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Last updated:
July 29, 2010 10:11 AM

The "E" in EPIC is for Entertainment
By Doug Cooke, Publisher

T his past Fourth of July weekend I had the pleasure of sailing on the new NCL EPIC on its two-day inaugural sailing out of New York City. While this new ship has a plethora of firsts for an NCL ship, it is the variety and caliber of the entertainment on board that really sets this ship apart. Considering the focus on entertainment on this ship, it is only appropriate that the ship’s Godmother is Reba McIntyre, a well-known country singer/actress and also a fan of NCL.
Let the Show Begin
It is quite apparent that from the ship’s design stage, entertainment was to be a primary focus for this ship. Special venues were built for some of the entertainment and name-brand entertainers were contracted. The Blue Man group performs in the Epic Theatre with a show that rivals any of their land-based venues. Cirque Dreams is a dinner theatre show performed in a custom built theatre in the round. It has a center stage on and around which the part vaudeville, part circus act performances take place. The Second City Comedy Troupe is onboard with an Improv All-Stars act. Howl at the Moon performs their lively “Rock and Roll Dueling Piano Show” 4 nights per cruise and the Fat Cat’s Blues Bar features live Blues music nightly. Legends Unplugged features performances by Madonna, Elvis, Tina Turner and other musical look-a-likes. For kids, Nickelodeon has a partnership with NCL and character breakfasts are scheduled for 3 mornings during each cruise.
And what will your clients pay for this top rate entertainment? The Cirque Dreams Dinner Theatre carries a $15 or $20 cover charge depending on seating and the Nickelodeon Breakfast is $10-$15 depending on age. That’s it! All the other entertainment is free, although reservations are required for some shows and can be booked online up to 45 days in advance.
A Focus on Suites
While the Epic does boast 100% balconies with all of its outside staterooms, it is the Suite complex that steals the show in terms of shipboard accommodations. The elevated decks on the bow of the ship house 60 suites surrounding a private courtyard area. This suite complex is reached only by private elevator and is an oasis from the rest of the ship, which will carry upwards of 4,300 passengers at max. capacity. Suite guests will enjoy the private courtyard pool area with upgraded furnishings, extensive sun deck space, private bars, lounges and even a private dining venue for all meals. A private gym, sauna and beach club is also part of the suite complex. I would strongly recommend up selling your clients to this level of the ship. They can still enjoy all the pool deck activities (like 3 water slides, climbing and repelling walls and “ice skating”) but can then return to the relative quiet of the courtyard area.
This ship is indeed Epic in its entertainment options, and will no doubt be in high demand by your clients. Book early for the best rates and cabin choices. The Epic will be sailing out of Miami this fall/winter on alternating Eastern/Western itineraries and then will move to Europe for summer 2011.

Subscribe by Email Subscribe by RSS	On Location in Jamaica – No problems, mon! Reported by Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Correspondent
Avalon Waterways Introduces “Dine by Design” Options for Cruisers VIKING RIVER CRUISES INTRODUCES FOUR NEW CHRISTMAS ITINERARIES FOR 2010 Hapag-Lloyd's MS Columbus Returns to the Great Lakes in Fall 2011
	On Location in Jamaica – No problems, mon! Reported by Melanie Reffes, Caribbean Correspondent
Selecting the Right Host Agency or Consortia By Doug Cooke, Publisher A s the number of brick and mortar agencies continues to decline, with the latest ARC statistics reporting 15,457 locations (down 8% from July 2009), more and more travel agents find themselves in need of a “home” for their business. Most industry suppliers require some sort of proof of an agent’s professionalism whether it be an ARC, CLIA or TRUE number. As more agents take their businesses home, they Read More...	Home Based Travel Agent Registry By Doug Cooke, Publisher I have been very happy with the positive response from the “soft launch” of our new Home BasedTravel Agent Registry (HBTAR) announced on this page last month. Both travel agents and travel suppliers have responded by signing up and sending us letters of encouragement and support for a service that has been needed and is long overdue. Our idea
Vacation Redefined A “Spending and Saving Tracker” put out by American Express came across my desk this month, showing that 51% of consumers had not given up on their summer vacation plans. That percentage jumped to 83% among young professionals. Of those who reported that they were planning to travel, 52% were traveling with the family and 26% with a spouse or significant other. Even in light of this soft economy, these numbers seem to suggest that Americans are not ready to put their vacations on the chopping block; I know I’m not. There has been evidence to suggest that we are collectively “redefining” vacations rather than downsizing as such, and I think this jibes with what a lot of people are arriving at empirically for themselves. When I sat down to map and price out my own vacation not long ago, my focus quickly shifted from the South Pacific to the Pacific Northwest; somewhere that’s familiar to me but never gets old, somewhere I feel like I can minimize cost and maximize what it is that I’m after on a vacation, namely the ability to move around unfettered and engage with my surroundings as I please. Since I know I have less chips to put down, I’m not going to the roulette table. I’m going to play what I know the best and hope I can make it last awhile. I’m going to try to maximize the experience. I’m not one to spend this sum I’ve saved all year long on yet another product or something I perceive as a commodity. But show me something that will teach me, transform me, or give me a story to tell tomorrow and you can have it. If that is a redefinition, then it’s one that is responsible for some portion of the 89% of travelers who plan to take their vacation days within the U.S. this summer. But still I think there’s some other factor besides cost. When it’s cheaper to fly to Jamaica than it is to Seattle, why are only 16% of summer travelers leaving the country? Of those 16% who are traveling outside the U.S., the majority are going to the Caribbean, Canada, Europe—places they are likely to be familiar with or to relate to in some way. If 89% of Americans feel like they can only create for themselves a vacation experience that they can relate to, and feel secure in having some measure of certainty that the outcome will match their expectations, by travelling somewhere within the U.S., perhaps they just haven’t met the right travel agent yet. This month we have tried to help you find ways to reach clients along the lines of their new definition of vacation, whether that meant scouring for the best value deals, the most unforgettable experiences or the most customizable recommendations. We hope you enjoy them.
2010 EDITORIAL CALENDAR
SEPTEMBER COVER: FLANDERS Africa & Mid. East: Morocco, United Emirates Asia & S. Pacific: Korea, Fiji Caribbean: St. Kitts & Nevis C. & S. America: Costa Rica, El Salvador Cruise News: South Pacific Cruise Europe: Croatia, Portugal News: Home Based Agent, Hosts, Co-ops and Consortia USA & Canada: California Wine Trail Editorial material/Ad space reservation: August 5 Ad material is due on or before: August 13
OCTOBER COVER: GERMANY Africa & Mid. East: Israel, African Safaris Asia & S. Pacific: India, Southeast Asia Caribbean:The French Caribbean, St. Lucia C. & S. America: Brazil Carnival, Cancun-Mexico Cruise News: Worldwide Cruise Guide Europe Spain, Greece Industry News: Travel Technology USA & Canada: Southern Florida SUPPLEMENT: 2010 Guide to worldwide cruises Editorial material/Ad space reservation: September 2 Ad material is due on or before: September 10	NOVEMBER COVER: CYPRUS Africa & Mid. East: Ethiopia, Qatar Asia & S. Pacific: Japan, New Zealand Caribbean: Holiday Packages, Jamaica C. & S. America: Peru, Panama Cruise News; Caribbean Sailings, Ship Review Europe: Belgium, France News: Home Based Agent, Hosts, Co-ops and Consortia USA & Canada: New York City, NY, Ski the West Editorial material/Ad space reservation: October 7 Ad material is due on or before: October 15
DECEMBER COVER: ISRAEL Africa & Mid. East: Egypt, Western Africa Asia: Fiji, Cook Islands, Tahiti, N. Caledonia Caribbean: Puerto Rico & USVI, Anguilla C. & S. Americ:a Guatemala, Colonial Mexico Cruise News: China River Cruises Europ:e Italy, Iceland, Mediterranean Islands Industry New:s Guerrilla Marketing USA & Canada: Las Vegas, North East Ski Editorial material/Ad space reservation: November 4 Ad material is due on or before: November 12	2011 EDITORIAL CALENDAR JANUARY COVER FEATURE: CHINA SUPPLEMENTS DISTRIBUTED WITH JAXFAX JANUARY: TRAVEL AGENT SPECIALIST PROGRAMS MARCH: 2011 AIR CONSOLIDATOR GUIDE JULY: GUIDE TO HOST AGENCIES & CONSORTIA
This Editorial Calendar was last updated on: Thursday, July 29, 2010 10:11 AM
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