Set Sail For Alaska In 2012!

We know we are often ahead of trends (as well as creating them), but it seems our big Alaska feature in the Winter edition (see it online on this link on pages 19-30) has created real cruise demand in 2012.

So much so, in fact, that several cruise agents have dubbed this year 'The Year of Alaska,' highlighting all the great quality, style, wildlife opportunities and value of cruising in America's 49th state.

Chief among them are The Cruise Line Ltd, who have even published their own brochure with all the best cruises, land tours - including the amazing Rocky Mountaineer train - excursions, sights and extra options for sailing in this magnificent part of the world. Choose from the large-scale experience of Princess Cruises, Holland America and Celebrity or the small-scale, deluxe style of American Safari Cruises, Regent Seven Seas or Silversea.

We have been big fans of Alaska and the benefits of cruising here for many years and our editor also highlighted the region in a feature three years ago (see it on this link), but it remains true that a cruise is the ideal way to see what is genuinely the Big Country.

For more booking details, be sure to contact The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677 or www.cruiseline.co.uk.

Enter, Adonia!

I thought it was worth posting this first-look photo of P&O Cruises' new ship Adonia, which arrived in her home port of Southampton for the first time today.

The former Royal Princess of Princess Cruises (and the ex-R Eight of failed Renaissance Cruises), she boasts a smart new paint job and a variety of internal modifications to make her suitable for P&O passengers.

Now on to the naming ceremony with Dame Shirley Bassey tomorrow...!

Voyage to Murmansk

No sooner, it seems, do we put our focus on adventure-style cruising than all kinds of exciting opportunities for this more offbeat voyaging crop up.

We have already detailed some of them on here at Time Spent At Sea (notably the amazing Chilean Patagonia voyages of Nomads of the Seas), but the latest press release to hit my Inbox highlights yet another aspect of this trend.

Voyages of Discovery have been around for a few years now, using their boutique little MV Discovery (the former Island Princess and 'Love Boat' of Princess Cruises) to explore some of the lesser-known parts of the cruise world.

But the announcement of one special cruise for 2011 really caught my attention, especially for the huge slice of World War II history it represents. Voyage to the White Sea and Archangel is a fabulous-looking opportunity to travel in the wake of the great Northern convoys that played such a big part in winning the War.

It is probably one of the more unusual itineraries, even by Voyages of Discovery standards, and it is certainly one that would pique my interest (if ever I could afford to take 18 days off!). Not only does it include a terrific sequence of ports of call, VoD will also have a superb range of guest speakers to accompany the voyage, including Enigma machine expert Mark Baldwin.

Here is the full press release:

‘Voyage to the White Sea and Archangel’, a new 18 day cruise from Voyages of Discovery departing 15^th June 2011 has sold 10% of its cabins within the first few days of release. For the majority of passengers the cruise represents a journey to the unknown so this is a remarkable feat in the current market. Tellingly, it is one of the best sold cruises from the summer 2011 programme, despite being one of Discovery’s most expensive cruises with prices from £1,899.

In an industry dominated by ever larger ships and crowds, the team at Voyages of Discovery has taken a bold view on the future of cruising which is paying dividends. It has returned to its grass roots by putting product at the heart of its marketing strategy by offering some of the most fascinating, spectacular and unusual destinations available anywhere on the cruise market.

While other brands build ever larger ships, resulting in compromises on destinations, Voyages of Discovery has capitalised on the benefits of a small ship by visiting new, off the beaten track destinations which will appeal to an increasingly sophisticated and well travelled cruise market. While others have cut corners or added hidden charges in order to woo customers with discounts, Voyages of Discovery has focused on providing unique, great-value travel experiences which are planned meticulously to offer more time on shore.

Voyage to the White Sea and Archangel will see Discovery travelling to the lesser-visited Solovestky Islands, a symbol of Russia’s spiritual past; historic Trondheim, Norway’s ’coronation city’; Archangel, where revolution, war and communism have all left indelible marks; and Murmansk, terminus for the most perilous and infamous of the World War II Allied convoys.

On route, passengers will witness the spectacular view of the midnight sun from the North Cape accompanied by experts including Mark Baldwin from Bletchley Park, who will be bringing one of the few original, working 1944 Enigma machines on board. The guest speakers also include a celebrated historian and natural scientist who will unlock the mysteries of wartime espionage, the legacy of revolution and the Soviet Union.

Voyage to the White Sea and Archangel follows the success of Discovery’s ambitious Winter 2010/11 programme which includes a 79-day complete circumnavigation of South America, with opportunities to explore landscapes such as the Amazon, the Orinoco, the Falklands and the magnificent Galapagos.

P&O Waive The Rules

Maritime tradition used to suggest that women were bad luck on ships; that ill fortune would catch up with any owner foolish enough to allow the fairer sex to influence the vessel’s operations.

To put that ancient adage firmly to rest, P&O Cruises have recently set sail with the ultimate female nautical totem – a woman captain. And a very modern meeting of sea-going savoir faire it is, too.

Captain Sarah Breton, the new master of P&O’s Artemis, has actually been with the venerable Steam Navigation Company for 21 years, starting as a third officer on the then-Royal Princess, and then going up through the ranks as second officer, navigator, first officer and safety officer before being promoted to Staff Captain in 2001. She has worked her way up to the supreme position after stints on a number of other Princess Cruises ships as well as Canberra and, most recently, Ocean Village.

Artemis set sail with 45-year-old Breton in charge for the first time this Monday, fittingly with P&O’s managing director Carol Marlow able to send off her fellow female high achiever in high style.

With the vessel poised for a 7-day journey from Southampton, Marlow insisted: “We are delighted that Sarah Breton has been promoted to the role of Captain on board Artemis. Sarah has worked on board P&O Cruises ships for many years and truly deserves to be Master of Artemis. We wish her every success in her new role.”

For Breton, it was most definitely a major milestone on her lifetime achievement chart. And she said: “Growing up near the water I always loved boats and the ocean, so it really does fulfil a lifelong ambition of mine to be a Captain with P&O Cruises. It is made even more special to be Captain of the first cruise ship I ever served on, after joining P&O as third officer back in 1989.”

Captain Breton lives on the Essex Coast and, when on leave, spends her time in the garden, sailing - whenever the weather permits – and watching Six Nations rugby and Formula One motor racing.

But there was no word from P&O and their 173-year history on whether they feel they are flying in the face of ancient nautical practice. Somehow, you feel it is a piece of maritime mumbo-jumbo that is now firmly consigned to Davy Jones’ Locker.

(Nautical history note – Sarah Breton is actually the second woman to be promoted to full Captain after Royal Caribbean’s Karin Stahre Janson in 2007, but the first Briton in that role)

Caribbean cruises

Caribbean cruises

Caribbean cruises

Caribbean cruises

Caribbean cruises

Caribbean cruises

Caribbean cruises

Re-Branding Is All The Rage

Following hard on the heels of the recent 'relaunch' of Azamara Cruises as Azamara Club Cruises, Princess Cruises have decided they need to spruce themselves up for the UK market.

For many years, Princess have been seen as the 'American' arm of P&O, and yet that is a gross over-simplification of the relationship between the two sister companies, who both became part of the giant Carnival conglomerate in 2002. There has always been an element of cross-over from P&O to Princess, and vice versa, since the 'Love Boat' cruise line started sending ships over to Europe more than 10 years ago. Their style appealed to passengers on both sides of the Atlantic, and the differences between the two fleets provided plenty of contrast.

More recently, P&O vessels have started to look more like their Princess counterparts - less traditional, more glamorous and all with a common starting point from the shipyard.

However, there obviously remains a 'difference' both from the Italian roots of the Princess line (many of their original vessels having been merged in from the Med-based Sitmar Line) and their predominantly American clientele, so it is a little surprising to hear the 'US' version needs to re-brand itself for British consumption.

You would think UK cruisers would be sophisticated enough to know the difference, and to understand the attractions, of cruising with Princess rather than the P&O option, but it seems that is not the case.

Among other things, Princess intends to present a 'fresh look' that has an 'emphasis on high standards' and will provide a ‘rejuvenating and relaxing retreat’ at sea.

Hmm. Call me old-fashioned, but I would pretty much say those should be the cornerstones of every cruise line today. Most ships are relatively new (or heavily refurbished); most cruises offer high quality in terms of food, service and entertainment (especially when compared with similar-priced land alternatives); and ALL cruises should ultimately be a relaxing experience (unless you try to take in every onboard activity and every excursion at every port of call!).

Princess already have excellent ships, with a genuine variety in their fleet and some superb service enhancements (like their Movies Under The Stars facility - see above). They offer great dining options and some far-reaching itineraries, as well as a distinctive Italo-American gloss that sets them apart from main rivals Holland America and Celebrity.

So I'm left wondering if this 're-brand' is primarily a marketing exercise aimed at making Princess better known to those who have yet to sample a cruise rather than anything substantial in terms of their product delivery.

Then again, perhaps I need to take a Princess cruise sometime soon to find out! Here's their press release in full:

13 April 2010 – In a bid to grow its business in the UK, Princess Cruises is re-launching the brand with the introduction of its new 2011/12 brochures. Based on extensive customer research, the brand will increase the emphasis on the high standards of its food and service and the relaxing and rejuvenating ambiance onboard. The new brochures, starting with the Mediterranean & Scandinavia 2011 edition, which is due out next week, will highlight the new positioning with a completely fresh look. The growing success of Princess in the UK has taken it to the number four position in the UK market, with a very loyal following. The research reveals that despite its positioning in the market, Princess is not as widely known as other UK brands. The new brand positioning for Princess will create more stand-out from other cruise lines, and increase its presence in the UK through a drive of marketing and sales initiatives.

Trustworthiness, excellent food and high standards onboard were the top priorities for British cruisers choosing a cruise line. Princess’s new look for the brand in the UK will highlight the exceptional dedication of its crew to maintaining the highest standards and the excellent quality of its cuisine, with all food freshly prepared from scratch every day. The new brochures have a calmer and more relaxed feel, illustrating the brand’s promise of providing a ‘rejuvenating and relaxing retreat,’ which research proved to be appealing to consumers.

“I am very excited about the beautiful new brand our marketing team has created. The new look illustrates Princess as the consummate host and the perfect retreat from which to explore the world,” said Pieter van der Schee, Princess Cruises’ head of brand marketing. “We have ambitious plans to grow the number of Princess passengers from the UK to our many destinations around the world and our increased activity and new identity for the brand are important in our quest.”

Princess Cruises’ new look in the UK can first be seen in the Mediterranean & Scandinavia 2011 brochure, out next week. The new design will then be rolled out to all other brochures and marketing literature and will be supported with increased direct marketing activity and more joint marketing with agent partners.

Enter Adonia

Hot on the heels of our recent Blog about the amazing amount of tonnage on offer in the Med in 2011 comes the full news from P&O Cruises of their first deployment of new ship Adonia (currently the Royal Princess of Princess Cruises) next year.

Their 'new' 710-passenger vessel (which will actually sail under its fourth different guise since its launch in 2000 as Renaissance 8 and then Minerva II) will also be something of a trail-blazer for P&O with a full season of ex-UK and Mediterranean fly-cruising, exclusively for adults as a replacement for the Artemis, which leaves the fleet next year.

And it looks like there will be some innovative itineraries and clever onboard programming to go with this latest offering to the big, big Med season in 2011.

Her cruises can be booked from April 27, and P&O managing director Carol Marlow said: “Adonia is an exciting introduction to our fleet and one that enables us to diversify the range of cruise destinations that we offer. She is a small ship and her size enables her to visit off the beaten track destinations and lesser known ports of call. Adonia will be our pathfinder ship, but she will, of course offer our tried and tested P&O Cruises experience,

“We know many of our passengers prefer a cruise experience exclusively for adults and also the intimate atmosphere and sense of camaraderie that comes with a smaller ship. Adonia will fit the bill perfectly and we are confident that she is going to be a much-loved addition to the P&O Cruises fleet.”

Main restaurant will be the Pacific dining room and there will be two further Select dining venues (with a cover charge), Italian ‘Sorrento’ and a steakhouse named the Ocean Grill. There will also be a buffet restaurant, with some al fresco dining and a barbecue area out on the Lido deck.

For entertainment, there will be 8 bars, including P&O Cruises signature Crow’s Nest observation lounge; Anderson's, the familiar club-style lounge bar; and Raffles, which will also offer a coffee shop menu throughout the day with pastries, chocolates, hot drinks and afternoon tea.

Adonia will also feature The Curzon Lounge, where passengers can enjoy a drink with a sea view during the day, and by night enjoy a performance by the Headliners theatre company, concerts, dancing, or after dinner speakers.

There will be the signature Oasis Spa, offering a range of treatments and therapies including Aromasoul massages and body scrubs, Aromatherapy, and reflexology. There is also a well equipped gym with panoramic sea views.

Cabins will feature Egyptian cotton linen, tea and coffee-making facilities and over 75% will have a private balcony.

“She will celebrate all those things our regular passengers love about cruising with us – a classic dance floor, Crow’s Nest observation lounge, formal nights, classical music recitals, guest speakers, silver service dining and a dedicated card room. Loyal cruisers and those new to cruising alike will be charmed by the refined P&O Cruises experience Adonia will offer,” Marlow added.

Adonia’s cruises will also feature ‘Spotlight’ – a new programme of events for passengers wanting to learn a skill, develop their knowledge or find hobbies. Talks and interactive workshops will be offered on subjects as such as history, current affairs, the natural world, dance, art and gastronomy. All are delivered by experts in their field, some including familiar TV personalities.

The ship will be based in Southampton between May and October 2011, offering cruises from seven to 26 nights in duration to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. The itineraries will feature overnight calls in Athens and St. Petersburg, as well as a round-Britain cruise.

In October, Adonia will reposition to the Mediterranean and offer six open-jaw Central and Eastern Mediterranean fly-cruises, departing from Savona, Athens, Trieste and Naples. Itinerary highlights include a Christmas and New Year cruise to the Holy Land.

Prices start from £1,924 for the 16-night Western Mediterranean maiden cruise from Southampton in May 2011; £899 for a 7-night ex-Southampton Norwegian Fjords cruise; and £1,399 cruise only, for a 14-night Central Mediterranean holiday from Trieste to Athens in December. A holiday package add-on with flights is available for £99.

There are also a range of completely new ports of call:

• Bourgas, Bulgaria
• Flekkefjord, Norway
• Foynes, Ireland
• Jersey, UK
• Koper, Slovenia
• Liverpool, UK
• Sassnitz, Germany
• Savona, Italy
• Zadar, Croatia

And then ports of call that are being reintroduced – in some instances after more than 30 years, and not visited since the days of the classic old-timer Victoria - are:

• Alta, Norway
• Antalya, Turkey
• Ashdod, Israel
• Bodo, Norway
• Bodrum, Turkey
• Catania, Italy
• Gythion, Greece
• Haifa, Israel
• Huelva, Spain
• Izmir, Turkey
• Patmos, Greece
• Port Mahon, Spain
• Salerno, Italy
• Samos, Greece
• Tangiers, Morocco
• Trieste, Italy
• Volos, Greece
• Waterford, Ireland

Early bird savings are available for bookings made by 30 June 2010. Double savings are offered on balcony cabins, with savings up to £800 per couple for a 14 night cruise, and also on all cabin grades on two of Adonia’s fly-cruise holidays in October 2011 and January 2012.

Free car parking is available on all of Adonia’s cruises from Southampton, and on board spending money of between £50 and £250 per cabin is also available (amount depending on duration).

Europe Or Bust!

The charge is on - and European waters may never be the same again!

That is to say, there will be more ships in the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas than ever before, and the cruise menu will be bulging at the rivets with possibilities for April-October 2011.

For reasons that even the cruise industry seems to be struggling to explain (although it may have something to do with lower port duties and fees in many of the ports, as opposed to Alaska), there will be an absolute plethora of maritime options throughout Europe next year.

As if the high numbers and record-breaking volume of the cruise capacity in 2010 isn't enough, many lines are going a step further in 12 months' time. And it is not just the mass-market operators - everyone is at it, including upmarket companies like Oceania Cruises and the Yachts of Seabourn.

One by one, from Princess to NCL to Holland America to Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, the lines have announced increased capacity, more ports of call and enhanced itineraries. It is not so much a rush as an ocean-going stampede - and the cruise customer stands to benefit enormously.

There are already some handsomely attractive advance deals (like Oceania offering two-for-one pricing), and they could well become the norm in the coming months as this year fills up and people start to look at 2011.

Here's how the 'big boys' of the cruise business are shaping up:

Princess Cruises: 7 ships, with 106 itineraries, 42 of which are brand new.

Celebrity Cruises: 3 of their Solstice-class vessels will be in Europe for the first time

NCL: 3 ships, based uniquely in Copenhagen (Norwegian Sun), Barcelona (the new Norwegian Epic) and Venice (Norwegian Jade).

Royal Caribbean: a stunning 10 ships, visiting 78 ports on 109 different itineraries.

Holland America: 7 ships - including 2 of their largest Signature-class - offering 15 maiden ports of call and 16 overnight ports.

And that is before you consider the 'resident' European specialists like P&O, Fred. Olsen, Costa, MSC Cruises and Thomson.

It is an amazing line-up of cruise-going hardware - in excess of 60 vessels all featuring European itineraries - and it all serves to underline, yet again, that the best holiday choice remains a cruise choice.

Or, in the words of a famous politician, You've never had it so good. Or so varied!

Previewing French Flair

It has been a busy week for the Veness Inbox. The PR releases came in thick and fast from Monday onwards, with news of Cunard about their forthcoming onboard 'Insights' lecture programme on Queen Mary 2 for 2010; Azamara Cruises and their rebrand to Azamara Club Cruises; P&O Cruises adding the small-scale Adonia to their fleet in 2011; and, my favourite, the latest information on the new ship from the chic Compagnie du Ponant company.

Going though them in order provides an interesting take on how the lines view themselves. For Cunard, it is all about providing that 'elite' touch with the kind of guest speakers who wouldn't be out of place at an Ivy League university. Human rights activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu is the 'highlight' of a lecture programme that also includes author and broadcaster Bill Bryson and comedy script writers Dick Clement and Ian le Frenais.

The following day came news that the small, upscale brand in the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd stable will now be known as Azamara Club Cruises in a relaunch aimed at giving them a more distinctive style that incorporates an 'immersive' approach to their destinations, including a lot more overnight stays, 2-day excursions and late-evening departures. Their new tagline is 'You'll love where we take you' and the more luxurious approach will include more all-inclusive aspects (like wine with meals, all gratuities and free bottled waters, specislity teas and coffees) and enhanced service.

P&O are insisting that 'small is beautiful' for them in announcing the 2011 arrival of Adonia (currently the 710-passenger Royal Princess of sister line Princess Cruises). This will be easily the smallest ship to sail for the UK cruise line since the 1970s and, as an adults-only ship (no children under 17), adds to the alternative face of P&O as opposed to their growing big,-ship, family-orientated offerings.

Adonia will begin sailing out of the UK from May 2011, and managing director Carol Marlow made some interesting comments with the announcement, insisting: “The addition of Adonia will deliver an elegant and welcoming ship with real small-ship charm. She will offer a truly intimate and traditional cruise experience, yet with all the comforts you would expect from a modern vessel. With this size of ship, our passengers will be able to get to know their fellow cruisers and crew easily as they travel to some of the most intriguing destinations on the map.

“Whilst larger ships have their own appeal, with the spectrum of bars, dining and entertainment choices they can offer, others really enjoy a smaller ship, with its more intimate ambience. No other cruise line offers this breadth of choice specifically for the British cruiser.”

And then there is Compagnie du Ponant. The French line have existed quite comfortably in relative isolation since 1991 as a niche operator with two small. contrasting vessels (three since 2004), one under sail and one more traditional, if still modernly stylish. The addition five years ago of the former Song of Flower of Radisson Seven Seas moved the company a step closer to the cruise mainstream and then, in 2008, they announced a decision to add a LOT more substance to the fleet with two 10,700-ton super-yachts.

The first of these, Le Boreal, arrives in May 2010, and du Ponant have announced the captain will be their highly-respected master mariner Jean-Philippe Lemaire, one of the company's longest-standing employees. The 132-cabin vessel, which will have an ice-hardened hull for Antarctic cruising, will be his fourth ship of the line, but the first major new project under his command.

He says: "I am very proud to have the privilege to captain Le Boreal for her first sea miles. It is exciting to be involved in a project which combines 'new technologies' with respect for the great maritime tradition that has made the reputation of the company. With all the conviviality of an intimate ship and French sophistication, Le Boreal is joining a Yacht Cruises tradition.

"From the shores of the Mediter­ranean to the boundaries of the great white Antarctic continent, we will be welcoming on board inquisitive travellers, eager to distance themselves from the well-trodden maritime routes. As her Captain, the challenge will be to perpetuate the 'spirit of Le Ponant' which drives our crews and never fails to seduce our passengers.”

It is an intriguing proposition. A line which has largely eschewed the cruise mainstream but which will have to at least touch upon it to find new passengers for their French flair. But, if they are able to translate the company's existing maritime joie de vivre to the newcomer, they should be able to command a lot of respect and offer a wonderful addition to the growing trend for small, upmarket cruise operators which offer that 'something different' factor for the well-travelled. Definitely one to keep an eye on in the coming months.

Going Exotic with Princess

There are plenty of options for voyages that get away from the main cruise areas and offer that 'something different' factor these days. The choice for wonderful, exotic itineraries has literally never been greater.

But few lines offer as wide a variety under one roof, so to speak as Princess Cruises. Their 18-ship fleet now covers just about every corner of the globe, and their latest range of 'Exotic Cruises' is quite mind-boggling.

It features 12 of their fleet on 50 different itineraries, from a grand 108-night World Cruise (on Pacific Princess) to a 12-night Panama Canal transit on Coral Princess (which reminds me to give another plug to the forthcoming Autumn issue of World of Cruising magazine, as it features a major destination overview of the Canal).

Once again, it serves to highlight the absolutely amazing variety and quality of cruise experience on offer in the mainstream cruise world these days, something which was usually only in the preserve of a handful 10 or 15 years ago.

They have already highlighted their array of voyages around the South Pacific and Hawaii in 2010-11. So, let me put the Princess story in full, with their full 'exotic' press release:

1 September – Princess Cruises has today launched its new Exotic Cruises Worldwide programme for 2010 with new itineraries, enhanced sailings andnew ports of call.

With an impressive selection of 12 ships ranging in size from 670 to 3,110 passengers, the cruise line will offer 150 cruises across 50 itineraries. Passengers can enjoy holidays from 12 nights up to the full 108-night World Cruise, across all seven continents, proving Princess is the leader in destination cruising with itineraries designed to please first-time cruisers and experienced travellers alike.

The ships deployed on the itineraries will be equally impressive, with nine that offer ‘Movies under the Stars’, the line's trademark enormous poolside movie screen, and the adult-only oasis of ‘The Sanctuary.' All ships offer a choice of dining venues, such as Sabatini’s Trattoria, the Sterling Steakhouse and Crown Grill.

Princess Cruises also has the highest percentage of balcony cabins compared to any other cruise line sailing the far-flung corners of the globe, providing the ultimate view from which to experience these worldwide destinations.

Highlights of the new Exotic Cruises Worldwide programme are as follows:

Pacific Princess will offer a 108-night world cruise with shorter World Sectors ranging from 22-84 nights in duration and Dawn Princess will feature 12-56 night World Escapes between Sydney and Southampton. Fares start from £12,299 per person on Pacific Princess while a 51-night World Escape cruise on Dawn starts from £4,699 per person.

Increased capacity in the Far East – Ocean Princess and Diamond Princess return to sail these magical destinations, with holidays ranging from 14-26 nights between Singapore and Bangkok, Bangkok and Shanghai and Shanghai to Osaka, with the opportunity to extend the holiday by combining cruises. Fares start from £2,699 per person. Diamond Princess will also sail a NEW 26-night itinerary from Sydney to Beijing, with fares starting from £3,349 per person.

NEW! Panama Marvel – Sea Princess sails a new 25-night holiday from San Francisco to Barbados with fares from £2,149 per person. There’s also the option to enjoy further time in San Francisco with a 2 or 3-night pre-cruise hotel stay from just £99 per person.

Panama Passion – leading the way in Panama, Coral Princess, Island Princess and Sea Princess will offer five exceptional itineraries taking in 18 ports of call and nine different countries as well as a 2-day Panama Canal Experience on cruises of 15-nights or longer. Fares start from £1,829 per person for a full-transit 12-nights on Coral Princess.

South American Sizzle – Star Princess returns for another series of cruises around South America, the Andes and Cape Horn, ranging from 16-22 nights. Fares for a 16-night Cape Horn route to Rio start from £2,299 per person.

‘Fall’ in love with Canada – Crown Princess sails the 11-night Classic Canada and New England itinerary and the 14-night Canada and Colonial America itinerary from Quebec to Fort Lauderdale, with the option to extend the holiday with a 5-day Maple Explorer deluxe pre or post-cruise land tour. Fares for an 11-night fly-cruise start from £1,399 per person.

My good friend Pieter van der Schee, head of Brand Marketing for Princess, puts the case for their Exotic programme, insisting: “Princess Cruises offer many incredible ways to escape the winter months and enjoy the warmth and relaxation of a tropical getaway. These exotic itineraries offer romance, insight into diverse cultures, active pursuits, stunning beaches and even the opportunity to witness a historic marvel ofengineering.”

Oh, and don't forget you can get some pretty good deals on all Princess cruises from The Cruise Line!

From Shining Century to Admirable Equinox

Southampton has played host all week to the new Celebrity Equinox, the second of the cruise line's Solstice-class ships and the first to be named in the UK.

And the initial review, feedback and gossip all suggest one thing - this is a HUGE success for Celebrity that brings them firmly back into the front rank of cruise ship hierarchy once again. Back in the limelight, and loving it!

I vividly remember all the hype and hoopla around their Century class ships back in 1995/96, when then Celebrity chief John Chandris led various press trips to the superb Meyer Werft shipyard at Papenburg, Germany.

The Century itself, quickly followed by the slightly larger Mercury and Galaxy (the latter of which is now sailing for TUI Cruises as Mein Schiff), proved to be something of a revolutionary vessel, breaking the existing mould of other new-builds at that time which were either horribly traditional and dull (P&O, NCL) or outrageously garish (Carnival).

For the first time, here was a new, European-styled cruise ship which was completely modern and stylish but also kept things in perspective, maintaining a solid cruise tradition with some revolutionary touches like their AquaSpa, expansive Sky Suites and a grand, two-level main Dining Room that offered a truly classic touch.

The Century was a beautiful ship to sail on, big enough to provide a choice in almost evertything you did but small enough to be comfortable and highly quality-conscious. You never felt you were on a vessel of 70,000-plus tons, and her two sisters were equally impressive.

The follow-up Millennium-class quartet slightly lost the plot, however. They weren't massively bigger at 91,000 tons compared to 71,000/77,000 but there was something horribly bulky and blockish about their design. The smooth, refined service which was a notable feature of the Century-class vessels wasn't quite so smooth and the standout feature of their main dining and alternative dining didn't measure up the line's Chandris-era standards.

Celebrity needed a game-changer to put them back at the forefront of the current welter of new-builds (greater quality from Carnival; more glitz from Costa; huge diversity from NCL; extra glamour from Holland America; and more of everything from Princess) and they opted to go for the bigger-still policy.

November 2008 saw the advent of the 122,000-ton Celebrity Solstice, a kind of combination of the original Century series and Royal Caribbean's massive Voyager-class. But this time, instead of just enlarging the blueprint and losing the focus, Celebrity kept things sharply in line, adding new features like their AquaClass staterooms and manicured Lawn Club (a surprisingly attractive novelty) and a truly indulgent alternative dining line-up.

Now, without allowing any grass (ho, ho) to grow under their feet, the line has made sure their new series is showcased firmly for the UK audience, hence the 7-day Southampton prelude to her first full inaugural sailing.

And it really looks like they have a massive hit on their hands. The travel trade has been suitably wowed, the grand Southampton naming ceremony was a complete headline-grabber and a 'taster' cruise for an assemblage of cruise and travel writers also seems to have been wamly received.

There is a good reason for this, of course. In April 2010 the third of these glamorous new-builds, Celebrity Eclipse, will hove into view and take up semi-permanent residence in Southampton for a seven-month season, becoming a 'British' ship in all but name (Equinox is off for a summer season in the Med shortly).

Celebrity badly needed Equinox to blaze an impressive trail for Solstice to follow. And, by the look of the past 7 days, they have achieved all that, and more besides.

An admirable Equinox indeed.

Time for a moan

OK, I've watched all the press releases roll in this week saying how the new SS Fantastic is going to be the greatest ship ever and the forthcoming Ocean-Going-Behemoth-Of-The-Seas will have the most amazing dining features in the whole world, but I'm also detecting a worrying pattern on sneaky extra onboard revenue earning. And I don't like it. At all.

The one that really set me thinking was Carnival's new 'Behind The Fun' guided tour, an "informative three-and-a-half-hour tour that offers participants a behind-the-scenes look at a wide range of shipboard venues that are normally off limits to guests. During the tour, key shipboard personnel, including the captain, chief engineer, chef de cuisine and other department heads, share their vast knowledge in their particular area of expertise."

Now I know this is really only bandwagon-jumping on Carnival's part (both Princess and NCL have already announced similar onboard revenue opportunities, I mean tours, in the past 12 months), but it does raise the question - is there nothing cruise lines can't now package as a ship 'tour,' 'experience' or 'programme'?

We fully understand cruise lines need to raise the revenue they have cut back on by offering a large range of discounts this year, all aimed at keeping passenger numbers up in the face of the economic meltdown.

But, if they keep adding new ways to separate passengers from their money whilst on board (and Carnival's new 'Behind The Fun' tour is 'only' $95 per person), then people are quickly going to cotton on to the fact that cruise ships are nothing more than large fleecing machines aimed at luring the wary and then emptying their pockets while they're not paying attention.

Providing 'alternative' dining options that all come at an extra cost was only the start, it seems. How much longer before they start charging for cabin service ("Changing the linen? That will be $10 per person, per night, please."), basic meals ("Only $15 a head for breakfast!") and even the dreaded "resort fee" because ships provide things like state-of-the-art fitness centres and casinos (even though many may not even use them)?

It may be a bit of a leap to go from a new paid-for guided tour (albeit, the kind of thing many ships did for free in the past) to completely deconstructing the all-inclusive nature of cruising, but there is something about these recent moves that make me deeply uneasy.

Or am I just being cynical?