Ship Within a Ship

8/14/2013 3:43:46 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

Many people think that travel agents are able to jet set around the world going from vacation to vacation for little or no money. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Although we do get some benefit, it usually does not amount to a free vacation by any means. Once is a while we do get to enjoy something unique to people in the travel industry. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to tour the NCL Gem. This ship is beautiful, with numerous restaurants, Nintendo Wii, and four lanes of real life bowling. Those things are all great, but that is not what I want to talk about today. NCL created something called ship within a ship. Basically it is ultimate luxury about a large cruise ship for those who can afford it. Let’s start with the fact that if you book an upper level suite known as garden villas or courtyard villas, the cruise line will send a limo to pick you up. You are then escorted past all the other people waiting to get on board. Your butler takes you on board with your own elevator and takes you up the 14th floor. If you haven’t spent the big bucks, don’t even bother trying to get up here. You walk off the elevator and are instantly transported to ultimate luxury, where you walk into a courtyard with a pool, nice tables, butlers, and entrances to your own suite. Want to go for a dip, no problem, there is your own pool which at most may see 50 people use it. Want to go for a sauna, that’s there too, or an exercise bike. I suggest asking your butler to do the exercise for you; you’re on vacation for goodness sake. Oh did I mention that the courtyard is covered by a retractable roof. Rain and cold will not spoil your fun. Want to spend some time in the sun, go up the stairs to the private sun deck where you will find lounge chairs with large cushions or lay in one of the huge hammocks. The rooms are just as nice. There are a couple of different villas at this level. Some hold as many as 5 people others just 2. Each one is at least 500 square feet and the largest at 5000 square feet, yes 5 thousand square feet. That’s like my house, my parent’s house and my in-law’s house all in a couple of huge rooms, complete with couches, a grand piano, a fully stocked bar with a cappuccino machine. Sit on your huge private balcony or swim in your own Jacuzzi in case 50 people in the courtyard is way too crowded for your taste. You also have your concierge that can make dinner reservations for you or anything else you may be able to dream up. This is all fine and good if you like that sort of ultimate luxury. It only costs a little over $4000 a person, which some may say is a bargain. As for me, I think it’s a little fancy for my tastes. I’ll stick to my lovely 150 square foot inside cabin where the only sign of daylight is the picture on the TV! Check out http://www.nclsuitesandvillas.com/ to see crazy video and pictures, although they don’t really do it justice.