Passenger Comfort Level Gets A Boost
by Mary Lu Abbott, Los Angeles Times, Cruise News

LOS ANGELES, August 21, 2005. Fluffy duvets on cushier mattresses, online check-in and large movie screens are being added on several lines.

SOME cruise lines aren't relying on the sea's gentle rocking motion to lull passengers to sleep anymore. They're putting in plumped-up beds, duvets and fine linens to rival those at any upscale hotel. And for the suite life, there's often a "menu" of pillows.

Mainstream, mass-market ships are providing better digs for all travelers, not only the ones with money. Carnival Cruise Lines is upgrading the beds on its 20 ships by the end of the year. Its upscale sister, Holland America Line, kicked off the trend and has new beds on nearly all of its 13 ships.

Competing for passengers, cruise lines are kicking it up a notch on amenities, programs and services. Here are some of the new attractions afloat.

Upgraded bed and bath: Holland America had been promoting its new beds, but I was skeptical. After all, what's to get excited about with a bed? But when I cruised recently on the line's Maasdam, the beds definitely added a "wow" factor. So did other cabin amenities.

When I entered the standard cabin, the bed caught my eye. It was noticeably thicker and plusher than any I'd seen on other ships. So I gave it a try - and didn't want to get up. It was uncommonly cushy on top yet firm underneath and triple-sheeted with luxurious white-on-white linens.

The new beds were the talk of the ship. When the captain mentioned them, he got enthusiastic applause from passengers.

For the record, the mattresses are a Sealy Posturepedic model made especially for the line, 12.5 inches thick with a plush pillow-type top. The linens have a 250-thread count.

The beds aren't the only changes in Holland America's cabins. Towels are thicker, in fluffy 100% Egyptian cotton, and the showerhead has massage settings. I appreciated the magnifying mirror with a light at the desk-dresser.

The enhancements are part of a $225-million Signature of Excellence program.

Carnival's cabin upgrades include hypoallergenic down duvets on all ships. Duvet covers and pillowcases are a luxurious satin stripe in a cream color. Duvet covers are changed for each new guest. New 8-inch spring mattresses made exclusively for Carnival are on more than half the ships. Passengers are getting fluffier pillows, and those in suites get a choice of five types of pillows.

With the fancier linens, both lines are getting rid of bedspreads and a runner-like coverlet across the end of the bed.

Faster check-in: On two cruise lines, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, you can check in online, print a boarding pass as you do for a flight, and zip through the pier process faster.

The lines expect their new procedures to take only 30 seconds per passenger, rather than the normal three or four minutes for each.

On most cruise lines, passengers now can access their reservation online and provide the basic personal information, reducing paperwork and check-in time. But RCI, http://www.royalcaribbean.com , and Celebrity, http://www.celebrity.com , are the first to take the online process all the way to boarding passes.

The lines have the four-step process in place for all 29 ships. About half the ships are capable of the faster check-in, and the others will be ready within a month.

Online check-in is simple, taking less than five minutes, depending on how fast you type. Passengers must fill in forms to supply names, addresses, identification information (such as passport number); accept the ticket contract; set up an onboard expense account with a credit card or cash deposit; and then print a pass.

"It's the smart thing to do," said Leslie Katz, corporate communications manager for both lines. "It addresses any problems upfront. That's an exciting, busy day [check-in] with a lot going on. You can get this out of the way, get onboard and start to relax faster."

Those with boarding passes will use a line separate from other passengers and present their identification with the pass.

Big theater screens: In case there isn't enough happening onboard, the new Carnival Liberty has an outdoor Seaside Theater, a 12-by-22-foot LED screen with a 70,000-watt sound system.

Princess introduced a similar setup last year that received enthusiastic passenger response.

At night, Liberty passengers can settle into funky barrel-like plastic rocking chairs, munch popcorn and watch movies, concerts or sports events. There also are shows during the day.

Carnival also has added connecting PlayStation 2 units so kids - and adults - can duel in big-time video games.

Pampering for the guys: Now men can get into anti-aging treatments. Recognizing that more men are using spas today, Carnival Liberty has added special barber services.

Guys can get an "express shave," which "decongests and polishes" the skin, the announcement says. Or they can go for a shave with a face and scalp massage and cleansing mask. The ultimate "shave of all shaves" adds an anti-aging facial treatment.

Foodie events: Lines are partnering with all types of land companies for revenue-enhancing programs on board.

Appealing to foodies, Holland America has paired with Food & Wine magazine for a new Culinary Arts Center on all its ships. It's kicking up the heat on the traditional cooking demonstrations most ships have.

The line is adding a state-of-the-art show kitchen with large video screens in each ship's theater/lounge, similar to the setups for television cooking shows.

All sailings have demonstrations by onboard or guest chefs, and some cruises will have a top chef, cookbook author or an expert in wine, spirits or on foods such as chocolate and cheese.

Besides free demonstrations, the experts will host hands-on classes for small groups at $29 per person, share recipes and perhaps prepare specials in the ship's reservations-only restaurant. Within one year, all 13 ships will have the show kitchens.

Among about 40 experts signed so far: Dean Fearing, considered the father of Southwestern cuisine; Jacques Torre, noted chocolatier and pastry chef; and Paulette Mitchell, author of 11 cookbooks, including "The 15-Minute Gourmet."

Now I could get into the 15-minute gourmet - and the chocolate too.