Coming soon to a port near you

By Tom Stieghorst

*InsightNext year’s cruise ships have yet to arrive but, borrowing a page from the movie industry, cruise lines are starting to provide online trailers of their coming attractions.

Several of the industry’s most anticipated ships are being previewed in videos that can show agents and customers what they might be buying if they reserve a spot on the next newbuild.

Cruise lines have been producing these videos for a while, but they’re growing increasingly elaborate. They’re a great tool to build excitement for what is likely a premium sale.

According to a recent survey of Cruise Holidays agents, no ship is more anticipated than Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas, due to enter service next November from New York/New Jersey.*TomStieghorst

The ship will have lots of firsts, including the first skydiving simulator, the first bumper cars and a giant mechanical arm that will take occupants of a glass capsule up and over the side of the ship.

All are prominently displayed on Royal Caribbean’s website in an eight-minute video that includes a lot of sophisticated 3-D imagery of a ship that physically has yet to be created.

On hand to narrate is actress Kristin Chenoweth, the ship’s godmother, along with RCCL chairman Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean International President Adam Goldstein and actress Estelle Harris of “Seinfeld” fame, who is allowed to take a few playful digs at Fain in the skydiving segment.

At eight minutes, the video done by visual effects house Brewster Parsons, is distinctive, if a bit long for the attention span of the average cruise shopper. But it is entertaining, full of cameos from the likes of magicians Penn & Teller, and there’s a lot of new ground to cover to explain all of Quantum’s special features.

At 2 minutes, 18 seconds, the video for the Norwegian Getaway, due in February, is much easier to digest. It is fast-paced, with no voiceover, and starts with an amazing tracking shot of the Waterfront entertainment area on the ship. The video soundtrack is full of marimbas and timbales, as befits a Miami-based ship, and there are several shots that capture the NCL logo on the ship’s stack so there’s no doubt whose ship it is.

Regal Princess, the sister ship to 2013’s Royal Princess, is such a close sibling that the Princess Cruises video promotes both at once. The length comes in at a manageable five minutes, the pacing is measured, and the ship’s features are explained by a soothing and neutral feminine voice.

Even ships that won’t debut until 2015 have videos, including a newly minted one for P&O Cruises’ Britannia, featuring executives on its newbuild team, and another for Viking Cruises’ Viking Star, a true departure for the river cruise company, that is briskly described by a British-sounding male narrator.

So if you have a spare moment, check out next year’s ships today. It has never been easier.

Royal Caribbean brings aboard ‘Mamma Mia!’

Royal Caribbean brings aboard ‘Mamma Mia!’

By Tom Stieghorst
Royal Caribbean International has licensed the Broadway show “Mamma Mia!” for the main stage show on Quantum of the Seas.

The show is built around the music of Swedish ’70s pop group Abba.

It is the fourth licensed Broadway production in Royal Caribbean’s Broadway at Sea lineup, which also includes “Chicago,” “Hairspray” and “Saturday Night Fever.”

Royal Caribbean said the news it had licensed the show was first released to viewers of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, in which it had entered a Quantum float.

The TV broadcast of the parade featured Quantum godmother Kristin Chenoweth aboard the float, lip synching a version of Frank Sinatra’s anthem “New York, New York.”

Royal Caribbean names Quantum of the Seas godmother

Royal Caribbean names Quantum of the Seas godmother

By Phil Davies

Royal Caribbean names Quantum of the Seas godmotherEmmy-winning US actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth is to be godmother to Royal Caribbean International’s new cruise ship Quantum of the Seas.

The 4,100-passenger vessel is due to enter service in autumn 2014 followed by sister ship Anthem of the Seas in spring 2015.

Chenoweth and host Seth MacFarlane sang the closing number at last night’s Oscars ceremony in Hollywood with the cruise line announcing her involvement in the new ship in adverts on US television during coverage of the awards.

Chenoweth was chosen for her effervescent personality and ability to wow audiences, the cruise line said.

“Her versatile range of roles made her a natural fit, given that Quantum of the Seas, set to debut in fall 2014, is poised to introduce unprecedented experiences and amenities only attainable on Royal Caribbean International,” the company added.

Chief executive Adam Goldstein said: “Our ships have always been designed for WOW and with Quantum of Seas, we are excited to introduce Quantum cruising and the ‘at sea’ firsts that our guests have come to expect from Royal Caribbean.

“We look forward to working with Kristen and having her officially name our ship when she is delivered in the fall of 2014.”

Chenoweth said: “I think the Royal Caribbean brand is the perfect match for me, especially with their history of providing exceptional entertainment experiences to their guests.”