Its the end of the line, but where do the cruise ships go?

So what happens when a ship has reached that point where the cruise line is thinking of replacing it, trading it in for a better phrase just like we do with our cars?

I did write an article 'What's in a name', about how some ships in various guises have had different names. So one way that the cruise lines move on their ships, they sell or transfer to another operator.


Take for example the Spanish operator, Pullmantor Cruises, owned by Royal Caribbean and the current fleet of 3 are all ex- Royal or Celebrity ships, Empress, Soverign and Zenith and will be joined next year by Monarch.

 
Then in the UK there is Thomson Cruises, there 4 ships have come for a variety of background, including Holland America and Costa Cruises. Anybody remember the accident in Egypt in 2010 on the Costa Europa, now sailing as the Thomson Dream?

Thats a great way for the cruise line to move on those older ships, but not every operator can do this, and what about those they have replaced, they end up moving further down the food chain or are scrapped. Like perhaps the old Pacific Princess, yes The Love Boat from the TV.

Or do they? What are cruise ships, in reality nothing but floating hotels.

The original Queen Elizabeth was being used as a 'School' having being retired afetr 30 years of service, when she caught fire and sank in Hong Kong Harbour in 1972. Another classic Cunarder, The Queen Mary has been in California since her retirement and now operates as a Hotel and Event and Wedding Venue.

What happened in the end to the the QE2, well she was supposed to be converted to a hotel but she is now moored in Dubai after the recent global collapse.

Just what is going to happen who knows.But then you have to ask, what will happen to the Concordia when they finish the salvage operation? Scrapped, perhaps that is the right thing but it is amazing what the ship yards can do so maybe in a copule of years she may up in the fleet of your favourite cruise line!!

River Cruising, whats it all about?

Sorry but it is a few weeks since I wrote my last post, so back into the rhythm now and thought I'd write something about River Cruising.

So don't we tend to associate "cruising" with getting on a huge ship filled with thousands of people and sailing to foreign ports of call in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska or Far East. But what are if any, the other options?

Well it is interesting that most people ignore the most original form of travel on water, river cruising. It is safe to say that mankind was moving goods and people up and down rivers and canals long before ocean travel came into fashion. In fact, the majority of cities and towns throughout the world (up until 100 years ago or so) were constructed on or near a river or major water source, so before the railroad, rivers and canals were the lifeline to commerce and travel.

So instead of looking at an Ocean Cruise, how about thinking about a River? Not just the Danube or the Rhine, you can go to China, Russia, Vietnam and even USA. I did write about an article on The Mighty Mississippi, but here I am going to concentrate on Europe, where there has been an explosion in the size of the market over the last 10 years.

European River Cruising

There are a number of companies that operate ships on the Danube, Rhone, Moselle, Rhine, Seine and Duoro in Portugal. With the European riverboats being purpose-built for modern river sailing; typically they are a long, sleek, narrow vessel with no more than four decks, which allows them to navigate the various locks and bridges found on European rivers.

A river cruise in Europe is all about the history of the land, in most stops each day there will be a Castle or Cathedral and many other historic sights to see, and you find with some lines that the days excurisons are included and usually they have options to suit the needs of all their passengers.

There are a number of European River Cruise Operators, including Viking River Cruises, Avalon River Cruises and AMAwaterways to name just a few. If you follow this link, you will find my views of the few days I spent on AMADante last year.

Advantages of river cruising

Convenience - On a river cruise, you have the ability to visit several cities, perhaps even in multiple countries, without having to pack and unpack each time you move from one place to the next. You literally wake up in a new city every day and, in many cases, you can step off the boat and walk into town or even take a bicycle ride!

Inclusive - Unlike ocean cruises, the fare your pay for your river cruise will include most, if not all, land tours and excursions, and in some cases all gratuities and pre-/post-cruise hotel stays. This makes river cruising an exceptional travel value.

Smooth sailing - You never have to experience motion sickness on a river cruise. In fact, you probably won't even know the ship is moving! It's that smooth.

No long lines - Riverboats typically carry only 100 to 150 passengers, so you will never find yourself standing in long lines.

Adult-oriented - River cruises tend to attract a more mature clientele. There are no facilities or staff dedicated to entertaining children. Therefore, a river cruise is probably not the best choice for a family vacation with the kids.

Casual - You can leave your suit and tie at home. River cruises tend to be much more casual and relaxed than ocean cruises. There are no formal nights.

So, if you are interested just give me a call to get my impartial views on what you can find.