Cruiseman news
New cruise
ships poised for debut
The cruise industry's top players will be positioning five of their
latest ships in Fort Lauderdale this month for the winter
season. The most amenity-laden and technologically-advanced
passenger vessels ever constructed, at a combined cost of some four
billion dollars, will each offer round-trip Caribbean voyages from
Port Everglades.
Here's a brief look at what life will be like onboard.
Carnival Splendor
The cruise line renowned for bringing "fun'' to the high seas
will unveil its biggest "Fun Ship'' ever to the North American
market. Over the next two months the 113,000 ton, Carnival Splendor
will sail round-trip Caribbean itineraries, offering a host of
onboard restaurants, a 21,000-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa (adjacent to
the facility will be 68 spa staterooms and suites - a first for
Carnival) and numerous family-friendly features. From January - March
2009, Splendor hosts 14 to 18-day South America voyages - the line's
first within the region - before repositioning to Long Beach,
California, for year-round seven-day Mexican Riviera voyages
beginning March 29. (Capacity: 3,006 passengers)
Celebrity Solstice
The 122,000 ton Celebrity Solstice will debut Nov. 23 and in a cruise
industry first will introduce a half-acre-sized lawn on its top deck.
The ship will feature a host of dining venues and varied
entertainment options including new theater productions in
partnership with Poet Theatricals. Look also for another first:
Celebrity has paired with The Corning Museum of Glass to produce a
hot glass onboard show from a specially designed, dedicated glass
blowing studio. (Capacity: 2,852 passengers)
Eurodam
The largest-ever vessel constructed in Holland America's storied
135-year history, Eurodam debuted in the Netherlands this summer. She
transitions to Europe at the end of April for a season in the
Baltics. At 86,700-tons, she features 56 spa staterooms - named
because of their close proximity to the onboard Greenhouse Spa and
Salon. The ship has also unveiled "The Retreat'' featuring 14
on-deck cabanas complete with a host of leisure amenities. (Capacity:
2,104 passengers)
Independence of the Seas
The largest ship debuting in Fort Lauderdale, at 160,000 tons, is
also the world's largest passenger vessel. Independence of the Seas
shares such a distinction with sister ships Freedom of the Seas and
Liberty of the Seas. Look for Royal Caribbean staples: an onboard
rock climbing wall and ice skating rink plus an interactive water
park complete with a FlowRider surf simulator, nine-hole miniature
golf, whirlpools and even a boxing ring at sea. There's a Johnny
Rocket's eatery, Sorrento's Pizzeria and Ben and Jerry's ice cream
shop onboard. (Capacity: 3,634 passengers)
Ruby Princess
When the 113,000 ton Ruby Princess launches this month, look for an
English-style onboard pub featuring fish and chips, bangers and mash,
cottage pie and an array of British and Irish beers. Look also for
unique enrichment programs (from astronomy to mixology), two new
stage shows and an "Ultimate Ship Tour'' complete with visits to
the engine control room, funnel, bridge and other typically off-limit
spaces. (Capacity: 3,080 passengers)
The ribbon
is cut on Celebrity Solstice
11/14/2008 -- With the snip of a ribbon that released a
blue champagne bottle custom-blown by the Corning Museum of Glass,
oceanographer Sharon Smith named Celebrity Solstice today at
Port Everglades.
The zooplankton expert and two-time cancer survivor was joined on the
ship’s main stage by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. chairman and
ceo Richard Fain, Celebrity Cruises president and ceo Dan Hanrahan,
Capt. Panagiotis Skylogiannis and RCCL co-founders Arne and Gjert Wilhelmsen.
The naming was assisted by an aerial acrobat who flew through the
theater carrying a red ribbon that was threaded up to the Deck 15
Lawn Club where it was tied to the champagne. Naming ceremony guests
watched a video screen that showed the cut ribbon fluttering up the
staircases and along the corridors until the slack released the
champagne to smash against the funnel.
Oceanographer Smith proclaimed Celebrity Solstice ‘leagues
beyond’ the research vessels on which she has spent most of her
life. She was momentarily overcome with emotion in acknowledging the
Celebrity/United Way pledge to raise $100,000 to provide cancer
screenings for needy women.
Everglades
marks Phase 1 Oasis terminal expansion
11/14/2008 -- Port Everglades is cutting the ribbon today
to mark completion of Phase 1 of the two-phase expansion that will
transform Terminal 18 into the world’s largest cruise terminal
dedicated to serving a single ship.
Once the entire expansion project is finished next autumn, the
terminal will become home to Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis
of the Seas, with Allure of the Seas to follow.
Today’s ceremony coincides with the introduction of Celebrity
Solstice from the port.
Canaveral
begins basin expansion
11/14/2008 -- With shovels in hand, Port Canaveral
commissioners ceremoniously started the digging of a $7.8m project to
widen and deepen the West Turning Basin with the removal of four
acres of uplands.
The port is preparing for the arrival of four new
4,000-passengers-plus cruise ships beginning in the spring. They are
Royal Caribbean International’s Freedom of the Seas, Carnival
Dream and the two Disney Cruise Line newbuilds.
‘With this project, Canaveral has positioned itself as a leader
in the next era of cruising,’ said port ceo Stan Payne.
Carnival
Splendor makes US debut
11/14/2008 -- Carnival Splendor made its US debut today
when it arrived at Port Everglades this morning following a 16-day
Atlantic crossing from Europe.
The 113,000gt ship, Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest, will kick off
its Fort Lauderdale–based program with a series of three
one-time voyages — a two-day cruise to Nassau, a four-day
Bahamas/Turks & Caicos cruise and an eight-day Eastern Caribbean voyage.
Beginning Nov. 29, Carnival Splendor will embark on a series of 10
seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises with stops at La Romana, St.
Thomas, San Juan and Nassau.
Port Everglades director Phil Allen estimated the ship will bring
80,000 passengers to Broward County, generating approximately $34m
for the area.
Carnival Splendor debuted in Europe in July. Following its Florida
program, the ship will operate a series of South America cruises
– a first for the line – prior to beginning year-round
seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises from Long Beach, Calif., in March.
Bermuda’s
second mega-pier on target
11/12/2008 -- Bermuda’s second megaship pier at
King’s Wharf in the Royal Naval Dockyard is scheduled to
officially open May 4, confirmed Larry Jacobs, transportation advisor
to the Ministry of Tourism and Transport.
The $50m facility, which includes the new pier, ferry dock
improvements, terminal, a ground transportation area and roadway
improvements, has a berth designed to handle Freedom-class ships but
vessels of that size will not be taken until channel modifications
are made.
With the extra capacity, Bermuda believes it is well positioned to
gain business should more US operators decide to move capacity closer
to home due to the economic situation.
‘Bermuda is conveniently located to the East Coast and is an
ideal destination to hedge against global issues such as high fuel
and air travel costs,’ Jacobs told Seatrade Insider.
Queen Mary 2
fit for another five years
11/12/2008 -- Queen Mary 2 is scheduled to leave
Blohm+Voss tomorrow following a 20-day scheduled drydock.
Work included a major overhaul of the four propulsion pods in
cooperation with manufacturer Rolls-Royce, routine maintenance of the
three bow thrusters and the four stabilizers, renewal of brake
linings on the windlasses and inspection of electric motors and new
hull coating (about 35,000 liters of paint have been applied).
Also completed were the overhaul of 17 lifeboats and tender boats by
manufacturer Schat-Harding and cleaning and inspection of various
tanks and overhaul of the sea valves.
The Final
Voyage Begins
11/13/2008 -- Queen Elizabeth 2 is the longest-serving vessel
Cunard has ever owned, and it is still adding days to that record for
the next two weeks as it sails its final voyage. QE2 sailed from
Southampton Tuesday on a one way cruise to Dubai, its new home where
it will be permanently berthed as a hotel.
Why Not?
Royal Caribbean International's new advertising campaign has begun
its official roll-out. It is a multi-media campaign that debuted in
the US on network television, but it will eventually spread to cable,
the Internet, newspaper and magazine. The campaign will spread to the
rest of the world early next year. From the tone of things, it sounds
as if it is a theme that they plan to carry on for some time.
Industry to
Give Stimulus Ideas to Obama
Leaders of the travel and tourism sector of the national economy will
convene to share ideas and prepare recommendations to assist
President-elect Barack Obama in accelerating the economy through
travel and tourism. The outcomes will be presented to Obama, his
Transition Team, and key members of Congress following a meeting in
Washington, DC, on Dec. 16.
A broad cross-section of travel and tourism leaders has been invited
to be a part of creating workable solutions that the travel industry
can offer to help boost the struggling economy.
More than 20 industry organizations have confirmed their
participation in the roundtable, including leaders representing
packaged travel, lodging, travel agents, cruise lines, ground
transportation, air transportation and special interest travel,
according to the National Tour Association, which is managing the effort.
NTA stated that it is important for the travel and tourism sector to
step up immediately and deliver recommendations to the new
administration on how travel and tourism can stimulate the national economy.
Princess
Offers Free Upgrades with 'Balcony Bonanza'
Princess Cruises hopes to spur sales with its "Balcony
Bonanza" promotion, through which agents can offer their clients
a balcony stateroom for the price of an oceanview cabin, representing
a savings of up to $1,000 per cabin, the line announced.
Additionally, Princess is also offering free upgrades from an
interior cabin to an obstructed oceanview stateroom.
The Balcony Bonanza promotion applies to bookings made through Dec.
15 on most 2009 summer sailings to Alaska, Europe and the Caribbean.
Alaska and Europe cruise/tour bookings will also receive an
additional $200 onboard credit per stateroom.
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