Just Cruises Plus

Ship Size Matters

In January, there will be a limit on the number of ships over 40,000 tons that will be allowed in Venice Lagoon. 

After November 2014, no cruise ships over 90,000 tons will be allowed in the lagoon.  Officials expect that large ships will be rerouted through the Contorta Saint’ Angelo Canal which is further away from the most visited parts of the city.

If Venice is high on your list of places to see while on a cruise, this may be the last year that you will have a wide choice of ships and cruise lines that offer convenient access to the city.

American tourists visiting the Normandy Cemetery and Memorial in France were greeted with a chained gate and a sign that read, “Due to the U.S. Government shut-down, this site is closed to the public”.  Many had planned their visits to relative’s graves for months and were outraged that they were prevented from paying their respects.

Each year, thousands of Americans visit the site of the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France, which took place on June 6^th 1944.  Several thousand American servicemen died in a single day of intense fighting on the beaches and cliffs at Normandy.  There are row upon row of Crosses and Stars of David over the graves of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Cruise ships visiting Bermuda can now keep their casinos open at night while in port, Bermudian members of parliament decided earlier this week.

The Cruise Ship (Casino) Act 2013 permits onboard casinos to operate between 9 pm and 5 am, the Royal Gazette reported.  According to Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell, the move ensures that Bermuda remains a competitive cruise destination.

Cruise ships will need to remain in port for one full night or longer in order to qualify for permission to operate their casinos. Additionally, cruise lines will need to pay a casino licensing fee.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) today announced that its Board of Directors approved the adoption of a “Cruise Industry Passenger Bill of Rights” detailing CLIA members’ commitment to the safety, comfort and care of guests in a number of important areas.  This was very likely in response to the last couple of highly publicized cruise ship incidents.  This bill has been accepted by most of the major cruiselines.

INTERNATIONAL CRUISE LINE PASSENGER BILL OF RIGHTS

The Members of the Cruise Lines International Association are dedicated to the comfort and care of all passengers on oceangoing cruises throughout the world.  To fulfill this commitment, our Members have agreed to adopt the following set of passenger rights:

1.      The right to disembark a docked ship if essential provisions such as food, water, restroom facilities and access to medical care cannot adequately be provided onboard, subject only to the Master’s concern for passenger safety and security and customs and immigration requirements of the port.

2.      The right to a full refund for a trip that is canceled due to mechanical failures, or a partial refund for voyages that are terminated early due to those failures.

3.      The right to have available on board ships operating beyond rivers or coastal waters full-time, professional emergency medical attention, as needed until shore side medical care becomes available.

4.      The right to timely information updates as to any adjustments in the itinerary of the ship in the event of a mechanical failure or emergency, as well as timely updates of the status of efforts to address mechanical failures.

5.      The right to a ship crew that is properly trained in emergency and evacuation procedures.

6.      The right to an emergency power source in the case of a main generator failure.

7.      The right to transportation to the ship’s scheduled port of disembarkation or the passenger’s home city in the event a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures.

8.      The right to lodging if disembarkation and an overnight stay in an unscheduled port are required when a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures.

9.      The right to have included on each cruise line’s website a toll-free phone line that can be used for questions or information concerning any aspect of shipboard operations.

10.  The right to have this Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights published on each line’s website.

Crown and Anchor members may book cruises on the new Quantum of the Seas beginning on Tuesday May 28th.

– Diamond Members and above may book on Tuesday*

– All other Crown and Anchor members may book on Wednesday*

– Non Members may book beginning  Monday, June 3rd

Call us with your Crown and Anchor number and Credit Card.  Deposit is required at time of booking during the first week.  If you don’t know your Crown and Anchor number, call us and we will get it for you.

The Quantum will offer 4 different itineraries from its homeport, Cape Liberty (Bayonne), NJ.  It’s  first cruise from  will be on November 23rd 2014.

The schedule is not yet official.  Itineraries that we are aware of so far:

12 Night:  Labadee (Private Island); St Marten, St. Kitts, Martinique and Barbados – January 11th, March 1st and April 12th

11 Night:  Labadee, San Juan, St Thomas, St Kitts annd St Marten – December 1st and February 2nd

8 Nights: Labadee, San Juan, Samana (Dominican Republic) – January 3rd and March 21st

7 or 8 Nights:  Labadee, Nassau and Coco Cay – November 23rd, December 12th, December 20th, December 27th, February 13th, March 13th and 29th and April 24th

*Note:  Due to the reciprocity of benefits between Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, if you are a Celebrity Captain’s Club member with Elite status, you are automatically considered to be a Diamond member on Royal Caribbean.  If you are a Captain’s Club member with Select status, you are considered to be a Platinum member on Royal Caribbean.

Last week’s trivia question asked: What do Hopalong Cassidy, John Wayne, Judy Garland, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Marilyn Monroe and the Mona Lisa have in common?

The correct answer is that they all sailed on the SS United States.  Congratulations to Mark Shapiro of Mission Viejo, CA whose name was randomly selected from the eight correct responses.

The SS United States

She was the fastest of her breed.  More than 50 years after breaking the record for the fastest Atlantic crossing, the SS United States still represents the epitome of speed at sea.  She routinely “cruised” at 35 miles per hour.  During her record shattering maiden voyage, she averaged 44 miles per hour, so fast that she shed the paint from her bow.  The SS United State’s steam turbines produced twice as much power as the largest cruise ships of today despite being less than half the weight.

The SS United States – Then

A Philadelphia native, William Francis Gibbs, designed the ship to very high military standards (he also designed many ships of the US Navy in WW II).   Subsidized by the US government, the SS United States could be converted to a 15,000 person troopship within 48 hours and was nearly used during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  She plied the Atlantic for 17 years after her maiden trip in 1952 and never experienced a breakdown (listen up Carnival Cruise Line).

Now she is in trouble.  During the last 17 years, this national treasure has been rusting away at a South Philadelphia pier waiting for a knight in shining armor to come to her rescue.  Five years ago, philanthropist H. F. “Gerry” Lenfest gave the United States Conservancy more than 5 million dollars to purchase the ship and find a way of preserving her for future generations.

The SS United States – Now

Now the money is gone and, in a few weeks, this proud example of the genius of American engineering know-how will be become Toyotas and razor blades if she is not thrown a life ring.

Should the ship be saved?  Should the government step in?  We’d like to hear your views.

For years, Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas has called Bayonne “home”.  It’s hard to believe, but the Explorer is about to become a teenager.  In November of 2014, the brand new Quantum of the Seas will replace the Explorer in Bayonne.  We first boarded the Explorer 13 years ago; we were wowed by the radically innovative design.  With each new iteration, Royal Caribbean expects ever-bigger WOWS.   Based on the initial reports, the Quantum won’t disappoint. 

Quantum of the Seas' North Star

 North Star.  A capsule that holds up to 13 people is attached to a long arm which raises it  to more than 300 feet above the ocean as it rotates above the ship.  The “ride” is about 15 minutes and is complementary (except for some special occasions).  A definite WOW!

 Rip Cord by iFly   It simulates the experience of sky diving.  A Wind Tunnel keeps you in the air while you “parachute to earth”.  A super WOW!!

 Sea Plex  Bumper cars.  We did the bumper cars along Stillwell Avenue at Coney Island last summer and it was OK but not WOW (the Cyclone is WOW). Maybe if the ship gets rocking and rolling, it will become a WOW.   We’ll wait and see on this one.

 A plus are the larger staterooms.  The standard rooms are 9% larger than their counterparts on the Oasis class ships, which are more than adequate in size and comfort.

 Bookings will open up for Crown and Anchor members on May 27^th.  Non-Crown and Anchor members will be able to reserve rooms on June 1^st.

ABC’s Smash Hit “Dancing with the Stars” Sizzles on Board Holland America Line

“Dancing with the Stars” is one of the biggest television shows on earth, and soon everyone will be able to learn the steps, meet the stars, and join in the fun.

Six theme cruises in 2013 and early 2014 will feature “Dancing with the Stars” events including dance lessons; a chance to meet the dancers, ask questions and take photos; and a dazzling production starring celebrities and the famed dance pros, complete with glamorous costumes and routines from the TV show.

Currently scheduled to appear on select sailings are two-time champion pro dancers Mark Ballas and Kym Johnson; pros Tristan MacManus and Lacey Schwimmer; and some of your favorite celebrity competitors.* More dance pros and celebrities to be announced.

In addition to the theme cruises, every sailing on all 15 ships in the Holland America Line fleet will feature an exclusive “Dancing with the Stars” program including dance lessons and an opportunity for some lucky guests to dance center stage in an exciting dance-off performance. These activities will feature the ships’ professional dancers and will be developed in collaboration with the show’s dancers and choreographers.

Dancing with the Stars Cruise Dates & Ships

February 16th  Eurodam  7 night E Carib

June 22nd  Veendam  7 night Canada/New England

June 30th  Oosterdam  7 night Alaska

July 7th  Oosterdam  7 night Alaska

January 12th, 2014  Nieuw Amsterdam 7 night E Carib

January 12th, 2014  Nieuw Amsterdam  7 night W Carib

Royal Cariiben reported a net loss of 3.6 million for the 2nd quarter.  Management said that the loss resulted from declines in Europe.  Asia, Alaska and the Caribbean all showed a profit.

Our next week’s gift drawing (via email) will be related to Royal Caribbean’s poor 3rd quarter result.

We cruisers have been tortured by snail paced internet connections aboard cruise ships.  Add this to the fact that we are paying top dollar per minute to connect.

This is set to change next June, at least on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas.  The Oasis will be the first cruise ship to be linked to a new satellite network that is expected to deliver fiber-optic bandwidth to the ship, which, in turn will be able to deliver maximum-speed WiFi to passengers.

Royal Caribbean is doing their best to attract younger passengers.  The Oasis class ships have a zip-line, rock-climbing walls,  FlowRider surf simulators, mini golf course, ice-skating and even a carousel.

What’s all that worth if you can’t connect on facebook and twitter with the folks back home?  This is pure genius on the part of Royal Caribbean.  Their passengers will supply the advertising for them when they put  pictures of themselves zip lining across the ship on Facebook.