Seabourn Sojourn Cruise Ship Profile and Photos

This week we look at the first of several ships that we will be profiling in upcoming weeks that compete in the luxury/ultra-luxury segment of the cruise industry.




The luxury/ultra-luxury segment is the top tier of cruise ships as far as luxury goes. Guests are pampered by top service and with top quality accommodations and dining. The fares are much higher than the fares for all but the best suites on the premium and mass market ships. However, more is included in the fare.



Luxury/ultra-luxury ships are almost all small ships - - less than 50,000 gross tons. This makes the cruise experience more intimate and gives an impression of exclusivity. Since the guests typically are experienced travelers, they are attracted by itineraries that include ports that are not usually on cruise itineraries. Smaller ships can get into more of these ports than their larger brethren.



Entering service in June 2010, Seabourn Sojourn is one of the more recent additions to this segment. She is the second ship in Seabourn’s Odyssey class and brings much of what is state-of-the-art thinking in the cruise industry to a small ship. I was particularly impressed by how well the outdoor space on the ship is utilized.



Sojourn still sparkles like a new ship. She is clean and well-maintained. She is clean in another way as well - - her interior spaces often rely on clean lines unbroken by decorative frills. It is very much a contemporary elegance rather than traditional luxury.



Beyondship’s profile of Seabourn Sojourn is at http://www.beyondships.com/Seabourn-Sojourn-Profile.html The multi-page photo tour begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Seabourn-Sojourn-Tour-1.html.

Curacao - cruise destination photo guide

This week, we again go beyond ships and present a profile of another place where ships go - - the island of Curacao. Located off the coast of Venezuela near Aruba and Bonaire, Curacao is a popular stop on Southern Caribbean cruises and often on Panama Canal cruises.




Any cruise to Curacao starts with the capital city Willemstad. The cruise ships dock near the center of the city and all of the sights are within walking distance of where the ships dock. Willemstad is a unique Caribbean city. At first glance, the architecture looks Dutch but there is clearly a Spanish influence. The pastel colors of the buildings are Caribbean. In short, the architecture is a blend of styles that reflects the island’s mix of cultures. With its history and shopping opportunities, Willemstad is an interesting place to explore.



Outside of Willemstad is a different world. The countryside is wild and often undeveloped. Large sections are preserved as national parks so there are opportunities to hike and take all terrain vehicles through this arid landscape.



The coastline is also two worlds. The beaches tend to be small, often tranquil coves that are quite scenic. Since the water is very clear, there are numerous dive sites as well. But then there are also places where the sea hurls itself again the land with great force. At Boka Tabla, for example, the sea has carved a deep grotto out of the rock cliffs.



Beyondships’ cruise destination photo guide to Curacao begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Curacao.html There is also a slideshow of scenes from Curacao at http://www.beyondships2.com/curacao-slideshow.html

Celebrity Silhouette - Introduction; Talking with Mr. Ocean Liner

Just over a week ago Celebrity Cruises brought its new ship Celebrity Silhouette to the United States for the first time. The ship was built in Germany and was named there in July. Following that, she did a season of Mediterranean cruises. However, since the United States is still Celebrity’s biggest market, the ship’s arrival in the U.S. was reason to hold another celebration.




All of the top Celebrity executives were there for the American naming ceremony. I asked Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations to give us some thoughts that would introduce us to the ship. In her position, she is responsible for essentially all the services - - dining, accommodations, entertainment etc - - that guests onboard the Celebrity ships utilize and so she is able to talk about the ships from a unique vantage point.



Celebrity Silhouette is the fourth ship in a class of ships that begun with Celebrity Solstice. These ships have won many awards for their elegant design and innovative amenities. However, as good as the individual parts are, they come together into a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts. Consequently, I was interested in finding out what was the underlying philosophy that was used in creating these ships.



While the first ship in the class received the plaudits of the critics and passengers, Celebrity was not content to build four more (one more is coming in 2012) that were identical to the first. They are quite similar but with each ship the line has come up with new ideas. Lisa pointed out several of the changes that have been made on Silhouette and underlined some of the popular features that have been carried forward.



We also had the opportunity to discuss Celebrity Infinity. Infinity is one of Celebrity’s Millennium class ships and this month, she is going into drydock for three weeks in order to give her some of the features of the Solstice class ships. Lisa outlined some of the changes that will be made during this major revitalization of a popular ship.



My interview with Ms. Lutoff-Perlo is at http://www.beyondships.com/Celebrity-Silhouette-Lutoff-Perlo.html



Also posted this week is my interview with Bill Miller. Bill is one of the most popular onboard lecturers speaking on cruise ships today. Because of his expertise on the history of ocean liners and cruise ships - - 80 books and hundreds of articles - - he is known as “Mr. Ocean Liner.” Moreover, because of his dynamic and entertaining speaking style, his lectures are usually packed with many more guests watching via the onboard television systems.



I spoke with Bill about his background and the passion that drives his work. In addition, I asked him to give us some thoughts about the cruise industry today and the future of passenger ships.



My interview with Mr. Miller is at http://www.beyondships.com/Cruise-people-miller.html

AIDAaura Profile and Photo Tour; Talking with her Club Manager

I find the AIDA approach to cruising intriguing. Essentially, it tosses away the traditional rules of cruising in order to foster a more open, club-like atmosphere. In some ways, it is like Norwegian Cruise Line’s Freestyle approach but more so. For example, not only are there no assigned dining times but there is no traditional dining room. Instead, there is a choice of buffet restaurants and specialty restaurants.




Of course, this approach to cruising is not for everyone. I like traditional cruising with its formal nights and rituals of the sea. However, variety is good too.



AIDA manages to execute its approach to cruising quite well. The ships are well-maintained and spotlessly clean. In addition, the staff is open and friendly.



The line is Carnival Corporation’s German cruise line and the cruise experience is designed for the German market. It has been quite successful there, generating a loyal and growing following. Indeed, the line has been adding ships at a rapid rate in order to keep up with the demand. I find it interesting that both AIDA and Cunard do very well in the German market even though the cruise experiences that they offer are at the polar extremes of formality.



This week, our focus is on one of AIDA’s smaller ships, the 42,000 gross ton AIDAaura. This ship provides a more intimate version of the AIDA experience than her larger fleetmates. Also, the smaller ships such as the Aura are used as pathfinders to explore new destinations before one of AIDA’s larger ships is committed to that itinerary.



Beyondships’ profile of AIDAaura is at http://www.beyondships.com/AIDAaura-Profile.html and the multi-page photo tour of the ship begins at http://www.beyondships.com/AIDAaura-Tour-1.html



I also spoke with Harald Bernberger, the Club Manager (Hotel Director) on AIDAaura about his ship and how it differs from Mr. Bernberger’s last ship the larger AIDAluna. He also provided some insights on why AIDA ordered its next two ships from Mitubishi Heavy Industries in Japan rather than from the German yard that built AIDA’s most recent class of ships. That interview is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/AIDAaura-art-HD.html