PORTS & BOWS: CRUISING COSTS ON THE RISE
Bargain prices for journeys departing from North America becoming difficult to locate
Iwent searching to see if what I had heard was true, that prices of cruises departing from North America were up. They are.
How things have changed in just a few years!
For 2016, Alaska cruises from home ports Vancouver and Seattle are higher on seven-day trips. A similar increase is showing up for Panama Canal cruises, as well as the Caribbean.
Two lines dominate the Alaska market: Princess and Holland America. For May (early season), starting prices for sevenday cruises on both are closer to $1,000.
And despite an increase, a cruise travel agent told me that his package for the Panama Canal cruise (air, hotel, cruise) from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to Vancouver in April is virtually sold out.
Carnival, traditionally the price leader in the Caribbean, is selling a shoulder-season, seven-day cruise leaving Jan. 3 for $600 for an interior room. Sounds good? That’s in U.S. dollars.
There are still lots of choices, but bargains will be harder to find.
The balcony question
Michelle Baran, the river cruise expert at Travel Weekly, struck a chord with me when she wrote about balconies on river ships. Many lines have them. The question is: Do we use balconies as much on river ships as we do on ocean liners?
I agree with Michelle. Her theory is that we don’t use a balcony as much on river cruises, and I am living proof, as only an occasional user of the balcony when I’m on a river cruise.
Mainly, my curiosity has me wondering what’s happening on the other side of the ship, so most times you’ll find me up near the bow or on the sundeck, and in inclement weather I’ll be watching from the lounge. And when the ship’s in port, I’ll usually be out on a tour of my own or with a ship’s group, or catching up on the programs they have on board river ships.
Now, it could be that I represent the minority but let’s see what kind of reaction I get from you by emailing me at portsandbows.com.
You will find Michelle’s full story at travelweekly.com.
Crystal offers river cruises
Crystal Cruises, one of the top luxury brands in the world of ocean cruising, is just plain excited these days after the opening of sales for its new river cruise programs. Sales had barely begun when Crystal announced it had received a “tremendous response.”
In two years, Crystal River Cruises will have gone from zero river ships to five, with the first one to be launched next summer. The newly acquired Crystal Mozart’s maiden voyage on the Danube River will begin on July 13 after an extensive redesign.
Beyond that, four new builds will start to make waves in 2017 — two 110-passenger ships (Crystal Bach and Crystal Mahler) and two 84-passenger ships (Crystal Ravel and Crystal Debussy).
Private island
It appears that MSC, the Italian-based cruise line, wants what all the other major lines have — a private island for its Caribbean cruises. While MSC is making no comment, reports are the cruise line will develop one, formerly known as Ocean Cay. With the Divina currently in the Caribbean year-round, and MSC’s new ship Seaside coming in 2017, it makes sense.
That l eak came from a Bahamian politician. How surprising. Sponsored by Expedia CruiseShipCenters, Point Grey 1-855-738-8847 and completevacations.ca. For daily updates on cruise news, best deals and industry stories. You can also sign up for an email newsletter for more information. Contact Phil Reimer at portsandbows@gmail.com