TRAVEL
– By Marianne Vogel
CRUISING
NEWS
ch a n ge d !
O h , h ow ti m es h ave
I recently had the opportunity to partake on an 8-day trip
as part of a convention of travel professionals, and sail on the
brand new Quantum of the Seas cruise out of New Jersey
and through the Bahamas area. A wonderful journey, which
I must share!
All 4500 passengers were electronically checked in before
embarking (get your iPhone ready!) and this new ship was
truly amazing to witness – from the North Star at the front
of the ship, to the flow-rider in the back. On board you can
learn how to surf, roller skate, skydive, rock climb, and more…
All you have to do is unpack once and then you’re ready to
enjoy 5-star accommodation, watch Broadway quality shows
(we saw Mamma Mia!), delight in quality foods, visit thrilling
destinations, and meet the customer-oriented staff, plus make
a whole lot of new friends.
Although we went through a period of what they called
‘rough seas’, it was smooth sailing because the ship’s stabilizers
– quite the experience!
Cruising in the electronic age
Our stateroom was actually an interior cabin complete with
a movie screen built into the wall, in real time video, that
looked exactly the same as a balcony cabin minus the fresh
air… a virtual balcony! If another ship passed by, you could
see it immediately, and when we approached land it was there
too! What a great concept, the only one of its kind!
The Quantum of the Seas is an electronically wired ship:
Dinner times are downloaded on an App on your iPhone,
excursions are noted, there are various on-board restaurants
listed with a note to what to expect there, and also lists of the
amazing kid’s programs, bingo games, trivia nights, casino
hours and everything in between. Something for everyone,
regardless of age.
The staff is very attentive as on many other cruise ships,
but Royal Caribbean has a unique family-support system for
them as well: Since many of the staff are married couples,
they are provided with double-sized cabins in order to support
their family time together. Not many cruise lines offer this!
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m ov ie
sc re en !
Naturally working in good conditions supports the staff to
be happier, which in turn makes the passengers happier and
more looked-after.
I was impressed by how Royal Caribbean deals with
accessibility issues: They have a whole department and large
group of knowledgeable staff to assist, and they are also the
only cruise line with trained staff who are prepared to assist
with Autistic children and adults with other specific physical
and mental challenges. All you have to do is ask, and let them
know at time of booking.
Near each elevator there are interactive screens, which easily
guide your way – where you are, how to get to a specific
location on the ship… and the internet service is the fastest in
any fleet, so you can keep in touch with family and friends…
at the speed of light!
Not all cruise lines are created equal
In my time as a travel professional I’ve always aimed to match
cruise style with the individual needs of each passenger.
And price is definitely not everything, and more often than
not, you get what you pay for. So next time you find a very
inexpensive cruise offer on the internet, and are enticed to
try it, think again! It’s not only about “trying cruising”, but
about the experience as a whole – from the knowledge of the
staff, to the quality of the food. It’s important to speak with
a trusted travel professional about what to expect during the
whole trip, this way you will not be disappointed.