| 1. Is Cruising Killing
the Coral Reef?
The Controversy:
The world's second largest coral reef lies in the Western Caribbean, hugging
the coast from the tip of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula at Cancun, south
to Honduras. Only Australia's Great Barrier Reef is longer than this 600-mile
stretch of submerged coral gardens, sandy islands and atolls. But Australia's
Great Barrier Reef does not lie within an easy two-day cruise of millions
of North Americans.
The "Great Maya Reef" does.
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There lies the controversy.
At least one ship from the leading cruise lines (Carnival,
Royal Caribbean, Princess, NCL, Holland America, and Celebrity)
visits the reef at least once a week, some luring the
curious with up to 20 shore excursions to the reef. As
careful as the cruise lines and the local tour operators
may be, the shear numbers are making the local environmentalists
- and the fish and turtles - very nervous. |
The controversy has also made for some strange bedfellows, according
to a recent Los Angeles Times article. At first glance,
you'd think it would be the environmentalists versus the major businesses
and developers - many who have invested heavily in properties that dot
the coast. Each would be pointing fingers at one another and drawing deep
lines in the sand. But they're not. In fact, they're on the same side,
fighting against the major cruise lines, particularly the "World's
Most Popular Cruise Line" - Carnival.
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The Pros:
Carnival, owner of no less thirteen ships that pay regular visits to the
Great Maya Reef ports, has announced plans to extend the existing cruise
pier near the popular, eco-themed park of Xcaret. The bill would be paid
by a joint venture arrangement between the cruise line and the park's owners.
Xcaret's defenders point to the park's active and ongoing role in preserving
the fragile ecosystem and educating visitors on that fragility. They expect
that role to remain as the park's turnstiles continue to spin.
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The Cons:
Detractors simply point to the numbers - the region's population
has zoomed from 15,000 to ten times that number in just a decade
- most of them descendants of the now-vanished Maya civilization
- who hold backstage, low-paying jobs catering to an ever-growing
tourist industry. Though they benefit little from tourism, their
increasing numbers put added stress on the environment. |
There's More in the Mix than Just the Fish:
Additionally, Carnival plans to base a ship on the Yucatan, offering roundtrip
cruises that begin and end here - a first for the industry. Local hotel
owners, particularly those in Cancun - Mexico's prime tourist Mecca - are
raising a stink about that, too. Claiming that the cruise lines' monopoly
on weekend airline seats will cut into their ability to fill their rooms,
they quickly add that arriving cruise passengers spend, at the most, just
one day on the peninsula and then sail away. Hotel guests, however, remain
to eat and shop, pumping more money into the local economy.
But turn the coin over and you have an interesting counter to that position.
Cruise passengers - because of their brief stay - leave less of
an imprint than land-based visitors. Ships are self-contained cities,
and while passengers who choose to eat and shop onboard aren't pumping
as much into the local economy - think of it - they're not pumping as
much into the local "treatment systems," either!
The Solution:
There simply is no easy solution. For now, cruise passengers
who plan to take a Western Caribbean cruise (currently, the
industry's most popular Caribbean itinerary) should be on
their best "green" behavior. Take nothing but pictures
(OK, maybe buy a t-shirt or one of those little wooden, "bobbing-headed"
turtles) and leave nothing but footprints in the sand. Stay
tuned!
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2. The Balcony Scene
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"O Romeo,
Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?"
"Out here
on the balcony, Hon, catching the sunset."
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The storylines have changed as cruise ships introduce more and more balconies
to their new ships. What was once a high-cost luxury is now an affordable
amenity to millions of cruise passengers. Look at the numbers:
- In 1984, Princess Cruises rocked the industry with the introduction
of Royal
Princess - an unprecedented 25% of her cabins featured
a private balcony!
- Today, the line's Coral
Princess reverses that statistic - only 25% of her cabins
don't have a private balcony!
- Over the last two years, fully 56% of all cabins on all cruise ships
introduced by the major cruise lines offer private balconies - and that
number continues to climb.
- On the Crystal
Serenity - due to launch this summer - 85% of the cabins
have their own balcony (and an inside or obstructed-view
cabin is nowhere to be found)!
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So, why the race to balconies?
To remain competitive. Cruise lines continually test the waters with "upscale"
amenities in their higher priced accommodations. If it sells, they introduce
it to their less expensive categories, using the amenity as a competitive
edge. Eventually, that particular edge is diminished as other cruise lines
keep pace, but there's always a new feature in the works.
History bears this out. It's hard to believe, but it wasn't long ago
that TVs were found in only the most expensive suites. But sure enough,
within a few years, every cruise line had them in every cabin. Then came
"picture windows" (portholes are almost a novelty these days!),
then in-room refrigerators, and now balconies. Soon, balconies will be
the norm as cruise lines turn to new features, such as in-room Internet
hook-ups, flat-panel plasma interactive monitors, and who-knows-what?
Try it. You'll like it.
Sail once with a balcony and you're forever jaded. Never again will you
be satisfied with just a view - porthole or picture window. The cruise
line could upgrade you to a suite but if there's no balcony beyond those
drapes - no dice. There's just something about that added luxury, that
extra dimension, to take you to another level of cruising. Once at that
level, there's no turning back - and the cruise lines know this!
It may cost you more, but it's worth it.
Sure, a balcony may add a few dollars a day to the cost of your cruise,
but trust us on this - you won't return home regretting the extra cost.
Think back - did you regret getting power windows in your car; buying
your first VCR or your first digital camera? No, you didn't, and for one
good reason - the extra cost was clearly worth it.
7 Blue Seas opens the door to your balcony cabin.
We know you're looking for a deal, but we also know you're
looking for value. When we see a balcony cabin going
for the price of a standard outside cabin, you can bet you'll
hear about it! Just check our Hot Weekly Deals page regularly
and we'll put you in that balcony and spoil you forever!
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| 3.
All New Homeland Itineraries
Beginning this spring, Celebrity
Cruise Lines introduces an all-new cruise itinerary from
the heart of the Golden State - San Francisco! The itinerary
includes all-day stops at Monterey and Catalina Island along
California's coast, and journey as far south as Cabo San Lucas,
Mexico. Two departures include Santa Barbara, California and
the 10-Night cruises include Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan!
There's been a recent trend towards more "homeport"
cruising - ships that depart from North American ports - reducing
the distance passengers need to travel to board their ships.
But that's only half the story.
What sets this cruise apart isn't just the convenience of
a roundtrip San Francisco departure - it's the entire itinerary!
Last year, you could count on one hand the number of cruise
ship visits to Monterey and Santa Barbara. This year the numbers
have jumped. Even Catalina Island, once only visited on short,
three- or four-day getaways, is now a regular stop on the
longer itineraries, too.
Regular, roundtrip Mexico cruises from San Francisco - a
Celebrity first! Check them out!
- 7-Night
Mexico cruise on Celebrity Mercury
(San Francisco, Monterey,
Catalina Island, Cabo San Lucas, San Francisco)
- 7-Night
Mexico cruise on Celebrity Mercury
(San Francisco, Monterey,
Santa Barbara, San Diego, Ensenada, Catalina Island, San
Francisco)
- 10-Night
Mexico cruise on Celebrity Mercury
(San Francisco, Monterey,
Catalina Island, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas,
San Francisco)
4. Finding Romance in
a Bunk Bedded Room
Fact One: Cruising is romantic
Fact Two: Cheaper is better
Fact Three: Romance doesn't come cheap.
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Conflicted by the facts? The
news isn't all bleak. Here are some sample price ranges
(per person, per night) for a 7-night Caribbean cruise,
coupled with our newsworthy suggestions for enhancing
the romancing on your next cruise.
Shameful: $60 - $75
A bunk bedded room. Sure, you can have "a good
time" on a cruise in just about any place or
accommodation, but we're talking about romance here.
Trust us - you'll find more romance in the hallway
than you will in a bunk bedded room. But you don't
need to romance your way into bankruptcy. Read on.
Good: $75 - $100
A spacious inside cabin on a new ship (older ships'
inside cabins tend to resemble summer camp accommodations).
Inside cabins are often quieter and always darker
(no blinding morning sun so you can, ahem, sleep in
longer). Just be sure you've booked a room whose twin
beds can be moved together to form a queen. Otherwise,
you may as well save the bucks and book the bunks.
Better: $100 - $150
A spacious outside cabin with a picture window. Again,
be absolutely sure your twin beds can be made up into
a comfortable queen. And don't forget - size matters.
Bigger is always better. A spacious cabin is a must.
Don't believe anyone who says "You don't spend
much time in your room anyway." Let them climb
over suitcases, dirty underwear, and wet bathing suits.
You've got other things to do with your time.
Best: $150 - $200
A romantic cabin with a private balcony. Only a fool
would miss the advantage an intimate, cozy, private
balcony affords. Picture this: warm ocean breezes,
a starry night, and a bottle of champagne chilling
near the caviar and candlelight. (We'll quietly close
the door and leave this balcony scenario to nature.)
Over the Top: $200 and up
A suite or mini-suite. Think of it as an investment
- sort of like your shipboard real estate for romance.
The nicer the neighborhood you buy into, the better
the return on your investment. Imagine cruising with
a sumptuously decorated living room, a marble-tiled
bathroom with bubbling whirlpool, a giant king-size
bed - pricey real estate, for sure. But remember the
adage - you get what you pay for!
Want some more help? Check out our "Best
Cruises for Romance" pages. They're right here.
Just give us a click.
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5. Coral Princess' "jet-age"
Inaugural:
Debuting January 03, 2003, the Coral
Princess is the
first cruise ship purpose-built for Panama Canal cruising.
It was therefore fitting that the Coral's godmother
was
none other than Her Excellency Mireya Moscoso,
president of Panama. (The godmother honor, however,
couldn't excuse Princess Cruises from having to fork
over the highest Panama Canal toll to date - over $217,500!) |
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The Coral Princess, at just under 1,000 feet in length and measuring
106 feet in width, is what the industry calls a "Panamax"
ship, precisely because the Panama Canal's locks measure 1,000
feet in length and 110 feet in width. It's a tight fit, but
any ship that exceeds the Panamax dimensions suffers an ocean-to-ocean
journey over 10,000 miles longer - around the entire continent
of South America! For cruise lines who follow the seasonal vacation
swings - Caribbean cruises in the winter, Alaska in the summer
- such versatility makes economic sense.
But what's "new" about the Coral Princess? Plenty:
- Propulsion system: Take a close look at the top
of this ship. Look way up there - up near the funnels. What
you see are twin gas turbines - important components in
this ship's all-new propulsion system. Although this new
technology wasn't designed to produce record-breaking speeds
for the newest Princess ship, the upper deck propulsion
system replaces at least two standard, diesel engines down
below, freeing up additional space for crew and cruise passengers.
The "jet-age" has arrived at the cruise industry!
- Balconies: On the Coral Princess, an unprecedented
75% of all passenger cabins feature private balconies.
(It wasn't long ago that cruise lines would brag that 75%
of their cabins had windows!). Only the luxury priced
Crystal Serenity (with 85% balcony cabins) arriving this
summer, can top the Coral's stats in the balcony battle.
- High-tech Enrichment Program: State-of-the-art
entertainment facilities are nothing new aboard cruise ships
but never before have their passengers had such production
facilities devoted to enrichment programs. The line's ScholarShip@Sea
program offers a venue whereby photography workshops, cooking
demonstrations, web design instruction, and ceramics classes
aren't idle pastimes for cruise passengers but up-close,
in-the-action enrichment programs. (Accordingly, the ship's
onboard pottery kiln is a cruise line first, too!)
Coral Princess Itineraries:
During her inaugural season, the Coral Princess will sail
a series of 10-night roundtrip Panama Canal itineraries from
Fort Lauderdale. These cruises, although not completing a
full transit of the canal, will negotiate the Gatun Locks
from the Atlantic side, entering Gatun Lake, one of the world's
largest man-made lakes. Here, the ship will anchor, affording
passengers a long list of Panama and Panama Canal tour options
including a railway trip to the Pacific side of the isthmus,
an aerial tram ride over the Panamanian rainforest, and a
chance to kayak in the canal!
Following an April 23, 2003 Panama Canal transit, the Coral
Princess will summer in Alaskan waters offering 7-night northbound
(from Vancouver, BC) and southbound (from Seward, AK) Gulf
of Alaska itineraries.
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