MSC Cruises USA sweetens inclusives for wave promotion

Posted on 7 January, 2015 by Spacejunkie2

MSC Cruises USA kicked off wave season by adding perks including up to $200 in shipboard credits, beverage packages and reduced deposits to its ‘Inclusive Experiences’ pricing categories. Plus, kids 11 and under sail free on all applicable wave season bookings.

Value-added benefits are based on the Inclusive Experience category and stateroom selected.

Among the benefits for the Bella Experience are up to $50 to spend on board and reduced deposits of $100 per person for ocean-view and balcony staterooms.

For Fantastica Experience pricing, ocean-view and balcony staterooms receive up to $100 per room to spend on board, reduced deposits of $100 per person, and a drinks package consisting of 12 vouchers per person for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

In addition, Fantastica Experience customers always receive a premium location stateroom, priority choice of early or late dining, 50% off all fitness classes and personal training, free room service delivery between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. and enhanced recreational activities for children including cooking and foreign language classes.

Aurea Experience and MSC Yacht Club passengers in balcony staterooms and suites receive up to $200 per room to spend on board and reduced deposits of $100 per person.

In addition, Aurea Experience passengers always receive ‘My Choice Dining’ flexible times, priority boarding, an all-inclusive beverage package, a spa package, access to the exclusive adults-only Top 18 sun deck and all the perks associated with the Fantastica Experience.

MSC Yacht Club passengers always get an all-inclusive VIP club level experience with priority check-in and check-out, butler service, dedicated 24-hour concierge, exclusive Top Sail lounge and pool, 24/7 complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available within the Yacht Club area and a private MSC Yacht Club restaurant.

The wave season promotion applies to select Caribbean, Bermuda, Europe, Canary Islands and trans-Atlantic ‘grand voyages’ that are five days or longer and booked between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15.

In addition, MSC Cruises USA is extending its 18% flat commission for all 2015 and 2016 Caribbean group bookings on MSC Divina to Jan. 31, 2015.

9 Fun Facts about Cruise Lines

Posted on 29 December, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

9 Fun Facts about Cruise Lines:

1. An average cruise ship could have six huge diesel engines producing one hundred four horse powers and guzzling three thousand gallons of fuel per hour.

2. Cruise ships on modern design can actually cost about six hundred sixty million dollars.

3. There are nine brand new ships that entered service around the North America coast line every year.

4. A modern luxury cruise vessel is able to be built, fitted out and tested in one-and-a half years though it usually takes about three years.

5. On the average, there are one hundred five thousand meals are prepared every single week onboard a cruise ship. The meals include twenty thousand pounds of beef, twelve thousand pounds of chicken and twenty eight thousands of eggs.

6. There are about one thousand crew members on board the average ships to cater to passengers every need. These people are experts from engineers to waiter to navigators.

7. A modern cruise liner are able to hold three thousand passengers aboard in an absolute luxury.

8. Caribbean is the most popular cruising destination in the world with almost every cruise line operator.

9. The cruise line industry produces two thousand five hundred fifty five gallons of gray water and thirty thousand gallons of black water every single day. Gray waters are wastes from sinks, showers and bath while black waters is what you flush down the toilets.

Caribbean cruises losing market share, says Cruise Holidays

Posted on 10 December, 2014 by Spacejunkie2

A smaller percentage of cruisers have booked Caribbean sailings for 2015, according to a forecast by Cruise Holidays International.

The survey shows 50.5% of cruise bookings for next year have the Caribbean as their destination, down from 54.8% in 2014.

Europe is gaining, with 12% of ocean cruises booked there next year, up from 10.4%. European river cruises account for 6.7% of bookings, up from 5.7% last year.

Cruise ship capacity in the Caribbean peaked in 2014 and is currently scheduled to begin declining in the second quarter of 2015, leaving fewer available berths.

The 2015 Cruise Trends forecast is based on bookings by 1,300 agents affiliated with Cruise Holidays.

A Dutch waterways cruise beginning in Amsterdam again is the most popular river cruise for 2015, followed by the Rhine/Main/Danube cruise through Central Europe, the Rhine Valley cruise, and a cruise through France on the Seine and Rhone rivers.

River cruises departing from two cities in Myanmar joined the list of top five non-European river cruises, after cruises departing from Beijing and Shanghai (tied for first) and one departing Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.
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