Your Travel Notes

Archive for July, 2009

Cruise Ship Job Opportunities

Cruise Line Companies came up with other ways to improve their service for new and old passengers who loves to take a cruise to relax and pamper themselves. As cruising is one of the fastest growing trend in tourism the need for more cruise ships and crews is also climbing. But with this problematic economy and the price tag a new cruise ship has which is more or less a billion dollars would it still be best to build new ships?

Well most cruise companies have other solutions for this and that is to overhaul older vessels to make it look new for a fraction of the cost of building a new one. They’ve found out that renovating older ships are more financially sound for the company.

The cost of renovating a cruise ship is cheaper and faster than building a new one. Workers inspect refurbish and repair ships from all of its sides and parts at a dry dock. It is a place where most people even within the cruise industry has never seen. It may take hundreds of contractors to work alongside a cruise ship regular crew to work on a cruise ship that can take a few weeks to a few months.

Captain Hoyt a pilot of Norwegian Spirit vessel says that The capital investment on one of this ships is enormous… Even if you have the money to build a new ship the availability of shipyards and the delay in time for the construction for one of these is quite a bit.

“The whole point is to keep the quality of the ship up and this is our opportunity here to to do all the upgrades that will bring us up to the premier level of the rest of the fleet.

“I think when the passengers come on the overall impact will be that of a new ship” Hoyt said. “That’s what were shooting for.

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Cruise Line Loyalty

To keep their customers coming back the majority of cruise lines now offer some kind of customer loyalty scheme. These vary from each cruise operator and can include future booking discounts invites to VIP parties and onboard privileges such as priority embarkation. But is this enough to keep your loyalty? Or are you really looking for cabin upgrades and onboard credit?

Here is a summary of each cruise lines membership club and benefits to tempt you to come back time and time again…

Royal Caribbean International Crown and Anchor Society

Membership to the Crown and Anchor Society is automatically granted after your first sailing. The club offers discounts and benefits according to the number of cruise credits obtained. These are calculated by the number of days at sea and the cabin grade you sail in. As their sister company you will also receive equivalent recognition in Celebrities membership club. There are 4 tiers within the club escalating from gold to platinum diamond and diamond plus. As a gold member you can expect onboard bonuses such as complimentary wine tasting and a small commemorative gift as well as online booking discounts. As your membership level increases you can look forward to priorities over other customers with check in and waitlisted services such as spa treatments or shore excursions.

Celebrity Cruises Captains Club

Celebritys 3 tier Captains Club offers a slightly more generous loyalty scheme which involves a one category upgrade at the most basic membership level which is also applicable when booking your cruise through a travel agent.
The tiers range from Classic Select and Elite and loyal customers can expect invitations to onboard parties behind the scenes tours and at the highest level guests can take advantage complimentary use of the Thalassotherapy Pool where available and also a private departure lounge.

Norwegian Cruise Lines Latitudes Program

As a past guest NCL do offer some pretty good reductions when rebooking with them aside from this many of the benefits of their club which ranges from bronze silver gold and platinum levels are nothing to get too excited about! Whilst they offer the standard past guest party plus priorities over other guests with check in disembarkation and reservation only restaurants having completed 14 cruises and earned your platinum status all you really get is complimentary dining inthe “Le Bistro” restaurant which would usually incur an additional charge. Oh and you get a latitudes ship pin

Princess Cruises Captains Circle

The Captains Circle club features gold platinum and elite levels of membership with all levels receiving preferential pricing offers on selected itineraries throughout the year. Further standard membership benefits include exclusive events no doubt that will be another captains party then and also a Princess Passport a scheme whereby guests receive stamps depicting the cruise destination which are then signed by the captain and displayed in a Princess Passport.
As membership increases to platinum status guests are entitled to priority boarding free internet minutes and upgraded travel insurance. If the basic level is purchased Guests that reach their 16th cruise or their 150th cruise day with Princess will be members of the elite club where extras such as a complimentary mini bar upgraded bathroom amenities and a 10 discount in certain onboard shops will be applicable.

Costa Cruises Costa Club

Loyal customers will be pleased to hear that Costa offer one of the most rewarding loyalty schemes at sea. Whether you are a basic aquamarine member coral member or their highest pearl member you can receive a 5 discount on any of their cruises. In addition guests at aquamarine level will receive a generous 20 discount on wine packages mini bar drinks and laundry service 10 off Costa merchandise and a cocktail with the captain complete with a souvenir photo.
Membership to the club is achieved through earning points; these are accumulated through cruise days with Costa as well as onboard spending. At higher levels of membership guests will qualify for priority boarding and disembarkation a complimentary meal in the a la carte restaurant a bottle of wine and welcome gift.

PO Cruises Portunus Club

Membership to the Portunus club is automatic after completing your very first sailing with PO Cruises. Throughout the year there will be selected Portunus sailings which give members reductions on standard cruise prices.
At a basic level ruby members are entitled to a 5 discount on onboard spend this increases to 7.5 when you reach sapphire level of membership and gold members can take off an extra 10. At the highest level gold members will also get a dedicated check in service and priority disembarkation.
Members of the Portunus club can also gain points from sailing on Ocean Village Princess Cruises or Swan Hellenic.

Cunard World Club

World Club has 4 levels of membership; silver gold platinum and diamond. Automatic membership is granted after your first sailing with Cunard. After this members are entitled to a 5 discount of further sailings.
Further benefits for guests who have completed 20 days onboard include; a souvenir gold membership Cunarder pin complimentary internet minutes and cocktail party invitation. As guests reach platinum level they can expect in addition to lower level benefits a 20 discount on dry cleaning and laundry service 10 off White Star Luggage Delivery service additional internet minutes and a platinum member Cunarder pin. Diamond members will also receive priority luggage delivery.

MSC Cruises MSC Club

MSCs loyalty club consists of 3 tiers; classic silver and gold. Membership is awarded by a points system which accumulates with the number of cruise days taken with MSC.
At each level members will receive a welcome cocktail a 5 discount on excursions and 5 discount in onboard boutiques. As a classic member you are entitled to a 5 discount on most cruises silver members will receive 8 and gold can take off an additional 10 off their cruise cost.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Oceans

Each night spent onboard a Fred Olsen cruise will earn you 1 point. Once you reach 30 points you will qualify for their first level of membership. At this blue level guests will receive 5 off both onboard spending and shore excursions booked prior to departure. As you reach 31 points you enter the silver level where members will receive a 2 cruise discount Oceans cocktail party and usually priority embarkation. Once you have exceeded 100 days onboard a Fred Olsen cruise you will be rewarded with a 4 cruise cost discount personalized luggage labels a welcome aboard gift plus a complimentary shuttle bus pass.

Carnival Concierge Club

After your 10th cruise with Carnival you will enter their membership club at the platinum level then those members who complete their 25th 50th and 75th sailings will receive a shipboard credit representing 25 50 or 75 of their cruise fare. Those who reach an impressive 100th sailing will earn a complimentary cruise of up to 8 days.
In addition all platinum members are eligible for priority check in disembarkation and dining waitlists.

So are the cruise lines really doing enough to keep you coming back? Priority check in early disembarkation and a captains party invite is certainly better than nothing but as a loyal customer would this sway you to rebook with them? Or do you feel that the cruise experience they offer is enough to keep you loyal?

If you have any views on customer loyalty schemes or any ideas on how the cruise lines could improve on them get in touch. Id be interested to hear your opinions.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Genna Roberts is web editor at Inside Cruise an online cruise community packed with all the latest cruise news reviews and features.

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Carnival Cruise – The Essence Of Tranquility The Sense Of Ease

Are you tired of working eight hours a day seven days a week? Are you getting bored of your everyday routine and want something new to satisfy your craving for adventure?

Then perhaps all you need is a threeday or even a week worth of vacation in a Carnival Cruise. This trip is an ideal way to treat yourself even for a few days. While on the trip you do not need to worry too much about paying additional charges for your meals amusement and other special activities. All you just have to do is to relax and charge everything to the ship.

While on the ship you will also experience being pampered by the staff since they will give you soothing massage services sauna baths in spas hair treatment and other beauty care services. All of these are available in one location; you just have to walk to each shop to get the services.

Carnival cruise is regarded as one of the most famous cruise lines in the world. Most of the travelers waiting to reach their destinations simply eat dream and dance the day and night away.

Carnival cruises are popular to first time travelers from children to teenagers from young singles to the older singles from couples to adults. The best things to experience at the Carnival cruise includes informal dinner at the Sea View Bistro a suitable 24hour pizza restaurant the Captains party fine dining and the room services which are available 24 hours a day.

Not only that you will also get the chance watch movies everyday play at the Las Vegas style casinos swim at onboard pools shop at the duty free shopping and join parties every now and then.

Carnival cruise is an entertainment oriented cruise ship for all traveling singles couples and families it brings many travelers from all ages and lifestyles on the ship is comparable to any other cruise line available. You will also be given the chance to enjoy a sumptuous evening in cafes and restaurants onboard such as the Paris Lounge Caf des Artistes and the casino of Monte Carlo.

Carnival cruise also offers complete comfort with large spaces and calming accommodations inside one of their staterooms. The cabins and rooms are fully carpeted with cabinets and amenities like sink bathtubs and showers. Each room also has a color television. You will find all the amenities you will find in the comforts of your own home in a Carnival cruise liner cabin.

The rooms of Carnival cruise are 50 percent bigger than other average cruise lines wherein you can have a hundred percent private space.

If there are instances that you are not contented with the services offered by Carnival cruises you can inform the cruise liner about this. The cruise will be willing to compensate for the unused part of your cruise charges and will reimburse your return flight fare.

Now how will you be able to get the lowest rate in the carnival Cruise?

Simply get a cruise expert.

With the help of a cruise expert you will be able to remove or at least minimize all the doubts and hesitations when employing a travel agent. Since the expert knows on how cruise lines work they will know the best date to have a vacation on a specific place. Cruise experts are also knowledgeable about the cruise promotions cruise information and cruise destinations.

When looking for a cruise expert meet them face to face if possible. This is one way to make sure that the expert you are employing has already been in a cruise and knows exactly what you want to know. In addition when choosing the right cruise expert be sure that the expert will guide you on the whole booking procedure.

To make sure that the expert will not deceive you call the cruise line then make a comparison on how he or she hascharged you to the actual rate that the cruise line is giving. Just make sure that the rate is already covering all port charges and taxes.

For most cruise vacationers it does not matter how much it will cost them to have the cruise vacation. However for some it really is important to save money. So if you are one of those people you now know what to do to lessen your expenses.

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