July 2015    
                                                            
To read previous issues of Cruise Newz click here
 
 
 
From the main office of.........................................


 

 

 

We have given Cruise Newz a new look and hope you like what we have done. We think it will be easier to read in your email and on your tablet or phone if you prefer.

 

Did you know, we now have a Video Gallery of ships and destinations

(over 20 videos currently available) on our website? Check them out.

 

Click to view Video Gallery

 

Thanks to the new and larger ships, the many promotions, and the lower pricing offered over the last few years, more "first-time cruisers" have experienced the enjoyment of cruising. The growth of the industry is really reflected in our What's coming down the Sea? (article this month).

 

You will also notice that we have changed the name of the Client Recommendation Section to Your Opinion Counts which is the name of the Welcome Home Survey you receive at the completion of your trip. We share YOUR thoughts, suggestions, and comments with others in this section (we only use names with permission) and we greatly appreciate the time you take to complete and return your survey.

 

When you receive your survey, you will also get an update of your total accumulated points in our Exclusive Customer Loyalty Rewards Program. To learn about this program Click Here.

 

As a special way to thank people who take the time to complete and return the Welcome Home Survey, beginning this month, we will have a quarterly drawing and award up to three $50 prizes each quarter. Everyone who completes and returns a Welcome Home Survey will be entered into this special Thank You drawing for the quarter. (Many of you have sent your survey back in June so you will be entered into this first drawing.)

 

We would appreciate you telling us how you like the new look of Cruise Newz or if you have any suggestions as to how we can make it better for you? Just click here to send us an email with comments or ideas.

 

Our best regards,

Al & Helen on behalf of the entire team at Richman, O'Hare & Associates

To Find Your Personal Agent Click Here
What's coming down the Sea?
 
Royal Caribbean changes policy requiring Gratuities be Pre-Paid for Anytime Dining

With the exception of many luxury and select other cruise lines where gratuities for the crew are included in the pricing, the mainstream lines do add a gratuity to your on-board account daily.
Royal Caribbean has been requiring gratuities to be a "pre-paid" line item when a client chose (or was required to choose) the MyTime Dining Option because assigned early or late dining had to be waitlisted but would become available later on when group space held by various agencies was released.. 

GOOD NEWS! Royal Caribbean has finally reversed the policy and will no longer require pre-paid gratuities with MyTime dining. (Celebrity Cruise Line, which is a Royal Caribbean owned brand will still require gratuities to be pre-paid with their Select Dining option.)

World's Biggest Cruise Ship Floats for First Time
PHOTO: Harmony of the Seas floats out at the STX France shipyard. (Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International)

What likely will be the world's largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean International's Harmony of the Seas, floated for the first time and moved to an outfitting dock for the final stage of construction.


 

The line's third Oasis-class ship, the 227,000-ton Harmony of the Seas will surpass the size of its sister ships, the 225,282-ton Oasis and Allure of the Seas. The final size measurement is usually taken when the ship is complete, so the numbers could still shift after the ship is delivered in May 2016. Harmony of the Seas will carry 5,479 guests at double occupancy.


 

Harmony will begin scheduled sailings in the Mediterranean in May 2016 before moving to it's home in Florida. With Harmony's arrival, the original Oasis-class vessel Oasis of the Seas will migrate up the coast to Port Canaveral leaving Harmony and Allure sailing 7 night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries from south Florida (late in 2016.)


 Revolutionary Ship Order From Carnival Corp.


Carnival Corp. said that as part of a previously announced multi-billion dollar nine-ship order, German shipyard Meyer Werft will build four next-generation cruise ships that will each carry an astounding 6,600 guests. This is more than Oasis or Allure of the Seas based on double occupancy.


Carnival Corp. says the four new ships will also feature a revolutionary "green cruising" design. The ships will be the first in the industry to be powered at sea by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) -- the world's cleanest-burning fossil fuel.


In the meantime, Carnival Corp. says each of the next-generation ships will feature more than 5,000 lower berths, exceed 180,000 gross tons and "incorporate an extensive number of guest-friendly features." A major part of the innovative design involves making much more efficient use of the ship's spaces, creating an enhanced onboard experience for guests.

 
 MSC Cruises Reaches Shipbuilding Milestones


 

MSC Cruises, which is in the middle of a $5.8 billion shipbuilding plan, officially began construction of a new generation of vessels with the steel-cutting of the MSC Seaside at an Italian shipyard.


 

The ambitious growth program, which will double the Italian line's capacity by 2022, includes two and possibly three 154,000-ton, 4,140-passenger Seaside vessels.


 When it enters service in December 2017, MSC Seaside will be based year-round in Miami, joining the MSC Divina, and signifying the company's determination to grow in the North American market. In fact, the ship will also be christened in Miami, the first MSC Cruises ship to be named in the U.S.


 

"MSC Seaside will spearhead our campaign to expand our presence in North America," CEO Gianni Onorato said. "MSC Cruises has the unique opportunity to provide North American guests with an outstanding 'Mediterranean Style Cruise' experience, and guests from around the world a unique setting as it will sail to the most sought-after destinations in the Caribbean."


 

(Above articles are from trade publications TravelPulse, and OpenJaw)
 

 

Secret Word


If you are a new subscriber to Cruise Newz, each month we hide a Secret Word in one of the articles and if you are a subscriber and tell us the Secret Word of the month when making a new reservation, you will receive a bonus $25 on-board credit for that cruise.

 

        Click Here to learn more about this exclusive bonus opportunity  

        only for clients of Richman, O'Hare & Associates
  

Monthly Customer Appreciation Winner

 

We want to congratulate Todd Moore, FL who is the June winner in our monthly drawing.

 

All clients 18 and above newly booked during the month go into a drawing for $25 on-board credit for that reservation.

 

This month's winner was chosen by Susan Chessin, NJ 

YOUR OPINION COUNTS.
When you return home from a cruise, we will be sending you a survey about the ship, excursions, ports, and your agent. We greatly appreciate the time you take to give us your thoughts and suggestions that we share with others. (Names are only used with permission.)
 
Bill Rowell on the Serenade of the Seas favorite ports were St. Petersburg - it was nothing like I expected; Tallinn Estonia - reminded me of the US as it grew though the 1950's and 60's; Helsinki - could have been any major US city.
AVOID. Not really an avoidance but a recommendation. Due to cancelled excursion we decided to go on our own in Helsinki. It was the right decision. The #9 tram to/from town is near the port.
Comment: This was a great cruise itinerary and I would recommend it. Very eye-opening, educational, and enjoyable.
***
Greg Baer, GA on Celebrity Solstice. Favorite ports and recommended excursions were Skagway-: White Pass Railway; and Ketchikan- Lumberjack Place
AVOID: Juneau the Salmon Hatchery. Boring. Unless you're there at exactly the right time there is nothing to see. (These were all booked through the cruise line excursions.
***
Susan & Neil Chessin, NJ on Liberty of the Seas
Favorite Port: Bermuda is always a favorite of ours and never disappoints
Comment 1: The food was our only disappointment on this trip. The selection & qualify were poor. The presentation of the food in the buffet area left a lot to be desired. Nothing looked appetizing. Even the specialty restaurants were below our expectations.
Comment 2: We enjoyed the entertainment. There was a wide variety and most of it was very good. If you are traveling with children, the children's pool area was fantastic as well as the cupcake decorating. Embarking and disembarking went very smoothly and we never felt the crowds on the ship.
***
David Chessin and Michelle McWeeney (with 4 kids), NJ on Liberty of the Seas
Comment: This was a wonderful cruise with a great itinerary. Sea days in the beginning and end of our vacation were excellent and the ports were terrific. This is a great cruise for families.
***
THE SECRET WORD FOR JULY IS EXPERIENCE
 
Here are recent rating scores (1=poor to 5=excellent) given to several ships on the surveys.
A=Appearance, F=Food, E=Entertainment, S=Service, V=Value
                           Ship Name
A
F
 E
S
  V
Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas
5
5
5
5
5
Celebrity Solstice
5
5
5
5
5
Carnival Glory
4
4
4
5
5
Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas
5
1
4
5
4
Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas
5
4
4
4
4













 

and a little humor to end with......................... Beer thoughts
The sources may not be accurate but it is still a fun read so grab a cold one and enjoy!

Sometimes, after playing golf, I reflect on all the beer I drink, I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and I think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. I think, "It is better to drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver."

Babe Ruth

 "I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day."

Winston Churchill


 

"When I read about the evils of drinking after golfing I gave up reading."

Paul Horning

 

 "24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not."

H. L. Mencken

 

"When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk, we fall asleep.

When we fall asleep, we commit no sin. When we commit no sin,

we go to heaven. So, let's all get drunk and go to heaven!"

George Bernard Shaw

 

"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza."

Dave Barry

 

"Remember "I" before "E," except in Budweiser."

 Professor Irwin Corey

 

One night at Cheers, Cliff Clavin said to his buddy, Norm Peterson:

 

"Well, ya see, Norm, it's like this.. A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members!

 

In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first.

 

In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine! That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers." 

 

 

until next time have a joyous month.

Richman, O'Hare & Associates   
   Main Office in Lantana, FL 
   Main Office (561) 899-3206

Give your agent a call today!