Cruises

Which cruise companies are part of the Carnival Corporation?

-Carnival Cruise Lines -Holland America -Princess -Costa -Windstar -Seabourn

Classic Open-Ended Questions to Ask the Client

-How do you picture this cruise in your mind? -Describe your typical vacation experience -What do you enjoy doing on vacation? -What is the best travel experience you've had? -What did you do on your last vacation? -Do you want this vacation to be similar or different from your previous vacations? -What was your worst experience on vacation?

Cruise reference materials for agents

1) Brochures 2) CLIA 3) OAG Cruise and Shipline Guide 4) Official Cruise Line Guide

Ship Personnel

1) Captain -master of the ship -responsible for guiding and directing the ship, the officers and the crew 2) Chief Engineer -supervises the engine crew 3) Cruise Director -supervises the activities and entertainment on board the ship 4) Purser -a ship's officer who is like a business manager -their office acts as a general inquiry bureau that arranges shore excursions and land transport, will hold valuables, cash travelers cheques, etc. 5) Steward/Stewardess -any crew member that acts in a passenger service capacity -deck, cabin, dining steward 6) Maitre D' -arranges table reservations and supervises the dining room

Most Popular Cruise Itineraries

1) Caribbean a) Western (MIA/FLL-CZM-GCM-OCJ-MIA/FLL) b) Eastern (MIA/FLL-SJU-STT-SXM-MIA/FLL) c) Southern (SJU-SXM-SLU-BGI-AUA-SJU) 2) Mexican Riviera a) LAX-SJD-MZT-PVR-ACA-LAX 3) Alaska 4) Mediterranean

Factors That May Influence a Client's Perception of Service On Board a Ship

1) Crew Nationality -can reflect the cultural style and cuisine served on the ship 2) Space Ratio -determines how much room a passenger has on a ship -calculated by dividing the GRT by the Maximum Passenger Capacity 3) Passenger to Crew Ratio -an excellent measure of service -calculated by dividing Maximum Passenger Capacity by the # of Crew Members 4) Amenities and Activities -cooking seminars, magrodomes to cover open areas, etc.

Features to emphasize when selling a cruise

1) Entertainment 2) Dining 3) Pampering 4) Ports of Call and Activities

3 Key Advantages to Selling a Cruise

1) High Commission 2) Minimal Paper Work 3) High Repeat Clientele

Reservations and Ticketing

1) Identify agency and counsellor 2) Request -ship -dates -port of embarkation 3) Category of cabin 4) Client info 5) Meal sitting 6) Special requests *add a Bon Voyage gift?

Accommodation On Board a Ship

1) Inside Cabin -located in the interior of the ship -no window or porthole -least expensive 2) Outside Cabin -located on the outside hull of the ship -window or porthole -mid-range price 3) Suite -located on the outside hill of the ship -located on upper decks -usually have either a veranda or balcony -larger, often with a separate living area -most expensive

Factors That Influence The Cost of a Cruise

1) Quality of the Ship -premium vs standard -deluxe vs ultra deluxe 2) Season and Itinerary -high vs low season -common vs exotic itinerary 3) Duration and Length -3 or 4 nights vs 7-14 nights -World Cruise 4) Cabin Selected -inside vs outside -standard vs suite -location on the ship (upper vs lower deck, amidship vs fore/aft) The most cost effective cruise: -on a standard cruise line -during low season -on a popular itinerary -for a shorter duration -in an inside cabin on a lower deck

Today's Marine Transportation

1) ferries 2) river cruises/canal barges 3) freighters 4) sail ships 5) yachts 6) houseboats 7) cruise ships

Cruise Ship Safety

1) intense baggage and cargo screening 2) passenger list/identification 3) restrictive access to sensitive areas (bridge, engine room) 4) 300 foot separation zone between vessels 5) passenger visual ID system 6) inspections for underwater explosives 7) security personnel are former military 8) firefighters are on board 9) life boat drills and muster stations 10) enhanced surveillance and extra cameras

Common Ship Facilities

1) medical clinic 2) pools 3) health club 4) shops 5) restaurants 6) photo gallery 7) show room

Stabilizers

A set of underwater fins or vanes attached to the hull controlled by a gyroscope which lessen a ship's tendency to roll from side to side in heavy seas

Sitting

A set time for breakfast and dinner; cruise lines normally offer 2 times to choose from (early - 6 and late - 8)

Tender

A small vessel used to carry passengers between the ship and the shore when the ship is anchored at sea

Knot

A unit of speed meaning 1 nautical mile (6,080 feet) per hour

Porthole

A window in the ship's hull

Quay

A European word for a pier or wharf

Log

A daily record of a ship's speed and progress

Colours

A flag or insignia showing a ship's nationality

Bon Voyage Gift

A gift requested by a travel agent and provided by the cruise line paid for out of the agent's commission

Manifest

A list or invoice of a ship's passengers, crew and cargo

Fathom

A measurement of water depth equal to 6 feet

Bulkhead

A partition or wall dividing the ship into cabins

Free Port

A port or place free of customs duty and most customs regulations

Deck Plan

An overview diagram illustrating cabins and public room locations in relation to each other

CLIA

Cruise Lines International Association -educational training and promotional front for the cruise line industry -gives accreditation -ACC Accredited Cruise Counsellor -MCC Master Cruise Counsellor

GRT

Gross Registered Tonnage -a commonly used designation of a ship's size in volume not weight

Tipping Guidelines

In USD Waiter -$2.50-$4.00 per person per day Busboy -$1.25-$2.00 per person per day Steward -$2.50-$4.00 per person per day Purser -never

NCF

Non-Commissionable Fee -extra fees over and above the basic cruise rate that commission cannot be charged on

Embark

To go aboard a ship to begin a voyage

Disembark

To land or go ashore from a ship

Windward

Towards the direction from which the wind is blowing

Leeward

Towards the sheltered side of the ship away from the wind

TSS

Turbine Steam Ship

TS

Twin Screw

Inclusions and exclusions in the cost of a cruise

Usually Included -accommodation -meals -entertainment Sometimes Included -airfare -transfers Typically Not Included -port taxes -gratuities -shore excursions -alcohol and soft drinks -personal services (laundry, spa and hair)

Single Chare

When a single traveler pays a double rate on the basis of sharing a cabin with a matched passenger

Bridge

Where the captain and officers navigate and steer

Captain

The master of the ship who is responsible for guiding and directing the ship, its officers and crew

Aft

The rear of the ship

Starboard

The right side of the ship when facing towards the bow

Dock

The same as a berth, pier or quay

Helm

The ship's entire steering mechanism

Galley

The ship's kitchen

Nautical Mile

6,080 feet; 15% longer than a land mile (5,280 feet)

MS

Motor Ship

MTS

Motor Turbine Ship

MV

Motor Vessel

SS

Steam Ship

STR

Steamer

Amidship

The central part of the ship midway between the bow and the stern

Stern

The extreme rear of the ship

Bow

The forward extremity of a ship

Fore

The forward part of the ship

Stateroom

The passenger's sleeping quarters (a.k.a. a cabin)

Cabin

The passenger's sleeping room (a.k.a. a stateroom)

Myths/Misconceptions and Recommendations

1) Seasickness -take medication -explain stabilizers -put client amidship on a low deck (more stable) -cruise in calmer waters (Caribbean) 2) Expensive -emphasize inclusions and the selling value compared to an ITC -focus on popular itineraries -look at older ships -book an inside cabin -put a limit on the on board charge card 3) Boredom -on board activities -evening shows -social component -ports of call -show client a daily activity log 4) Formality -choose a casual cruise line -2 formal nights (Captain's Gala and Farewell Dinner) are optional -buffet instead of table service -explain the dress code and its history -explain that brochures can be misleading 5) Older Clientele -explain that it used to be like that but not any more -select a cruise line with a younger profile -emphasize activities offered 6) Regimentation -explain options, variety and choice -offer "Freestlye" cruising -"Do it all or nothing at all" 7) Confinement -pick a ship with a larger space ratio -choose an outside cabin -suggest a larger ship -emphasize activities 8) Other Misconceptions a) ship safety b) general knowledge c) limited time in port d) too much food e) forced socialization

Types of Cruises

1) Short Cruises -from 3 days to 2 weeks -appeal to the mass market, first time travelers and the budget conscious -Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska 2) Intermediate Cruises -from 15 days to 24 days -appeal to travelers with more time and money, and those who enjoy the cruise lifestyle -Caribbean, Mediterranean, Panama Canal, Hawaii 3) Long Cruises -more than 25 days -upmarket clientele and older travelers with lots of time -South Pacific, Mediterranean, Scandinavia and Russia, Asia, Around the World 4) River Cruises and Canal Barges -casual, relaxing and scenic -Seine, Rhine, Danube, Volga, Nile, Amazon, Thames 5) Freighters -out of the ordinary -travels must have time and flexibility -for the budget conscious, young or adventurous -no service or amenities 6) Ferries -transportation only -point to point -usually less than a day 7) Repositioning Cruises -a point to point cruise where a cruise line moves its ship from one area to another -good prices and selloffs -not overly crowded -Alaska to Mexico -Caribbean to Mediterranean

Common Ship Areas

1) Sun Deck -top of the ship -pools 2) Promenade Deck -3/4 of the way up the ship -high traffic area -shopping area -purser's desk -running track -library and internet cafe -public rooms and louges -atrium -reception -restaurants -theatre

Cruise Brochure Contents

1) Table of contents 2) List of cruise lines and their fleet 3) Cruise itineraries 4) Ship profiles 5) Cost guidelines 6) Deck plans 7) Port and shore excursion information 8) Terms and conditions

History

1775 -cargo and freight ships 1800s -sailing ships, clippers and steamships -freight and point to point travel -90% steerage class (immigrants and slaves) -10% high paying passengers 1875 -White Star Ocean Liners -passenger vessels that follow a fixed route on a fixed schedule 1912 -Titanic disaster (April 14, 1912) 1920s-1930s -increase in Atlantic passenger crossings -Queen Mary, QE I and QE II -World Wars and Great Depression -3 classes of service -Cabin Class -highest class; wealthy and elite passengers -Tourist Class -small cabins, basic amenities, commoners and servants -Steerage Class -separate part of ship; immigrants and slaves 1950s-1960s -Jet Age -Cunard ended Canadian service -ships couldn't compete with airlines, so they started competing with hotels -"Being Here is All the Fun" 1960s-1970s -elimination of classes -tourist market -reconstruction of ships -seasonal itineraries 1973 -Bob Dickinson joined Carnival -Fun Ship concept -cruises packaged as ITCs -activities, budget price, extensive advertising

Berth

A bed in a cabin OR a space a pier for a ship to dock

Inside Cabin

A cabin with all interior bulkheads and no windows or portholes

Outside Cabin

A cabin with an exterior picture window or porthole

Wake

A trail of agitated water left behind a ship in motion

Steward

Any crew member who acts in a passenger service capacity

Registry

The country under whose laws the ship and its owners are obliged to comply

Port

The left side of a ship when facing towards the bow -even numbered cabins are usually on the port side

Gangway

The opening in the ship's side and the ramp by which passengers embark and disembark

Trade Winds

Winds blowing from a westerly direction towards the equator