Cruise Briefings

Luxury Lines See Sales Surge

High end cruise lines Crystal Cruises and Windstar Cruises this week are reporting record sales, which they attribute to pent up demand and their own promotions.

The cruise lines are beating one forecast for 1% growth in the luxury retail sector for 2010 after an 8% decline last year.

Crystal Cruises reported that soaring sales for its 2010 cruises continued through the end of January. Bookings for the month were 205% greater than for January 2009.

Additionally, new-to-Crystal guests booked for 2010 are 89% of totals for all of 2009.

Crystal announced record bookings for its week ending Jan. 11 and its highest January sales in more than five years for same year bookings.

Moreover, Crystal vice president of Sales Bill Smith noted that close in booking patterns that characterized 2009 are “shifting dramatically.” However, the line reports that there continues to be a substantial close-in business even for exotic two-week cruises. Of Crystal’s two Australia/New Zealand cruises, one is completely full, while the second is continuing to book closer in.

Smith attributes the rebound to pent up demand and the line’s own 20th anniversary promotions. Europe cruises are generating some of the strongest sales farthest out. Crystal Symphony’s new holiday cruise in Hawaii is expected to sell out soon; and Crystal’s fall Canada/New England season is 30% ahead of last year at this time.

Windstar Cruises, which operates a three-ship fleet of luxury yachts, reports record sales during the first six weeks of the year for 2010 and 2011 sailings.

Windstar president Diane Moore, reported that net revenue was up 94% this year over the same period in 2009 and 13% over the same period in 2008. Wave season promotions are driving the sales.

Due to the strength of Windstar’s charter and incentive business, net revenue for 2011 is almost double the same period in 2010.

Since April 2009, Windstar continues to experience a trend where pace of bookings surpasses booking pace reported for the same period, prior year. To handle increased demand, Windstar’s call center is open seven days a week.

Princess Debuts 20 New AK Shore Excursions

This summer Princess Cruises is debuting 20 new shore excursion options including the opportunity for guests to join a scientific expedition in Juneau to help study climate change and wildlife behavior patterns.

Some of the new shore excursions are:

Whales & Glaciers Citizen Science Adventure (Juneau) – This tour gives participants a taste of what it’s like to be a research scientist. Passengers join a science-based excursion and participate in a GPS time-lapse photo project at the Mendenhall Glacier that documents the effects of climate change on the Juneau Icefield. Guests also collect water samples, net plankton and record humpback whale and other marine wildlife behavior.

Back Country Zodiak Expedition (Ketchikan) – Participants can be their own captain for the day as they steer a Zodiak along the coastline of Revillagigado Island. Guests will follow a guide on a journey that explores Native culture with a view of Saxman Native Village, and a search for bears, eagles, whales and seals. The guide will explain the area’s history, geology, culture and ecology.

Alaska Wildlife Park (Skagway) – Visitors will meet many types of animals at the Kroschel Films Wildlife Park Center, run by animal trainer Steve Kroschel. Guests will enjoy hands-on, face-to-face encounters with several types of animals.

Tracy Arm Fjord & Glacier Explorer (Juneau) – Sapphire Princess passengers can take advantage of this new offering which enables them to cruise aboard a high-speed catamaran for an in-depth exploration of the twin Sawyer Glaciers. Participants board the catamaran directly from the ship.

Adventure Park & Zip Lines (Skagway) – With this high-adrenaline excursion, thrill-seeking passengers can walk along raised balance beams, cross suspension bridges and zip through the air on a series of zip lines.

Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter & Salmon Bake Combo (Juneau) – This tour combines a glacier landing with an all-you-can-eat salmon bake.

Behind the Scenes at Butchart Gardens (Victoria) – Participants will go behind the scenes at Victoria’s premiere attraction, Butchart Gardens. They’ll learn the history of the gardens and explore the Mediterranean Garden and botanist’s greenhouse, plus see a demonstration by the gardens’ ceramics master as he displays his flower-pot making skills.

All Alaska shore excursions are available for pre-reservation. Additional information is available at www.princess.com.

Holland Hosts Top Chefs

Holland America Line announced the 2010 roster of chefs who will appear in the line’s Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine Magazine. Culinary notables this season include Bravo-TV’s “Top Chef” contender, Nikki Cascone; Mark Bittman, food columnist for The New York Times and award-winning cookbook author; and Keith Coburn, television personality of the hit series, “Deadliest Catch.”

“Because the Culinary Arts Center is such a hit, we will continue to expand the program and provide our guests with the enriching culinary experiences that have made it so successful,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “For those who love to cook and cruise, there is no more enjoyable vacation experience than taking over a fully stocked and equipped professional kitchen with an expert chef as guide.”

Visit www.hollandamerica.com for the complete roster.

Royal Caribbean Expands Allure of the Seas Inaugural Season

Royal Caribbean International announced that the first revenue voyage for Allure of the Seas’ inaugural season will take place one week earlier than originally planned.

The ship’s first revenue voyage will be a seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary, sailing on Dec. 5.

Travel agents should contact their clients who booked on the original inaugural sail date of Dec. 12 to give them the opportunity to move their cruise vacation to the new sailing date of Dec. 5. Booked guests who wish to take the Dec. 5 sailing will be re-accommodated in the same stateroom and category, and the cruise fare will be the lower of either the fare paid or current price.

Guests booked on the Dec. 12 sailing will have until the end of February to opt to change their cruise to the Dec. 5 sailing and ensure they keep the same stateroom.

For more information, visit www.cruisingpower.com or call (800) 327-2056.