Panama Canal - Princess Cruises
Transcription
Panama Canal - Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises PANAMA CANAL CRUISES Cruising Season: September 2015 to April 2016 April 2015 Update All information is considered correct at date of publishing. We always provide the most current information at princess.com or at 1-800-421-1700. PANAMA CANAL 50th ANNIVERSARY In 2015 Princess celebrates our 50th Anniversary! From our humble beginnings with one ship, the Princess Patricia®, sailing in Mexico, to our present fleet of 18 ships sailing all over the world, Princess has offered an innovative vision of cruising that has influenced the industry and promoted growth. For our Golden Anniversary, we are offering a very special voyage and special touches on every sailing! A 14-day 50th Anniversary Mexican Riviera sailing on Pacific Princess®, departing on December 3, 2015 – the same day that Princess Patricia departed in 1965. Princess Patricia, circa 1965 Although this sailing has sold out, you may add your clients to the waitlist. PANAMA CANAL 50th ANNIVERSARY Special 50th Anniversary Touches On Board! Every voyage with Princess Cruises in 2015 offers your clients a celebration of our Golden Anniversary! Just a few of the special touches offered on every sailing: • • • • • • Launch of Chocolate JourneysSM, in partnership with master chocolatier Norman Love, including a special 50th Anniversary Chocolate Dessert Norman Love Special onboard events including Love Boat® parties Decorations throughout the ships celebrating our Golden Anniversary 50th Anniversary Commemorative Menu Princess® Seawitch 50th Anniversary microbrewed beer Musical performances from tribute bands, like The Beatlemaniacs, bringing the greatest hits over the decades to life For more details about celebrations for our 50th Anniversary, take our Princess Academy course! PANAMA CANAL INTRODUCTION Princess® has carefully designed ships, itineraries and programs to give you the best of the Panama Canal and the region so that your clients can come back with a new perspective. This course gives you the details about our offerings in this fascinating destination. This course will cover the following topics: • • • • • • Profile of the Panama Canal as a travel destination Who travels to the Panama Canal Advantages of cruising the Panama Canal with Princess The Princess fleet in the Panama Canal Panama Canal 2015-2016 itineraries & highlights Sales Tips & Tools PANAMA CANAL INTRODUCTION For close to 400 years, it was one of mankind’s grandest dreams. To dig through the continent and connect the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean – saving captains, seafarers and explorers thousands of dangerous miles and countless lives sailing down the coast of South America and around Cape Horn. On August 15, 1914 the seas were joined as the vision became a reality and the first ship passed through the Panama Canal. Now your clients will be inspired by their own incredible dream and enjoy an epic journey through the Panama Canal on board Island Princess® and Coral Princess®, ships custom-built for transiting this modern wonder. Wrong ship – REGAL PANAMA CANAL THE DESTINATION PANAMA CANAL THE DESTINATION The Panama Canal: A Modern Marvel As the mammoth gates close and the water pours into the lock, the 92,000ton ship rises effortlessly. Your clients are awed – as much by the history of the Panama Canal as by the experience. The concept of the Panama Canal dates back to the 16th century. The French began an attempt to dig the Canal in 1881, but they abandoned the effort. In 1904, the United States was granted authority over the Panama Canal construction. It took the American government 10 years and $382 million to complete the project. 26,000 lives were lost during the Canal’s construction. PANAMA CANAL THE DESTINATION The Panama Canal: A Modern Marvel How inspiring it is for your clients to be here, passing through the Canal, experiencing the ease of a passage resulting from numerous engineering feats – like cutting through nearly nine miles of solid granite at the Continental Divide, or the use of gravity alone to pull water for the locks from Gatun Lake. This is the “eighth wonder of the world” – the legendary Panama Canal. Your clients are experiencing it, making the transit as adventurers have for a century on over a million passages. They take a moment to let it sink in and to enjoy this close-up look at one of mankind’s greatest achievements. PANAMA CANAL THE DESTINATION Engineering Marvel • The route is 50 miles (approximately 80 kilometers) long and includes passage through three main locks: Miraflores 2-Stage Locks, Pedro Miguel Locks, and Gatun 3-Stage Locks. • Each lock is 1,000 feet long (nearly 305 meters), 110 feet wide (nearly 34 meters), and requires 26.7 million gallons of water to fill. The water raises vessels in the locks through gravitational force. • The Canal consists of two artificial lakes (Miraflores Lake and Gatun Lake), along with several improved and artificial channels. • Each year, the Panama Canal accommodates more than 14,000 ships. • Almost 8,000 miles are saved by ships sailing from New York to San Francisco via the Panama Canal versus sailing around Cape Horn. Source: http://www.pancanal.com/ PANAMA CANAL PROSPECTS Who sails the Panama Canal? • • • • • The Panama Canal draws a more mature passenger (average age is 66) who is married, retired and has generally cruised at least once before. This group has the time and income to select longer, more expensive cruises translating to higher commissions and more profit for travel agents who sell cruises. Nearly 16% of Panama Canal cruisers live in the Pacific region. 18% live in Canada. Another 30% of Canal cruisers call the Atlantic region home. PANAMA CANAL WHY PANAMA CANAL? • A Rite of Passage The Panama Canal has been an enthralling tourist attraction for decades. It holds the enviable position of a travel classic – something every traveler should experience. The only way to truly appreciate this modern marvel is by ship. • Wide Appeal The Panama Canal is the magic link between the Caribbean, South America, Central America and Mexico. Panama Canal cruises weave together ports from all these diverse regions and combine them into one sensational vacation. • Convenience Guests can travel by sea from one port to another in one seamless trip, avoiding the hassle of changing hotels, or taking several flights between destinations. Instead, your clients will unpack once and experience the region, with a world-class resort, their Princess ship, awaiting them at the end of each day to take them to the next exciting port! Offer your clients a Panama Canal cruise. Transiting the canal might already be on their list of vacations they’d like to take and you can give them ability to cross it off their list by booking a cruise for them! PANAMA CANAL WHY PRINCESS? • All-in-One Compared to a land-based vacation, cruising the Panama Canal is an incredible value. Cruise travel includes most of the costs of the vacation, as the lodging, transfers, meals, entertainment and more are included in the cruise fare. Landbased vacations require extensive planning and the cost can vary widely from city to city. Cruising allows travelers to pay the bulk of their costs before setting foot on the ship. • Camaraderie Cruising offers a unique opportunity to meet people with similar interests and develop long-lasting friendships. Your clients will not feel alone in foreign ports as they explore exciting new places among friendly faces. PANAMA CANAL WHY PRINCESS? • Peace of Mind • Even though your clients may be traveling to ports where the native tongue is Spanish, the official language onboard is English – not only can they easily handle all onboard transactions but they can get advice regarding the ports of call in English. • Service and Assistance Onboard – When a passenger needs help or advice, onboard staff is available to lend a helping hand. • Port guides are distributed before each stop and port lecturers give tips for shopping, transportation and local customs so your clients feel at ease exploring foreign ports. PANAMA CANAL WHY PRINCESS? Princess is the leader in destination cruising, with decades of experience cruising the Panama Canal. We offer 3 exciting ways to experience the Panama Canal: 1. 2-Day Panama Canal Experience: This 2-day experience includes a full transit of the Canal plus a full-day call in Fuerte Amador, providing passengers with a chance to explore more of the region. Available on select 15-day sailings between Ft. Lauderdale and Los Angeles on Island Princess. 2. Full Transit Sailing: Available on 15- or 17-day sailings between Los Angeles and Ft. Lauderdale, this sailing offers a full Canal transit, and includes ports such as Cabo San Lucas and San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. Available on Coral Princess, Island Princess, and, new this season, Pacific Princess! 3. Roundtrip Panama Canal (Partial Transit): This 10-day itinerary, roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale, offers a partial Panama Canal transit through the Gatun Locks to Gatun Lake, plus port calls in Aruba; Cartagena, Colombia; and Limón, Costa Rica – plus either Ocho Rios, Jamaica, or Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. Available on Coral Princess and Island Princess. PANAMA CANAL WHY PRINCESS? Princess Accolades Princess has nearly 50 years of experience providing premium cruising. It’s no wonder that we’ve been acknowledged by several publications for our itinerary planning! Princess Cruises is the best option for your clients to bring home a deeper knowledge and appreciation for the Panama Canal and the region. We’ve been recognized for Best Cruise Itineraries by three different publications: • Travel Weekly Reader's Choice Awards, 2013 • Cruise Critic Editor's Choice Awards, 2013 • Recommend Magazine Readers Choice Awards, a record-setting nine years in a row! PANAMA CANAL WHY PRINCESS? More Princess Accolades Our cruise line continues to have award-winning design and customer service. Here are some additional accolades we received recently: • Cruise Line with Highest Customer Satisfaction – TravelAge West Magazine Editor’s Picks, 2013 • We were also awarded Best Shore Excursions by TravelAge West Magazine Editor's Picks, 2013! • Top 10 Large Cruise Lines – Travel & Leisure World's Best Awards, 2011-2013 • Top Large Cruise Ships – Condé Nast Traveler, 2013 • Ten Best Cruise Ship Spas: Lotus Spa® – USA Today, 2014 • Best Spa on a Cruise Ship: Lotus Spa – Spafinder Wellness 365TM Readers' Choice Awards, 2013 PANAMA CANAL WHY PRINCESS? The Princess experience in the Panama Canal • 3 Points of Departure: Princess has convenient embarkation ports to the Panama Canal from Ft. Lauderdale, Los Angeles and Vancouver. • Optional Tours: Approximately 200 optional shore excursions are offered with the Princess Shore Excursion program providing something for everyone – whether your clients explore the cobblestone streets of Cartagena's “Old City”, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ride a chairlift through the Mystic Mountain Rainforest in Ocho Rios or hand-feed ostriches at The Aruba Ostrich Attraction. • Extended Stays: For Panama Canal itineraries, passengers can extend their vacation with a Cruise Plus® Hotel package in Ft. Lauderdale, Los Angeles and Vancouver. PANAMA CANAL WHY PRINCESS? Unparalleled Onboard Experience • • Small Ships: One of our smaller ships, Pacific Princess, will join the Panama Canal fleet in 2015 – 2016 on two departures of our 17-day itinerary – offering a choice of ship size to see this impressive manmade wonder! This ship features 70% balcony staterooms, perfect for your clients to relax, put their feet up and watch the view as the ship transits the Panama Canal. Innovative ships: We have two ships custom-built for the Panama Canal with 89% ocean-view staterooms of which 74% are balcony staterooms for the ultimate view. Coral Princess and Island Princess provide your clients with the amenities of a much larger ship, yet have been designed to fit through the Panama Canal. Both ships offer Princess signature amenities like Movies Under the Stars® and The Sanctuary. Princess offers a high percentage of balcony staterooms to enjoy Panama Canal, available on premium or standard staterooms as we all suites and mini suites – and are truly affordable! PANAMA CANAL WHY PRINCESS? Unparalleled Onboard Experience • • Activities: Whether your clients are active by nature or are more inclined towards rest and relaxation, we offer something for everyone. While on board they can enjoy amenities such as: Lotus Spa, Onboard Activities and Enrichment Programs, live entertainment, casinos, nightclubs and so much more! Dining: Up to 11 onboard dining venues include a variety of casual and upscale specialty restaurants. Onboard Coral Princess and Island Princess, we offer both Traditional Dining and Anytime DiningSM. Our dining offers memorable and elegant freshly prepared foods and we have complimentary items for your clients such as ice cream and afternoon tea. We never stop anticipating our passengers’ needs and endeavor to make the dining experience everything that could be desired. Princess received recognition in 2014 by Food & Wine Magazine as Best Cruises for Food Lovers! PANAMA CANAL WHY PRINCESS? Unparalleled Onboard Experience • Family Friendly: We offer outstanding programs for many different age groups – whether the kids want to watch movies and eat pizza with their new friends in their dedicated center, parents want some "alone" time in the Sanctuary or grandparents want to put on their dancing shoes and trip the light fantastic! We also provide many opportunities for the generations to gather together such as Movies Under the Stars, activities on the Sports Deck and our many Onboard Enrichment Programs. • Shipboard Romance: Romantic couples and honeymooners love the private balcony dining, rejuvenating spa services and sunset strolls. We feature shipboard weddings and vow renewal ceremonies as well as celebrations packages designed with romantic elements such as champagne breakfast and Godiva chocolates. Add romantic destinations and our cruises are the perfect place for rekindling romance! PANAMA CANAL THE FLEET Coral Princess® & Island Princess® • • • 1,974 passengers Over 700 balcony staterooms Wrap-around Promenade Deck These ships offer hallmark venues and some of our latest innovations: • • • • • Movies Under the Stars – largescreen, outdoor theater The International Café* – coffees, fresh-baked pastries, paninis Sabatini’sSM – Italian-inspired specialty restaurant Bayou Café & Steakhouse Lotus Spa & Fitness Center *International Café available only on Coral Princess and is available 24 hours. The Sanctuary – Relaxing retreat for adults • Platinum Studio – High-end photography featuring black & white portraiture • Pub Lunch – Serving British favorites on sea days • Suite Breakfast – Exclusive breakfast served in Sabatini’s for suite passengers • In 2014, USA TODAY recognized Sabatini's as Best Cruise Ship Specialty Restaurants! PANAMA CANAL THE FLEET Pacific Princess® • 672 passengers • Over 200 staterooms offer balconies • Many of the amenities of our larger ships with the intimate, personalized service of the small-ship experience • • • • • Sabatini’sSM – Italian-inspired specialty restaurant Sterling Steakhouse Lotus Spa & Fitness Center Pub Lunch – Serving British favorites on sea days Suite Breakfast – Exclusive breakfast served in Sabatini’s for suite passengers PANAMA CANAL ITINERARIES 2015 - 2016 Panama Canal Season PANAMA CANAL ITINERARIES Panama Canal itineraries are organized into three categories. The next section of this course will introduce our itineraries in the following order: 1. 2-Day Panama Canal Experience 2. Full-Transit Panama Canal 3. Roundtrip Panama Canal (Partial Transit) PANAMA CANAL ITINERARIES 2-Day Panama Canal Experience Your clients will enjoy immersion in the cultures of the region on a 2-Day Panama Canal Experience on select 15-day Panama Canal (Full Transit) cruises. Includes: • A full Panama Canal transit through all three sets of locks, including passing through Gatun Lake and Miraflores Lake. • A full day at Fuerte Amador on the Canal’s Pacific side, offering shore excursions such as: Panama Canal Railway – Experience the hemisphere's first transcontinental railroad, built in 1855, and see the Panama Canal from a renovated train car. • Panama Viejo - Visit ruins of the original city that was destroyed by a band of pirates in 1671. • Gamboa Rainforest – Watch the lush rainforest come to life in an aerial tram that soars above the treetops. • Embera Indian Village – Board a dugout canoe and take in the native music and dance of the Embera Indians as your stroll through the village and browse for traditional crafts. • • Shore excursions enhance guests’ experience by allowing them to witness the engineering marvel of the Canal, as well as exploring by land. PANAMA CANAL ITINERARIES 15-Day Panama Canal Full Transit • • February 3 &18, 2016* • Island Princess • Between Ft. Lauderdale and Los Angeles • 2 departures, 7 ports, 7 countries *Itineraries vary by departure, see princess.com for details. These voyages from Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles include a 2-Day Canal Experience, stopping in either Puerto Chiapas or Puerto Quetzal. • Colonial Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, can be visited from Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala. Surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, this charming town features cobblestone streets and lovely shopping plazas as well as 300-year old churches, palaces and convents. • In Puerto Chiapas, visitors can learn how cocoa beans are turned into chocolate by the local women of Tuxtla Chico, “The Chocolate City.” PANAMA CANAL ITINERARIES 15-Day Panama Canal Full Transit • • • • • Convenient voyages from Ft. Lauderdale and Los Angeles that include a full Canal transit, passing through the Miraflores, Pedro Miguel and Gatun Locks. • See Gatun Lake or “Lago Gatún”, a large artificial lake in the Republic of Panama. • Visit the Dutch influenced island of Aruba with its gorgeous white-sand September 2015 through April 2016* beaches. Coral Princess or Island Princess • Featuring a 15-day holiday sailing on December 20 aboard Island Princess Between Ft. Lauderdale and – your clients can spend Christmas at Los Angeles sea! 8 departures, 7 ports, 7 countries *Itineraries vary by departure, see princess.com for details. PANAMA CANAL ITINERARIES 10-Day Roundtrip Panama Canal Partial Transit • • October 2015 through April 2016* • Coral Princess or Island Princess • Roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale • 22 departures, 5 ports, 5 countries Convenient roundtrip voyages from Ft. Lauderdale include transit through the Gatun Locks and into Gatun Lake. • A special 10-day holiday sailing is available December 17 aboard Coral Princess – your clients can spend Christmas at sea! • Visitors can experience Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios or visit the Stingray Sandbar in Grand Cayman! *Itineraries can vary by departure, see princess.com for details. PANAMA CANAL ITINERARIES 17-Day Panama Canal Full Transit 18-day Panama Canal Grand Adventure® Full Transit 22-day Panama Canal Grand Adventure Full Transit • • • December 17, 2015 and May 11, 2016* • Pacific Princess • Between Ft. Lauderdale and Los Angeles • 2 departures, 6 ports, 6 countries *Itineraries vary by departure, see princess.com for details. April 23, 2016 • Island Princess • From Ft. Lauderdale to Vancouver, B.C. • 7 ports, 8 countries September 16, 2015 • Coral Princess • From Vancouver, B.C. to Ft. Lauderdale • 11 ports, 8 countries Pacific Princess offers Small Ship Cruising through the Panama Canal, featuring a holiday sailing on December 17, 2015! PANAMA CANAL SHORE EXCURSIONS Shore Excursions: Guided tours & activities in port. • • • • • To make the most of their time ashore, your clients may choose the convenience of booking a shore excursion through Princess. Princess offers approximately 200 optional shore excursions featuring in-depth Panama Canal experiences. The variety of tours allows your clients to tailor their shore time to their tastes. Depending on the port, the choices include fortresses, volcanoes, museums, natural wonders, shopping, walking, cultural performances, cuisine and more! Advance booking is highly recommended as over 80% of our shore excursions in this region are booked precruise! Book in advance online via the Cruise Personalizer®. Prices are subject to change as embarkation nears – encourage your clients to prereserve their shore excursions and book early to save! Excursions can be either pre-paid or paid for at the end of the cruise. Optional Pre-Pay. Your clients can enjoy the convenience of paying before boarding and start their vacation worry-free. Puntarenas, Costa Rica PANAMA CANAL SHORE EXCURSIONS Sample Panama Canal Ports & Excursions Cabo San Lucas Those seeking adventure can zipline through Sierra de la Laguna, a UNESCOprotected area in the high Sierras of Baja, California. For a more leisurely pace, your clients can visit El Arco, a rock formation carved by ocean currents. San Juan del Sur From strolling the cobblestone streets of colonial Granada on Lake Nicaragua or exploring one of the many volcanoes to visiting the Masaya Market shopping for spices, San Juan del Sur has something for even the most seasoned traveler! PANAMA CANAL SHORE EXCURSIONS Sample Panama Canal Ports & Excursions Limón Puntarenas The Sloth Sanctuary Rescue Center offers visitors a chance to learn about this curious and gentle creature. If your clients are adventurous, they can raft on the Reventazon River through Class 2 rapids and enjoy a lunch buffet on the river banks! Puntarenas is home to the Poás Volcano, one of the few active craters in the Americas. Also featured are a coffee plantation, a rainforest aerial tram or your clients can dip their toes into the hot springs at the Rivers of Joy Hot Springs & Spa PANAMA CANAL CRUISE PLUS Cruise Plus® Hotel packages may be added to the embarkation or disembarkation ports of the itinerary. Cruise Plus Hotel packages offer numerous benefits: Convenience for you and your clients – Princess handles both the hotel and cruise arrangements making for a seamless experience. • If your clients purchase Princess eZAir®, their flights will be scheduled around their package – and with Next Port Protection, your clients can rest assured that Princess will work with the airlines to find a reasonable alternative to provide flights to the next appropriate port of call if the airline causes a delay to the ship’s port of embarkation at no additional air cost to the passenger. • Peace of mind that a quality hotel has been selected by Princess and it is in a desirable location. • All details are arranged for the guest including meet and greet, baggage handling, transfers – accompanied by the service of a Princess representative. • PANAMA CANAL CRUISE PLUS Panama Canal Cruise Plus Hotels Ft. Lauderdale • Embassy Suites Ft. Lauderdale • Hilton Ft. Lauderdale Marina • Sheraton Ft. Lauderdale Beach Hotel Los Angeles • Hyatt Regency Long Beach Vancouver • Westin Bayshore Hotel • Fairmont Waterfront Hotel • Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver Vancouver, B.C. Visit princess.com to learn more about Panama Canal Cruise Plus Hotel options. PANAMA CANAL SELLING TIPS Use Groups to Promote Panama Canal • Group balcony fares for 10-day itineraries start at $1,549 USD per person (double occupancy)^ • Allocation of just 10 lower berths qualifies for group rates • Group allowance of 8 per month (across any mix of ships or trade) gives greater flexibility • Advantaged pricing – up to a 2 category upgrade compared to Launch • No deposit required for up to 16 beds • TCs earned for every 16 sailed lower berth passengers booked on qualifying promotions.* • Up to 4 amenity points. Amenity points allow you to add value and personalization to the group. • Cruise Night sales help promote your group by offering a reduced deposit and an onboard coupon booklet valued at up to $325 • Panama Canal cruisers book well in advance of their cruise date - up to 8 months before sailing – so be sure to promote the destination early! ^Based on December 7, 2015 sailing of Coral Princess. *Book by December 31, 2014 for Fall 2015 sailings and by March 31, 2015 for Spring 2016 sailings. PANAMA CANAL SELLING PRINCESS CRUISES Sales Tools 2015 - 2016 Panama Canal & South America Mini Brochure A great resource featuring: • February 2015 - April 2016 cruises to these regions • Samples of shore excursions • Onboard Experience Overview OneSource • Customizable itinerary eflyers, ad slicks, emails and more. • Visit Princess eCatalog to order or download brochures, mini brochures, postcards, letterhead, flyers and program releases. • Find images in Photo Archive and details in Answers. • Most collateral is available in PDF version or can be ordered from inventory by calling 1-800-421-1700 or by contacting your BDM for large orders. PANAMA CANAL CRUISES review PANAMA CANAL REVIEW Congratulations! You have completed the Princess Cruises Panama Canal Cruises course material. Please review a few of the major points of the program below and continue on to the quiz. • Panama Canal Itineraries are grouped into three itineraries: 1. Two-day Panama Canal Experience 2. Full-Transit Panama Canal 3. Roundtrip Panama Canal (Partial Transit) • 2 custom-built ships sail the Panama Canal with 89% oceanview staterooms – Coral Princess and Island Princess. Our intimate Small Ship Pacific Princess will also sail through the Panama Canal on two 17-day Full Transit itineraries this season! Wide variety of cruise lengths, from 10 to 22 days in the Panama Canal, to suit any traveler. Princess Shore Excursions and Cruise Plus Hotel packages provide more of the Panama Canal for your clients to experience. Groups offer up to a two-category upgrade compared to Launch Fares. • • • •