Top Cruise Trends for 2013

It just goes to show that the cruise industry is constantly growing and evolving as we like to here at cruise.co.uk.  We always like to start trends and take on new ideas and technologies and be ahead of the rest of the pack.

Name Brands Are Heading Out to Sea

No-name coffee, custom-made song-and-dance revues and generic theme cruises are stepping aside for big-name, branded food and entertainment onboard. From Blue Man Group, “Hairspray” and “Chicago” to Starbucks Coffee at sea, cruising is expanding its partnerships with kids’ entertainment companies (Barbie on Royal Caribbean, Nickelodeon on Norwegian, Hasbro on Carnival), exercise phenomena (TRX and FlyWheel) and celebrity chefs (Food Network stars Guy Fieri on Carnival and Geoffrey Zakarian on Norwegian). Norwegian Breakaway will introduce a couple new Broadway shows at sea: “Burn the Floor” and “Rock of Ages.” Even theme cruises are brandeding with sailings touting “Top Chef,” ESPN and the Coachella music festival.

Packaging Is All the Rage

While the cruise industry hasn’t gone as ancillary-fee-crazy as the airlines have, they are adding more fee-based amenities and services, such as additional specialty dining options, priority boarding, late disembarkation and faster cabin access. Furthermore, they are taking things people have traditionally paid for on an a la carte basis (think drinks and shore excursions) and packaging them together for a one-time price. For instance, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian now offer, or are testing, beverage packages that include unlimited drinks, such as beer, wine and cocktails. A handful of cruise lines also are testing unlimited Internet packages, and others offer bundles that combine two or more specialty dining experiences or multiple shore excursions. In 2013, we expect to see more such fee-based services, as well as a variety of new packages.

Luxury Cruising Keeps Getting More Inclusive

As contemporary and premium cruise lines have continued to offer better suites and ship-within-a-ship complexes, the more traditional luxury lines have struggled with how to distinguish the high-end experience they offer from the upscale experience that can now be had on the bigger ships. Smaller-sized ships and better service have proved inadequate as differentiators, so luxury lines are turning to all-inclusive pricing schemes as a main distinction.  Crystal, Regent and Silversea cruise fares now include gratuities, all beverages, most dining (or all of it, depending on cruise line) and even select shore excursions. Even luxury-lite line Azamara, which was happily nickel-and-diming a few years ago, is including select beverages and onshore experiences in its prices. In 2013, we expect to see more luxury lines move in the all-inclusive direction.

The Party Moves to the Atrium

The Cruise ship atrium, once the spot for more sedate cruisers, is becoming a bustling locale for passengers to dance and play — especially after the sun goes down. Surrounded by bars, and visible from multiple decks, the atrium will be this year’s hotspot.  Celebrity Reflection, which made its U.S. debut in December 2012, turns the atrium into a club at night, playing dance favorites and encouraging passengers to join in the Electric Slide. Royal Caribbean uses its Centrum for aerial shows, sending entertainers attached to bungees flying through the air. Carnival entertainers lead passengers from its theaters to atriums for post-show dance parties. The atrium will become the heartbeat for many ships in 2013, which is perfect for those who want to participate in the action or those who just want to watch.

Cruise Ships Turn Inside Out

Major cruise lines are making the move to reconnect with the great outdoors — or at least the outside decks. What began with outdoor movies and deck parties has morphed into indoor-outdoor entertainment venues, such as The Waterfront, a quarter-mile-long outdoor “boardwalk” with eight alfresco dining venues and lounges, on Norwegian’s new Breakaway. Also of note are outdoor fitness complexes that include ropes courses, climbing walls and cages, as well as alfresco fitness equipment on Breakaway and Carnival Sunshine. While Celebrity offers jazz in its Solstice Class Lawn Clubs, Princess’ new Royal Princess, debuting in June, will feature a between-pools “tropical island” that will transform into a dance club at night, complete with a light show, as well as a cantilevered, glass-enclosed SeaWalk that extends 28 feet beyond the edge of the ship and 128 feet over the water. Lines are also expanding adults-only serenity decks and water-play areas, and adding additional and bigger outdoor movie screens.

The Decline of the Main Dining Room

There’s been a monumental shift in the mega-ship main dining room experience, once a structured nightly event with waiters who became family, exotic menu options like rabbit and a sea of sartorial sophistication. That quintessential cruise event has been replaced by more hurried pacing, cheaper seafood and steaks, and flex-dining programs that link passengers with different waiters every night. The changes have been a long time coming, but a renewed emphasis on for-fee, alternative restaurants without equal love going to the MDR will continue to hasten the transformation. Not all are opposed. Fans of the new normal love the ever-increasing gastronomic options and intimacy of smaller venues — even for a fee. Traditionalists see one of their most revered cruise institutions vanishing, like the large, succulent lobsters that once defined formal night. Some lines, including Royal Caribbean, have taken note. But while Royal insists it’s rededicating itself to the MDR with new menus and tableware, it continues to add slews of up-charge restaurants to ships during refurbishments.

Telecommunications Are Finally Improving
In 2012, MTN Satellite Communications, the main provider of telecommunications solutions for cruise ships, began updating and enhancing its land-based and satellite communications hardware. Through 2013 and into 2014 as the upgrade continues, cruise passengers will begin to see faster, less-expensive Internet (including Wi-Fi), as well as more mobile options on several cruise lines. At the same time, hardware changes on ships also are speeding up communications. Last year, Carnival began testing new technology aboard Carnival Magic in an effort to increase connection speeds. If the test is successful, you can be sure the line will roll out the changes to other ships, too. Royal Caribbean also began testing new technology on Oasis of the Seas, which it says will bring “fiber optic-like” Internet speeds to the ship.

Cruise Lines Are Changing Menus to Accommodate Dietary Restrictions

Passengers with dietary restrictions — vegan, gluten-free, etc. — used to have to jump through hoops to alert the kitchen staff to their food needs and make sure their ships were loaded with the necessary supplies. But cruise lines are recognizing we’re not all carb-eating carnivores and have been expanding onboard menus accordingly. Royal Caribbean is marking menu items that are low-calorie, gluten-free, lactose-free and/or vegetarian, as well as providing gluten-free foods in all restaurants.  Holland America introduced a vegetarian menu in 2012, and Seadream has added a supplementary raw food menu, offering items that are organic, vegan and heated to more than 118 degrees F. As cruise lines offer healthier choices and smaller portions, look out for more lifestyle-accommodating dishes in 2013.

Extreme Weather Will Increasingly Affect Your Cruise
Whether it’s a sign of global warming or not, it’s clear that weather patterns are changing, bringing more large, destructive storms. Of the 10 costliest hurricanes in U.S. history, eight have occurred in the past 10 years. This year’s Superstorm Sandy affected some 50 cruise sailings over 10 days, prompting the cancellation of two cruises and creating serious delays to several others. Meteorologists have said we can expect such storms more frequently in the years to come.

Safety Protocols Become Standardized

When Costa Concordia capsized in January 2012, the industry’s focus turned to safety onboard ships. To that end, changes in regulations trickled out, starting in early spring and continuing through the year. With the one-year anniversary of the tragedy coming on January 13, “Is cruising safe?” will be the question on everyone’s mind once again. Expect new announcements on safety to come from Cruise Lines International Association, CLIA U.K. and CLIA Europe in 2013. While most of the changes probably won’t be earth-shattering — passengers might not even notice them — they will aim to standardize safety across all ships and lines. CLIA has vowed to continue to review safety policies, focusing on processes that will minimize human error.

U.S.-Based Cruise Lines Are Going Global

In an attempt to attract more new passengers and ride the ebb and flow of economic booms and busts, U.S.-based cruise lines are reaching out to an international audience. Not only will you find a greater mix of nationalities onboard, but the cruise lines will alter the onboard experience to appeal to the local population in exotic destinations. Want to cruise Royal Caribbean in Brazil? You’ll find dining and entertainment options geared to South Americans. Carnival and Celebrity have introduced new ships to the Australia/New Zealand cruise market for winter 2012-13. Not only are these lines courting Aussies, but they’re also tweaking the onboard experience. While Celebrity has added local beer and altered menus to Australian tastes, Carnival went all out, adding pokies (local gambling machines) and a no-tipping policy. As you cruise in 2013, look for more Russians, Asians, South and Latin Americans, as well as Europeans onboard your floating outpost of the U.S.

U.K. Lines Embrace Short-Break Cruises

Short-break cruises — particularly ones with themes and/or celebrities onboard — will continue to grow in popularity in 2013. Ever mindful of the need to attract new cruisers, many U.K. lines are offering short-break or “taster” cruises as a way for people to sample a cruise — and hopefully book a longer one later in the year. The appeal for cruisers? Short-break cruises are keenly priced, with fares starting as low as £69 per person. They’re a lot cheaper than flying and booking a hotel, and they’re fairly hassle-free, as they all leave from U.K. ports. P&O Cruises has 25 two- to four-night cruises scheduled for 2013, all leaving from Southampton, while Fred Olsen Cruise line has 12 “mini-cruises” this year, ranging from two to five nights.  Silversea has eight cruises of four- to seven days this year in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe starting at £1,040 per person.  Cruise and Maritime voyages has 34 short-break cruises (one to five nights) from a number of U.K. ports, and Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Hebridean Island Cruises will also offer a limited number of short cruises. Popular destinations for these quick getaways include ports around the British Isles, France, Belgium and Holland. Special guests include “Britain’s Got Talent” winners and tenor Russell Watson.