Holland America returns to Australia and South Pacific
Starting in winter 2012 and spring 2013 two Holland America Line ships ——ms Oosterdam and ms Volendam —— will sail a series of Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific cruises, visiting more than 50 ports where guests can indulge in the cosmopolitan cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland, and explore the exotic landscapes of...
Carnival launching Fun Ship 2.0, a $500 million dollar fleet-wide transformation
By Jackie Roseboom Carnival Cruise Lines has unveiled what they are calling Fun Ship 2.0. Guests will be able to enjoy new dining choices, bars and lounges, and entertainment options through partnerships and new branded spaces. In the first phase alone, which extends through the end of 2015, Carnival will invest more than $500 million...
NCL looking to Breakaway with two new ships
By Jackie Roseboom On Sept. 21, the first piece of steel was cut at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany for the construction of Norwegian Breakaway, the first of two new ships for Norwegian Cruise Line. The Breakaway is set for delivery in April 2013. “Today’s steel cutting marks the start of construction for Norwegian...
Nerdel puppets to educate and entertain kids on Celebrity Cruises
By Jackie Roseboom The Nerdel Company is devoted to making children and adults all over the world more aware of healthy choices, such as eating better and physical fitness. Developed by a team including doctors, nutritionists, chefs, fitness professionals, educators and entertainment experts, the company aims to address the issues of...
MSC Divina is afloat and ready to be primped for her 2012 debut
By Jackie Roseboom MSC Divina, the third and latest addition to the MSC Cruises’ flagship Fantasia class, was ceremoniously floated out of dry dock on Sept. 3. She was transferred to a different dock at the STX Europe shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France for final fitting and furnishing ahead of her christening in May 2012. The …...
Breeze beckons Carnival enthusiasts
By Michael Coleman Carnival has launched “Carnival Breeze Life’’, a campaign to inspire potential passengers to celebrate a Caribbean island mindset year-round in anticipation of the debut of their new tropical-infused ship. Carnival Breeze, a 3,690-passenger vessel, sets sails in Europe in June, 2012. After a summer in Europe she...
Survey Said: Cruise industry enjoyed stellar 2010
By Michael Coleman The cruise industry contributes significantly to the U.S. economy and Americans are not only increasingly aware of cruise vacations but strongly interested in either a repeat cruise or trying one for the first time, according to a recent survey. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), a non-profit umbrella...
Norwegian Jewel to play host to Blake Shelton and Friends cruise
By Jackie Roseboom Country music fans may want to make plans now for the inaugural Blake Shelton and Friends cruise. In just about a year, on Oct. 14, 2012, the Norwegian Jewel will sail from Miami to the Caribbean on a seven day country music cruise. Fans of Shelton’s will be able to enjoy a …...
Jade’s varied culinary mix a hit with passengers
By Michael Coleman VENICE, ITALY, August 6, 2011 — World class dining venues abound on Norwegian Jade. That might seem surprising to some — great dining is traditionally the domain of the luxury cruise sector and not necessarily what one expects to find on a 2,402-passenger mass market vessel. Jade, however, delivers. There are some...
Norwegian Jade epitomizes “Freestyle Cruising’’ concept
By Michael Coleman EN ROUTE TO SPLIT, CROATIA, August 4, 2011 – The “Freestyle Cruising’’ concept is playing out brilliantly aboard Norwegian Jade here in the Mediterranean this summer. NCL pioneered the model over a decade ago — regimented onboard routines and set dining times would not be thrust on their passengers....