Leisure yachts. Yacht Charters

Today in the world, there are several varieties of the charter, depending on the degree of comfort and the type of services provided. This, in turn, helps clients choose the best option.

The first type of charter - the so-called "bare-boat", ie yacht without crew. This yacht offers tourists without a professional team, ie tourists themselves should manage it. Naturally, before the adoption of a tourist boat owner must prove that he can handle such a vessel. Despite the lack of a professional team, the yacht is fully equipped with everything necessary for such a voyage. They must be available means of communication (radio), rescue equipment, means of alarm (emergency buoy, flares). With regard to supplies of goods and liquids, the yacht is issued to the client is fully fueled and water. After the boat trip should be returned to the owner, too, fully fueled and water. Yachts are also usually equipped with detailed descriptions of the suggested routes and maps navigation. In the descriptions of the routes, except for places may be even pointed out where the good fishin 'and some hotels and stores on their way most advantageous. Suggested routes usually start and end at the same port, but by agreement with the charter company you can leave the boat at any convenient for you to port.

There are two varieties of this type of charter. In one of them gets a tourist boat on the form of "bare-boat", but with skipper-guide on board. A modification of this type of charter is the so-called "charter of the fleet." This is a sailing trip with a group of yachts, you can make yourself or join the fleet, organized charter company. The flagship of the fleet managed by an experienced skipper, ready to help, but you remain responsible for the yacht and crew. Fleets are organized by charter companies, primarily for those who just received a license and still not feel sufficiently confident in a separate trip. In addition, the flotilla adds communication, fun, introduces an element of racing excitement. Often this form of charter is used for corporate rest. Also, very often charter companies conduct rally race. It's as simple sporting regatta, which may be open to all, regardless of the level of training.

The next widely practiced form charter - the so-called "crewed charter". This implies that the yacht must be equipped with. Tourist on a boat is a "guest" and if he does not want, he does not necessarily participate in the management of the yacht. The team usually consists of a captain, the number of men depends on the size of boats and the number of passengers, often in the team include the Coca-steward. Maintenance of this type of charter greatly increases its value, but it saves tourists from liability for the vessel and allows them to more fully enjoy swimming.

$1.2 Billion Yacht Abramovich Comes Equipped With Laser-Powered Anti-Paparazzi Shield

Famed yacht-fanatic Roman Abramovich added a new feature to his 557-foot, $1.2 billion monstrosity, Eclipse: A laser shield that sweeps the boat's surroundings for paparazzi and then fires a bolt of light at the camera to destroy any photo.

The lasers detect CCDs, or charge-coupled devices, which are used in most (but not all; CMOS chips are also around) photoelectric sensors. Guards can activate the lasers when they spot any suspicious glint of a camera's lens, which will then shoot a bright, focused light directly at the camera, ruining any photography.

wired.com

Ankida Yacht Will Make You Long For A Journey

The entire driving force of the Ankida concept, aside from beautiful looks, is to have ideal placement for every part and get the most out of your escapes. Whether you prefer to move under only one sail, or test the performance of them all, you can easily do it with a hell of a lot of style. And while it's a still just a concept design, I'm already lost in daydreams of adventure and pirates.


I don't even want to imagine what the price tag for Lila-Lou's finely-tuned Ankida yacht will be. I just want to lay on the deck and watch the wind hit those optimally-positioned sails as I drift around the world.

Code-X Yacht Will Have Two Kinds of Power

There's a real company promoting a not-so-real power yacht called the Code-X. The differentiatorвor "thing that's supposed to land a billionaire customer"вis that the boat will have two Formula 1 engines and two solar-powered electric ones.

It's not abundantly clear when you'd use the as-yet-unannounced electric engines, or exactly how efficiently the onboard solar panels will collect sunlight and charge the as-yet-unannounced batteries.

Let's be honest: You probably won't use them all that often. The point is to have them, and to tell your rich-ass friends that you are, in Code-X's words, "a pioneer and frontrunner on the path to a cleaner and more environmentally friendly future." The point is to be saying this while gunning your twin F1 Limor 710HP smogmasters to drown out the riffraff circling you in those environmentally unfriendly Jet Skis.
The most sinister thing about the whole operation is the length that Code-X went to render a completely non-existent boat into so many real-life scenes, almost as if James Cameron was the company's marketing consultant. [Code-X

Superyachts and the Cruise Industry - American Superyacht Forum Day 1

I arrived in Seattle for the American Superyacht Forum (which is annually held in a "yachting" city or hopeful yachting city, such as Newport, Rhode Island,  San Diego, California, etc.)  Though I had been to the airport I had never actually visited Seattle, so I was looking at this trip not only from a yachtie standpoint, but from a cruise one as Seattle is a fairly regular embarkation port.

I am staying at the Marriott Waterfront which has a lovely bay view and typically comfortable, but not flashy, rooms.  My view is of a small yacht marina inside of the commercial pier.  The Bell Conference Center is pretty much 2 minutes away...and the cruise terminal is literally attached to it.  So,the first connection between the two industries I found on Monday is that yacht conference or cruise, stay at the Marriott Waterfront the night before.

The Keynote Speaker is the owner of the 152 foot (46 metre) sailing yacht S/Y Antara.  It was a joy to listen to an "old time" owner that still enjoys the "getting there" more than the "being there" (i.e. the journey is what he enjoys most as opposed to many new yacht owners that want to meet their superyacht once it has arrived in a port...usually by way of their private helicopter landing on the yacht's deck).  Just as that was enjoyable to hear, I was more than surprised to find out he lives literally in the town next to my office and he sails his smaller 44 foot sailboat in the Navesink River, which my office oversees.  (I had to fly to Seattle to meeting because...why?)

During his talk he discussed his experiences from his first sailboat to present.  Then he mentioned he just loves being at sea and spoke fondly of doing a crossing on the Queen Mary 2 just watching the water.  I asked him about his cruise, taken as a Grill Class guest, and he said he was very impressed with the service, but that was before he owned S/Y Antara, his first superyacht.  When I asked him about the difference in service quality he said from the moment he stepped on his superyacht he was "blown away" by the much higher level of service.  He has, for example, hosted former President George H.W. Bush for lunch and a sail on S/Y Antara.  Yes, there is a difference between cruise ship luxury and superyacht luxury.

But we talked a bit more after his talk and I asked him if he would like to sail in the Pacific Northwest, which is quite beautiful.  His answer was that it just wasn't practical to bring his yacht such a distance.  That lead me to ask if he would consider taking a cruise.  The response didn't really surprise me:  Concerns over the level of service, cuisine, etc.  I then asked him if he knew of Seabourn and he admitted a vague knowledge of a cruise line that had something like 90 passengers (SeaDream).  Obviously we spoke a bit about Seabourn and his interest grew and thoughts of spending time on the water visiting more exotic places became a viable option that he never had really considered.

The next conference panel was on State of the Industry - The USA in 2010 and Beyond.  Billy Smith III, the always energized vice president of Trinity Yachts spoke of how to attracted new people to the superyacht industry which, like most industries, finds itself suffering in this economy.  His comment, "The cruise industry introduces people to the ocean if not yachting" obviously jumped out at me.  It hit me that there are millions of potential yacht owners that don't live near the water and that they are part of the 85% of Americans and 95+% of Europeans and Asians that have never cruised.  (BTW, his son is working during his college summer by working for Holland America land tours in Alaska.)

So just on the first day of this conference from cruise terminal to levels of service to practicality of visiting exotic locales, to attracting clients...and even just enjoying the sea...has again tied together the superyacht and cruise industries.

Iamboatman Book Review: "Cruise Confidential: A Hit Below the Waterline"

UPDATE:  I guess the author liked my review (below).  You can also read it on his website:  http://lovebruns.com/Templates/Review_GoldringTravel.html.

I just finished reading a very light, but interesting, book entitled: Cruise Confidential: A Hit Below The Waterline. One Crazy Year Working on Cruise Ships. It is probably worth a few hours to read it as it does put into perspective some of the ups, downs, trials and tribulations of training for, and working in, cruise ship restaurants.


While the author of this non-fiction book, David Brian Bruns, seems to place himself as the virtuous, never straying, deeply devoted boyfriend chasing his Holy Grail girlfriend, Bianca...and, of course, while being the best waiter ever to have served on the seven seas, for pure voyeuristic enjoyment and as a vehicle to tie all the craziness together, without it having a total feel of a trashy novel, it works.


Without ruining the book, Mr. Bruns discusses (exposes?) the relatively - OK, absolutely - wild, sleep deprived, cramped, smoky and sexually active lives below deck. Not unlike the yachting industry (only more-so due to the horrific number of hours/weeks/months worked without a real break), much of the focus is on sex being used as a tension release rather than for intimacy. I say this upfront because you need to read through the regular references to it in order to find the real nuggets of information and perspective.


One of the starkest realities is that most of the ship's waitstaff (and, to be sure, others) simply do not understand the general American philosophy or approach to many different things. This goes far beyond the concept of as an American we tend to think of owning a car and having a private home (rented or owned) as birthrights while some crew will work years on a ship just to be able to buy a used car.


Some things really make you think. A negative example: Why do we require the buffet to look as if no one has been there before us even minutes before it closes? (The amount of needless waste created as a result is shocking.) A positive example: Why do many of us actually care about those serving us; asking about our waiter's family and life at home? (Many cultures are such that waitstaff should not even be acknowledged.)


So enjoy reading about how the staff is trained and what they are actually trained for (it is not just about serving food), realize the hours it takes to put together all the things and time needed for a breakfast or dinner service (and the differences between them!), appreciate the working of 15+ hours a day without a break for months, ponder how and why the supervisors are so tough in a "survival of the fittest" world, and enjoy the descriptions of the Eastern European beauties and Turkish and Caribbean musclemen...or just the need for a tattoo.


But remember this is book about one American's experience on Carnival in the days when they were The Fun Ships, where cheap cruises and huge amounts of alcohol were the rule...apparently both above and below the decks. I am sure much of it remains valid today, for as I have said, I have seen similar (but not quite as wild) behavior on superyachts, but I would suggest that when you board a Seabourn ship you will see far fewer bloodshot eyes and encounter far fewer with slurred speech from the crew party the night before.

And, ironically, understand just how profitable it is to be an art auctioneer aboard a cruise ship. (See my last post!)

Yacht Brokerage and Legal Panel - American Superyacht Forum

As I previously wrote, I was on a panel in June at The Yacht Report's American Superyacht Forum in Newport, Rhode Island. The panel discussion was on issues and concerns with yacht brokers.  The transcript of the panel discussion can be found here:

http://www.synfo.com/Whitepapers/asf08/ASFDay2BrokerageForum.pdf

For those of you that know me as a travel agent, this will probably give you some insight as to my dealings as a superyacht lawyer.  While some of it may be rather dry or boring, there are some really good comments and observations from the panelists.

And, importantly, there are some parallels between issues with some yacht brokers and some travel agents regarding lack of knowledge, misrepresentations and a personal need to "make the deal" (earn a commission) versus being in the industry for the long term and building a solid reputation through doing things the right way.

American Superyacht Regatta 2008 Video

For any of you interested in a bit of silly at times, but also beautiful, video of the Regatta click on this link: http://www.synfo.com/SynfoTV/synfotvLargeScreen.asp?video=1196

As they say, Yachting: Steeped in Tradition. Soaked in Beer!

Clipper Pacific Update - Still in Tampa and The News Is Not Great

I wanted to give those of you interested an update on the Clipper Pacific...and it is not really very good news.

She remains in Tampa and, according to a U.S. Coast Guard release late yesterday there is work being done to replace a 5 foot by 6 foot plate of steel along with some internal structure (beams and related metal).

What is also disturbing is that the passengers are not permitted to remain on board because there is no approved Emergency Evacuation Plan.

You may recall that I immediately commented that a patch was not going to be acceptable and that the plate would most probably have to be replaced. That is exactly what is being done. So hopefully I have kept Iamboatman's reputation intact.

I must, however, pause and ask a question. "For all the passengers who are spending their time and money (along with the operator's money) vacationing in Tampa, how many have taken the time to think about who is running the ship, how they could have allowed them to have their lives risked with such deplorable conditions, and how come they remain willing to cross the Pacific Ocean with those very same people in charge?"

Far more money is being spent keeping the passengers in Tampa than the cost of flying them back home. Is the need to complete the journey, or getting one's money's worth, sufficiently strong that people are willing to risk their safety and possibly their lives? I cannot fathom how this question should even need to be asked.

A caveat: The United States Coast Guard is not going to let a truly unsafe vessel depart Tampa, so to be fair to the ship, when she is ready to leave she will be at least minimally seaworthy from the Coast Guard's perspective. And, yes, the captain and crew will have the necessary licenses attesting to their technical competence. But are they actually competent? The facts here tend to strongly infer not.

There is far more to competency than a piece of paper. This is a major area of concern and conflict in the superyacht industry and, I assume, in the shipping industry as well. The days of "putting in sea time" are fading away as technocrats sitting behind desks create regulations that try to equate passing exams with seaworthiness. But that is another topic for another day.

In th meantime I will continue to shed a tear as I fondly remember sipping a Tequila Sunrise on the deck of the Song of Norway thinking how great was to be on a cruise.

Boat International USA 50 Largest US Owned Yachts - MSY Islander

Today I received the August 2008 edition of Boat International USA and it lists the 50 largest yachts with a United States owner. I, quite proudly, saw that the superyacht that I breathed, ate, slept and drank for almost five years of my life remains - after an incredible 18 years - on the list.

With the boom in the superyacht market (yachts over 150 feet, more or less) and a five year waiting list to have one built, to think that what once was considered an impossible feat remains relevant more than two decades after she was conceived and the first aluminium cut is remarkable.

In 1990 Showboats Magazine was gave her an award, "The Magnificent Enigma". Why? this unique 192 foot (58 metre) superyacht has huge sail volumes, two retractable keels and water jet drives, with only a 7.5 foot draft (with keels retracted), a full depth swimming pool, the ability to hold a cocktail party for 250 guests and a list of features that most yachts of today still cannot match.

........................................................................................... I have many, many, many stories of this yacht and my involvement; most good, but some not so good. But they are, to be sure, stories which fill a very large portion of my lifetime.

If you want to hear more about her, log onto one of my websites: http://www.goldringtravel.com/ or http://www.yachtlaw.com/ and watch the video.

The Seabourn Pride, Legend and Spirit - Long Range Plans

There has been in further inquiry about the plans for Seabourn's current fleet of three small yachtlike ships with more than enough false rumors and innuendo that their end is near. The fact is, as I had previously posted, the triplets are part of Seabourn's long range plans.

Here are some truths:

1. The smaller triplets are loved by many passengers and there is a style and comfort level that makes the larger Odyssey just not attractive to them.

2. Many Seabourn passengers (not all by any extent) could care less about the new bells and whistles.

3. There are many unique ports that the Odyssey cannot visit and, therefore, the triplets remain as a real asset for those destinations.

4. There are itineraries that may well support 200 guests, but not 450 guests.

5. The Seabourn Pride will be focusing on Asia with new ports and extended itineraries. Seabourn has not advised what its plans are for the Legend and Spirit, but I would not be surprised if there was a Caribbean/South American presence as well as one in Africa and parts of Australia/New Zealand. I don't know, but I would put my money on the latter!

6. There is a need for capacity, as Seabourn's ships consistently sail at or near capacity. So with one ship in 2009 being delivered, the present demand for capacity might be met to a degree, but assuming any sort of growth, additional capacity will be needed into 2010 and 2011.

7. With the new ships in place, it may well be possible for there to be truly extensive refitting of the older triplets so that its machinery and environmentally related systems can be replaced, and some older design elements changed, at a fraction of the cost of new ships while there is sufficient capacity to meet the demands of Seabourn guests. (BTW, I do not know this to be true, but it is not a large jump for me to get there...in my mind).

One other bit of speculation to be addressed: Pricing. It is something that is based upon demand and costs of operation. If you want exotic ports, it is gonna cost you. No matter how you cut it, the Caribbean will cost less than Africa. Asia will cost you more than France. If you are looking for a deal, I would be looking at low demand seasons for particular locations rather than new versus old ships.

American Superyacht Forum - America's Cup Regatta

As I had mentioned, two weeks ago I fulfilled a dream of sailing on the 12 metre yachts that are the America's Cup. It was all in fun and we had a blast. Here are some photos:

Sometimes you just have to love your job...no matter how hard the work is!

Seatrade Cruise Shipping Conference

Today I received my quarterly Seatrade Cruise Review and I was pleasantly surprised when the Supplement had a photograph of me on a panel (State of the Superyacht Industry) as the lead in to announcing the 2008 Conference in video and transcript will be available online at http://www.cruiseshipping.net/ later this summer.

When it goes online I will let you know.

Seabourn - Double Keel Laying

Seabourn and T. Marrioti held a double ceremony today commencing the laying of the keels for the two sister ships (still unnamed) to the Seabourn Odyssey.

By laying the keels for ships to be delivered in 2010 and 2011 Seabourn is making a strong statement that its 32,000 Gross Registered Ton ships that are 650 feet long, with a beam of 84 feet and draft of 21 feet, will be a major force in the luxury and ultra-luxury markets for years to come.

Seabourn's two deck high/inside and outside spa, multiple fine dining venues and a design philosophy of making a larger ship as intimate and personal as its present triplets assures it will be providing an enhanced luxury cruising experience.

Travel Agents and Yacht Brokers

During the American Superyacht Forum I spoke on a panel addressing the issue of yacht brokers/agents who are so focused on booking a charter or making a sale that they actually undercut and weaken the very market they are serving. The parallels to travel agents is undeniable.

Two concepts quickly took center stage: 1. If your agent doesn't know what he/she is talking about the experience is destined to conflict and disappointment; and, 2. While there is dishonesty in the business, the majority of the time the problem stems from ignorance or lack of education.

Education: Taking the second point first, during the conference it was noted that of hundreds of delegates, only 5 or 6 were yacht brokers and, further, that many more were offered the opportunity to be part of the panel, but declined. This resulted in sort of a "preaching to the choir" situation. Clearly if the agents are not present they cannot learn anything from the conference. (And, of course, those that did attend felt like they were under attack, though in reality they were the ones to be complimented.)

There are essentially three ways to gain the experience one needs to be a good agent. The first is traditional education through written or online courses, seminars and general reading. I am a big proponent of these sorts of things. Personally, if there is a course I try to take it regardless of it is Regent, Crystal, Celebrity, Holland America or NCL. What many agents to not understand that it is not only the "product" they may choose to focus on that they need to know, a working knowledge of the "other" products is essential so that one can truly compare and contrast.

The second is seminars. These tend to be more in depth and allow the agent to ask questions and receive feedback. Recently I attended a three day session held by Seabourn for its top "Pinnacle Club" agents. This opportunity provided me with information not only as to a specific product, but as to the philosophy moving forward. This sort of information just isn't possible to provide in a book. Examples: Ports for 2010 and how they are chosen; Development of onboard services on the new Seabourn Odyssey; Marketing Strategies not yet releases to the public. Celebrity also provides in depth full day seminars which provide a wealth of information on both Celebrity and Azamara. While I do try to attend the short 2-3 hour seminars, they usually are of little use (especially if you take advantage of the online courses) as more time can be spent eating and giving out door prizes then actually learning about the product.

The third is experience. Experience, especially in the travel business is vital...and this is not about experience booking. In order to sell properly, you need to be on the ship. While 3-4 hour ship inspections are a great way to begin to understand the product, there is nothing like actually being on the ship for a cruise. An agent needs to experience first hand what the service is like, how a ship flows, how the cabins/suites function, what the food is like in real world conditions, what the entertainment is, how tours are operated, tendering, upkeep and maintenance, etc.

As an example, two years ago I inspected the Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas. My first impression was "This is a shopping mall. Get me off the ship!" But I endured my ship inspection and luncheon, learned a bit about where Royal Caribbean was going and said, at least I am not blind when I sell cruises on these ships. Well, this year I am finding a surprising increase in bookings on Royal Caribbean and it, in part, encouraged me to take seven day cruise on the Mariner of the Seas in August. (To be sure, I could not see doing it in a standard cabin, so I have booked a Grand Suite for the four of us...and to see if it works as well as Celebrity for a family of four.)

"I Don't Know...But I Will Find Out" - It is impossible for an agent to know everything. But with proper education and experience, an agent can understand quicker not only that a guess or assumption can be a bad thing leading to disappointment or, worse, a client's feeling that you lied to them to make a sale. For some reason many take what I believe is a counter-intuitive approach of "If I tell my client I don't know something they will think I am not worthy of their business." To the contrary, most clients appreciate an agent saying, "Let me get back to you on that. I need to find that out". Of course that is only valuable if the agent, in fact, gets right back to them. In short, I have a philosophy of "If I say I don't know something, it is a learning opportunity."

Putting this together, as an example, I have a Seabourn client that wanted to have a economically priced "girl's vacation". The client's immediate thought was Carnival; having been on a prior Carnival cruise. I could have said, "OK", booked and been done. Instead I suggested, instead, a cruise on a smaller Royal Caribbean ship I had experience with, but rather than with a few cabins here and there, I suggested a suite overlooking the stern (for three women) and outside cabins for those not able or willing to pay the premium; giving them essentially a private lounge and sun deck where the women could all be together with a bit of luxury...and at only a slightly higher cost than the conventional option.

The result was the following note: You really nailed it when you got us that great deck. We made great use out of it...All in all, I was really pleasantly surprised by the boat. Of course, it is not a Seabourn, but then, we didn't pay for a Seabourn [cruise]. Having only been on one Carnival cruise...I would put this many notches above that. The boat was a bit older, but then, the rooms were bigger...The caliber of the people was several notches above Carnival, and we had an excellent crew. So ---- I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it -- for what it is. Thanks for your help."

So today I start out with a wonderful note from a happy client (Seabourn and Royal Caribbean...for those doubters out there!!) and will follow that with work on a yacht charter litigation where the yacht and crew were clearly inappropriate for the charterer/client.

Seabourn Food & Wine Cruise - September 27, 2008

On September 27, 2008 I will be hosting a special Food & Wine Cruise on the all suite, all luxury, Seabourn Spirit cruising from Athens to Istanbul. I have a number of events and tours planned which should make this cruise even better than the one I hosted last year on the Seabourn Legend which cruised from Barcelona to Monte Carlo.

This is the itinerary:

Saturday - September 27 Piraeus (Athens), Greece
Sunday - September 28 Mykonos, Greek Isles
Monday - September 29 Mylos, Greek Isles
Tuesday - September 30 Patmos, Greek Isles
Wednesday -October 1 Fethiye, Turkey
Thursday - October 2 Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey
Friday - October 3 Cruising The Dardanelles
Saturday - October 4 Istanbul, Turkey

My thoughts and plans:

I suggest arriving early into Athens and overnighting at the St. George Lycabettus Hotel with views of the Acropolis from your room. After a rest, dinner at leisure in a local restaurant as a way to begin immersion into the Greek and Turkish foods and customs to follow.

On the morning of the cruise I will be providing a complimentary tour of Athens with one of the best driver-guides in Greece, whom I have personally used on a number of occasions. We will stop at all of the important sites, have a wander around the Plaka and then enjoy a local Greek lunch before heading over to Piraeus to board the Seabourn Spirit for a 5:00 p.m. departure.

The next morning we arrive in Mykonos...just as many of the Saturday night partiers are going to bed. This morning is a great time to slowly wander over to the beach or wander about the narrow alleys of the town, followed by a local lunch. Because the Spirit doesn't sail until 11:00 p.m. there is plenty of time to head back to the ship and then enjoy some early nightlife and dinner back in town.

.

I have not yet been to Mylos, but I understand the natural beauty is breathtaking...as are the whitewashed houses and windmills. I am looking forward to what I expect to be a great opportunity to enjoy truly local foods and wines in a location unspoiled by hoards of tourists.

.

In Patmos I am hosting a complimentary tour to all passengers who have booked through an Ensemble Consortium travel agent. This island, long a pilgrimage destination, offers some wonderful cultural opportunities. My tour, starting at 1:00 p.m. (so you have plenty of time to explore on your own or just "beach it"!) will include a visit to the town of Chora and the Monastery of St. John (built in 1088). From there we travel to the Grotto of St. John were it is said he wrote the Book of Revelations (95-97 AD). Leaving the important religious history of the island, we will then visit a traditional Patmain house which is said to be breathtaking and filled with 18th Century furnishings, mosaics and crafts. Finally, we drive to the settlement of Aloni for some ouzo and Greek snacks before returning the our ship in Scala.

.

We cruise overnight to Fethiye, Turkey for a fantastic day which can be one immersed in the ancient Lycian history of the area including a boat ride through the numerous waterways, or tours of other nearby historical cultures of Lycian, Hellenistic, Latin and Byzantine periods or you can opt to take a tour to a wonderful hotel on the Oludeniz (Dead Sea) or just wander the local area and enjoy a Turkish Bath in a 400 year old Hamam or shop, eat and drink!

.

Probably the highlight of our next day, in Kusadasi, will be our Exclusive Seabourn Experience. After a day exploring the incredible Roman city of Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary, and shopping at the Bazaar, Seabourn will transport us back to Ephesus for an enchanted private evening of chamber music, wine, cocktails and canapes. As we depart Kusadasi at 11:30 p.m. some evening exploration and shopping is something to consider.

.

Finally a relaxing day at sea. This day, however, is not just any day at sea. We will be passing by Gallipoli, a battle site which is extraordinarily important to both sides of that war which had enormous casualties. The Turkish people consider the battle as the start of modern Turkey - with Ataturk leading the movement eight years later and the United Kingdom and Australians (ANZAC) consider it sacred not only to all those who lost their lives, but as a defining moment in understanding their nationalism.

.

I plan on having a complimentary private wine tasting during the day where we can taste and discuss not only some of the interesting local wines and foods, but share some of the wonderful times we will have had during our cruise. If Seabourn comes through like it did during last year's cruise, this will be a truly memorable event.

.

It is worth rising early our last morning to share our arrival in Istanbul on the port side of the ship. While we are disembarking this morning, Istanbul is a fascinating city and is, to be sure, one of my favorite places in the world. Some people are partaking of Seabourn's "Sail and Stay" program which includes transfers, two nights at the Swisshotel and a half day tour of Istanbul.

Others are making their own arrangements. I would highly recommend the Ciragan Palace and the Four Seasons as possbile alternatives.

.

I will be staying in Istanbul for two days after the cruise, so I will be available to assist you while you are there. I hope to, however, be tied up in a full day visit to an ancient Hamam; something I have been looking forward to repeating from a visit some years ago!

.

Highlights of Istanbul include my favorite little town of Ortakoy (which means middle village), Dolmabaci Palace, the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Yerebatan Saray (the underground cisterns - a favorite of mine!), the Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar and, of course, the Grand Bazaar. There are so many other things to do and see in Istanbul such as the Galata Tower, a ferry ride up the Bosporus, many other mosques/synagogues/churches, shops and restaurants galore, etc., etc.

.

This is going to be a fantastic experience not only from all that Seabourn has to offer, but what Greece and Turkey do, from culture, history, sun and sand, food and, of course, wine.

.

If you are interested in this cruise, please let me know as soon as possible. There is limited availability.

An International Experience - Travel Agents That Is!

One of the most curious, and antiquated, aspects of the travel business is the protectionist approaches of various cruise lines.

In this world of international travel and essentially boundary-free internet access, many cruise lines slice up the market so that American travel agents are prohibited from selling cruises to residents of the United Kingdom, Australia, etc. Americans really do not experience this sort of anti-competitive behavior because there is not a single cruise line that prevents a New Jersey travel agency from selling a cruise to a California resident...and, as I will discuss, there are very few non-United States travel agencies that can economically compete with a strong American-based one.

I figure the reasons are varied and relate to trying to protect the smaller-in-number European and Australasian agencies; to allow for more profitable (i.e. higher) pricing overseas (since the US dollar is so weak at the moment); to work within industry practices virtually unheard of in the United States due to, in large part, competition (such as hefty cancellation fees charged by the agency...not the cruise line, padding of pricing through made-up fees, etc.), etc.

Some cruise lines may have initially balked at international competition, but some, like Seabourn, have said essentially, "We have international clientele and we are a worldwide company, so why should we do anything but support international travel agents?"

Regent Seven Seas also takes a similar approach. Surprisingly, however, its sister company, Oceania Cruises has a protectionist policy that I have, fortunately, been able to work around.

Cunard has a similar protectionist policy, but doesn't really seem to enforce it. Absent a bit of "slight of hand", an American agency might have problems booking one of its UK clients on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruise Lines.

From my perspective, competition can only be a good thing.

One cruise line executive asked me, "Well, do you want UK travel agents competing with you here in the U.S.?"

My response, "I already compete with the biggest agencies in the world, so why would I want to prevent that competition? The end result is the agency with the better service, better experience, and solid pricing will probably get the lion's share of the business...and that means the client (the cruise line's passengers) will ultimately have a better experience even before they get on the ship. Everyone that should win does. Who loses? The agency that isn't providing the cruise line's passengers with the same positive experience you (the cruise line) strives to provide them once they walk up the gangway."

And that is from where my motto (or mission statement) was born: "Be Treated By Your Travel Agent As You Will Be Onboard!"

Getting Started

For years I have posted information and commentary on various cruise message boards; especially about my favorite cruise line: The Yachts of Seabourn.



Recently I have found that the boards have become less of a source of information and place to truly discuss travel issues, but more of a place to complain (regardless of merit), fabricate stories and/or cheerlead (Cruise Line X is the best and flawless no matter what).



As objectivity and discussion (including disagreements and correction of incorrect information) is lost, the efforts to continue involvement in the message boards not only becomes frustrating...it no longer is fun.



More importantly, as a solid source good information is lost and having a forum for honestly expressing opinion as to "the good, the bad and the ugly" (Thank you, Clint Eastwood) wastes away...and not in a Jimmy Buffett kind of way...I thought there has to be something better, more pure, more of value.



So Iamboatman is trying something new. This may not be my "finding the key to the universe" (ala Bruce), but hopefully a new home for thoughts and discussions about luxury cruising, luxury travel, and yachting.