Recommend December 2011 - (Page 101)

Opposite page: Celebrity Cruises serves up high-end restaurants such as Murano. celebrity cruises Celebrity Cruises gets a double-win in Recommend’s Readers’ Choice Awards, being singled out as Best Cruise Line—Spa and Best Cruise Line—Cuisine. The line has won in the spa category 11 years in a row, and 2011 marks the seventh consecutive win for Celebrity’s cuisine offerings. “As a cruise line, Celebrity is thrilled by these wins,” says Dondra Ritzenthaler, sr. v.p., sales, Celebrity Cruises. “On a personal level, it gives me great satisfaction to know that our travel partners recognize what makes Celebrity the ultimate modern luxury vacation. Pampering spa treatments...sumptuous cuisine—it doesn’t get more luxurious than that!” Celebrity Silhouette (Celebrity’s fourth Solstice-class ship) made its debut in 2011 and that included an entirely new dining concept for the industry with the Lawn Club Grill, an interactive culinary grilling experience. The ship also debuted the new Spa Vibes program, which allows each guest to personalize his or her face or body treatment choosing elements that will stimulate each of the senses. Celebrity Reﬂection, the fifth Solstice-class ship, enters service in 2012, and she will offer the first-ever AquaClass Suites, adding on to the existing AquaClass experience, which is “inspired by the spa enthusiast lifestyle.” June 2009, followed by Seabourn Sojourn in June 2010. The number of suites per ship fleetwide on Seabourn runs only either 104 or 224 suites. Delaney also lists Seabourn’s move to Seattle this year to share services with Holland America, the switch to POLAR online—which has made booking much easier—and the addition of many more field salespeople as more reasons 2011 proved to travel agents that Seabourn should be the leader in this category. “I think there’s no question that we have the best luxury cruise product in the world,” says Delaney. “Our guests tell us that and their agents have, too. That’s the reason agents recommend Seabourn—because it is a great product and a terrific value.” princess cruises It is an 8-time win this year for Princess Cruises in the Best Cruise Line—Itineraries category of Recommend’s annual awards. “We take great care to continually offer the best destinations— the places that people routinely put on their ‘bucket lists,’” says Jan Swartz, executive v.p., Princess Cruises. “Additionally, we always look for intriguing new ports of call—those that we know people will find fascinating—to add into our mix.” Swartz adds that the award is an “important indication that we are continuing to offer the most exciting cruise options. We are always honored that agents look to us first for itineraries for their clients.” New for the cruise line is a California Coastal cruise and a return to alveston for estern Caribbean sailings for the first time in a number of years. Around the world, Princess will be offering its largest Europe season ever, plus they’ll have more ships sailing in South America, and a new longer itinerary in Australia & New Zealand. For people who really want to see the world, Princess will have two world cruise options of up to 107 days, plus a 75-day Circle Paciﬁc itinerary from Australia. crystal cruises Being a 12-time winner as Best Cruise Line—Luxury for Crystal Cruises is all about consistency says Jack Anderson, sr. v.p., sales and marketing. “It’s the combination of having a consistently excellent cruise experience that delivers extremely satisfied clients along with the service we regularly provide to agents through our reservations agents, field sales force, inside sales team [and agent programs] Crystal’s CruiseBuilder, ‘Sell 3 Sail Free’ and Crystal Cruises Academy,” he says. “It’s gratifying to know that the efforts we put into supporting our major network of dedicated travel professionals is recognized and appreciated.” The big news for 2012 is that starting in the spring all Crystal cruises will be all-inclusive with complimentary fine wines and premium spirits throughout the ship, open bar service in all lounges, and pre-paid gratuities for housekeeping, bar and dining staff, including Nobu Matsuhisa’s complimentary Silk Road and other onboard gourmet dining destinations. Looking towards 2013, the cruise line will be adding Private Tour Options and salon and fitness offerings on select cruises including Pilates reformer equipment, Zumba, more yoga and new massages and beauty treatments. Crystal Serenity will also go through a redesign in 2013. royal caribbean international A double win for Royal Caribbean International, named once again as the Best Cruise Line—Large Ship for the 11th consecutive year, as well as coming in for a seventh time win for Best Cruise Line—Travel Agent Support in this annual awards showcase. “Royal Caribbean International is honored to be voted the Best Cruise Line and for Best Travel Agent Support,” says Vicki Freed, sr. v.p., sales, trade support and services. “We value our travel agent partners and create programs to help them sell more cruises and grow their business. More importantly, we make ourselves available to travel agents in whichever way they prefer, whether it is by e-mail, fax, and especially by phone and frequent face-to-face visits.” This year Royal Caribbean introduced Royal Advantage, a major initiative to enhance and revitalize ships focusing on dining, entertainment and amenity options. Royal Caribbean returned to New Orleans in November with Voyager of the Seas, while Mariner of the Seas will do seasonal cruises from Galveston and Jewel of the Seas started its inaugural season from Tampa in November. First introduced aboard Allure of the Seas, the DreamWorks Experience has been expanded to Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas december 2011 101 seabourn Seabourn won this year as Best Cruise Line—Small Ship in Recommend’s Readers’ Choice Awards and John Delaney, sr. v.p., marketing and sales, believes what really made the cruise line stand out this year is “the new ships and the service on board.” The 450-guest Seabourn Quest made her debut in June and is the third new ship and the sixth to oin Seabourn’s fleet, completing a 3-year expansion for the line. Seabourn Odyssey entered service in

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend December 2011

Sabre Travel Network
Rail Europe & Hertz Rental Car
Southwest Airlines & Delta Air Lines
Florida
Hawaii
France & Italy
Tahiti
Thailand
China
Cancun
Riviera Maya
Costa Rica
Jamaica
Aruba Certified Expert Specialist Program
Saint Lucia
South Africa
Israel
Isram
Abercrombie & Kent
Globus
Goway Travel
Travel Impressions
Avanti Destinations
GOGO Worldwide Vacations
Apple Vacations
Tauck
Marriott International
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
Sandals & Beaches Resorts
AMResorts
Best Western International
Cruising to the Top

Recommend December 2011