Specialised Cruise Ships

This week I was lucky enough to visit two cruise ships which visited my home port of Belfast. The contrast between these two ships could not have been starker and underlines the major changes developing in cruising. There are so many specialised cruise lines now developing new markets and niches that is becoming increasing difficult to keep up with.

On Monday I visited the Ponant Cruises, Le Dumont d’Urville. This small ship (more like a private luxury yacht) has only 92 staterooms and provides a unique cruising experience with a French twist. All the ships are French flagged so maintaining the shipping traditions of many years although they have an international feel with all announcements in both French and English. These small ships can access many ports that the larger ships cannot and with amazing French cuisine and service you visit some considerable style. In conjunction with National Geographic, Ponant offer amazing expedition experiences and using their own fleet of RIBs they get you up close and personal to nature. You can even experience this without leaving the ship with their amazing Blue Eye lounge which has undersea windows for directly viewing sea-life in their natural habitat. I was very impressed by all I saw on board Ponant and would recommend their exploring itineraries to the right customer, however their product is not for everyone.

In contrast I was also able to visit Disney Magic on the first visit of a Disney Cruise ship to Belfast. In contrast to Le Dumont d’Urville the Disney Magic can carry 2,700 passengers and has 875 staterooms but it is also a very different product to many main-line cruises. The biggest difference is, well, Disney! Disney describes itself as an entertainment company, who have cruise ships and not a cruise line. Added to the uniqueness of Disney with their heritage it is a unique and very special cruise offering.

Now this is not a Disneyland Park at sea, it is altogether subtler, with lots of hidden logos and messages. The entertainment is taken through to the dining arrangements where customers (and their servers) rotate through three themed restaurants each with different entertainment. Also (as you would expect) the kids’ entertainment (3-17 years) and their clubs are amazing plus there is also a nursery for the infant shipmates (6 months – 3 years). But entertainment is not just for children with special areas of the ship for adults only (including some bars after 9pm). Add in some Disney musical shows, first-run movies and Disney character experiences you can see that this is a unique cruise experience.

I was delighted to visit both ships and although they are very different I would recommend a cruise on them, but for very different customers. If you would like to have a chat anytime about the various cruise lines, their ships and differences between them all – just give me a call.