In just over one year, Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas will make her long awaited debut. This ship has the cruise internet abuzz with activity from the announcements of all her “neighborhoods”. The ship, under construction at STX Europe in Turku, Finland, reached an important maritime milestone today when she was “floated out”, meaning it was moved from dry dock to wet dock, to begin the final stages of interior work.
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As I was catching up on my cruise reading last night, I came across this article on Telegraph.co.uk all the wonderful things on a Rhine river cruise from companies like Viking River Cruises. The article was written by an independent writer from the UK, Sara Macefield, and is an excellent article about the markets strewn along the Rhine River, as well as some humor from the keen eye of a talented writer. Take a moment and read her article, and I promise you a smile will come to you.
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As I just finished touring the two other Freedom Class ships this weekend, the Liberty of the Seas and the Freedom of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International’s newest Freedom-class ship, Independence of the Seas, made her US debut today at Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. Sharing the title of world’s largest cruise ship with her sister-ships, Independence will be the line’s first Freedom-class ship to sail from Port Everglades.
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Wayne Heller doesn’t miss often, but today came the announcement that Orient Lines has delayed the launch of its cruises currently scheduled to commence in April 2009 due to the current world economic climate. In retrospect, it probably wasn’t the best timing to launch the project, but Wayne and Judy had no way of knowing what was in store for the economy of the world. Knowing them both like i do, I expect it won’t be long before they are back at it full speed, and the Marco polo II is once agaion sailing.
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Royal Caribbean’s expansion into Asia has paid dividends in the form of the latest Travel Weekly Awards, and in the luxury category. This is great news at a time when foreign travel appears to be on hold by most cruisers. The best part is Royal Caribbean accomplished this after just one year of operations in Asia. The award was presented at a ceremony held in Shanghai last evening.
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MSC Cruises has eliminated the fuel surcharge for all its cruises departing on or after April 1, 2009. The surcharge will not be levied on any new bookings for cruises sailing from that date on, and the accounts of guests already booked on these cruises will be adjusted to remove the surcharge from their balances.
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In 2009, Viking River Cruises will enhance its appeal to cruise travelers with an extraordinary ship, Viking Legend, featuring cutting-edge technology and the region’s largest suit, and a new outstanding offer for anyone who has been on an ocean cruise. River cruising provides up-close-and-personal access to great cities and quaint villages along the world’s great rivers , and there is nothing better than enjoying European landscapes aboard a beautiful new cruise ship. The new ship will debut on the popular 15-day Viking River Cruises Grand European Tour itinerary, which takes guests along the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers between Amsterdam and Budapest; its official launch is expected to occur in May of 2009.
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Carnival Cruise Lines’ has brought its newest showcase in cruising, and what it calls the most innovative ship afloat, the 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor, the line’s newest and largest “Fun Ship”, to Fort Lauderdale on Friday for its U.S. debut. It arrived at Port Everglades Friday morning following a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Europe. The travel agent community will have a chance to see it over the next few days before it gets ready to embark on its regularly scheduled Caribbean voyages.
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Celebrity Cruises has accomplished another first in the cruise industry when it named an ocean scientist as the Godmother of the most widely-heralded cruise ship to enter the market this year, Celebrity Solstice. Amid all the brass and glass of their newest ship, she’s not a star of stage and screen; instead, she ’stars’ in a field of enormous importance to Celebrity Cruises: the world’s oceans. Professor Sharon L. Smith, the first ocean scientist ever to serve as Godmother of a cruise ship, will join Celebrity executives today to name the brand’s sleek, 2,850-guest ship in formal ceremonies at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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Cunard Line has always put food and service at the top of their cruise requirements, and the legendary Grills accommodations are world famous. Apparently Berlitz agrees as the Grills aboard flagship Queen Mary 2 and newest ship Queen Victoria were ranked #1 and #2, respectively, among the Top Ten large cruise ships in Douglas Ward’s recently published 2009 Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships.
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Windstar Cruises, normally know for giving cruisers the ability to get away from it all, in out of the way places, is bringing cell phone service to two of its three luxury sailing yachts. Windstar is now offering cell phone service at sea on Wind Star and Wind Spirit. Wind Surf already offers this service. Now anyone who sails on Windstar Cruises has the option to get completely remote, or stay in touch only when they need to.
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Travel Guard, the nation’s leading provider of travel insurance and assistance plans, reports that despite economic uncertainties, segments of American consumers are still planning and booking travel — in some cases for trips as far in advance as five months. Travel Guard data suggests the “empty nester” and Baby Boomer segments of the population may be sacrificing other purchases, but are not willing to give up their “right to travel.”
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MSC Cruises wants you to pick up your feet when cruising in the Caribbean next year, and has added some new theme cruises for the occasion. A Polka cruise has been added to the already popular Big Band and Baseball themes for 2009-2010. In addition to having two state-of-the-art ships sailing Caribbean itineraries for the first time– the new MSC Magnifica, fresh from her inaugural, and MSC Poesia – MSC Cruises’ 2009-10 Caribbean season will feature several already popular theme cruises and the line’s first Polka Cruise.
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Holland America Line played the role of Oscar winning movie by winning eight Readers’ Choice Awards from Porthole Cruise Magazine for 2008, including Most Eco-Friendly Cruise Line, Best Private Island for Half Moon Cay, the line’s exclusive Bahamian port call, and Best Alaska Itineraries. It was like Picture of the Year, and everything associated with it at the Oscars

Holland America Line Award Winning Eurodam

Crystal Cruises wants you to be in touch with your inner self, so they have announced a special “Mind, Body & Spirit” focus on its March 27 Asia cruise on the Crystal Symphony. Complementing the destination’s heritage, the Experience of Discovery sailing will feature guest experts for yoga, Pilates, stress management and general physical and mental health classes. Departing from Hong Kong, the 15-day itinerary to Japan and China offers a 12-day cruise and includes a three-night post-cruise land program in Beijing. In keeping with the traditions of a region steeped in spirituality and ancient wellness practices, Crystal Cruises is offering a number of overnight stays on this cruise.
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