Cruise incidents haven’t put customers off, research shows

Posted on 17 June, 2013 by Spacejunkie2

Cruise incidents haven’t put customers off, research shows

Recent issues in the cruising industry haven’t put customers off, as new research shows there are significant opportunities for travel agents to capitalise on cruise holidays.

Research by Amadeus revealed the media coverage of negative issues with cruises has had little impact on perceptions of cruises.

More than 40% of those polled said the coverage of incidents such as Costa Concordia and sporadic outbreaks of norovirus had not put them off cruising. A further 8% weren’t aware of any media coverage of issues on cruise holidays.

Of the 2,000 UK adults surveyed, 8% said they may book a cruise holiday in the next 12 months.

The Caribbean was the dream destination for most when asked where they would most like to go on a cruise holiday from a set list. More than a fifth of people (21%) opted for the Caribbean, 15% said the South Pacific and Australia and 11% said the Mediterranean was their choice. A third of people asked said waking up in a new place almost every day attracting them to cruises

In addition, 32% of those polled said they would be tempted to go on a cruise holiday if they were of lower or comparable cost to an all-inclusive holiday. Four in ten people said they perceive cruises as too expensive and additional costs such as drinks and tipping were of concern to some.

Rob Sinclair-Barnes, director of marketing for Amadeus UK and Ireland, said: “These findings should make for very pleasing reading for the UK’s travel agents and cruise providers, as they show there are enormous opportunities to sell cruises in 2013 and beyond.

“However, there are still plenty of opportunities for cruise providers and sellers to communicate the various offerings more effectively: there’s still a perception that cruise holidays are for the older traveller, and that they’re expensive – despite sustained efforts by the industry to broaden its appeal to a younger clientele, where value for money is a key criteria.”

Carnival Triumph returns to duty!

Posted on 15 June, 2013 by Spacejunkie2

Carnival Triumph returns to duty!

The Carnival Triumph has successfully undergone repair-work following its ill-fated engine failure and subsequent problems in Alabama, and is now ready to return to active duty.

Extensive work was required to address damage caused by the engine room fire that left 3,143 passengers and more than 1,000 crew stranded for five days without power in February.

Originally, this work had been scheduled to take place at the BAE Shipyard in Mobile, Alabama. However, the ship ran into further problems here, undergoing extensive exterior damage after a freak storm caused the vessel to break free of its moorings and drift into a dredger.

Following these various setbacks, the Triumph was moved to Grand Bahama Shipyard in May, where it could finally undergo the repairs that were required.

As well as being fixed up, the vessel has also been equipped with new emergency power capabilities to avoid a repeat of the February incident, when Carnival came under severe pressure from the cruise industry press after passengers stranded on the ship were left without running water.

It has also been fitted with improved fire safety technology and new operating redundancies that were developed as part of the $300 million (£190 million) fleet-wide review that Carnival carried out after the Triumph incident.

According to Seatrade-Insider, Carnival also took the opportunity while the ship was out of action to give it a bit of a makeover as well, with enhanced dining and bar venues, including a new Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, Alchemy Bar and EA Sports Bar.

Upon returning to Galveston in Texas today, the Triumph will now resume its schedule of cruises to Cozumel and Progreso in the Caribbean.

But while the ship may look as good as new, it appears that passengers have not yet forgiven and forgotten. In fact, a recent poll of US adults by Harris Interactive indicated that people are less trusting of major cruise lines than they were before the Triumph incident. Unsurprisingly, faith in Carnival Cruises appears to have been shaken the most.

How do you feel about the state of the industry and its major players following the Triumph debacle?

Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, names Royal Princess

Posted on 14 June, 2013 by Spacejunkie2

Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, names Royal Princess

By Tom Stieghorst

SOUTHAMPTON, England — Under a gray but rain-free sky, a crowd of several hundred witnessed the official naming of the Royal Princess, the newest Princess Cruises ship, by British royalty. Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, was the godmother. (Click here or on the photo to view images from the event.)

The duchess snipped a cord that sent a magnum of champagne to break on the bow of the ship and triggered a blizzard of blue and white confetti.

The 3,560-passenger ship received a blessing from the Right Reverend Tim Dakin, Bishop of Winchester, who asked God for his “blessing on all who sail in her.”

The ship’s captain, Tony Draper, assisted the duchess, bowing slightly and asking, “Your highness, will you name my ship?”

Dark clouds had threatened to move the christening indoors, but by 11:30 a.m. London time, they had lifted enough to allow the planned dock-side pageantry to go forward.

The entertainment included the Pipers of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, and the Royal Marines Band Portsmouth, as well as contemporary singers Natasha Bedingfield and Kerry Ellis.

As is customary, many of the British women in the audience were decked out in hats and feathery headpieces called fascinators for the occasion.