#1 “Your Time” Dining
Originally pioneered by Norwegian Cruise Line as “Freestyle Cruising,” choosing your dining time, table mates, and restaurant have become an important aspect of cruising for many guests. Almost every cruise line offers some variation of this concept, giving guests the freedom to plan their cruise down to the minute. Not only has the innovation allowed guests to plan their own schedule, but it allows guests to truly have the cruise vacation they would enjoy the most. Some families may want “family time” while sailing and would prefer to have their own table versus sharing with another family. Thanks to “your time” dining, families are able to do this. This concept of choosing where you would like to eat, when you would to eat, and with whom you would like to eat will be an important innovation for cruising for years to come.
#2 Rock Climbing, Zip Lining, Surfing
As the old saying goes, cruising is for the newly weds and nearly dead, but not anymore. Cruising has become increasingly popular with families, children, and teens over the past few years. Cruise lines have realized that families are an important market that had been untouched for a very long time. Now, cruise lines are building many of their ships with families in mind. Cruise lines nowadays offer an outrageous array of activities for families, surfing simulators, zip lines, rock climbing walls, water parks, 4D theaters, resort style pools, arcades, and the list goes on. These new innovations and activities offer families the perfect vacation experience. Not only do they allow kids to have a great time cruising, but they allow adults some free time in the next innovation while their kids race down duel water slides.
#3 Adult’s Only
For adults, the cruise lines haven’t forget about you. As cruise ships grow larger, the more a need for an “adult only” retreat grows larger. Many adults cruising on more family friendly cruise lines may want to escape from the noise and activity found around the ship. This is where the adult only retreat saves the day. Usually nestled on a higher deck, adult guests can relax in a multitude of padded loungers, hammocks, love seats, and even private hot tubs. Guests can also enjoy drinks from the private bar and relax in the sun without a child in sight. Many adult retreats even offer guests quick access to the spa, allowing guests to truly relieve the stress and worries of their land lives. These retreats are the perfect escape for adults who just want to get away from it all.
#4 Broadway, Comedy, and Dancing
The cruise industry has taken some flack for their “cheesy” cabaret shows in the past. This can no longer be true. Many cruise lines have recently partnered up with entertainment studios, troupes, and casting centers to bring some of the highest rated entertainment from the shores to their ships. Royal Caribbean has rolled out a variety of Broadway shows on their larger ships, including Hairspray, Chicago, and Saturday Night Fever. Norwegian has partnered with Blue Man Group, Second City Comedy, and Cirque Productions. Holland America Line has partnered with Dancing with the Stars, creating their own shipboard competition for guests. Guests choosing to sail on almost any cruise line will now be able to experience high quality, captivating, and standing ovation worthy entertainment.
3 replies on “4 Revolutionary Cruise Industry Innovations”
How much extra is Ziplining or Flow Riding?
Both the zip line and Flowrider are free for guests.
Freestyle is good, however having just returned from a 7 day on NCL’s beautiful Epic, we found that the included dining rooms lack the proper staff ratio and corporate thinking has overruled practicality. Epic has a lido buffet called the Garden, it is set up beautifully and staffed well to accommodate numerous guests, (in our case 4,800+ for Thanksgiving week). However, ther service in the two included dining rooms, the Taste and Manhattan was atrocious! Corporate has evidently decided that you do not need a Bar Person, a Sommelier or a bus boy. Our poor waiter had to do everything, took drink and wine orders, took dinner orders, served and bussed the table. Not an easy feat to take care of our table of 10 while taking care of 2 other tables at the same time.
I will not travel on the Epic ever again. It is a shame because the ship is beautiful, the food excellent and the entertainment absolutely fabulous, but no dinner in the main dining rooms lasted less than 3 hours, and in many cases more.