Just Cruises Plus

North Star – Enjoy the Views!

The staff of Just Cruises Plus was invited to experience the Quantum of the Seas, which sailed from Cape Liberty on a two night cruise to “nowhere”.  Very few of us understand the real meaning of “quantum”. However, all of us recognize the term “quantum leap” and this ship is most certainly a quantum leap in cruise ship construction, function, and passenger experience. You see the change even before you board the ship. The terminal is brand new (no more buses) and there are no desks for check-in (WOW!).

Check-in staff members are standing in the terminal with tablets. Show them your passport and give them your set sail pass and they click a few buttons and send you to the escalator and the gangway and you’re ready to cruise (took about 5 minutes from the time we entered the terminal). You can cut a minute off if you upload a photo of yourself(s) when you do your on-line check-in.

When we boarded the ship, we headed for our beautifully appointed oceanview room and turned on the light switch.  Nothing happened.  We discovered that we needed to put our key card in a slot by the door to turn on the electricity to the room. When you leave the room and take your key card with you, the lights automatically turn off in a few minutes. This is a small part of what makes this ship the most energy efficient in the world.

There are no desks (in guest relations and excursions, for example), just computer tablet stations with staff on hand to assist. When you get to your room, you’ll look for the slot to put your key card in and find there is none. Instead you tap your card on the spot on the door and the door unlocks. Once inside, you’ll find wrist bands (WOW bands) which serve the same function as the key card. Both the wristbands and the cards have imbedded RFID (radio frequency ID) chips and from this point on, they can be used interchangeably, with one exception. Only the key card will work to turn your lights on when you enter the room.

The rooms on the Quantum of the Seas are larger than on previous Royal Caribbean ships and have lots of closet and drawer space although stateroom safes are on the small side. We were especially impressed with the family suites that can accommodate up to eight people.

Silk Restaurant – One of the Complimentary Options

You’ll find that there are no “early” or “late” seatings for dinner. In fact, there is no “my time” dining. Instead, there is “Dynamic Dining”. With Dynamic Dining, you can (and should) make reservations at any of 12 restaurants before you cruise (four are complimentary and eight have an additional charge). Every restaurant has the same menu each night. For example, if you choose to dine in the American Icon Grill every night, you’ll see the same choices each night.

Complimentary evening dining options that do not require reservations include the Dog House and the Windjammer Café.

Thirsty? How about a drink made by a robot in the ultra cool Bionic Bar. WOW! These “guys” are good. Beer aficionados will appreciate Michael’s Pub where they have a very nice list of craft beers.

The Bionic Bar is just one example of the use of technology on the ship. Smart phone users can upload an app, referred to as “Royal IQ”, which allows you to view your schedule and change dinner and entertainment reservations while on board. Don’t have a smart phone or didn’t bring yours with you, IQ tablets are located all around the ship. Also, the passenger photos are no longer on display in hardcopy. You retrieve your photos online.

Bionic Bartenders

The Quantum brought the most popular features from other ships including rock climbing and the FlowRider. However, the real WOW comes from the spectacular new venues and activities. Seaplex is a fantastically innovative space that morphs from a basketball court to a roller skating rink to a trapeze school to a bumper car amusement ride. It can even become a dance floor. For those who want to feel as if they never left home, Xbox stations are available.

Two70, named for its 270 degree view of the sea, is the most startlingly unique space where we saw a most unusual and entertaining show called Starwater. This multimedia show was a total WOW and will be aboard Quantum during all voyages from Bayonne. Like Seaplex, Two70 can be reconfigured by the touch of some buttons. This one-of-a-kind space features 6 robotically controlled LED screens that become actors in the shows.

The best place to relax is the glass-canopied Solarium. Whirlpools, waterfalls and a pool add to the peaceful atmosphere of this adults-only space. The Solarium features the Devinly Decadence Bistro where you can enjoy light snacks.

Indoor Pool – Next Door to Solarium

Here are some other cruise ship “firsts”. Kids will have the first wave pool on a ship in the water park. Take flight, as in skydiving with RipCord by IFly. Perhaps the signature feature of the Quantum of the Seas is “North Star”. Here you will rise to 300 feet above the ocean and out over the ocean. WOW!

The entertainment is of the highest quality and is continuous throughout the day and evening. Especially notable is Music Hall where we were treated to several fantastic tribute bands. The space is on two levels. On the lower level is a dance floor and bar and on the upper level, chairs and pool tables.

Mama Mia (the full Broadway version) is every bit a good as the Broadway version and will be the featured show while the ship is homeported in Bayonne. WOW!

Was everything a WOW on the new ship? Of course not. We’re reserving judgment on “Dynamic Dining”. The reservation software has been “buggy”. It should be noted that, in each of the complimentary restaurants, the menu is the same every night so most people would want to change restaurants each night. On a 12 night cruise, if you did not eat in an extra cost venue, you would have the same menu at least 3 times. While we were blown away (WOW) with the modern décor in the public areas, there was one minor exception. The hallways were a bit drab and lacked artwork. Perhaps this will change (who hangs out in the hallways anyway).

Example of the Amazing Artistic Touches in the Public Spaces

Finally, there is no promenade deck where you can read a book in the shade while watching and listening to the ocean. Since 90% of the rooms have a balcony, and the indoor staterooms have a “virtual balcony”, Royal Caribbean probably decided that there was less need for open deck space.

This is an amazing ship, way ahead of any other ship in the world. I guarantee that you will say WOW frequently as you experience all of the new and unique features.

The Quantum of the Seas will sail from Bayonne through April 2015. After that it will be repositioned to China where it will do shorter sailings from Shanghai. The Quantum’s sister ship, Anthem, is scheduled to take its place in Bayonne in November of 2016. Be among the first to experience this magnificent new ship.

Norwegian Cruise Line purchased Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.  Both are upscale lines.  Oceania is a step above the Deluxe cruise lines such as Celebrity and Holland America while Regent is 2 steps up and quite exclusive (as well as all-inclusive).  Both offer less traveled itineraries and very personal service.

We think that Norwegian made the deals in order to get the passenger lists of the upscale lines since they offer “The Haven”, a very exclusive and upscale experience on their otherwise mass market ships. The Haven passenger need not mingle with the mass market passengers.

We asked for your opinion about Norwegian Cruise Line’s special package that costs $899 per person and provides you with a number of benefits (see below) but does not include the cost of the cruise (although it does include a 10% discount).  The staff of Just Cruises Plus agreed with the 78% of the respondents who said that they would not purchase the package.  If you buy a suite, drink like a fish and eat in the extra cost restaurants every night, you would make out on this deal.

We asked NCL to place a value on each of the items included in the package based on a 7 night cruise in a balcony stateroom on the Norwegian Breakaway and here’s what we found.

NCL believes that they are giving $1374 worth of benefits for $899 or 1/3 off of the price if you paid for each item separately. Here’s the rub.  We (and you) would not purchase many of the items.  If we did not purchase the package we would have to pay for gratuities ($84) and we would not get the 10% discount off the price of the cruise ($150).  We would probably purchase 2 shore excursions ($180) and we would dine at a specialty restaurant on two nights ($50).  We would not buy 20 photos, internet minutes, chocolate covered strawberries or water.  Therefore, if we are non drinkers, we would be paying $899 for only $464 worth of benefits, a total rip off.  However, the wild card is the alcohol package.  If you have more than 7 alcoholic beverages per day, the drink package pays.  So if you meet this criteria, you would receive another $434 in benefits for a total of $$898, almost the exact cost of the package.   Everything else on the list would be “free” so it would pay to buy the package.

In summary, if you are a non drinker or light drinker, you would not even give a second look at the package.  If you enjoy a substantial number of  alcoholic beverages each day, the package may be  worth the money.

We think that NCL should offer two packages, the current one would be for the “drinkers”.  A second one would be for non or light drinkers and would include everything on the list except alcohol.  They could charge $459 for that package and they would get a lot of “takers”.

Earlier, we mentioned that 78% of you would not consider the package.  The other 22% were quite tepid in their acceptance of the package.  A typical response in this group was  “It might be a good deal depending on the ship, itinerary and cost of the cruise”.

We appreciate all of your responses.  Linda Rotter, of Langhorne, PA, is the winner of the$25 Visa gift card.  She was picked at random from the 37 of you who responded.

Norwegian Breakaway

Norwegian Cruise Line is offering an “All-Inclusive” package for $899 per person.

For that you receive:

– Dining in the extra cost restaurants as often as you wish (except Ocean Blue)

– Shore Excursion Credit up to $200 per guest

– Ultimate Beverage Package (Alcoholic Beverages)

– 10% off of the cruise fare

– 250 minutes of Internet use

– 6 bottles of water

– 20 photos

– Chocolate covered strawberries

– Free bingo Session (3 games)

Would you buy the package?  Email your opinion to us or post it here and we will enter you into the drawing for a $25 gift card or $25 shipboard credit if you’re already booked on a cruise – your choice.  Comments received by Thursday, August 14th will be entered into the drawing.

This package is available for purchase for 2015 sailings booked by August 29th

Quantum of the Seas

We were shocked and disappointed when we heard that the Quantum of the Seas would be moving to China after its first inaugural season sailing from Bayonne.  The ship will move to Shanghai in May of 2015.  If you want to sail on the Quantum out of Bayonne, N.J., you must book a cruise that departs between November 18^th 2014 and April 24^th 2015.

The Quantum will be replaced in Bayonne with the Liberty of the Seas for the 2015 summer season.  As much as we love the Freedom class of ships, it’s hard to go back to an older class after experiencing the newest and most innovative ship from a local port.  We question whether the Liberty will succeed in Bayonne unless it is priced aggressively which, so far, it is not.

Royal Caribbean’s turn to the East is certainly based on research which evidently showed that China’s odd combination of communism and capitalism is creating a booming middle class ready to fill their newest ship.  With a population 4 times the size of the U.S., Royal Caribbean may be onto something by heading to Shanghai.

Royal Caribbean is Throwing Us a Bone

They will move the follow-on ship to the Quantum class, the Anthem of the Seas, to Bayonne for the winter 2015 season.  Beyond that, there is uncertainty.

A significant proportion of our clientele hate the hassle and expense of flying and would prefer to leave from a “local” port.  Philadelphia is out as an embarkation port.  It was tried in the past and discontinued.  We heard rumblings that the unions in Philadelphia were harder to work with than those in Bayonne and NYC and/or that the casinos could not be opened while the ships sailed in the Delaware Bay.  Since Philly is out, our local ports are Baltimore, Bayonne (Cape Liberty) or NYC (Manhattan and Brooklyn).

Distance is an Issue

Bermuda is the ideal port for local departures since it is located directly east from North Carolina and therefore is much closer than islands like St Thomas and St Martin which are far south and east of Florida.  Five, six and seven day Bermuda cruises are easily done from local ports.  The Bahamas can also be reached on 7 day cruises since these islands are quite close to Florida.  If you’re looking for an island like St Thomas, you’ll need more days from a local port.  Islands further south, like Barbados and Aruba, require even more time.

If you’re highly flexible with your dates and you have a generous budget, you can do pretty much what you want.  However, if you are limited to a week cruise, compromises are required.  You may need to fly in order to get the islands you want or you will need to accept Bermuda or the Bahamas as your destination.  By the way, we love Bermuda.

Artistry II Panorama Suite

If the trend we’ve seen within our business is representative of the travel industry, the demand for river cruising has taken off.  Many of our clients who have enjoyed ocean travel for years are now looking for new adventures on the European rivers.

So we think it’s timely that Avalon Waterways has ordered two more ships for delivery in 2015,   This is in addition to the 3 already on order for delivery in 2014.

The 2015 ships, Avalon Tranquility II and Avalon Tapestry II,  will be similar to the three ships that are to roll out later this year: the Avalon Poetry II, Avalon Illumination and the Avalon Impression.

Avalon introduced it’s first Suite Ships in 2012 and 2013. The vessels offer three passenger decks with a large central lounge, a cozy Club Lounge, outdoor seating areas and a main restaurant.

Avalon says Suites Ship cabins are among the industry’s roomiest, with 80% being either 200-square-foot Panorama Suites or 300-square-foot Royal Suites.

With the addition of the five vessels on order, Avalon will have 10 Suite Ships in its fleet by the end of 2015, all in Europe. They’ll account for 66% of the line’s European capacity.

Holding 128 to 166 passengers, all five of the new ships are part of Avalon’s new Suite Ships class, which feature suites with what the line is calling open-air balconies — extra-large sliding glass doors with seven-foot openings.

We have found that the these rivers crusies fill up early, so whether your looking at the Rhine, the Danube, Rhone or any of the other picturesque European rivers,  take the “early booking” deals – pricing is not likely to improve and many cruises are sold out a year or more in advance.

– Credit for the information in this article goes to Gene Sloan, USA Today/Cruise Log Blog

The Super bowl may be compromised due to the virus that sickened upwards of 600 passengers on the January 21st cruise of the Explorer of the Seas.  That was the opinion of a female passenger expressed in an interview aired by CBS.  The evidence was the fact that the ship docks within a few miles of the stadium.  Obviously the woman’s logic was bizarre at best.   Of course, the news media was on hand like vultures when the ship docked in Bayonne 2 days earlier than scheduled and they eagerly interviewed passengers who sought their moment of fame on the nightly news.  “Cruise from Hell” and “Nightmare cruise” are some of the terms used by news people who have no interest in the truth.

Here’s the real scoop from a passenger who was there.  The illness hit the ship early and hard.  The medical staff was clearly overwhelmed.  Dozens were lined up at the ship’s infirmary and were not seen for hours.  Others elected not to report their illness and to self medicate (Imodium).  People confined to their rooms needed room service but the room service staff was besieged with orders and, despite adding staff, could not keep up with the demand.  These are the people who were understandably very unhappy.

However, the majority of passengers did not become ill and life aboard was relatively normal although ports were missed and a few shows cancelled.  We were one of the lucky ones who did not experience illness.  We can say absolutely that the public rooms including bathrooms were kept spotless by a hard working crew.

For those who became ill, their misery lasted from 1 to 3 days.  Nausea and diarrhea were the main symptoms and those who reported their illness were quarantined for a day after their symptoms subsided.  Most of those who experienced illness had a good time once they became well, thanks to a dedicated crew and officers.  By the end of the cruise, the situation was well in hand. Very few new cases were being reported.

The captain held a meeting with the passengers and was quite up front about the problems encountered by the velocity of the spread of the illness.  He indicated that medical staff as well as Center for Disease Control (CDC) personnel had boarded the ship in San Juan and St Thomas.

The home office of Royal Caribbean did not cover themselves in glory.  They initially offered a less than WOW compensation to passengers which did not even cover the lost days.  A huge number of passengers expressed their strong displeasure at the offer.  Evidently, the captain conveyed the passenger’s unhappiness to the home office because they came back with an offer that was fair and generally accepted.

What did I learn from the experience?  Bring Imodium on a winter cruise and touch as few things as possible.

How should the cruise lines respond to these outbreaks?

Although the Norwalk Virus* is by no means limited to cruise ships (anyone who has lived at a university can attest to this), the cruise lines, in a coordinated and expedited effort, need to collaborate with the CDC to help determine how the illness is spread.

Next, the cruise lines should have a clear advertised policy on what happens when a passenger shows up at the pier for their cruise with an illness.  Currently they ask passengers to fill out a questionnaire about their current health.  I would suggest that most folks would lie rather than be denied boarding.

A plan needs to be developed in those extremely rare instances where illness strikes hundreds of people.  This should include having workers with other jobs be trained to recognize the Norwalk virus and deliver Imodium to the rooms of sick people.

Finally, the cruises lines should offer appropriate compensation when an outbreak occurs that has a significant effect on both sick and well passengers.  Cheapskate offers only alienate people.

What should you know?

The Norwalk virus is a winter malady.  If you are worried, cruise during the other three seasons.

Serious long term illness or death from the Norwalk is exceedingly rare.

Purell is useless against the virus.

Washing hands often will help stop the spread of the virus.

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*Norwalk virus was originally named after Norwalk, Ohio, where an outbreak of acute viral gastroenteritis occurred among children at Bronson Elementary School in November 1968.

Celebrity Century

According to French news reports,  Celebrity Cruises’ 1995-built Celebrity Century will be transferred to Croisières de France (CDF), a French cruise line owned and operated by Royal Caribbean Cruises, in 2015.

CDF is currently sailing the Horizon and will temporarily add sister-ship  Zenith to its fleet in 2014 –  both are ex-Celebrity ships.  It is expected the Century will take the place of the Zenith in 2015 at which point the Zenith is assumed to be heading back to Pullmantur, a Spanish cruise line which manages CDF and which is also owned by Royal Caribbean.

With the arrival of the Century, CDF is said to be hoping to spend longer days and overnights in the bigger ports, and plans to make its first foray into Northern Europe, carrying an estimated 120,000 passengers in 2015.

Celebrity has so far offered no comment on these reports.  As of this date, the 1800-passenger Century is scheduled to sail with Celebrity at least until April of 2015 and has itineraries that range from  Caribbean and  Alaska to Australia/New Zealand and the Far East.

During yesterday’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade festivities,  Royal Caribbean announced that the Broadway show Mamma Mia will play onboard its next cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas.

The addition of Mamma Mia to Quantum of the Seas follows the trend of adding Broadway shows to cruise ships that Royal Caribbean started when it added Hairspray to Oasis of the Seas followed by Chicago to Allure of the Seas.  Royal Caribbean also offers Saturday Night Fever onboard Liberty of the Seas.

Quantum of the Seas will debut in November 2014 and be based at Cape Liberty, New Jersey.