Royal Caribbean International said it will deploy Ovation of the Seas to China in 2016. The ship is the second newbuild that will be devoted to the Chinese market. The 4,000-passenger Ovation will be homeported in Tianjin, near Beijing, adding a fourth port in China to Royal Caribbean’s lineup.
In May, Royal Caribbean will redeploy its Quantum of the Seas to Shanghai from its current homeport in Bayonne, New Jersey. Ovation is also a Quantum-class ship, meaning two of the three Quantum ships will be sailing from China year-round. No other cruise line has put a newbuild in China, much less two. “We are furthering our commitment [to China] by bringing two of the world’s newest and most advanced Quantum-class cruise ships to the region,” Royal Caribbean President Michael Bayley said at a news conference in Beijing. Ovation of the Seas, the third Quantum-class vessel, is scheduled to enter service in spring 2016. The second Quantum ship, Anthem of the Seas, will make its debut in Southampton, England, on April 22 and will sail from New Jersey after a summer season in Europe. Bayley said that Royal Caribbean is taking other steps to strengthen its cruise operation in China. It has created a curriculum with Tianjin Maritime College to train culinary and restaurant service employees and hired more than 3,000 students since the academy opened in August 2014, Bayley said. Also, Royal Caribbean is investigating potential Chinese drydock facilities to revitalize Legend of the Seas as early as 2018 and potential logistics centers in China to supply its ships deployed in the region. It is also looking at an inbound-tourism business model that would bring thousands of North Americans to visit China. The addition of Ovation will bring to five the number of Royal Caribbean ships sailing in China by 2016. In addition to Quantum and Ovation, the cruise line has positioned Mariner of the Seas in Shanghai and Voyager of the Seas in Hong Kong. Legend of the Seas will sail from Tianjin in 2016 until Ovation’s arrival, and then reposition to Xiamen.
A 52-day cruise from Southampton to Tianjin on Ovation opens for sale on March 26.
For more information on this and booking other RCCL cruises, contact TheCruiseOutlet.com for exclusive rates and amendities at info@thecruiseoutlet.com or 800-775-1884
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Monday, March 23, 2015
Cruise Lines Cancel calls in Tunisia due to killings
Holland America Line has canceled upcoming port calls to La Goulette, Tunisia, on three cruises through the end of May. The company said scheduled calls to La Goulette beyond the end of May will be evaluated as the sailing dates get closer.
Holland America is the latest cruise line to cancel calls to Tunisia after the March 18 attack in a museum killed 23 people, including 12 passengers on the MSC Splendida and five on Costa Fascinosa. Both MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises suspended calls to Tunisian ports for the remainder of 2015. Star Clippers and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises also replaced scheduled calls to Tunisia in April with Sicily instead.
For more information on this and to make reservations on any of the affected cruise lines, contact TheCruiseOutlet.com which has exclusive information and rates at 203-288-1884
Holland America is the latest cruise line to cancel calls to Tunisia after the March 18 attack in a museum killed 23 people, including 12 passengers on the MSC Splendida and five on Costa Fascinosa. Both MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises suspended calls to Tunisian ports for the remainder of 2015. Star Clippers and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises also replaced scheduled calls to Tunisia in April with Sicily instead.
For more information on this and to make reservations on any of the affected cruise lines, contact TheCruiseOutlet.com which has exclusive information and rates at 203-288-1884
Friday, February 27, 2015
Disney Raises Park Prices
Visiting Mickey and Minnie just got more expensive. The Walt Disney Co. raised ticket prices to attend Disneyland, Walt Disney World and the rest of its U.S. theme parks. A one-day ticket for either Disneyland or California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif., is now $99 for anyone 10 or older, the company said. That's up from $96. Single-day tickets for the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., are now $105, up from $99. Disney has continued to see strong attendance growth at its theme parks and resorts. For the quarter ended Dec. 27, revenue for the segment rose 9% to $3.9 billion, as attendance at the company's California and Florida parks climbed 7%, with Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort each setting all-time quarterly attendance records. A measles outbreak linked to Disney's Southern California theme parks hasn't hurt attendance. Earlier this month, CEO Bob Iger said in an interview with CNBC that the company was seeing no discernible impact on attendance or bookings from the outbreak, which was revealed last month. Among other price changes that took effect Sunday: A one-day ticket to Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom now is $97, up from $94. Disney also bumped up ticket prices for children ages 3 to 9. Kids in that age bracket will be charged $93 for a single-day ticket at Disneyland. That's up from $90. For the Magic Kingdom, that ticket is now $99, up from $93. For the other theme parks, it's now $91, up from $88. Disney typically raises ticket prices at its U.S. theme parks annually, said Suzi Brown, a Disneyland Resort spokeswoman. "We continually add new experiences, and many of our guests select multiday tickets or annual passes, which provide a great value and additional savings," she said.
For more information on Visiting Disney or Cruising with Disney Cruise Lines, call TheCruiseOutlet.com for exclusive rates and promotions at 203-288-1884 or info@thecruiseoutlet.com
For more information on Visiting Disney or Cruising with Disney Cruise Lines, call TheCruiseOutlet.com for exclusive rates and promotions at 203-288-1884 or info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Viking River Cruises to launch Cruises on the Mississippi in 2017
Viking Cruises, a major European river player will launch Mississippi River cruises in 2017. It will become the first major European competitor to enter the U.S. river cruise market with dedicated vessels. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and Viking Cruises Chairman Torstein Hagen announced on Tuesday that the line has chosen New Orleans as the home port for Viking’s first cruises in North America. “We’re proud to welcome Viking River Cruises to New Orleans,” said Jindal. “This investment will not only bring great new jobs to our state, but it will also showcase Louisiana and the Mississippi River to the rest of the world.” Hagen had alluded to the potential for his line to enter the American river cruise market over the past two years. "The Viking team is very proud to partner with the state of Louisiana, and we are grateful for the support of Governor Jindal,” Hagen said. “We are excited about the prospect of bringing modern river cruising to the Mississippi, a river that has been traveled by explorers for centuries.”
Viking will construct six new U.S. river cruise vessels over the next three years at an estimated cost of $90 million to $100 million per vessel. The river boats will be built in U.S. shipyards and crewed by U.S. citizens, the line said. All vessels sailing under the Viking flag in the U.S. will be owned by Tennenbaum Capital Partners, a Los Angeles-based alternative investment management firm. They’ll be dedicated vessels that are time-chartered to Viking.
Already sailing on the Mississippi and throughout America's heartland are American Queen Steamboat Company’s American Queen and American Cruise Lines’ Queen of the Mississippi and American Eagle (launching this spring). While Viking is a new player within the U.S. market, the line has expanded rapidly overseas. Viking is the world's largest river cruise operator with 60 vessels, many of them modern Long Ships launched in Europe the past three years. Viking plans to deploy two boats per year on the Mississippi River, with six boats in the first three years. That launch will certainly come with promotional muscle -- which may actually benefit all competitors.
As for competitors, American Queen Steamboat Company operates a traditional paddlewheel vessel and its American Queen product plays heavily into the Mark Twain era and the fond connection Americans have with that chapter in American history. Onboard decor has a historical flair, although amenities for guests are modern. American Queen is also the biggest riverboat on the river, carrying 436 guests. In contrast, American Cruise Lines' two vessels have paddlewheel design, but more modern propulsion and, thus, can cover a bit more territory. The interior of the ships is contemporary in design. These vessels also are smaller -- serving just 150 guests.
Viking's passenger count will fall in the middle. It announced that its American riverboats will host up to 300 passengers and feature luxury amenities. In Europe, Viking typically operates a modern, contemporary Long Ship product with clean lines and cookie-cutter design that's very similar from ship to ship.
Mississippi Itineraries
Viking’s Mississippi River cruises will operate from docking facilities near New Orleans' French Quarter. "We are thrilled by the choice of the Port of New Orleans as Viking’s initial entry into the North American market,” said Gary LaGrange, president and CEO, Port of New Orleans. La Grange said the port’s board of commissioners had been working with the Viking team for nearly two years to determine the proper venue for the new ships within the port and along the Mississippi River.
The new cruises will have port calls in St. James, East Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes in Louisiana. The cruises will then continue further into the U.S. interior to such ports as Memphis, TN; St. Louis, MO; or St. Paul, MN, depending on the season. “Culturally rich itineraries will be great for the U.S. market – especially out of New Orleans, which already has a historic, European flair,"
"We know our passengers will enjoy the rich history, culture and cuisine of all the great cities and towns along the Mississippi River from New Orleans to St. Paul," said Hagen. "Together with our U.S. partners, we take great pride in the economic benefit that river-cruising provides to the regions our guests visit, from the shipbuilders to the local businesses.” Jindal and Hagen said the Viking initiative will result in more than 780 new direct and indirect jobs in Louisiana. Of those, 416 will be new direct jobs for Louisiana-based operations and vessel crews; the average salary will be $40,000 plus benefits.
The line’s customers are expected to travel to New Orleans from across the U.S., Europe and beyond, bringing new business to New Orleans' hotels, restaurants, museums and other attractions. More than 90 percent of sales created within Louisiana by the new Viking project is expected to come from out-of-state customers. “New Orleans is on a roll, and this investment is yet another example of the continued growth across industries in our city,” said Mitch Landrieu, mayor of New Orleans.
"Since its launch in 1997, Viking River Cruises has connected its passengers to Europe and Asia’s most scenic landscapes and cultural landmarks," said Jindal. "With today’s announcement, the picturesque Mississippi River and the beauty of New Orleans, Baton Rouge and other great cities of the American South will join the list of the company’s journeys as Viking River Cruises launches its first North American cruise.” Many officials say Louisiana was chosen as a home port choice because of the state’s positive business climate, workforce and port infrastructure. The state of Louisiana also offered Viking a competitive incentive package that includes a $4.5 million performance-based grant for site preparation at the company’s docking locations in Louisiana.
Viking also will receive the customized solutions of the state’s workforce development program, LED FastStart, which will include partnerships with the Louisiana Workforce Commission and local educational institutions.
Founded in 1997, Viking first expanded into the U.S. market by establishing its U.S. headquarters in Los Angeles. In November 2013, the parties began discussing potential Viking interest in starting the voyages from New Orleans. “Having the top river cruise company homeport in New Orleans will be an outstanding chance to tell the story of the Louisiana renaissance to the world,” said Michael Hecht, president and CEO, Greater New Orleans Inc. He said the decision of Viking to come to New Orleans demonstrates great teamwork at the state, regional and local levels. Stephen Perry, president and CEO, New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, also gave his support, noting that “Viking is synonymous with elegance and class, and they will bring a diverse domestic and international clientele” to the cruises and thus to New Orleans.
Viking is on an expansion kick. In addition to its growth in river cruising across the globe, it's launching its first oceangoing ship, the 930-guest Viking Star, this spring. Two additional ocean ships, Viking Sea and Viking Sky, are also on order.
For more information about this and other Viking cruises, contact TheCruiseOutlet.com for exclusive rates and promotions at 800-775-1884
Viking will construct six new U.S. river cruise vessels over the next three years at an estimated cost of $90 million to $100 million per vessel. The river boats will be built in U.S. shipyards and crewed by U.S. citizens, the line said. All vessels sailing under the Viking flag in the U.S. will be owned by Tennenbaum Capital Partners, a Los Angeles-based alternative investment management firm. They’ll be dedicated vessels that are time-chartered to Viking.
Already sailing on the Mississippi and throughout America's heartland are American Queen Steamboat Company’s American Queen and American Cruise Lines’ Queen of the Mississippi and American Eagle (launching this spring). While Viking is a new player within the U.S. market, the line has expanded rapidly overseas. Viking is the world's largest river cruise operator with 60 vessels, many of them modern Long Ships launched in Europe the past three years. Viking plans to deploy two boats per year on the Mississippi River, with six boats in the first three years. That launch will certainly come with promotional muscle -- which may actually benefit all competitors.
As for competitors, American Queen Steamboat Company operates a traditional paddlewheel vessel and its American Queen product plays heavily into the Mark Twain era and the fond connection Americans have with that chapter in American history. Onboard decor has a historical flair, although amenities for guests are modern. American Queen is also the biggest riverboat on the river, carrying 436 guests. In contrast, American Cruise Lines' two vessels have paddlewheel design, but more modern propulsion and, thus, can cover a bit more territory. The interior of the ships is contemporary in design. These vessels also are smaller -- serving just 150 guests.
Viking's passenger count will fall in the middle. It announced that its American riverboats will host up to 300 passengers and feature luxury amenities. In Europe, Viking typically operates a modern, contemporary Long Ship product with clean lines and cookie-cutter design that's very similar from ship to ship.
Mississippi Itineraries
Viking’s Mississippi River cruises will operate from docking facilities near New Orleans' French Quarter. "We are thrilled by the choice of the Port of New Orleans as Viking’s initial entry into the North American market,” said Gary LaGrange, president and CEO, Port of New Orleans. La Grange said the port’s board of commissioners had been working with the Viking team for nearly two years to determine the proper venue for the new ships within the port and along the Mississippi River.
The new cruises will have port calls in St. James, East Baton Rouge and West Feliciana parishes in Louisiana. The cruises will then continue further into the U.S. interior to such ports as Memphis, TN; St. Louis, MO; or St. Paul, MN, depending on the season. “Culturally rich itineraries will be great for the U.S. market – especially out of New Orleans, which already has a historic, European flair,"
"We know our passengers will enjoy the rich history, culture and cuisine of all the great cities and towns along the Mississippi River from New Orleans to St. Paul," said Hagen. "Together with our U.S. partners, we take great pride in the economic benefit that river-cruising provides to the regions our guests visit, from the shipbuilders to the local businesses.” Jindal and Hagen said the Viking initiative will result in more than 780 new direct and indirect jobs in Louisiana. Of those, 416 will be new direct jobs for Louisiana-based operations and vessel crews; the average salary will be $40,000 plus benefits.
The line’s customers are expected to travel to New Orleans from across the U.S., Europe and beyond, bringing new business to New Orleans' hotels, restaurants, museums and other attractions. More than 90 percent of sales created within Louisiana by the new Viking project is expected to come from out-of-state customers. “New Orleans is on a roll, and this investment is yet another example of the continued growth across industries in our city,” said Mitch Landrieu, mayor of New Orleans.
"Since its launch in 1997, Viking River Cruises has connected its passengers to Europe and Asia’s most scenic landscapes and cultural landmarks," said Jindal. "With today’s announcement, the picturesque Mississippi River and the beauty of New Orleans, Baton Rouge and other great cities of the American South will join the list of the company’s journeys as Viking River Cruises launches its first North American cruise.” Many officials say Louisiana was chosen as a home port choice because of the state’s positive business climate, workforce and port infrastructure. The state of Louisiana also offered Viking a competitive incentive package that includes a $4.5 million performance-based grant for site preparation at the company’s docking locations in Louisiana.
Viking also will receive the customized solutions of the state’s workforce development program, LED FastStart, which will include partnerships with the Louisiana Workforce Commission and local educational institutions.
Founded in 1997, Viking first expanded into the U.S. market by establishing its U.S. headquarters in Los Angeles. In November 2013, the parties began discussing potential Viking interest in starting the voyages from New Orleans. “Having the top river cruise company homeport in New Orleans will be an outstanding chance to tell the story of the Louisiana renaissance to the world,” said Michael Hecht, president and CEO, Greater New Orleans Inc. He said the decision of Viking to come to New Orleans demonstrates great teamwork at the state, regional and local levels. Stephen Perry, president and CEO, New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, also gave his support, noting that “Viking is synonymous with elegance and class, and they will bring a diverse domestic and international clientele” to the cruises and thus to New Orleans.
Viking is on an expansion kick. In addition to its growth in river cruising across the globe, it's launching its first oceangoing ship, the 930-guest Viking Star, this spring. Two additional ocean ships, Viking Sea and Viking Sky, are also on order.
For more information about this and other Viking cruises, contact TheCruiseOutlet.com for exclusive rates and promotions at 800-775-1884
Royal Caribbean International has cancelled Brilliance of the Seas Feb 23 sailing
Royal Caribbean International has cancelled Brilliance of the Seas’ Feb. 23 sailing after the previous sailing was unable to return to port in Tampa due to heavy fog. The foggy conditions are forecast to continue for the new few days, the cruise line said. Passengers on the previous cruise are finding their vacation unexpectedly extended. It is unclear when the ship will be able to dock, disembark those guests and embark new passengers. Royal Caribbean will give each guest a full refund of the cruise fare paid, processed back to the original form of payment within four to six weeks.
Royal Caribbean also is giving guests a future cruise certificate for 25 percent of the cruise fare paid for their Feb. 23 sailing. This certificate can be used for a future cruise on any Royal Caribbean ship within the next year. Future cruise certificates will be mailed to their home address or travel agent within six to eight weeks. “We understand that this was not what our guests were expecting, and not what we said last night, and we share in their disappointment,” Royal Caribbean said. “Again, we thank our guests for their ongoing patience and understanding throughout this unfortunate situation.”
For more information and exclusive rates and amenities on all Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships, contact TheCruiseOutlet.com at info@thecruiseoutlet.com or call 203-288-1884
Royal Caribbean also is giving guests a future cruise certificate for 25 percent of the cruise fare paid for their Feb. 23 sailing. This certificate can be used for a future cruise on any Royal Caribbean ship within the next year. Future cruise certificates will be mailed to their home address or travel agent within six to eight weeks. “We understand that this was not what our guests were expecting, and not what we said last night, and we share in their disappointment,” Royal Caribbean said. “Again, we thank our guests for their ongoing patience and understanding throughout this unfortunate situation.”
For more information and exclusive rates and amenities on all Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships, contact TheCruiseOutlet.com at info@thecruiseoutlet.com or call 203-288-1884
Harmony of the Seas Could Be World’s Biggest Cruise Ship
It looks like there will be a new world’s biggest cruise ship in April 2016 when Royal Caribbean International’s third Oasis-class ship enters service. The new Harmony of the Seas will be 227,000 gross registered tons — a measure of area, not weight —making it just slightly bigger than its 225,282-ton sister ships, Oasis and Allure of the Seas, which now share the world’s largest title. The final size measurement is usually taken when the ship is complete, so the numbers could shift. The Harmony of the Seas will have the same seven neighborhoods introduced on Oasis of the Seas. It also will have three multi-story waterslides, all of which twist and turn over Central Park 10 decks below. One of the slides will have a champagne bowl that swirls guests around as they slide down to the end of the ride. Harmony of the Seas also will have the Bionic Bar on the Royal Promenade — this is the bar with robotic arm bartenders that was introduced on Quantum of the Seas. The ship also will issue wristbands that can be used as a stateroom key and to make onboard purchases and reservations.
Some stateroom categories will be larger than those on Oasis and Allure of the Seas. The interior accommodations also have the Virtual Balconies that show videos of the view outside. The ship also will have studio staterooms. Suite guests will get access to an exclusive lounge, private restaurant called Coastal Kitchen, and a sun deck.
The Dynamic Dining on Harmony of the Seas will include the “Classic” option in which guests rotate through the four complimentary main restaurants at an early- or a late-seating time with their same dining group and waiter each evening.
Specialty restaurants will include Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, with a new teppanyaki menu, and the Sabor Modern Mexican restaurant. Overall, the 16-deck Harmony of the Seas will carry 5,479 guests at double occupancy. The seven neighborhoods onboard includes Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone.
For more information and exclusive rates and amenities contact TheCruiseOutlet.com at info@thecruiseoutlet.com or call 203-288-1884
Some stateroom categories will be larger than those on Oasis and Allure of the Seas. The interior accommodations also have the Virtual Balconies that show videos of the view outside. The ship also will have studio staterooms. Suite guests will get access to an exclusive lounge, private restaurant called Coastal Kitchen, and a sun deck.
The Dynamic Dining on Harmony of the Seas will include the “Classic” option in which guests rotate through the four complimentary main restaurants at an early- or a late-seating time with their same dining group and waiter each evening.
Specialty restaurants will include Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, with a new teppanyaki menu, and the Sabor Modern Mexican restaurant. Overall, the 16-deck Harmony of the Seas will carry 5,479 guests at double occupancy. The seven neighborhoods onboard includes Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone.
For more information and exclusive rates and amenities contact TheCruiseOutlet.com at info@thecruiseoutlet.com or call 203-288-1884
Friday, January 30, 2015
New Technology and your Cruise Photos
When Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas made its November debut, almost lost in the crush of technology firsts was the ship's photo gallery, the first all-digital display space at sea. Quantum guests don't stroll past walls of glossy prints, peering to see which ones might include them. Instead, they check digital monitors, which shorten the hunt for relevant photos. On the Quantum, images are developed and printed only when guests see a photo they want to keep.
Across the industry, cruise lines are dashing to keep up with digitization of photography, which has brought sweeping changes to the way people take and store images. On land, it spelles the end of everything from Kodachrome film to Polaroid cameras and one-hour photo shops. At sea, it promises to slash the amount of wasted paper and chemicals used in cruise photo operations and do away with the ubiquitous floor-to-ceiling photo display wall. The transition to digital is happening as fast as cruise lines can figure out how to do it properly. Every major cruise line has a mix of advanced and legacy photo systems, ranging from the all-digital vanguard to the traditional print-everything model on many older ships. But digital will eventually rule because it offers benefits to every cruise photo operation, and consumers are comfortable with it. If for no other reason, cruise lines would embrace digital because of the growing size of new ships. Photo managers say it has become increasingly difficult to display on a wall all of the images on ships that are carrying between 3,000 and 5,000 passengers each week. Some cruise lines had begun to adopt a folder system to cut down on the need for display space. Going digital simplifies the photo search process and frees a wall's square footage for other uses. A second benefit of going digital can be found in the print savings, both economic and environmental.
Davies said the fully digital gallery on the Quantum will use much less photographic paper. Many of the prints in a traditional photo concession aren't even viewed if the guest has no desire to buy photos.
The classic print process also requires photo chemicals that produce "a waste stream that has to be removed from the ship and disposed of in an environmentally safe manner," Davies said. On the Quantum, instead of wet-processing, Image Group uses a dry-process inkjet printer, an industrial-grade version of the printer technology that many consumers have in their home or office.
"It produces absolutely no photo waste at all," Davies said. "There's a much-reduced environmental impact." "It will take time to transition to this new business model," he said. "This is the first time we've done this in terms of print on request. It will take a little time to settle into it and get it absolutely right." A shift to digital packaging. At Carnival Cruise Line, a transition is also underway. It will be testing digital packages that work with its current print model on one ship this winter to gauge consumer response and demand. Guests will have the choice of one of three packages, enabling them to buy either a set number of images or all the images taken on an entire cruise, delivered on a USB thumb drive. Photo displays aboard Princess Cruises' Regal Princess. Like other lines, Princess Cruises has carved out space for a high-end custom portrait business. Carnival said the digital images will be a better value on a per-file basis than the current pricing offered by prints.
Many cruise lines have found that guests are asking for fewer photos than in the past, when cruise ship photographers could count on a steady stream of orders each voyage. "It was a very captive market," said Michael Miller, director of the Ship's Photographer, which handles photos for Cunard Line and P&O Cruises. "We had it all to ourselves."
Today, with almost every guest equipped with a digital camera or a camera-capable smart phone that takes quality pictures, many guests are opting to snap their own photos, driving down demand for the professional variety. "There's been [everything] from a free fall in photographic revenue onboard to diminished returns year after year," Miller said. "We're still talking about a significant business both for the cruise lines and in general, but the industry has been challenged by the advent of digital and what it's meant to the average consumer."
While they still do embarkation, gangplank and dinner photos, there's less emphasis on those because they're the type of images that consumers can take themselves. the Ship's Photographer is taking more studio-quality photos with professional lighting for a customized album that tells the story of a passenger's cruise. The album blends photos of the passengers with stock shots of the ship and port destinations, tied together with a narrative written by professional copywriters.
In one example, passengers who have paid $125 for five prints can, for an extra $50, embed them in a 24-page book. "It becomes a very good value for money," Miller said. "It's a hardback book, a beautiful glossy book you'd love to have and cherish."
There's been an upswing at many lines in the use of spaces around ships during the evening to do more personalized photography. "Usually there are four to seven studio locations throughout the ship and more than 34 backdrops are being used. Usually there are four to seven studio locations on an MSC ship. And many lines have also carved out space for a high-end custom portrait business. Carnival has Dream Studios, Princess Cruises has Platinum and on Norwegian Cruise Line, it's called Perspectives. Despite prices that can run past $1,000 for some packages, Ross Henderson, vice president of onboard revenue and shore excursions at Norwegian, said demand is there and growing. "I think it's a product for which guests are willing to splurge, in a similar vein to weddings and other events that are priceless," Henderson said. "When they're on a cruise, they're in a perfect environment with everyone together, with the time on their hands to go through the process of getting those pictures taken, which will last a lifetime." To further differentiate its photo offerings from those taken on smart phones, Perspectives takes photos that work together in a cluster or mosaic of images on a wall. So, for example, the "Verve" collection groups 11 mounted images in a larger wall ensemble that works as a unified grouping, for $1,399. Photos are shot on the cruise, and Norwegian works with an outside vendor to have them printed, mounted and shipped to the passenger at home, Henderson said.
At the other end of the spectrum, some consumers are opting to purchase only digital images. On some ships, this enables passengers to buy a set number of photos for a fixed price, take them all home on a disc, then choose the ones they like best in a more relaxed environment. Software included on the CD enables guests to unlock the images at home for print or other uses. They can also buy additional images post-cruise using a feature on the CD. Davies described this method as one way to mitigate another common problem: the crush on the last night as everyone tries to sort through and pay for the photos that have been taken over the course of the cruise. "The last day is not an easy day, so we turn that around in our thinking and say rather than making people come to the photo gallery to choose what images they want, give them a CD," Davies said. "All the images are locked. They take them home, put them into their computer and put an application on their machine, and then they can choose at their leisure." At Carnival, guests are offered a discount if they purchase photos during the first two days of the cruise.
Several recent advances go hand in hand with digital images to improve the photo-buying experience. One is facial recognition, or image-matching software, which makes photo searches quicker and easier. Cruise lines are cautiously testing the software, which currently matches some but not all faces with photos, requiring a backup mechanism. "We've got a combination of Google search-type criteria for recognition of people looking at photographs," said Andrew Burt, general manager of the Ship's Photographer. "If you can put in a couple of words to describe the particular restaurant, or maybe the port, they can sort of drill down and limit the number of photos they're finding that way." Another digital technology that promises to improve the photo selection process is software to electronically link each photo taken to the cabin of the subject. The system enables passengers to swipe their key card on a device linked to the photographer's camera, tagging the photo to the cabin. That makes finding the photos in an electronic kiosk much easier. "We really believe it is the wave of the future," Henderson said. "We need to get away from the concept of not being able to link photos to guests and just putting them on a wall and have the guests find them, especially with the size of all these new vessels coming out." That system, in turn, paves the way for another innovation: being able to choose and buy pictures from a passenger's cellphone or other portable device. "As you look at how photography is becoming more digital and the technology really does exist to do this kind of thing, it just made sense to create a different system," Henderson said. "Down the road, the way we see it, we'd like that kiosk to become something transportable via people's devices. "So in other words, your device can be your kiosk; you don't have to go to the gallery to look at your photos. You can sit in your cabin and look at your photos and choose which ones to buy there. And that can result in freeing up a lot of space that you don't have to dedicate to a large gallery."
Across the industry, cruise lines are dashing to keep up with digitization of photography, which has brought sweeping changes to the way people take and store images. On land, it spelles the end of everything from Kodachrome film to Polaroid cameras and one-hour photo shops. At sea, it promises to slash the amount of wasted paper and chemicals used in cruise photo operations and do away with the ubiquitous floor-to-ceiling photo display wall. The transition to digital is happening as fast as cruise lines can figure out how to do it properly. Every major cruise line has a mix of advanced and legacy photo systems, ranging from the all-digital vanguard to the traditional print-everything model on many older ships. But digital will eventually rule because it offers benefits to every cruise photo operation, and consumers are comfortable with it. If for no other reason, cruise lines would embrace digital because of the growing size of new ships. Photo managers say it has become increasingly difficult to display on a wall all of the images on ships that are carrying between 3,000 and 5,000 passengers each week. Some cruise lines had begun to adopt a folder system to cut down on the need for display space. Going digital simplifies the photo search process and frees a wall's square footage for other uses. A second benefit of going digital can be found in the print savings, both economic and environmental.
Davies said the fully digital gallery on the Quantum will use much less photographic paper. Many of the prints in a traditional photo concession aren't even viewed if the guest has no desire to buy photos.
The classic print process also requires photo chemicals that produce "a waste stream that has to be removed from the ship and disposed of in an environmentally safe manner," Davies said. On the Quantum, instead of wet-processing, Image Group uses a dry-process inkjet printer, an industrial-grade version of the printer technology that many consumers have in their home or office.
"It produces absolutely no photo waste at all," Davies said. "There's a much-reduced environmental impact." "It will take time to transition to this new business model," he said. "This is the first time we've done this in terms of print on request. It will take a little time to settle into it and get it absolutely right." A shift to digital packaging. At Carnival Cruise Line, a transition is also underway. It will be testing digital packages that work with its current print model on one ship this winter to gauge consumer response and demand. Guests will have the choice of one of three packages, enabling them to buy either a set number of images or all the images taken on an entire cruise, delivered on a USB thumb drive. Photo displays aboard Princess Cruises' Regal Princess. Like other lines, Princess Cruises has carved out space for a high-end custom portrait business. Carnival said the digital images will be a better value on a per-file basis than the current pricing offered by prints.
Many cruise lines have found that guests are asking for fewer photos than in the past, when cruise ship photographers could count on a steady stream of orders each voyage. "It was a very captive market," said Michael Miller, director of the Ship's Photographer, which handles photos for Cunard Line and P&O Cruises. "We had it all to ourselves."
Today, with almost every guest equipped with a digital camera or a camera-capable smart phone that takes quality pictures, many guests are opting to snap their own photos, driving down demand for the professional variety. "There's been [everything] from a free fall in photographic revenue onboard to diminished returns year after year," Miller said. "We're still talking about a significant business both for the cruise lines and in general, but the industry has been challenged by the advent of digital and what it's meant to the average consumer."
While they still do embarkation, gangplank and dinner photos, there's less emphasis on those because they're the type of images that consumers can take themselves. the Ship's Photographer is taking more studio-quality photos with professional lighting for a customized album that tells the story of a passenger's cruise. The album blends photos of the passengers with stock shots of the ship and port destinations, tied together with a narrative written by professional copywriters.
In one example, passengers who have paid $125 for five prints can, for an extra $50, embed them in a 24-page book. "It becomes a very good value for money," Miller said. "It's a hardback book, a beautiful glossy book you'd love to have and cherish."
There's been an upswing at many lines in the use of spaces around ships during the evening to do more personalized photography. "Usually there are four to seven studio locations throughout the ship and more than 34 backdrops are being used. Usually there are four to seven studio locations on an MSC ship. And many lines have also carved out space for a high-end custom portrait business. Carnival has Dream Studios, Princess Cruises has Platinum and on Norwegian Cruise Line, it's called Perspectives. Despite prices that can run past $1,000 for some packages, Ross Henderson, vice president of onboard revenue and shore excursions at Norwegian, said demand is there and growing. "I think it's a product for which guests are willing to splurge, in a similar vein to weddings and other events that are priceless," Henderson said. "When they're on a cruise, they're in a perfect environment with everyone together, with the time on their hands to go through the process of getting those pictures taken, which will last a lifetime." To further differentiate its photo offerings from those taken on smart phones, Perspectives takes photos that work together in a cluster or mosaic of images on a wall. So, for example, the "Verve" collection groups 11 mounted images in a larger wall ensemble that works as a unified grouping, for $1,399. Photos are shot on the cruise, and Norwegian works with an outside vendor to have them printed, mounted and shipped to the passenger at home, Henderson said.
At the other end of the spectrum, some consumers are opting to purchase only digital images. On some ships, this enables passengers to buy a set number of photos for a fixed price, take them all home on a disc, then choose the ones they like best in a more relaxed environment. Software included on the CD enables guests to unlock the images at home for print or other uses. They can also buy additional images post-cruise using a feature on the CD. Davies described this method as one way to mitigate another common problem: the crush on the last night as everyone tries to sort through and pay for the photos that have been taken over the course of the cruise. "The last day is not an easy day, so we turn that around in our thinking and say rather than making people come to the photo gallery to choose what images they want, give them a CD," Davies said. "All the images are locked. They take them home, put them into their computer and put an application on their machine, and then they can choose at their leisure." At Carnival, guests are offered a discount if they purchase photos during the first two days of the cruise.
Several recent advances go hand in hand with digital images to improve the photo-buying experience. One is facial recognition, or image-matching software, which makes photo searches quicker and easier. Cruise lines are cautiously testing the software, which currently matches some but not all faces with photos, requiring a backup mechanism. "We've got a combination of Google search-type criteria for recognition of people looking at photographs," said Andrew Burt, general manager of the Ship's Photographer. "If you can put in a couple of words to describe the particular restaurant, or maybe the port, they can sort of drill down and limit the number of photos they're finding that way." Another digital technology that promises to improve the photo selection process is software to electronically link each photo taken to the cabin of the subject. The system enables passengers to swipe their key card on a device linked to the photographer's camera, tagging the photo to the cabin. That makes finding the photos in an electronic kiosk much easier. "We really believe it is the wave of the future," Henderson said. "We need to get away from the concept of not being able to link photos to guests and just putting them on a wall and have the guests find them, especially with the size of all these new vessels coming out." That system, in turn, paves the way for another innovation: being able to choose and buy pictures from a passenger's cellphone or other portable device. "As you look at how photography is becoming more digital and the technology really does exist to do this kind of thing, it just made sense to create a different system," Henderson said. "Down the road, the way we see it, we'd like that kiosk to become something transportable via people's devices. "So in other words, your device can be your kiosk; you don't have to go to the gallery to look at your photos. You can sit in your cabin and look at your photos and choose which ones to buy there. And that can result in freeing up a lot of space that you don't have to dedicate to a large gallery."
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