What’s the Big Deal?

Poker seems to be the answer.  More and more cruise lines are adding Texas Hold ‘em poker to their casinos.  Unlike other games on board, poker players compete against each other and the house takes a percentage of the pot also known as the “rake”.  Most of the contemporary cruise ships of moderate size and larger feature at least one live poker table or an automated game that does not require a live dealer.  The tables are generally open in the evening for cash games and often one or more tournaments are offered during a cruise.

Carnival Cruise Lines, known for large, action packed casinos, recently announced the PokerPro Challenge, a series of No Limit Texas Hold’em poker tournaments that will take place on the 22-ship fleet now through October. The winners of the preliminary tournaments will face off for a cash prize of $25,000 in the Grand Final during Carnival Freedom’s Jan. 24 six-day voyage from Fort Lauderdale.  First place winners of the preliminary tournaments will be automatically entered to participate in the Grand Final and will receive a certificate toward the Jan. 24 cruise. The tournament entry fee is $150. Your cruise specialist can provide information on the initial tournament schedule.

Dancing at the Bars?

Royal Caribbean doesn’t want to be left out of the latest reality dance show craze.  First there was “Dancing with the Stars” and then “So You Think You Can Dance?” on TV.  And now,  “Gotta Dance” takes to the high seas aboard Royal Caribbean’s ships.  Based on the documentary film by Dori Bernstein, the program offers passengers of all ages the chance to learn hip hop routines with a shipboard dance team member.  The program is inspired by the film that chronicles the first senior citizen hip hop dance troupe, for the New Jersey Nets basketball team.

Each cruise will start with a screening of the film, and passengers on select ships before the nationwide roll-out of the movie this summer will get an advance viewing. Participants will then divide into teams to learn choreographed routines. The program will culminate with a farewell show performance in the ship’s main theater.

If you are Fred and Ginger challenged however, don’t despair because you can still twist’ n shout in a dark corner of the disco or slow dance accompanied by the house orchestra in one of the lounges!  Something for everyone on Royal Caribbean.

Too Many Sites Make Sore Eyes

Another “cutting edge” travel website was just announced.  It leads to the question of “how many websites does a person need to visit to get information about travel offers?”   Since we focus on the cruise business, let’s take a look at this particular segment to see if we can shed some light on the question.

The first thing to understand when you let your fingers do the shopping online is that virtually all cruise travel sites develop their prices from the same “feed”.   For the digitally challenged, this just means that the cruise lines deliver pricing from their central computer. This means for all practical purposes, cruise travel sites offer up the same rates.  One great myth is that the cruise lines who sell directly to the public (mostly the mass market lines) have special, direct rates different from cruise agent.  Wrong, my fellow cruisers!  In fact, an independent cruise agent can often find you rates lower than the cruise line.  More on how to take advantage on some insider tips in a moment.  But first we have to get this off our chest.  WHAT ARE YOU THINKING WHEN YOU ONLY SHOP DIRECTLY WITH A CRUISE LINE????  First of all, that cruise line employee is paid to get your booking as fast as possible and move on to the next sale.  And, heaven forbid, maybe instead of cruise line ABC, you really belong on cruise line XYZ, what is the chance that the cruise line agent will say “Oh you really belong on cruise line XYZ and not us”.  Sure,  the next thing that will happen is that the Toyota sales person will send you next door to the Volvo dealer.  Your local cruise agent invests time and interest in YOU and has a goal of creating repeat business.   Where, When,  and How you cruise is very important to your specialist.

Now onto those hot tips.  Your local cruise agent not only views the pricing feeds from the cruise lines, but also may have access to what is known as group rates.  Also, there are often unadvertised specials that are made available from time to time that might include special benefits such as upgrades, onboard credits, spa treatments, complimentary alternate dining.   Your agent can also check for regional promotions, senior and public safety discounts, past passenger specials and lots more.

Get the picture?  Maybe instead of surfing a dozen web sites and seeing the same information over and over put a local cruise agent to work for you.  They don’t charge for their basic services and often find these hidden lower rates.  Let them play detective for you!

Is the Man Upstairs Mad?

You might think that perhaps, a “higher power”, is mad at the travel industry.  First it was pirates and now Swine Flu.  From a cruiser’s standpoint the one advantage a ship has over other destinations is “portability”.  Ships can be moved but hotels, can’t.  For example, only a small handful of passenger vessels – generally the smaller upscale ones – ever come within 1000 miles of that paradise known as Somalia.  And the few that included this area on their itineraries have quickly modified ports and routes to avoid the area.

Now, Swine Flu is a little different story.  Because it is a somewhat more global issue, it affects quite a few  cruise ships,  mainly those that call on Mexican ports.  The cruise lines have been very diligent in their anti-viral procedures since the days of the Norovirus.  And while viruses do impact some passengers, the percentage of the nearly 11 million people who cruise every year is very small.  That being said however, the cruise lines are exercising prudent caution by intensifying their sanitation efforts and making itinerary changes.  Western Caribbean and Mexican Riviera cruises are most impacted.  The major lines have dropped ports like Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlan from their schedules until further notice.   In some cases a full day at sea is being added but in the case of the “Mexican Riviera” cruises, entirely new itineraries are being substituted.  The best source for the latest information about a planned or booked voyage is your cruise specialist who can provide invaluable guidance and advice.  Keep in mind that the cruise lines have the safety and comfort of their guests as their first priority and make changes with that in mind.  You can still expect to enjoy all the great service, food and entertainment cruise ships deliver, regardless of where you make landfall.