Princess has upped the wow factor onboard its fleet by becoming the first cruise line to offer scrapbooking at sea. One of the country's fastest-growing pastimes is coming aboard the Princess fleet with a new way for scrapbooking fans to take their hobby to sea.

The recently launched Princess Scrapbooking@Sea program is designed to encourage passengers to preserve their cruise memories in a fun and creative way. The first such program hosted by a cruise line, the new activity offers a social atmosphere where passengers can learn helpful hints on how to enjoy this popular activity.

Presented as part of Princess' award-winning ScholarShip@Sea educational program, Scrapbooking@Sea incorporates a series of onboard classes and a specially created scrapbooking kit with unique themed pages designed exclusively for Princess. The program begins rolling out to select ships this month, and is expected to be available across the Princess fleet by early 2007.

"Scrapbooking has become one of America's favorite hobbies," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service and sales. "And what better way to create a personalized memento of your cruise than to create scrapbook pages while you're actually on the ship. This program was tested aboard several of our vessels with great success -- so we're pleased to now offer this popular activity fleet wide."

Scrapbooking@Sea offers a series of classes, starting with a complimentary Scrapbooking Basics class which will introduce passengers to the art of creating scrapbook pages. Participants will learn how to use basic tools of the craft, familiarize themselves with page design and journaling techniques, and will receive the supplies and instruction needed to create their first page.

Subsequent courses are available to all passengers who purchase Princess' special scrapbooking kit. Classes offer tips and creative ideas, plus plenty of free time to work on pages with a full range of supplies available for use, including scissors, adhesive, deluxe paper, die cut machines with assorted die cuts, a selection of pens and other items that can be used during the class sessions. All materials are acid-free and archival safe.

Princess' special Scrapbooking@Sea kit features decorative papers, stickers and rub-on emblems along with instructions on how to build five unique vacation-themed pages. These pages can be used to create decorative backdrops for photos from typical cruise activities such as welcome aboard, days at sea, shore excursions, or formal evenings. Kits are available for $24.95 at any Scrapbooking@Sea class or at the ship's onboard photo gallery.

Additional themed kits are being developed for future sailings. In addition, a specially designed Princess scrapbook is available for purchase at the ship's photo gallery.

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Originally posted by PamM:
Not my scene at all.

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I have sat through one napkin folding session in my life.. nabbed the booklet [which is actually quite useful] and attended one Lei making session.. that's enough 'arts and crafts' for me. I do not have the patience.

Pam

[ 11-28-2006: Message edited by: PamM ]

Surely with Princess offering such short cruises with a higher port day ratio to sea day - where are people going to find the time to do this what appears to be time consuming, when there is so much more to do on a cruise.

I know first hand as my wife spends hours doing this. She uses half of our study for all her equipment and supplies. She produces fantastic pages. I always told her she could do it for a living, which people actually do. Its so popular that there are professional services that will take your family photos and put them into scrapbooks (albums).

If you go into any craft stores (like Michaels) on a weekend, you will see classes attended by dozens of people learning different techniques. There are also scrapbooking stores dedicated to the craft.

Don't get me wrong, I'd far rather spend my weekends watching football and have no desire to pick up a gluie stick but I do appreciate what its all about.

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Originally posted by Gerry:

I'm really not surprised Princess is taking advantage of the popularity of it in the States.

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Me neither, anything to increase onboard revenue. $24.95 for a "kit". I wonder if it's really worth it?

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Originally posted by PamM:
I enjoy illusionists and will make a point of going to that..

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Pam, I think you would have enjoyed my show that I performed onboard. I levitated one of our dancers, and also performed a number of other illusions and comedy magic tricks.

My daughter brought back a pile of stuff from the US earlier in the year, where you do have far wider and better choices of things than here, but it has all remained in the bags.

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Originally posted by LeBarryboat:

Scrapbooking is HUGE in the upper midwest.

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Ernie

[ 11-30-2006: Message edited by: eroller ]

Someone would pay several thousand dollars to go away to an exotic part of the world and rather than seeing the sights or relaxing on the deck, they sit in a room with some scissors and a bottle of Clag and do exactly what they could do in their own lounge room.

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Originally posted by reeves35:
Let me get this straight.

Someone would pay several thousand dollars to go away to an exotic part of the world and rather than seeing the sights or relaxing on the deck, they sit in a room with some scissors and a bottle of Clag and do exactly what they could do in their own lounge room.

When you book a Princess cruise can you ask not to be seated at dinner with anyone who is excited about the Scapbooking program? I'd be scared the conversation would be just too riveting!!!

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Exactly my thoughts on the subject - and I made similar thoughts about celebrity chefs restaurants on Ventura in its thread.

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Originally posted by Gerry:
Pam,

I had no idea it was popular in the UK too now. Or was it always so and I just wasn't aware of it?

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I've never heard of it either in the UK? It's popularity must be vary from region to region or maybe between the social groups?

Let me get this straight. Someone would pay several thousand dollars to go away to an exotic part of the world and rather than seeing the sights or relaxing on the deck...and do exactly what they could do in their own lounge room.

I think many aspects of modern cruising are inward looking! What about the people that do not even leave the ship in the ports! The ship have become the destination.

[ 11-30-2006: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

I wasn't even aware that the fact to stick things on your photos had a name...

[ 11-30-2006: Message edited by: Pascal ]

Princess know that Moms need some time together and this is a great way them to spend time doing a group activity and creating a high end photo and memory album of their families trip.

I made fun of pottery at sea, but that has become huge. This is even bigger. Princess' market focus is the upper middle class of the US and this hits the bullseye! Princess knows their market VERY well and this is a win!

To charge for this seems so friggin' petty; but that's PRINCESS.

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Originally posted by sunviking82:

Princess' market focus is the upper middle class of the US and this hits the bullseye! Princess knows their market VERY well and this is a win!

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Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:

Crafts are big w/people all over and when you live in places w/severe winter weather you need to keep busy indoors. If it keeps them out of the fridge-all the better!!

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