&O ships either reposition to warmer waters, such as the Caribbean, or undertake world cruises during the winter. Some ships of the smaller operators are even laid-up each winter, due to low demand.
Here are some of the comments from the ‘cruisetalk’ chat forum members:
• “I can’t help but feel that RCI are pushing their luck with these mega-ships, during the current financial downturn.
• “Don’t want to appear rude but why would anyone want to cruise out of Southampton in winter”.
• “…which is why UK based ships disappear off for the first 3+ months of the year. Independence of the Seas arrived yesterday from her repositioning cruise. I was talking to someone who came off her and all he kept going on about was the crowds all of the time. Different in warmer climes, but is not ideal for our weather most of the year”.
• “This seems like a great move to me. IOS has been receiving great reviews during the last summer season from British passengers in comparison to very mediocre ones from P&O Ventura and Norwegian Jade…RCL seem to be really getting a proper grip on the UK Market”.
• “With IOS clearly designed for the US market of shorter 7 night cruises in the Caribbean, I would like to see how it is going to handle longer cruises of up to 18 nights…”
• “I can’t see it. There may be some demand for winter cruises, but I don’t think it’s for ex-Southampton cruises”. “IOS seems to have found a niche in the UK. Her yields are some of the best in the RCI fleet and the people seem to love her”.
Another important factor to consider when studying RCI’ move is the fact that Independence of the Sea will be offering 11 night and 18 night cruises in the winter. Now we Brits do enjoy longer cruises, which probably stems from the fact that we often take a couple of weeks leave in the summer. However, if I was going to cruise from Southampton in the winter, it probably would NOT be my main holiday; therefore I would not want a longer cruise. A one week or mini-cruise would suit me better. However a ship can’t get too far from Southampton in one week, apart from the Norwegian Fjords and the nearer European ports. She certainly cannot reach any guaranteed sun in one week, return. I bet RCI will have to offer some fantastic fares for an 18 night cruise in January and February 2010.
On a positive note, I certainly feel that the increased security measures at UK airports makes flying to your cruise more aggravating than ever before. Maybe RCI are right. Maybe British cruising is not all about sunshine. Cruises to the Baltic States, around the British Isles and the Norwegian Fjords are all very popular in the summer months. Although these are fascinating itineraries, sunbathing on deck cannot be guaranteed, even in July and August.
Cunard’s occasional winter transatlantic crossings are also very popular – but hardly attract beach-bums. Ships like Independence of the Seas certainly have a wide range of interior public rooms, dining options, entertainment and an indoor ’street’ which are all ideal facilities when the outer decks are unusable. Who knows, a breathtaking ship coupled with competitive fares may wake the British masses from our usual winter hibernation.
Malcolm Oliver
The exact detail of the QE2 Dubai/Palm Jumeirah Hotel project are still somewhat secretive, in fact one wonders if Dubai-owned Nakheel have even fully decided yet, assuming the funding is available in the current economic climate. Little seems to have actually happened apart from the Cunard logos have been removed from the QE2.
The concept model revealed a few post earlier, surely give us an idea of how extensive the remodelling of the QE2 might be. The image below is one I have not seen before, hence I decide to share it with you.
Concept rendering
May 7, 2009 : Norwegian Cruise Line today unveiled the contemporary hull design which will adorn Norwegian Epic, the company’s largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship to date, scheduled for delivery in May 2010. In addition, the company will begin taking reservations for Norwegian Epic’s 2010/2011 inaugural season on Thursday, May 21, 2009, with a special preview day for Norwegian’s past guests (Latitudes members) on Wednesday, May 20, 2009.
Norwegian Epic’s hull artwork, designed by the company’s internal marketing team, is painted on both sides with free form rolling waves of varying sizes that run through a modern color spectrum of lime, aqua, red, and purple and are dotted by silver circles.
Norwegian Epic’s hull design is a departure from the rest of the line’s signature hull artwork which typically is inspired by the ship’s name or the destination the ship sails from. Instead, the hull artwork on Norwegian Epic takes on the characteristics of the ship’s interior features – a sophisticated, modern and sleek design and color palette that is seen in everything from the innovative curved design of the New Wave staterooms to the more contemporary design of the ship’s public areas.
“A Norwegian Cruise Line ship is instantly recognizable with its distinctive hull art that conveys each ship’s personality and the freedom and flexibility that is found on board,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “With Norwegian Epic, we are taking Freestyle Cruising to the next level, so it is fitting that her hull artwork conveys more of the modern, sleek design guests will find once they are on board the ship.”
(NCL)
Malcolm says: It’s funny, we used to complain about the very existence of hull-art, but now most of us accept it. NCL sure have used a lot of words in their press release to describe Epic’s almost ‘understated’ hull art. I was expecting something more innovative (over-the-top). I’m almost disappointed.
Its been reported that BLACK PRINCE has been sold to Servicios Acuaticos de Venezuela CA (SAVECA) for cruising in Venezuelan waters. She will be handed over in October when she retires from Fred Olsen service. Her farewell cruise is 2nd to 16th October 2009, to the Canaries from Southampton, return.
Malcolm Says: I believe that she will need upgrading to the new SOLAS (maritime safety) regulations which I assume Olsen thought was too costly for such an old/small ship. Her accommodation is now very dated, so not ideal for a Hotel. Therefore I’m surprised that she has found a buyer (if it’s true).
Please see my article ‘Goodbye Black Prince’, menu left.
This blog is one year old this month. It has had approximately 70,000 hits, which averages at nearly 200 per day. This is not bad considering I do not do anything to promote the blog. Thanks to all those that have contributed.
Southampton’s new £19 million ‘Ocean Terminal’ is due to handle its first ship, P&O’s Oceana on the 9th of May.
Above: The new 'Ocean Terminal' or is it an Airport terminal?
Image copyright Pam Massey 09
Now I’m all in favour of more terminals and more ships. It will have 40 check-in desks, I’ve read! That’s great, apart from the fact that they will of course only ever staff 10 at once. Sorry to be pessimistic, but also unless they have done something major to the Southampton roads, I can only predict more ‘Gridlock’.
A Southampton baggage manager once told me: “The passenger capacity of many ships has double in size but they have only given my team of eight, two extra men”.
Good news for ship-spotters. A spokesman for Associated British Ports, owners and operators of the city’s docks, said: “Members of the public will be allowed into an area of the terminal where they will have excellent views of the vessels.
“There may be times when the public will be stopped from entering the terminal as access to the building will always be dependent on the security and operational requirements in the port.’’ No other area of the docks will be open to the public and details of when and how visitors can enter the terminal have yet to be finalised.
This is what the new terminal will NOT look like:
Above: The original and beautiful Art Deco 'Ocean Terminal'
BBC Video:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/8041620.stm
(Welcome http://www.cruisingtalk.com )
The HAL blog has photos of the Veendam’s refit in Freeport. She’s getting a reverse make-over making her stern more uglier than before. New aft balcony cabins and additional deck require the instalment of a ducktail for stability. Also, the bridge wings are being extended result.
Before
After!
Now some commentators (my Friend sread) have said: “Who cares what a ship looks like from the outside, because you can’t see it from the inside? It’s the experience for passengers who are on board that matters more, I would have thought”. “I imagine HAL will pay more attention to people on the inside pee(r)ing out, than those on the outside pee(r)ing in”.
Sread has summed up the difference between a ‘cruise passenger’ and a ’ship nut’. Would you buy a car that you thought looked ugly, even if you could not see it when you drive? I know ship nuts that would just not cruise on an ugly ship.
Just imagine the embarrassment of walking back to the port to board a monstrosity, especially if a more attractive ship were berthed nearby. A true ship nut would have to wear a disguise. It would be like a car park full of BMW’s and you had to walked back to your Reliant Robin – oh the shame.
Another friend, PamM, says “She now looks like Norwegian Epic sailing back-wards”.
However I do agree that HAL, NCL et al are not at all worried about us few ship-nuts.
I have written a whole article about ship aesthetics called ‘Do Looks Matter’ (see menu right).
In this age of mega-ships (or are they now ultra-ships) have you ever wondered what cruising on a very small ship would be like?
I was lucky enough to tour the ‘Hebridean Princess’ a ship of 2,112 gross tons (Oasis will be around 220, 000 gross tons) and carying just 49 passengers (Oasis will carry 5,400 passengers). In fact Oasis’s lifeboats will carry more passengers that Hebridean Princess does.
However, big is not always best , trust me. You can read my ship visit reviw, menu right.
This model will give you an idea of what they plan to do to the QE2 to convert her into a floating hotel in Dubai. On the Christies site it states: This model is number two (of three) prepared for the company responsible for QE2’s current conversion and from which final decisions were made for the historic ship’s eventual appearance, both inside and out, in her new role as a floating hotel.
The Original
Concept model showing extra decks added
Does that mean this is one of the concepts that was not accepted and that the actual conversion will be based on a different model or is pretty close? As for “what do I think of it”: If it was a model for the conversion of the SS United States, bringing her back to service, I’d say ‘not bad’ really – but it’s not. The oringinal QE2 is dead.
However I do see their need to expand the accommodation and public rooms if she’s going to be a successful luxury hotel. I notice that she has no lifeboats, but of course she will not need them, however I’d like to have seen them remain. After all the Queen Mary Hotel still has hers (although I undertstand that they may be reproductions as the original ones rotted).
You can buy the model if you are rich. See the link to Christies for more information:
A decade ago I was complaining that the big new cruise ships, that were so commonplace in North American waters, rarely visited our shores. For Brits, our choices were limited to a number of smaller/older vessels. I must admit that this situation made me feel a little jealous about the variety of ships available to the North American market.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-smaller/older ships, in fact I love them, but I also enjoy the range of facilities and choices that the new ultra-ships offer. Luckily for us, since then a lot has changed and the UK market now has a larger choice of big new ships than ever.
To top it off, Royal Caribbean has just made a very exciting announced, which is quite a milestone for ex-UK cruising. They are going to base ‘Independence of the Saes’ (currently one of the world’s three largest ships) year-round in the UK. The 4,000-berth vessel will sail its first ex-UK winter season out of Southampton in 2010. It will offer two itineraries: 11-night Canaries cruises and 18-night trips to the Mediterranean.
Robin Shaw, Royal Caribbean’s managing director said he was “confident” there was pent-up demand for an ex-UK winter programme. “This reflects our confidence in the underlying strength of the UK market, which I’m convinced, could double or treble in the near future.”
This news is in sharp contrast to NCL who will no longer be offering any ex-UK cruises in 2010. I must admit that filling such a very big ship as IOS with passengers, every two weeks, or so, sounds like a big challenge. After all our island only has 60 million people, compared to North America with 300 million. However, the UK is now the worlds second biggest cruise market behind North America, which is quite impressive for such a small country. For example, nearly 1.5 million Brits took a cruise in 2008.
Some industry observers feel that the Caribbean is becoming oversaturated. RCI probably don’t agree as ‘Oasis of the Seas’, their up and coming world beater, will be based there in late 2009. So will NCL’s ‘Norwegian Epic’, another new leviathan.
I suspect that we Brits are prepared to pay more for our cruises than our American friends. In fact we seem to pay more for just about everything. We certainly have not had a tradition of the very low cruise fares that the ships operating in American waters sometimes offer. Fares of around £100+ ($150 approx) per person, per night, for an inside cabin, has not been unusual for ex-UK cruises. Brits also have quite a passion for cruises longer than a week; often 12-14 night durations are very popular.
Southampton will be the battle ground for the war between Carnival (P&O/Cunard) and Royal Caribbean. I think P&O cruises in particular, should be worried. IOS will be directly competing with P&O’s biggest ship dedicated to Brits. P&O’s ‘Ventura’ is based at Southampton where IOS will arrive next year.
P&O’s forthcoming ‘Azura’ will be an adults only vessel, unlike IOS which is family orientated, so it may not be directly in the firing line. In addition IOS will compete for the mass market with Thomson’s fly-cruises. Thomson may be able to match or undercut RCI fares, but RCI win in terms of their big state-of-the-art ship.
Cunard (also based at Southampton) are more upscale than RCI, so again, they may not be in direct competition. Fred Olsen and Saga appeal to a more mature British passenger.
Despite these differences, however all the above may all feel the pinch a little as RCI ramps up its search for passengers. This is because there is a breed of cruise passengers that are not particularly loyal to any one cruise line, and jump from ship to ship, chasing the lowest fares. I would be quite surprised if all the lines emerge from the upcoming battle completely unscathed. I expect there will be some blood spilt.
In the end though, competition will be good for the UK consumer and should drive UK cruise fares down. However as UK cruising increasingly becomes more mass-market, some observers fear that the lower fares will begin attracting a lower class of passenger with lower standards of behaviour which could affect the cruise experience of more traditionally minded fellow passengers.
Additionally, general onboard quality and standard service could fall as the cruise lines penny-pinch, in order to become more competitive. This could also be coupled with the loss of many of the traditional aspects of cruising. For some it might not matter if there is no chocolate on the pillow each night or no Gala midnight buffet. However, to others it would represent a dramatic slip in standards. Only time will tell.
Royal Caribbean has intensified competition in the ex-UK cruise market by opting to base one of the world’s three largest ships year-round in the UK for the first time.
The 4,000-berth Independence of the Seas, which in 2007 was the first new ship the line dedicated to the UK, will sail its first ex-UK winter season out of Southampton in 2010.
The line said the decision was based purely on its confidence in the UK market. But it also represents a further challenge to the dominance of P&O Cruises in its Southampton home port.
The repositioning of Independence will be more than made up for in the Caribbean winter season with Royal’s new bigger 5,400-passenger ships, in 2010 and 2011, according to Robin Shaw, Royal Caribbean’s managing director.
He said he was “confident” there was pent-up demand for an ex-UK winter programme.
“The shoulder periods in late April and November have proved very, very successful with Independence, so this is an extension of something we already do,” he said.
“This reflects our confidence in the underlying strength of the UK market, which I’m convinced could double or treble in the near future.”
Independence’s winter 2010-11 programme will add 15 cruises to the UK market and go on sale on June 1. It will offer two itineraries – 11-night Canaries cruises and 18-night trips to the Mediterranean – with prices leading in at £799.
I am recently back from a 7 night ‘Colourful Coasts’ cruise on ‘Thomson Celebration’. So wa sit cheap? Are they second rate? Was the ship full of Chavs?
Celebration 29/3/09 Santa Cruz, La Palma
I’ve written a ridiculously long (extensive) review of the ship/cruise telling you how it really is: warts and all. Please see menu right.
Malcolm
Wednesday 8th April – Norwegian Epic’s bow added at STX Europe in St. Nazaire, France.
Have you notied how young and ‘fit’ the passengers look in NCL’s ‘Norwegian Epic’ renderings and those of ‘Oasis’ etc? In fact have you noticed how everybody in the media today, looks like a models.
Epic's Virtual Passengers
However, there was a time that the media used ordinary people. Just look at the image below from the back of a 1979 Fred Olsen cruise brochure:
http://www.travelserver.net/travelpage/aspgallery/pictures/Ad_3240_2.jpg
Do you think that they would use these type of ‘real’ people today? I think not.
Thomson Cruises to focus on eastern Med Thomson Cruises is to position a ship in Turkey next summer as part of a focus on the Eastern Mediterranean The Thomson Celebration will run new itineraries from Marmaris in Turkey. The company is also relocating the Thomson Spirit to Corfu for 2010.
Thomson Destiny (Ex RCI 'song of America')
Thomson Celebration’s fly-cruises from May next year will cover destinations including Izmir, Santorini, Alexandria and Ashdod in Israel with prices starting at £779 per person. Thomson Spirit will sail from Corfu to Venice, Dubrovnik, Kotor in Montenegro, Athens and Rhodes with rates starting at £749.
TUI UK & Ireland director of cruising David Selby said: “Our new summer 2010 programme reaffirms our belief that the Eastern Mediterranean is the next cruising hotspot for the UK market, it reflects our ongoing commitment to our customers and what we believe they are looking for when booking a cruise holiday. “The launch of a brand new full season of cruises from Marmaris in Turkey with flights from 12 UK airports offers our customers easy access to an exciting and popular area of the Mediterranean.”
Thomson Destiny will run three itineraries from Palma with departures on Saturdays rather than Thursdays with connecting flights from 14 UK airports. Prices start at £699. The line is retiring smallest ship Calypso at the end of 2009 after a summer of cruises from Halkidiki and an seven-night farewell voyage from Limassol.
(Phil Davies – Travelmole)
(Malcolm Says: Don’t worry about those fares, Thomson offer some very good discounts especially nearer departure).
Norwegian Cruise Line implemented a number of initiatives in 2008 that have led to record results and improved financial performance even within a challenging economic environment.
Highlights from 2008 included the augmentation of its senior management team with both seasoned managers and industry veterans; enhancement of its onboard product with the full implementation of Freestyle 2.0; significant improvement in the way it conducts business with its travel partners through Partnership 2.0; realignment of its Hawaii operations; restructuring of its new build program; and a keen focus on managing and streamlining its cost structure.
Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Chief Executive Officer said: “We worked diligently in 2008 to transform the Company…the result is a new Company, one that is extremely focused on customer service, financial performance and is well poised to come through this difficult period.”
Outlook In the first few months of 2009, NCL experienced strong bookings with a rise of 15% year-over-year through March 15, 2009. In addition, the new Groups 2.0 program, launched in December, saw a threefold increase in group staterooms blocked compared to the same time last year.
In 2009, NCL said that it will return the last of its older chartered ships (Norwegian Majesty) to Star Cruises, completing the transformation of its fleet to 100% modern ships purpose-built for Freestyle Cruising. NCL said that it is eagerly anticipating the arrival of its next generation of Freestyle Cruising ship, Norwegian Epic, scheduled for delivery in May 2010. The arrival of Norwegian Epic represents the next step in this exciting evolution of NCL’s fleet.
(Malcolm: Good news, only a year or two ago it looked like NCL might even go bust especially after they seriously misjudged the demand for Hawaiian cruises.)
Above: Jade in Barcelona, june 08
Hi readers, I have a very comprehensive ship review of NCL’s ‘Norwegian Jade’ (Ex ‘pride of Hawaii’) based on my 14 night Mediterranean cruise (southampton return).
I hear that Jade will NOT be sialing from any UK ports in 2010, so this is your last chance to try her on your own doorstep.
So how has Jade changed formher ‘Pride of Hawaii ‘ days?
Does she still have any Hawaiian decor?
So does ‘Freestyle’ dining actually work?
Is NCL’s food and service second rate?
What’s all this about dining surcharges?
How will Brits enjoy this American experience?
All is revealed in my review; see my ‘pages’, menu right. (But don’t bother looking if you only have a few mins to spare, it’s a very big read!)
“The October 2010 Maiden Voyage for Cunard’s new ocean liner Queen Elizabeth, which was placed on worldwide sale to past guests at 8:00 a.m. 1st April, sold out in a record 29 minutes – easily making this the fastest selling voyage in Cunard’s 170-year history. In fact, this voyage sold out quicker involving more guests than QE2’s Final Voyage when it set a previous Cunard sell-out record of 36 minutes in June 2007.” (Cunard)
So why did it sell out in 29 mins I ask?
So much for that ‘Credit Crunch’. This proves that Cunardival were right about the vista idea: “you can fool most of the people most of the time”.
Having done a crossing on the Queen victoria, I cannot get excited about the Queen Elizabeth. I’m sure that she will be nice but so are many other newbuilds. She’s not even a real ‘liner’ she’s just an assembly-line ‘vista’ cruise ship like many others out there, but with posher decore.
Comments welcome.
Yes I’m just back from a 7 night ‘Colourful Coasts’ cruise on ‘Thomson Celebration’ and it was great.
Celebration 29/3/09 Santa Cruz, La Palma
The Thomson cruise experience is an interesting one. Most UK passengers book ‘direct’ with their web site. The fares go up and down like ’stocks and shares’ – you get the fare at the time you book. Although they do have some excellent late deals, if you booked in advance you may well pay £100 per person, per night, like P&O etc. Hardly ‘budget’ at all.
So what suffers for the sometimes low fares? Well Thomson own their own airline which keeps fly/cruise prices down. The passengers embark at one of three ports and disembark at the same port a week later – it sounds a logistical nightmare, but it worked like clockwork.
The main dining room generally had open sitting, but their was never much of a queue (NCL take note). The food and service was excellent – better than NCL Jade’s non-fee dining rooms and better than I experienced on Cunard’s ‘M’ grade. It was certainly on a par with RCI’s, possibly better. It outshone some of Olsen’s food too. The lido buffet was good, serving many British favourites, but it was rarely very exotic.
'Horizons' Obervation Bar, formerly HAL's 'Crows Nest'
The entertainment was nearly all provided by their on-board entertainment team. They did six production shows in a week, one play, several deck parties and selected singers provided evening cabaret. I think most passengers rated them as good-excellent, outshining many of the major cruise lines.
I suppose the one weak area is that the ship has obviously not had any recent multi-million pound refits. However it is generally in good shape, but the cabins look a little dated and some furniture looks a little tired.
Curiously, some of her decor (much of which still has many original HAL features) reminds me of the QE2 – even though she was built 15 years later. I understand that when Noordam was new she had a ‘retro’ style. The show lounge for example has two levels, the upper being a mezzanine balcony. Both floors have corridors passing though them, like on-board the QE2.
The crew were excellent and tips were included in your fare, which proves that good service can be achieve without the primitive ‘carrot and stick’ approach favoured by most other lines.
Generally I did not feel that I was on a ‘budget’ cruise at all. I will be writting a full (very long) review shortly.
