The Possibilities are Virtually Endless
March 23, 2005
From ice skating rinks and rock climbing walls, to lavish onboard spas and some of the most extravagant entertainment venues ever conceived, cruise ships today are certainly far exceeding the expectations of some critics that once viewed cruising as a relatively boring and uneventful way to travel. Industry pioneers have not only silenced the nay-sayers, but the newest and most innovative ships sailing today now travel to more spectacular destinations that ever, and offer more fine amenities and onboard activity options than many of the most outstanding land-based vacation resorts.
With cruising now at an all-time high in popularity as well as in overall vacation value, what will they think of next to out do even themselves? This and more were among the topics discussed at the annual Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention that was recently held in Miami. Industry leaders from all over the world came together to discuss everything from the latest cruising trends, to the immediate and far-reaching future of an industry that has more than doubled in size within the last decade. Considering what the cruise industry as a whole has accomplished in a relatively short amount of time, one can only imagine what kinds of things may be coming next.
Among those present at the conference, there was a clear and unanimous consensus that cruisers now have higher expectations than ever before about what kind of vacation they expect to have aboard a cruise ship. Vacationers want more than just a place to relax! Cruise ships now offer many things that were previously unheard of, including large and luxurious accommodations, an array of fine dining options, children's programs, world-class stage shows, fully-equipped casino's, state-of-the-art fitness centers offering everything from personal training sessions to yoga classes, and so much more!
"A few years ago, the thought of an ice-skating rink or being able to rollerblade on cruise ships was unimaginable. But, now, that's old hat," stated Anne Kalosh, U.S. editor of Seatrade Cruise Review & the Seatrade Insider.
So what lies on the sea ahead for the cruise industry? According to a variety of industry insiders and experts, cruise ships of the future could offer everything from onboard roller-coasters and go-kart tracks, to extravagant nightly laser light shows. And of course the ships of the future will be bigger and faster than ever as well.
Maurizio Cergol serves as a world-renowned cruise ship designer with the top Italian ship-building company, Fincantieri. Cergol's job is to take all of these suggestions, as crazy and extravagant as some of them may sound, and analyze what is actually feasible to install on a cruise ship, and Cergol says that he has certainly heard some pretty extreme ideas. "I have heard some very interesting requests for onboard entertainment," stated Cergol. "Passengers [expect] to find on the ship whatever is found in their normal life." Cergol also says that in addition to some of the already very popular features such as the roller and inline skating rinks now found on many ships, he has also received requests for everything from virtual simulators to onboard wave machines for surfing.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has always been a leader and innovator in the cruise industry, and has recently been at the forefront of making some of the most advantageous changes to its ships. Among these changes are Royal Caribbean's now infamous rock-climbing wall, which can now be found on all of the lines nearly two dozen vessels. Many of Royal Caribbean's ships, including the impressive new Voyager-Class family, also feature ice skating rinks and miniature golf courses. All of Royal Caribbean's newer ships will also soon be offering a form of bungee jumping as a daring onboard alternative, as will Norwegian Cruise Lines brand new U.S. flagged ship, Pride of America. Pride of America will so offer a surely thrilling and unique gyroscope ride when it debuts this summer.
Cruise and travel industry experts agree that families today are looking for an all inclusive vacation experience with something to offer to everyone, which is why, with cruise ships now offering all that they do, cruising has become such a popular vacation option among people of all ages. From more open spaces, family friendly games and activities, relaxing and rejuvenating options just for the adults, as well as a wide variety of fine dining and entertainment options, cruise passengers are now expecting it all, and the many mega cruise vessels of today and those planned for the future have made it clear that they are more than happy to oblige these great expectations. With incredible new ships on the way from industry favorites including Royal Caribbean, Disney, Celebrity, Norwegian, Carnival, and Holland America, the cruise industry is certain to only get bigger, better, and more exciting in the years to come. Who knows what they will think of next!
Sources Cited: Balancia, Donna. BusinessFloridaToday.com, "Cruise Industry Floating Fun Ideas." March 20, 2005.
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