I received an email recently from Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor loyalty program informing me that Royal Caribbean has teamed up with DreamWorks to create a “once-upon-a-time” cruising experience for families.

Image how the kids (and kids at heart) will feel about a sail away party with Shrek, or a photo op with Kung Fu Panda while on vacation. Being termed The DreamWorks experience, travelers will get to enjoy features such as meals, parades and photo opportunities with their favorite DreamWorks characters

Other highlights include passengers being able to enjoy movies on the ship’s 3-D movie theater, the pleasure of watching first-run DreamWorks films on board and the opportunity to watch an ice show featuring characters from How to Train your Dragon.

The program will first start on the Allure of the Seas, set to sail in December 2010. The DreamWorks experience will then be expanded to the Oasis of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas in 2011. Who’s ready to join Royal Caribbean and its new DreamWorks experience?

As the oil spill continues to wreak havoc on the Gulf Coast and BP’s reputation, business owners along the gulf coast are already seeing business drop dramatically as travelers determine different vacation plans to avoid a leisurely beach stroll over globs of oil and tar.

With the Memorial Day past us, and children about to be out of school for summer, businesses are struggling with how to deal with an issue they can’t control: the oil spill.

A recent article on CNN discussed how hotels, rental, resorts and motels have seen a decline in inquiries and bookings over the last few weeks, as individuals anticipate the worst case scenario from the spill. Businesses fear that travelers assume the oil spill has hit land and created an unpleasant environment for vacationing. Because of this, many hotel owners are encouraging families to post pictures of their trip to show family and friends that the oil has not hit land yet, and some are hoping to put live video feeds of the beach so individuals can see for themselves how the area looks.

What approaches have you seen businesses take to try and encourage travel to the area? What would you recommend be done to salvage travel to the gulf coast?

I’ll keep you posted if we see any direct mail or email in the Comperemedia database pertaining to travel, the oil spill and the Gulf Coast.

Nothing annoys consumers more than paying for things that used to be free or feeling that they are being nickel and dimed. As the banking industry struggles with how to recoup money lost to overdraft fee income, they are wise to take some lessons from the airline industry.

The airline industry attempted to stem huge financial losses by charging a wide variety of fees. Flyers now pay to book the ticket, redeem frequent flyer miles, make a particular seat choice, change a ticket, check bags, obtain a pillow or blanket, and for food and drinks.

Unfortunately, added fees haven’t propelled the travel industry into profitability. AMR, parent of American Airlines, posted a $1.5 billion loss. US Air, Continental, United and Delta also posted losses. Combined, the industry lost $3.4 billion in 2009.

Southwest, however, was one airline to post a sizeable profit. The company heavily advertised “Bags Fly Free,” and that strategy may have paid off. The company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Gary Kelly attributes the success, in part, to the fees that its competitors are assessing. In a January conference call with Wall Street analysts, he was quoted as saying, “I hope they charge $100 a bag. That would be terrific. We’ll have 100 percent load factors.”

Going beyond the fee

With customer satisfaction, loyalty, and brand image on the decline over the past few years, banks can hardly afford to alienate customers. Rather than focusing on what fees to charge, the industry should focus instead on innovating services and products that give people confidence. It’s not that fees are never justified – it just might not be wise to assess fees on previously free services. In fact, a recent JD Power study indicates that high customer satisfaction rates are possible to maintain as long as consumers perceive that they are receiving sufficient value in exchange.

At the end of the day, customers know that it’s their deposits that fund the banks other, more profitable, activities. So while consumers need a place to bank, the banks need consumers just as much. Shouldn’t there be recognition of the mutual need from both parties?

Travel and leisure companies have been hit hard since the economy plummeted into recession. As travelers were considering how best to spend limited resources, travel companies were figuring out how to draw customers onto their cruise ships. One way observed periodically over the last year has been the creation of themed cruises, positioned as “once in a lifetime” trips to attract customers who would rather pass on “just any cruise” while finances are tight.

Themed cruising started with Disney and the Disney Cruise Line in 1998, which gave travelers the opportunity to enjoy “the Disney experience” on the open seas, extending the “happiest place on earth” to destinations all around the world. In a recent direct mail offer, Disney encouraged families to “Discover an Ocean of Tropical Wonders and Exotic Escapes.” The campaign featured 3-, 4- and 5-night cruises to the Bahamas, along with a visit the company’s “private island paradise, Castaway Cay.”

Royal Caribbean and Norwegian both took advantage of the family draw that has defined Disney’s success by offering Nickelodeon-themed cruises. Royal Caribbean positioned a summer 2009 Nickelodeon Family Cruise as “the family vacation of a lifetime.” In direct marketing tracked by Mintel Comperemedia, prospects were encouraged to book early to take advantage of low prices and “the ultimate summer vacation your whole family will never forget!”

Starting in April 2010, Norwegian will exclusively feature Nickelodeon at Sea on the Norwegian Jewel. The experience has been positioned as a “whole new level of imaginative activities and family entertainment.” It will be interesting to see if Norwegian can be as successful as Disney in creating a long-running themed vacation option for families.

Cruising isn’t just for families, and companies like Carnival and SilverSea have used themed voyages to attract adult travelers. Carnival Cruise Lines informed email recipients that it was “cruising down memory lane” with its Malt Shop Memories Cruises. Travelers were invited to “join us on a journey back to the birth or Rock ‘n’ Roll as we head down memory lane with sock hops, dance contests and live performances.”

SilverSea Cruises offered a Beatles Tribute Voyage in August 2009. Readers were asked to “celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Beatles coming to America” with this 10-day UK cruise that featured a “Beatle Brunch and a disco party.”

Themed destinations have been a huge draw for travelers (think Disney, Las Vegas or Universal Studios) and now cruise ships are trying to create a complete themed experience to provide customers a “once in a lifetime” vacation. Themed cruises have the opportunity to attract curious travelers looking for a new experience and can help create a stronger draw as travelers decide how best to spend their money in a weak economy.

Spirit airlines begins charging for carry-on luggage
Spirit announced recently that it will become the first airline to charge for carry-on luggage. You read that right…a charge for carry-on luggage. The airline is set to charge up to $45 for individuals who bring carry-on luggage that needs to be stored in overhead bins. A reduced fee of $30 could be paid in advance by those who already know they will be bringing luggage that is too large to be stored under the seat.

But with the announcement comes spin. The company has said that it reduced fares across the board, meaning that most passengers who pay a carry-on fee will not see an increase in their total flight price. The company also stated that this move will help the airline empty the plane faster, which would make passengers happier, right?

I don’t know if I buy that. It seems like the itemization of costs will only create a sense of being “nickel and dimed.” The company already charges for checked bags, and those fees are cheaper than the newly announced carry-on fee. I wonder if the company is really trying to increase revenue by encouraging individuals to save money by checking a bag over passengers bringing bags on the plane. What do you think? Will this influence your decision to fly Spirit?

Ryan Air contemplates charge for in-flight restrooms
Be sure to have some change handy next time you fly. Ryan Air, a popular budget airline in Europe, is considering charging passengers to use the restroom.

The company is pondering a small charge (currently equivalent to US $1-$2) for using the bathroom on flights that last less than one hour. Passengers would insert money into a coin-operated bathroom door to gain access. Although the company has announced the consideration, no decision has yet been made.

I could see how this concept might be more accepted in Europe than the US, since many public restrooms are not free. But, do you think this would “fly” in the United States?

Considering Cuba as a top travel destination…is it jumping the gun or capitalizing on perfect timing?

I read an article written by the Associated Press discussing how travel agents from the United States and Cuba were meeting in order to prepare “for what they hope will be the day that Americans can freely vacation on Cuba’s sunny beaches.” It is estimated that the number of Americans could create a 50% increase in visitors to Cuba if and when restrictions are removed. (It would change from 2.4 million tourists now to 3.7 tourists post-travel ban.)

President Obama has shown interest in loosening travel restrictions to Cuba, but considering everything on his plate currently, are these travel agents a little too quick in planning for a new travel destination option?

Also, Cuba is currently a hot destination spot for Europeans and travelers from other parts of the world. To me, the marketing material is easy…potential visas, paperwork and rules are going to be the key sticking points. What kind of preparations are taking place now within the travel industry?

In mid-February, the US Department of State extended a travel alert to certain parts of Mexico. This was due to increased violence within specific states of the country. Originally, a travel warning was issued on August 20, 2009; this is an extension of that first warning.

The alert asks US citizens “to delay travel to parts of Michoacan, Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua” and it advises citizens traveling in those areas “to exercise extreme caution.”

The US Department of State made this decision in response to escalated violence connected with drug cartels and an increased number of deaths in those areas.

On my most recent trip to Mexico, I witnessed road blocks close to the Belize border. They seemed designed to stop the transportation of drugs within the country. Although the cars were thoroughly searched, are road blocks enough to stop fighting within the country? Is a more proactive approach needed to stop Mexico from being used as a transportation route for drugs coming to the US? Will the travel alert be enough to protect or dissuade American citizens traveling in Mexico?

These are the questions I ask, as it seems like a warning isn’t enough to stop the drug trafficking situation, nor stop individuals from visiting our southern neighbor.

It’s time to hit the open seas, solo. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Epic—with space dedicated specifically for solo travelers—had its first successful sea trail on February 14, 2010 (a day, ironically, dedicated to those in loving pairs…)

Norwegian Epic is considered the company’s largest and most innovative ship to date, and it continues to create excitement within the world of cruising. The new ship houses 128 “ultra modern studios” that will be targeted towards solo travelers and will include a special common area for those traveling by themselves. The rooms are expected to be priced at $799 for a 7-day cruise, a price point lower than what a single traveler would have to pay while staying in a double occupancy room.

Considering millions of adults travel by themselves each year (some estimates say 35 million), it is surprising the cruise industry hasn’t reacted sooner to this potential revenue source.

Do you think this will prove successful for the company? If Norwegian succeeds in attracting more single travelers, how quickly can the competition react in creating accommodations for those individuals interested in sailing the open seas without a travel companion?

I’ve got a PR and image conundrum for you: Royal Caribbean decided to continue visiting a private port on the northern coast of Haiti immediately following the devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010. Clearly a bold decision that the company likely debated both sides of before taking action, the cruise line is now in the position to defend this decision.

Critics and cruise-goers, alike, question if traveling to Haiti for some R&R is the most sensitive and responsible thing to do considering the loss and devastation that is gripping the poor nation. Is it exploitation? Is it insensitivity? Is it ignorance?

It may be surreal to consider jet skiing, kayaking or soaking up sun so close to an area still searching for missing individuals, coping with death and struggling to survive. However, Royal Caribbean has argued that its absence would only create more difficulties for Haitians and the country’s government. In addition to providing the government with a tourism fee per each passenger who visits the private island, the company also employs locals from the country and provides opportunities for vendors to sell products to visitors. In light of the recent events, the company also plans to donate at least $1 million to relief efforts.

Being a visitor of Royal Caribbean’s Labadee port multiple times, I agree with the company’s decision to continue sailing there. Many lives depend on the port for survival, and in a time like now, it’s imperative to keep money flowing into the distraught nation. I think that the benefits far outweigh the potential negatives, and Royal Caribbean’s continued investment in Haiti will only pay off for the small island country in the end.

Do you agree?

Checked luggage fees are starting to feel like ATM fees. First there were none (we were happy), then there were some (we were outraged), then there were more (we began to accept them) and now, nearly all airlines charge for checked luggage (and we’ve resigned).

This month, a number of airlines have announced increases in checked luggage fees. The most recent company to do so is United Airlines, which will now be charging $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second checked bag. (Discounts are available for bags checked in online, which gives thrifty consumers at least one option to save money.) United Airlines’ new rates are a $5 increase from its previous rates. The company followed suit after Delta and Continental raised rates earlier this month.

However, two companies are standing by their business plans and have not yet charged for checked bags. And both seem adamant that they won’t charge for checked baggage anytime in the future…

Southwest Airlines continues to “go against the grain” with its long-standing practice of allowing a traveler’s first two bags to fly free. In addition to using commercials and its website to promote this “bags fly free” philosophy, the company has used marketing emails to remind travelers that flying with Southwest Airlines could save them money.

JetBlue is another company that has not mimicked the competition with checked bag fees. JetBlue does not charge passengers for the first checked bag, nor does the company seem to have any intention of doing so in the future.

Have baggage fees deterred you from booking a flight or encouraged you to look at another airline for a better option? I believe that these fees could definitely impact flier’s decisions as to which airlines to take. I’m curious if a bag fee is a “big enough piece of the pie” to have an impact.