Bahamas, Azamara, 3:1:1
Bahamas again, and again.
It is Monday and I’m looking out over the harbor in Nassau, for what seems like the hundredth time. I first set foot here about 25 years ago. I thought it was exotic, and beautiful, and full of history, mystery, and adventure. I still do.
As I have spent the past quarter of a century in the travel business I must have heard this statement dozens of times: “I’ve been to the Bahamas. I want to go somewhere different”. That seems curious to me, because every time I visit the Bahamas it is a different place.
Some people seem to approach travel like they are going places to check off squares on a big bingo board. “Been there done that”. I think they miss one of the most valuable travel experiences by not revisiting some destinations. When you revisit the same place over time you build a personal history that ads context to your visit.
I first visited Nassau when I was a young and restless sales rep for Dolphin Cruise Line. We were a one ship cruise line. The Dolphin IV held a few hundred people but when we dropped in on Nassau we really made an impact on downtown enterprises like the straw market – the old one that was informal, outdoors, and full of aggressive craft sellers. My crew mates and I could take over a local watering hole like the Green Shutters Pub and leave an impression that brought recognition when we returned years later.
It is different today. I’m perched in the newly renovated Sheraton Cable Beach hotel, watching mega-ships come and go from the harbor. When the crowds disembark they see a very different Nassau than I remember in the 1980’s. Downtown has grown to accommodate the larger crowds, and enough time has passed that I’m watching from a hotel that was new on my first visit, but has aged through several hotel chains, changed with the fashion of the day, and become a born again beauty today. Everything changes, and it is pretty much all good.
Sure the Bahamas have changed, and I see lots of positives. It is nostalgic to look back on those “old days”, but I must admit that the Bahamas are a better place today. It is safer, cleaner, and truly friendlier. I love the stronger work ethic. The accents have thinned to be more easily understood. It has changed, but that is ok.
And that is just the point. If you only visit a place once, you only have a snapshot of a point in time. When you visit, and revisit, you have history and you get to know a place in context. It is almost like watching kids grow up. To truly appreciate what you see today, it helps to have known them “back when”. And to appreciate some place tomorrow, it helps to experience it today.
I love visiting the Bahamas, again, and again, most especially because I do have some history here. The old Bahamian style still exists if you dig a little. You’ll find more of that style if you visit the Out Islands. That is exactly what I was doing on this trip – setting up some opportunities for a few hundred lucky soles to visit the Out Islands. For their sakes I hope they come back again, and again.
New Cruise Line for special Niche
For those who want to live the high life on the high seas but find most cruise ships too big, a new line of boutique ships from Azamara Cruises could be just the ticket.Azamara, which launched in May, is a joint venture between Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited and Celebrity Cruises. The luxury line’s two 710-passenger vessels, Journey and Quest, aim to raise the bar on personalized service and attention, while simultaneously tapping a growing segment of the industry.
“[We] created Azamara Cruises to target an area of the market that we believe is underserved, and an area this product is ideally suited to fill,” Royal Caribbean Chairman and CEO Richard Fain said.
If you’re a traveler wanting some serious comfort and pampering in a relaxed environment, Azamara has what you’re looking for.
On board these floating palaces there are no formal nights -- the dining rooms are open seating. But each stateroom comes with butler service, fresh-cut flowers, fresh fruit, Elemis toiletries, complimentary use of Frette cotton robes, two complimentary pairs of slippers, plasma TV’s and European bedding. As an added perk, guests are invited to a complimentary dinner on each cruise in the ship’s two fee-based specialty restaurants. Passengers have a choice of the Mediterranean-influenced "Aqualina" and the steak and seafood restaurant, "Prime C." Both feature commanding views of the ocean.
It’s the details on these “deluxe” cruises that put them a notch above premium lines such as Carnival’s Holland America and the Princess ships.
Planned itineraries for the remainder of 2007 include Bermuda, Panama Canal and South America. Voyages for the 2008 season include Asia, the Caribbean, South America and Europe. Around-the-world voyages are scheduled to begin in 2010.
(With contributions by Ryan Ruggiero CNBC.com)
Tip of the Week
Air travel is rough these days with so many people in such tight quarters. Lines are long, and they are made longer with increased security measures. We need the increased safety. Those security check points are painful but necessary.
You can ease your pass through the security lines by abiding by the 3:1:1 rule. If you are going to carry personal care items such as aerosols, gels, and liquids in your carry-on bag you should pack accordingly. Pack them in containers no larger than 3 ounces, collected in a 1 quart clear zip lock bag, only one bag per passenger. You won’t be stopped in the security line and you’ll avoid having your stuff confiscated.
It is Monday and I’m looking out over the harbor in Nassau, for what seems like the hundredth time. I first set foot here about 25 years ago. I thought it was exotic, and beautiful, and full of history, mystery, and adventure. I still do.
As I have spent the past quarter of a century in the travel business I must have heard this statement dozens of times: “I’ve been to the Bahamas. I want to go somewhere different”. That seems curious to me, because every time I visit the Bahamas it is a different place.
Some people seem to approach travel like they are going places to check off squares on a big bingo board. “Been there done that”. I think they miss one of the most valuable travel experiences by not revisiting some destinations. When you revisit the same place over time you build a personal history that ads context to your visit.
I first visited Nassau when I was a young and restless sales rep for Dolphin Cruise Line. We were a one ship cruise line. The Dolphin IV held a few hundred people but when we dropped in on Nassau we really made an impact on downtown enterprises like the straw market – the old one that was informal, outdoors, and full of aggressive craft sellers. My crew mates and I could take over a local watering hole like the Green Shutters Pub and leave an impression that brought recognition when we returned years later.
It is different today. I’m perched in the newly renovated Sheraton Cable Beach hotel, watching mega-ships come and go from the harbor. When the crowds disembark they see a very different Nassau than I remember in the 1980’s. Downtown has grown to accommodate the larger crowds, and enough time has passed that I’m watching from a hotel that was new on my first visit, but has aged through several hotel chains, changed with the fashion of the day, and become a born again beauty today. Everything changes, and it is pretty much all good.
Sure the Bahamas have changed, and I see lots of positives. It is nostalgic to look back on those “old days”, but I must admit that the Bahamas are a better place today. It is safer, cleaner, and truly friendlier. I love the stronger work ethic. The accents have thinned to be more easily understood. It has changed, but that is ok.
And that is just the point. If you only visit a place once, you only have a snapshot of a point in time. When you visit, and revisit, you have history and you get to know a place in context. It is almost like watching kids grow up. To truly appreciate what you see today, it helps to have known them “back when”. And to appreciate some place tomorrow, it helps to experience it today.
I love visiting the Bahamas, again, and again, most especially because I do have some history here. The old Bahamian style still exists if you dig a little. You’ll find more of that style if you visit the Out Islands. That is exactly what I was doing on this trip – setting up some opportunities for a few hundred lucky soles to visit the Out Islands. For their sakes I hope they come back again, and again.
New Cruise Line for special Niche
For those who want to live the high life on the high seas but find most cruise ships too big, a new line of boutique ships from Azamara Cruises could be just the ticket.Azamara, which launched in May, is a joint venture between Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited and Celebrity Cruises. The luxury line’s two 710-passenger vessels, Journey and Quest, aim to raise the bar on personalized service and attention, while simultaneously tapping a growing segment of the industry.
“[We] created Azamara Cruises to target an area of the market that we believe is underserved, and an area this product is ideally suited to fill,” Royal Caribbean Chairman and CEO Richard Fain said.
If you’re a traveler wanting some serious comfort and pampering in a relaxed environment, Azamara has what you’re looking for.
On board these floating palaces there are no formal nights -- the dining rooms are open seating. But each stateroom comes with butler service, fresh-cut flowers, fresh fruit, Elemis toiletries, complimentary use of Frette cotton robes, two complimentary pairs of slippers, plasma TV’s and European bedding. As an added perk, guests are invited to a complimentary dinner on each cruise in the ship’s two fee-based specialty restaurants. Passengers have a choice of the Mediterranean-influenced "Aqualina" and the steak and seafood restaurant, "Prime C." Both feature commanding views of the ocean.
It’s the details on these “deluxe” cruises that put them a notch above premium lines such as Carnival’s Holland America and the Princess ships.
Planned itineraries for the remainder of 2007 include Bermuda, Panama Canal and South America. Voyages for the 2008 season include Asia, the Caribbean, South America and Europe. Around-the-world voyages are scheduled to begin in 2010.
(With contributions by Ryan Ruggiero CNBC.com)
Tip of the Week
Air travel is rough these days with so many people in such tight quarters. Lines are long, and they are made longer with increased security measures. We need the increased safety. Those security check points are painful but necessary.
You can ease your pass through the security lines by abiding by the 3:1:1 rule. If you are going to carry personal care items such as aerosols, gels, and liquids in your carry-on bag you should pack accordingly. Pack them in containers no larger than 3 ounces, collected in a 1 quart clear zip lock bag, only one bag per passenger. You won’t be stopped in the security line and you’ll avoid having your stuff confiscated.
posted by The Captain at
6:51 PM
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