SHIP OF THE YEAR: OCEANIA CRUISES RIVIERA

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1 PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE WORLD OCEAN & CRUISE LINER SOCIETY Vol. 35, Issue 4 - February 15, 2016 Our 35th Year of Continuous Publication Single issue price $2.50 SHIP OF THE YEAR: OCEANIA CRUISES RIVIERA This year s Ship of the Year award survey was another amazing adventure of sorting through, tabulating and reading about all of our member s 2015 cruise experiences. Beginning over thirty years ago the World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society asked our members to complete a report card for every sailing they completed during the year in order to help us stay in tune with how the various cruise ships were performing week to week throughout the year. Acting as the eyes and ears of the Society our members input helped us view the industry, and the quality of its products, on a far more consistant basis than we could ever have dreamed on doing on our own. As the years progressed, and the cruise industry expanded with record growth, this member based task became even more important due to the unbelievable number of ships hitting the high seas. Eventually these report cards became the basis for our annual Ship of the Year award, a term which has been copied by many others over the years. As the cruise industry grew, so did our membership and so did the pile of report cards. Yet our formula stayed the same. The scores gathered from our members on these report cards are gathered and tabulated to present our coveted Ship of the Year to the statistical winner. The editors and writers of Ocean & Cruise News have no input into this award. This award is simply based on the ratings of the cruises taken by our members and submitted to us. While there are many prestigious cruise awards handed our each year, over the past 35 years our Ship of the Year award remains the most unique and prestigious in the industry. It has earned this status because it is not an editor s choice or a reader s choice award but instead an award based soley on actual passengers reporting on their personal cruise experience. This may not sound so unique, but truth be told, many other award surveys can be completed by anyone with an address or submission form and requires no actual ship or sailing date. Our award takes into consideration all of our member s experiences and ratings. From that cruise that was everything they hoped for and more, to the cruise that didn t live up to expectations or was referred to on the Evening News as the cruise from hell. Our members covered them. For the year 2015 we received report cards on 97 different ships. Everything from small barges, riverboats and exploration vessels to the largest newest mass-market ships. were experienced and reviewed by our members. Our report cards, whether completed online or via paper mail in cards, ask our members to rate each cruise experience they take during a year much like a hotel, resort or restaurant might ask you about your experience at their establishment. We then qualify that the respondent actually experienced the ship by requesting specific information, such as: the name of the ship, the ship s itinerary, and the length and date of the cruise. Sin this is an annual award we only include feedback from cruises taken during the calendar year in question to ensure that our survey reflects the most up-to-date information. Our survey questions 14 key areas or categories that make up a cruise product. Members are asked to score each category on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 indicating the least satisfaction and 5 indicting the greatest satisfaction. (Continued on page 6)

2 2 - PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY - The World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society P.O. Box 329 Northport, NY Phone (866) Founder George C. Devol Editor Thomas E. Cassidy Contributing Writers Features Editor William H. Miller Art Director Dan J. Rico Peter Knego John Maxtone-Graham Kay Showker Pat Richardson Shawn J. Dake Art Sbarsky Theodore W. Scull Ben Lyons Andy Hernandez Subscription by membership $30 Per Year in U.S. - $36 Canada & Overseas Copyright 1980 by World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society. All rights reserved. No material may be reproduced without permission. Material is obtained from sources believed to be accurate and reliable, but the publisher is not responsible for errors or omission contained herein. Printed in the United States Society: wocls.org Publication: OceanCruiseNews.com EDITORIAL The big news in the cruise world this month was Crystal Cruises announcement that they hope to bring the great ss United States back into service. The word was out that the SSUS Conservancy was holding a press conference over at the New York Passenger Ship Terminal just a few piers away from where the United States Line pier stood and where the ss United States sailed from all those years ago. There would be announcing new plans for the saving of the ship. Most assumed the plans would be some sort of land based facility like a casino or hotel or conference center. What unfolded though was a joint sponsored news conference between the Conservancy and Crystal Cruises where it was announced that the ss United States might sail again. It is far from a done deal but for now Crystal Cruises will cover the ship s $60,000 per month mooring fees in Philadelphia while they conduct a feasibility study. The study should be completed by year s end. The estimates to rebuild the ship could be as much as $800 million and Crystal said it would be rebuilt extensively to meet current safety and EPA standards. It is expected to carry 800 guests and have the same 1.6 passenger-to-crew ratio as the 1,070-passenger Crystal Serenity. Features of the original ss United States such as the Promenade and Navajo Lounge will be retained, while new engines and sophisticated marine technology will be installed to maintain her title as the fastest cruise vessel in the world, according to Crystal Cruises. Proposed itineraries for the ss United States would include transatlantic voyages and cruises from key U.S. ports as well as world cruises. Early images show a ship that has little resemblance to the ss United States of old. Today passengers requires balcony cabins and lots of outdoor deck space and pool areas so she will be practical rebuilt from her Promenade Deck up thus eliminating her long lean profile and distinctive funnels. I am not sure that this is preserving the ship but let s see what the feasibility study comes up with! Stay tuned! Sincerely, NOW ON FACEBOOK! For more interesting stories, photos and comments visit us on Facebook at: CONTACT US To contact us quickly and easily please us at: membership@wocls.org

3 3 LOOKING BACK A look at what was making news in Ocean & Cruise News, Five, Ten, Fifteen and Twenty years ago. Five Years Ago February 2011 Holland America s Nieuw Amsterdam is voted Ship of the Year by WOCLS members.... Royal Caribbean has signed a letter of intent with shipyard Meyer Werft to build the first of a new generation of Royal Caribbean ships under the code-name "Project Sunshine,"..... Disney Cruise Line celebrated the keel laying of the Disney Fantasy at the Meyer Werft shipyard and is scheduled to entered service on January of 2011 Ten Years Ago February 2006 Holland America s Rotterdam VI is voted Ship of the Year.. Norwegian Cruise Line's 93,500-ton Pride of Hawai'i was floated out from dry dock in the German ship yard of Meyer Werft.... Celebrity Cruises orders a second ship in the new 118,000-ton "Solstice class" series of vessels.....royal Caribbean orders the largest cruise ship ever built, the new class called "Genesis Project" will be 220,000-ton and will accommodate 5,400 passengers Fifteen Years Ago February 2001 Crystal Cruises Crystal Symphony is voted Ship of the Year Orient Line announces it s eight season of Antarctica cruises aboard the Marco Polo beginning in December Celebrity Cruises has accepted delivery of Infinity, sister ship to Millennium.... Princess Cruises announces that the new Star Princess, 109,000-ton sister ship of Grand Princess, will debut with a Pacific Rim voyage in February Twenty Years Ago February 1996 Holland America s Ryndam is voted Ship of the Year Costa Cruises announces that its new flagship, the Costa Victoria, will be based out of Fort Lauderdale for the winter months It is announced that Royal Cruise Lines has sold the Queen Odyssey to Seabourn Cruises to be re-named Seabourn Legend. Cunard Lines announces that it has teamed up with Abercrombie & Kent to offer special Family Crossings combined with tours of the United Kingdom. The off-season is in full swing for the American Queen Steamboat Company after a successful 2015 season. This banner year saw a record number of guests enjoy an American Queen Steamboat Company voyage so many so that itineraries were added in order to accommodate the large number of reservations. Before moving full steam ahead into 2016, both American Queen Steamboat vessels are scheduled a lay-up period a time for cleaning, repairs, and updates throughout both vessels - in order to make sure we continue to offer our guests an unbeatable vacation experience. The American Queen will be docked for five weeks this winter, in Grenta, LA, while the American Empress will be docked for four months in Troutdale, OR. Although called the off-season, this time of year is actually quite bustling and a time of rapid change for the vessels. With a dedicated crew, the management teams have organized a schedule, budget and list of priority items to accomplish during the lay-up such as a few cosmetic changes in public areas. A list of lay-up repairs and improvements to both vessels include; the sanding and repainting of deck door frames and doors, replacement of wall coverings in select staterooms, painting of hotel interior including the dining room, new carpeting and upholstery in public areas and select staterooms, and installation of beautiful mahogany deck rails. For more details and information on 2016 itineraries and pricing, please visit us online at To plan your voyage please contact the American Queen Steamboat Company at , or call a professional travel agent.

4 4 Already recognized for unparalleled style, comfort and elegant home-away-from-home appeal, the staterooms and suites on Sirena -- the newest addition to the Oceania Cruises fleet of intimate and luxurious ships -- will exclusively feature custom-designed, expertlycrafted Italian mattresses when the ship launches in April The new Ultra Tranquility Bed features superior air suspension capabilities and a new spring structure with 3,000 coil springs four times as many coils as the average American mattress. While initially available only on Sirena, the new mattresses will be added to the remainder of the Oceania Cruises fleet -- Regatta, Insignia, Nautica, Marina and Riviera during upcoming dry docks. Sirena is scheduled to enter service April 27, 2016 with a 14-night cruise from Barcelona to Venice. Sirena will sail its inaugural season in the Mediterranean with itineraries that feature a mix of classic destinations and exotic new ports of call. For more information about Oceania Cruises, call 855-OCEANIA ( ) or contact a professional travel agent. Cunard recently announced that jazz icon Dee Dee Bridgewater will be co-headlining Queen Mary 2 s third Blue Note jazz-themed Transatlantic Crossing from New York to Southampton on October 25, Bridgewater is a Triple Grammy Award Winner, a TONY Winner, a UN Goodwill Ambassador, producer, record label head, and much more. Widely celebrated for her depth of artistry across mediums, Bridgewater will perform three intimate, powerhouse shows in The Royal Court Theatre as well as a Q&A session on board Queen Mary 2 s 7-night crossing. For more information about Queen Mary 2 or to book a voyage, contact your Travel Consultant, call Cunard toll free at , or visit Holland America Line is celebrating its Dutch heritage in a new partnership with Rijksmuseum, the most-visited national museum in the Netherlands. Through the collaboration, the Rijksmuseum at Sea created by Rijksstudio will be installed on ms Oosterdam during its scheduled dry dock in April 2016 and then move fleetwide over the next several years. The line has also become a new sponsor of the Rijksmuseum. Reproductions of some of the museum s most famous masterpieces will be showcased throughout the ship and a dedicated space onboard will invite guests to explore their own creativity through guided art workshops. Guests will be able to view videos about the museum and its collections on the instateroom television, while enrichment programs and presentations by Rijksmuseum staff will be available on select cruises. Guests also will have the opportunity to purchase special branded Rijksmuseum merchandise in the onboard shops. For more information about the Rijkmuseum program aboard Oosterdam, or to reserve your next voyage aboard any of the ships of Holland America Line please call SAIL HAL ( ), visit Holland America online at or call your travel professional.

5 5 Club Mariner Youth Program Plus enjoy... Terry Breen Alaska Expert on select sailings. Norwegian Cruise Line has revealed The Norwegian Edge, an innovative program that promises to introduce a new standard of excellence that encompasses the entire guest experience, from ship hardware to culinary enhancements and exclusive private destination developments. The Norwegian Edge reflects a significant two-year $400 million investment by the company through 2017 and demonstrates the line s commitment to exceptional quality and extraordinary experiences. The centerpiece of the program is an extensive ship refurbishment initiative that will elevate the experience on board the Norwegian fleet to this new standard. Norwegian Cruise Line s fleet features 14 purpose-built ships, including the recently launched Norwegian Escape. To book a cruise with Norwegian, contact a travel professional, call Norwegian at 888-NCL-CRUISE ( ), or visit Full Terms & Conditions can be found by visit RSSC.com For more information or to book your Alaskan voyage visit call REGENT ( ) or contact a professional travel agent. Seabourn has announced its 2016 Signature Savings Event, offering exceptional savings and a variety of value-added amenities on a selection of voyages on the ultra-luxury line's award-winning fleet of intimate, all-suite ships throughout 2016 and The Signature Savings Event offers a host of significant benefits, including: Reduced deposits Complimentary veranda suite upgrades Make this summer your most unforgettable when you enjoy the very best Alaska has to offer aboard Seven Seas Mariner recognized as "Ship of the Year" by The World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society in There has never been a better time to begin planning your next family vacation than right now with our limited time Alaskan Summer Offer. Enjoy these EXCLUSIVE OFFERS including; $300 Shipboard Credit, Kids Sail for $999, FREE Unlimited WiFi, Additional savings of up to 15 percent on Combination Voyages $1,000 USD per suite shipboard credit for penthouse and premium suites $200 USD per suite shipboard credit on select Europe voyages For more details about the award-winning Seabourn fleet, or to explore the worldwide selection of Seabourn cruising options please visit call Seabourn at or contact a professional travel agent.

6 6 (Continued from page 1) In order to complete a report card respondents must be a member in good standing of The World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society. They are a very diverse membership in age, earnings and cruise preferences. Our 2015 member profile contains a great deal of new members, many of which have joined us from our Facebook page. We are very proud to have you aboard. While many are too recent to have participated in our 2015 survey, it was a great pleasure to receive reports from some of our new members. This year, the snapshot of our average member member looks something like this. Our average member has sailed on an average of 28.5 cruises in their lifetime, and takes 2.3 cruises a year. Some of our members have reached far greater milestones with our top cruiser reporting a lifetime experience of over 200 cruises. Most members report at least two favorite cruise lines and many report three or four favorite ships. Surprising, their favorites are very diverse. It is not unusual to find a member who lists a long history of mass-market 7-day trips who also displays a history of upscale longer voyages. When projected over our total membership it is clear to see that our members are all cruise experts of a sort and their annual cruise purchasing power represents tens of thousands of annual berths and tens of millions of dollars in annual cruise revenue. In reading these survey results your first reaction might be to place the most emphasis on the ships with the highest scores, the fact is that our survey clearly shows that there are a number of ships, in all price ranges, that deliver an exceptionally high level of overall passenger satisfaction. In fact, in many cases the difference between the top five or ten finishers is based on a fraction of a point. The results are just that close! Please keep in mind that our scoring system is based on a scale of from 1 to 5. We believe that a middle score of 3 should be regarded as performed as expected meaning the cruise line delivered the wonderful experience the passenger left home expecting. A score of 4 (better than expected) or 5 (excellent) shows that the line clearly has succeeded in providing the highest level of personal satisfaction to their guests. When you begin to plan which ship to sail on next, keep in mind that all ships have their strong points and weak points, and what is important is that you find those which best match your own personal preferences. Not all cruise guests place emphasis on Bar Service, and many members having sailed the same Caribbean itinerary so many times they consider the ship itself their destination. Please do not assume that if your favorite ship is not listed, that it did not make the grade. In order to properly balance the survey, we are required to limit the ships included within the survey to those with a minimum number of reports. Some years, based purely on the report cards received, some very wonderful ships are omitted because they did not have enough report cards submitted for them to be fairly included. While some vessels may not be included in our final tallies, all report cards received are equally appreciated as they give us a valuable insight into each ship s performance and are invaluable in answering our members questions about which ship might be best for them, or how a ship is performing week to week. In determining the Grand Winner category, all categories except for three, are given equal weight. Because of their much greater importance, and because they have the most influence on passenger satisfaction, the categories of FOOD, DINING SERVICE and OVERALL are given additional weighting. Our Ship of the Year is determined by the ship receiving the highest score in the Grand Winner category. It is quite possible for a particular ship to place well in a number of categories, but fail to place as well in the Grand Winner category. This can result when the ship has markedly lower scores in one or two categories which, in turn, lowers the overall score when all are averaged. We hope you enjoy this year s Ship of the Year survey results as much as we did compiling them. We thoroughly enjoy reading about your cruise experiences while we tally each report card and use this knowledge to be

7 7 more observant when we sail aboard a vessel your reported on. We greatly appreciate the large increase this year in online submissions as it saves us a tremendous amount of work. Now for the results of this year s Ship of the Year survey. They are as follows: ITINERARY To some, the ship is the destination and the ports visited become a secondary point of interest, but many others view the ship as their floating hotel and place great emphasis on the ports. To these people their choice of a cruise is based very strongly on the itinerary. Whether it is a standard 7-day Caribbean cruise or a longer, their cruise purchase is decided by the ports visited, the hours in port, actual location the ship docks, and the recently popular overnights in port. This year, as it has done many times previously Holland America Line s Prinsendam, the Elegant Explorer placed first in this category narrowly edging out Cunard s Queen Elizabeth. Scores for the 20 top ships ranged from 4.83 to The top 20 ships in this category are: 1 Prinsendam 2 Queen Elizabeth 3 Seven Seas Voyager 4 Seabourn Sojourn 5 Crystal Serenity 6 Riviera 7 American Queen 8 Seven Seas Mariner 9 Queen Victoria 10 Crystal Symphony 11 Marina 12 Amsterdam 13 Seabourn Quest 14 Queen Mary 2 15 Seven Seas Navigator 16 Royal Princess 17 Regatta 18 Azamara Journey 19 Maasdam 20 Rotterdam FOOD The category of Food is the most reviewed and discussed of our categories. We all love to eat and the food on a cruise for many can make or break a cruise. Because of the added importance of this category it carries twice the importance of most of the categories. Food is a category that is particularly hard to judge, food taste, quality and presentation are always subject to one s personal tastes. In addition to personal tastes, the variety of foods offered; care in appearance; presentation (especially important is that items are served at the proper temperature); and the number choices that you are offered for each course are considerations. Other factors that influencing people s scoring of the food category include the capability of the ship s staff to provide alternative foods such as vegetarian and low-fat, and its willingness to offer substitutes if there is nothing to one s liking on the menu. Scoring in this category is based upon what you like and not what others might be saying about the food. This year top honors in this category once again go to Oceania Cruises Riviera. Scores of the top 20 ships ranged from 4.95 to The top 20 ships in this category are: 1 Riviera 2 Seven Seas Voyager 3 Crystal Serenity 4 Seabourn Quest 5 Marina 6 Seven Seas Mariner 7 Crystal Symphony 8 American Queen 9 Nieuw Amsterdam 10 Queen Elizabeth 11 Seabourn Sojourn 12 Seven Seas Navigator 13 Queen Mary 2 14 Eurodam 15 American Empress 16 Regatta 17 Norwegian Getaway 18 Rotterdam 19 Celebrity Silhouette 20 Norwegian Breakaway ALTERNATIVE DINING (Breakfast & Lunch) Alternative dining area on cruise ships have grown in importance and availability. Each new ship ups the ante in this area. Key area that influence the scoring in this category include the facilities themselves and ambiance of surroundings for offering these meals; are items are prepared to order or whether they are prepared somewhere else on the ship and only kept warm in a serving area? Are

8 8 there ample serving lines? Are the selections as extensive as in the dining room? Is there ample seating? This year s winner in this category is Oceania Cruises Riviera. Scores of the top 20 ships ranged from 4.95 to The top 20 ships in this category are: 1 Riviera 2 Seven Seas Voyager 3 Seabourn Quest 4 Seven Seas Mariner 5 Nieuw Amsterdam 6 Crystal Serenity 7 Marina 8 Crystal Symphony 9 Norwegian Getaway 10 Queen Elizabeth 11 Eurodam 12 Seabourn Odyssey 13 Norwegian Breakaway 14 Regal Princess 15 Queen Mary 2 16 Queen Victoria 17 Seven Seas Navigator 18 Noordam 19 Celebrity Solstice 20 American Empress ALTERNATE DINING (Dinner) Alternate dining has grown to be one of the most popular aspects of cruising today. Cruise lines have spent large sums of money designing and fine-tuning these venues to enhance the evening meal. These venues run the gamut from casual dining, to cultural, to branded or to upscale. Considerations under this category include, did it meet your expectations as to selection of items and the type of service? If reservations are required was it easy to book a table? Did the restaurant offer an atmosphere that was quiet and unrushed? How was the quality of the food and the preparation? Was there an extra fee to dine there and if so was it justified? This year s winner in this category is Oceania Cruises Riviera. Scores of the top 20 ships ranged from 4.95 to The top 20 ships in this category are: 1 Riviera 2 Crystal Symphony 3 Seven Seas Voyager 4 Crystal Serenity 5 Marina 6 Seven Seas Mariner 7 Celebrity Silhouette 8 Seabourn Quest 9 American Empress 10 Queen Victoria 11 Regatta 12 Seven Seas Navigator 13 Nieuw Amsterdam 14 Seabourn Odyssey 15 Queen Elizabeth 16 Norwegian Getaway 17 Eurodam 18 Queen Mary 2 19 Norwegian Breakaway 20 Regal Princess ENTERTAINMENT Entertainment aboard a cruise ship continues to be one of the more difficult undertakings for a cruise line. While they can easily win over those new to cruising with glitzy Broadway-style shows, for those more experienced cruisers such shows become stale very quickly. To succeed in this category a cruise line must strike a balance between these two types of passengers. Another factor is the range and quality other than the primary shows that it presents to its passengers. With the building of larger ships, more choices can now be offered to passengers. An additional difficulty that confronts the cruise lines is finding a style of entertainment those appeals to a wide range of passenger with varied ages and lifestyles. But the main criteria for scoring within this category is Did you enjoy the entertainment? This year top honors in this category go to Norweigan Cruise Line s Norwegian Getaway. Scores for the top 20 ships ranged from 4.78 to The top 20 ships in this category are: 1 Norwegian Getaway 2 Queen Mary 2 3 Oasis of the Seas 4 Norwegian Breakaway 5 Queen Victoria 6 Crystal Serenity 7 American Queen 8 Queen Victoria 9 Nieuw Amsterdam 10 Crystal Symphony 11 Royal Princess 12 Allure of the Seas

9 9 13 Seven Seas Voyager 14 Seabourn Quest 15 Seven Seas Mariner 16 American Empress 17 Noordam 18 Marina 19 Celebrity Silhouette 20 Eurodam STATEROOM COMFORT Standard staterooms on most of today s new ships have become fairly uniform in overall size with having a veranda. Your overall satisfaction with your stateroom is dependent on many factors. The following are important factors that should be considered: the layout of the room, the amenities that are presented, and the amount of storage space, the décor of the room, the general upkeep, and the soundproofing of outside noises. Even such basic things as the quality and size of the towels in the bathroom can influence your thinking. A room should also have a proper balance of furniture to floor space to allow for ease of moving about the room. And now electronic needs such as DVD players, charger outlets and WiFi need to be considered. This category this year the winner in this category is Regent Seven Seas Cruises Seven Seas Voyager. Scores of the top 20 ships ranged from 4.95 to The top 20 ships in this category are: 1 Seven Seas Voyager 2 Seabourn Quest 3 Seven Seas Mariner 4 Seabourn Sojourn 5 Riviera 6 Queen Mary 2 7 Crystal Serenity 8 Nieuw Amsterdam 9 Seven Seas Navigator 10 Crystal Symphony 11 Marina 12 Noordam 13 Eurodam 14 Queen Elizabeth 15 Prinsendam 16 Queen Victoria 17 Eurodam 18 Celebrity Silhouette 19 Rotterdam 20 American Empress APPEARANCE - We have always liked this category, because being purely subjective, it asks for an opinion on the overall style and ambiance of the ship. It is influenced by a number of factors, such as the eye-appeal of the ship, it s décor, and the arrangement and flow of the public rooms and spaces, and whether the facilities of the ship are adequate in size for the number of passengers carried (no feeling of overcrowding) and perhaps most important, whether the ship has all the features that you believe contribute to the overall enjoyment of a cruise. Maintenance of the ship is another important aspect that can influence our opinion on appearance. This year honors in this category go to Cunard Lines Queen Mary 2. Scores for the top 20 ships ranged from 4.91 to The top 20 ships in this category are: 1 Queen Mary 2 2 Riviera 3 Seven Seas Mariner 4 Nieuw Amsterdam 5 Seven Seas Voyager 6 Seabourn Quest 7 Queen Elizabeth 8 Norwegian Getaway 9 Crystal Serenity 10 Norwegian Breakaway 11 Queen Victoria 12 Marina 13 American Queen 14 Crystal Symphony 15 Eurodam 16 Seven Seas Navigator 17 Seabourn Sojourn 18 American Empress 19 Noordam 20 Regatta HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES If there is one undisputed demand from all passengers it is that a ship must be sparkling clean at all times. This is one area we want all ships to have high scores in. If all is neat and clean and in order in eye s view, then the chances are that behind the scenes, will also have the same degree of cleanliness. The category of housekeeping covers two basic areas of the ship; the staterooms and the public areas. One key to excelling in this area seems to having ample crew too quickly shipshape everything up and to not let

10 10 the mess sit for hours before tending to it. The real mark, which is noticeable on some ships, is the ability to for some ships to always look clean and proper even though you rarely see people doing the cleaning. This year top honors in this category go once again to Holland America Line s Nieuw Amsterdam. Scores for the top 20 ships ranged from 4.95 to The top 20 ships in this category are: 1 Nieuw Amsterdam 2 Seven Seas Voyager 3 Seabourn Quest 4 Crystal Symphony 5 Riviera 6 Crystal Serenity 7 Seven Seas Mariner 8 Eurodam 9 Marina 10 Crystal Symphony 11 Queen Elizabeth 12 Seabourn Sojourn 13 Queen Victoria 14 Queen Mary 2 15 Noordam 16 Seven Seas Navigator 17 American Empress 18 Norwegian Getaway 19 American Queen 20 Celebrity Silhouette DINING ROOM SERVICE This category is the second of our key categories that carries a higher degree of importance when we compute the average of all categories for our overall winner position. The category of Dining Room Service is not a judgment that ranks the ship according to overall elegance and style, but rather how well a ship is able to deliver the basics according to the expectations of passengers for the ships particular classification. Throughout all classifications of cruise ships, the basics remain: (1) ample staff to ensure that there are no long delays in serving, (2) how quickly they respond to any requests you may have, (3) ability of the staff to communicate and to explain the different foods, (4) their ability to remember your preferences, (5) properness in serving items i.e., to serve ladies first and replacing utensils as needed, and (6) the general attitude and the friendliness of the people serving you. In addition to the overall performance of a waiter and busboy is the overall opinion or experience with other dining room personnel, such as the head waiter, wine steward and maitre d. This year s winner in this category is Regent Seven Seas Cruises Seven Seas Voyager. Scores of the top 20 ships ranged from 4.98 to The top 20 ships in this category are: 1 Seven Seas Voyager 2 Riviera 3 Seabourn Quest 4 Marina 5 Crystal Serenity 6 Seven Seas Mariner 7 Seabourn Sojourn 8 Nieuw Amsterdam 9 Queen Elizabeth 10 Crystal Symphony 11 American Queen 12 Queen Victoria 13 Noordam 14 Queen Mary 2 15 Celebrity Silhouette 16 Seven Seas Navigator 17 Eurodam 18 Regatta 19 Prinsendam 20 American Empress BAR - The category of Bar is your assessment of the satisfaction that you felt you received regarding the service, quality and value from the ship s bars and personnel that served you any beverages. The category includes any beverage that is served at the ships bars or in the lounges and pool and deck areas, not just alcoholic drinks. Some of the basics that result in a high level of satisfaction include prompt and efficient service, overall quality, proper presentation and the friendliness of the staff who serve you. An additional point to be considered is that of value. With bar prices continually increasing it is very important that with the added cost you receive a sense of value for that drink. This year top honors in this category go to Seabourn Cruises Seabourn Quest. Scores of the top 20 ships ranged from 4.89 to The top 20 ships in this category are: 1 Seabourn Quest 2 Nieuw Amsterdam 3 Seven Seas Mariner 4 Riviera

11 11 5 Crystal Serenity 6 Seven Seas Voyager 7 Seabourn Sojourn 8 Crystal Symphony 9 Queen Mary 2 10 Norwegian Getaway 11 Seven Seas Navigator 12 Royal Princess 13 Norwegian Breakaway 14 Marina 15 Noordam 16 Queen Elizabeth 17 Eurodam 18 Celebrity Silhouette 19 Queen Victoria 20 Celebrity Solstice SHIP ACTIVITIES Along with the usual list of activities that are presented in a ship s daily program there are alternative forms of entertainment such as movie theatres, in-stateroom television and in cabin programming as well as jogging tracks, rock climbing walls, zip lines and water parks and many other types of sport activities. The key to the ship delivering a high degree of satisfaction in this category is to present a well-balanced program of activities that appeal to the ship s different passenger ages and tastes. In order to do this, the range of activities must be varied and would include activities such as organized fun activities, lectures, bridge tournaments, port talks, and if offered, any ship tours. Also to be considered is whether any features and activities offered are the type that really appeals to you, or whether they are just activities that tempt you to spend more money on the ship. A simple way to determine that is to ask yourself if you were not on a cruise ship, would the activity be a type that you would participate in at home. This year s winner in this category is again this year if Norwegian Cruise Line s Norwegian Breakaway. Scores of the top 20 ships ranged from 4.76 to The top 20 ships in this category are: 1 Norwegian Breakaway 2 Queen Mary 2 3 Norwegian Getaway 4 Oasis of the Seas 5 Royal Princess 7 Queen Victoria 8 Carnival Breeze 9 Nieuw Amsterdam 10 Crystal Symphony 11 Queen Elizabeth 12 Seabourn Quest 13 Noordam 14 Quantum of the Seas 15 Riviera 16 Seven Seas Mariner 17 Regal Princess 18 American Queen 19 Carnival Dream 20 Crystal Serenity SPA & GYM FACILITIES In our fitness conscious society many people consider these facilities a requirement on a ship so that they may continue the exercise programs when away. Most cruise lines have gone to great effort to create the type of facilities that most passengers are seeking. Some things to consider include the physical layout of the area, the type and age of the equipment, the quality of supervision or training, state of the arts equipment and the availability of the equipment at the time you want to use it. Spas are enormously popular with many new ships devoting major space to creating lavish spa facilities. A key point in judging a ship s spa treatments is whether you were allowed to completely enjoy the treatment, or did it become more of a session to sell you high-priced products, in other words, did you pay for a treatment or just a sales pitch? This year s winner in this category is Norwegian Cruise Line s Norwegian Getaway. Scores of the top 20 ships ranged from 4.91 to The top 20 ships in this category are: 1 Norwegian Getaway 2 Carnival Breeze 3 Queen Mary 2 4 Royal Princess 5 Norwegian Breakaway 6 Queen Victoria 7 Seven Seas Voyager 8 Seabourn Quest 9 Crystal Serenity 10 Nieuw Amsterdam 11 Riviera 12 Oasis of the Seas 13 Eurodam 14 Regal Princess 15 Seven Seas Mariner

12 12 16 Celebrity Equinox 17 Noordam 18 Marina 19 Crystal Symphony 20 Carnival Dream SHORE EXCURSIONS Shore excursions are one of the most difficult tasks for a cruise line to control, because the tours are conducted by independent contractors with the cruise line acting as an agent to sell the tickets. The importance of the shore excursion depends on the areas that you are visiting. I you are traveling to a distant area and one that will, an area that would be a once in lifetime visit; your expectations for the tours will be very high. On the other hand, if you are in an area that you have visited before and it is one you are likely to return to, such as the Caribbean, your expectations probably will not be as high. An important aspect of the Shore Excursion office is that they are knowledgeable about the area and the tours they are selling, and that they are upfront about the quality of the tours. Some of the points influencing your satisfaction include; did you spend most of your time riding in a vehicle getting to or from the main part of the tour? Was there enough time to see the main points that sold you on the tour, or were you hurried through the main parts so that there was more time for shopping (which you could have done on your own)? Additional considerations to take into account include the service aspects of the ship s Shore Excursion office how easy was it to book the tours, and how easy was it to cancel a tour and get a refund? This year once again American Queen Steamboat Company s American Queen comes in first in this category. Scores of the top 20 ships ranged from 4.87 to The top 20 ships in this category are: 1 American Queen 2 Prinsendam 3 Queen Elizabeth 4 Nieuw Amsterdam 5 American Empress 6 Riviera 7 Seabourn Quest 8 Seven Seas Mariner 9 Queen Mary 2 10 Crystal Serenity 11 Seven Seas Voyager 12 Eurodam 13 Queen Victoria 14 Marina 15 Noordam 16 Crystal Symphony 17 Silver Whisper 18 Seven Seas Navigator 19 Rotterdam 20 Regatta OVERALL - This category is a general summation of what you felt about the cruise and not an averaging of the 15 previously graded categories. The purpose of this category is to give balance to those particular categories that are more important to you against those that are of less importance. In other words, while it s possible that you didn t enjoy some aspects of the cruise, the ones you didn t enjoy might not have been so important to you that it took away from your overall enjoyment of the cruise. For example, if your personal requirements place more emphasis on, say, the Food and less on Entertainment, then the category of Overall reflects how well the ship performed in the areas that you felt are more important. If the important category did not perform according to your expectations, then the Overall score you assign would probably be lower than the statistical averaging of them. Likewise, if you gave low scores to categories that were not really important to your overall enjoyment in a cruise, you would probably indicate a higher Overall score than the statistical averaging. Because this category is really a summation of how well you enjoyed the cruise all told, it carries a triple weighting in our Grand Winner averaging of all thirteen categories we asked you to judge. This year s top ship in the category of Overall is Oceania Cruises Riviera. Scores of the top 20 ships ranged from 4.93 to The top 20 ships in this category are: 1 Riviera 2 Seven Seas Voyager 3 Seabourn Quest 4 Marina 5 Crystal Serenity 6 Nieuw Amsterdam 7 Crystal Symphony 8 Seven Seas Mariner 9 Queen Mary 2 10 American Queen 11 Queen Elizabeth

13 13 12 Norwegian Getaway 13 Queen Victoria 14 Eurodam 15 Seabourn Sojourn 16 Seven Seas Navigator 17 Royal Princess 18 Noordam 19 Regatta 20 Celebrity Silhouette GRAND WINNER This is not one of the categories we ask our readers to grade, but rather it is the statistical averaging of all thirteen categories that our members graded on the Cruise Report Card forms, taking into account the extra weighting given to three categories, Food, Dining Service and Overall. The ship receiving the highest average score for all thirteen categories is awarded our Ship of the Year honor. In order for a ship to become our Ship of the Year it takes an exceptional consistency of high marks in each of the categories, because very often the difference between the top and the middle of the pack is decided by mere fractions of a point. A ship need not place first in each category, but usually must place within the top five, in at least most of the categories. It is important to keep in mind that our Ship of the Year award is based on passenger satisfaction and is not the type of qualitative judgment which is often the basis for other surveys or guidebooks. Because it is a measure of satisfaction rather than a cooperative or qualitative judgment, any ship in any category has an equal chance to place high in our Survey. Each cruise line promotes its ships in its own way and to a particular segment of the population. Passenger s satisfaction is the pure assessment of what an individual expected against what he received. Other surveys and guides that judge ships on a qualitative basis do not measure the individual aspects of the cruises that are so important to overall passenger satisfaction. There is little meaning to you if others rate a ship as best if it doesn t fit your personal style of a cruise. Our Grand Winner and our Ship of the Year honor for 2015 goes to Oceania Cruises Riviera voted as Ship of the Year by our members for delivering the highest degree of overall satisfaction to them during the past year. Our congratulations go to Oceania Cruise and the crew of the Riviera for delivering the highest degree of passenger satisfaction to our members. This is the second time the Riviera has won our Ship of the Year; she was also our winner in For our Grand Winner category, here are the top 20 ships that our readers judged as the ones that gave them the highest degree of passenger satisfaction in They are listed in order along with the scores that each achieved. You will note that many times the separation between ships is by mere fractions of a point. Here are the top 20 in our Grand Winner Category: 1. Riviera Seven Seas Voyager Seven Seas Mariner Crystal Serenity Seabourn Quest Nieuw Amsterdam Marina Crystal Symphony Queen Elizabeth Eurodam Seabourn Sojourn Norwegian Getaway Seven Seas Navigator Queen Victoria American Queen Queen Mary Noordam Celebrity Silhouette Prinsendam Royal Princess CONCLUSION - It is improtant to remember that the true uniqueness of our Ship of the Year survey is that it is based 100% on the votes of our members. Every person departs for their cruise with their own expectation as to what lies ahead. Not every cruiser wants ultra-luxury and some may feel more comfortable in a less than ultra-luxury environment. When a cruise line plans their product, part of that process is to choose a target audience they wish to attract. Once they have chosen their audience they can determine what the expectations of that audience will be and then set their sight on developing a product that will attract them and surpass their expectations. If they do, they are a

14 14 success. The overall success of the cruise industry, proves that the executive teams leading today s cruise lines are very well in-tune with the expectations of their target audience. The constant improvements they offer to their on-board product as they introduce new ships, is a direct result of their success and the subsequent need to continually raise the bar to stay ahead of guests expectations. We hope our members will continue to share their valuable insight with us as they set sail in For members that have internet access and have already cruised in 2016, you may begin filling out your 2016 report cards in the member s area of our website at We thank you for your continued efforts and support. While our survey is designed to look at the performance of an individual ship, the data it provides paints an interesting picture of the cruise industry as a whole. In viewing this data there are a remarkable number of ships, lines and cruises where members rates their overall experience consistently a 4 or better. This is a remarkable achievement for the cruise industry as a whole. It indicates that the lines are in most cases meeting, and often exceeding. the expectations of their guests. While there are lower scores which suggest room for improvement, or at least more consistency, in some areas on some ships, the overall picture painted of today s cruise industry is extremely positive. Regent Seven Seas Cruises has announced plans for an extensive, $125 million fleet-wide refurbishment program. REGENT REFURBISHMENT Beginning with Seven Seas Navigator this spring, the public spaces and suites will be refurbished to the same high standards and detail as found on Seven Seas Explorer, providing guests with a consistent look-and-feel. This two-year $125 million investment includes significant renovations of most public spaces along with a complete redesign of all categories of suites. Seven Seas Navigator be the first to receive this luxurious upgrade, followed by Seven Seas Voyager in late 2016 and Seven Seas Mariner in the spring of Ship of the Year - Oceania Cruises Riviera

15 15 WORLD OCEAN & CRUISE LINER SOCIETY PAST SHIP OF THE YEAR WINNERS Seven Seas Mariner Oceania Riviera Seven Seas Voyager Oceania Marina Nieuw Amsterdam Celebrity Solstice Seven Seas Voyager Crystal Serenity Seven Seas Voyager Rotterdam VI Seven Seas Voyager Crystal Symphony Seven Seas Mariner Amsterdam Crystal Symphony Rotterdam VI Rotterdam VI Veendam Crystal Harmony Ryndam Statendam Rotterdam V Noordam Song of America Song of America Song of Norway Sagafjord Nordic Prince Royal Viking Sky Song of Norway Song of America Sagafjord Sagafjord Sun Viking (Based on the prior year s voyages) Don t delay. Start submitting your report cards on your 2016 voyages today online at CRYSTAL CRUISES SIGNS OPTION FOR ss UNITED STATES Crystal Cruises has signed an option purchase agreement for a ship that last sailed in 1969, the ss United States, pending a technical feasibility study. The agreement is between Crystal Cruises and the SS United States Conservancy, which currently owns the ship. Crystal Cruises CEO and President Edie Rodriguez said it was Crystal's intention to return the ship to the sea as America s flagship, rebuilding it as modern luxury vessel. She added Crystal has gone out and hired experts to manage the project, which will be led by retired U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Tim Sullivan. While also managing new ship construction in Europe for ocean and river ships, Crystal intends to refit the ss United States for cruise service. Crystal will pay docking costs for the next nine months as the ship continues to sit in Philadelphia during the time period when the feasibily studies are performed. The docking costs for ss United States currently run approximately $60,000 a month in dock fees and insurance. Sady, the 64-year-old ss United States has sat relatively untouched in Philadelphia for the last 18 years, and is in need of a complete, major rebuild and overhaul. She was stripped of her entire interior many years ago. Crystal s Edie Rodriguez said the cost for the project would be in excess of $750 million. She said the ship could return to service as soon as While many have hoped and prayed for her to find a saviour and return to the high seas for decades, every attempt previously has fallen apart. We would love to see the ss United States sail again and can only hope Crystal s vision comes to fruition for this once proud liner!

16 16 MONTHLY NOTES AND COMMENTS Holland America Line s ms Koningsdam returned to Fincantieri s Marghera shipyard Saturday, Jan. 16, after successfully completing two sets of sea trials off the Italian coast. In its inaugural year, Koningsdam will feature a variety of itineraries in the Mediterranean, northern Europe and the Caribbean. The ship s naming ceremony is scheduled for May 20, 2016, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands Princess Cruises announces The Come Back New Promise, a $450 million multi-year product innovation and cruise ship renovation campaign that will continue to enhance the line's onboard guest experience. These enhancements will result in more transformative moments, lifetime memories and meaningful stories for guests to share from their cruise vacation. The campaign demonstrates a commitment by Princess Cruises to exceed guest expectations while continuously improving upon and delivering a high value cruise vacation experience that inspires guests to return and introduce cruising to their family and friends. When Cunard's Queen Mary 2 arrived in New York last month she was carrying one more passenger than when she had departed Southampton seven days earlier. This is because a passenger from Germany gave birth to a baby boy during the crossing. According to Cunard, the birth was the first ever onboard the line's flagship. Due to recent events in Turkey, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has confirmed that it was dropping all calls to Turkish ports for its three cruise brands, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania and Regent. Eurodam re-entered service last month, following a scheduled 14-day dry dock in the Bahamas, guests were introduced to several new concepts recently announced by Holland America Line. The most notable new additions are Lincoln Center Stage, in partnership with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, showcasing an ensemble performing chamber music; Billboard Onboard, in partnership with Billboard, featuring 50 years of chart-topping hits; and Gallery Bar, making its debut in the former Northern Lights venue. A record number of cruise ships visited Iceland last year bringing with them just over 100,000 passengers. 108 cruise ships entered the port of Reykjavik in 2015, up from 91 the previous year and the highest number ever was the second year in a row that total passengers numbers exceeded 100,000 Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which is unveiling the new Seven Seas Explorer this summer, its most luxurious newbuild ever, is not forgetting existing members of its fleet. The luxury line recently announced that it will be investing $125 million to upgrade and refurbish Seven Seas Navigator, Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner. Princess Cruises announced today that Captain Dino Sagani has been named master of its next new ship, Majestic Princess, which will debut in 2017 and will sail year-round in China. He will lead a senior officer team with more than 100 years of seagoing experience among them. Pandaw River Cruises said it will introduce a new ship on the Mekong River in South East Asia, the Yunnan Pandaw. Sister ship to the Laos Pandaw, the Yunnan Pandaw will have 12 main deck and 2 upper deck staterooms, a stunning observation deck and dining room. The company has also announced the launch of a new 10-night partner programme in Ecuador, including a 7- night river expedition on the Napo River, which is a tributary of the Amazon River aboard mv Anakonda. Princess Cruises celebrated the grand opening of Share by Curtis Stone, the chef s first restaurant at sea aboard Ruby Princess. According to Princess, "Share offers an exclusive specialty cruise dining experience for guests with a menu of signature dishes imagined for sharing, in an environment designed for conversing and creating memories." Share is available on the Ruby Princess and Emerald Princess, and soon will debut aboard Sun Princess in Stone s native Australia in April 2016