OWT Cruise consultant ‘Clare’ scoops prize in ACE cruise week competition, the top of the range HP Laptop was presented to Clare by Suzanne Robinson for Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.
Ocean World Travel specialist agent in cruise holidays said ‘ we enjoy a very good relationship with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines and we have a large number of regular customers who prefer to holiday with the cruise line as they offer a more personal service.
Today Fred Olsen announced that from the 17th of December 2009 it would cease to charge additional supplements on cruises for 2009. Carnival Corp was the first to scrap the charge on cruises departing after 17th December 2008. Carnival’s six lines include Carnival Cruise, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess Cruises & Seabourn.
Cruise Lines suspending fuel after 1st Jan 2009 Sailings include:
Most cruise lines are refunding passengers in the form of on board credit.
TUI Travel PLC has today announced that it will buy the remaining 50% of its Joint Venture in Island Cruises from Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Ltd and will take ownership of the Island Cruises operation. The transaction is subject to regulatory clearance in the Republic of Ireland.
As you are aware Island Cruises operate two ships, the Island Escape and the Island Star. The impact of this transaction on the above ships will be as follows:
The above transaction will not impact any current Island Cruises commercial agreements you may have for summer 2009 and beyond in terms of base commission. However any override targets will be adjusted pro rata for the exit of Island Star from the Island fleet.
Complete Cruise Solutions who represent - P & O - Cunard - Ocean Village - Princess cruise lines brands issued this statement today by e mail:
We will be taking a more stringent approach to the implementation of our policy regarding the transfer of bookings on Carnival UK brands. Passengers will no longer be allowed to transfer between Carnival UK Brands. We will however permit a booking to be transferred ONCE ONLY, within the same Carnival UK brand, provided the following conditions are met:
Prior to balance due, the cruise passengers wish to transfer to must be of a higher value and must sail within 6 months of the original departure date. An administration fee of £100 per booking will be charged, which must be paid at the time of the transfer along with any additional payment required to reflect the new deposit amount. Failure to do so could result in the booking being cancelled.
After the balance due date, transfers are not permitted and the booking will be cancelled at the appropriate cancellation charges as per section 25 of our booking conditions.
There may be occasions when we may wish to transfer bookings on cruises that are oversold or on consecutive voyages where flight capacity is an issue, these changes will be made without charge to the customer. There are no other exceptions to this policy. Please contact your account manager if you have any questions regarding the transfer of bookings.
Q&A
Why change the policy? This is effectively us following the policy that has always been in place. The difference is that we will be taking a firm approach on our transfer policy from now onwards. The reason for the firmer approach is because it has become apparent that the level of transfer requests is rapidly increasing during the current global economic downturn - this is not of benefit to travel agents or ourselves and as such it needs to be managed.
Why now? Transfers have been steadily increasing of late and with the launch of the 2010 World Cruises on P&O Cruises, we are keen to ensure revenue on the 2009 World Cruises, as well as other departures on all brands, is protected.
Why no exceptions? It is important to have a clear policy that can be communicated to agents and customers alike. Exceptions will lead to an increase in requests and a reduction in revenue, clearly not good for the company or the industry.
What about name changes? Name changes are not booking transfers and are permitted, providing the appropriate administration fee is charged.
What about complete booking name changes? These are treated as a cancellation and the relevant charges applied as per our booking conditions.
What if the request is to transfer to a later/earlier cruise with a higher fare? Provided the new cruise departs within 6 months of the original departure date, this is permitted. There will be £100 administration fees.
Who can authorise an exception, due to bereavement, illness, etc? There are no exceptions. Please ask the customer to claim on their travel insurance.
I am unable to get the required visas for the cruise I have booked? Visa information is available prior to booking, this would be treated as a cancellation and the relevant charges applied.
I am booked on a child free ship and my family now wish to book to travel with me (or since booking I have had a baby)? Provided the new cruise departs within 6 months of the original departure date, this is permitted. There will be £100 administration fees.
I can no longer afford to travel, but would like to move to a cheaper holiday/brand/cabin? We do of course sympathise with the circumstances but regret cancellation charges will apply.
It had been agreed prior to this change that I can transfer to a cruise which does not meet the new conditions, will this be honored? Provided we are able to verify Carnival UK has confirmed this agreement, we will honour the transfer.
How will you verify a verbal agreement? In order to verify the agreement we will check our booking notes and call recording system.
A transfer was agreed in writing prior to this change, will this be honored? Yes, the transfer will be honored.
What if passengers wish to cancel or transfer as a result of product or itinerary changes? Cancellation charges will apply unless otherwise stated in internal document/statement accompanying the change.
Passengers are booked on a primary cruise and want to move to the same cruise number but to the logical cruise? This is not a transfer, the cruise numbers are the same and this is permitted.
Passengers are booked on a sector of the RWC and want to move to the Full RWC or Liner Voyage on the same ship and year? This is not a transfer, it is an extension of their existing holiday and is permitted.
Passengers already booked onto a Princess Cruise or Cunard Voyage and want to remain on the same cruise and add a land stay? This is not transfer, it is an extension of their existing holiday and is permitted.
Passenger already booked a 7 night holiday with Ocean Village that now want to extend their holiday to include either the week before, the week after, or a hotel stay? This is not a transfer, it is an extension of their existing holiday and is permitted.
I have received the confirmation and the wrong cruise has been booked? Provided this is within 48 hours of the booking being made the transfer will be done without charge.
Carnival UK are unable to provide my wedding on the required cruise/due to unavailability of time slots? As we are unable to meet an essential part of the booking, a transfer would be permitted.
Since making the booking pax has become pregnant and is now unable to travel due to 24 week ruling/childs age? This is not a transfer and is covered under condition 7 whereby passengers are entitled to claim a full refund. If they want to transfer this is in our benefit and should be done.
Oasis of the Seas to lead-in at £1,299 per person
The most eagerly anticipated cruise ship ever to be built is gearing up to be on sale from 1pm on 3rd September 2008. Prices for a nine-night fly/cruise including return flights from the UK and a seven-night Caribbean cruise aboard Oasis of the Seas will start from £1,299 per person.
Owner, Royal Caribbean International, is not offering any early booking discounts and expect the ship to be the fastest selling in its history.
Oasis of the Seas will make its first revenue sailing on 12th December 2009 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The inaugural season will begin with 19 consecutive seven-night sailings to the Eastern Caribbean, with ports of call at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Nassau, Bahamas. Starting from 1st May 2010, Oasis of the Seas will alternate its Eastern Caribbean itinerary with the Western Caribbean itinerary, which will call at Labadee, Royal Caribbean International’s private beach destination in Haiti; the new port of Falmouth, Jamaica; and Cozumel, Mexico.
The ship, which is almost 40 per cent larger than any other cruise ship built to date, features the first ever outdoor park at sea – Central Park, an open air park space in the centre of the ship featuring lush, tropical gardens with alfresco dining and street entertainment. Other highlights revealed to date are the Boardwalk, a family focused area inspired by seaside piers featuring the first carousel at sea and opening to the AquaTheater open air amphitheatre space with two 43-foot rock climbing walls and zip-line suspended nine decks above.
Oasis of the Seas will also feature an enhanced Royal Promenade shopping ‘street’ including restaurants, bars and retail options with mezzanine level and moving bar. Information on other areas of the ship, dining options, and entertainment are yet to be announced.
Jo Rzymowska, associate vice president and general manager, Royal Caribbean International, UK and Ireland, said:
“Oasis of the Seas is the most hyped holiday experience ever to be available. We are predicting a day of mammoth sales on 3rd September. The prices represent phenomenal value for money and includes access to some of the most groundbreaking facilities ever available from a leisure resort, especially when you consider that this one will be at sea.”
New loft-staterooms onboard the ship will be the highest accommodation ever available at sea. Featuring spectacular views of the ocean with floor to ceiling double-height windows to ensure the view can be enjoyed from every vantage point. Other features will be a unique modern design dotted with abstract, modern art pieces, spacious living areas on the lower level with contemporary detailing, and a private balcony with sun chairs and stunning views to help guests unwind. Prices for a nine-night fly/cruise including accommodation in a loft stateroom onboard Oasis of the Seas start from £2,999 pp. Prices for a nine-night fly/cruise including accommodation in a Central Park balcony stateroom onboard Oasis of the Seas start from £1,516 pp.
The ship is now open for sale to Royal Caribbean International’s biggest fans, the loyalty club members that have taken at least ten cruises with the brand. Oasis of the Seas goes on general sale on 3rd September 2008.
The 220,000GRT Oasis of the Seas will span 16 decks and accommodate over 5,400 guests in 2,700 staterooms. Standing upright bow-to-stern, Oasis of the Seas would dwarf the One Canada Square building at Canary Wharf and New York’s Chrysler Building and can accommodate more guests per sailing than the capacity of the Royal Albert Hall (5,544 seats).
For more information please visit www.oasisoftheseas.com, call Ocean World Travel on 0845 225 2025
As an early booking incentive for customers, NCL are offering Free Stateroom upgrades within the same class. Customers who book 2009 Cruises in Europe, Alaska, Hawaii and the Caribbean between August 15th and October 31st 2008 will automatically get the best upgrade available. For more information please read the online brochure.
P&O Cruises is offering a new collection of shore excursions for holidaymakers setting sail in 2008/09. Designed to meet and exceed the needs of new and more adventurous cruise passengers, the programme offers a range of ‘must do’ activities and experiences on land, sea and in the air.
P&O Cruises managing director, Nigel Esdale, said: “We are now attracting more new to cruise passengers than ever before and these holidaymakers are looking for something a little different to do on shore than a guided coach tour.
“We can now offer them experiences that simply would not be possible on any other type of holiday. In a two week Mediterranean cruise they could charter a private yacht, go zip-wiring, learn to cook an authentic Italian specialities and make their very own fragrance.
“It is this breadth of choice that sets our holidays apart from any other.”
Highlights of the Mediterranean shore excursion programme are:
For some of us smoking in public has become as anti social as rowdy drunks, but cruise lines have still opted to take the cautious route. Most recently P & O have imposed a smoking policy which limits the poor smoker from where they might ‘lit up’ (below the P & O Smoking Policy)
For all of us at P&O Cruises the safety, comfort and enjoyment of our passengers has always been a prime concern. With this in mind, and as a direct result of the feedback we have received from a great many of our passengers, we have taken the decision to amend our policy with regard to smoking on board Ventura, Oceana and Artemis. The following policy will, therefore, now apply to each of these ships:
Ventura, Oceana and Artemis:
A complete smoking ban will be enforced in all cabins and inside public spaces. Smoking will, however, still be permitted on cabin balconies and on certain areas of the open deck.
Why not add your comments about smoking on -board?
After a recent cruise to St.Petersburg, Mike & Jane sent us a photo taken at Tallin which shows the difference between ‘givin it large’ with P & O on the brand new ‘Ventura’ or ‘big is not always better’ aboard the petite & beatiful ’Balmoral’ at a mere 43,000 tons!
Royal Caribbean has announced the new ship ‘Oasis Of The Seas’ will go on sale 3rd september 2008, with the maiden voyage planned for 12th December 2009. Cruise specialist agent ‘Ocean World Travel’ are encouraging those who have an interest in sailing on the maiden voyage to pre register to avoid disappointment. Visit the dedicated webpage here for up to date information.
Oasis of the Seas will be the world’s largest and most revolutionary ship introducing the cruise line’s new neighborhood concept, which will provide vacationers with the opportunity to seek out relevant experiences in seven themed areas based on their personal styles, preferences or moods. Boardwalk will be a breathtaking space for families. Inspired by the nostalgic seaside piers of yesteryear, Boardwalk will dynamically engage the entire family in classic fun – whether young or just young at heart – with eateries, retail outlets, and carnival games. An original, handcrafted carousel – the first at sea – will be the centerpiece of this vibrant neighborhood. Off the Boardwalk, the first amphitheater at sea, AquaTheater, will celebrate water with the largest freshwater pool found on a ship offering a full spectrum of activities and performances for guests. Created to offer two unique experiences, AquaTheater will allow guests to swim in the theater’s magnificent kidney-shaped pool, relax on sun loungers located on tiered platforms surrounding the pool, and even take SCUBA lessons in the afternoon. At night, it will deliver a complete sensory experience playing on the element of surprise as audience members witness the venue come alive with heart-pounding theatrical performances featuring dramatic acrobatics, synchronized swimming, water ballet, and professional high-diving, as well as elaborate fountain shows synchronized to music and lights. Other surprises include two 43-foot rock-climbing walls on either side of the AquaTheater and the first zip-line at sea suspended nine decks above Boardwalk.
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