Jacques Pepin's First Restaurant

Most days, I absolutely love being a cruise specialist travel agent; I enjoy the interaction with my clients, the negotiations with the cruise lines, learning ever more about the industry, and traveling - both when escorting clients and on my own. But some days I just long to be a travel writer. Yes, as you all know I enjoy writing, and do indulge here in my editorials and in travel logs (which are more than occasionally picked up by media sources), but the desire doesn't stem from that; it comes from some of the events writers are invited to which I, even as a top producing agent, never get to experience.

Why am I mentioning this now? Because of an event Oceania hosted yesterday to announce the creation of a Jacques Pepin restaurant aboard their newest ship, Oceania Marina.

Already familiar to Oceania cruisers as the Executive Culinary Director for the line, Pepin is the well-known TV cooking show host and author of more than 20 cookbooks, but interestingly he's never had his own restaurant under his own name.

The cuisine will simple, freshly prepared French dishes that draw inspiration from bistros in his home town of Lyon and the fabled bistros of Paris. Dining in Jacques will be reminiscent of dining in a favorite bistro that is run by a long-time friend. The service, while professional and polished, is friendly and endearing and in the tradition of fine French dining, a leisurely pace is de rigueur, thus ensuring a relaxing dining experience. Expect menu highlights including an appetizer of homemade Pumpkin Soup a l'Anglaise served in a pumpkin shell and fresh Mussels Mariniere. The eatery also will serve "specialites de la maison" that are hand-selected each day in local markets the ship visits.

Custom Jacques Pepin signature china, antique flatware and Lalique glassware will adorn the tables, and chandeliers fashioned from crystal decanters will add a whimsical shimmer to the room, the line adds. There also will be art done by Pepin himself.

There will be no extra charge for dining in the restaurant, although passengers will need to make reservations in advance. Sample menus will be uploaded to Oceania's Web site in coming months.

Now why does this announcement make me want to chuck my day job and take up travel writing? Oceania feted writers (and a few selected agents, but alas, not me) at an event in New York at the French Culinary Institute to announce the restaurant. All afternoon I was reading tweets from various sources describing the dishes to which they were treated, including descriptions of "buttery lobster rolls", descriptions of 32-oz prime rib, chocolate croissants, french wine, even a cooking demonstration led by Pepin himself. Can you blame me for temporarily dreaming of a slightly different career at times like this?

But back to the more serious matters. I'm a fan of the premium restaurants onboard, and think that for those who like something special, they offer a different experience onboard at a very reasonable price for what you receive. Especially on the Deluxe and Luxury lines, where they are included or at an extremely minimal surcharge for gratuities, they're an exceptional value and quality. I'm personally looking forward to dining in Prime C aboard Azamara Quest next month to celebrate my birthday, and feel that it will be equal to anything I could have here at home, at a much better price (not to mention the view!). While the ever-increasing emphasis on premium-fee restaurants onboard ships is controversial, as some feel everything should be included in the cruise fare, I'm glad that the lines are going this direction to provide a superior experience for those who will enjoy it, while not neglecting their main dining rooms and even buffets.

I can't wait to try this out! (Hint, hint, Oceania!)

Wave Season Has Arrived! Summary of Offers and NEW Oceania Sales Event!

When my phone rang this morning at 5:44AM, I knew that the first day of Wave Season had arrived. So far, the rest of my Monday has followed suit, and I'd say the rush is on!

What is Wave Season? It's the cruise industry term for the first quarter of the year, which traditionally has the highest number of bookings. In fact, more than half the yearly bookings are usually made in these three months, especially in January. Think of a bell curve, with lows in December and April, and there is a "wave" of bookings this first quarter.

The past couple years, Wave Season has been less of a tsunami and more of just a good surfing day, with bookings spread out more throughout the year. Whether that's because of the growing sophistication of cruisers who book according to their personal needs rather than as a result of increased marketing which takes place this time of year, and have learned when is the best time to book, or other factors, I'm not sure. This year, the industry experts are expecting a little quieter season, but judging from today's responses from my clients, I'm not so sure. While my clients are booking on average closer in, they're still booking. The Wave is On!

To remind you all of the various specials the cruise lines are running, here are some of my past "head's up" posts to help you choose your next cruise:

RCCL, Celebrity and Azamara ASAP Promotion

Holland America View and Verandah Sale/Vacation Stimulus Plan

NCL Freestyle Savings Event

Princess is running their "Balcony Bonanza" and Carnival has some upgrade offers, but nothing out of the ordinary for either of them.

Later today, Oceania will be announcing their Historic 5th Anniversary Celebration of Savings with HUGE reductions. They're offering up to $2,000/cabin discounts off their 2-for-1 sailings in Europe with free air for their 2009 season and 25% single supplements, and up to $1,500/cabin discounts off their 2-for-1 2009/2010 Winter Season sailings, with free air, free pre-paid gratuities, $500 onboard credits and 25% single supplements. Yeah, baby! That's what I'm talking about! These Oceania offers become available for sale on January 7, and I'll be first in line to book myself as these are crazy fabulous prices.

There are a lot of reasons to book, especially in the next week. If you're considering any sailings for the next year, give me a call or email now to see how we can maximize your savings and benefits!

Of course, for close-in bookings, don't forget about the weekly Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Happy Hours and Carnival Pack N Go Specials.

Oceania Sale on Friday!

Oceania, a Deluxe line sailing 3 former Renaissance ships of approximately 680 passengers each, and known for their extraordinary service and dining, along with unusual itineraries, frequently offers 2-for-1 pricing. However, on Friday, December 19 only, they're sweetening that deal significantly on three sailings.

For Category G cabins, they're offering $1,000/cabin discount on the following sailings (the prices below include the discount):

• Oceania Regatta, 2/13/09, 12 night RT Miami, $1,299/person
• Oceania Regatta, 2/25/09, 12 Nt RT Miami, $1,299/person
• Oceania Insignia, 3/8/09, 19 Nt S. America from Valparaiso to Rio de Janeiro, $2,999/person

If you've been reading about Deluxe lines (Azamara and Oceania), and are interested in trying the next level up from Premium cruising, this is the best pricing I've ever seen from Oceania, and is a tremendous opportunity.

Call or email me for more details on the line, the itineraries, and of course to book this terrific opportunity!

Details on Oceania Newbuilds

While the new ships for Oceania were announced many months ago, details about the ships beyond their size hasn't been known until now. These definitely sound interesting!

The ships will have 626 staterooms, and capacity of 1,252 guests, along with 780 crew. A full 96% of the cabins will have a private teak verandah. Overall, there will be four Owner's Suites, six Vista Suites, 10 Oceania Suites, 120 Penthouse Suites, 440 veranda staterooms, 20 ocean-view staterooms and 26 inside staterooms.

Dining options include 6 restaurants, all continuing the Oceania style of open seating. The new ships will feature dark woods, Italian marble, granite, wool carpets and leather. Signature public spaces will include Martinis, Horizons, The Patio, and a grand staircase that sweeps up both sides of the lobby. The color palette will feature earthen and jewel tones, while furnishings and accent pieces will create an atmosphere designed to resemble that of a fine home or manor."One of the hallmarks of the Oceania Cruises experience is the refined yet relaxed atmosphere onboard and that is something that will continue with our new ships," said Bob Binder, president of Oceania Cruises. "Guests will experience the same intimate ambience as our current ships, and the staff-to-guest ratio will be even greater, resulting in an even higher level of personalized service onboard."

The first ship is scheduled for delivery in fall, 2010, with the second expected in summer 2011. Interestingly, the new ships will boast a cruising speed of 20 knots, which is 20 percent faster than the Regatta class. In addition to their greater speed, the new ships will have a greater range that enables them to undertake the itineraries to destinations worldwide.

Look forward to sharing more as these ships get closer to completion.

Azamara and Oceania Europe 2009 Itineraries Announced

Oceania has opened the books on their 2009 European season! Since their inception as a line, they've become known for their innovative and exciting itineraries, and 2009 will be no exception. Some of the highlights:

• All sailings will be offered with Free Airfare & 2-for-1 Cruise Fares through August 31, 2008.
• From the Black Sea to the Baltic, there are 52 extraordinary voyages to choose from including 10 distinct Western Mediterranean itineraries.
• A new 16-day Venice to Rome voyage highlights the scenic splendor and intriguing history of the Dalmatian Coast.
• Regatta returns to Scandinavia and Russia and marks Oceania Cruises' return to Norway and the British Isles.
• Magnificent maiden ports include: Hellesylt, Norway; Fowey, United Kingdom; Biarritz, France; and Koper, Slovenia.

Following on the heels of sister line Celebrity, and not surprisingly right after competitor Oceania announced their 2009 summer European schedule, Azamara Cruises has announced the opening of their 2009 European season. Sailings will go on sale starting April 2.

Cruises range in length from 7-15 nights, and feature visits to a total of 91 ports in 36 different countries. They will depart from five different home ports through the season: Athens, Greece; Barcelona, Spain; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Rome and Venice, Italy. Overnight stays are be offered in Barcelona; Edinburgh, Scotland; Florence and Ravenna, Italy; Istanbul, Turkey; St. Petersburg, Russia; and Stockholm, Sweden. Late-night (10 p.m. or after) departures will be offered in 10 ports of call.

Azamara ships, being smaller and targeted toward cruisers who are looking for a more intimate experience, both onboard and ashore, are well suited for European cruising. In many locations, they can dock as opposed to tender, or dock far closer to cities such as Paris, allowing passengers more time in the featured cities.

This looks to be a great season for both lines! And of course I have to say - if you're interested, or want to know more about the itineraries or to get in your advance reservation, give me a call or drop me an email!

Satellite TV Comes to Oceania!

Hate to miss your favorite program and still don't have a DVR or TiVo? Your team playing a major sporting event? Oceania has you covered! Furthering their committment for a complete passenger experience, Oceania has signed an agreement with Wave Entertainment Network (a division of SeaMobile Enterprises) for Satellite TV services for their fleet.

Encompassing, cable, satellite and broadcast networks, audio content, video-on-demand, adult programming, special events, and other video content typically offered via multi-channel platforms, the Wave Entertainment platform uses a combination of satellite technology delivered by SeaMobile's Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN) and caching technology that allows viewers to experience live events and network programming in time slots they are accustomed to seeing. The store-and-forward feature ensures cruisers won't miss their favorite programs during their cruise. It'll be like your personal DVR in your cabin!

Oceania Insignia will be the first ship in the line to receive the full-feature system, followed by Nautica and Regatta later this year.

There goes your husband's excuse not to sail during the "big game."

Azamara Becomes More Flexible

No, this isn't a post about a new Pilates class on Azamara.

As frequent readers of this blog know, I'm a fan of the Deluxe lines, both Oceania and Azamara. I feel they each offer a niche which was previously ignored between the mainstream and luxury lines. With smaller ships (5 of the former Renaissance ships between them), open dining, and more unusual itineraries, they appeal to sophisticated travelers who are looking for something different, with a higher level of service and quality than the mainstream brands, but at an exceptional value.

One difference between the lines when Azamara began was that Azamara's alternative restaurants weren't fully included in the fare. Those in standard cabins received one night free in one of the two restaurants, while suite guests received two complimentary nights. Oceania, on the other hand, had no charge for their alternative restaurants.

Very quietly recently, Azamara responded to this difference (and criticism about it from their agent partners and guests) and now has removed the charges for their two restaurants, Prime C and Aqualina. Guests in standard cabins can enjoy two confirmed nights in these restaurants, while suite guests will have 3 confirmed reservations. Further reservations may be made, on a complimentary basis, as space permits.

This is terrific news and a positive step for Azamara. I'm glad to see they're listening to their clients, and better understanding their market.

If you've been considering either Azamara or Oceania, contact me for more information! Azamara has some wonderful onboard credit offers right now, and Oceania has many sailings on a "2-for-1 and free air" promotion, though that's sometimes a bit of a misnomer.

You can also read my review of the Azamara Quest inaugural here, or it's archived in the November blog articles.

More Fuel Surcharges

Oceania and Regent Seven Seas have both added new fuel surcharges for their passengers. Oceania passengers will be assessed $7/person per day effective December 1 for sailings which are not paid in full as of that date and all new bookings. Regent's surcharge is $7.50/person per day also effective for new and unpaid bookings as of December 1, 2007.

I believe it's only a matter of time before the RCI brands (Celebrity, Azamara and Royal Caribbean) announce similar surcharges.