Note from the Office...
As most of you already know this month’s issue was delayed due to my attending the Cruise Line International Association’s annual cruise conference in beautifully sunny Fort Lauderdale, FL from March 5th through 10th. Then, just 3 days after I returned, James and I packed up the girls and headed off on a Midwestern road trip to visit my extended family. (Right now as I write this I am sitting on a very comfy bed at the Sheraton in Des Moines, IA. Not much to see in Des Moines this time of year but it is a great place to stop over. More on the hotel under “Hotel Review”.) The cruise conference was a very profitable use of my time. I took several continued education classes, toured three cruise ships, walked through the trade show and put faces to names for several of our preferred partners (which is always nice) and best of all met some wonderful people! The highlight of the weekend for me was meeting Carol Marlow, the CEO & President of Cunard Line at the private club room they had set aside for the use of their Commodore Agents. What a time not to have a camera! (Next year I will be better prepared!) Ms. Marlow is a genuinely gracious and welcoming person who was easy to talk to. (She updated me on when the 2009 schedules would be released) I also had the pleasure of seeing several of the VP’s of various departments that I had met at the "Queen Victoria" event as well as a few new ones. It was amazing to be able to sit down with their marketing gals and share new ideas for both clients and consultants like myself and have them be truly interested in hearing about our needs. All I can say is that both Cunard and Princess Cruise Lines are in great hands! (Cunard and Princess share some of the same management team.)
Overall it was a great experience and one that has helped me learn many new things for this year. - Nina Owner/Ambiance Travel
Ship Review- Holland American Line
Zuiderdam is a Vista hulled ship, so as where some of the staterooms reminded me of the Queen Victoria (Cunard Line) the rest of the ship was very different! Now, I should probably preface this by saying that the Zuiderdam is due for dry dock soon so many of this might be a moot point after the renovations. However, as of March 9th I found her to have an overall dark feeling. Dark carpets, walls, low ceilings and lots of dark blue everywhere.
Now, due to time constraints I was not able to see the whole ship but from the few public decks I did see I found myself craving an open space and not being able to find it. Now, on a positive note the staterooms were very well laid out, the staff friendly, the spa facilities nice and welcoming and there was interesting and beautiful art all over the ship. The lunch they served us was amazing and wonderfully served. (Once I got past the dark reds, purples and black that were the dining room colors!) I would be interested to see what they do during the dry dock.
| New Line to Watch: Azamara Cruises
A new cruise line that we will be watching is a branch off of Celebrity Cruise Lines. Nearing it’s first birthday this spring, Azamara is their new Deluxe category brand. In between Premium (think Celebrity) and Luxury (think Regent) Azamara marries several luxury perks to a more Premium price point and style. All of the staterooms feature things like butler service and complimentary dinners in the specialty restaurants in addition to a host of other pleasant amenities you wouldn’t find included on a premium line. However, unlike the luxury lines, things like drinks and shore excursions are not included. Their itineraries are more off the beaten path and are usually over a week long stopping at ports all over the world on two small ships. Although a bit rocky to start, reviews seem to be improving with high quest ratings.
Ship Review- Holland American Line The Westerdam I can not give a fair review because I only saw the two main passenger decks and all in about 10 minutes due to some transportation & security clearance delays. What irked me a bit about the Westerdam was the disconnect in décor. The halls leading to Grecian inspired lounges featured paintings of tulips. The almost Asian themed dining room was not far from the, was it Neapolitan? Pinnacle Grill and then into a star trek theater with reds, grays and blacks. I did not see any of the staterooms so have no comment there. Perhaps the fact that I was practicly running through the decks had something to do with these perceptions. I would like to see her again with more time to wander from deck to deck and really soak in what she is all about. However, again the staff was very friendly and the menus looked encouraging!
A picture tour of the Caribbean Princess
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| Hotel Review- Sheraton Des Moines, IA The Sheraton is very well located near the highways, shopping and lots of tempting restaurants. Right now James and Arlana are out on the hunt for Chinese food while Evalynn is peacefully dreaming away already. The hotel is clean, quiet, has a wonderfully spacious atrium, a small but functional pool and work out area and some of the friendliest staff I have ever encountered at a hotel. I ordered some extra pillows for the girls and since I am normally use to waiting quite some time for such requests I started to give Evalynn her bath. Bad idea here! I had no sooner set her down in the water and there was a knock at the door. Plucked her out, wrapped her up in a big fluffy towel and opened the door to a smiling member of the housekeeping staff arms filled with pillows. Now, Evalynn is a creature of habit and having been pulled from her bath, quickly came under the impression that she was now done with bath time. She was not too happy about having to start all over again!
It’s the little things…
They say it is the little things that count and make an experience special. I have to agree. There were several little perks that the Sheraton had that made our stay just a bit more comfortable then the Comfort Suites down the road. For one, the Bliss toiletries were really nice! Normally, I don’t like using hotel toiletries because they are cheap and leave my hair and face feeling dry. The Bliss products were different and I loved the citrusy smell of their lotion and body wash. A complimentary bottle of water was welcomed because I hate hotel water. One last little perk that I really appreciated were the to-go coffee cups that they provided in addition to the coffee mugs in the room. This was great because as usual I only had time for 1 cup of coffee while getting packed up and it was nice to take my second cup with me to enjoy on the road. For those who book Club Level rooms, most Sheratons offer a Manager’s reception in the evening and continental breakfast in the morning in their club lounge. Sheraton is a member of the Starwood Brand of hotels.
Ship Review - Princess Cruise Lines Ahhh..my favorite ship of the three was the Caribbean Princess, bright and cheery I felt instantly at home the moment I stepped onboard. The staterooms were well laid out and comfortable if in slight need of a décor upgrade. The main atrium was just that, a real atrium that soared a few decks high, it was wide and spacious and had a natural flow from one area to the other. There were several spaces throughout the ship where I would have enjoyed just stopping and sitting for awhile. Again, because of other delays there just wasn’t enough time onboard. I checked out the pool areas, very nice, the sun filled Lido was just setting up for the next rush of boarding guests and the Coral Restaurant where I had lunch was intimate yet cheery. The Princess staff were ready at every turn to help and the lunch service was quick and efficient. It was just too little time on a lovely ship that I would have enjoyed spending a week on just to see every inch of her. Alas, so many ships so little time! |