fcca cruising magazine 4th quarter 2010

Fourth Quarter 2010 • Cruising Magazine 5

Micky ArisonChairman & CEOCarnival Corporation

Daniel J. HanrahanPresident & CEOCelebrity Cruises

Karl L. HolzPresidentDisney Cruise Line

Richard E. SassoPresident & CEOMSC Cruises (USA) Inc.

Kevin SheehanFCCA Chairman,CEONorwegian Cruise Line

Stephen A. NielsenVice President,Caribbean & Atlantic Shore OperationsPrincess Cruises

Omari BreakenridgeManager of Communications & Design

Terri CanniciDirector, Special Events

Adam CeseranoSenior Vice President

James KazakoffSenior Director, Event Operations

Jessica LalamaExecutive Assistant

George OrellanaResearch & Membership Coordinator

Justin PaigeCommunications & MarketingAdministrator

Michele M. PaigePresident

30 Rethinking Insurance for Your Tour Operation

37 FCCA’s First Ever Central American Cruise Conference Seeks to Help an Emerging Cruise Product Actualize and Maximize Its Benefits

39 Celebrity Adds to the Solstice Class with Eclipse

39 The Yachts of Seabourn Grows Its Line but Stays True to Its Roots

49 Ensenada Offered FCCA’s Service Excellence Programs

52 FCCA Online Auction Again Generates Philanthropy Money for the FCCA Foundation

19 Cruise Lines Thanked for Boosting Saint Lucia Recover

23 Santo Domingo Hosts 17th Annual FCCA Cruise Conference and Trade Show

29 Cruise Lines’ Purchasing of Caribbean Products Takes Center Stage at the FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show

33 Puerto Rico and San Juan: Gateway to the Caribbean

15Christmas Docks In the

Tropics

7 President’s Letter

9 Cruise Industry News & Platinum Highlights

56 Meetings and GreetingsWith the FCCA

CRUISINGTHE FLORIDA-CARIBBEAN CRUISE ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

FLORIDA-CARIBBEANCRUISEASSOCIATION Fourth Quarter 2010

Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA)11200 Pines Blvd., Suite 201, Pembroke Pines, FL 33026Phone: (954) 441-8881 • Fax: (954) 441-3171Website: www.f-cca.com • E-mail: [email protected] Magazine © 2010 ~ All Rights Reserved.Reproduction in whole or in part, in any form, electronic or otherwise, without written permission of the FCCA is prohibited.

To subscribe or change your address, please send requeststo [email protected]

The information in this publication is provided "as is." FCCA and its Member Lines disclaim all representations and warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to any information,services, products and materials contained herein. FCCA and its Member Lines will in no event be liable for any damage or losses as a result of your use of this publication.

FCCA Member LinesAIDA Cruises • Azamara Club Cruises • Carnival Cruise Lines • Celebrity Cruises • Costa Cruise Lines • Cunard Line

Disney Cruise Line • Holland America Line • MSC Cruises (USA) Inc. • Norwegian Cruise Line P&O Cruises • Princess Cruises • Royal Caribbean International • Seabourn

FCCA Staff

Departments

Features

SpotlightCover StoryExecutive Committee

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”-Peter Drucker

With the change of the year comes the prospect of our own

change. The blank slate of the fresh calendar offers a chance

to throw it all away, but we must not be distracted by these

delusions of destruction. Yes, we need to see the errors and

learn from our mistakes, but it is our business as usual that

has paved this path and will lead us to our destination.

It is not through sudden, drastic change that progress is

made, but through preparation and practice. We set a game

plan or make a diagram; we build on our current relationships

and expand our opportunities.

This edition of Cruising should show some of these plans

and relationships, along with their importance and incorporation into business models. Puerto Rico shares how

they are taking large steps to further increase their tourism by incorporating these aforementioned plans, just

in time for the 2011 FCCA Conference and Trade Show; Saint Lucia shows how beneficial and supportive

relationships can be through the assistance they received from Member Lines; Ensenada also highlights the

importance of partnerships in the help they received from FCCA’s Service Excellence Workshop; AON focuses

on the significance of preparation when it comes to insurance and disaster relief; and FCCA events, such as

the 2010 Conference and Trade Show; upcoming first annual Central America Conference; and Online

Auction, show some of the ways that the FCCA can be your partner.

I hope you can find something to inspire, assist or at least entertain you. May your year move swiftly and touch

down lightly.

Best regards,

Michele M. Paige

President, FCCA


(Left to right) Mario Gonzalez Lafuente, Executive

Director, Puerto Rico Tourism Company; Michele

M. Paige and Jaime Lopez, Chief Development

Officer, Department of Economic Development

and Commerce, Puerto Rico.

President’s Letter

Just outside Port Everglades, another getaway awaits, featuring dining, shopping, beaches and fun. Upgrade every cruise with a stay in Greater Fort Lauderdale.

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Where the best cruise ships launch and the greatest getaways begin.

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Fort Lauderdale Hollywood Dania Beach


Port of Los Angeles Completes One

Megawatt Solar Project on Rooftop

of World Cuise Center

The Port of Los Angeles recently com-

pleted its World Cruise Center solar

rooftop project, a 71,500 square foot,

one megawatt system capable of gener-

ating approximately 1.2 million kilo-

watt hours of electricity annually to the

Los Angeles Department of Water and

Power energy grid.

The solar photovoltaic installation,

which is expected to result in an annual

$200,000 energy cost savings to the

Port of Los Angeles, is the first phase of

a solar power program that will eventu-

ally provide the Port with 10 megawatts

of solar system generation capacity.

The $10.8 million project includes a

total of 1.16 million square feet of

rooftop solar panels, larger than the size

of a football field. Three additional

project phases are slated for completion

over the next five years.

Port Everglades 2010 Port of the Year

Seatrade Insider named Port

Everglades "Port of the Year" during

the 2010 Seatrade Insider Cruise

Awards ceremony at the historic Opera

House in Nice, France, on November

30. Seatrade presented the award to

Port Everglades for its improvements to

Cruise Terminal 18, which was devel-

oped through a public/private partner-

ship with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

to homeport the world’s largest cruise

ships, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of

the Seas. Port Everglades competed for

the award against the ports of ABP

Southampton and Le Havre, France.

Judges were comprised of executives

with experience in relevant areas, mem-

bers of Seatrade Insider's global editori-

al team, cruise consultants, analysts and

association experts from around the

world. Port Everglades recently com-

pleted a 15-year agreement with

Carnival Corporation that includes ren-

ovating four cruise terminals.

Cruise Lines Increase Vessel Calls

Through New Orleans

Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian

Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean

International Cruise Line have entered

into separate agreements with the Port

of New Orleans to homeport their

cruise vessels in New Orleans.

“These agreements confirm the Queen

City of the South, New Orleans, as a

major cruise destination and again

redefine the Crescent City as one of the

fastest growing cruise ports in the

world,” said Robert Jumonville, cruise

and tourism director for the Port of

New Orleans.

The Port anticipates 94 ship calls

carrying 513,000 passengers in

2010. Jumonville predicts ship

calls in the year 2011 will rise to

140, an increase of 53 percent, and

the number of cruise passengers

will hike up to 750,000, an increase

of 46 percent, all in just one year.

The Port is on track to exceed a 1

million passenger count by year

2012.

Guaymas Prepares For 2011 Cruise

Season

Guaymas is ready once again to wel-

come tourists from all around the

world to the new state of the art inter-

national cruise center with an innova-

tive Santa Fe style and magnificent

facilities, which include commercial

shops that offer regional tribal art

from Sonoran Artisans, the famous

Cortez Pearl Farm, “Bacanora” the

regional drink, Sonoran Craftworks,

original candy and an international

food restaurant bar.

Guaymas is an open window to the

world of many species and ecosystems

from the Sea of Cortez; it`s as close as

you can get to paradise.

Cruise Industry News & Platinum Highlights

That’s why luxury cruises like Azamara

Club Cruises of Royal Caribbean

Cruises Ltd., begin its arrivals to

Guaymas for the first time in 2011, and

Disney Cruise Line joins them in 2012

with the “Disney Wonder.”

Also continuing with the arrival pro-

gram, Holland America Line will begin

the cruise season with the cruise

“Zaandam” on January 6th of 2011. We

will continue working to provide an

unforgettable experience to our visitors,

as the new destination of the Sea of

Cortez.

Experience Playa Mia Grand Beach

Park

Playa Mia Grand Beach Park is one of

the main attractions on Cozumel Island

and is the most visited destination by

the cruise lines’ visitors due to the big

variety of activities and high quality

services that it offers.

With an extensive experience in han-

dling shore excursions, Playa Mia

offers a white sandy beach and crystal

turquoise waters, as well as private

facilities on the Mexican Caribbean,

creating an enjoyable, fun and relaxed

atmosphere.

Delight yourself with a worry free day

including more than 20 attractions and

services available for you, including the

non-motorized water toys, such as

kayaks, paddle boats, hammocks,

swimming pool and much more!

Live a memorable experience at the

Mexican Caribbean in the best beach on

Cozumel!

The PPI Group Re-launches

Websites, Joins Facebook and Twitter

The PPI Group, which specializes in

onboard and shoreside programs, cus-

tom publishing, and video production

for the cruise industry, has re-launched

its website, ppigroup.com. The site’s

new design features greater functional-

ity to explore services and allows

potential shipboard port & shopping

presenters to learn about and apply for

employment.

In addition, the company’s flagship

consumer cruise travel publication,

Porthole Cruise Magazine, has also re-

launched its website — porthole.com

— as part of the magazine’s 15-year

anniversary in 2011. Besides the re-

launch, Porthole will celebrate this

milestone with a Special Anniversary

Issue (March/April 2011), an industry

party in March in Miami, and other

promotions and events throughout

the year.

The PPI Group has also increased its

social media presence with Twitter and

Facebook accounts, providing even more

interaction with readers, clients, and

shipboard employees. Follow The PPI

Group at www.twitter.com/sellingatsea

and Porthole at www.twitter.com/port-

holecruise. And on Facebook, The PPI

Group’s page can be found at www.face-

book.com/theppigroup.

Martinique, a Call to Remember

The future is bright for the cruise sector

in Martinique. One of the few remain-

ing “undiscovered” yet completely

modern ports in the Caribbean for U.S.

cruise lovers, Martinique offers the

charm of France, plus an unmistakably

Caribbean Creole flair that’s impossible

to resist. Now, as the newest Platinum

member of the FCCA, the island stands

poised to serve cruise passengers, and

the cruise industry in general, as never

before.

Unique new attractions, like the aerial

paths at the Balata Garden, Segway

tours and the restoration of the La

Savane Park in downtown Fort-de-

France, will soon combine with an

expansion of the Tourelles Cruise

Terminal to accommodate today’s

largest ships and most discerning cruise

passengers in style and comfort.

10 Cruising Magazine • Fourth Quarter 2010


(From left to right) Karine Roy-Camille, Tourism Commissioner ofthe Martinique Tourism Authority; Jeanie Barru, Cruise department,Martinique Tourism Authority; Mr. Mike Ronan, VP GovernmentRelations, Caribbean Latin America & Asia, RCCL; Jacques Bajal,Cruise Department Manager, Martinique Tourism Authority at theFCCA conference in Santo Domingo.

Vibrant culture, exceptional cuisine,

modern infrastructure, inspiring natural

wonders – set sail to Martinique and

experience it all!

Dolphin Cove Expands Operations

Dolphin Cove, the premier marine park

in the Caribbean, recently expanded

their operations with a new location in

Lucea, Hanover. Called “Dolphin

Cove Negril”, this magnificent proper-

ty sits on 23 acres of sea front property

with three beautiful coves.

With Phase I now complete, one can

interact with the dolphins in the largest

lagoon in the world. Experience inti-

mate snorkeling; pet and hold

“debarbed” stingrays. Memories of a

lifetime are captured on video and

photographs. Great shopping is also

available in the ultra-modern gift

shops. Soon to be added will be the

thrilling shark encounter and camel

rides.

Dolphin Cove’s growth has been

phenomenal, and Jamaica’s west

will have the ultimate marquee

attraction. With it being listed

recently on the Jamaica Stock

Exchange, Dolphin Cove’s growth is

expected to continue.

New Taxi Regulations Now in Effect

in Antigua and Barbuda

Regulations controlling vending and

taxi operations in Heritage Quay, the

duty-free shopping zone of the St.

John’s cruise port, now require that all

operators be duly registered to ply their

trade. Effective November 22, the

Police can arrest without a warrant, any

unauthorized operator vending in the

area. Meanwhile, the St. John’s Taxi

Association has been recognized as the

sole authorized taxi operator within the

Heritage Quay area, while unauthorized

taxi operators and vendors have been

advised that they will no longer be

allowed to operate. Business owners

and the general public are encouraged

to park their vehicles in designated pri-

vate and public parking facilities.

Heritage Quay will also see an increased

police presence when cruise ships are in

port. Ultimately, the new regulations

will improve congestion, customer satis-

faction and the overall experience of vis-

itors to Antigua and Barbuda.

Quick Recovery for St. Vincent and

the Grenadines Cruise Terminal

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cruise

Ship Berth was not spared from the

relentless rains and winds of Hurricane

Tomas, which battered the island on

October 30, 2010.

The pier sustained minor damages.

Repairs and clean up had to be immedi-

ate to accommodate the calling of the

Grand Princess within forty eight hours.

In keeping with the Government’s ini-

tiative “Operation Recovery and

Reconstruction,” Senior Officials of the

SVGPA visited the Cruise Ship

Terminal soon after the passage of the

category one hurricane. The team

assessed the damages and outlined a

plan for restoration. This plan was

immaculately implemented; little evi-

dence of damage could be seen upon

the arrival of over 2,500 passengers and

crew on November 2, 2010 on the MV

Grand Princess. The crew donated food

and other supplies for persons in the

shelters. In addition, other cruise lines

affiliated to the FCCA donated supplies

to the island.

Enjoy a Day-Cation!

On the beautiful Island of Cozumel, on

and over the turquoise crystal clear

Caribbean waters of Mexico you will

find one of Jimmy Buffett’s best loca-

tions yet! Stunning views, the best

food, amazing cocktails and great

snorkeling and swimming right from

our sea deck. You will find a big dining

area and a great variety of live sports

broadcasting! Lie under the sun and

hold your hand up when you’re thirsty

or join in on the party action.



1 12/16/10 1:56 PM


In the Caribbean and Latin America, Christmas is not her-alded by a white cloud of fresh snowfall. Nor does Santatravel by sleigh to bear his gifts to the deserving children.

Instead, Old St. Nick can be found onboard a ship of one ofFCCA’s Member Lines, as Santa has been cruising to thesedestinations and delivering smiles and presents to thousandsof children for the past fifteen (15)years.

This year, close to 7,000 kids whowould not have had any presents undertheir Christmas trees (or a Christmastree, for that matter) in 33 destinationsthroughout the Caribbean and LatinAmerica were able to share in theyuletide festivities and joy because ofthis project put together by the FCCAFoundation, FCCA Member Lines and the efforts of manythroughout the destinations.Covadonga Gomez, director for the Hotels & TouristAssociations of Acapulco and one of those who assisted in

organizing the event in their destination, shared an anecdotethat displays the importance of this project: “I remember two(2) years ago, a 6-year-old child in his bed said to his moth-er when Santa gave him an action figure, ‘See, I told you heknew I was here.’ His mother later explained that due to hisillness and costs of treatment, she had told her son that Santa

would not be visiting him that year.”

As Ms. Gomez also said, “This wasthe best Christmas for many childrenand a great present for Acapulco. I amsure that these gifts made one of themost memorable days for many chil-dren and their families.” Indeed, thesignificance is pretty clear, and thehard work is rewarded through everysmile.

This is why all those who assist with this project are soimpassioned and excited to do so every year. Even cruisepassengers get swept up in the emotion. “One highlight thisyear was meeting a couple who were not crew on the ship but

Christmas Docks In the Tropics

actual guests who learnt that this was happening and gavetheir time to come ashore just for participation in this activi-ty,” told the permanent secretary of the Virgin Islands.

Carla Sinton, youth director of Carnival Valor, also sharedthis fervor and actually was grateful to assist: “Thank you somuch for letting us be part of this special day. We had a greattime interacting with the children & seeing their big brightsmiles. FCCA really is a wonderful organization doing amaz-ing things for so many children. I’m so glad we got to be partof that today.”

This enthusiasm was also experienced by Sharon Williams,cruise liaison officer, Jamaica Tourist Board: “On behalf ofour destination, Jamaica, a huge thank you to the FCCA foryour kind consideration to treat over 400 children in ourports. This gesture is very much appreciated, the CarnivalTeam, as usual was so very energetic, creative, and help-

ful. The day was filled with so much fun, frolic and excite-ment. It was just awesome. The little ones were so at homeonboard with Santa and the crew, you could tell that theywere definitely having fun.”

It would be difficult to not share the joy of the children asthey received gifts while knowing that they would not havehad this privilege without this project. It is too easy for someof us to take a “normal” Christmas for granted, but these chil-dren and participants truly enjoyed and appreciated everymoment and will cherish their gifts for time to come.

This is exactly why the FCCA Foundation exists—toimprove the lives of those less fortunate throughout theCaribbean and Latin America, primarily for children’s caus-es. Every smile is a reminder of this mandate and is morethan worth the $3 million provided for causes and projectslike these.

USA Tel: 212 867 2950 Canada Tel: 416 362 4242 UK Tel: 207 341 7000 France Tel: 33 1 48 25 74 60 Germany Tel: 49 69 89 00 9081 Head Office: Tel: 758 452 4094 Email: [email protected]

Eons before the arrival of Columbus, the Arawak Indians would make their ritual escape to the sacred pinnacles of the beautiful Pitons in the cool dawn. As their whispers flowed with the mystical trade winds weaving between the mountains, they would become one with the Great Spirit, and rejuvenation would begin... ...Live the Legend.

Legendary Saint Lucia

The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA)and its member lines were thanked for helping SaintLucia's tourism industry bounce quickly back from

the recent hurricane. Tourism authorities on the EasternCaribbean island—which for the fifth successive year wasrecently voted World's Leading Honeymoon Destination atthe World Travel Awards in the United Kingdom—reportthat without the generosity of the cruise industry, SaintLucia would not have returned to normalcy so quickly fol-lowing the passage of Hurricane Tomas, a Category 1storm, on October 30, 2010.

Numerous cruise liners sailed in needed support for SaintLucia's businesses and communities affected by HurricaneTomas, bringing in hundreds of tons of potable water forislanders, while the authorities completed important repairwork caused by landslides at the John Compton Dam. Taxidrivers, merchants, restaurants, and hotels/resorts were ableto resume their operations ahead of schedule because of thegenerosity of the cruise sector. "The quick action by thecruise lines was of enormous help for us and underscored thehuge value of tourism to our recovery efforts," said SaintLucia's Prime Minister Stephenson King, who reported SaintLucia's attractions re-opened quickly because of the cruiseindustry's commitment to the island.

Holland America's Noordam and P & O Cruises Oceana werethe first of many vessels to resume their visits one week afterthe storm, bringing thousands of passengers who were able toexperience the beauty of the island, which was featured onABC's hit series, The Bachelor, in 2010. The passengerswere cheered by the knowledge that, along with the imminent

beauty and wealth of offerings, the vessels also broughtclothing, food, furniture, mattresses, and sheets and blankets,which were distributed to communities in need.

"We are grateful to our cruise partners for their kindness, andthanks to the disaster preparedness of some of Saint Lucia'slarger hotels, not only were they able to supply their ownguests with safe water, but they were also able to share theirstored, purified and desalinated water with surrounding com-munities," reported Guy Joseph, Saint Lucia's Minister ofCommunications and Works.

"We are pleased that our Member Lines provided such sig-nificant assistance," said Michele Paige, FCCA's President."Saint Lucia has a long-standing relationship with the cruiseindustry, so we are glad we could help them rapidlyrebound," Paige added.

Saint Lucia's local private sector representatives were alsodelighted to welcome this important cruise intervention afterHurricane Tomas departed. In fact, the once strained rela-tionship between the cruise- and land-based sector was nowa thing of the past, according to McHale Andrew, ExecutiveVice President of the Saint Lucia Hotel and TourismAssociation (SLHTA). Speaking to reporters at the PointSeraphine Cruise Complex in Castries, Andrew thankedCaptain Karin Stahre-Janson of Royal Caribbean's Serenadeof the Seas, one of the cruise lines which donated urgenthumanitarian supplies, including 220 tons of potable water tothe nation. "Your support has helped sustain our vitaltourism industry - it keeps our doors open for business, ournationals employed, and will ensure a sustained economic


CRUISE LINES THANKED FOR BOOSTING

SAINT LUCIA RECOVERY

Tourism Minister Sees Deepening Of Relationship In 2011

...Live the Legend.

recovery of the island," said Andrew, who was impressed thatthe crew members rose to the challenge of reversing theship's pumps to channel water onshore. Normally, cruiselines receive water when they come into port.

Captain Stahre-Janson of Sweden said her cruise guests onboard the Serenade of the Seas enthusiastically responded tothe call during a cocktail reception the previous evening toassist Saint Lucian communities. "Through the grace ofGod, the amazing dedication of our communities, our gov-ernment, utility companies and the commitment of our indus-try partners, including our cruise industry friends, SaintLucia is already back, and we are stronger," assured SenatorAllen Chastanet, Saint Lucia's Minister of Tourism and CivilAviation, who greeted cruise passengers as they arrived inCastries after the storm.

The tourism minister said Saint Lucia looks forward to deep-ening its relationship with the growing cruise sector, whichcontinues to deliver immeasurable socio-economic benefitsto the country and the region. He said human resource devel-opment was a critical part of the nation's 2011 agenda and

was pleased to report the start of an educational projectspearheaded by New York's Monroe College, which has acampus on the island. Through theoretical and practicaltraining onshore and onboard, the project prepares SaintLucians for jobs and opportunities across the industry.

"We also look forward to introducing our spices, chocolates,arts and crafts aboard the cruise ships in the near future as weshowcase to passengers not only the breathtaking attractionsof our country but the creative competencies of our island'smanufacturers and exporters," said Senator Chastanet. Inspite of the challenges brought by the hurricane, Chastanetadded, "Saint Lucians remain buoyed by our collectiveresolve to resume business, to build better, and to continuestriving for excellence.”

Saint Lucia, blessed with undisputed beauty, warm hospital-ity and legendary attractions and experiences, is projectingcontinued growth in both its land- and cruise-based sectors in2011. There is little wonder why this "Helen of the West"was named Best Caribbean Island by the widely readPorthole Cruise Magazine.

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Ease of flights and a monumental location attractedmore than 1,000 delegates, cruise executives and dig-nitaries to the Dominican Republic for the Florida-

Caribbean Cruise Association’s 17th Annual Conference andTrade Show from October 25-29, 2010. First time visitors tothe Caribbean's second largest country were many, and therewas a decisively international flavor enhanced by the atten-dance of government leaders and ministers of tourism.

Followers of Christopher Columbus’ travels confirm thatSanto Domingo offers no finer tribute to the legendaryexplorer. Organized sightseeing tours afforded attendees acloser look at famed historic sites, as old as the 29 miles ofwalls surrounding the city—the oldest in the New World. Thecountry also has a lock on sports talent, grooming baseballgreats like Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa, two of thenumerous famous natives.

Some of the record-setters for this conference were 90Platinum guests converging to meet with cruise line execu-tives. “More cruise executives were hosting one-on-onemeetings this time,” summarized Jaime Lopez, chief devel-opment officer of the Puerto Rican Tourism Company. “Thatmade it very productive.”

Packed-house conference workshops and interactive paneldiscussions focused on destination development, insurance,emergency preparedness, and shore excursions. Panama’s

Minister of Tourism, Salomon Shamah, anchored a panel onimproving the appeal of destinations, a re-occurring confer-ence topic. He stated that 47 million Americans spend fournights a year outside the USA. “You cannot sell what is dif-ficult to create,” he told the standing-room-only audience.“Be authentic in the product you are trying to deliver. Thechallenge is connecting what you are with the passenger.”

Carnival Corporation's Giora Israel, senior vice president ofport development, stressed to the audience that cruise linesare not in the destination development business. "We are inthe vacation business," he said. "We serve 78,000 lobsters aweek, but that doesn't mean we should be in the fishing busi-ness. We want to invest in those things which make a differ-ence to the customers," he added. "We have to make our pas-sengers happy, not just the ones on tour."

Mr. Israel cited that 77 percent of his cruise line's revenue isticket sales. The other 23 percent is an "endless source ofother things," he said.

Michael Ronan, vice president government relations forRoyal Caribbean International, added his voice to the work-shops. "Nobody goes on a cruise to only visit one port," hesaid. "When it comes to differentiation, let's not forget the'human element,' which makes a destination memorable, likethe bagpipe player on the pier in Scotland. People can makea difference and make the differentiation for a destination."

By Chris Roberts

Santo Domingo Hosts 17th Annual

FCCA Cruise Conference and Trade Show


Far and near

Here are just as few developments discussed with cruiseexecutives during the one-on-one meetings:

Sarah Adams and managing partner, Pablo Rosenthal, trav-eled from London to introduce what they believe will becomethe bio-buzz of the Caribbean—Our Planet, a new interactiveenvironmental center planned for Saint Lucia. We will behearing more about “rain water harvesting.”

Officials from Ponce, Puerto Rico were promoting the conceptof branding their city's 300-year-old cultural richness. Locatedin the south of Puerto Rico, the city has 86 taxis, according togovernment spokesperson Carmen A. Martinez Aja.

Liz Gammon from Iceland wasn’t off course. She breezed into connect with cruise line executives who also handle callsin her home port of Reykjavik.

Oscar Ortiz with Cabo Expeditions in Baja California cameto promote his water sports in a destination that boasts a 15%annual growth rate of development.

Two representatives of ACP, the authority operating thePanama Canal, made the rounds promoting the $5.5 billionexpansion of the locks, scheduled for completion in 2014.The new locks will allow larger cargo and cruise ships tomake the transit.

Marco Mora, general manager for Costa Rica tour companyTAM, came to inform cruise planners about the new passen-ger airboat tour in Puerto Limon.

Steven Hites, president & director of St. Kitts Scenic

Railway, announced that five new train cars will be added inthe next four years. Plus, a new locomotive is being built inthe United States.

Colin Piper hit the ground running, touting his country—Dominica (please don’t confuse it with the DominicanRepublic). The head of Dominica’s tourism agency was inSanto Domingo to keep their tourism product in the fore-front. “When you think of the Caribbean, you think of thesun, sand and sea. We’re the rainforest paradise and nature,”said Mr. Piper, adding that Dominica expects to attract530,000 passengers in the coming year.

The Minister of Tourism for El Salavador, Lic. JoseNapoleon Duarte Duran, and his development manager Lic.Marta Cristina Morales, came to introduce their country'sassets and encourage more cruise lines to add El Salvador toPanama Canal itineraries. Did you know their currency is theUS dollar?

And in case the trend has not captured your attention yet,Paddle Boarding is growing in popularity. It is now a staplefor water sports rentals at Princess Cays, Princess Cruises'private island.

Other Conference Highlights

Key note speakers at the opening ceremony were KevinSheehan, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line and FCCAChairman, who welcomed the delegates, and Rick Sasso, pres-ident of MSC Cruises (USA) and Cruise Line InternationalAssociation's (CLIA) marketing committee. Mr. Sasso deliv-ered a visual presentation about how the cruise industry haschanged from the days of The Love Boat, now experiencing7.4 percent annual growth with a $40 billion economic impact.

Based on new-builds on order, between now and 2013, therewill be a new ship introduced every 62 days.

The largest number of participants to date assembled for the17th annual Trade Show to promote their destinations, prod-ucts and services. David and Elaine Dick have been partici-pating exhibitors for as many years as there have been tradeshows. "It's beneficial to our business of selling 'cool and hot'products," said Mr. Dick. He also commented that while traf-fic was good, "it would be interesting to invite local mediaand the general public to get more exposure, since this tradeshow is truly an international, special event."

Winners of the annual FCCA Essay Contest were heraldedduring the opening ceremony. Taya Russell, 10, fromFreeport, Bahamas, and Michael D. Vante, from St. Thomas,USVI, skillfully handled the topic: "What Can MyDestination Do to Become More Competitive in the GlobalTourism Market."

Sans Souci Ports, S. A. hosted conference participants withan extraordinary Welcome Party held at the Museum of the

Royal Homes (Museo de las Casas Reales), one of the mostinteresting sites of the Oldest City of the New World. Theevent was centered in this historic site, with 3 exciting areasand offered an unforgettable experience. Each area had livemusic as well as gourmet stations, specially designed byChef Philippe Mongereau, exclusively for all the FCCA par-ticipants. During the event, private guided tours were avail-able in the museum, and it was an interesting combination ofmodern décor with colonial beauty.

Anne Sommerfeld with Iberoservice in Spain described thegathering as magical and memorable: "This was the perfectlocation in the heart of the city. Historic characters of the erain their costumes mingled with guests, while the music andfood spoiled the senses."

The Dominican Republic Night Extravaganza, organized andsponsored by the Dominican Republic of Tourism, wasstaged in the decorated terminal facility at the port of SanSouci. Fine china and silverware, along with colorful center-pieces added a touch of glamour to the event, complimentedby the musical group "Rhodes Band."


the best way for their products and ser-

vices to be purchased for use on board

the cruise vessels. This rare opportuni-

ty to be face to face with such a power-

house of purchasing executives proved

to be one of the most valuable sessions

in the week for the vendors that partic-

ipated. “The mission of this directive is

not to simply sell a Caribbean supplier

a badge or booth space,” said Michele

Paige, president of the FCCA. “It is

also to help educate them on the funda-

mentals of how the cruise lines actually

purchase the goods and services that are

used on board.”

The roundtable discussion was alive

with interaction, and FCCA Purchasing

Chairman Alvin Dennis of Norwegian

Cruise Line explained the ABC’s of the

purchasing process to the various ven-

dors in the room. The discussion led by

Mr. Dennis detailed the methodology of

how the cruise lines go about purchas-

ing, covering a broad range of regula-

tions, practices and procedures.

Everything from USDA regulations to

how the products are delivered to the

ships was covered, leaving attendees

with a clear understanding of how they

should present their products in order

for them to be viable options for the

cruise lines to purchase.

“I believe this year’s purchasing initia-

tive was a successful step in the direc-

tion of bringing the FCCA Purchasing

Sector to the forefront of this associa-

tion,” said FCCA Purchasing Chairman

Alvin Dennis of NCL. “I have met with

various suppliers in attendance at this

event and hope that some real business

comes from these interactions.”

The FCCA plans to delve further into the

purchasing sector in 2011 and has

promised to develop more workshops, ses-

sions and dedicate even more tradeshow

space to the upcoming conference in

Puerto Rico. “This year has been just a

taste of what’s to come for the Caribbean

Suppliers interested in doing business with

the cruise lines,” said Michele Paige. “We

are very excited about further developing

the bridge between buyers and sellers

within the cruise industry.”


At the 2010 FCCA Cruise

Conference and Trade Show, the

FCCA reacted to the cruise

industry’s demand for a return to the con-

ference’s core roots and delivered a

strong purchasing presence to the fore-

front of the week’s activities. Headlined

by the Trade Show’s Caribbean

Purchasing Pavilion, which showcased

vendors and suppliers from various

Caribbean destinations and displayed

their goods and services to the purchas-

ing representatives amongst the atten-

dees, the initiative to reinvigorate the

FCCA’s core purchasing roots was

extremely successful. Purchasing execu-

tives from the 14 Member Lines, as well

as representatives from broad line dis-

tributors such as Sysco, Starboard and

Global Marine, were on hand and eager

to meet with and discuss potential busi-

ness with the suppliers there to see them.

The week’s purchasing activity also

saw a roundtable workshop, where ven-

dors and suppliers were encouraged to

interact directly with the purchasing

executives and come together to find

Cruise Lines’ Purchasing of Caribbean Products Takes Center

Stage at the FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show


RETHINKING INSURANCE FOR YOUR TOUR OPERATIONAn Annual Review of Aon’s FCCA Global Tour Operator Liability Insurance Program

as presented in the FCCA’s 17th Annual Conference & Tradeshow in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

You may be thinking, “I don’t really need insurance.” To that, we say: Most likely you do, and for reasons other than meeting cruiseline contract requirements.

The intent of the FCCA Global Tour Operator Program is to protect passengers, tour operators and cruise lines. Accidents and dis-asters can and do happen, and if your business is not adequately insured, it could lead to financial hardship when your operation isdeemed unsafe and tours are discontinued. In most cases, injured passengers seek damages from the tour operator and cruise line.Inevitably, any negative publicity affects the cruise and tour operator industries, resulting in a decline in passenger demand for tours.

A review of claims involving injury to cruise line passengers set the tone for Aon’s insurance workshop during the FCCA’s 17thAnnual Conference & Tradeshow in Santo Domingo.

Noted panelists included cruise line executives, Aon and Chartis team members, and Jerry Hamilton, litigation expert in maritimeclaims with Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel, LLP.

Aon opened the session by discussing the benefits of participating in Aon’s Global Tour Operator Liability Program and outliningyear one program accomplishments. Overall, program benefits remain unchanged year over year and are as follows:• Program access for all FCCA members • Insurer that has the financial stability to respond to catastrophic claims• Insurer that is committed to the cruise line and tour operator industries• Coverage for a full range of tour activities• Worldwide coverage to include U.S. jurisdiction • Meets the insurance coverage standards of FCCA member lines• Creates a formal partnership between the FCCA, tour operators, and underwriters• Safety and loss control strategies geared toward improving the overall risk profile of the group leading to premium decreases over time• The most competitive premiums available, given the risk profile of group and long-term sustainability of the program

The workshop covered important topics, such as policy premiums, primary/local policies, safety credits, and implementation ofwaivers for all tour activities. Panelists stressed the importance of waivers and provided sample waiver language for member oper-ators to review in greater detail with a legal advisor in their local jurisdiction.

Chartis WorldSource reviewed the claims reporting guidelines and discussed the importance of reporting incidents in an accurateand timely manner to both Chartis and the primary/local insurer. Chartis also shared their experience in managing internationalliability programs from a servicing and claims standpoint.

During the session, Aon and Chartis expressed ongoing commitment to transparency extending to claims and all other aspects ofthe program, such as premium and underwriting. As such, the team released a comprehensive analysis of 2010 program losses,including data on frequency, severity, and exposing high risk areas.

Looking forward to 2011, loss control strategies will again focus on reducing the claim frequency and severity of the program.Continued emphasis will be placed on identifying best practices for transportation providers and the management of subcontract-ed operations. Among the various safety and loss control initiatives discussed, implementation of waivers generated greatestinterest among member operators.

We look forward to continue serving the FCCA and its members and building a long term successful insurance program.

For additional information on the FCCA Global Tour Operator Program, contact Hellen Mena - 305.961.6231 - [email protected]

Just Ask The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association.Aon focuses on delivering value and impact to all our clients, and as a result, Aon is the world’s leading broker of insurance services.

Just ask the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association. As the FCCA’s endorsed broker for the Global Tour Operators Liability Insurance Program, Aon delivers value in a variety of areas, including:

• General Liability / Third-Party Liability Coverage

• Contingent Auto Liability Coverage

• Contingent Watercraft Liability Coverage

• Claims Consulting Services

• Loss Control Services

With more than 40 Aon and Aon A�liate o�ces located throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, we stand ready to serve the needs of the FCCA membership.

To inquire about Aon services for FCCA Members, contact: Hellen Mena Savitt, Aon Risk Services, p: +1.305.961.6231, e: [email protected]

Expertise.

Few places on Earth can boast ofhaving the combination of natu-ral beauty and urban attractions

that Puerto Rico has. While the entireisland offers a rich bounty of Nature’sbeauties, San Juan offers attractions asdiverse as its five hundred year old city,museums, galleries, shopping centersand excellent restaurants. Moreover,Puerto Rico has a key geographicallocation that makes it the gateway tothe southern and eastern Caribbean.Puerto Rico is a quality destination andits quality proposition is a comprehen-sive one, encompassing our people; ourproducts, our services, our ecosystemand our lifestyle.

This year, as we host the annualFlorida-Caribbean Cruise Association’sConference and Trade Show, we hopethat those of you that are attending theConference can also come to know usas a destination that can contribute togrowing your business.

Growth & Development Strategies

Puerto Rico has worked hard to contributeto the cruise ship industry, and we arealready seeing results from a multi-yeargrowth and development strategy. Thisstrategy seeks to facilitate everyone’sgrowth by reinforcing major initiativesthat ultimately benefit the entire sector.

First, we have improved air access tothe island, which has resulted in addi-tional frequencies and new routesfrom cruise feeder markets. We havealso devoted time and energy toimproving the passenger’s experienceby providing more information andpromotional materials on the destina-tion for passengers.

In product enhancement, we havedeveloped a new operational plan andbroadened the available excursions forpassengers, thanks to the introductionof new attractions, such as the ToroVerde ecological adventure, where visi-tors glide through a rainforest canopy


Puerto Rico and San Juan:

Gateway to the Caribbean

on a lengthy cable system, providingthem with a real bird’s-eye view of thetreetops and their ecology. For chil-dren, we also have a new NaturalHistory Museum and the Punto Verdeeco-park, where they can learn aboutnature and how we can best preserveand protect our natural environment.These new attractions only add to theexperience of visiting El YunqueRainforest, the only tropical rainforestin the U.S. Forest Service system.

Puerto Rico has also embarked on amulti-year redevelopment program forthe San Juan Waterfront, which willprovide any number of new attrac-tions, hotels, parks, and trails forpedestrians and bicyclists, while alsointerconnecting the waterfront withthe old city, the Convention CenterDistrict and the Condado area. Thisprogram will enhance the historicalOld San Juan, described by CondeNast as a “treasure in a teacup” andrecognized by Travel and LeisureMagazine as one of the preferredtourism cities among travelers.

We have also formed different strategicalliances that benefit the cruise shipindustry. Of particular importance inthis regard, we have entered a

Memorandum of Understanding withseveral Caribbean islands to identifyinitiatives to promote homeports fromSan Juan. We entered into a partnershipwith the Florida-Caribbean CruiseAssociation and are expanding our rela-tionships with individual cruise compa-nies to promote more home port visitsand extend passengers’ length of stay.

New Cruise Ships Serving Puerto

Rico

San Juan is currently served by 12cruise lines and is home port to six ofthem. While Puerto Rico’s cruise shipbusiness has matured over time, there isstill much room for growth. The islandhas seen a 34% increase in home portpassengers. The forecast for 2011 isthat total visitors will grow by 8%, thefirst overall industry increase in fiveyears. We are the main homeport facil-ity in the Caribbean, receiving half amillion homeport passengers per yearfor a total of 1.2 million passengers peryear. Additionally, we are the best-pre-pared destination in the region for pro-visioning cruise ships.

Air access is one of the greatest advan-tages we have as a homeport. By beingthe gateway to the southern and eastern

Caribbean, Puerto Rico makes it fareasier for cruise lines to reach the otherislands, given the shorter traveling dis-tances and subsequent savings in fuel.As a transit destination, we also havedistinct advantages, in that PuertoRico’s overall destination offer is thebest in the Caribbean, given our diver-sified land product and superior infras-tructure. And our proximity to otherislands makes Puerto Rico an easy stop.

This year, Puerto Rico is glad to receivenewly built ships that have includedSan Juan in their itineraries. The newlybuilt cruise ships visiting Puerto Ricothis year include the Celebrity Eclipse,the Nieuw Amsterdam, the MSCMagnifica and the Silversea SilverSpirit.

Industry Incentives

Puerto Rico has developed what hasbecome the standard incentives modelfor the cruise ship industry in theCaribbean. The incentives law estab-lishes a fund to promote the island’scruise ship industry, providing cruiselines with incentives for provisioninglocally, for increasing the volume ofpassengers visiting the island, a desti-nation incentive, a frequent visit or


homeport incentive and a transit incen-tive, among others.

These incentives are from a joint fundthat operates with $5 million from thePuerto Rico Tourism Company andanother $4 million from the centralgovernment’s General Fund.

Expanding Port Visits

Mayagüez and Ponce are also beginningto attract cruise ship visits. As PuertoRico’s principal port in the western endof the island, Mayagüez has made majorimprovements to its port facilities andoffers visitors easy access to the island’sprincipal surfing destinations. Ponce israpidly becoming a major trans-ship-ment port in the Caribbean, yet is alsoan especially attractive tourist destina-tion, given the city’s extraordinaryXVIII and XIX Century architecture,

the world-renowned Ponce Art Museumand attractions such as Hacienda BuenaVista, an outstanding example of a XIXCentury coffee plantation with a stillworking, water-driven mechanized pro-cessing facility.

We are also redeveloping the formernaval base at Roosevelt Roads. Thebase will become a major resort andresidential area, and its port will pro-vide cruise ship visitors with easyaccess to the island’s eastern end and itsvarious attractions, including the outly-ing islands of Vieques and Culebra.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that the cruise markethas a significant economic impact onPuerto Rico, or that the island is goodfor the cruise ship business. The cruiseindustry generates close to five thou-

sand jobs and has an impact of morethan $240 million annually on theisland’s economy. Further, we knowthat the cruise ship visitor is a captivemarket for promoting land stays, as62% of cruisers that explore a vacationdestination return to it as stay-overguests. Homeport passengers have anaverage pre/post stay of almost twonights in San Juan. And cruise shippassenger expenditures in San Juanhave an economic impact of over $180million per year.

These figures are just a glimpse of howwe all benefit from the cruise ship indus-try and the promise Puerto Rico holdsfor the industry’s future growth. Welook forward to meeting with FCCA’smembers during next year’s Conferencein San Juan, where we’ll be proud tohave you enjoy Puerto Rico and discov-er how Puerto Rico does it better.

In May of 2011, the Florida Caribbean-Cruise Associationwill focus its attention on one of the cruise industry’smost rapidly emerging markets, Central America. The

FCCA is creating a specialized forum where the cruise indus-try can meet to discuss individual issues that affect the 7countries making up Central America—Belize, Costa Rica,El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama—along and Colombia. The FCCA will launch its first annualFCCA Central American Cruise Conference to cater specifi-cally to the unique needs and goals that the destinations ofCentral America have.

The FCCA Central American Cruise Conference will takeplace in San Pedro Sula, Honduras in 2011. “Roatan,Honduras’ main port of cruise arrivals will have the second-highest cruise in calls in all of the Americas, second only toCozumel, Mexico, by 2012,” said Michele Paige, presidentof the FCCA. “This made our decision to name Honduras ourfirst host destination a rather easy one.”

Central America is still relatively new to the cruise indus-try, and this conference aims to play an integral role in thegrowth and strengthening of the market. From to 2005-2010, Central America’s cruise market saw a 29%increase in passenger calls, an alarmingly high growthpercentage, which proves a further confidence in thehealth of this market and the need to learn from thewealth of information and experience that the FCCA andits partners has to offer.

The FCCA anticipates over 300 delegates, along with rep-resentation from all 14 of the Member Lines. Registrationwill only be open to public and private sectors fromCentral America and Colombia to ensure that the focusremains solely on the issues that they face. For more infor-mation on or to register for this conference, you can con-tact James Kazakoff, senior director, event operations, [email protected].


FCCA’s First Ever Central American Cruise

Conference Seeks to Help an Emerging Cruise

Product Actualize and Maximize Its Benefits

Passenger Arrivals & Cruise Calls

2005/2010 Comparison

Celebrity’s new Eclipse incorpo-

rates its past successes of the

Solstice class, which includes

Solstice and Equinox and feature mag-

nificent vistas and 85% of all state-

rooms with sweeping veranda view,

along with the impressive passenger-to-

space ratio established for the class and

the focus on passenger flow to serve all

guests fully, courteously and timely.

Other remnants of the Solstice class

include AquaSpa and AquaClass (a

fully equipped spa and specially creat-

ed stateroom experience); the Lawn

Club (a half-acre grass packed top

deck); the Hot Glass Show (a glass-art

studio adjacent to the Lawn Club that

provides glassblowing demonstra-

tions); the Martini Bar and Crush; the

Ensemble Lounge; Michael’s Club and

the Deck 4 Entertainment Court, which

acts as a secondary atrium, gathering

place and open entertainment area.

There are several new innovations

onboard Eclipse, like is its wholly new

dining alternative—Qsine. This dining

venue developed by Jacques Van

Staden offers a unique and playful

approach to familiar dishes from

around the world. It takes common

food and changes its recipe and presen-

tation into something that truly is

“Uniquely Unordinary.” For instance, a

simple order of meatballs at Qsine will

yield a trio of Kobe beef with cheddar

cheese and marinara sauce, veal with

mushrooms and marsala sauce and

turkey meatballs with cranberry sauce

and sage gravy; Popcorn Fish comes as

bite-sized battered and fried codfish in

a popcorn box; spring rolls are served

on bouncy springs.

Plenty of other dining options—from

full dinner to coffee and gelato—are

also scattered around the ship, such as

the main dining room, the Moonlight

Sonata Restaurant; the Oceanview Café,


Celebrity Adds to the Solstice Class with Eclipse

which offers buffets and casual dinners;

an outdoor grill for burgers and fries;

AquaSpa Café for lighter fare; Café al

Bacio, which has a menu of coffees and

pastries; the Gelateria; and Bistro on

Five, serving crepes, paninis and salads.

The specialty restaurants are Qsine;

Murano, the French/continental top-of-

the-line venue; Tuscan Grille, an Italian-

themed steakhouse; and Blu, a private

dining room reserved for passengers

booked in AquaSpa cabins.

Eclipse also incorporates Celebrity and

Apple’s new iLounge SM, a hip and

modern Internet café offering passen-

gers easy access to the Internet, the lat-

est gadgets and inspiring classes. On

the Eclipse, this takes form as twenty-

six (26) workstations arranged to face a

56-inch flat-screen teaching monitor

that features Apple-trained Celebrity

techs that teach classes for iPhoto,

iMovie and iWeb. It will also have a

store selling iPods, MacBooks and

accessories and on-hand techs to assist

passengers with hardware and software

issues, including help accessing

devices and websites while onboard.

Windows workstations will also be

available.

The Celebrity Eclipse Theatre will be

the premier live venue performance

venue on Eclipse. It will accommo-

date a large audience and provide a

comfortable, intimate atmosphere in

which to enjoy production shows,

beautiful music arrangements and

original comedy shows. Other unique

features, like Cellar Masters and its

tour, tasting and education of a large

variety of wines from around the

world, really separate the innovative,

high-class and high-energy ideas that

are separating Celebrity from its

competition.

Continuing on the tradition of the

Solstice class, inside cabins only

account for 10%, and of the 90% of

ocean view accommodations, almost

all of them have verandahs; only 70

outside rooms do not. The interior uti-

lizes space well and has created extra

space in the bathroom by rearranging

the plumbing inside the walls. The

two (2) Penthouse suites provide a

389 square foot haven complete with a

living room/dining room, full bar, two

52-inch flat-screen TV’s and a baby

grand piano. There are 64 other levels

of suites ranging from 300-590 square

feet. The 130 AquaClass staterooms

include an extended range of spa-ori-

ented cosmetics, gels and bath prod-

ucts; upgraded linens; Frette robes

and slippers; healthy snacks and bev-

erages served daily; exclusive room

service menu of salads, whole grains

and healthy dining choices; and

access to Blu.

Plenty of options are available onboard

for children, such as the basketball

court; video arcade; Shipmates room (a

play area for kids aged 3-5); Fun

Factory (ages 6-11); X-Club (hangout

for 12-17 year olds); organized activi-

ties broken into five age groups:

Shipmates (3-5), Cadets (6-8), Ensigns

(9-11), Tweens (12-14) and Teens (15-

17). People of any age can enjoy the

Movie Theater, tennis court, 3 pools

and fitness center. Those of age can

enjoy Quasar, the nightclub, Fortunes

Casino, Passport Bar and many other

options. Eclipse offers 418 cabins that

accommodate three or four persons and

121 cabins with connecting doors.

Eclipse truly finds a way to be large yet

intimate and populated while never

seeming crowded. Plan the vacation of

the lifetime aboard Eclipse as it makes

its way throughout the Mediterranean

& Canary Islands; Northern Europe,

Scandinavia & Russia; Paris &

London; and more.


The Yachts of Seabourn has recently undergone a pro-ject to increase its capacity by more than 200 percentthrough the addition of three ships: Seabourn Odyssey

(released June 2009), Seabourn Sojourn (released June 2010)and Seabourn Quest (being released Spring 2011).

Reflecting the rest of the fleet, all three are ultra-luxury, all-suite vessels accented by extraordinary levels of personalizedservice, with nearly one staff member per guest. The smallestvessels currently under construction by a major cruise line,all three new additions make the most of their intimate scale,with yacht-like atmospheres and the ability to access uncom-mon and interesting destinations. Virtually identical fromstern to stern, each new addition to the Seabourn fleet carriesa maximum of 450 travelers. Each vessel offers all-suiteaccommodations, menus by renowned celebrity Chef CharliePalmer and an open-bar policy throughout.

Seabourn Sojourn boasts 225 superbly appointed luxurysuites, ninety percent of them (197) with verandas. Suites arespacious, with 13 categories ranging in size from 295 to1,182 square feet of indoor space. Verandas add an addition-al 65 to 505 square feet of outdoor living area, spaciousenough for private al fresco dining. All suites have expansiveocean views framed by either a picture window or the glassdoors of the veranda.

Guests can enjoy comfortable living areas and one queen-size or two twin beds. Suites are outfitted with walk-in clos-et with personal safe, interactive flat-screen TV with musicand movies, makeup vanity, and comfortably sized granite

bathroom with separate bath and shower, soaps by Hermesand L’Occitane and bath products by Molton Brown. A per-sonal bar and refrigerator are stocked according to guest pref-erences, coordinated before arrival. All suites are maintainedto the highest order by personal suite stewardesses who set awelcome scene with touches such as drawing a warm scent-ed bath from the Pure Pampering therapeutic bath menu uponrequest or sprinkling rose petals on the bed at night.

A new feature of Seabourn’s new yachts is Seabourn Square,an innovative concierge lounge inviting guests to accessevery shipboard service in a relaxed, living-room atmospheredesigned to encourage sociability. The Square includes alibrary, upscale shops, an outdoor terrace and a coffee bar, aswell as concierges ready to respond to every request.

Six lounges and bars invite guests to gather throughout the dayand evening to share laughter, drinks and tales of the day’s adven-tures. An open-bar policy ensures there are no chits to sign. And,of course, gratuities are neither required nor expected.

During the day, lounge poolside while savoring a frozen fruitsorbet, a beverage of your choice and a chilled towel.Challenge other guests to a game of bridge or enjoy a cook-ing demonstration with the chef. Water-ski or sea kayak fromthe onboard marina, or savor Caviar in the Surf, deliveredwith Champagne on a surfboard bar.

The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down, as eachevening offers an array of entertainment options. There’s asix-piece band and cabaret in the Grand Salon; blackjack and


The Yachts of Seabourn Grows Its Line but Stays True to Its Roots


other gaming in the casino, classical guitar in the ObservationBar, and dancing in The Club nightly. The Yachts of Seabournalso offer classic and first-run movies during Movies Underthe Stars, complete with popcorn. Then there is Dessert Underthe Stars, with fine treats from the chef. And on special nights,a romantic evening of Dancing Under the Stars.

Each of the new Yachts of Seabourn offers a sanctuary of healthand fitness known as The Spa at Seabourn – each spanning twodecks, the largest on any ultra-luxury vessel at 11,400 square feet.

One highlight of the new spa is a Spa Villa located on Deck10. The spa villa is available for guests to book along withtheir treatments, and features a treatment area large enoughfor duet treatments, complete with shower; a bathtub bigenough for two; a private balcony for sunbathing; a full liv-ing room area; a double daybed for relaxing and even a din-ing area where healthy snacks can be enjoyed.

The two-deck spa features seven treatment rooms on Deck 9,including a “Garden Villa” room with a spa tub on the bal-cony and two treatment beds for indoor or outdoor partnermassages and a “dry float” room with a heated waterbed-likedevice that is used in treatments such as seaweed wraps andother rejuvenating body wraps.

A unique feature of the relaxation area is a Kneipp WalkPool. This shallow, circular pool is separated into regions ofvery warm and chilled water. By walking around the pool, thecombination of changing pressures, temperatures and motionimproves capillary circulation, aiding in the cleansing of tox-ins, increasing hormonal balance and reducing stress. This isespecially beneficial to guests who have recently made longflights, which are known to create increased risks in the cap-illary system in the legs.

The spa also features an outdoor deck space for spa guests torelax in the sun, a relaxation room with heated loungers, twounisex herbal steam/sauna rooms, and also separate steamrooms and saunas in each of the men’s and women’s areas.

The fitness room features cardio and strength equipment, astudio for fitness classes, a Kinesis Wall and an area for Thaimassages. A full-service salon offers a full range of services,including a “nail buff bar” which serves as a social area offer-ing manicures and pedicures, smoothies and other drinks.

Guests can indulge from a collection of treatments gleanedfrom ten Eastern cultures, from Chinese reflexology to aro-matherapy. Expert therapists will custom design treatments tomatch guests’ desires. Personal trainers are available to devel-op a customized workout plan using state-of-the-art fitnessequipment, including cardio, strength and weight training.

The world is Seabourn’s port of call, with more than 220

destinations including:

Europe: Greece, Turkey, Dalmatian Coast, Italy, France,Scandinavia, Russia, British Isles, Norwegian Fjords,Mediterranean, Red Sea, Spain, Rivers of Western Europe,Slovenia, Portugal

North America and The Caribbean: Barbados, Antigua,B.V.I., Puerto Rico, Martinique, St. Lucia, Grenada, St.Vincent, Grenadines, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.,Guadalupe

Asia: Thailand, Vietnam, India, China, Singapore, Malaysia,Sri Lanka, Africa and The Middle East: Egypt, Jordan, Oman,United Arab Emirates South & Central America: Argentina,Peru, Ecuador, Uruguay, French Guiana, Chile, Panama,

Belize, Costa Rica, The Amazon.

For its first time, the port of Ensenada, in Baja

California, Mexico, has just completed training work-

shops focused in excellence customer service and an

important overview of the state of the cruise industry.

More than two hundred taxi drivers, tour-operators, tourist

vendors & shops, tour guides, hotel, bar and restaurant oper-

ators and employees were trained in service’s best practices

by two workshops at San Nicolas Hotel & Casino, Ensenada,

on December 7th, 2010.

The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), by

request from the Ensenada Cruise Committee, in conjunction

with Baja Secretary of Tourism, the Ensenada Convention

and Visitors Bureau, and the Chamber of Commerce, orga-

nized a successful series of workshops: Taxi Pride Program

and Service Excellence Program, both offered by Mr. Adam

Ceserano, Vice President of FCCA (Miami, Florida) and

George Orellana, trainer.

In the official opening ceremony, the Secretary of Tourism of

Baja California, Mr. Juan Tintos Funcke, expressed that these

courses form part of a series of actions for the tourist sector,

with the aim to improve the competitiveness of Ensenada and

to recover the tourism of Cruises in the port of Ensenada.


Ensenada Offered FCCA’s

Service Excellence Programs


Both workshops, “Taxi Pride Program” and “Service

Excellence”, were directed to taxi and bus drivers, transport

operators, specialized tourist guides, hotel, restaurants and

shops staff with first hand contact with cruise passengers, in

order to provided practical experience, instruction of training

and information to show ways to improve service to cruise

passengers, focusing in commitment, professionalism and

customer service values.

At the same time, attendees learned more about the state of

the cruise industry, statistics, motivations and habits of cruise

passengers, in order to continue working in improving and

achieving the differentiation of Ensenada as a better cruise

option.

Mexico is an outstandingly beautiful country with deep

history and culture, and the authorities are working to let

visitors know its grand mixture of the best to offer in each of

the country’s port destinations that received cruise passengers.

Therefore, Ensenada is making strategic alliances with other

destinations with which it shares cruise ship routes, as well as

marketing and promoting activities in Long Beach Cruise

Terminal, where homeport operations are based for Ensenada

itineraries. Locally, the distribution of tourist guides and the

projection of promotional videos on board cruise ships will

prepare visitors for what to expect.

In addition, promotional campaigns are being developed,

focusing on promoting cruise passenger return, to repeat the

experience moving through other means and extending their

stay for more days.

Each year, approximately one half million cruise ship

passengers experience this thriving seaport’s incomparable

hospitality that is seeped in tradition and flavored with a

cosmopolitan twist. Enhancing Ensenada’s warm and friendly

ambience are its exceptional shopping, outstanding dining,

diverse recreational activities, and rich array of natural, his-

torical, and cultural attractions. Located 60 nautical miles

south of San Diego, Ensenada has been one of Mexico’s top

three most visited ports-of-call for major international cruise

lines for more than 25 years. Cruise ship calls are delivered

by top international cruise lines, such as Carnival Cruise

Lines, Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises,

Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises, among others.

With regular weekly itineraries departing from Los Angeles,

Long Beach and San Diego, and including ports of call like

Catalina Island, Cabo San Lucas and Hawaii, this is certainly

a well-traveled destination.

Cruise ship passengers who wish to avail themselves of guided

tours can choose from a variety of 16 affordable 3-6 hour

shore excursions that include championship golf, horseback

riding, ocean kayaking, off-road adventure expeditions, and

wine country experience with world class gastronomy for

unique pairing (Ensenada’s Wine Country produces nearly

90% of Mexico’s grapes and wines). Other excursions

feature tours of the landmark Riviera Civic, Social and

Cultural Center, a former hotel and gambling casino built in

the 1930s; Bodegas de Santo Tomás, Baja California’s oldest

winery founded in 1888; La Bufadora, a remarkable natural

blowhole that spews seawater and foam high into the air; the

legendary Hussong’s Cantina, museums; several fine art

galleries; a civic plaza; a waterfront boardwalk and park;

sport fishing docks; marinas; the largest open-air seafood

market in northern Baja California; and many more exciting

experiences. Cruise Ensenada!

For more information: www.proturismoensenada.org.mx

www.enjoyensenada.com

In its fifth year, 2010’s edition of the annual FCCA Online

Auction produced more than $20,000 for the FCCA

Foundation and its efforts to improve the lives of those

less fortunate throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.

Since its inception, the Foundation has contributed over $3

million and assisted thousands of lives.

It is through events like these that the Foundation is able to

produce the funds used to help those in need via efforts like

the Holiday Gift Project, disaster relief and much more. And

it is because of our benefactors that these events are made

possible. Without the donations from our generous and car-

ing members, this auction would never have come to fruition.

So it is with an open heart and the utmost appreciation that

we—the FCCA—and the thousands of those in need

throughout the Caribbean and Latin America would like to

thank the following companies for their contributions:

Royal Caribbean International: 7-Night Alaskan Cruise for 2

Celebrity Cruises: 7-Night Caribbean Cruise for 2

MSC Cruises (USA): 7-Night Caribbean Cruise for 2 in a

Balcony Stateroom

Carnival Cruise Lines: 7-Day Cruise for 2 in Ocean View Cabin

Princess Cruises: 7-Day Caribbean Cruise for 2

Disney Cruise Line: 3-Night Bahamian Cruise for 2 Aboard Disney

Dream

Belize Tourism Board; Hugh Parkey’s Belize Adventure

Lodge; and Bak-a-Bush Adventures: 8 Day/7 Night

Hotel/Tour Adventure Package for 2 in Belize

Go With Gus Tours and Posada el Delfin: 5 Day/4 Night All-

Inclusive Package for 2 in Livingston, Guatemala

Aruba Cruise Tourism; Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino;

and L.G. Smith’s Steak & Chop House: Weekend Getaway

for 2 in Aruba—Spend One Perfect Weekend on One Perfect

Island

Virgin Excursions LLP & Virgin Port Services and The Inn at

BlackBeard’s Castle: 4-Night Stay for 2 in a King Room at

The Inn at BlackBeard’s Castle

Goddards Shipping & Tours, Hilton Barbados; Courtesy

Rent-a-Car; Aerial Trek, Segway Barbados; Cockspur Beach

Club; and Barbados Concorde Experience: 5-Night

Hotel/Tour/Car Rental Package for 2 in Barbados

CCS Tours: One-Week Villa Vacation for 8 in Montego Bay,

Jamaica

Martinique Tourism Authority and Carib Recept- Karukera

Tours: 5-Night Hotel/Tour Package in Martinique

Coordinacion de Servicios Maritimos; Posada del Hidalgo

Hotel; Misión Hotel; Mirador Hotel; and Santa Anita Hotel:

4-Night/4 Train Hotel Exploration and Train Ride through

Copper Canyon, Mexico

Port of Cartagena; Capilla del Mar: 4-Night Stay for 2 at

Capilla del Mar in Cartagena, Colombia

Atlantis Bahamas: 3-Night, 2 Person Stay and Play at Rotyal

Towers, Atlantis, Paradise Island

Sand Dollar Sports and Wyndham Resort & Spa, Cozumel: 7

Days/6 Nights for 2 at the Adults-Only, All-Inclusive

Wyndham Resort and Spa, Cozumel, and $450 Tour Voucher

Honduras Tourism Board and Anthony’s Key Resort: 7-

Night, All-Inclusive Package for 2 at Anthony’s Key Resort,

Roatan, Bay Islands Honduras


FCCA Online Auction Again Generates

Philanthropy Money for the FCCA Foundation


El Cid Resorts and Fly High Zip Line Cozumel: 2 All-

Inclusive Nights for 2 at Hotel Marina El Cid Spa & Beach

Resort at Puerto Morelos, Mexico

Colon 2000; El Panama Hotel; Gamboa Resort; and Playa

Blanca Resort: 6 Nights Throughout Panama with Tours

Cruise Ship Excursions; Frenchman’s Reef and Morning Star

Marriott Beach Resort; Pesce; Café Amici; and the Cellar: 4-

Night Stay for 2 in St. Thomas’ Frenchman’s Reef and

Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, Tours from Cruise Ship

Excursions and Dining from Pesce, Café Amici and the

Cellar

Discover Mexico Park and Presidente InterContinental

Hotels: 2-Night Stay for 2 in Ocean View Room at Presidente

InterContinental Cozumel, Mexico & 2-Night Stay for 2 in a

Superior Room at Presidente InterContinental Guadalajara,

Mexico

Tropical Tours and Royal Villas Resort, Mazlatan: 7 Nights

for 2 in a Junior Suite

Tropical Tours and Ramada Resort, Mazlatan: 3-Night Stay

Tropical Tours and Las Flores Beach Resort, Mazlatan: 4-

Night Stay for 2 in Suite

Tropical Tours and Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay Resort & Spa

of Mazlatan, Mexico: 3-Night Stay in Junior Suite

Tropical Tours and Hotel Playa Mazlatan: 3-Night Stay for 2

Tropical Tours and Olas Altas, Mazlatan: 2-Night Stay


(Left to right) Stephen A. Nielsen, Vice President, Caribbean & Atlantic Shore Operations, Princess Cruises; Raul Candelario,

Executive Director of the Treasury Commission, House of Representatives, Puerto Rico; Jaime Lopez, Chief Development

Officer, Department of Economic Development and Commerce, Puerto Rico; Michel M. Page, FCCA; Mario Gonzalez

Lafuente, Executive Director, Puerto Rico Tourism Company; David A. Candib, Director, Business Development, Carnival

Corporation; Frederico Gonzalez-Denton, Director, Government & Community Relations, Latin America & the Caribbean,

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Miguel Diaz, Maritime Director, Port Authority of Puerto Rico.

fcca cruising magazine 4th quarter 2010

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