There has been a lot of negative press lately regarding cruise ships (fire at sea, broken rudder, bad weather). As unfortunate as these events have been, we don’t seem to hear anything about the safety at sea for some reason. Approximately 19 million passengers cruise each year, and there are over 350 cruise ships sailing the waters today. For arguments sake, let’s just say that each of the 350 ships departs once a week (some depart 2 – 3 times a week, and some once a month on a long sailing). That is over 18,200 departures a year. Now think of the past year … what negative press have we been faced with? Just a handful. Not a whole lot when you think of the numbers. And, accidents do happen. Instead of focusing on all of the negative things that happen, we should focus on the positive.
The cruise industry maintains an excellent safety record. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, cruising today is one of the safest modes of transportation, and the industry is constantly striving to improve its safety procedures. Over the past two decades, an estimated 90 million passengers safely enjoyed a cruise vacation. In 1996, the U.S. Coast Guard conducted a comprehensive safety study that concluded the cruise industry is the safest form of commercial transportation and that international safety initiatives being undertaken should further improve its safety record.
As a travel agent, we hear things that most people do not. Being in Florida, one of my number one questions is “is it safe to cruise during hurricane season?” I answer yes. Now, there is the potential that your cruise itinerary may be impacted by a storm, but there is not much of a chance you’ll be put in harm’s way. Today’s modern ships come equipped with state-of-the-art satellite equipment to follow the paths of storms and head away from the storm track. Captains are masters at avoiding the storms. And, you can usually get a good deal sailing the Caribbean during Hurricane Season!
I guess the point I am trying to make is that will all of the departures, all of the passengers sailing … there really hasn’t been many issues. Even when there is no power due to fire, the cruise lines do a wonderful job at trying to keep passengers safe and happy. And while situations do happen and are unfortunate, a full reimbursement of cruise fare, free future cruises, on board credit, discounts and more is quite a nice gesture.
The cruise industry is the most exciting growth category in the entire leisure market. Since 1990, the industry has had an average annual passenger growth rate of 7.2% per annum.
The cruise market potential is strong. Over the next three years, over 50 million North Americans indicate intent to cruise. To date, approximately 20% of the U.S. population has ever cruised. By maintaining historical occupancy levels, the cruise industry will welcome 14.43 million guests in 2010.
The cruise product is incredibly diversified with literally a cruise vacation for everyone. Over the past 10 years, the industry has responded to extensive market and consumer research that has guided the addition of new destinations, new ship design concepts, new on-board/on-shore activities, new themes and new cruise lengths to reflect the changing vacation patterns of today’s market.
The cruise industry’s product delivers unparalleled customer satisfaction. Whether a frequent or first-time cruiser, the cruise experience consistently exceeds expectations on a wide range of important vacation attributes. On a comparative basis versus other vacation categories, cruising consistently receives top marks. The on-going challenge for our industry is to convert cruise prospects into new cruisers.
Cruising is an important vehicle for sampling destination areas to which passengers may return. 80% of cruise passengers agree that a cruise vacation is good way to sample destinations that they may wish to visit again on a land-based vacation. Nearly 40% of cruise vacationers state that they returned to vacation at a destination first visited by cruise.. Cruisers are not exclusively cruisers; rather they are frequent vacationers who cruise as part of their vacation mix.
So, what are you waiting for? Let us help you find your perfect cruise! Where else can you visit multiple destinations, unpack only once and have all of your meals and entertainment included? Give us a call today!
We offer cruise and land vacations at the best price, guaranteed. We help provide you with a vacation & memories that will last a lifetime! We have volume purchasing power, industry expertise & commitment to providing the best possible experience.
CruiseOne Freer & Associates, www.kfreer.cruiseone.com or call us toll free 888-882-5793. We look forward to helping you plan your dream vacation! And if cruising is not for you, we handle land vacations as well!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
CruiseOne 4 Day Sale!
Book an outside or above stateroom category and receive Complimentary Pre-Paid Gratuities and a Spa Treatment!
Booking Window: December 7 – 10, 2010
Book an outside or above stateroom category and receive Complimentary Pre-Paid Gratuities and a Spa Treatment! Limit one treatment per stateroom. Choose one of the following three treatments once onboard: La Thérapie Hydrolift Facial; Swedish Massage; Reflexology including Massage
Applicable Sailings:
Any 5-Night or longer Royal Caribbean cruise departing in 2011
(NOTE: Applicable bookings on the Grandeur of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas are excluded from the spa offer, and will receive the gratuity offer only)
Some important notes:
•Pre-paid gratuities are applicable to Passengers 1&2 only. Any additional guests in the stateroom will be responsible for paying their own gratuities.
• Pre-paid gratuities will not show on the booking at RCI until 10 days prior to sailing
• Cash value of gratuities cannot be advertised
• A voucher confirming guests’ spa gift will be provided by CruiseOne HQ after the offer has been added to the booking. This voucher MUST be presented by guest to Day Spa staff prior to booking spa appointments to apply. Guest booking will be added to a manifest sent to the ship prior to departure for verification purposes.
• Spa offer is limited to one per stateroom. It will be at the guests’ discretion as to which guest in the stateroom redeems the offer.
Special offer includes pre-paid gratuities for the first and second guest in a stateroom and one spa treatment per stateroom. Gratuities for 3rd, 4th or more guests in the same stateroom will be at the guest's discretion. Limit one pre-paid gratuities offer, up to two guests, and one spa treatment per stateroom. Pre-paid gratuity and spa offer valid on any 5-Night or longer Royal Caribbean cruise departing in 2011. Applicable bookings on the Grandeur of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas are excluded from the spa offer, and will receive the gratuity offer only. Offers applicable to outside and above stateroom categories. Bookings must be created between December 7 – December 10, 2010 to receive this special offer. Offer is applicable to FIT/individual bookings only, not applicable to groups. The pre-paid gratuity offer is in US dollars, has no cash value, is not transferable, and cannot be redeemed for cash. Additional restrictions may apply. ©2010 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ships registered in the Bahamas.
Please call CruiseOne Freer & Associates to reserve your stateroom or for details on this exclusive offer, 888-882-5793 or visit us on the web at www.GetLostAtSea.com.
We offer cruise and land vacations at the best price, guaranteed. We help provide you with a vacation & memories that will last a lifetime! We have volume purchasing power, industry expertise & commitment to providing the best possible experience.
Booking Window: December 7 – 10, 2010
Book an outside or above stateroom category and receive Complimentary Pre-Paid Gratuities and a Spa Treatment! Limit one treatment per stateroom. Choose one of the following three treatments once onboard: La Thérapie Hydrolift Facial; Swedish Massage; Reflexology including Massage
Applicable Sailings:
Any 5-Night or longer Royal Caribbean cruise departing in 2011
(NOTE: Applicable bookings on the Grandeur of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas are excluded from the spa offer, and will receive the gratuity offer only)
Some important notes:
•Pre-paid gratuities are applicable to Passengers 1&2 only. Any additional guests in the stateroom will be responsible for paying their own gratuities.
• Pre-paid gratuities will not show on the booking at RCI until 10 days prior to sailing
• Cash value of gratuities cannot be advertised
• A voucher confirming guests’ spa gift will be provided by CruiseOne HQ after the offer has been added to the booking. This voucher MUST be presented by guest to Day Spa staff prior to booking spa appointments to apply. Guest booking will be added to a manifest sent to the ship prior to departure for verification purposes.
• Spa offer is limited to one per stateroom. It will be at the guests’ discretion as to which guest in the stateroom redeems the offer.
Special offer includes pre-paid gratuities for the first and second guest in a stateroom and one spa treatment per stateroom. Gratuities for 3rd, 4th or more guests in the same stateroom will be at the guest's discretion. Limit one pre-paid gratuities offer, up to two guests, and one spa treatment per stateroom. Pre-paid gratuity and spa offer valid on any 5-Night or longer Royal Caribbean cruise departing in 2011. Applicable bookings on the Grandeur of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas are excluded from the spa offer, and will receive the gratuity offer only. Offers applicable to outside and above stateroom categories. Bookings must be created between December 7 – December 10, 2010 to receive this special offer. Offer is applicable to FIT/individual bookings only, not applicable to groups. The pre-paid gratuity offer is in US dollars, has no cash value, is not transferable, and cannot be redeemed for cash. Additional restrictions may apply. ©2010 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ships registered in the Bahamas.
Please call CruiseOne Freer & Associates to reserve your stateroom or for details on this exclusive offer, 888-882-5793 or visit us on the web at www.GetLostAtSea.com.
We offer cruise and land vacations at the best price, guaranteed. We help provide you with a vacation & memories that will last a lifetime! We have volume purchasing power, industry expertise & commitment to providing the best possible experience.
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