Cruising starts with the ship

Cruise ships come in many shapes and sizes featuring a variety of options

AFYER YEARS of watching the
Alaska-bound luxury liners sail
under the Lions Gate Bridge, past
Ambleside and into the horizon,
you've finally decided it’s time to
take 4 cruise.

By Bob Mackin

Contributing Writer

That’s the easy part. The price
and length of your trip are also rela-
tively simple factors to work oul.
But, according to some industry
experts, the ship that will transport
you on your holiday should be of
prime concern.

Lisa Dimakis, president of ITP
Travel Plus Cruise Centre, says
matching the right person with the
right ship requircs the help of a
skilled consultant who knows the
ships.

“There is such a vast number of
ships out there, each one has differ-
ent amenities and different features

en voyage to Alaska on June 18,
1995,

The mid-size ships operated by
Seattle’s Holland America line, pop-
ular among older cruisers, are ree-
ommended hy Dimakis for those
who want many of the same amen
tics ana slightly smaller scale.

The Maasdam and the
Statendam, to be joined by the
Rhinedam next season, are 50,000-
ton vessels with canacities ef 1,266
passengers cach.

“The Holland America ships are
large but very tastefully done and
still have quite a bit of intimacy.
Holland America is known for its art
on the ships and very tasteful
decor.”

Although seniors dominate many
Alaskan cruises, the number of
younger people and families is
growing steadily.

Families with children are espe-
cially welcome on the Big Red Boat
operated by Premier Cruise Lines.

While many of the larger lines

employ children’s counselors,
Premier has tailored its vayares with
children in mind. “Everything is
basically thought and geared for the
farnily,” Dimakis says.

On the lower end of the size scale
are the cosy Royal Cruise Lines’

Star Odyssey or the unique voyages

tun by World Explorer, The Star
Odvsvey, which will be replaced on
the mun by the similar Royal Odyssey
next year, is 28,000 tons and has
room for 750 passengers.

World Explorer operates ships
that are approximately 20,000 tons
and accommodate 500 passengers
on cruises that are mainly education-
al.

Royal Cruise Lines, Dimakis
says, is perfect for someone who
doesn’t want a “large mega-ship”,
while the World Explorer doesn’t
have much “flash, but definitely sub-
stance.”

Prices can range from $1,300 to
$3,500 a week, Dimakis says. She
strongly suggests booking early

because of discounts or upgrades.

For example, some people who
book early can receive a balcony
room at no extra charge. Standby
programs are also available, but
theyre hit and miss; this year it’s
been more miss than bit, says
Dimakis.

More suitable for B.C. residents
are the specials offered in the shoul-
der periods of May-June and
September-October.

The prices of cruises can also
fluctuate with changes in the value
of dollar, 8 most cruise prices are in
U.S. dotlirs

f, o) VY Bg

“EWS photo Nell Licente
KELLY (SEATED) and Diana
O’Sullivan of Cruise Holidays.

B30 A T™

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-that go with people and someone
could go on one ship and absolutely
hate it and never want to go again. If
you pul that person on another ship
they’d love it,” Dimakis says.
“You've really got to know your
ships. With a lot of people it’s up to
the consumer to make up their mind.
How are they supposed to know?

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66 Although seniors
dominate many
Alaskan cruises,
the number
of younger people
and families is
growing steadily. 99

CHOOSE To CRUISE
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The (agents) don’t know the ships
that weil or they push their preferred
(tines). It can be a bad scenario.”

The complex matter of choosing
the right ship often starts with the
size of the ship itself. According to
Dimakis, biggest isn’t always best.

“I like more intimate ships, you
sort of get the fecling that you are on
a boat rather than on a hotel. Some
people like being on a floating hotel
with several discos or large casi-

' nos,” she says. “Other people would
rather have less of the features, like
two lounges instead of four. Dining
room space and deck space are fac-
tors.”

The largest ships sailing out of
Vancouver this year were Princess
Cruises’ sister ships the Regal and
Crown Princesses.

At 70,000 tons cach, both ships
carried as muny as 1,590 passengers
per voyage. Built in 1990 and 1991,
respectively, both ships measure in
at 805-ft. long and 115-ft. wide.

Both ships contain swimming
pools, jogging tracks and a fitness
centre for the athletically minded, in
addition to cnough casino, bar,
showroom and shopping space for
the leisurc-minded.

Next year, Royal Caribbean
Cruise Lines introduces its Legend
of the Sea to the Vancouver-Alaska
run. At approximately the same size
as the Pacific sisters, the Legend will
have greater passenger capacity to
become the largest vessel on the run.
Dimakis says ITP is organizing a
tour package for the Legend's maid-

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