The WOW Factor.

Afternoon all,

Thought I'd have a brief blog about the WOW factor.

There's been so many exiting features added to cruise ships, all jostling for your attention.
every cruise line wants that spectacular feature to entice people to book with them. A jaw dropper on the front page of the brochure which you'll remember all the time you look at cruises.

I've had people looking at booking a cruise based on.
"I want the cruise with the surfing, the grandchildren will love that"
"Is that the ship with the car on it"
"I saw a ship in port with a lawn on it, is it that one?"

Some people claim they're gimmicks - pointless trinkets to make big ships more appealing, but the gimmicks work!

Rope climbing course on Carnival

Surfing and skydiving - on Royal Caribbean

Glass bottom Bar !! on Princess

Water slides on NCL

One that REALLY stands out to me as a nice thought that didn't work.

Royal Caribbean toyed with the Idea of Blimp rides - until one broke free & flew away in testing.
- they Quickly abandoned the idea & came up with....

the North star - coming soon. the views like a blimp without the horrible floaty-away'y ness.

Of course there is also the Rumours.

hanging roller-coaster anyone?

a lazy river - this is one id love to try!

The days of Shuffleboard are long gone.....
But what would you like to see or what is your favourite current feature.
What do you think the next big thing will be?
Let me know & we'll make it happen....... (in a picture)

Tarar for now

- the cap'n

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Cruises on TV

Well that was a busy week !
sorry I've been away for a while but things have been busy on the day job.
But I can't neglect the blogging world for long.

Today's ramblings.....
Cruising on TV.

Hot on the heels of ITV's announcement that the Royal princess will be featured as part of a 4 part documentary this summer.

Coming soon.... but will it be Realistic (or any good)

I started hoping that this would be a realistic documentary about modern cruising.

Unlike some other programmes that have portrayed cruises recently, shamefully talking about the stereotypical "Purple rinse" cruises.

I speak of course of the BBC's

I only watched one of those programmes and I was appauled. Nearly throwing the remote through the TV screen. I remember a vicar who went on a cruise so he could perform sermons at sea. ballroom dancing classes on a small ship bobbing around the pacific.

What an outdated image of cruising that was!
Not my cup of tea (or coffee) at all.
- I understand that is some passengers ideal, but I'm talking my personal taste here.

I dreaded my friends watching it and saying "ooh is that what your Caribbean cruises are like"
luckily it didn't make waves & the programme died off as soon as it set sail.

Of Course there was

the BBC 1990's Docusoap.

the BBC docusoap "the Cruise"
Responsible for Launching Jayne McDonald to fame (on loose women).
1990's nostalgia at its very best - Caribbean cruises of Glitz, Excess & cheese.
- I never watched it, so would be please to hear your memories.

And there was 

The Love boat = sitcom at sea - not a documentary

Princess Cruises first (original) on board TV sit-com ran for 9 years 
and interestingly the Royal Princess (star of the new program) has a Ship horn that will play the theme to the love boat.
also the Love boat was filmed (in part) on the Original Royal princess
but I'm FAR too young to have watched that show.

Anyway,
This summers "The Cruise ship" holds allot of promise for me
Brand new ship (Tick)
Modern cruise line (Tick)
Chances of a total purple rinse population (low)
but time will tell.....

what cruise TV programmes do you remember / enjoy
let me know
Like / comment & share I'd love to know.

tarar for now
the Cap'n

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2015 is going to be a BIG year.

2015 is really shaping up to be a MASSIVE year in Southampton.

After the recession allot of the cruise lines are now investing in new ships to cater for the rising demand in cruises.
There are allot of new ships sailing in 2015 - most are heading to Southampton.

We've got

P&O's New Britannia - Arriving March 2015 - 3600 passenger

the (near identical) Royal Princess Arrives in May - 3600 passenger.

Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the seas - May - 4180 passenger. 

And there is the returning ships
Celebrity Eclipse  - 2850 passengers
Royal Caribbean's Explorer O.T.S -  3110 passengers.
P&O Aurora, Azura, Ventura, Adonia & Arcadia (10596 passengers)
Cunard Queen Elizabeth 2092
Caribbean Princess - 3114
Fred Olsen & Saga - not counted.

Luckily they don't all sail on the same day, looking at the calendar there don't seem to be more than 4 ships at once. even 4 ships at once is the equivalent of 10 thousand people.
so Southampton is a major test for the cruise lines biggest and best in 2015.

Which ship do you want to go on?
Which one would you like to visit but not stay on?
Which one do you think will be the most popular?

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