Brand Games

A recent survey of 3000 cruise customers asked them to compare cruise line brands with high street retailers. Some obvious analogies came out, for example P&O likened to M&S, Celebrity with John Lewis. Rather more bizarrely all of Royal Caribbean, Fred Olsen and Princess were compared with Debenhams. So does that mean that Debenhams has a hugely flexible brand? Or more likely does it mean that people have different perceptions of brands? Given the huge investment that Royal Caribbean have made in innovative products and their advertising campaigns, how would they feel about about being compared with Debenhams? No disrespect intended! Also of interest was the association of Thomson Cruises with discount retailer Primark.

Epic Proportions

The feedback keeps coming in from our team who were on the Epic yesterday. Let's start with dislikes first - mainly the bathroom arrangements in the standard cabins, where the wash basin is in the main cabin area. However in family rooms there is a full en suite bathroom. No the positives - firstly entertainment, as said previously was innovative and imaginative. Secondly the eating options - 14 in total, but only 2 of which are included in the standard price. All the others you have to pay a supplement, which is probably a real issue if you are a family, but less so for couples. The options include French, Japanese, Spanish, Tex-Mex, Asian fusion to name a few, but the one everyone is raving about is the Argentinian Moderno Churrascaria with different meats presented to you at your table by passadors.

Epic Night

Well it was an epic night for all England football fans everywhere last night. Perhaps it's a sad indictment that we are going crazy after a one-nil win over Slovenia, but the relief was enormous. No less so for those watching the game on board the Epic, NCL's new ship. Six of the guys and girls from Ideal Cruising were on board to watch the game on a big screen out on the aft deck, it was an amazing atmosphere apparently. Later in the evening this part of the ship turns in to a dance area, where you can show off your moves! The team were generally impressed with the standard of entertainment, from the unique Cirque Dreams Dinner where you eat within a circus tent and you eat whilst they perform, through to the unique, magical and hilarious Blue Man Group

Epic

There's a real buzz in the office at Ideal Cruising ( http://www.idealcruising.co.uk/) today as loads of the team are off to stay overnight on NCL's new baby - the Epic. Laura has just turned up dragging a huge suitcase announcing she's packed 8 pairs of shoes, and this is just for one night! It's great to have so many people on board, and feel the excitement. The boys have all booked a half day tomorrow for the football, but we'll have the TV on in the office anyway.

Royal Caribbean new Captain

Royal Caribbean have just announced that their new VP and MD for the UK and Ireland will be Dominic Paul. Dominic is currently COO of airline bmi. I think it's good to have someone coming in from another sector rather than someone from within cruising. Dominic is a great guy, with boundless energy and a genuine passion for customer service excellence. I am sure the team at RCCL will enjoy working with him and benefit from his natural leadership skills.

not so easyJet

Just back from a trip courtesy of easyJet to Alicante. Outbound flight 5 hour delay. No communication from easyJet, and no apology until we were finally on board when the captain had the decency to apologise. On the return flight on arrival at Gatwick there was an hour wait for luggage, and again no communication or apology. It does make the thought of going on a cruise departing from a port in the UK all the more appealing. The level of customer service on a cruise ship versus that of a low cost airline is astonishing. Yes I realise low cost means low resources, but that doesn't excuse regular communication and good manners - these cost nothing. Rant over! Catharsis complete!

Azamara's Journey up the Thames

Azamara, the niche upmarket cruise line from RCCL anchored the ship "Journey" at Greenwich in the Thames last week for two days, and I was fortunate to be invited on board for a quick look and see. Journey is supposed to be a relatively small ship, but sat in the middle of the Thames it looked huge compared to what we usually see at Greenwich Pier. However once on board it was so easy to navigate around and you really appreciate the intimate nature of the ship compared with some of the big beasts that are in vogue these days. The two fine dining restaurants - Prime C a classic grill and Aquilana a seafood speciality looked mouth watering. The Spa is tasteful laid out complete with acupuncture services, plus a decent sized gym. I was also attracted to the whole informality and laid back feel to the ship. I do however have to have a moan about the poor service dished up by the bureaucrats from Port of London Authority, who kept is cooped-up in a confined port-a-cabin on a pontoon in the middle of the Thames adjacent to the Journey whilst they did whatever they have to do before they could let us on board. Not exactly five star plus treatment. If I was the Ops Director for Azamara I would cancelling Greenwich off the list of ports in future itineraries after this inexcusable experience.