Gained a couple pounds? Can’t blame the cruise anymore

Now here are two words you don’t expect to see together…Cruise and Diet?  You’re kidding!  Well, cruise lines are actually taking this concept pretty seriously…enough to offer healthier cuisine.  That’s of course to keep up with the demand from their increasingly health-conscious customers.

We already see fewer midnight buffets.  Recently, trans fats went overboard.  Now we’re being offered healthier choices in the form of spa-cuisine.  Before you turn up your nose, let me relay a quick personal story.                

                                                                                                   

Celebrity Cruises implemented this healthier eating alternative awhile back.  My husband and I were drawn to the lighter fare, set up next to one of the pools aboard Celebrity’s Summit.  They had tacos with vegetarian choices, beautiful salmon filets (cold), tuna, just to name a few choices and we were pleasantly surprised (keeping in mind my husband’s favorite dinner is a thick, rare, gut-busting, platter-hiding steak).  In fact we chose the spa-style cuisine for our main dinner a couple of times.  On the flip side, there’s always the pizza/pasta bar if you’re hungry later.

Royal Caribbean (sister of Celebrity) has introduced its “Vitality” program, which weaves healthier meals and exercise into your cruise.  Carnival Cruises offers lighter fare with nutritional numbers visible on menus.  Whole grains and fresh fruits are playing a bigger role in the buffet line on Crystal Cruise journeys.

The bottom line is, cruise lines are offering healthier choices in an attempt to dispel the idea that cruising is about overeating.  Also, they’re looking to lure health-conscious baby boomers blindsided by visions of huge weight-gains.                                                                    

Oh, the horror of being trapped at sea with an unlimited supply of french fries and sausage links, or a 24-hour pizza bar! 

One other observation, the one thing that’s always struck me about cruise desserts, they’re not that sweet.  You’re not talking Cheesecake Factory richness or Claim Jumper’s 7-layer-cake.  Cruise dessert portions are usually pretty small and very light, easing our guilty conscious as we taste-test six varieties… 

So next time, give the vegetarian taco a try.  Truthfully, after you’ve started to give that fourth button on your formal night jacket a run for its money, your tummy is probably looking forward to some lighter fare.  

                                                                                       

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Our Favorite Cruise Destinations and Ports

                                         

Our favorite cruising destinations are shifting a bit with more emphasis on the European cruise market. Twelve-day Mediterranean, seven-day Alaska and five-day Western Caribbean cruises are emerging as the top long, mid and short itineraries this year.  That’s according to a recent survey by one of America’s largest cruise retailers. 

Europe bookings are up 42% year-over-year and CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) stated recently that the Mediterranean is one of the three fastest growing segments in the cruise industry. 

Meantime, the latest survey ranks the most popular Caribbean islands/port of calls.   In order they are:  St. Thomas, Grand Cayman, St. Maarten/St. Martin, Cozumel, and Aruba.  Jamaica tied for fifth place.    

The most popular Mediterranean ports are Rome, Venice, Barcelona, Santorini, and Athens and Istanbul tied for fifth.                   

                                                                                                      

The most popular non-Mediterranean Europe ports are St. Petersburg, London, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Dublin and Lisbon tied.  The survey found that agents consider Dubrovnik the most underrated European port of call. 

Cruise agents were asked for the top three Mediterranean shore excursions. Excursions in Italy were the most popular - those responses accounted for 55.3% of the recommended Mediterranean shore excursions. Greece followed with 12.8% and various excursions in Turkey combined for 9.9% of the responses.

When looking at the excursions individually, the Vatican and Rome were the most popular, followed by Pompeii. The agents recommended private guided tours of the Vatican to avoid long lines.

The singular most popular Mediterranean shore excursion outside of Italy was the ruins of Ephesus in Turkey.

And in case you’re interested in making a comparison with last year’s winners, the 2007 list breaks down like this:

2007 Top Cruise Destinations                   Percentage of Bookings

    1. Caribbean                                                       46.7%
    2. Alaska                                                            19.4%
    3. Mexican Riviera                                             6.4%
    4. Europe - Mediterranean                               6.2%
    5. Hawaii                                                             5.0%
    6. Bermuda                                                         4.2%
    7. Panama Canal                                                 2.5%
    8. New England/Maritime Canada                 1.9%
    9. Europe - Baltic                                              1.4%
  10. Trans-Atlantic                                              0.9%

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Pride of Hawaii’s Final Aloha

NCL’s Pride of Hawaii is now a memory.  The ship has been pulled from it’s seven-day itinerary in the Hawaiian Islands and will be renamed the Norwegian Jade, reflagged and sent to Europe in 2008.  Parent company, Norwegian Cruise Line’s claims its mounting financial losses were caused, in part, by softening prices as well as an increase in foreign-flagged competition.  The company claims the ship’s withdrawal is temporary but there aren’t too many NCL fans who believe that.

The U.S.-flagged ship garnered more than its share of negative reviews during it’s nearly two-year run.  Passengers complained of poor food, cleanliness issues and a less than enthusiastic American crew.   NCL’s two remaining ships, meantime, will continue their seven-day Hawaiian itineraries.  The Pride of America departs from Honolulu every Saturday while the Pride of Aloha roundtrips from Honolulu each Sunday. 

                                     

The Pride of Hawaii-turned-Norwegian Jade will be registered as a Bahamian ship during a break in Honolulu.  It will also be fitted with a casino and new hull artwork.  (Ships that sail only American ports are not permitted to operate casinos.)  The ship will sail 12, 13 and 14-day eastern and western Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona, Istanbul and Athens.  It will then reposition to Southampton, England for several cruises to the Mediterranean and other European destinations.  It’s first European cruise departs from Barcelona March 30, 2008 setting sail on a 12-day Mediterranean adventure to Istanbul.

We wish her well.

                                                                                        

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