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Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines, long a favorite mid-priced brand for
European cruisers, is making its way into the U.S. market with its
affordable small-ship cruising experience. Marketed via Borton
Overseas out of Minneapolis, the Fred.Olsen line strives to present a
“country house” vacation option with itineraries in the
Baltic, Norway, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Black Sea
and around the U.K. |
The Norwegian cruise company
based in the U.K. has been the pride of the Olsen family for five
generations and brings five ships (soon to be four with the retiring
of the Balmoral) to the seas, each carrying only 1,340 passengers in
total. It skews to a mature crowd—children are not encouraged
and there are no amenities for them on board. The ships are big
enough to be comfortable yet small enough to handle unique
destinations unreachable by larger ships.
Onboard amenities include a spa,
several lounges, restaurants for formal and casual dining, swimming
pools and jacuzzis and light entertainment programs. To make them
more interesting to the U.S. market, the company is launching a
program for themed cruising: Flagship Golf, Civilizations and The
ArtsClub will bring a series of themed sailings to the fleet this
year and next.
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Golden Princess Drydock
Adds New Features
The Golden Princess has emerged
from its three-week drydock that added a new Piazza with a street
café atmosphere in the atrium and two new dining options. The
International Café serves up specialty coffees, fresh baked
cookies, pastries, panini sandwiches and tapas, while wine bar Vines
offers a selection of more than 30 wines by the glass, plus a
selection of seafood, artisan meats and cheeses, and a wine shop
where passengers can purchase their favorite bottle. |
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The drydock added The Sanctuary,
Princess' signature retreat, featuring plush padded lounge chairs and
the services of dedicated Serenity Stewards. Visitors to this
exclusive space can enjoy refreshing beverages and light snacks, or
receive a massage in one of the private cabanas.
And a new 300-square-foot Movies
Under the Stars poolside LED screen now features evening movies and a
variety of daytime programming. In addition to family cinema and
first run hits, it showcases major sporting events, concerts and
other programming - up to 50 different offerings per week.
The ship also now features a
brand-new relocated casino on deck 7, a new sports court, a new
Internet café and library, and a refurbished fitness center.
And all passenger cabins were also fitted with new flat screen
televisions. Some spaces are still in the final phases of completion.
This includes the new Crown Grill restaurant, newly constructed
suites, and the relocated shore excursions desk and wedding chapel.
The ship is sailing weekly
departures from Seattle on roundtrip Inside Passage voyages to Alaska
through Sept. 12.
Disney Channel Cruises on
Wonder This Summer
The Disney Wonder this summer is
introducing eight "Disney Channel Summer at Sea" cruises to
the Bahamas in a partnership with Kodak.
Popular stars from Disney Channel
shows like "Hannah Montana," "Sonny With A
Chance," "Wizards of Waverly Place," "The Suite
Life on Deck," "JONAS," "Camp Rock,"
"High School Musical" and "Hatching Pete" will
sail with guests on three- and four-night Bahamas cruises July 9
through Aug. 2.
During these themed sailings,
Disney Channel stars will help pump up the volume during onboard deck
parties and will join guests for Q & A and autograph sessions
along with preview screenings of Disney Channel programming. The
onboard fun culminates with a "Party with the Stars" event,
an evening where guests can join the stars for a special live musical
performance. Radio Disney will broadcast live from the ship during
two of the cruises.
Each cruise during "Disney
Channel Summer at Sea" will include multiple Disney Channel
stars. Visit www.disneycruise.com/summeratsea for up-to-date
information on the line-up of stars sailing.
RCI rolls out Caribbean
summer deals
Royal Caribbean International
announced deals targeted at family vacationers in the Caribbean this
summer. Savings of up to $200 per stateroom on a range of sailings
are available, along with on-board credits for select categories.
Customers can save $50 per
person, up to $200 per stateroom, on 31 seven- and nine-night
sailings. Those booking an outside stateroom with balcony also will
receive a $100 on-board credit per stateroom, or $150 per stateroom
for junior suite or higher category accommodations.
The offers apply to new bookings
made by June 30.
Celebrity ship to get $10m
in updates
Celebrity Millennium is scheduled
for $10m in updates this year, starting with an in-progress, 12-day
drydock at British Columbia’s Victoria Shipyards.
The work is adding new carpeting
shipwide, new upholstery in every stateroom and refreshments to the
Lido Deck and public rooms.
Marble and stone floors and
counter areas are being refinished, and outdoor woods varnished.
Bolidt deck coverings are being installed across the pool area,
outdoor stage, dance floor and jogging track.
Suites will gain 32-inch LED
flat-panel TVs, and ConciergeClass staterooms will get 26-inch
versions. New drapes, bed skirts and bed throws in warm, natural hues
will be added to all accommodations.
By October, new upholstery also
will update furnishings in the retail areas, the Grand Foyer and
every lounge, including the Martini Bar, and all staterooms will be
equipped with 26-inch LED flat-panel TVs.
The newly refreshed Celebrity
Millennium emerges from the drydock to begin its Alaska season on May
22. Celebrity Cruises said several sailings are priced starting at
$57 per person, per day, when booked by May 31.
Tampa hails expanded RCI capacity
The Tampa Port Authority
expressed its enthusiasm for the earlier announced news that Royal
Caribbean International will deploy a larger ship from the port in
autumn 2010.
Radiance of the Seas will replace
Grandeur of the Seas, which has sailed from Tampa since 2005.
Radiance brings slightly more
berths than Grandeur and will operate a substantially extended
season, with 44 sailings compared to Grandeur’s 28.
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