Awards and Accolates for CruiseOne

2012 was a great year for CruiseOne.  Here are just some of our awards.

• Travel Weekly Magellan Awards
• Gold rankings - Marketing and Regional Training Program categories
• Silver rankings - Websites and Field Marketing categories
• Travel Weekly Power List
• Oceania Cruises "Connoisseur Club"
• Norwegian Cruise Line "President's Elite Club"
• Apple Vacations "Premier Award"
• Globus "Premier Partner"
• Carnival Cruise Lines "Pinnacle Club"
• Celebrity Cruises "Elite Travel Partner"
• Crystal Cruises "Platinum Partner"
• Cunard Line "Inner Circle Member"
• Viking River Cruises "Platinum Circle"
• Regent Seven Seas "Top Producer"
• Sandals "Top Producer"
• Holland America Line "Elite President's Club"
• Uniworld "Top 20"
• Funjet Vacations "500 Club"
• Disney Cruise Line "Outstanding Achievement Award"

And we're looking forward to an even better 2013.

Leonard Bernstein and the Dumbing-Down of America

This post has nothing to do with cruising, but as this is my only blog, this is where the post shall live.

When I was a kid, Peter and the Wolf, narrated by Basil Rathbone, was one of my favorite albums.  It was released on 3 78-rpm records and I listened to it so often I practically wore out the groves.  A few years ago, I bought the version narrated by Leonard Bernstein, but somehow, it didn't seem the same.

Yesterday, on a hunch, I discovered that the original, Basil Rathbone version was available for download.  I compared the two versions and discovered that Bernstein really dumbed-down his version.  How sad.  Here, without comment are several sentences and phrases from each version.

Rathbone Version	Bernstein Version
The little bird hopping back and forth along the bank.	The little bird hopping after her along the shore.
Suddenly, something caught Peter’s eye.	All of a sudden, something else caught Peter’s attention.
So stealthfully, she crept toward him on her velvet paws.	…and she slowly crept toward the bird on her velvet paws.
…while the duck quacked angrily at the cat.	…and quacked at the cat with all her might.
The duck quacked excitedly and splashed her way out of the pond.	…and in her excitement, she jumped right out of the pond.
And suddenly, he caught her.	And bang, he got her.
Presently, he ran into the house…	He ran home…
…take care that he doesn’t catch you.	…watch out he doesn’t catch you.
How the bird irritated the wolf.	Oh, how the bird did tease that wolf.
All at once, some hunters came out of the forest.	Just then, Peter saw some hunters coming out of the woods.
Imagine the triumphant procession.	Just imagine the victory parade.
Grand pa-pa shook his head.  This is all very well, but what if Peter had not caught the wolf?  What then?	Grandfather, of course, was pretty grumpy about the whole thing.
In his haste, the wolf had swallowed her alive.	The wolf, in all his excitement and hurry, swallowed her alive.

What's on the Horizon for Cruising in 2013?

As the holidays approach and 2012 comes to a close, it's time to gear up for the New Year and take a look at what's on the horizon for 2013. With around 20 ships set to launch in 2013 featuring more mind-blowing at-sea innovations than you could ever imagine, cruising continues to be a preferred method of vacationing among many especially due to the bevy of perks available for cruisers like all-inclusive offerings, reduced deposits, onboard credits and free shore excursions. Want the inside scoop for 2013? Allow me to unveil the top three cruising trends of the New Year.

Exotic DestinationsCruise travel is more popular than ever, and with the growing demand, cruise lines are offering increasingly exotic itineraries. Northern Europe and the western coast of South America are two of the new hotspots for 2013. Take a cruise exploring the Scandinavian states of Sweden, Finland and Norway before finishing the journey in St. Petersburg, Russia. From there, enjoy an on-land excursion exploring the historic land of the czars. If you're interested in a more tropical vacation, Peru and Colombia offer an exotic twist on the traditional South American cruise. Discover the ancient Incan ruins of Machu Picchu and bask in the beauty of the Colombian coastline.

More "All-Inclusive" OfferingsShore excursions, gratuities and drinks are just a few of the little charges that can really add up on a cruise vacation. To help prevent some of these unexpected fees, many cruise lines will be increasing their "all-inclusive" packages in 2013. These deals bundle various levels of "inclusiveness" to better meet the needs of individual passengers. Guests can choose a full beverage package to include unlimited drinks and alcoholic beverages, a combination package that includes entertainment and dining options, or private dining options to include more personalized, exclusive service. Using a travel agent can help alleviate costs and stress as they can give travelers personalized service and can help explain the best options and destinations for every individual or family.

Weekend Escapes In today's busy world, it can be hard to get away for a week or two at a time. Enter the mini-cruise. Short cruises, typically lasting 1-5 nights, are becoming increasingly popular. Not only is this a convenient way to take advantage of long weekends, it is a more budget-friendly vacation option. Even though they are shorter, these cruises still go to a variety of exciting destinations including the Caribbean, the Pacific Northwest, the Mediterranean and Scandinavia. A short cruise provides the perfect opportunity to combine some sea and shore time. Spending less time at sea allows passengers to combine their cruise with an on-land excursion. Also remember river cruises are an exciting way to travel as they can be very intimate and relaxing. River cruising truly lends itself to the appeal of a slower pace with more time for relaxation and escapism from travelers' busy lives.

To book a cruise or for more detailed information on specific ships and itineraries, contact us at (800) 487-1759.

Canada/New England - Aboard The Jewel of the Seas 10/7/12 – 10/14/12

Summary
Ship: Recommended
Specialty Restaurants: Incredible
Dining Room: Great
Windjammer Buffet: Needs a little improvement
Balcony Stateroom: Large enough to be comfortable.  Stateroom steward was very attentive.
Entertainment: Fair

Day 1: Depart from Boston, Massachusetts

Security and check-in were fast and efficient, and there was only a short wait to board.

On this particular sailing, most of the passengers on the ship were over 50, but there was plenty to do for all ages.

Our first stop was the Windjammer Café for lunch.  Though the food was good and there was reasonable variety, the area was understaffed, the tables bussed infrequently, and there was no one taking drink orders.

Windjammer Cafe

Our balcony stateroom was clean and comfortable, and there were great views.

In the afternoon we sat in one of the atrium lounges and listened to live music.  It was a bit disappointing that again, no one was taking drink orders.  But it was still very pleasant and relaxing - just what I want in a vacation.

The Tides Dining Room was a large two-level room, bright and clean, but the decor was nondescript. However, the ship is scheduled to be refurbished, and I don’t eat the décor, so it was fine.  Royal Caribbean just rolled out new menus, and the choices and quality were great.  I had escargot, a Cesar salad, salmon, and Crème Brule for desert. All excellent.  If fact, everyone at our table thoroughly enjoyed their food, and the dining room service was attentive and responsive.  A big congratulations here to Royal Caribbean. 

The Atrium

Day 2: At Sea

In the solarium there were signs posted that reserving deck chairs was prohibited, and that an unoccupied chair will have contents removed after 30 minutes.  But unfortunately, Royal Caribbean’s only commitment to preventing people from reserving chairs was to put up a sign.  The solarium was crowded with towels, books, and shoes on lounge chairs for long periods of time.

In the afternoon we enjoyed a game of team trivia.  There were lots of teams playing and we didn’t come close to winning, but it was great fun.

Formal Night: Another pleasant night aboard ship.  We started with pre-dinner drinks in the Viking Crown Lounge with some of my clients.  This is one of my favorite spots on Royal Caribbean ships and it is one of the best kept secrets.  The lounge never seems to be crowded, and there are great views of the water and pool deck.  We enjoyed our drinks and here the service was very attentive. We then went to dinner.  Once again, dinner was delicious and the service was great.

Day 3: Halifax, Nova Scotia

We took an informative and scenic bus tour of Halifax and Peggy’s Cove, which was booked through CruiseOne’s shore excursion partner, Shore Excursion Group.  The only problem was that our bus was supposed to be a coach but that bus hit a moose a few hours earlier and the only thing they could find for us was an old school bus.  Well, stuff happens, I guess.

Peggy's Cove near Halifax

The rest of the day was dedicated to snacking and sleeping.  That’s what I call a vacation!

The Production Show: West End to Broadway

I love the shows on Royal Caribbean.  From the Monarch of the Seas to the Allure of the Seas, this cruise line knows how to put on a show.  In this production, the singers and dancers were very talented, except for one singer who couldn’t carry a tune in a bag.  The musicians were also top notch.  But the technical production (lights, sound, etc.) was less than spectacular.  I won’t go into detail, but the choreography and choices of songs also left a lot to be desired.  Was it worth an hour of my time?  Sure.  Was it comparable to anything on Broadway?  Not even close.

Portofino for Dinner: Some kind, generous, and anonymous person treated us to dinner at Portofino, the Italian specialty restaurant.  Whoever did this, thank you very much.  This was an incredible dining experience.  The service was attentive, the food was mouth-watering, and the ambiance was quiet and relaxing.  A perfect dining experience.  And the cost at $20 per person (if I was paying) was well worth it.

Day 4: At Sea

Another day of eating and sleeping.

The Evening Show: The headliner was Jason Garfield, world champion juggler.  This was a great show for those who love juggling and interesting and entertaining for those who don’t.

Chops Grill for dinner:  Another remarkable dining experience.  For anyone cruising, I highly recommend these specialty restaurants.  They are an amazing bargain when you compare the cost to a land-based restaurant of similar quality.  (And there aren’t that many-land based restaurants of similar quality.)

Day 5: Saint John, New Brunswick

We took a sightseeing bus tour of the area, including the Bay of Fundy.  We had dinner back in the Tides Dining Room for lobster night.  Again, food was delicious and service attentive.

Saint John

After dinner we went to the Coral Theater for the “Love and Marriage Game,”  a takeoff of “The Newlywed Game.”  Very funny and well hosted by our Cruise Director.

Day 6: Bar Harbor, Maine

Another bus tour today to Acadia National Park and the summit of Cadillac Mountain with incredible scenery and spectacular vistas.  Then a stop for amazing blueberry pie, and back to the ship.

Bar Harbor

In the afternoon we played another game of team trivia.  This time we came in second, but with many people ashore, there were only two teams.

We always like to get to know the staff, especially the dining room staff since we have the most contact with them.  Jackie intuitively knows the right questions to ask.  After dinner she asked our waiter what sort of job he would have if he wasn’t on the ship.  He then spent about 20 minutes telling us about his previous restaurant and catering experience and compared it to his experience on the ship.  He described the good passengers and the ones who make trouble (including a story of a passenger who was thrown in the brig for throwing a steak a someone behind the purser’s desk), and his feelings about the differences of working onboard vs. shore side.  It was absolutely fascinating.  And standing by his side was our assistant waiter who also happened to be his wife.  They were a very cute couple.

Dad 7: Portland, Maine

This was the last day of our cruise.  Although we were in port, it seemed like a long walk from the ship to the end of the pier, so we decided to stay on board.  As always, breakfast in the Windjammer Café was very good and service was fair.

Day 8: Disembarkation

Although they warned us about crowds at the Windjammer Café for breakfast, it wasn’t as bad as expected.  We found a table, eat breakfast, and it was a relatively short wait to disembark the ship.  Disembarkation was handled well the customs process ashore was fast.  We then went to the airport to fly home.

At home there was no one to serve us dinner, no one to make up our room twice a day, and no one to entertain us.  I’d rather be cruising.

Editor: Bonnie Rosenbaum

I'm Back

I accidentally deleted my previous blog.  I'm now in the process of recreating it, so stand by and I'll start re-posting soon.  But it's still at http://www.musingoncruising.com/