There are some ports of call so special you never forget them. Sometimes it’s an extraordinary shore excursion, in other instances it’s breathtaking scenery, historic treasures or time spent exploring on your own. Picking out eight favorite ports isn’t easy, when there are incredible ones I’ve left off.

Kauai, Hawaii: Aptly name “the garden isle” Kauai is where I took the best shore excursion of my life. By high-speed zodiac we toured the Na’pali coast, where sheer cliffs rising thousands of feet are lined with lush green foliage and pristine deserted beaches. Close to shore dolphins leapt from the water as sea turtles languidly surfaced to breathe as we stopped for a picnic lunch.

New York: When standing on the deck of a cruise ship entering or leaving the harbor, one can almost feel the awe of millions of people who arrived in the United States to start a new life. The scenery is dramatic: gliding beneath the enormous Verrazano Bridge you pass the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island where immigrants were processed. Then, let yourself be engulfed by the “city that never sleeps”.

Prague. A highlight of a Rhine River cruise, this historic city is among Europe’s most enchanting cities. A guided walk takes you through Old Town to the famed Charles Bridge. After the tour, take the rest of the day to explore; see the Town Hall’s intricate 15th-century Astronomical Clock, spend time in Wenceslaus Square, visit one of Prague’s many delights.

Puerto Rico. Hanging out in San Juan for a day is a chance to indulge in two favorite activities: shopping and history. El Morro Castle towers over the harbor much as it did when the Spanish began construction in 1589 to ward off pirates including Sir Francis Drake in 1595. A short distance from the castle is the historic area, Old San Juan, where it’s fun to stroll the cobblestone streets and browse the through stores in search of resort clothing, jewelry and crafts.

Stockholm. Before arriving in this stunning port the ship pasts what seems like a thousand small islands dotted with cabins, summer cottages and elegant homes. I always visit the Vasa museum, which houses the restored vessel with the same name. Sunk in 1628, it was raised and re-assembled in 1961. And, don’t miss the grandest buildings in town, City Hall and the Royal Palace where King Carl XVI Gustaf lives.

Santorini: Entering the harbor is where the excitement begins. The island is perched 900 feet above the rim of an ancient volcano, accessible only by cable car or perched atop a donkey. When you reach the top, stroll narrow streets of cafes, restaurants and souvenir stands – when you can take your eyes off the spectacular view.

Vancouver: Many people begin and end an Alaska cruise in this city, which is worth at least an extra day for sightseeing. Ringed with high peaks, Vancouver is one of the most beautiful ports in the world; in fact, to spend a peaceful day and get completely emerged in nature, head for Stanley Park.

Venice: Venice is one of the world’s most magical cities, where one can feel history seeping through narrow stone alleyways. The all streets lead to the famous square, San Marco, where visitors marvel at sights like the St. Marks Church (constructed in 828), the opulent Doge’s Palace and clock tower.

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In the late 1990’s I decided ships had had become too big when a cruise line announced it was building a 2,500-passenger vessel.    The size was unimaginable.  I envisioned long lines and waiting to board and disembark.  Certainly there would be crowds at the lido café since people seemed to show up for breakfast and lunch at the same time.   And, a day at sea would be unbearable with all those people sunning by the pool.

If you, like me, think you don’t want to cruise aboard a big ship the odds are you’re as wrong as I was.   I found that, in the Caribbean, large ships can often be the most fun.

The two largest ships afloat – Royal Caribbean’s Allure/Oasis of the Seas – carry up to 6,000 passengers and 2,000 crew and are the most popular ships afloat.   And while these ships are big hits with families, they are also wildly popular with couples of all ages seeking a romantic escape at sea.

A larger ship doesn’t only mean there will be more passengers but there will be myriad dining choices.  Instead of eating each evening in the main restaurant, one can opt to make reservations and “go out” to dinner in a more intimate steakhouse or dine on French, Italian or Asian fare.   Superb ship designs ensures there’s no more of a wait in the lido restaurant at lunch than there is on a significantly smaller ship, even on a day at sea.

While aboard a smaller cruise ship one typically finds a theater for Las Vegas-style reviews, a cabaret, a bar or two, casino, disco and sports bar.  The newest behemoths, however, take nightlife to a whole new level.   In addition to a conventional stage shows you’re likely to find comedy clubs, champagne and martini bars, movie theaters, bowling (Norwegian Epic), ice skating shows (Royal Caribbean’s newer ships), a sing-along piano bar (Carnival) and Broadway-caliber performances like Blue Man Group (Norwegian Epic).

Part of the fun is strolling from one entertainment venue and bar to another after dinner, just to check out the action.  On Carnival and Royal Caribbean’s ships built in the last decade you’ll find central promenades that connect the evening entertainment.

If your idea of a wonderful day at sea is sunning on deck, you’ll find acres of space to do it.   On smaller ships those who avoid the sun, like me, could hang out on deck of sit alone in an empty lounge since nothing else was happening.   But today I can choose the atmosphere (with the masses, or a secluded adult area) or people-watch inside as passengers shop, linger over a pastry and espresso, visit the library, attend culinary classes, do yoga or just relax.

I was genuinely surprised that the wait to board and disembark enormous ships is minimal, no longer than much smaller vessels.   That’s because there are more elevators and gangways to accommodate a larger number of people.

You’ll still be able to watch the sun set on the horizon and sit on a deck chair as the world passes by.   And when you return to your stateroom it will be perfectly made up by the steward as you’ve been dining in elegant restaurants and spending a night on the town.

When You Should Definitely Pick A Much Smaller Ship

While I think the biggest ships are the best pick in the Caribbean and Mexico, I recommend much smaller vessels in Europe and Alaska.  In Europe the big ships can’t visit smaller ports that are frequently enchanting.   And, much of the fun of visiting Europe is strolling around ports like Venice.   Do you want to do that with over four thousand fellow cruisers?  And, if you have to tender to get back to the ship the waits can cut steeply into your sightseeing time.

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Welcome guest bloggers Arline and Sam Bleecker, two veteran writers who have been covering the cruise industry for over a decade.    In this post, they give useful information designed to help pick the perfect ship based on your personal interests and lifestyle.

Cruise lines have personalities too. Matching your personality to a cruise line is the best recipe for an outstanding vacation.     If you’re reserved, for instance, you wouldn’t dream of taking a cruise on a party boat.

Though finding the right cruise line ultimately is a matter of taste, we’ve put some lines on the couch to determine what makes each one tick. Here’s a brief sketch of some of the more popular lines.

Carnival Cruise Lines: the Lady Gagas of the seas. The13 Fun-Ships in this fleet bulge with eye-popping decor, miles of neon and million-dollar Broadway­style extravaganzas. The line also offers some of the best bargains at sea and surprisingly good food. Don’t forget the splash either. The 130,000-ton Carnival Dream, for instance, boasts the largest water slide afloat. But as cruise specialist Jean Mallory, of White Travel in West Hartford, Conn., notes: You will discover low fares but not necessarily a rowdy crowd.

The new Carnival is “not your old fraternity cruise line,” she says.

Norwegian Cruise Line: Restaurant row with ocean views. On this innovative line with 11 ships, you can dine in a bistro that rivals those in Paris or sate yourself on some of the freshest sushi and sashimi at sea. On Norwegian Epic, the line’s 150,000-ton flagship, not only can you feast on the most popular cuisines of the world in any of 20 specialty restaurants but also bust a gut watching Blue Man Group or Second City comedy.

Disney Cruise Line: Fantasy family vacations. All three Disney ships sparkle with pixie dust and the magical imaginations of the world’s best children’s entertainers. On the 2,500-passenger Disney Dream, even the portholes are animated seascapes.

Besides Minnie and Mickey, passengers can hiss at Disney villains, such as Capt. Hook and others, in “Villains Tonight,” the first full-scale musical production celebrating the dark side of cartoon characters.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines: Super sports complexes at sea. More than just the young and the restless can enjoy this line’s list of sports firsts: rock-climbing wall, surfing pool, ice-skating rink, bungee trampolines, boxing ring and a zip-line that soars high above the pool deck. With two sumo-size sister ships, the world’s largest, the 252,000-ton Oasis, and Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean even has enough real estate for a suite of suites overlooking its “Central Park,” a green space loaded with restaurants and a boardwalk.

Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises: The two little Italys. For a plethora of pastas and all things Italian, these independent lines (one based in Europe’s boot) offer passengers a taste of Roma. Both lines pride themselves on delivering a refined European experience distinct from competitors.

Just don’t mistake the lifeboats for gondolas.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises: TLC to the nth degree. On its three intimate all-suite vessels, the largest only 50,000 tons, passengers get it all, including complimentary shore excursions, wines and spirits, specialty dining, gratuities and signature uber-luxe pampering. You won’t dip into your pockets for much else on this all-inclusive line.

Princess Cruises: Love boats and more. Perennially romantic, Princess’ 17 vessels are an ageless destination for newlyweds and honeymooners seeking an amorous sanctuary and escape from routine. On Princess, couples can actually marry at sea. ShipCriticblog’s Anne Campbell says the line is undergoing a sea change: “Princess Cruises has evolved into one of the industry’s classiest cruise lines with beautiful contemporary ships, myriad dining options, outstanding itineraries and the best shore excursions in the industry.”

Cunard Line: The royal treatment since 1840. On Cunard’s iconic bevy of queenly monarchs – Mary, Victoria and Elizabeth – passengers can experience the ultimate in refined British traditions with white-glove afternoon tea service and renowned dining, especially in the Queen’s Grill, a restaurant reserved only for those traveling in each ship’s aerie of luxury suites. Designed for trans-Atlantic crossings, Cunard’s vessels remain the pond-hopping standard for bi­continentals. Mallory notes that these vessels “are for the classic romantic who appreciates an elegance of life aboard that only Cunard can deliver.”

Crystal Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line and Silversea Cruises: The triumvirate of tres-luxe lines. Can’t-go-wrong choices for those who want to visit unique places on the globe “Cosmo” style. According to Mallory, Crystal’s onboard enrichment programs are a particular treat, while “Silversea and Seabourn offer small, inti­mate ships that delight those wanting more diverse itiner­aries.”

Match your pocketbooks and personality to any of these for a tailor-made vacation.

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A story on CNN that says the world is divided between people who love cruises and people who hate them.   I’ve met plenty of people who swear they wouldn’t be caught dead on a cruise ship for predictable reasons:  they’ll be bored, don’t want to vacation with thousands of people,  take a tux, the thought of playing bingo and shuffleboard is horrifying and, as one friend said,  “it’s about as exclusive as a day at the New Jersey shore.”

The thing is, some regions of the world are best explored on a cruise, like the Greek Islands, the Baltic, Alaska, the Panama Canal and Antarctica.  Should you want to explore these destinations on your own it will either cost a fortune and be very, very exhausting or your touring will be extremely limited.  In fact you can only transit the Panama Canal by ship and experience the awesome natural beauty of Antarctica and Alaska by ship.

Have I got a cruise for you!

STAR CLIPPERS

How about a tall ship?  One of my favorite cruise experiences is setting sail aboard the authentic clipper ships of Star Clippers, the tallest and fastest clippers ever built.   The 170-passenger Star Flyer and Star Clipper and the 227-passenger Royal Clipper visit the lush rain forests of Costa Rica, the Canal Zone and Nicaragua; toniest ports in the Caribbean (think Bequia, Dominica, Guadeloupe) and many small exclusive ports in Italy, Greece and Croatia too small for conventional cruise ships.   The mix of passengers is roughly half American, half European.  You’ll find comfortable accommodations, single open seating; affordable rates for solo passengers, good food and the chance to pull ropes if you should be so inclined.   Per person, double occupancy fares start at $1975 for a seven day voyage.

AMERICAN SAFARI CRUISES

This company’s tiny cruise  ships visit Alaska, Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest and Baja, Mexico and is designed for people seeking an in-depth and personal experience with Mother Nature.    On a Baja cruise a whale breeches a few yards away while in Alaska bears, moose, eagles and whales are almost within reach.  The three ships their passenger capacity are: Safari Spirit (12 pax), Safari Explorer (40 pax) and Safari Quest (22 pax) and the fare (which start at $5595 for an eight day Alaska cruise) includes all alcoholic beverages, use of kayaks, snorkeling gear (Hawaii & Mexico), fishing gear (Alaska), airport transfers, exclusive shore excursions and massages (Safari Explorer).   Per person, double occupancy fares start at $5595 for an eight-day Alaska cruise.

Lindblad Expeditions/Nat. Geographic

You want the very, very best in nature travel, your style is LL Bean and you want to meet highly educated people like yourself.  Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic teamed up to provide the ultimate expedition cruise.  Of course you want photo tips from a National Geographic photographer, to learn nature, history and culture from a top expert.   While this company is known as being the best in  in Antarctica and the Galapagos,  it also offers cruises in the Baltic, eastern and western European ports, the Amazon and Nile rivers and South America.   National Geographic Endeavor (96 pax) National Geographic Explorer (148 pax),  the sister ships Sea Bird and Sea Lion (62 pax) and in the Galapagos, the 48 passenger National Geographic Islander.

SEA DREAM YACHT CLUB

Ever dreamed of cruising the Caribbean, Baltic and Mediterranean aboard a yacht?  Sea Dream Yacht Club delivers the experience aboard the 112-passenger sister ships Sea Dream 1 & 11, unpretentious but very sophisticated vessels.  Both have an aft platform that can be lowered to enable water skiing, swimming, banana boat rides, snorkeling and tubing.   In the Caribbean time is set aside for being served caviar and champagne at a deserted beach and in Europe you can hop off for night in St. Tropez and visit exclusive ports in Italy and Greece.  And when one of these super luxury ships pull in to Stockholm and St. Petersburg you will be noticed indeed.  One week Caribbean cruises start at $2799 per person, double occupancy.

RIVERBOATS

You’re really not up to the challenge of driving through Europe but still want the freedom to explore historic and cultural cities.  I have boats for you!   My riverboat cruise was exquisite:  we spent a few days in Prague then took a short ride to the Danube River stopping in Budapest, Brataslava, Melk.  While the cruise line provided shore excursions we were free to do whatever we liked.  And, since spent the night in port, we popped out to terrific restaurants (although the food on board was excellent.  Companies offering riverboat cruises include Viking River Cruises, AMAWaterways, Uniworld, Tauck Cruising, Avalon Waterways. and French Waterways.  Today you can take a riverboat cruise in Egypt, Vietnam and China as well.

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Granted, on Monday morning I’m frequently cranky.  So when I spotted another piece of irresponsible reporting about the cruise industry, this time on AOL News,  I decided I’ve had enough.

In “New Law Targets Dangers Aboard Cruise Ships“, the lead grabs your attention:   “Missing persons. Assault. Child molestation. Rape. Death. Those are some of the extras the cruise ship lines don’t tell you about,” according to writer Tori Richards.    It’s such an attention-grabbing lead paragraph I read on, even though I see this kind of article often enough to know what the gist will be.

As a good journalist should, Ms. Richard follows up with statistics from the FBI: “Last year, the FBI received reports of 349 incidents on cruise ships. It opened investigations into 32 cases involving “serious crimes” — including one death, three missing people, 20 sexual assaults and six assaults with great bodily injury.”

But what she failed to report is that in 2009, over 13 million people worldwide took a cruise, according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).    So 32 cases of “serious crime” makes cruising probably safer than visiting the Vatican.

Here’s another irresponsible overstatement:  “The industry suffered a black eye for the recent nightmare cruise aboard the Carnival Splendor, but that’s just a small sampling of the safety issues plaguing one of America’s favorite vacation modes”, she reports.

My idea of a “nightmare cruise” is the first and last voyage of the Titanic.   Of the roughly 4000 people aboard Carnival Splendor, which lost power off Mexico and had to be towed back to San Diego, there wasn’t one injury. If this is an example of the “safety issues” plaguing the cruise industry, I’d say we’re in pretty good shape.

So why are articles like this so common?

1)  Cruise ships are sexy. According to USA Today’s Gene Sloan, more visitors read articles about the Carnival Splendor incident than reviews of George Bush’s new book.    The “Today Show” and “Oprah!” were among major media covering the arrival of Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas as she arrived in her home port of Fort Lauderdale while she’s a nearly identical sister ship of Oasis of the Seas which arrived 12 months ago (major difference include the addition of Starbucks and a 3-D movie theater on the newer ship).

2) Sensationalistic reporting attracts readers. However, I believe that while most people prefer articles that entertain, they don’t want to sacrifice accuracy.   The article depicts cruise ships about as safe as strolling through Harlem in the 1970’s when the facts prove the opposite.

On the other hand, I’m sure AOL News gets a few more eyeballs than this website.  So, perhaps I should write about the recent rumor I heard about a cruise director who is a vampire and also large contributor to the proposed Islamic center in lower Manhattan?

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According to a USA Today reader poll, 27% of respondents answered positively to the question: does the stranding of Carnival Splendor in the Pacific “make you think twice about taking a cruise”?   Respondents who checked “Definitely. Spam dinners on vacation? No thanks!” (18%) or “I might wait a while before setting sail (9%) contrasted to 73% who agreed with the statement “Not at all. This is a rare occurrence“.

Frankly the poll results surprised me because it appeared in USA Today’s “Cruise Log”, where editor Gene Sloan covers the cruise industry, an area visited by people supposedly interested in cruise vacations.    However, since only about 10% of the population has taken a cruise vacation, I’m sure the percentage of people responding negatively would have been much higher on other websites, such as CNN or MSNBC.

After the initial coverage broke last Monday and it quickly became clear that passengers were in no danger, media coverage shifted to stories about privation:  “non functioning toilets”, “cold food”, “stranded at sea” and, of course, “SPAM!”   In  actual fact, no one was actually served the faux-meat delicacy, but it makes the story more exciting to believe they did.    There were a handful of “Are Cruise Ships Safe?” articles (the conclusion always reached that yes, they are indeed safe), but most people prefer a sensational story to a boring article about how Carnival crew swiftly and expertly brought the fire under control.

What is more illuminating are the comments about why people voted as they did.   For example reader plet39 wrote:  “This incident has no impact whatsoever on my view of cruising. Wasn’t interested in cruising before (gag!), and I’m still not” while another poster said “I’ve never thought highly of ocean cruising to begin with, so this incident does not change my opinion.”

Interestingly, the Carnival Splendor incident seemed to positively affect experienced cruisers and make them eager to take another seagoing vacation.    “The question is if this incident has changed my mind on cruises.You bet it has I am going to get off my backside and really start looking for a good deal now” responded one reader while another said “I would have traded with anyone on that cruise to have been there“.

In other words, if you’ve cruised before the stranding of Carnival’s ship wouldn’t keep you off another.   But if you’ve never taken a cruise the incident convince you to take one.

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I came across a survey that focuses on Americans summer vacation plans and the results aren’t terribly surprising given the state of the economy:

Public opinion polling firm StrategyOne recently surveyed more than 1,000 Americans about a range of topics and found that less than 3 in 10 Americans (28%) plan to take a summer vacation this summer.  Some 16% say they have not decided whether they will take a summer vacation or not, and more than half, 56%, have already ruled out taking a summer vacation.

However, according to CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), the cruise industry experienced 103% occupancy in 2009. (NOTE:  In 2007, the cruise industry realized 105% occupancy)   Now keep in mind occupancy is not revenue.  To lure people cruise lines slashed prices significantly and based on what I see ahead, that will continue.

Returning to the StrategyOne survey, the reasons so many Americans are forgoing travel this summer is concern about the price of gasoline (72%) and, of course, the economy.  Some 48% say they are spending less on vacations this year than last year.

So why do cruise ships continue to go out full in the worst economy since the great depression?

1.   In the airline industry, when occupancy drops, you park planes in the Mojave Desert and lay off crew.   You can’t do that with a cruise ship which must sail no matter what.  But by by dangling cheap fares ships fill up quickly.  And while revenue from ticket prices decreases, passengers are spending money aboard ship and the crew is getting paid.

2.  Homeland cruising.   As we all know, airfare prices are obscenely high and the experience of flying is awful.    Since 9/11, cruise lines learned that if they reposition cruise ships to different parts of the country, they’ll attract many people who wouldn’t ordinarily take a seagoing vacation.    Today cruising from New York is so popular the Manhattan piers couldn’t accommodate all the ships and passengers.   Royal Caribbean sails year-round from Bayonne, NJ and Cunard Line and Princess Cruises home port in Red Hook, Brooklyn.   Add to this ships sailing year-round from Baltimore, Charleston, New Orleans, Mobile and Jackson, Miss.     So millions of Americans have the option of parking their car for days as they run away to sea.

3.  During the last decade families have taken to cruising by the millions because it gives the biggest bang for the buck in travel.   Cruise lines go overboard building kid-friendly attractions (water slides on deck are ubiquitous) and incredible separate programs for children ranging from tots to teens.   The big news is none of this costs a nickel more; there is no charge for rock climbing on the New Norwegian Epic or zip line on Oasis/Allure of the Seas.  Kids can spend most of the day with children their own age in supervised activities while teens make new friends in private clubs that exclude adults.

What I learned after September 11 is that the cruise industry is the most resilient segment of the travel industry.    People won’t cruise from Istanbul?  No problem, we’ll just move the ship to the U.S.   So I know that however long the economy is in trouble you’ll continue to have the option of boarding a cruise ship.

Have your travel plans altered because of the economic downturn?

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Since many cruisers do care about marine ecology and are concerned about harming the oceans’ delicate ecosystems, I’m passing along an editorial that appeared in the New York Times.

As the New York Times says, “what’s the point of visiting the natural wonders of the nautical world if you leave a terrible stain behind when you leave?”

What’s your opinion on the piece, “In Antarctic Waters”?

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NOTE: A cruise industry executive, who wishes to remain anonymous, has written his opinion of Royal Caribbean’s new Oasis of the Seas, its effect on the cruise industry and the traveling public. Since the media has heaped superlatives over the 6200-passenger vessel, here is countering opinion.

Open Letter to The Editor from a Cruise Executive

Dear Anne,

Now that Oasis-mania has hopefully died down, I’d like to state one thing:

It’s Not the Size of Your Ship That Matters, It’s how you use it!

While the Oasis of the Seas is a magnificent engineering feat and Royal Caribbean must be given credit for their visionary approach and willingness to push the proverbial envelope, I fear that the Oasis-class ships may be as detrimental to the cruise industry at large as they are beneficial.

Conceieved as the ultimate floating resorts at sea, these ships will undoubtedly attract a new class of passenger, consumers who would have never considered setting foot on a cruise ship. Now given the Atlantis-like proportions and resort amenities found in these mega-resorts, Oasis opens up many, many doors to attract what John Maxtone Graham loving refers to a “new passengers”. They will be awe struck by the size and sheer number of attractions and will regale in the many diversions such as zip-lining, cupcaking and aqua theatre shows.

But what they will miss out on what the core of a cruise experience is and what the majority of ships provide – a relaxing vacation at sea that takes you to distant and not so distant lands and exotic and not so exotic ports. Instead, they must schedule every minute of every day in advance to take full advantage of Oasis of the Seas experience. They will not know the laissez-fare of a relaxing evening at dinner followed by the ponderance of a night cap and genial conversation or to take in the show or prhaps a spin around the dance floor. They will not experience wanderlust or the goose-pimpled excitement of the ship sailing away from dock at the end of a memorable day. And after a cruise on Oasis, there is very little chance that these thrill-riding cruise passengers would ever step foot on a ‘lesser’ ship that is bereft of all the ‘look at me, look at me, look at me’ amenities.

Instead, they will run from aqua theatre to Boardwalk carousel, to zip-line, flow-ride and Las Vegas show with nary a relaxing moment in between.

Many have termed Oasis a ‘game changer’ and yes indeed she is, she changes the ‘game’ in so many ways. But the same was said of Atlantis, Dubai and the new generation of Las Vegas mega-resorts. Oasis, like the aforementioned destination resorts, is an ill-conceived loved child of the financial excess of the first decade of this new millennium. She is the floating equivalent of a Hummer H1. She is a ship that mirrors the sheer excess that our society now eschews. When I was at the Atlantis in October, its occupancy was below 40%. And Vegas resorts are failing faster than airlines. Now Dubai is looking to get a break from its debt.

While in all of her glitzy excess, Oasis of the Seas is amazing, she is a ship of gimmicks while the Seabourn Odysseys, Norwegian Gems, Oceania Marinas, and Celebrity Solstices of the industry are ships of superlatives. And aren’t superlatives what this industry gained its fame from?

Oasis and the Cruise Industry

I think Carnival’s Micky Arison had the right idea when the cruise line backed away from building a super-ship to go head to head with Oasis. While the new breed of social climbing yuppie and wanna-be affluent may flock to Oasis, they won’t be flocking to the greater cruise industry at large. The cruise industry I know cherishes great food and promises pampering and personalized service. Its akin to staying at a fine hotel and having a truly relaxing vacation. I have sailed everything from the uber-ships of RCI’s Voyager Class to the smallest and most intimate of ships. And while they all delivered different experiences, you always got that thrill associated with going to sea.

If people who have never cruised before want a truly memorable vacation, they SHOULD try a cruise, a REAL cruise on a human-sized ship that does not rival a large city or even a small state, such as Delaware, for size. Where the glamorous dining rooms serve fine meals, where lounges and bars glimmer with luxurious trappings and the bartenders might actually remember your preference and where every waing moment of your day need not be scheduled to ensure a memorable vacation.

So yes Anne, size does matter. But more important than size alone, is what you do with it!

****************

What is YOUR opinion on Oasis of the Seas?

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Carnival Cruise Lines says it just recorded the highest number of net bookings in its history during the one week period ended March 1, 2009.  This would hardly be newsworthy if it wasn’t in the midst of the worst economy since the Great Depression.

While the purchase of discretionary items in all price categories has decreased, one segment of the travel industry that remains strong is cruising.   Because cruisers pay 80% of their vacation before departure cruising is already a big bang for the buck.  

Volume vs Profit

However, just because people are buying cruises in large numbers doesn’t mean cruise line profits are increasing.  From budget to luxury, cruise ships to river boats, cruise fares have been slashed by as much as 70%.   People are watching prices and ready to pounce when the price is right on their favorite ship or itinerary.

Post 9/11 the cruise industry — like other segments of the travel industry — was forced to steeply discount sailings in order to attract passengers.  At the time, the ex-president of Carnival Cruise Lines, Bob Dickinson, noted that ”fear has a price.”  In other words, if the price is low enough, people will overcome their fears of terrorism — or a failing economy — and book a seagoing vacation.

Additional Booking Stimulus

One trend that emerged from 9/11 was “Homeland Cruising”.  There has been an enormous increase in positioning ships year-round from U.S. ports, a feature that helps generate cruise bookings today.   Gone are the days when most people had to fly to Florida and other warm weather ports to board a ship:  today ships sail year-round from New York, Baltimore, Charleston and more West Coast ports. 

In addition, cruise line marketing executives are meeting cruisers’ fears head on with innovative promotions.  For example, Norwegian Cruise Line recently launched an insurance program that guarantees a full refund if the person booking the cruise looses his or her job.   To generate sales of Europe bookings, cruises are frequently bundled with airfare and transfers to make the price more enticing.

Hey, I don’t know about you, but when I see a balcony stateroom on the newest ship afloat priced at $800 per person, per week, I grab it.  It is getting so that taking a cruise is cheaper than staying home (New York)!  How about you? 

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