Top cruise trends for SA travellers
MSC Cruises SA,
operator of cruises
around the South
African coast, has reported a
phenomenal 99,7% average
occupancy for the first 23
cruises that have run
since the start of the
2014/15 season, which
began last October.
Allan Foggitt, sales and
marketing director, says: “In
spite of a stagnant economy,
weak rand and a budgetconscious
market, the cruise
sector continues to perform,
even in tough economic
times. We have experienced
a strong demand from the
travelling public throughout
the current season, which
bodes well for the new
2015/16 season where our
passenger targets are 25%
higher than this season.”
It is a trend also noticed
by Alet Steyn, business
development manager for
Wendy Wu Tours, who has
noticed a definite increase in
enquiries for both ocean and
river cruises over the past few
months. “A cruising holiday
provides the convenience of
an all-inclusive holiday as you
sail to each destination,” she
says. “With a river cruise,
clients feel they can get much
closer to the destination and
its cultural, historical and
culinary traditions.”
TNW identified the following
five trends in discussions
with cruising operators and
suppliers.
1. Exotic off-the-beaten-track destinations
The withdrawal of the US ban
on travel to Cuba has created
excitement about it as a new
port of call.
George Argyropoulos, md
of Cruises International,
says while the island is
lovely to visit, it is not easy
for South Africans to reach.
Seasoned South African
cruisers are interested in
off-the-beaten-track locations
such as Myanmar, Antarctica
and Alaska, while those
less-seasoned favour the
Mediterranean and Asia.
“Asia is not an expensive
destination for South
Africans, and this is why we
see an increasing number,
mostly families, travelling
there. But Asia’s popularity
is a global trend. It is for this
reason, that Royal Caribbean
has decided that its newest
smart ship, Quantum of the
Seas, will be home ported out
of China.”
Janine Pretorius of Encore
Cruises, general sales
agent for Regent Seven
Seas Cruises, says: “Asia is
certainly growing with Regent.
We put this down to the fact
that Regent guests are very
well travelled and are looking
for new destinations.
“We have found a great
interest in cruises that
include China and Japan.”
Jolene Campbell, brand
manager for Uniworld
Boutique River Cruise
Collection, says she has also
seen an increase in enquiries
for destinations such as
Vietnam and Cambodia.
Uniglobe is introducing India
and Ganges river cruising
options for 2016.
Abu Dhabi is an up-andcoming
cruising destination,
says Annemarie Lexow, sales
and marketing manager for
Travel Vision. “Abu Dhabi is a
rapidly growing cosmopolitan
metropolis where skyscrapers
pierce the sky and five-star
resorts spread across natural
islands where you'll find golf
courses, beaches, marinas,
upscale malls, a Formula 1
car track, amusement areas
and cultural institutions,”
she explain.
2. River cruises
Alet says river cruising has
been reinvented to appeal to
younger and active travellers,
by offering more adventurous
shore excursions. At the same
time, it has become more
luxurious, with luxury cabins
and on-board amenities.
Inge Dobihal, owner of
Austria Connection, says
travellers love the fact that
they don’t need to check in
and out of hotels. “There is
also flexibility with excursions.
We offer three different
excursion packages at reduced
prices, or passengers have the
choice of booking any of the
offered excursions on the spot
at the full price,” she says.
Jolene agrees: “We see
more experienced travellers
looking for a different style
of holiday and river cruising
offers a hassle-free cruising
experience. Docking in the
heart of the city gives guests
the opportunity to explore on
their own and know that their
floating hotel is waiting for
them. Being able to unpack
once and wake up in a new
city just about every day is
certainly very appealing.”
She believes the fact
that river cruises are often
all-inclusive is a big draw
card too. “We offer allinclusive
cruises in Europe,
allowing guests to avoid the
unnecessary expenses of
drinks and tipping in punishing
euros. To know that everything
is taken care of and there are
no hidden costs, gives guests
peace of mind and they are
less affected by fluctuations in
the rate of exchange.”
George says river cruises
offer a totally different cruising
experience from ocean
cruising. “River cruises sail
through the heart of the
destination and, for travellers
who are more destination
focused or seasoned cruisers
who have done all there is to
do on an ocean cruise, this
offers a delightful alternative
that is out of the ordinary.”
3. Going solo
Solo travel is gaining in
popularity and cruise lines
have started focusing on how
to best meet the needs of
solo travellers.
George says cruise lines
cater for this market by
offering solo traveller fares.
“In this way, solo travellers
are not penalised with a
double-occupancy rate.
However, the fares are on
selected sailings, not all.”
When it comes to
entertainment, cruise lines
are ensuring solo travellers
don’t feel left out. “Cruise
lines like Crystal, for
example, have ambassador
hosts on board who will keep
the guest company or join
the guest for a dance, if this
is what the guest would like,”
says George.
Wendy Wu has also started
catering for solo travellers.
Says Alet: “If you are a single
traveller who is willing to
share, Wendy Wu Tours will
match you up with another
single traveller of the same
gender on your tour and
neither of you will pay the
single hotel room option.
If we cannot find another
single traveller who is willing
to share, we will waive the
option.”
Jolene says Uniworld has
always been a firm favourite
with solo travellers. “We have
single supplement waivers
on many of our cruises.
The intimacy of our cruises
and the size of ships lend
themselves to providing the
ideal environment for solo
travellers. Solo guests find
it very easy to meet new
people on our cruises and
our open-seating policy in the
dining rooms also allows an
opportunity for this.”
Amadeus River Cruises,
too, has adjusted its offering
for solo travellers. “We have
a fantastic offer for solo
travellers on some of our
ships, which have proper
single cabins and where the
cruise price is the same as
one pays per person in a
double cabin,” says Inge.
4. Flexible dining options
Assigned seating times are
gradually becoming a thing of
the past.
Alet says there are no
longer captain’s tables at
dinner on Pandaw cruises
in Indochina and Myanmar.
Instead, everyone can dine
together, alfresco style.
Royal Caribbean has
introduced the ‘Dynamic
Dining at Sea’ concept,
says George. It gives Royal
Caribbean guests on Quantum
of the Seas and Anthem of the
Seas 18 restaurant concepts
to choose from, as varied as
dining in the world’s most
cosmopolitan cities.
Guests can also choose
from five complimentary,
full-service restaurants,
offering more choice and
flexibility than ever before.
Traditional dining is still
available on the other ships
in the RCI fleet, which also
include earlier family dining
times.
Annemarie says Azamara
has also introduced smaller
dining restaurants with no
pre-seating.
5. Technology: better and faster
On-board technology is
becoming increasingly
sophisticated to meet
travellers’ demands.
Cruise lines are
responding by introducing
better and faster
technology on board ships.
Jolene says WiFi has
become a given on
Uniworld’s fleet of river
cruise ships.
“Once a guest is
connected to the ship’s
WiFi on their mobile
devices or tablets, they
also gain access to iGuest,
which is a complimentary
interactive ship information
portal. Here they can find
information on the daily
activities and available
tours as well as catch
up on international news
or even contact fellow
guests.”
Uniglobe’s ships also
have an advanced
infotainment unit in each
stateroom, which serves
as a television and a
portal for all information
pertinent to the cruise.
Internet is also available
on Pandaw cruises, says
Alet, with a computer
connection in one of the
shops and, although the
connection may not always
be reliable, the crew will
advise where the on-board
connections are available.
“It is just amazing what
some of the passenger
cruise lines have on board
to entertain guests,” says
Annemarie.
“Spaces like theatres are
replaced by lounges that
are converted into modern
entertainment areas by
night just by changing
displays on windows and
projecting holographic
images. Then there is the
iLounge – Apple’s first
retail store on a ship.
There is the North Star –
an observation capsule
that ascends 100 metres
above the sea, with a
360-degree view.”
Easy-to-use systems
RCI’s Quantum of the
Seas offers unparalleled
bandwidth to keep guests
connected; easy-to-use
systems to expand guest
choices and simplify
schedules; and Radio
Frequency Identification
(RFID) technology to speed
up the boarding process
and allow guests to keep
track of their luggage every
step of the way.
The ship offers smart
check-in, a smart
concierge, smart connect
as well as smart
experiences and smart
service. With smart
experiences, guests
can place orders via
tablets and then have
fun watching robotic
bartenders hard at work
mixing cocktails, while the
smart service allows crew
members to keep better
track of guests’ tastes
and preferences through a
custom app.
MSC Sinfonia returns ‘bigger and better
THE 2015/16 local cruising
season will see the return of
one of South Africa’s favourite
ships, the MSC Sinfonia,
which is currently undergoing
enhancements.
Allan Foggitt says: “MSC
Sinfonia was always a popular
ship in South Africa and will
return bigger and better with
additions specifically modified
for the SA market.” It will
feature new purpose-built
areas for children created in
partnership with Chicco and
Lego, and a new Baby Club,
Mini Club, Young Club and
Teens Club. MSC Cruises has
also improved the on-board
dining experiences, keeping
the buffet open 20 hours a
day and installing fresh new
dining spaces, a brand-new
lounge and an extended
restaurant.
The MSC Aurea Spa will
have additional massage
areas, and a new outdoor
spray park will be added on
deck 13 – an exciting series of
water features and jets.
The 2015/16 season is
open for sale with discounts of
up to 50% for early bookings.
“These discounts have proved
a major incentive for forward
thinkers looking for the best
deal and have generated
nearly 5 000 bookings since
launch,” says Allan. “MSC’s
dynamic pricing policy means
discounts decrease as
bookings increase, so early
booking is essential to secure
the best pricing.”
Regent Seven Seas explores new destinations
REGENT Seven Seas Cruises
recently unveiled its 2016
summer and fall collection,
featuring more than 60
destination-rich itineraries,
three Grand Voyages and
11 new ports not previously
visited by the luxury line.
A new Grand Voyage
is a 47-night London
to Copenhagen sailing,
introducing fascinating
new destinations such as
the fjords of Greenland
with stops in Nuuk and
Qaqortoq. It also visits lessfrequented
ports such as
Denmark’s Torshavn (Faroe
Islands) and Iceland’s
scenic cities of Akureyri
and Isafjordur.
For selected sailings
in the Mediterranean,
Asia and Africa, Regent
Seven Seas Cruises will
introduce new options to
its free Extraordinary Land
Programme, which includes
three-night hotel stays and
complimentary guided tours.
Seven Seas Explorer sets sail in 2016
SEVEN Seas Explorer will set
sail on its maiden voyage
as part of the cruise line’s
summer 2016 schedule.
The highly anticipated voyage
will be a 14-night cruise
from Monte Carlo to Venice
on July 20, 2016. The
inaugural season reveals
a line-up of destination-rich
Mediterranean itineraries.
The ship will visit exotic
and sought-after ports of
call such as Venice (Italy),
Kotor (Montenegro), Zadar
(Croatia), Istanbul (Turkey)
and Haifa (Israel), plus new
locales Sanary-sur-Mer
(France), Portimao (Portugal),
Agadir (Morocco) and Catania
(Sicily).
Book it!
Majestic Yangtze and Indochina itineraries
A 15-day fully inclusive ‘Majestic Yangtze’ cruise from
Wendy Wu sells for R42 830pps, departing Johannesburg.
Commencing with a visit to the commercial powerhouse of
Shanghai and then a four-night Yangtze River cruise, this tour
includes a visit to historic Xian, the capital Beijing and a visit
to the Panda Research Centre in Chengdu. The 10-day Halong
Bay and Red River tour allows first-time travellers to view
the key sights of northern Vietnam by Pandaw river ship. The
ship traverses the Red River delta and its main tributaries,
connecting the wonders of Halong Bay with the excitement of
downtown Hanoi and then on into the interior. Sailing deep
into Highland Vietnam, travellers will discover the mountain
villages and a number of tribal areas.
