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From the Blogs

Ala Carte Charges on NCL.

This week I observed a good deal of buzz in the blog and online venues about Norwegian Cruise Line adding ala carte pricing to several speciality dining options on their ships. This on top of surcharges in the traditional main dining room for premium items and late night room service. The collective reaction has been to bemoan the perceived death of traditional cruising and the rise of nickel and diming passengers. However I think on balance the reaction is greatly overstated.

NCL made a name for itself over a decade ago, when the line was struggling to find an identity for itself amidst fierce competition from Royal Caribbean and the Carnival brands. Still owned by an asian cruise company that had failed miserably to manage NCL well, in 2000 “Freestyle Cruising” was introduced. A bold marketing move, it featured giving passengers the ability to book their meal times and locations in various shipboard restaurants. Naturally, the cruising establishment bemoaned the death of traditional main dining room meals-which did not and has yet to happen. This came a couple of years following Royal Caribbean introducing the first premium dining options aboard the Voyager Class of ships-which also were lamented as some harbinger of doom for main dining.

Five Things You Missed About Cruising #3

Five Things You Missed About Cruising #3

Massive Sand Castle

MSC Cruises signed a 100 year lease for the former site of sand extraction for use in beach reconstruction and such. Rather than counter beach erosion or to make a million cats exceedingly happy, MSC is investing over two hundred million to convert the location into a state of the art private port for its ships.

Formally called the "Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the facility is located sixty-five miles east of Miami and will boast a two thousand seat amphitheater, zip-line as well as the usual array of beach space and entertainment options. MSC Yacht Club members will have access to an exclusive spa and private bungalows.

MSC has also stated it will open a crew training school in Nassau to aid in building a local base of shipboard staff. When ships do call on the new island the line has indicated it will continue to operate all normal ships services including the casino. That is somewhat unusual given that normally in a port the stores and casino close.