In 1984 Douglas Ward wrote The first edition of this book to help readers decide which ship and itinerary would suit them best. Twenty-five years later, the book is cruising’s standard reference work
Twenty-five years ago, the first edition of this book listed 120 ships, about 30 of which are still operating in one form or another. Today, that number has grown to more than 280 (around 350 including the list of ships operating coastal cruises). Throughout the period, the global cruise industry has maintained a global growth rate of over 7% each year. But many well-known cruise lines have also gone into to the deep blue seabed in the past 25 years. Indeed, just since 1990 more than 60 cruise lines have either merged, or been taken over, or simply gone out of business, including such well-liked companies as Royal Cruise Lines, Royal Viking Line, and Sun Line Cruises.
Some start-up lines, using older ships, and aimed at specific markets also came and went – operations like American Family Cruises, Fiesta Marina Cruises, Premier Cruise Lines and Regency Cruises. In came new shiny tonnage, complete with vanity logos and adornments painted on all-white hulls – the attributes of the industry’s emerging giants. Fresh thinking changed the design of accommodation, the use of public spaces, and more food and entertainment venues.
Yield management, a term purloined from the airline industry, was introduced. These days company executives think of little else, because running a cruise company is all about economics.
WHO GOES CRUISING
The Maritime Evaluations Group has analysed by nationality the breakdown of passengers choosing to take a cruise vacation:
United States 13,500,000
Europe (excluding UK) 2,900,000
UK 1,477,000
Asia (excluding Japan) 600,000
Canada 500,000
Australia/New Zealand 330,000
Scandinavia 200,000
Japan 180,000
Cyprus * 75,000
Freighter Passengers 3,000
Total 19,765,000
* Local Cyprus market only.
Note: The above numbers include the approximately 1 million passengers who took a river/inland waterway cruise, but not the 300,000 passengers who took a coastal sailing aboard the Hurtigruten (Norwegian Coastal Voyages) ships. All figures are for 2008.
The birth of modern cruising
In June 1958, the first commercial jet aircraft flew across the Atlantic and altered the economics of transatlantic travel forever. It was the last year in which more passengers crossed the North Atlantic by sea than by air.
In the early 1960s, passenger-shipping directories listed over 100 passenger lines. Until the mid-1960s, it was cheaper to cross the Atlantic by ship than by plane, but the appearance of the jet aircraft changed that rapidly, particularly with the introduction of the Boeing 747 in the early 1970s. In 1962, more than 1 million people crossed the North Atlantic by ship; in 1970, that number was down to 250,000.
The success of the jumbo jets created a fleet of unprofitable and out-of-work passenger liners that appeared doomed for the scrap heap. Even the famous big “Queens,” noted for their regular weekly transatlantic service, were at risk. Cunard White Star Line’s Queen Mary (81,237 tons) was withdrawn in September 1967.
Cunard Line’s sister ship Queen Elizabeth, at 83,673 tons the largest-ever passenger liner (until 1996), made its final crossing in November 1968.
Ships were sold for a fraction of their value. Many lines went out of business and ships were scrapped. Those that survived attempted to mix transatlantic crossings with voyages south to the sun. The Caribbean (including the Bahamas) became appealing, cruising became an alternative, and an entire new industry was born, with new lines being formed exclusively for cruising.
Then smaller, more specialized ships arrived, capable of getting into the tiny ports of developing Caribbean islands; there were no commercial airlines taking vacationers to the Caribbean then, and few hotels. Instead of cruising long distances south from more northerly ports such as New York, companies established their headquarters in Florida. This avoided the cold weather, choppy seas, and expense of the northern ports and saved fuel costs with shorter runs to the Caribbean.
Cruising was reborn. California became the base for cruises to the Mexican Riviera, and Vancouver on Canada’s west coast became the focus for summer cruises to Alaska.
Flying passengers to embarkation ports was the next logical step, and soon a working relationship emerged between the cruise lines and the airlines. Air/sea and “sail and stay” packages thrived – joint cruise and hotel vacations with inclusive pricing. Some of the old liners came out of mothballs, purchased by emerging cruise lines and refurbished for warm-weather cruising operations, often with their interiors redesigned and refitted. During the late 1970s, the modern cruise industry grew at a rapid rate.
WHAT’S GONE IN 25 YEARS
* Streamers and balloons for sail-away (pictured on right)
* “Bon Voyage” parties and visitors
* Shared bathroom facilities
* Single nationality crews
* Telephone receptionists
* Bell boys announcing that the dining room is open and operating elevators
* Baggage rooms
* Clay pigeon shooting
* The Daily Tote (totalisator)
* Writing rooms
* Secretarial services (transatlantic liners)
* Soft lighting on open decks
* Cabin bell-push/pull-cord for steward.
* Night stewards waiting for room service orders, or to bring tea or coffee
* No more cabin door keys aboard new ships (replaced by electronic key today)
* DC voltage instead of AC voltage.
* Live port talks by shore excursion staff (not port lecturers)
* Hat parades
* Steamboats on the Mississippi River
* Posted shore tender schedules
* Passengers with steamer trunks
* Portholes that open
* Cinemas showing 35mm films
* Indoor squash courts
WHAT’S ALMOST GONE
* Staff to take you to your cabin and carry your hand luggage at embarkation
* Smiling reception desk staff
* Passenger lists
* Good port information for independents
* Free shuttle buses in ports of call
* Midnight Buffets (increasingly replaced by light bites)
* Mid-morning bouillon service
* Music-free cabin hallways
* Quiet, non-vacuum toilets
* Social Directress
* Bridge and engine room visits
* Real teakwood decking
* Restaurant Managers in proper tails
* Table-side cooking and flambeaus
* Steak tartare
* Real caviar
* Knowledgeable humans to answer room service calls
* Real smoking lounges
* Sensible dress codes
* Real glass drinks glasses on open pool decks
* Evening dress code for officers
* Daily Program that is informative, and not a sales tool
* Proper ballrooms
* Wooden toilet seats in suites
Cruising today
Today’s cruise concept hasn’t changed much from that of earlier days, although it has been improved, refined, expanded, and packaged for ease of consumption. No longer the domain of affluent, retired people, cruising today attracts passengers of every age and socio-economic background. It’s no longer the shipping business, but the hospitality industry – although it has to be said that some cruise ship personnel appear to be in the hostility industry.
New ships are generally larger than their predecessors, yet cabin size is “standardized” to provide more space for entertainment and other public facilities. Today’s ships boast air conditioning to keep out heat and humidity; stabilizers to keep the ship on an even keel; a high level of maintenance, safety, and hygiene; and more emphasis on health and fitness facilities.
Although ships have long been devoted to eating and relaxation in comfort, ships today offer more activities, and more learning and life-enriching experiences than before. For the same prices as 25 years ago, you can cruise aboard the latest large resort ships that offer ice skating, rock climbing, golfing, roller blading, wave surfing, bowling, and so on while dining at fine restaurants that offer varied cuisines, being pampered in luxurious spas, and being entertained by high-quality production shows. And there are many more places you can visit on a cruise: from Antarctica to Acapulco, Bermuda to Bergen, Dakar to Dominica, Shanghai to St Thomas.
Cruising tomorrow
Current ship design follows two quite distinct paths: large resort ships or smaller niche-market ships.
Large resort ships, where “economy of scale” helps the operator to keep the cost per passengers down. The first, Carnival Destiny, debuted in 1996, and today seven companies – Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, MSC Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International – have ships measuring over 100,000 tons. Some accommodate more than 5,000 passengers, with the “bigger is better” principle being pursued for all it’s worth. Many of these ships are, however, too wide to transit the Panama Canal and so are designated non-Panamax.
Small ships, where the “small is beautiful” concept has taken hold, particularly in the exclusive and luxury categories. Cruise lines offer high-quality ships of low capacity, which can provide a highly personalized range of quality services. This means better trained, more experienced staff (and more of them to serve fewer passengers), higher-quality food, and more meals cooked to order. Small ships can also visit the less overcrowded ports.
WHAT’S NEW IN THE PAST 25 YEARS – BUT NOT ALWAYS AN IMPROVEMENT
* Cruise-only travel agents
* Pay-extra dining venues
* Vacuum (barking-dog) toilets
* “Art” auctions, jewelry shops
* Vibration-less “pod” propulsion systems
* On-line check in for some of the major cruise lines
* Balcony- and French-balcony, loft and lobby cabins
* Child-free ships
* Child-only playrooms and teen clubs
* More active and adventurous shore excursions
* Medivac helicopter lift for medical treatment
* Cashless cruising (“just sign here!”)
* Electronic cabin key cards
* Pay-extra adult-only sanctuaries
* Pay-extra spa and wellness facilities
* Pay-extra tours to view the “Back of House”
* Personal safes
* Exclusive private accommodation areas (effectively gated communities)
* Multi-room suites for multi-generational families or friends
* Satellite-linked telephones in cabins
* Interactive touch- and flat screen cabin television sets
* Gratuities charged automatically to your onboard account
* Much wider choice of dining venues, eateries, and food
* High-tech production shows, click-tracks
* Internet-connect centers, wi-fi, and e-mail facilities
* Large casinos, themed lounges and bars
* Huge self-serve stuff-your-face buffets (camping at sea)
* Better facilities for the frail and physically challenged
* “Private island” beach days
* Cruises for gays, singles, and themed groups
* Deluge of sales flyers under cabin door
* More sports facilities (rock climbing walls, ice-skating rinks, golf simulators, bowling alleys, boxing rings, race car simulators, surf-riders)
* Digital photographs and personal videos
* Lack of dress code
* Passengers with tattoos, and tracksuits
* A crew that can’t speak your language
* Security personnel aboard ship that are in the hostility industry and not the hospitality industry (but they’re worse in the cruise terminals)
* Obnoxious port security staff for embarkation
* Sunbed hoggers
* Roll-over lifeboats
* Headline-making attacks of norovirus
* Overboards (whether for crime, accident, “assisted” suicide, or insurance money)
Chop and stretch
Other cruise lines have expanded by “stretching” their ships. This is accomplished literally by cutting a ship in half, and inserting a newly constructed midsection, thus instantly adding more accommodation and public rooms, while maintaining
the same draft.
Ships that have been “stretched” (with year and length of “stretch”) include: Albatros (1983; 27.7meters), Aquamarine (1980; 26 meters), Balmoral (2007, 30 meters), Black Watch (1981, 27.7 meters), Boudicca (1982, 27.7 meters), Braemar (2008, 31.2 meters), Costa Europa (1990; 40 meters), Enchantment of the Seas (2005; 22.2 meters), Norwegian Dream (1998; 40 meters), Spirit of Adventure (1986/20 meters), and SuperStar Aquarius (1998; 40 meters). design of cruise vessels takes in the future, ships are becoming increasingly environmentally friendly.
HIGHLIGHTS OF 25 YEARS
1984 Windstar Sail Cruises re-launched commercial sail. Network TV advertising was used in the US for the first time, by Carnival Cruise Lines.
1985 The Chandris Group of Companies acquired Fantasy Cruises from GoGo Tours, renaming it Chandris Fantasy Cruises in the US and Chandris Cruises in the UK. Achille Lauro was hijacked in the Mediterranean by the Palestine Liberation Front.
1986 Direct-dial satellite calls were introduced. Cunard acquired Sea Goddess Cruises.
1987 Queen Elizabeth 2 was converted from steam turbine to diesel-electric power.
1988 Royal Caribbean Cruise Line merged with Admiral Cruises to form Royal Admiral Cruises (later Royal Caribbean Cruises). Carnival Cruise Lines acquired Holland America Line. Seabourn Cruise Line’s first ship, Seabourn Pride, entered service.
1989 The Chandris Group of Companies created Celebrity Cruises. The Panama Canal celebrated its 75th birthday.
1990 At the start of the Gulf War, the US government chartered Cunard Princess for six months as a rest and relaxation center for US service personnel in the Bahrain.
1991 Carnival Cruise Lines acquired a 25 percent stake in Seabourn Cruise Line.
1992 Chargeurs and Accor, the French property and leisure industries group, bought 23% of Costa Crociere, parent of Costa Cruises.
1993 Star Cruises was founded by Malaysia’s Genting Group.
1994 Radisson Diamond Cruises and Seven Seas Cruise Line merged to become Radisson Seven Seas Cruises.
1995 British company Airtours purchased Southward from Norwegian Cruise Line and Nordic Prince from Royal Caribbean Cruises.
1996 Cunard (and parent company Trafalgar House) were bought by Kvaerner.
1997 Carnival Corporation, jointly with Airtours, purchased Costa Cruises. Royal Caribbean International bought Celebrity Cruises.
1998 Kvaerner sold Cunard to Carnival Corporation. Norwegian Cruise Line bought Orient Lines.
1999 Crown Cruise Line was reintroduced as an upscale part of Commodore Cruise Line.
2000 Star Cruises took full control of Norwegian Cruise Line (including Orient Lines) after buying the outstanding shares held by Carnival Corporation. P&O Group separated its cruising activities from the rest of the group. Costa Cruises became 100% owned by Carnival Corporation.
2001 Renaissance Cruises (10 ships) ceased operations after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US – one of several casualties.
2002 SeaDream Yacht Club began with SeaDream I and SeaDream II.
2003 NCL America launched its US-flag operation.
2004 Carnival Corporation and P&O Princess plc merged to become the world’s largest cruise company, with more than 60 ships and 13 brands.
2005 Orion Expedition Cruises launched with one ship, Orion.
2006 Radisson Seven Seas Cruises became Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Royal Caribbean International bought Pullmantur.
2007 Celebrity Cruises created a sub-brand, Azamara Cruises. Queen Elizabeth 2 was sold for £50 million ($100 million) to a state investment company in Dubai, to be refitted and become a floating hotel and museum alongside the Palm Jumeirah.
2008 Fred Olsen Cruise Lines “stretched” its Braemar by 102ft (31.2 meters). Almost all cruise lines added or increased their fuel surcharges to future cruises in the face of rising oil prices. Most paddlewheel riverboats ceased operations in the USA.
2009 Island Cruises was acquired by TUI Travel’s Thomson Cruises division. TUI Cruises started cruising with one ship. Imperial Majesty Cruise Line ceased operations, replaced by Celebration Cruise Line.
2010 The Ocean Village brand disappears; its two ships are sent to join the P&O Cruises (Australia) fleet.
Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2010
