A Floating Hotel For Vancouver 2010 Olympics
For fun, I decided to see if I could get a hotel in Vancouver, Canada during the 2010 Winter Olympics. I tried all the usual websites – Hotwire, Priceline, Orbitz, Travelocity, Expedia and the like. As expected, not a single hotel room to be had. Not one.
I have heard a few stories about “entrepreneurs” renting out their condo, apartment, or house for insane amounts of $1,000 per night and higher. Unless you really need to be there or have the cash to pay such high rates, it is probably best to watch the Olympics from the comfort of your living room. No, it won’t be quite the same as being there, but at $1,000 per night to sleep in someone else’s bed, no thanks.
But how is this for an innovative approach to dealing with the lack of hotels during the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver-Whistler...a floating hotel?
Newwest Special Projects LP and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) are offering guests the opportunity to stay in their cruise ship, er, “deluxe floating hotel resort” the Norwegian Star.
From February 10 to March 2, NCL is offering 10 “waves” of 2 night packages. Prices start at $650 USD per cabin per person based on double occupancy. Included in your package is everything you would expect from a cruise, but without the cruising. Guests have access to 13 restaurants, 8 lounges, a spa, fitness center, cruise ship activities and nightly entertainment. All meals and 24 hour room service are complimentary.
The cruise ship will be docked at Canada Place – an ideal location for attending downtown venues and getting around Vancouver. The ship not only provides a central location but serves as an easy escape from the crowds that will surely descend on Vancouver during the Games.
This is a great deal will certainly sell out quickly. Now if only I could get my hands on a pair of gold medal hockey tickets.