This issue: On-board Review of Oosterdam. See the Ship Reviews section.
April-May-June,
2008
LATE BREAKING
CRUISE NEWS
Here's all the news you want to know from all the carriers you want to know about
A new web site, www.azamaracruises.com, now shows the line's full range of cruise and cruisetour itineraries and shore excursions, dining arrangements, virtual ship tours, 360-degree views of all stateroom categories, deck detail, port information, and more... The company announced its 2009 Europe schedule, which includes 20 new ports and additional overnight stays. A series of seven- to 15-day trips will visit 91 ports in 36 countries. Home ports will include Athens, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Rome, and Venice. Overnights will be in Barcelona, Edinburgh, Florence, Ravenna, Istanbul, St. Petersburg, and Stockholm. The company has two 694-passenger ships, the Azamara Journey and the Azamara Quest
A new multi-media advertising campaign being launched this season will inject a new look and feel into Carnival's marketing. A series of 30-second television spots will feature cruise and vacation images linked with computerized animation and editing techniques that blend one scene into another. Each commercial is pegged to an "Oooh, you make me live" lyrical phrase... A major upgrade will be completed during a 35-day drydock visit of the 2052-passenger Carnival Fantasy this fall. Highlights include a new aqua park with a four-deck high, 300-foot-long corkscrew water slide, an adults-only area, a redesigned "resort-style" main pool, an 82-foot-long racing slide, flat-screen TVs in staterooms, a nine-hole miniature golf course, a renovated 12,000 square foot spa, a New York-style deli, a patisserie, new facilities for children and teens, and contemporary sound and lighting systems for music and entertainment venues... 12- to 14-year-olds will find more to their liking on Carnival ships. The company is inaugurating dedicated facilities and activities catering to early teens under the "Circle C" banner, which currently has "Camp Carnival" for youngsters and "Club O2" for 15- to 17-year-olds. The new clubs will feature a dance floor with high-tech sound and lighting, 42-inch TV screens displaying movies and videos, a jukebox stocked with current hits, video gaming, plush seating, and staff supervision. Activities will include basketball, volleyball, ping pong, water games, late-night movies, evening pool parties, and more.
This grass is greener. The first ship afloat with a half acre of real, freshly-manicured, growing grass takes to the seas in December as part of Celebrity's new 2850-passenger Solstice. Set atop the uppermost deck, it will be part of an environment known as "The Lawn Club." It will hold picnics, putting practice, bocce ball, croquet, bare feet, and other diversions... The ship will have 10 restaurants. They'll include The Grand Eperna, a contemporary two-level main dining room with a two-story wine tower; an Italian themed Tuscan Grille; an Asian specialty restaurant, Silk Harvest; Blu, reserved for passengers booked in the AquaClass category of accommodations; Murano, featuring Continental food behind floor-to-ceiling windows; and Bistro on Five, specializing in crepes and open nearly around the clock... Wedding bells will chime on seven Celebrity ships that have recently been re-registered in Malta, where regulations allow for captains to perform legal marriages while the ships sail the seas of the world. Packages will take care of all the details, from receptions to cake, champagne, photos, and more... The first year's schedule for Celebrity's 2850-passenger Equinox, has been released. It will make its maiden voyage next year in August from London to Rome, calling on ports in France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Then it will sail a Med series with stops in Israel and Egypt. In November, it will move to Fort Lauderdale for a winter series of alternating 10- and 11-day Caribbean trips... Three original shows will be among the entertainment aboard the Solstice. They'll be presented in an 1115-seat theater that's almost a theater-in-the-round... Celebrity's biggest Europe season ever will happen in 2009, as it sends five ships there. They'll visit 76 ports in 29 countries. There will be six home ports: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Harwich, Southampton, Rome, and Venice. Itineraries include Scandinavia and Russia, the Arctic Circle and North Cape, the Med, Israel and Egypt, and transatlantic repositioning sailings.
Diamond necklace giveaways on each Caribbean sailing this year. That's one of the ways Costa will be observing its 60th Diamond Anniversary during 2008. Costa's 12 ships will visit 141 ports in 68 countries on 423 sailings of 109 itineraries this year... New Indian Ocean routes from Mauritius will begin... Palacruceros, Costa's new Barcelona cruise terminal, will open for its first full-year... Costa says it has more new ships on order than any other carrier, five ... Europe, here we come. That's Costa's mantra for this summer, as each of its ships is deployed there. They'll depart from Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Kiel, Hamburg, Venice, Rome, Genoa, and Trieste. Areas of concentration will be the Eastern Med, the Western Med, Northern Europe, and transatlantic and repositioning cruises.
An inaugural "Taste of the Pacific Northwest" series will highlight culinary traditions and wines of Oregon and Washington. There will be four autumn departures on the 84-passenger Spirit of Discovery, round trip from Portland... San Francisco Bay wine tours will return for another season. They depart from San Francisco on the 138-passenger Spirit of Yorktown in September and October. There will be both five-day and four-day itineraries. In each case, visits to wineries, tastings, estate-tours, and special meals will be part of the package
Snuffing out some remaining smoking opportunities aboard its two ships, Crystal will end the practice on all stateroom verandas starting this season. The verandas join most bars, restaurants, and entertainment lounges. Smoking continues to be allowed in private accommodations and some areas of bars... Read all about it! Crystal passengers will soon be able to "subscribe" to home-delivered (cabin-delivered) newspapers while at sea. Some 370 newspapers from all around the world will be available in full-format, same-day editions.
"Liner Notes," a new Public Radio series sponsored by Cunard, makes its debut this season. It will "explore travel through literature, painting, film, music, and myth," according to Cunard. It will feature unusual destinations and thought provoking ways that travel can be experienced and enjoyed. For example, the Irish-themed show features Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Frank McCourt and authors Colum McCann, Jimmy Breslin, Pete Hamill, NPR film critic Bob Mondello, and others. The format will be in the tradition of the venerable Algonquin Roundtable gatherings, with conversations related to travel. Information about individual shows is available at www.cunard.com/linernotes.
Wireless Internet is coming. Both the 1760-passenger Disney Magic and 1750-passenger Disney Wonder will have new wireless high-speed services this season. Hot spots in many public areas will accommodate laptops brought by passengers, while those without their own computers will be able to use internet cafes... Home Sweet Home will continue to be Port Canaveral. Disney has extended its home-port contract with the port for 15 years, until 2022. As part of the agreement, the port will expand and modify Disney's terminal space and will build a new parking facility. The result will be improved passenger flow amid still-secret Disney touches that the company says will "delight guests."... Disney has begun a new program of onboard airline check-ins. Most passengers will be able to leave the ship at the end of their cruises without having to collect their luggage on the pier. They'll go straight to Customs and then on to the airport, where they will not have to wait in check-in lines. Their luggage should be routed to their flights, ready for pickup at their destination.
Changes to menus this summer will find more regional dishes in Holland America's dining rooms. Starting with Mexico and Caribbean cruises, passengers will find new menus reflecting their ship's itinerary. There will be coconut scallops in the Caribbean, chicken mole in Mexico, tapas in Spain, prosciutto and coppa in Italy, salmon in Norway, and more... A $20 million enhancement has been completed aboard the 793-passenger Prinsendam. It resulted in new bathrooms in each cabin, redesigned closet space, and new carpeting, desks, and chairs. In public areas, walls were resurfaced, serving counters were upgraded, carpeting was replaced, sports decks were refreshed, and the library was expanded. Technologically, improvements were made to radar, lifeboats, and nautical equipment... Australasia is being added to Holland America's itineraries in 2009. The 1432-passenger Volendam will conduct nine cruises from Auckland, Sydney, or Singapore. They'll range from 14 to 19 days in length. In addition, for the first time the Volendam will sail a round-trip Hong Kong schedule. The series, which will run from this fall through next spring, will call at cities in China, Southeast Asia, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Russia... Holland America has re-cast its web site. The new design offers a detailed virtual sample of its cruise vacations, including stateroom interiors, activities, zoom-ins to chosen destinations, views of tour sites, photo/video galleries, podcasts about collections of art and artifacts aboard each ship, video clips of ship staff discussing dining options and shipboard activities, and more... For the first time, Holland America will sail an extensive series of Asia-Pacific voyages. During 2009, its 1432-passenger Volendam will make four maiden calls at ports in the Philippines, Japan, China, and Taiwan as part of nine new cruises. Included among them will be a first round-trip Hong Kong itinerary and calls in Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Russia. There will be two Vancouver-Asia circuits, between which the Volendam will spend the summer in Alaska service... The 2104-passenger Eurodam, which debuts this summer, will have an abundance of themed restaurants. In addition to the Rembrandt main dining room and a Lido, there will be a Pacific Northwest-themed Pinnacle Grill, a 144-seat Asian-themed Tamarind, a 72-seat Italian-themed Canaletto, plus Slice, an all-day pizza outlet. Both traditional and flexible seating times will be offered.
This issue: On-board Review of Oosterdam. See the Ship
Reviews section.
The most diverse itinerary in Hurtigruten's history features new "Longitudinal World Cruises" sailing between the Arctic and Antarctic. They'll be conducted by the 318-passenger Fram during the spring and fall seasons. In the winter, a new selection of Northern Lights voyages will sail the Bergen-Tromso-Lofoten Islands region... The company's 52-week schedule of Norwegian Coastal cruises between Bergen and Kirkenes continues via a fleet of 12 ships, with stops at more than 30 ports on the five- and six-day trips... A first: Port Canaveral will be the embarkation point for a 41-day portion of Fram's longitudinal world cruise. It'll happen in October.
New to Majestic America's schedule this year is nine months of double-ship service on the Columbia and Snake rivers from Portland on seven-day trips. The 142-passenger Queen of the West will sail weekly from March through November. It will be joined from May through October by the 150-passenger Columbia Queen and in the spring and fall by the 223-passenger Empress of the North.
For On-board Review of Queen of the West, see the Ship
Reviews section.
Double service to the Caribbean, a private island, and first-time calls at Bermuda mark MSC's 2008 - 2009 season. The 2550-passenger Orchestra, launched in 2007, will join the 1590-passenger Lirica to conduct seven- and 10-day trips to 16 ports during the Caribbean winter. Eastern and Western destinations will be visited, as well as Bermuda in a special April round trip from Fort Lauderdale... MSC's 3959-passenger Fantasia is on schedule for a December christening in Naples. 80 percent of the cabins will be oceanview, ranging up to 700 square feet. There will be six acres of public space, a 1700-seat theater, a 16,000 square foot spa with a thermal cave, five restaurants totaling one and a half acres, four pools, 12 hydro-massage tubs, 20 bars, a children's area of 4300 square feet, an aquapark with 150 fountains that will light up at night to the rhythm of music, a teenage club, Swarovski glass floors, and more. It will be as long as three and two-thirds football fields... In the meantime, its brand new 2550-passenger Poesia enters service this season as the carrier's ninth ship. It will sail from Venice to the Med during the summer... MSC has opened a web site entirely devoted to its newest ship, the Orchestra. Orchestra begins its U. S. service in January from Fort Lauderdale
3 - 2 - 1: Having withdrawn two of its three ships from Hawaii service, NCL announced that its 2146-passenger Pride of America, introduced in 2005, will be its sole entry in the Hawaii market through 2010. The Pride of Aloha will be transferred to Star Cruises and will be deployed in Asia beginning this summer. Previously, the Pride of Hawai'i was renamed the Norwegian Jade and transferred to European waters. The company cited "extraordinarily difficult" sales conditions, with prices driven down by increased competition from West Coast - Hawaii offerings. The NCL ship will leave from Honolulu each Saturday and stop at four islands... NCL has a new 50 percent owner. For a billion dollar cash equity investment, Apollo Management LP of New York, Los Angeles, and London will join Star Cruises in ownership of the line. Apollo is not new to the cruise industry: it recently purchased Regent Seven Seas Cruises and has invested in Oceania Cruises. It also has investments in such hospitality companies as Harrahs, Sirius Satellite Radio, and AMC Entertainment. According to NCL, the cash infusion should help the company continue its expansion and service-enhancement programs. The company currently has two 4200-passenger ships under construction in France, each valued at $1.1 billion... For the first time in its 41 years, NCL will deploy a ship year-'round in Europe. The 2400-passenger Norwegian Jade will sail a variety of itineraries there, extending its inaugural Europe season that begins this spring. It will conduct a series of 12-day Eastern Med sailings, nine-day Canary Islands and Morocco trips, and a 14-day Eastern Med holiday cruise. Barcelona will be the home port for each cruise... Charleston is being added to NCL's collection of key ports. Starting this fall, the 1462-passenger Norwegian Majesty will leave there each Saturday on seven-day Caribbean cruises... A new package of experiences known as "Freestyle 2.0" will be in place on all NCL ships this summer. Among the highlights: champagne upon boarding, expanded menu selections, lobster in specialty restaurants nightly and in the main restaurant twice per cruise, unlimited bloody marys and mimosas at some breakfasts, signature specialty dishes in each restaurant, upgraded linens and pillows, more minibar options, bathrobes in premium cabins, and more.
Smoking has been banned — except for outside decks — aboard the 513-passenger flagship Deutschland. The new policy follows introduction of a similar restriction that applies to Deilmann's nine European river ships.
A new kinder, gentler approach to disembarkation will make its way through the Princess fleet in coming months. Gone will be hurry-up-and-wait crowding, congested lobbies, hurried breakfasts, loudspeaker announcements calling color-coded departure groups, and general mayhem. In their place will be a letter delivered to each stateroom the day before, outlining a designated time to be in a designated public room. From there, staff members will personally escort passengers to the gangway according to a pre-established schedule... Set to debut on Princess' fleet by this summer is "Chef's Table." It will offer up to 10 gourmands a personally-escorted Maitre d'-led tour of the ship's galley during the height of dinner preparations, followed by a multi-course tasting dinner and wines at a special table. The chef will preview details of the menu, which will not be offered elsewhere. Each course will be accompanied by a detailed explanation of features, preparation methods, and tasting suggestions. During dessert, the chef will rejoin the group to lead a discussion about the evening's meal, answer questions, and share culinary secrets... For this summer's Alaska schedule, Princess has added 37 new tour options, bringing the total of landside offerings there to 234. Among them: a whale watch, a seafood Alaskan Chef's Table, ziplining, crab fishing tour, and glassblowing... In 2009, Princess will offer its most extensive European season. It will have six ships there, sailing 90 voyages on 36 itineraries to 132 ports. Trips will range from seven to 31 days during a seven-month April-to-November season. Cruises will be concentrated in six categories: Mediterranean and Greek Isles, Israel-Turkey-Greece-Egypt-Italy-Black Sea, Scandinavia and Russia, Northern Europe and British Isles, Northern Europe via Tahitian Princess, and transatlantic repositionings... Also in 2009, Princess will return to New York for summer cruising. It will offer 10 Caribbean/Bermuda sailings early in the season and nine trips to Canada/New England as summer turns into fall. The 3110-passenger Caribbean Princess will conduct the voyages... Alaska in 2009 will find seven Princess ships. They'll conduct 130 sailings, of which 81 will visit Glacier Bay. Three ships will depart from Seattle, on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Two will leave from Vancouver, on Saturdays and Mondays. And one will leave from San Francisco, every ten days for four summer months.
Regent has extended its partnership with naturalist Jean-Michel Cousteau for another three years. Under the contract, Cousteau will continue to appear on several cruises each year, lecturing and instructing on sustainability, conservation, and the marine environment... Regent will operate two world cruises in 2009, both leaving in January. A 116-day journey will leave from Los Angeles on the 700-passenger Seven Seas Voyager, while a 121-day trip will depart Fort Lauderdale aboard the 700-passenger Seven Seas Mariner.
This issue: On-board Review of Navigator. See the Ship
Reviews section.
Taking a cue from the popularity of TV's competitive dance shows, Royal Caribbean is making its passengers the stars of a new production show. Winning couples chosen early in a cruise will practice with the professional cast and will be featured in "Invitation to Dance." The feature is being introduced on the 3114-passenger Explorer of the Seas... Next summer will be a big one in Europe for Royal Caribbean. It will position eight ships there for the warm months of 2009. There will be 70 itineraries ranging from four to 14 days in length. 87 ports in 32 countries will be visited. Main destinations will be the Med, Northern Europe, Western Europe, and transatlantic repositioning trips. Home ports will include London Southampton, Malaga, Rome, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Athens, and Istanbul. New ports include Haifa and Ashdod in Israel.
Seabourn is replacing more than 50 percent of its menu items with more than 150 additions. Its executive chef Charlie Palmer says that the move ties in with a trend of adventurous diners seeking exotic twists on familiar, comforting ingredients. There will be Malossol caviar, smoked trout with potato parfait, seared beef carpaccio with sesame vinaigrette and shiitake mushrooms, butter poached jumbo prawns with red beet and goat cheese ravioli, and more. As before, venues will offer black-tie dinners, cafˇ seating, al fresco dining, and in-suite service.
Silversea has rolled out its 2009 schedule. It includes 10 new destinations among 320 ports in 108 countries on 140 itineraries ranging from seven to 92 days. The longest trip will be a first-time Grand Pacific Voyage on the 382-passenger Silver Shadow, traveling from Los Angeles to Vancouver via Papeete, Sydney, the Far East, and Alaska. The 296-passenger Silver Cloud will explore South America, the Caribbean, Northern Europe, and the Baltic. The 296-passenger Silver Wind starts the year in Africa, the Seychelles, and the Arabian Peninsula, and continues to the Mediterranean. The Silver Shadow handles the Caribbean during the winter, a Panama Canal trip, then the 92-day Grand Pacific Voyage. During the summer it will cover Alaska from San Francisco and Vancouver. The 382-passenger Silver Whisper will be in the South Pacific and Far East, India, and the Med most of the year... HSH Prince Albert II will be the new name of Silversea's most recent acquisition, the 140-passenger exploration ship World Discoverer. It will be so named because the prince is a practitioner of oceanographic science and exploration, Silversea's headquarters is in the Principality of Monaco, and the ship will be dedicated to exploration cruising. It will be placed into service this summer, following a multi-million dollar refurbishment. It brings Silversea's fleet to five ships... Silver Cloud and Silver Wind will undergo a major refurbishments. They'll get new bathrooms, carpets, flat screen television, and other appointments. Most public spaces will be similarly enhanced. A whole new spa and fitness center will be added and an additional elevator will be installed. The work will be completed next May... "Silver Spirit" has been chosen as the name of Silversea's next 540-passenger ship. It's currently under construction in Italy and will be launched late next year. It will be an all-suite ship with all suites having an ocean view.
January-February-March,
2008
LATE BREAKING
CRUISE NEWS
Here's all the news you want to know from all the carriers you want to know about
This new offshoot of Celebrity Cruises has placed its second ship in service,
the 694-passenger Azamara Quest. Beginning this season, it will sail Caribbean
and Panama Canal itineraries from Miami. The company describes the line as
being in the
"deluxe category — a category between premium and luxury." It will have
butler service in each cabin, flowers, fruit, toiletries, robes, slippers,
and plush bedding. The main dining room will have open seating, while the casual
dining room will be open 19 hours per day. It will visit many "off-the-beaten-path" ports
and offer "immersive excursions,"
the company says.
Concierge Club, Carnival's past-passenger recognition program for 10-cruise veterans, has been expanded. It will now offer shipboard credits calibrated to milestone cruises, like the 25th, 50th, etc. They already receive such perks as personalized stationery, laundry service, a concierge desk in the purser's lobby, and priority embarkation and debarkation... The 2642-passenger Carnival Destiny will launch a new seven-day cruise program from San Juan this spring. It will call at St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Dominica, and St. Thomas/St. John... Looking ahead to 2009, Carnival plans its biggest-ever season in Europe. It will have two of its newest ships, the 2974-passenger Carnival Liberty and 2974-passenger Carnival Freedom there. The Liberty will operate 12-day Northern European and Mediterranean cruises from London, while the Freedom will conduct 12-day trips in the Med from Rome... Carnival has ordered two 2174-passenger ships for its AIDA Cruises brand, which caters exclusively to the German-speaking market. They bring to six the number of ships that AIDA has ordered. The ships operate under a "club resort" concept aimed at younger, more active passengers.
Celebrity's new 2850-passenger Solstice, scheduled to take to the seas in December from Fort Lauderdale, will have a number of new-to-cruiseship features. For parties traveling together, there will be adjoining staterooms with a double set of doors, allowing each occupant to open or close them. Their adjoining verandas will be able to be transformed into a single, double-length balcony. Additional hooks, shelves, and nooks in cabins will facilitate a cleaner and less-cluttered look. Showers will have foot rails. There will be increased clearance beneath beds to handle larger luggage. Each room will have 32-inch flat TV screens, while suites will have larger ones. On the entertainment and beverage side, there will be a wine bar, ensemble lounge, a foyer bar, a Quasar bar whose chairs will be suspended from the ceiling, an observation lounge that will have dancing, a "Crush" bar that will have a frosted, chilled bar surface with 100 varieties of vodka, a 200-machine, 16-table casino, a classic English club lounge, and more... Passengers looking for a new activity will find one on the new Solstice: a first-of-its-kind glassblowing feature. In collaboration with the Corning Museum of Glass, the ship will have live demonstrations and narrated performances of glassblowing in a specially constructed sp ace. There will be a Hot Glass Show delving into the history and craft of glassblowing.
Costa observes its 60th year of cruising this year. Its 12 ships will visit 141 ports in 68 countries on 423 sailings of 109 itineraries. New Indian Ocean routes from Mauritius will begin this year... Palacruceros, Costa's new Barcelona cruise terminal, will open for its first full-year... Costa says it has more new ships on order than any other carrier, five as 2008 begins... Europe, here we come. That's Costa's mantra for this summer, as each of its ships is deployed there. They'll depart from Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Kiel, Hamburg, Venice, Rome, Genoa, and Trieste. Areas of concentration will be the Eastern Med, the Western Med, Northern Europe, and transatlantic and repositioning cruises.
Starting this season, it will be possible to book any of 85 Alaska shore excursions through the Cruise West web site, www.cruisewest.com. The company will have eight ships and 167 Alaska departures this year... But before the Alaska season, it will escape to the warmth of Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, and the South Pacific. In a series of seven- to 16-day cruises on small ships, Cruise West will continue its experiential-oriented program, featuring naturalists and topical lecturers.
Crystal has upgraded its onboard computer network with new technology and applications that will significantly increase the speed and versatility of Internet access. It increased bandwidth by 33 percent, upgraded components responsible for routing traffic, and installed equipment designed to deal with satellite communication vagaries. Email and Internet service, including photo transmission, will be more efficient, Crystal says, and it will offer courses on those subjects... Luggage-schlepping, airport baggage check-in, and long waits at baggage claim carousels may become a thing of the past for some Crystal passengers. The carrier has entered into a contract with an outside firm to provide door-to-door service between passenger homes and Crystal's ports of call around the world. There will be a charge... Beefing up its Crystal Adventures tour program, Crystal has developed 120 shoreside tours and in-port overnights for its 2008 Asia cruises. Bot hof Crystal's ships will be in the region between March and May... Two new restaurants will debut aboard the 940-passenger Crystal Symphony this season. The Silk Road and the Sushi Bar, under the direction of master chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, will feature his most popular specialties in a remodeled contemporary Asian setting. They'll seat 68 guests... Of Crystal's 61 voyages in 2008, 28 will feature themes or focused programming... Looking ahead, Crystal is planning a 2009 schedule that includes 185 ports in 57 countries. They'll range from seven to 106 days in length.
En garde! Among the recreational programs to be offered on Queen Victoria (see next item for full story about the new ship) will be fencing, to be taught by the Leon Paul Fencing Company, supplier to Olympians... Maritime history is Cunard's strong suit. So it's fitting that it open a museum on its newest ship, the 2014-passenger Queen Victoria. To be called the Cunardia, the permanent exhibit will have a fully curated exhibit of Cunard memorabilia, artifacts, and vintage souvenirs. It will showcase histories of iconic ocean liners, show the role of Cunard's Queens as troop carriers during wars, and relate through audio-visual technology and displays the company's unique history. The Victoria, which inaugurates service this season, is Cunard's second largest ship in its 168-year history. Keeping with its heritage, yet adding new touches, it will have the first traditional London West End-style private boxes at sea in the Royal Court Theater and the first two-story library at sea featuring a spiral staircase It will visit the Med, Canary Islands, Greek Islands, Crimea, Western Europe, Russia, the Norwegian Fjords, and places in between. The third ship in Cunard's current fleet has the profile and black-and-red livery of the company's traditional transatlantic liners. A three-tiered grand lobby will be the first space passengers will see on the 12-deck ship. There will be two swimming pools, four Jacuzzis, and a Winter Garden with a retractable roof in the health club/spa area. Children will have their own facilities. There will be a 6000-book library and a Royal Shopping Arcade featuring Harrods, Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, Waterford, Faberge, Swarovski, and other great merchandising icons. There will be a two-level dining room, a formal restaurant, a casual lido, traditional Queens Grill and Princess Grill, and additional dining and bar venues. 86 percent of the cabins will offer sea views, while 71 percent will have private balconies. Crystal chandeliers and a large ballroom floor will mark Cunard's traditional Queens Room, where white-gloved tea service occurs. The ship will be 964 feet long and rise to the height of a 17-story building... Meanwhile, Cunard's next ship has been ordered. It will be a 2092-passenger vessel to be built in Italy for $700 million. Following Queen Elizabeth's assent, it will be called the Queen Elizabeth, replacing the QE2 that retires in November. It will bring Cunard's fleet back up to three. It's expected to be completed in the fall of 2010... Cunard has added a new "Diamond" tier to its frequent-cruiser program, Cunard World Club. Diamond joins Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Each category receives a set of privileges. Goodies include access to a dedicated World Club Desk, a magazine, complimentary Internet use, discounts on cleaning and laundry services, an Officers Party, complimentary meal in the extra-fee restaurant, and more.
Sixteen podcasts have been added to Disney's web site, each delving into a different feature of travel via the Magic and the Wonder... For the first time in four summers, Disney will return to Los Angeles this year for a series of seven-day Mexico itineraries... Double Disney: Disney has ordered two new ships, each with a capacity of 2500 passengers, which will double its fleet and more than double its passenger capacity. The 122,000-ton liners will be delivered from its German builder in 2011 and 2012. Each will be two decks higher than the current Magic and Wonder. The new ships will be a modern interpretation of the classic ocean liners of the 1930s, Disney says. They'll feature a black hull, two funnels, porthole windows, gentle curves at the stern, sleek angles at the bow, and whimsical Disney design, detailing, features, and programming. The fleet additions will allow for more itineraries beyond the traditional Florida market... Disney's display case is bulging. It has now received 50 awards and citations honoring it for dining, entertainment, youth activities, spa facilities, and more.
easyCruise will triple its capacity in Europe this summer when it inaugurates a new-to-it 540-passenger ship. To be named easyCruise Life, it will highlight six Greek islands, calling also at Athens. The two-year old line is distinguished by its daily cycle: it typically sails for a few hours each morning, arriving around lunchtime. Passengers spend the rest of the day and evening, until the early morning hours, ashore. They're able to take in the night life of various ports. Also part of its cycle: it issues fresh towels and linens at the start of each cruise. After that, housekeeping services are available on a sale basis.
The new 2104-passenger Eurodam will be formally named in July in Rotterdam, a stone's throw from where the 135-year-old company was founded. A series of ceremonies and receptions will be held, expected to attract tens of thousands. After the naming, the Eurodam will embark on a prelude cruise and maiden voyage to Copenhagen, Hamburg, Oslo, Alesund, Vik, Flam, Stavanger, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Edinburgh, and Invergordon. Following its inaugural Europe season, the ship will conduct a series of Canada/New England foliage sailings and then navigate the Caribbean for the remainder of 2008... A rare 73-day spring cruise around Africa on the 793-passenger Prinsendam will leave from Fort Lauderdale in March, bound for 28 ports in 18 countries. It will end in Lisbon late in May. Wildlife, safaris, and the culture of many African cities and countries will be featured... Holland America is emphasizing longer Caribbean cruises this winter. It will have the most 10-day or longer trips among all major carriers serving the region. Overall, it will conduct 121 departures there this season from Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and New York City. Most will spend a day at the Half Moon Cay private island, which has been named "best private island" by Porthole cruise magazine. Ten of its ships will be devoted to Caribbean service until spring... Holland America's 1316-passenger Rotterdam will return to world cruising in 2009. It will leave in January from Los Angeles on a 117-day voyage that sails westbound to the Hawaiian Islands, the South Pacific, Australia, Asia, and Africa, before making calls in the Caribbean en route back to Fort Lauderdale and New York. It will stop at 39 ports in 27 countries... After spending $425 million to add the "Signature of Excellence" title to its ships, the four-year development program is complete. Among the enhancements in 350 days of drydock and 10 million hours of work: refurbished staterooms and public rooms, show kitchens with a program of guest chefs providing demonstrations and classes, email cafes, teen clubs, flat-screen television sets in cabins, high-thread-count linens, new Euro-top beds, expanded Exploration Speaker series, expanded spas, a set of Pinnacle extra-fee dining rooms, and improvements at Half Moon Cay, Holland America's private Caribbean island... Holland America will double its deep southern Caribbean itinerary this year. It will have a weekly seven-day trip from Fort Lauderdale to its private island of Half Moon Cay, Oranjestad in Aruba, and Willemstad, Curacao. The 1848-passenger Westerdam will be assigned to the route... South America and Antarctica will have a bigger place in Holland America's plans next year. Three ships — the 1380-passenger Amsterdam, the 1258-passenger Statendam, and the 793-passenger Prinsendam — will sail 18 cruises to the region. They'll range from 13 to 68 days and will leave from Fort Lauderdale, Valparaiso, Rio, and Los Angeles.
This issue: On-board Review of Oosterdam. See the Ship
Reviews section.
The recently-renamed line is introducing a season of new three- to seven-day trips. From Portland to Lewiston, Idaho, its 150-passenger Victorian-motif Queen of the West steamboat will retrace the final 1,000 miles of the Lewis & Clark Trail on full-week trips. Brand new three-, four-, and five-day itineraries will depart Portland for journeys that emphasize the lower Columbia On-board historians and naturalists will lead tours and lectures. Shore excursions will be included in the cruise package.
For On-board Review of Queen of the West, see the Ship
Reviews section.
The butler did it! Butlers will be highly visible on MSC's next two ships, the 3900-passenger Fantasia and 3900-passenger Splendida, scheduled to enter service in November and next spring, respectively. They'll be serving a 99-suite area known as the Yacht Club, which will have one butler for every five suites. The Club area will also incorporate a bar, solarium, two Jacuzzis, a skydomed pool, and an observation lounge. Each ship will be as long as four football fields and as tall as a 23-story building... Planning way ahead — to the 2008 - 2009 Caribbean season — MSC has announced that it will have two ships there, operating from Fort Lauderdale. The new 2550-passenger Orchestra which debuted in 2007 will join the 1590-passenger Lirica. They'll conduct seven- and 10-day trips to 16 ports.
NCV is changing its name to Hurtigruten, adopting the official name of its parent company. It began 115 years ago operating coastal steamers along the fjord-filled west coast of Norway, now sailing daily to 34 ports along the 1250-mile coast between Bergen and Kirkenes. NCV-Hurtigruten has 16 exploration cruise ships with an extensive variety of itineraries, including remote Antarctica, Greenland, and the Arctic's Spitsbergen... An unusual vertical world cruise highlights Hurtigruten's first year. It will travel from Ushuaia, Argentina to Reykjavik, Iceland. The 85-day cruise will be aboard the 318-passenger expedition ship MS Fram and will call at Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, Brazil, Portugal, Spain, France, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and Estonia.
NCL and the government of Bermuda have signed a 10-year pact that calls for the line's newest and largest ships to be deployed there until 2018. They'll depart predominantly from New York and Boston and will sail at least 44 cruises per season, making extended calls to the popular British-owned island. It will be the exclusive carrier from Boston. The 2000-passesnger Norwegian Spirit will sail from Boston, spending four days in Bermuda on its seven-day trip. The 2200-passenger Norwegian Dawn will sail from New York, spending three days there. A third ship will sail from Charleston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore... Bahama figures bigger in NCL's plans, too. It will return to Grand Bahama this year and will increase the number of calls to the islands, adding 32 visits, 28 of them by the new 2400-passenger Norwegian Gem. The Gem will be based in New York City.
The 513-passenger Deutschland will spend much of the summer in Baltic cruise service. The Edwardian/1920s-themed ship will conduct 12- and 13-day trips from Germany, calling on cities in Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and elsewhere... Nine days of wine sipping and education will be offered several times this year on the 140-passenger Princesse de Provence as it sails the Rhone and Saone Rivers in search of family estates, chateaux, and wineries in the Burgundy and Provence regions.
Princess' Caribbean passengers this winter won't lack for shoreside activity choices. There will be 126 new shore excursions to pick from. That's added to the approximately 775 existing ones, bringing the total to 800 "Adventures Ashore," Princess' term for shoreside tours. They're spread among 41 ports in the Caribbean and Panama Canal. A few highlights: dog sledding in Jamaica, a crocodile show in Limon, a mud bath in Cartagena, and a camel trek also in Jamaica... Getting a jump on the 2008-2009 Southern Summer, Princess says that three ships will be assigned down under late next year. Among the places to be visited: Bangkok, the Great Wall, Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, and elsewhere. New home ports will be established in Melbourne and Perth. The 2670-passenger Diamond Princess, 1950-passenger Sun Princess, and 1950-passenger Dawn Princess will conduct the sailings... The most west coast departures to Hawaii are promised for 2008 - 2009, when Princess deploys the 2600-passenger Golden Princess and 670-passenger Tahitian Princess to Island service. The Golden Princess will conduct 14 14-day sailings roundtrip from Los Angeles between October 2008 and April 2009. It will visit Honolulu, Hilo, Kauai, and Maui. The Tahitian Princess will have two Hawaii/Tahiti sailings, two one-way cruises between Hawaii and Vancouver, extended voyages from the South Pacific, and Polynesian and South American trips... After a one-year hiatus, Princess will bring Mexico cruises back to San Francisco next fall. The 2600-passenger Star Princess will conduct four 10-day round-trip sailings in October-November and two in April, 2009. They'll call at Acapulco, Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas... A series of short Pacific Coastal sailings has been scheduled for 2008/2009. They'll range from one to four days. In addition there will be two seven-day trips. Main ports will be San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle, Santa Barbara, Astoria, Catalina, and San Diego.
A new set of land programs — separate from Regent's core excursions — has been announced for the carrier's two 2009 world cruises. The "Adventures Ashore" will concentrate on encounters with history, culture, and nature in various global destinations. They'll range from twelve hours to four nights in duration. Both the 700-passenger Seven Seas Voyager and 700-passenger Seven Seas Mariner will depart next January, the Voyager from Los Angeles and the Mariner from Fort Lauderdale.
This issue: On-board Review of Navigator. See the Ship
Reviews section.
Some city reconfiguration is in store for Royal Caribbean this fall. Los Angeles will lose the 2744-passenger Monarch of the Seas when it repositions to Port Canaveral. The move was made necessary because the current Canaveral ship, the 2852-passenger Sovereign of the Seas is being transferred to its Pullmantur subsidiary. The Monarch has been serving Los Angeles, Ensenada, Catalina, and San Diego... A new home port of Colon, Panama, will be inaugurated in the 2008 - 2009 winter season. Royal Caribbean will begin 17 seven-day sailings from the port aboard its 2252-passenger Enchantment of the Seas. Ports of call: Cartagena and Santa Marta, Colombia; Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao in the Dutch Antilles... South America cruising will be conducted by four Royal Caribbean ships in the 2008 - 2009 Southern Summer season. There will be 19 round-trip sailings from Sao Paulo, alone. Colon in Panama will also be a home port for round-trip itineraries. There will be room for 113,000 passengers on the expanded schedule... Three South America cruises totaling 46 days will start off 2009 for the 3114-passenger Mariner of the Seas. It will wend its way from Fort Lauderdale, around Cape Horn, to its new home port of Los Angeles, where it will be the largest ship based there... Fourteen Australia cruises have been announced for the Southern Summer 2008 - 2009 season. The 2000-passenger Rhapsody of the Seas will operate five roundtrips from Sydney to the Coral Sea, as well as two Barrier Reef trips, a Tasmania voyage, and four roundtrips from Sydney to New Zealand.
A complimentary "Shoreside Experience" has been added to each Seabourn cruise... A luggage shipping service from home to cabin and back is now available on most Seabourn cruises.
A widening of horizons is in store for Silversea. It has purchased the 140-passenger exploration ship World Discoverer. The ship will be placed into service this spring, following a multi-million dollar refurbishment. It brings Silversea's fleet to five ships. It will handle the luxury adventure market, including Antaractic explorations. As part of the remodeling, the ship's capacity will be reduced from the current 175.
October-November-December,
2007
LATE BREAKING
CRUISE NEWS
Here's all the news you want to know from all the carriers you want to know about
Boosted by its new 2974-passenger Carnival Freedom, Carnival Cruise Lines expects to carry a record 2.9 million passengers to the Caribbean this winter-spring. It will have 18 ships in the Caribbean conducting more than 1150 circuits... New to Carnival is a $250 million "Evolutions of Fun" project. In a project to be completed in 2009, the company will add expansive children's water parks, new design styles and features for pool areas, and "Serenity" adults-only deck areas. The line's eight Fantasy-class vessels — starting with the 2052-passenger Inspiration and Imagination — will be the initial ships to receive the makeovers. Following will be the Fantasy, Ecstasy, Fascination, Sensation, Elation, and Paradise. Interior changes include remodeled staterooms, flat-screen television, New York-style delis in the Lido restaurants, spa improvements, and new shows and theater capabilities.
Just like your home-town museum. Celebrity's ships each have more than $1.5 million worth of modern and contemporary 20th century works by artists such as Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Pablo Picasso. They're in a variety of media, including sculpture, oil on canvas, and photography. Each collection is balanced with serious and whimsical art. Now, passengers can work their way through the offerings at their own pace and in whatever order they wish, with self-guided art tours featuring museum-quality professional audio equipment and commentary. Celebrity says that the equipment is the same as used in the Louvre and Metropolitan in New York... Celebrity has released its Caribbean schedule for the winter of 2008 - 2009. Four ships will ply the warm waters on four- through 11-day trips to the Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and New Jersey.
Europe, here we come. That's Costa's mantra for next summer, as each of its eleven ships is deployed there. The vessels will visit 112 ports in 43 countries on 53 itineraries. There will be a total of 335 departures in 2008 from Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Kiel, Hamburg, Venice, Rome, Genoa, and Trieste. Areas of concentration will be the Eastern Med, the Western Med, Northern Europe, and transatlantic and repositioning cruises.
"Spirit of Glacier Bay" is the new name of the 102-passenger Spirit of Nantucket. The ship, which has been sailing New England waters, will be repositioned in 2008 to conduct three- and four-day round trips from Juneau. The carrier's nine small ships range in capacity from 78 to 138 passengers. The Alaska season ranges from May through late August... The 138-passenger Spirit of Yorktown will spend this winter in Baja Mexico waters. Through March, 2008, it will sail round trip from Cabo San Lucas, stopping variously at Loreto, Isla Espiritu Santo, Los Islotes, Isla Partida. Traditional Mexico winter and holiday traditions will be featured. A $2 million renovation of the vessel will be completed in time for this winter's schedule...
Crystal has added 20 third-berth accommodations to the 1080-passenger Crystal Serenity to handle an increase in multi-generational family cruising. The additions mean that 157 third-berth cabins are now available on the ship. They're in all categories and on all decks. The change is accomplished with sofas that fold out to single beds, located in sitting areas... Somebody has figured out that Crystal will clock more than 50,000 miles with overland tours during its 2008 world cruise. It will offer 34 multiple-day excursions, roaming up to 1000 miles from its ports. The 108-day sojourn will stop at 45 ports in 22 countries... Europe will figure big in Crystal's plans next summer. Both of its ships will be there, conducting 29 itineraries to 84 ports in 30 countries from April through November. About two thirds of the trips will be in the Med, with the remainder in Northern Europe and the Baltic. Many itineraries will include overnight stays, allowing more time for exploration. Some of the selected cities are Monte Carlo, Venice, Istanbul, Athens, Barcelona, Lisbon, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Edinburgh... Crystal's 2009 world cruise will leave from Los Angeles for the first time in seven years. Conducted aboard the Serenity, it will take 105 days to return, after calling at 46 ports in 17 countries.
The 2014-passenger Queen Victoria will be added to the fleet at the end of this year. 2008 itineraries show that it will visit the Med, Canary Islands, Greek Islands, Crimea, Western Europe, Russia, the Norwegian Fjords, and places in between. The third ship in Cunard's fleet will have the profile and black-and-red livery of the company's traditional transatlantic liners. A three-tiered grand lobby will be the first space passengers will see on the 12-deck ship. There will be two swimming pools, four Jacuzzis, and a Winter Garden with a retractable roof in the health club/spa area. Children will have their own facilities. There will be a 6000-book library on two stories and a Royal Shopping Arcade. The theater will have private boxes. There will be a two-level dining room, a formal restaurant, a casual lido, traditional Queens Grill and Princess Grill, and additional dining and bar venues. 86 percent of the cabins will offer sea views, while 71 percent will have private balconies. Crystal chandeliers and a large ballroom floor will mark Cunard's traditional Queens Room, where white-gloved tea service occurs. The ship will be 964 feet long and rise to the height of a 17-story building... 2008 hasn't begun yet, but Cunard has released details of its two 2009 world cruises. The new Queen Victoria will sail from New York for a 99-day expedition ending in London. The 2620-passenger Queen Mary 2 leaves from Fort Lauderdale (where it will adjoin Queen Victoria) for a 90-day trip ending in New York... "QE2 "Farewell Voyages" have been scheduled prior to the classic liner's retirement and resurrection into a hotel, shopping, and entertainment attraction in Dubai. The farewells will leave from London in September, 2008, to the British Isles and Ireland; from London in early October, 2008, to New York; from New York in mid-October, 2008, to London; and finally, in November, 2008, from London to Dubai... "Cunard Insights" is the new name of Cunard's on-board enrichment program. It will offer a broad range of opportunities to interact with experts and luminaries in various fields. Forums will include lectures, Q&A's, debates, social gatherings, and workshops. They'll be based on areas including history, world affairs, science, politics, arts, literature, and more. See the Theme Cruises page for specifics.
Disney's display case is bulging. It has now received 50 awards and citations honoring it for dining, entertainment, youth activities, spa facilities, and more... For the first time in four summers, Disney will return to Los Angeles next year for a series of seven-day Mexico itineraries... Double Disney: Disney has ordered two new ships, each with a capacity of 2500 passengers, which will double its fleet and more than double its passenger capacity. The 122,000-ton liners will be delivered from its German builder in 2011 and 2012. Each will be two decks higher than the current Magic and Wonder. The new ships will be a modern interpretation of the classic ocean liners of the 1930s, Disney says. They'll feature a black hull, two funnels, porthole windows, gentle curves at the stern, sleek angles at the bow, and whimsical Disney design, detailing, features, and programming. The fleet additions will allow for more itineraries beyond the traditional Florida market.
Sound fishy? Holland America has figured out that its summer passengers on its five-ship Alaska fleet this year consumed 1.3 million pounds of wild Alaskan seafood... Known for collections of fine art and antiques from around the world, Holland America's ships often offer on-board art tours. Now the carrier has collected the most notable examples and published a 176-page hardcover coffee-table book, "The Art of Cruising: Fine Art and Antiques of Holland America Line." It features contemporary pieces, pre-Columbian artifacts, and original paintings from a variety of artists and epochs... Read all about it: a news blog devoted to Holland America's next ship, the 2104-passenger Eurodam is available at www.eurodamnews.com. It is expected to be delivered next June.
This issue: On-board Review of Oosterdam. See the Ship
Reviews section.
The recently-renamed line is introducing a season of new three- to seven-day trips. From Portland to Lewiston, Idaho, its 150-passenger Victorian-motif Queen of the West steamboat will retrace the final 1,000 miles of the Lewis & Clark Trail on full-week trips. Brand new three-, four-, and five-day itineraries in December will depart Portland for journeys that emphasize the lower Columbia On-board historians and naturalists will lead tours and lectures. Shore excursions will be included in the cruise package.
For On-board Review of Queen of the West, see the Ship
Reviews section.
Europe will be the center of activity for MSC during 2008. Each of its 10 ships will be in the Med at some time during the year, with two of its newest vessels sailing there year 'round. There will be 78 different Europe itineraries visiting 124 ports of call... It'll be Show Time all day and all night when the entertainment program gets rolling on the brand new 2500-passenger Orchestra. There will be 82 entertainers aboard, including an 11-person dance troupe, 21 musicians, 14 performers, and tenors, magicians, guitarists, instructors, actors, acrobats, and children's staff. A post-midnight "Late Night Show" and a 24-hour movie program close the old day and start the new one
NCV is changing its name to Hurtigruten, adopting the official name of its parent company. It began 115 years ago operating coastal steamers along the fjord-filled west coast of Norway, now sailing daily to 34 ports along the 1250-mile coast between Bergen and Kirkenes. NCV-Hurtigruten has 16 exploration cruise ships with an extensive variety of itineraries, including remote Antarctica, Greenland, and the Arctic's Spitsbergen. This year it launched a new 318-passenger deluxe exploration ship, the MS Fram, built especially for polar waters. The Fram will depart on 12 Southern Summer trips between now and February. They'll consist of eight-day cruises from Santiago and five day trips from Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city. The cruises will emphasize shore excursions led by naturalist guides and on-board educational functions.
NCL's newest ship, the 2376-passenger Norwegian Gem, is completing sea trials for a series of inaugural events this season. There will be inaugural ceremonies and sailings in Boston and New York at y ear-end. It has such features as a four-lane bowling alley, a rock climbing wall, 10 restaurants, 13 bars, two pools, and more. It will be based in New York for trips to the Caribbean until spring. Then it repositions to Barcelona for a summer series of Western Med cruises. The company plans three additional new ships between now and 2011... NCL has big new plans for San Francisco. In 2008, it will conduct five consecutive cruises to Mexico, including one that continues to South America. It's NCL's biggest foray into the popular Golden Gate cruise business.
The 513-passenger Deutschland will sail 33 itineraries next year. They'll range from five to 20 days and will cover the earth from the Arctic to the South Pacific to Europe's old world cities to Africa, India, the Middle East, Russia, and Scandinavia. The Edwardian- and 1920's-motif ship will conduct four spring sailings in the Med... All inside areas of each of Deilmann's nine river vessels will become smoke free next March...
Getting a jump on the 2008-2009 Southern Summer, Princess says that three ships will be assigned down under late next year. Among the places to be visited: Bangkok, the Great Wall, Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, and elsewhere. New home ports will be established in Melbourne and Perth. The 2670-passenger Diamond Princess, 1950-passenger Sun Princess, and 1950-passenger Dawn Princess will conduct the sailings... The most west coast departures to Hawaii are promised for 2008 - 2009, when Princess deploys the 2600-passenger Golden Princess and 670-passenger Tahitian Princess to Island service. The Golden Princess will conduct 14 14-day sailings roundtrip from Los Angeles between October 2008 and April 2009. It will visit Honolulu, Hilo, Kauai, and Maui. The Tahitian Princess will have two Hawaii/Tahiti sailings, two one-way cruises between Hawaii and Vancouver, extended voyages from the South Pacific, and Polynesian and South American trips... The most departures through the Panama Canal is Princess' boast for 2008 - 2009. Three ships will transit the engineering masterpiece next year, offering 40 departures on six itineraries. Round trip and full transit cruises will link Fort Lauderdale with major cities on the west coast... After a one-year hiatus, Princess will bring Mexico cruises back to San Francisco next fall. The 2600-passenger Star Princess will conduct four 10-day round-trip sailings in October-November and two in April, 2009. They'll call at Acapulco, Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas... The 2670-passenger Sapphire Princess will make 32 Mexico departures on seven-day trips from Los Angeles between September, 2008, and May, 2009... New Caribbean itineraries for 2008 - 2009 show an increase in 10-day and 14-day sailings. Seven Princess ships will sail on 11 itineraries. They include seven-day Western Caribbean , seven-day Eastern Caribbean, seven-day Southern Caribbean, 10-day Southern and Eastern Caribbean, and 14-day whole Caribbean trips from Fort Lauderdale, San Juan, and Barbados... A series of short Pacific Coastal sailings has been scheduled for 2008/2009. They'll range from one to four days. In addition there will be two seven-day trips. Main ports will be San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle, Santa Barbara, Astoria, Catalina, and San Diego.
A $20 million fleetwide refurbishment has been completed on Regent's 700-passenger Voyager and Mariner and 490-passenger Navigator. They each now feature wireless service for laptop computers, faster Internet connectivity, cell phone service, iPods and Bose speakers in some suites, cashmere throws, Anichini bathrobes, new towels and slippers, new carpeting in public areas, coffee machines in some cabins, an espresso bar, and other amenities. The 330-passenger Paul Gaugin completed refurbishment in 2006... The 330-passenger Paul Gauguin marks the longest continuous deployment of a luxury cruise ship in one region as it begins its eleventh year of year-'round sailing in Tahiti and the South Seas. In 2008, it will make 43 voyages ranging from seven to 11 days. Each cruise will call at Bora Bora and offer diving programs and local lecturers and entertainers, while many will stop at the private islet of Motu Mahana.
This issue: On-board Review of Navigator. See the Ship
Reviews section.
Going up in smoke is Royal Caribbean's smoking policy. Starting in January, all staterooms will be non-smoking. Already, hallways, corridors, restaurants, entertainment venues, and most interior public spaces are non-smoking. In addition, one lounge or bar on each ship will be set aside as a non-smoking public room... A new home port of Colon, Panama, will be inaugurated in the 2008 - 2009 winter season. Royal Caribbean will begin 17 seven-day sailings from the port aboard its 2252-passenger Enchantment of the Seas. Ports of call: Cartagena and Santa Marta, Colombia; Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao in the Dutch Antilles... South America cruising will be conducted by four Royal Caribbean ships in the 2008 - 2009 Southern Summer season. There will be 19 round-trip sailings from Sao Paulo, alone. Colon in Panama will also be a home port for round-trip itineraries. There will be room for 113,000 passengers on the expanded schedule... Three South America cruises totaling 46 days will start off 2009 for the 3114-passenger Mariner of the Seas. It will wend its way from Fort Lauderdale, around Cape Horn, to its new home port of Los Angeles, where it will be the largest ship based there... Fourteen Australia cruises have been announced for the Southern Summer 2008 - 2009 season. The 2000-passenger Rhapsody of the Seas will operate five roundtrips from Sydney to the Coral Sea, as well as two Barrier Reef trips, a Tasmania voyage, and four roundtrips from Sydney to New Zealand... Ooh la la. Royal Caribbean is starting a new cruise line dedicated to the French market. It'll be called CDF Croisieres de France and start with the 376-cabin Holiday Dream, formerly the Europa when it was owned by Hapag Lloyd. It will be renamed Bleu de France, serve French cuisine, use French as the official language, and operate out of Marseille starting in spring, 2008.
A complimentary "Shoreside Experience" has been added to each Seabourn cruise... A luggage shipping service from home to cabin and back is now available on most Seabourn cruises.
A Viking Cooking School is being added to Silversea ships. It will contain a demonstration culinary theater equipped with induction stove, convection oven, cookware, cutlery, countertop appliances, and a large projection screen to allow easy views of cooking techniques. Chefs will concentrate on recipes echoing the cultural flavor of the ship's itinerary. There will be Q&A sessions, a Lunch and Learn group eating event and, in some ports, a Market to the Plate feature, where passengers go on an escorted tour of a local market to buy the ingredients to be cooked... In 2008, Silversea's four ships will visit 340 ports in 116 countries on 140 itineraries ranging from six to 110 days ... All Silversea ships now offer wireless Internet access throughout the ships. Passengers with wi-fi-enabled laptops and PDAs can surf the Internet and check emails from any public or private accommodation.
Newport Beach, California-based Ambassadors International has acquired Windstar Cruises from Holland America Line, a unit of Carnival Corp. Windstar Cruises, which launched in 1986, encompasses the 312-passenger Wind Surf and the sister 148-passenger ships Wind Star and Wind Spirit. The motor-sail yachts cruise the Mediterranean during the spring, summer and fall, and the Caribbean and Costa Rica during the winter.
July-August-September,
2007
LATE
BREAKING CRUISE NEWS
Here's all the news you want to know from all the carriers you want to know about
New to Carnival is a $250 million "Evolutions of Fun" project. Starting this year and continuing into 2009, the company will add expansive children's water parks, new design styles and features for pool areas, and "Serenity" adults-only deck areas. The line's eight Fantasy-class vessels — starting with the 2052-passenger Inspiration and Imagination — will be the initial ships to receive the makeovers. Following will be the Fantasy, Ecstasy, Fascination, Sensation, Elation, and Paradise. Interior changes include remodeled staterooms, flat-screen television, New York-style delis in the Lido restaurants, spa improvements, and new shows and theater capabilities... A senior Carnival cruise director has been posting blogs about his new ship, the 2974-passenger Carnival Freedom. More than 200,000 readers have visited the site. Now, he'll host a "Bloggers Cruise" next January on an Eastern Caribbean trip out of Miami. Among the attractions: Q and A sessions about cruise travel, anecdotes about Freedom's inaugural year in Europe, and tales about his 20 years at sea. The blog is at www.carnival.com/freedom.
At-sea days are about to become "Passaporto di Europe" days, with the introduction of more Europe-themed onboard programs. Each day and evening, starting this summer, Celebrity will schedule entertainment, shopping, and dining activities based solely on several cultural activities of Europe. Examples include Italian vs. French cookoffs and wine and cheese fairs... A re-do is in progress on the 1870-passenger Mercury. When it returns to Alaska service this summer it will sport 14 new verandas on the aft end of the ship leading to 210-square-foot staterooms. The retail "boutique boulevard" will be updated with new and redecorated stores. Health club equipment will be replaced, and carpeting will be added in the restaurant, bars, cafe, casino, corridors, staircases, and main foyer. Finally, an improved cabin bedding and linen combo will be inaugurated... 2009, anyone? Celebrity has released its Caribbean schedule for the winter of 2008 - 2009. Four ships will ply the warm waters on four- through 11-day trips to the Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and New Jersey... Azamara Cruises, a coined term rooted in Romance language references to blue ("aza"), the sea ("mar"), and "acamar" (a bright star) is being launched this season as an offshoot of Celebrity. Celebrity calls it a "deluxe-category" line — "a category between premium and luxury." It starts with a redecorated 710-passenger vessel, the Azamara Journey, which will be joined by a twin ship, the Azamara Quest, in October. During the first couple of years, they'll visit more than 175 ports in 60 countries, many of them too small for typical megaships. They'll be heavy on history and culture and offer each cabin a butler, fresh flowers, fresh fruit, robes, slippers, and plush bedding. They'll have two specialty restaurants, indoor and outdoor spa lounges, and emphases on fine art, sculpture, photography, jewelry, and upscale resort wear... Celebrity has ordered its fourth "Solstice-class" ship. It will enter service in 2011. It will carry 2850 passengers, will be 1033 feet long and 121 feet wide, and will displace 122,000 tons. 90 percent of cabins will be outside, and 85 percent will have balconies.
More than 350 departures are scheduled as Costa's entire 11-ship fleet is deployed in European waters this summer. They'll sail on Eastern Med, Western Med, and Northern Europe/Baltic itineraries. There will be 81 routings, to 108 ports in 37 countries. Major departure ports: Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Kiel, Hamburg, Venice, Rome, Genoa, and Trieste.
Two new itineraries for 2007 will take the 120-passenger Spirit of Oceanus to Vietnam, Japan, Korea, and China. The 11-day and 13-day trips will depart in November..Also new: itineraries to Cape Cod, the islands of New England, Colonial America, Chesapeake Bay, Coastal Maine, the Hudson River, Alaska, and the Russian Far East will highlight Cruise West's schedule this year. Its 10 small ships carry between 70 and 138 passengers.
Crystal calls it "Active Enrichment." Among the active features available on some of its 63 Northern Europe trips this summer and fall are: flying in a MIG jet fighter over Moscow, Biking through Amsterdam, Golfing at St. Andrews, Hiking on a granite rock face in Greenland, and sailing a "jolly boat" in the open Baltic sea alongside the 940-passenger Crystal Symphony. Optionally, tea and naps may follow... Not only coastal cities will be visited by Crystal this season. In a departure from the norm, Crystal is scheduling optional stays in places like Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg, and Lake Como. Even a trip on the Orient Express between London and Venice is on the list... This fall's New England/Canada roster aboard the Symphony will include a new 11-day itinerary and, at season's end, the first visit to Philadelphia in a decade en route to colonial cities and Miami. There will be five cruises departing from New York and Montreal, some of them seven days in length. Cooking lessons in Charleston, a lobster bake in Bar Harbor, a hike through Bull Island, and a tour of Yankee Stadium are among the local land options... And the winner is — Shark Feeding beneath the surface! In a survey of the most popular Caribbean shore excursions offered by Crystal, passengers most preferred witnessing a shark feeding from 30 feet beneath the surface in St. Maarten. Next, in order: parasailing in Key West, learning to scuba dive in Grand Turk, and swimming with dolphins in Key West... The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra will play Big Band sounds on the transatlantic crossing of the 1080-passenger Serenity from Lisbon to Miami in November... For 2008, Crystal has announced it will visit 167 ports on 61 itineraries. Its just-published Crystal Cruises' 2008 Worldwide Cruise Atlas lists them.
2008 itineraries of Cunard's brand-new 2014-passenger Queen Victoria have been announced. The ship enters service this December. Next year it will be seen in the Caribbean, Canary Islands, the Baltic, and the Black Sea. It will touch at several Greek islands and Crimean coast cities. Western Europe and the Norwegian Fjords are also on the first-year calendar. The third ship in Cunard's fleet will have the profile and black-and-red livery of the company's traditional transatlantic liners. A three-tiered grand lobby will be the first space passengers will see on the 12-deck ship. There will be two swimming pools, four Jacuzzis, and a Winter Garden with a retractable roof in the health club/spa area. Children will have their own facilities. There will be a 6000-book library and a Royal Shopping Arcade. The theater will have private boxes. There will be a two-level dining room, a formal restaurant, a casual lido, traditional Queens Grill and Princess Grill, and additional dining and bar venues. 86 percent of the cabins will offer sea views, while 71 percent will have private balconies. Crystal chandeliers and a large ballroom floor will mark Cunard's traditional Queens Room, where white-gloved tea service occurs.
The 1760-passenger Disney Magic is sailing in a new ocean this year. It's conducting eight summer cruises in the Med, visiting Spain, Italy, and France... .Double Disney: Disney has ordered two new ships, each with a capacity of 2500 passengers, which will double its fleet and more than double its passenger capacity. The 122,000-ton liners will be delivered from its German builder in 2011 and 2012. Each will be two decks higher than the current Magic and Wonder. The new ships will be a modern interpretation of the classic ocean liners of the 1930s, Disney says. They'll feature a black hull, two funnels, porthole windows, gentle curves at the stern, sleek angles at the bow, and whimsical Disney design, detailing, features, and programming. The fleet additions will allow for itineraries beyond the traditional Florida market.
Holland America expects to carry 115,000 passengers this summer in Seattle. It will base five ships there, conducting 64 Alaska cruises. And on every ship on every night there will be servings of fresh wild salmon. The cooks have a wide array of accoutrements for the morsels... A $225 million enhancement of all 13 Holland America ships has been completed. The initiative included upgrades to the ships' public spaces, stateroom amenities, a Culinary Arts Center, an Explorations Caf? powered by the New York Times, a Greenhouse Spa and Salon, and improved youth programs and facilities.
This issue: On-board Review of Oosterdam. See the Ship
Reviews section.
The recently-renamed line is introducing a season of new three- to seven-day trips. From Portland to Lewiston, Idaho, its 150-passenger Victorian-motif Queen of the West steamboat will retrace the final 1,000 miles of the Lewis & Clark Trail on full-week trips. Brand new three-, four-, and five-day itineraries in December will depart Portland for journeys that emphasize the lower Columbia On-board historians and naturalists will lead tours and lectures. Shore excursions will be included in the cruise package.
For On-board Review of Queen of the West, see the Ship
Reviews section.
MSC's fleet will grow to 12 ships within the next three years, with announcement of an order to construct a fourth "Musica" class ship. The 2500-passenger vessel will have 242,000 feet of public area (that's about five acres), new technological and design features, and more than 85 percent outside accommodations. About 65 percent of the cabins will have balconies... 2008 plans for MSC include year-'round Mediterranean sailings, with all of the fleet's 10 ships there at some time during the year. There will also be three ships sailing in Northern Europe, three in South America, and two in the Caribbean... It'll be Show Time all day and all night when the entertainment program gets rolling on the brand new 2500-passenger Orchestra. There will be 82 entertainers aboard, including an 11-person dance troupe, 21 musicians, 14 performers, and tenors, magicians, guitarists, instructors, actors, acrobats, and children's.staff. A post-midnight "Late Night Show" and a 24-hour movie program close the old day and start the new one
NCV will launch its 2007 - 2008 Antarctica season with a brand new expedition ship, the 318-passenger MS Fram. The Fram will depart on 12 Southern Summer trips between November and February. They'll consist of eight-day cruises from Santiago and five day trips from Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city. The cruises will emphasize shore excursions led by naturalist guides and on-board educational functions. NCV ships sail daily, calling at 34 ports along the 1250-mile coast between Bergen and Kirkenes.
NCL has just made big plans for San Francisco. In 2008, it will conduct five consecutive cruises to Mexico, including one that continues to South America. It's NCL's biggest foray into the popular Golden Gate cruise business... More than 6000 passengers per week will visit Alaska this summer on three NCL vessels. The 2376-passenger Norwegian Pearl, its newest Freestyle Cruising vessel, will join the1960-passenger Norwegian Sun and 2200-passenger Norwegian Star in Alaska for the 2007 season. Norwegian Star and Norwegian Pearl will sail seven-day roundtrip cruises from Seattle, and Norwegian Sun will move to Vancouver for seven-day round-trip cruises. The new Pearl enters Alaska service this season.
All inside areas of each of Deilmann's nine river vessels will become smoke free next March... There will be more than 270 European river sailings this year, ranging in length from seven to 24 days. The season runs through mid-November... The 513-passenger Deutschland will move to southeast Asia for two months at the end of this year and the beginning of '08. It will conduct four cruises varying in length from 14 to 19 days. Among the countries and cities it will visit: Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Okinawa, Shanghai, and Xiamen.
Princess will double its World Cruise offering in 2009 by adding a second ship to that service. Both the 670-passenger Tahitian Princess and the 710-passenger Royal Princess will depart from Fort Lauderdale on 107-day trips. They'll stop in 40 ports on six continents... There'll also be ships added to the South America 2008 - 2009 Southern Summer trade. An unprecedented three ships will make 21 departures on six itineraries... In case 3100 passengers and all their activities get to be a bit overwhelming for some, Princess' new Crown Princess will have The Sanctuary. That's an adults-only retreat on the 17th deck that will have an "atmosphere of tranquility and service, offering a respite for relaxation," according to Princess. It will offer "a relaxing alternative to the myriad outdoor activities and entertainment available elsewhere throughout the ship."
Music. Music. Music. Regent Seven Seas this summer will revamp its entertainment program, starting with the addition of a nine-piece "Regent Signature Orchestra" aboard three of its ships. There will be a new emphasis on live musical performances, with five new productions by the "Regent Singers and Dancers." The company says that the entertainment program will add "more energy, texture, and variety." The three ships — the 700-passenger Mariner and Voyager and 490-passenger Navigator — will now have a new late-night cabaret show and productions centered around Las Vegas' golden age, the Motown Sound, Neil Simon music, Jazz, and Ballroom dance. Dance lessons will be offered on days at sea... The 330-passenger Paul Gaugin marks the longest continuous deployment of a luxury cruise ship in one region as it begins its eleventh year of year-'round sailing in Tahiti and the South Seas. In 2008, it will make 43 voyages ranging from seven to 11 days. Each cruise will call at Bora Bora and offer diving programs and local lecturers and entertainers, while many will stop at the private islet of Motu Mahana... Fashion will be in fashion on fall sailings of the Seven Seas Voyager calling at Barcelona. Fashion columnist and authority Marta Wendlinger, who lives there, will lead on-board and on-land forays in the world of style... Antarctica will get four more departures in the Southern Summer of 2007 - 2008. Each cruise, aboard the 198-passenger Explorer II, will be from Ushuaia, Argentina. Trips will be of either 10 or 16 days' duration.
This issue: On-board Review of Navigator. See the Ship
Reviews section.
"All-American Star Spangled Summer Excursions" will take passengers through mid-America on a barge or canal boat replica this summer. A Rivers and Canals trip will ply the Ohio River and Erie Canal from Cincinnati. From St. Louis, the upper Mississippi and Ohio rivers will be the draw.
Is 5400 passengers big enough for you? Royal Caribbean is betting that it is. It has placed an order in a Finnish shipyard for a 220,000-ton ship of that capacity, to be completed in 2009. It will become the 24th ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet and the second of the company's Project Genesis vessels... The 2020-passenger Empress of the Seas, which was built in 1990, leaves the Royal Caribbean fleet this season. It will be transferred to Madrid-based Pullmantur, which Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., purchased last year... Get 'em while they're young. With that in mind, Royal Caribbean has launched with it believes is the industry's first loyalty program designed for youngsters. The Crown & Anchor Society Youth Program will offer cruise credits, membership levels, benefits, rewards, on-board attractions, and more. Just like the older generations have gotten used to... After youth comes marriage. Royal Caribbean will be there, too. It has inaugurated an "Explorer Weddings" program, where it produces custom and traditional betrothal ceremonies aboard ship or at a cruise stop... The 3634-passenger Liberty of the Seas enters service this summer. Together with its sister ship, Freedom of the Seas, it shares the title of world's largest cruise ship. It features a Vitality wellness program of fitness, spa, excursion, culinary offerings, Tai Chi, acupuncture, seminars and more; a kids program for kids of all ages; a build-and-grow program in conjunction with Lowe's and Fisher-Price; a wedding program; a FlowRider water park; a boxing ring; a 445-foot-long promenade of restaurants, shops, and lounges; a 1350-seat theater with Broadway-style shows; cantilevered whirlpools suspended 112 feet above the ocean; an adults-only area; an ice skating rink, and much more... Royal Caribbean will have 11 ships conducting 83 Caribbean sailings during the winter of 2008 - 2009. They'll visit 24 ports on 14 itineraries ranging from six to 13 days. The season will be highlighted by the sailing from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale of the largest cruise ship ever to make a transatlantic voyage, the 3634-passenger, 160,000-ton Independence of the Seas.
A complimentary "Shoreside Experience" has been added to each Seabourn cruise... A luggage shipping service from home to cabin and back is now available on most Seabourn cruises.
The Spas are changing. All four Silversea ships will begin a new spa concept, to be known as The Spa at Silversea. It will replace Mandara Spas and feature new treatments and ceremonies designed to offer more personalized and holistic spa experiences. Refurbished decors, white and silver color themes, contemporary furnishings, and novel treatments highlight the new concept. Body assessments, dining recommendations, wellness discussions, a wide array of exercise equipment, and grooming are also among the spas' offerings... In 2008, Silversea's four ships will
visit 340 ports in 116 countries in 140 itineraries ranging from six to 110 days... Teaming up with Men's Vogue, Ferragamo, Travel + Leisure magazine, and Bon Appetit, Silversea is planning a rich enrichment program aboard its 2008 world cruise. Set to leave Fort Lauderdale in January, the 382-passenger Silver Shadow will visit more than 25 countries and 50 destinations during its 110-day voyage. Among the programs: a tour of the Ferragamo family's fashion house and museum is on tap in Livorno; film critic Rex Reed will share anecdotes and insights about the movies and stars; and chef Cat Cora will host a culinary program... Northern Europe and Baltic passengers this summer will have 19 different itineraries of six to 15 days to choose from. They'll be conducted by Silver Wind and Silver Shadow. Art collection, books, gourmet cooking, and history will be featured on various trips... All Silversea ships now offer wireless Internet access throughout the ships. Passengers with wi-fi-enabled laptops and PDAs can surf the Internet and check emails from any public or private accommodation. There is a charge.
Newport Beach, California-based Ambassadors International will acquire Windstar Cruises from Holland America Line, a unit of Carnival Corp. Windstar Cruises, which launched in 1986, encompasses the 312-passenger Wind Surf and the sister 148-passenger ships Wind Star and Wind Spirit. The motor-sail yachts cruise the Mediterranean during the spring, summer and fall, and the Caribbean and Costa Rica during the winter.
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