Just Cruises Plus

Hubbard Glacier – 4/25/14 Photo Contest

We had 47 responses to last week’s photo contest.  There were many glacier names offered, but only 5 correctly named Hubbard Glacier.  Congratulations to Pat Horne of Edison, NJ, the winner of our $25 gift card.  Her name was randomly drawn from those who responded correctly.

Our ship sailed up to Hubbard Glacier during our Southbound Alaska cruise, from Seward to Vancouver.

Hubbard Glacier is one of the few glaciers that is “advancing” (gaining mass), despite global warming.  It takes about 400 years for ice to traverse the length of the of the glacier – this means that the ice at the foot of the glacier is about 400 years old.  The glacier routinely calves off icebergs the size of a ten story building.  Where the glacier meets the shore, most of the ice is below the waterline, and newly calved icebergs can shoot up quite dramatically, so that ships must keep their distance from it as they ply their way up and down the coast.

There is really no way to describes the feeling of being so close to this glacier and to experience the calving first hand!

Passage to the glacier – a view from our veranda

Here are some things to keep in mind in preparation for your sail to a glacier while in Alaska.

Be outside. Yes, you can watch the close circuit camera images of the glacier on your television in the comfort of your cabin, but after all, why are you on this trip if not to see the grandeur of the glaciers in person.  If you have a veranda, by all means, this is the time to use it!  If you don’t have a veranda, use one of the many public decks.  Your ship will likely have commentary on the public address system, so you can learn about what you are seeing whether inside or out.  Your captain will make it a point to rotate the ship so that wherever you are on the ship, you will have the opportunity to see the glaciers.

Dress for the occasion. We sailed with a group at the end of August and even though we were comfortably warm during much of the land portion of our trip, the temperature does drop while you are outside and sailing up to the glaciers.  Be prepared with layers and for those of you who get cold easily, bring scarves, gloves and earmuffs or hats.   Our ship offered hot chocolate, which  hit the spot.

Have your camera ready.  This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to capture still photos or videos of the glaciers (only a video will capture the calving), but don’t let the camera consume you so much that you miss the experience of being there in person!

Taking a walk to the crevice

Walk on a Glacier

For the thrill of a lifetime, take a walk on a glacier.  We boarded a helicopter in Juneau and flew for about 20 minutes to one of the glaciers near Juneau.  After several attempts at landing, our skilled pilot found a fairly level spot to put down the chopper.  We got out and began our short trek with instructions not to fall in the crevices (we might not be found for centuries).  Of course, we were issued special boots which kept us from slipping on the ice.  It was an amazing experience.

For as long as we can remember, Turkey has required a visa. Currently, you purchase the visa upon arrival at the airport for $20.  Effective April 10, 2014, travelers will need to obtain a visa prior to arriving in Turkey by accessing Turkey’s new e-Visa Application System.

For those folks who do not use computers or who need assistance with the process, call Just Cruises Plus and we will help you to obtain your Turkish visa.

Is a separate e-Visa needed for each traveler?

Yes, each traveler must obtain a separate e-Visa, including infants and kids. (Even though kids/infants are included in their parent’s passports)

What information will you need to complete the e-Visa application?

A minimum 6-month-valid passport, flight (or any other possible means of transportation) reservation and a credit card (Mastercard or Visa).

Do I need an e-Visa if I am on a cruise ship?

If you are flying into or out of Turkey as part of your cruise, then you need e-Visa.

If Turkey is on your itinerary (but not at the start/end point), you do not need an e-Visa because the cruise ship will be given permission by local authorities for you to enter Turkey.

Click here for more e-Visa information and to apply for your e-Visa.

Did you miss the article on our visit to the spectacular Turkish city of Istanbul?  Click here to read.

Celebrity Cruises is overhauling its Captain’s Club loyalty program, in the hopes of making it easier to earn additional perks and adding two elite levels to give top-tier members more to aspire to.

The roll-out for the changes began on November 25th.  Celebrity will be sending notifications to members of the club, which the cruise line says has about 2 million active participants.

Current Structure vs New Structure

The current structure is based on the number of sailings a member accumulates.  So, for example,  it takes 10 credits to reach Elite status.  Credits can be earned by taking a cruise, by staying in a concierge-level suite or by taking a sailing of 12 nights or more.

With the new structure, the system will change to one based on cabin category, multiplied by cruise nights.  For example, an interior cabin will earn two points per night, while a penthouse suite is worth 18 points, so the difference between these two categories on a a 7-night cruise would be 14 vs. 126 points.

Celebrity is also adding two more tiers, Elite Plus and Zenith, which will require more points and provide more perks.  Some existing Elite members will automatically be enrolled in Elite Plus, however very few will graduate initially to Zenith.  Elite status will require 300 points, Elite Plus 750 points and Zenith level will start at 3000 points.   There are many new perks but the biggest one is a free cruise to Bermuda or the Caribbean for Zenith level.

It is important to note that no one will go backward in status as the points system changes.   There will be no fees in the program and points will never expire.

Contest Photo May 17, 2013

For last week’s photo contest, we asked where the pink bus was located. The correct answer was “Bermuda”.  In addition to the “pink” hint, some of you benefited from noticing that the bus driver was sitting on the right side of the bus.  Congratulations to Donna McNelis of Lansdale, PA, whose name was randomly selected from the 47 who responded correctly.

Bermuda’s Public Transportation

Bermuda is one destination where we encourage folks to use the public transportation.   Ferries provide service between Kings Wharf and Hamilton (approximately 20 minutes) and between Kings Wharf and St. George (approximately 45 minutes) with great scenery to view along the way.

As an alternative,  and to experience a more local flavor, regularly scheduled buses operate at frequent intervals to most of the interesting destinations throughout Bermuda.  Bermuda essentially has three major roads:  North, Middle and South and there are buses along each of these.  Buses and bus stops are clearly marked and color coded.

Individual rides can cost up to $4.50 depending on which zone you are traveling to.  If you are making multiple stops, (for example, if you want to visit multiple beaches along South Road)  it’s worth purchasing a day pass.  According to an anticipated spring 2013 fare increase,  the daily pass is expected to be about $15.00 for adults and half that for children 5 and older.  If you buy a pass for multiple days, the cost per day is decreased. Children under 5 are free.  Passes are good for both ferries and buses, so you can take the bus in one direction and then experience the ferry in the other.

Passes are conveniently sold just outside of the cruise terminal at Kings Wharf and in Hamilton.

While selecting the last minute promotions to post on our website, I noticed that some of the prices were pretty steep.  They didn’t seem to be much of a deal to me.  For example, I was struck by this week’s last minute “deal” for the Navigator of the Seas’ March 9^th sailing.  The last minute deal for a balcony is $1379.  That seemed pretty close to the regular price so I checked and confirmed that the last minute “deal” is only $70 less than the regular price.  Why?  Because the ship is very close to sold out and Royal Caribbean doesn’t need to fill many cabins, so they can offer a miniscule discount.  For the March 23^rd sailing, the price is a little lower at $1299, but still not much of a deal.

For the March 30^th sailing, the price drops to $999 for a balcony.  This represents a significant discount but it still did not beat the discount for Celebrity’s Reflection on March 9^th or the Silhouette on March 16^th.  They are both $749 for verandas.

Cost Per Day

I like to look at the cost per day to determine value.  The price for a balcony on most major cruise lines runs in the area of $200 per day.  This drops to about $150 per day during tropical storm season and through January (except for the holidays).  The verandas on the two Celebrity cruises mentioned above have a daily rate of $107.00 — an excellent rate.

If you really want to take advantage of a fantastic value and you need to catch up on your reading, take a transatlantic repositioning cruise.  On the Brilliance of the Seas, you can take a cruise from San Juan to Lisbon for $49.90 per day.  You’ll pay more for a Motel 6 room with meals at Burger King.

Wait Until Last Minute?

Do consider waiting for a last minute deal if you are flexible and looking for discounts.  Remember that the amount of the discount is correlated with the time of year that you cruise and the space left on the ship.

Don’t wait for a last minute deal if:

-You need a room for 3 or 4 people.
-You want to be mid-ship (so does everyone else).
-You have your heart set on a particular cruise.  Many cruises sell out and therefore do not offer last minute deals.

We update our website with a sample of last minute deals every week.  Feel free to check them out.

New York is a great place to visit any time of year, but given the lovely fall weather we have been experiencing, now is a wonderful time to go.  Whether you are visiting for the day, or staying a few days pre or post cruise, here are some suggestions for things to do that are either free or low cost.

Places to Walk/Run

Walk, run, bike or just relax on the Esplanade

Along the Hudson River on the West Side — You can start as far south as Battery Park, near the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. In some parts it is referred to as the “Esplanade”.   Great for people and dog watching and scenery keeps changing — along the way, you may come across a playground, a park, or an outdoor concert.  We will sometimes take our bicycles onto the Staten Island Ferry (Staten Island Parking is just $7.00 for the day and the ferry to Manhattan is free) and then bike along the path that has been created on the West Side.

High Line  — this is a raised historic park built along an old retired freight line.  Some of the tracks were still left in tact.  Sculptures and other exhibits vary and typically are worked into the perennial gardens along the pathway.   Many events are held here, including an occasional movie under the stars.  Even without the sculptures or events, the architecture, street scenes, murals and billboards are sure to generate great topics of conversation.

Billboard, viewed from the High Line.

Flowers in the park.

Other Things to Do

South Street Seaport

South Street Seaport – Very cool tall ships and other vessels.

Times Square — Look up and see that you are surrounded by lights and glitter!

The Apple Store (near Central Park) —  fun to visit, even if you go just to look at the unique entrance.  There are other Apple Stores in Soho and Grand Central Station.

FAO Schwartz — A toy store, great for window shopping (around the corner from the Apple Store).

Top of the Rock and Tour of  NBC Studios — If you spend money on a tour, the tour of Rockefeller Center and NBC Studios is one worth considering and it is under $25 a person.

Do you chose your cruise based on the ports or do you choose based on the ship?

Cruise lines recognize that these are two distinct groups.  Alaska, Europe, South America, Asia and Hawaii are destinations and the ships that take you there are  the supporting actors.  The ship is not the focus of these travelers.   These cruises are selected because the passengers wish to experience the ports of call.

On the other hand, there are folks who choose their ship because of the features and amenities of the particular ship.  This is true of many Caribbean cruisers where the various islands have much in common (great beaches and lots of sun).  Since entertainment is a significant amenity of Caribbean cruises, cruise lines are partnering with entertainment companies to enhance the entertainment experience.

Disney has always been in the forefront of this cruise/entertainment marriage since the ship and the entertainment are all Disney.  In order to compete, Royal Caribbean has aligned with Dreamworks, a Disney rival, and you will see Dreamworks characters (Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, etc) on their ships.  Royal Caribbean also acquired the rights to Broadway shows like Hairspray, Chicago and Saturday Night Fever.

Norwegian Cruise Line is associated with “Second City”.  It also added the hit show “Blue Man Group”.  The theater on the Norwegian Epic was built with this show in mind.

Cunard’s three ships offer original plays based on West End (London) plays while Carnival Cruise Line has hired George Lopez to lead the comedy direction on their ships.

Finally, the Great American Steamboat Company has lined up the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Harry James Orchestra, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Platters and The New Orleans Jazz All-Stars (sorry – no heavy metal or Hip-Hop).

Picture yourself…..sitting in a rubber raft, in 15 degree weather with a 20 knot wind hitting you in the face.  Your only comfort is that there are 9 other lunatics doing the same thing.  You’re about to set foot on Antarctica.   To get to this point, you’ve flown on 3 planes and survived the monster waves of Drake’s passage.

Adventure cruising, sometimes called “expedition” cruising, is our subject this week.  No couch potatoes wanted for these dynamic exploration voyages.  Itinerary is the name of the game here.  Adventure destinations include the Arctic, Antarctica, and the Galapagos Islands.  Maybe you are a little more extreme in adventure seeking.  How about a dive trip to the Solomon Islands where hundreds of World War 2 ships, planes and tanks rest on the ocean floor.  Not a diver?  Then you might consider a snorkeling trip to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

There are some things you need to know before embarking on an adventure cruise.  First, you will give up the big cruise ship features like casinos and Las Vegas reviews.  You may give up comfortable staterooms and, depending on where you travel, physical comfort may be sacrificed.

The Galapogos Islands

We’ll begin with the mildest of the adventure cruises were comfort is not a casualty.  Xpedition cruises, a division of Celebrity Cruises, has weekly cruises to the Galapagos Islands.  Their one ship, Celebrity Expedition carries 92 passengers.  We say “mild” because the ship, though small, is traditional in that it has comfortable, well appointed staterooms and a pleasant lounge where naturalists give lectures and excellent food is served.  The weather in the Galapagos is not likely to be extreme.  You go here, as Darwin did, strictly for the wildlife.  No other place on earth has the variety of wildlife (in the ocean, on land and in the sky) that comes close to the Galapagos.

If you want to go a bit more spartan, try a visit to these spectacular islands aboard the National Geographic ships.  The Natural Geographic Islander (48 passengers) or the National Geographic Endeavor (96 passengers) are oriented toward teaching you about this dramatic continent.  We like their policy that permits visits to the bridge at most any time.

If you are more adventurous, there are smaller ships that visit these spectacular islands. If you want an experience with the local sailors and staff, consider the M/V Santa Rosa.  You will sacrifice a bit of comfort but you will have an Ecuadorian crew.

Despite being near the equator, the water is chilly.  In fact, in June and July the Jersey shore’s ocean is 10 degrees warmer.  Unfortunately, when the water is warmest (February-March), the wettest weather occurs.  Probably the best compromise is January or June.

Antarctica

Do you want a more adventurous experience?  How about a visit to Antarctica.  When to go?  It has to be in our winter (their “summer”).  It is simply not possible for anyone to reach Antarctica in winter.

Your first decision is whether you want to see Antarctica or feel it.  If you want to have an Antarctic land experience you must eschew the big cruise ships (I don’t know why you would put yourself through the discomfort to get to this cold, windy place and not step on land).

For a land experience, you will choose one of the small expedition ships.  Some are quite luxurious while others are workhorses.  We mentioned the National Geographic Endeavor earlier.  This vessel goes to Antarctica with landings.  Are you a little quirky?  Then try a Quark Expedition ship.  Some of these are real Russian icebreakers that were used for military purposes during the cold war.

Penguins and seals will be very common as will be same magnificent birds like the albatross.  Besides the unique wildlife, the scenery is breathtaking and the icebergs are unbelievable.

Don’t forget, just getting to Antarctica is an adventure. When you see those penguins dancing on the snow, you know it was all worth the effort.

The Arctic

The Earth’s other extreme, of course, is the Arctic which shares 24 hour summer daylight with Antarctica but little else.  While Antarctica is a land continent, the Arctic is mostly water (ice) although there is land above the Arctic Circle in Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Norway, Finland, Sweden, Russia and the United States (part of Alaska).  The Arctic’s summer is the same as our summer and, surprisingly, temperatures can be quite moderate in the Arctic reaching over 70 degrees. 

The wildlife is very different in the Arctic.  There are quite a number of land mammals — including humans — living above the Arctic Circle.  One of the big thrills of an Arctic cruise is spotting a polar bear.  If you want to have a good chance of seeing one of these magnificent animals, cruise from Norway and head north aboard an icebreaking cruise ship.  As you go further and further north, you’ll quickly learn why an icebreaking ship is important.

Can you visit Santa’s workshop?  Of course!  Cruises depart from Helsinki Finland at least once a year and visit the geographic North Pole.  If you are a true adventurer (only the purest of heart will attempt this), you can even swim at the North Pole.

The duration of Arctic cruises are 8 to 66 days.  For the best scenery and wildlife viewing, we recommend a cruise that includes the Svalbard Islands in Norway.  By the way, the 66-day cruise is on the Russian Icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov.  This is the last year that it will be taking passengers.  The full cruise starts at only $65,990 per person (I think that I need Santa for this one).  For most adventure cruises, rates are about $500 per day, so a 10 day cruise would be about $5000 per person.

To Be Continued…..

Last week, we began a discussion of small ship cruises.  This week, we’ll talk about two small ship cruise lines in North America.   Before booking a small ship, you need to decide if it is your cup of tea since the small ship (under 250 passengers) experience is quite different from a big ship cruise.

Would you miss the professional shows with acrobats and chorus lines?  How about the shopping in the major ports?  Like to gamble?  Forget the small ships (although some have a minimal “casino”).    How about a bargain price?  Nope. 

Would you prefer an educational lecture to a Broadway show?  How about a visit to an art studio in a small town?  Would you like to try the local foods?  Would you like to mingle with the crew (other than the bartenders)?  If you answer ”yes” to these last few questions, you are probably a small ship cruiser.

There are hundreds of small ship cruises.  Some cater to specific interests such as scuba diving.  Others serve specific geographical areas and still others feature sailing ships with billowing white sails and silent power.

Two “North American” Lines

This week we’ll mention two specific lines which carry less than 100 passengers.  One of the best known lines is American Cruise Lines.  We see these ships regularly on the Chesapeake Bay, Hudson and East Rivers.  There are six ships in the fleet and a seventh, a Mississippi sternwheeler, is currently under construction.  Four of the ships serve the East Coast, from Maine to Florida.  Another ship, the Queen of the West, serves the Columbia and Snake Rivers while the Alaska serves her namesake.

Cruises are 6 days to two weeks with rates starting at about $500 per person per day.  The ships visit small towns and cities and always dock near the center of town.  A typical stop might be St. Michaels, Maryland where exclusive tours of the Maritime Museum are given to American Cruise Line Passengers.

A competitor for American is Blount Cruises, formerly American Canadian Cruises.  “Curious, casual and adventurous” is how they describe their typical passenger.  This is a BYOB cruise line — completely the opposite of other cruise lines where you cannot BYOB.   

Blount has three ships, with a capacity of 96 each.  The ships are unique in that their pilot houses retract so that they can get under low bridges.  They also have doors (like landing ships) in the front of the ship so that you can get off the ship directly onto beaches.

Their three ships move with the weather.  In summer, they cruise on the rivers and lakes of the Northeast and Midwest.  In spring and fall, they sail in the Southeast.  Winter finds them in the Bahamas and the Caribbean.  On a Caribbean cruise, you might visit Nevis, Eustatius and St. Barths, ports rarely visited by the larger cruisers.

Rates for Blount cruises are about $300 per person per day, about double the rate for mainstream cruise ships.

Don’t be embarrassed if you’re not a small ship cruiser.  Most people are not.  Because you’ll pay a premium for the small ship experience, you want to be sure that this kind of cruise matches your expectations.

To be continued….

For the last few weeks, we talked about sailboat chartering where you have 2 to 10 adventurers on board a 35 to 50 foot sailboat.  Now, we’ll move up a step to the small ship category.  These small ships carry 50 to 250 passengers.  It’s interesting that the smaller the ship, the more you get to know your fellow passengers.  On the little sailboat, you will get to know — perhaps more than you want to — your fellow boaters.

On the small ships, you will have enough fellow passengers that you can be selective about who you want to befriend.   However, you will see your fellow passengers more often and will get to know many more of their names than you would on a large ship.

What do you get and what do you give up on a small ship?

A small ship can go where larger ships cannot go.  If you’ve cruised many times on the big ships and you believe you have seen every port, check out the smaller ships;  you will find many ports that you haven’t seen and these will be far less “touristy”.

Small ships are more casual.  Leave the jackets, ties and gowns at home.  Smart casual is as formal as it gets.

Small ships are more adventurous.  For example, at some ports you might land like the marines (with cameras instead of guns).  This also means that they could be less accessible for physically challenged people.  Big ships have tenders – small ships have Zodiacs.

Want a twist of lemon in your morning coffee?  No problem on a small ship..  With fewer people to know, the crew will know your name and your preferences.

Small ships are more expensive.  Big ships can take advantage of economies of scale so you have lower prices.

What do you give up on a small ship?  If you like to gamble, check before going on a small ship.  Some have no casinos and some have casinos about the size of an average restroom with very limited games.

You will not have the over-the-top shows on a small ship.  Perhaps you will have only a singer and accompanist.  Sometimes, you will have lecturers giving you information about the ports and their culture. 

Bingo?  Unlikely on a small ship.  Bridge anyone?  You are almost certain to find fellow bridge players on the small ships.

Small ships generally have smaller staterooms.  In some cases, you pay twice as much for a room that is half as big as a cruise ship room.  Amazingly, the small ships sell out and you must book more than 6 months before the sailing date.  We’ve had some wonderful cruises on Windstar ships.  These ships hold 144 people, are 3 decks high and have no elevators.  They are powered by sail and motor.  We spent many evening hours with the crew on the bridge, learning about the stars, navigation and the latest gossip.  Having an affair?  The crew will know and they will gossip.  Better to stick to the big ships for this.

On our last “big ship” cruise, two of our ports were St Martin and St. Thomas.  Contrast this with our last Windstar cruise where we stopped in St Barts and Isle des Saintes.  St Martin has a French flair.  St Barthelemy is the real thing.

Before considering a Windstar cruise, read next week’s article where we will discuss some specific small ship cruise lines.

To be continued…