South African Travel Products and Operations.

Learning Unit 5: Cruises Session to complete module: 20-25Current session: 21-25Date:

Learning Objectives

• Identify and locate companies offering cruises to the South African traveller.

• Understand cruise terminology. • Obtain and interpret the necessary

information from a cruise brochure. • Quote prices from a cruise brochure.

For the purpose of this module the cruiseschedule for the MSC Sinfonia South Africaprogramme 2012/ 2013 season will be used.You have the brochure and you will need tobring it to class for the duration of this LearningUnit, as well as during tests/ examinations.

1) Introduction – Page 78

• Cruising is a rapidly growing global industry. Its main appeal is that it affords the holiday maker an opportunity to travel and see many different places and enjoy the scenery without any stress.

• Once on board, the passenger unpacks and can enjoy all the amenities of shipboard life, including wonderful meals and first-class entertainment, while at the same time travelling from one port to another.

1) Introduction – Page 78

• There is a large variety of cruises available, ranging from standard class to the ultra-luxury class. Most offer extremely good value for money.

• Shore excursions are arranged at every port of call for those who would like to see the tourist attractions (the more adventurous can get around by themselves). In addition, the ship’s crew are always on hand to attend to the passenger’s every need.

1) Introduction – Page 78

• Most ships have a variety of shops on board, as well as hairdressers, beauty clinics, a selection of bars and lounges, a medical clinic, swimming pool, gymnasium and laundry, etc.

• Babysitters are available if needed and a mini club for young children where, for several hours a day, the children will be occupied and stimulated under close supervision.

1) Introduction – Page 78

• There is a full entertainment programme every day, including interesting talks highlighting the attractions at the various ports of call, fun games and challenges, dance lessons, theme parties and so on

2) International Cruises

• International Cruises - In the GSA you will find details of various companies and also a list of which cruise company operates where (p. 78).

• Using your GSA answer the following questions: – 3 options of cruise companies offering cruises to

Indian Ocean Islands.– Norwegian Cruise Line is represented in South Africa

by which company?– Find Triton Cape Sea Travel details

Local Cruises

• Local Cruises - Starlight Cruises have an annual cruise programme around the shores of Southern Africa.

• For the 2012/ 2013 summer cruise season there will be three (3) ships available for cruises: – MSC Sinfonia: Has 41 departure dates and can take

over 2 199 passengers. – MSC Melody: Has 20 departure dates and can take 1

550 passengers. – MSC Opera: Has 30 departure dates and can take

2055 passengers

Local Cruises- Facilities aboard

• Restaurants - 2 main restaurants and an outdoor restaurant. Each one boasts a top gastronomic selection thanks to the variety of dishes and the high quality of the foods.

• Bars and Lounges - MSC Sinfonia guests can choose from 8 bars, inspired by different themes and inimitable in their wine and food selection, thus satisfying even the most sophisticated and demanding palates.

Local Cruises- Facilities aboard

• Entertainment- 600 state-of-the-art seats Teatro San Carlo, futuristic Pasha Club Disco and San Remo Casino with over 400 square metres of casino gaming and Galaxy Video Games, video games room.

Local Cruises

• The cruise programme runs from November 2012 to May 2013.

• Cruise lengths vary from two (2) nights to 18 nights, depending on the cruise.

• Prices are dependent on the length of cruise and type of cabin booked.

3) Terminology – Page 80

3) Terminology – Page 81

4) Deck Plan – Page 81

• The Deck Plan is a layout of a cruise ship, which shows the location of the cabins and public rooms on each deck.

• A large modern cruise vessel can have as many as 15 decks from the bottom to the top of the ship.

• Normally, the passenger accommodation is located in the lower decks, whilst the top decks are reserved for public rooms, swimming pools and activity areas.

4) Deck Plan • The MSC Sinfonia has nine (9) passenger

decks. On the upper three (3) decks are swimming pools, a jogging track, a fitness centre, shops, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, mini-golf, a beauty salon and more.

4) Deck Plan

• The middles decks are mostly made up of accommodation. The lower three (3) decks are made up of a medical centre, restaurant, casino, tour office, reception, some guest accommodation and all the staff accommodation.

5) Cabin Selection – Page 82

• Inside Cabins (Category 1 - 5): Cabins (13m2) have single beds that can be converted into a double bed (upon request, excluding cabins for the disabled). Cabin has air-con, TV, telephone, bathroom with shower, mini-bar and safe.

5) Cabin Selection – Page 82

• Outside Cabins (Category 6 - 10): Cabins (13m2) have the same amenities as inside the cabins; however, the outside cabins have a view.

5) Cabin Selection – Page 82

• Suites with Balcony (Category 11): Size including the private balcony (22m2). Double bed, air-con, spacious wardrobe, bathroom with bathtub, TV, telephone, internet connection (additional cost), mini-bar and safe.

6) Important considerations when helping a client to select

accommodation: • Cabins situated mid-ship are preferable, as this is where the

least motion is felt. • Cabins at the aft or near the bow of the ship will be

affected the most by the motion of the ship. • Specific cabins located near or next to the lifts or stairs

could be noisy, particularly late at night, when passengers are returning to their cabins from the entertainment areas.

• Those cabins on the lowest deck may be above or near the engine rooms, which could be noisy.

• Cabins alongside entertainment areas could prove noisy. • Lower decks normally experience less of a rocking motion

at sea.

7) Meals

• The price includes all meals on board. There is a variety of restaurants where one can eat, from sit-down restaurants to those with seating options outside, as well as numerous bars. There is even an ice-cream bar!

8) Itinerary • The cruise programme in South Africa begins in

November with the ship’s outward journey from Europe, and lasts until May, when the ships sail back to the Mediterranean to continue the cruise programme there.

• The Durban/ Durban two-night cruise goes out to sea for two (2) days and then returns to Durban. As these journeys do not venture into foreign waters, they are considered “domestic” trips within South Africa and VAT is charged on these trips.

• VAT is already included in the brochure price, though, and does not have to be added when you do the quote calculation.

8) Itinerary

8) Itinerary

• Please note that Mozambique visa requirements must be taken into consideration, when partaking in the Mozambique itineraries.

9) When Calculating the Cost of the Cruise

• The fares for this cruise programme, on the Sinfonia found on page 35 of the brochure, are quoted in South African Rand .

• Prices are quoted – per person sharing a cabin (2 people sharing a cabin)

• If you want to add a 3rd or 4th person – additional cost.

10) Analysing the cruise rates

• On the table, you will find: – in the first column, the cruise code followed by – the itinerary, – the day, the departure and return date, – the number of nights, – and then the prices of the various categories of

cabin in a colour-coded format. – The last column gives the additional charges.

11) Mandatory Additional Costs

• In addition to the rate per person charged• Clients will have to incur additional costs.

These costs are mandatory by every client (including infants, children and those sharing cabin at no charge) :– Port Chargers - Port charges cover the costs

incurred by the ship of docking at a berth in a foreign port.

11) Mandatory Additional Costs

– Insurance - is also compulsory for every passenger. As per Starlight’s website, for cruises that are seven (7) days or shorter, the mandatory insurance is R10 per person per day. If the cruise is eight (8) days or longer, the cost is R21 per person per day.

• NB: This is not a nightly rate! E.g. a six-night cruise would be seven (7) days of travel.

• Example – 3 night cruise departs on 1 March returns 4 March – 3 nights 4 days

11) Mandatory Additional Costs

– Adult Service Fee – Child Service Fee

12) Special Fares • Children under the age of 18 years - travel free of

charge (excluding port charges, insurances and any fuel or currency supplements that may apply) when sharing with two (2) full-paying adults (maximum of two (2) children).

• Senior citizens - receive a 10% discount on cruises of four (4) nights or less in length and 5% discount on cruises that are five (5) nights or longer - to people over the age of 60. (Not applicable in peak season.)

12) Special Fares

• Honeymooners - receive a 10% discount plus a free upgrade when they book their honeymoon cabin. (Not applicable in peak season and not applicable to suites.)

• Students - pay R620 per person per night in an inside cabin and R730 in an ocean view cabin when in a group of four (4) or more. The price excludes port, baggage, insurance and service charges and is not applicable in peak season.

13) Calculating the Cost of the Cruise

• Mr and Mrs Pillay would like to go on a three-night cruise to the Portuguese islands departing on 22 February 2013 from Durban on the Sinfonia. They would like an outside cabin (Cat 6). Calculate the cost of the cruise.

13) Calculating the Cost of the Cruise

• Step 1 – Find the Cruise CodeCruise Code: OP 005 • Step 2 – Find the rate per person sharingR5 040 per adult sharing • Step 3 – Port chargersR400 per adult sharing

13) Calculating the Cost of the Cruise

• Step 4 – Mandatory Insurance ( X No of days) Insurance R10 per adult per day: R10 X 4 Days = R 40 per adult sharing • Step 5 – Service charger per adult R150 per adult• Step 6 – Total R5 040 + R400 + R 40 + R150 = R5630 Per Adult• Step 7 – X Number of adults R5630 X 2 Adults = R11260

Example 2

• Mr and Mrs Kuhle and their 10-year-old daughter would like to book a three-night cruise from Durban to the Portuguese Islands and back to Durban departing on Friday 30 November 2012. They would like to stay in a Cat 5 cabin on the MSC Opera.

Example 2

• Step 1 – Find the Cruise CodeCruise Code: OP 005 • Step 2 – Find the rate per person sharingR5 260 per adult sharing • Step 3 – Port chargersR400 Per adult sharing

Example 2

• Step 4 – Mandatory Insurance ( X No of days) R10 x 4 Days = R40 Per adult sharing• Step 5 – Service charger per adult R150 per adult • Step 6 – Total R5260 + 400 + 10+ 150 =R5820 Per adult sharing• Step 7 – X Number of adults R5820 x 2 = R11640

Example 2

• Child: • Basic cruise cost R0 per child sharing with 2

full paying adults • Port and baggage - R400 per child sharing • Insurance - R40 per child sharing • Service Charge Children - R75 per child • Total : 0+400+40+75 = R515• TOTAL PACKAGE - R11640 + 515 = R12155

Home Work!!!!!

• Complete Exercise 1, 2 and 3!!!• Due Date:

14) Documentation

• All cruise documentation will be issued by Starlight Cruises. E-documents are emailed two (2) to three (3) weeks prior to departure.

• It is the travel agent’s responsibility to get the passengers to complete a booking reservation form and send it together with the payment to Starlight Cruises.

14) Documentation

• The booking reservation form provides Starlight Cruises with vital information about the passengers and assures them that the passengers have read and understood all the conditions of carriage.

15) Commission

• Starlight Cruises pays the travel agency’s commission of 10%, but only on the cost of the cruise, not on the port charges and insurance.

16) Reservation

• Reservations can be made with the cruise operator, either by telephone, fax or email. Many companies now have a website where current information can be accessed. In the case of Starlight Cruises, they have offices in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and Pretoria.

17) How to complete the booking file