November 14, 2003 - Cruiselines offer new programs for spa fans and golfers and start spending on some major overhauls, plus the passing of cruise maven Peter Dielmann and more.
Princess to Launch New Spas and Pre-Booking Program
For the past decade, the cruise ship spa market has been totally dominated by Steiner Leisure of London, which operates the spas on more than 100 ships, either under its own imprimatur or as owners of the Mandara, Elemis, and Greenhouse spas brands. With two new ships, though, Princess Cruises (800-PRINCESS, www.princess.com) has opted to start its own spa operation, and offer guests the ability to book their spa appointments before their sailing date. A sign of things to come?
Debuting aboard the new Caribbean Princess and Sapphire Princess when they enter service next April and May, Princess's Asian-themed Lotus Spa will feature the usual array of massage, rejuvenation, and beauty treatments, plus some innovations, such as yoga classes serenaded by a live string quartet; natural, sea-based treatment and beauty products created by the French company Phytomer; hair-care products by Carita Paris; and special treatments targeted to men (the very manly sounding Aromatic Pine Sea Scrub and Muscle Thermal Repair) and teens (facials, manicures, pedicures, and a special body polish and tanning session).
Maybe the most significant feature of the new spas will be their ability to take online reservations from passengers before the day of their cruise -- an industry first, and a real boon considering the long lines that often form at the reservations desk on embarkation day. The reservation system, accessed through www.princess.com, will begin accepting bookings in February 2004 for the Caribbean and Sapphire Princess sailings only. The system will offer some scheduling information--such as which days of a particular itinerary are at sea and which are in port, and when a spa appointment conflicts with dining hours--but it will not identify conflicts with passengers' shore excursions. Make sure you're free before signing up.
On its rollout, the system will be tied only to spas on Caribbean Princess and Sapphire Princess. Spas on Princess's other vessels will continue to be operated by Steiner Leisure.
Holland America and Windstar Spending Big on Ship Upgrades
It's an old story: New babies get all the attention, and the older children feel neglected. Same thing with cruise ships. Lately, though, cruise lines seem especially eager to keep all their vessels happy, and this week Holland America (877/724-5425, www.hollandamerica.com) announced it had earmarked $225 million to upgrade its dining, accommodations, service, and activities across its entire fleet over the next two years.
Dubbed the "Signature of Excellence" initiative, the enhancements will be rolled out gradually, with all shipboard construction and refurbishment to be completed by November 2005, during regularly scheduled dry-docks. Here are some highlights:
- New Pinnacle Grill Specialty Restaurants. Introduced gradually over the past year, the new Pinnacle Grill will soon be available on all the Holland America vessels, serving Pacific Northwest specialties in a romantic, upscale atmosphere, with Bulgari china and Riedel stemware.
- Upgraded Cabin Coziness. All staterooms will be outfitted with plush new mattresses, 100% Egyptian cotton bed linens, extra-fluffy towels and terrycloth bathrobes, plus new massage showerheads, lighted magnifying make-up mirrors, and hair dryers. Complimentary fruit baskets on embarkation add a classic cruise touch.
- Expanded Enrichment Program. In addition to an expanded lecture series, each ship will see construction of a special theater where a Culinary Arts program will offer interactive learning about food and wine.
- Upgraded Spa Facilities. Spas fleetwide will be upgraded to match the Greenhouse Spas introduced on Zuiderdam and Oosterdam, with new treatments, expanded fitness and treatment facilities, a thermal suite (a kind of New Age steam room), and a hydrotherapy pool.
- New Attractions at Half Moon Cay. Holland America's private Bahamian island will be upgraded with new options such as horseback riding, plus expanded kids facilities.
Holland America's sister-line, Windstar Cruises (800/258-7245, www.windstarcruises.com), is conducting its own $6 million upgrade this month and next, spiffing up its three smaller, more specialized motor-sail vessels with improved fitness/spa facilities, reconditioned teak decks, expanded bar areas, and new mattresses, bedding, flat-screen TVs, DVD players, and bathroom fixtures in all cabins.
SeaDream Announces Luxury Golf Cruises in Med
This week, ultra-luxe small-ship line SeaDream Yacht Club (800/707-4911, www.seadreamyachtclub.com) announced a special Mediterranean sailing to be offered in conjunction with PerryGolf, a leading provider of luxury golf travel.
Scheduled for September 11-18, 2004, the seven-night cruise will sail from Monte Carlo to Rome, with golfers scheduled to play at the Fregate Golf Club, Sanury Sur Mer; Royal Mougins Golf Club, Cannes; Sperone Golf Club, Bonifacio, Corsica; Pevero Golf Club (two rounds), Porto Cervo, Sardinia; and Le Querce Golf Club, Rome. Prices for the escorted tour begin at $8,200 for golfers and $7,350 for non-golfers, for whom a program of non-golf shore excursions will also be offered. Rates include all shipboard costs (including an open bar), shipboard and golf course gratuities, and greens fees.
This is the second specialty cruise announced recently by SeaDream, which last month began taking bookings for its first two all-gay sailings, one in the Mediterranean (Oct. 16, 2004), the other in the Caribbean (Dec. 12, 2004). According to SeaDream CEO Larry Pimentel, response to these cruises has been phenomenal. And no wonder: Combined with a high level of luxury, the small size of SeaDream I and SeaDream II--only 110 passengers apiece--makes them ideal for specialty group travel.
Details of the golfing program are available at www.perrygolf.com. Perry has also teamed with Clipper Cruise Line (800/325-0010, www.clippercruise.com)to offer two eight-night golf cruises aboard the high-end expedition ship Clipper Adventurer in July, one sailing from Glasgow to Dublin, with play at the Ballyliffin, Donegal, Carne, Doonbeg, Ballybunion, Old Head, and the European Club courses; the other sailing from Dublin to Greenock, Scotland, with a visit to the 133rd British Open and play at the Royal Liverpool, Castletown Links, Royal Portrush, Westin Turnberry Resort (Ailsa Course), and Machrihanish courses. The per-person cost for either sailing is $5,995 for golfers, $5,145 for non-golfers.
Ship-Owner Peter Deilmann Dies in Germany
Peter Deilmann, the German entrepreneur who turned a mid-century shipping apprenticeship into Peter Deilmann Cruises (800/348-8287, www.deilmann-cruises.com), one of the world's most distinctive independent lines, died suddenly on November 2. He was 68 years old.
A native of Lubeck, Deilmann started the line that bears his name in 1968, operating 34 container and passenger vessels over the years and later extending his influence to shipbuilding. The Deilmann fleet currently comprises thirteen deluxe vessels: the ocean liners MS Berlin and flagship MS Deutschland, the sailing yacht Lili Marleen, and ten Europe-based river vessels.
Deilmann was sole owner of his line. He is survived by two daughters, both of whom will reportedly carry on the Deilmann legacy.
Society Expeditions: Reports of Demise Greatly Exaggerated
Contrary to media reports earlier this month, expedition line Society Expeditions (800/548-8669 or www.societyexpeditions.com) is not on its way out. On November 4, a Seattle judge dismissed an involuntary bankruptcy petition filed against Society by a creditor, and allowed the line to seek an award for damages.
The dispute began in late October when Patrician Cruises filed papers intended to force Society Expeditions into Chapter 7, claiming it had failed to maintain sufficient sales and meet payments on its single vessel, the World Discoverer.
In a statement, the line's vice president of operations, John Tillotson, maintained that "there were no grounds for bankruptcy," and that the petition was an improper attempt by the petitioners to acquire the company. "We are gratified," he said, "by the judge's quick action, before more damage is done to our reputation."
Society Expeditions is an adventure-oriented line offering exploratory small-ship cruises in the South Pacific, the Russian Far East, Alaska, and Antarctica.