After a four-night repositioning cruise from Los Angeles, the Star will be berthed in Vancouver where it will become a four-star hotel throughout the Games.
Newwest Special Projects, an Edmonton-based company, has partnered with Norwegian Cruise Lines to dock the deluxe cruise ship at Vancouver Wharves near the Lions Gate Bridge. That's just 10 minutes from downtown and across from Stanley Park with a stunning view of the Coastal Mountains and the city.
Businessperson Dennis Laliberte helped to boost the options for accommodation at the Games by chartering the ship that becomes a 1,119-room floating hotel handling 2,240 guests.
Calling it the "largest hotel'' in Vancouver during the Games, Laliberte said the ship will offer many of the usual enticements enjoyed while at sea.
This includes a variety of accommodations, from inside cabins to deluxe suites, gourmet dining in 13 restaurants as well as room service, a 1,100-seat show lounge with Las Vegas-style entertainment and shuttle service to transportation heading to Games venues, shopping and nightlife.
The showroom will also be the setting for live Olympic broadcasts while some people who have booked cabins aren't even planning to attend the Games, Laliberte said.
This includes someone who has booked for 16 nights while some Vancouver-area residents plan to mark Valentine's Day and the Chinese New Year onboard while the ship makes its off-season stop in Vancouver.
Laliberte chose to partner with NCL as he likes the "freestyle-type atmosphere'' on its ships that fits nicely with the Olympics.
The Star, which also has eight lounges, a spa, three pools and fitness centre, will be in Vancouver for 20 nights.
Newwest is marketing its onboard accommodation in 10, two-night options known as "Wave One'' to "Wave 10'' from Feb. 10.
An added opportunity to enjoy the ship at sea is to cruise from Los Angeles (San Pedro Pier), leaving on Feb. 6 and arriving at its North Vancouver berth on Feb. 10. There's also a return voyage, leaving Vancouver on March 2, arriving in L.A. on March 6.
The four night pre-Olympic cruise includes two days at sea, a day in Victoria and arrival at 8 a.m. in Vancouver. On the return, there's a day in port at San Francisco.
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Wavelet:
The number of Canadians taking a cruise in 2009 topped 775,000, triple the number from 10 years ago and a 9.2% increase over 2008.
The survey by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said this represents one-quarter of all international cruise vacationers, aside from U.S. travelers.
Speaking with travel agents, CLIA found that "friends and multiple families traveling together'' is the fastest growing category of cruisers.
Top 10 cruise destinations in order for Canadians are the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska, Europe,
European rivers, Panama Canal, Hawaii, Mexico, the Baltics and South America.
Agents surveyed predicted the "hot'' destinations for 2010 will be the Mediterranean and Greek islands,
European river voyages, South America, Caribbean, Europe, the Baltic, Alaska and Southeast Asia.
CLIA, which represents 24 cruise lines, will hold its annual conference, cruise3sixty, in Vancouver from June 2 to 6, the first time it has been staged outside Florida.
In the past year, lines introduced 14 new ships while another 13 will set sail this year. Between 2010 and 2012, the fleet will grow by 26 vessels.
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If you cruise:
The charge for Norwegian Star cruise ship accommodations in Vancouver during the Olympics is from $325 U.S., a person per night, double occupancy, for an inside or outside cabin to $3,750 for a one-bedroom penthouse (fees, taxes and gratuities extra).
This includes airport transfers, meals as well as box lunches for those going to the Games, tours of Vancouver and guides for nightlife entertainment.
Cruising on the Star to Vancouver from Los Angeles or reverse is from $100 a person U.S. for the four nights for an inside cabin, $140, outside cabin and $700 for a one-bedroom penthouse, plus fees, taxes and gratuities.
For more information or reservations, go to www.vancouver2010cruiseship.com or call 1-800-661-7281.
Jim and Barb Fox can be reached at outtosea50@hotmail.com
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