An elaborately themed interactive sports deck, whimsical water play area, and relaxing poolside oasis for adults join the first-ever shipboard water coaster – AquaDuck – to provide fun in the sun for guests sailing on the newest Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Dream.  These additions, announced today, one year from the maiden voyage of the Disney Dream, offer new experiences for guests of all ages.

Goofy’s Sports Deck

On Goofy’s Sports Deck, the magic tees off on deck 13 with Goofy’s Golf – a miniature golf course where “lessons” featuring Goofy and his son, Max, lead guests through nine themed holes of wacky fun.  Each hole offers special golf instructions – with a goofy twist.  Lessons include:

·      “Handling a dog leg” – Guests avoid a fire hydrant and use Pluto’s dog bone to guide them to the hole.

·      “Stuck in the rough” – Goofy shows golfers how to avoid the tall turf and steer clear of a lawn mower.

·      “Reading the green” – Stacks of books and a large magnifying glass are obstacles to circumvent on this undulating green.

·      “Attacking the green” – Yo ho, yo ho!  Golfers and landlubbers take a swashbuckling approach to sinking their putt on this pirate-themed hole.

Guests can choose to use the Goofy or Max tee on each hole, offering twice the fun.  Family-friendly competitions and tournaments will keep the excitement on par while quirky golf clubs, some crooked and bent, will challenge golfers to stay on course.  Goofy and Max may even swing by to interact with guests and offer some tips on club selection, stance or just goofing around.

Also on Goofy’s Sports Deck, two digital sports simulators provide a variety of virtual game experiences such as soccer, tennis, basketball, golf and more.  With the simulators, guests can kick, swing and throw, participating in favorite high-action sports without the hassle of chasing the ball.

Max’s Courts are two mini-sized sports courts for little ones to enjoy soccer, basketball or group play.  There’s full-court basketball that may also be transformed into a mini soccer pitch or volleyball court, plus table tennis and foosball tables.  A walking track rings Goofy’s Sports Deck.

Nemo’s Reef

Little ones discover oceans of fun at this fanciful water-play area overflowing with pop jets, bubblers and lovable underwater friends like Nemo, Dory, Marlin and other favorites from the Disney•Pixar film, “Finding Nemo.”

Shaded for protection from the sun and featuring a soft wet-deck surface, the 1,500-square-foot Nemo’s Reef is a place for children to cool off and play among colorful, interactive figures that move and spray water.  Children will delight as they splash alongside Nemo swimming in a sea anemone, glide down a pint-sized water slide shaped like Mr. Ray and frolic near Pearl the octopus who “inks” herself with a mist of water.  Kids can even get soaked in a water curtain that undulates back and forth like the EAC (East Australian Current).

Nemo’s Reef is surrounded by a glass enclosure, with a main guest entrance and a wheelchair-accessible entrance.

Quiet Cove Pool and Cove Bar

Reserved exclusively for guests 18 and older, the Quiet Cove Pool and Cove Bar is a retreat for adults to sunbathe and swim, indulge in a cool drink or enjoy a relaxing dip in a nearby hot tub overlooking the ocean.

One of three fresh-water pools on the Disney Dream, Quiet Cove Pool features varying depths for taking a dip, sunbathing in comfort and enjoying a poolside cocktail.  A series of connected circular pools includes a 4-foot-deep plunge pool and a 6-inch-deep sunbathing pool with built-in loungers and a mister.  Guests also can splash up to Cove Bar, which is part of the pool, and sip a refreshing beverage.

Nearby, on the sides of deck 11, guests can soak in a whirlpool hot tub while overlooking the ocean.  Four “infinity” whirlpool hot tubs – two for families and two just for adults – provide spectacular views of the ocean beyond.

AquaDuck and More!

The Disney Dream will feature the world’s first shipboard water coaster – AquaDuck – which will sweep guests away on an exhilarating high-speed flume ride featuring twists, turns, drops, uphill acceleration and river rapids – all while traversing the upper decks of the ship.

Donald Pool is the place for families to gather and enjoy all of the activities up on deck.  Overlooking Donald Pool is the giant Funnel Vision LED screen – more than 30 feet wide and 18 feet high – showing Disney films and other live broadcast events.  A retractable floor extends over the pool, providing an ideal dance floor for deck parties.

Continuing a favorite feature of the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, the Disney Dream will also have a Mickey Pool for children.  The shape of Mickey Pool resembles the beloved Disney character, and an oversized version of Mickey’s hand supports a yellow winding slide that splashes down near the pool.

As an added convenience for parents with children of different ages, Donald Pool, Mickey Pool and Nemo’s Reef are all located within the same vicinity, on deck 11 between the forward and aft funnel.

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Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship to date will summer in the Mediterranean

Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that its largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship to date, Norwegian Epic, debuting this July, will summer in the Mediterranean as part of her 2011/2012 deployment.  The ship will sail a seven-day Western Mediterranean itinerary from Barcelona, Spain from May through October 2011.  Ports of call include: Florence/Pisa (Livorno); Rome (Civitavecchia); Naples, Italy; and Palma, Majorca, Spain, along with two full days at sea.  These cruises, along with the ship’s Caribbean and transatlantic sailings for 2011/2012, go on sale to Latitudes members (Norwegian’s past guests), and the company’s top travel partners on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 and to the general public on Thursday, January 28, 2010. Fares for Norwegian Epic’s Mediterranean itinerary are from $699 per person.

“In bringing the ship to Europe during her second season, we are combining the excitement of Norwegian Epic with a very popular European itinerary,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer.  “With her world-class entertainment, wide range of accommodations, incredible amenities and plethora of dining options, Norwegian Epic will offer the best cruise experience for a wide-range of travelers looking to enjoy Europe in a whole new way.”

Following her inaugural season, Norwegian Epic will continue sailing her alternating seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami, Florida through April 30, 2011.   On May 7, 2011, the ship will depart Miami on an 11-day transatlantic crossing to Barcelona, Spain with one stop in Ponta Delgada, Azores.  Upon her arrival in Barcelona on May 18, 2011, the ship will sail a four-day Western Mediterranean sailing with stops in Marseille, France and Palma, Majorca, Spain. She will then sail a series of 22 seven-day Western Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona through October 16, 2011.  A 13-day transatlantic sailing from Barcelona to Miami, Florida is scheduled for October 23, 2011 with stops in Ponta Delgada, Azores and St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.  Once back in Miami, Norwegian Epic will sail a series of 23 seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises from November 5, 2011 through April 7, 2012.  Ports of call on the Eastern Caribbean itinerary include: Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas, along with two full days at sea.

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Ships Assist National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with Global Weather Readings

While passengers are relaxing and exploring the world aboard Princess Cruises’ ships, little do they know that throughout their vacation the vessels are also helping the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) track global weather patterns. In 2009, Princess ships made 20,139 weather observations – more than any other cruise line – earning the company the distinction of NOAA’s “Weather Cruise Ship Company of the Year.” Coral Princess led the fleet with 5,142 observations.

The voluntary reporting system helps NOAA track weather patterns in many areas of the world where the organization doesn’t have direct access to local information. The ships measure air temperature, humidity, wind direction and strength, sea waves and swells. Ships send information at a minimum of every six hours when at sea to a database which is forwarded to NOAA.

“As long-time participants in this important program, we’re happy that our fleet was able to provide so much data this year to help with worldwide weather forecasting,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “With Princess ships sailing around the globe to all seven continents, we’re in the unique position to be able to take weather readings in a multitude of destinations where NOAA might not otherwise be able to get information.”

This data, which is gathered not only from cruise ships, but from all types of ships worldwide, is used to help NOAA track and forecast weather patterns around the world.

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MSC Cruises’ Newest Ship To Hold Flag-changing Ceremony on February 25.   Christening on March 6.

MSC Magnifica – the fourth Panamax cruise ship in the MSC Cruises Musica class – successfully completed sea trials on January 17, returning to the Forme Joubert, Saint-Nazaire, France dock after 72 hours on the open seas.

Despite inclement weather and 50-knot winds on Saturday, MSC Magnifica performed to the satisfaction of the MSC Cruises’ team. The trials involved a team of about 300 performing more than 60 separate tests involving everything from speed and manageability to acoustics and vibrations.

Following the sea trials, MSC Magnifica will participate in a flag-changing ceremony on February 25, in Saint-Nazaire,  and be christened on March 6 in Hamburg, Germany. The christening celebration includes an evening of entertainment and celebration both onboard and ashore through a live broadcast shown on two giant screens.

Renowned Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti, adult contemporary/soft rock/pop artist, performs on stage during the christening while MSC Cruises’ traditional godmother, Italian screen legend Sophia Loren, participates in the ribbon cutting. Ramazzotti is one of the most popular Italian singers and songwriters selling more than 40 million records in his 25-year career.

MSC Magnifica combines the intimacy of her three Musica Class sister vessels—MSC Musica, MSC Orchestra, and MSC Poesia—with the state-of-the-art facilities and comfort of the company’s larger flagships, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia.

A magrodome or retractable roof covers the pool area making it possible to enjoy one of the four pools onboard throughout the year regardless of the weather. The Il Bar del Sole area on the top deck boasts its own whirlpools and solarium.

The ship’s 17 bars and lounges, four restaurants, and a large new buffet area will serve Italian and international cuisine; an à la carte restaurant L’Oasi will provide fine dining in an exotic Moroccan atmosphere. Entertainment features on board include a high-tech 4D cinema, mini-bowling alley and a billiard table in the L’Olimpiade sports bar.

Relaxation opportunities await guests in the MSC Aurea Spa wellness center for massages, facials, and other specialty spa treatments in a resort-standard setting.

The new addition to the MSC Cruises’ fleet will sail the Eastern Mediterranean beginning March 20, for 7-night itineraries departing Venice, Italy and calling at Bari, Italy; Katakolon (Olympia) Greece; Izmir, Turkey; Istanbul, Turkey; and Dubrovnik, Croatia.

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Carnival Cruise Lines will return to Europe in 2011 with the then brand new Carnival Magic.  The ship will conduct a schedule of seven, nine, and twelve day Mediterranean cruises operating out of Barcelona from May to October 2011.

This will be Carnival’s first full season of Mediterranean cruises in three years, as well as the first time the line has used Barcelona as a base of operations.

These cruises go on sale today and the line is offering an exclusive pre-sale for past guests from January 19 to January 25 with complimentary two-category upgrades and special pricing with rates starting at just $829 per person, based on double occupancy.   For new customers bookings will open on Tuesday, January 26.

The 130,000-ton Carnival Magic is a sister ship to the recently debuted Carnival Dream.  Carnival Magic’s 2011 Mediterranean schedule will encompass 21 round trip cruises from Barcelona and a special one-time nine-day voyage from Venice to Barcelona May 1-10, 2011.  Each of the three itineraries start and end on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, which reflects consumers’ traditional vacation patterns and provides convenient opportunities for adding a pre- and post-cruise stay.

Seven-day cruises will feature Monte Carlo, Livorno, Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples, and Messina.  Departure dates are July 3, 10 and 17, 2011.

Nine-day cruises will call at Marseilles,  Monte Carlo (excluding the August 26 departure), Livorno, Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples, Messina, and Palma de Mallorca.  Voyages will operate June 3 and 24, August 5 and 26, September 16, and October 7, 2011. The special nine-day cruise departing May 1 will visit Dubrovnik, Messina, Naples, Rome (Civitavecchia), Livorno, and Monte Carlo.

The 12-day Grand Mediterranean voyages will feature Monte Carlo or Marseilles; Livorno, Rome (Civitavecchia), and Naples; Dubrovnik (excluding the May 22 departure which will visit Palma de Mallorca); Venice (overnight call) and Messina. These voyages will depart May 10 and 22, June 12, July 24, August 14, September 4 and 25, and October 16, 2011.

All three itineraries will operate round-trip from Barcelona, a bustling, cosmopolitan city whose modern cruise terminal is considered one of the finest in Europe.

As the line’s newest ship, Carnival Magic will offer a host of on-board amenities and facilities, including Ocean Plaza, an indoor/outdoor cafe and live entertainment venue with full bar service, a patisserie and a dance floor; Serenity, an exclusive adults-only retreat offering magnificent sea views; and The Lanai, a wrap-around promenade encircling the ship with cantilevered whirlpools that will extend over the ship’s sides.

Carnival Magic will also build upon the line’s distinction as the family cruise leader, with dedicated facilities and programming for children in three age groups – Camp Carnival (2-11), Circle “C” (12-14) and Club O2 (15-17) – along with a miniature golf course and an expansive WaterWorks aqua park with multiple water slides and other features.

Extensive formal and casual dining options, including two two-level main dining rooms, an expansive poolside Lido restaurant, an elegant steakhouse serving U.S.D.A. prime dry-aged beef, a sushi bar, and complimentary 24-hour stateroom service, will also be available.

High-tech features aboard the Carnival Magic will include the Fun Hub, a comprehensive intranet portal and shipboard social network, along with ship-wide Wi-Fi access. Health-conscious guests will enjoy a 23,750-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa featuring a thalassotherapy pool, thermal suite and elaborate spa and gymnasium facilities.

Carnival Magic will also feature 1,845 staterooms – the most ever on a Carnival ship – and will offer a wide range of accommodation categories. These include the affordable cove balconies, located on Deck 2 and closer to the water line, and a wide range of staterooms including deluxe ocean views with two-bathrooms, some of which feature five berths.

The past guest promotion is capacity controlled and available until midnight Monday, January 25. A valid past guest number is required at the time of booking. The promotion applies to new individual bookings for stateroom categories 4A and higher. Offer is capacity controlled and certain restrictions apply. Upgrades are available within specific stateroom accommodation types (i.e., interior to interior, ocean view to ocean view, balcony to balcony, etc.).

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Innovative concept focuses on Studios specifically designed and priced for the solo traveler

At a press event in NYC this afternoon, NCL announced something that should draw a lot of interest from single travelers.  The Norwegian Epic will dedicate the 128 studio cabins to those cruising solo, and with no single supplement.  Having to pay for two passengers in order to get a booking has long been a complaint from singles.  This is great news and I applaud NCL for making this move.  The press release follows:

NEW YORK – January 13, 2010 – Continuing its history of innovation, Norwegian Cruise Line today announced a completely new concept to make cruising more attractive to solo travelers on the company’s largest and most exciting Freestyle Cruising ship to date, Norwegian Epic, launching this July.   Norwegian Epic’s Studios are the first staterooms designed and priced for single occupancy, starting from $799 on the ship’s seven-day alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. These specially designed and priced Studio staterooms available on all of Norwegian Epic’s sailings – with no single supplement – go on sale Monday, January 18, 2010.

“Historically, the cruise industry has not embraced the large number of people who enjoy traveling solo,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer.  “We are breaking the mold of traditional cruising once again by offering a stateroom designed and priced specifically for solo travelers, making cruising a more attractive travel option.  We invite all solo travelers – whether they are first-time cruisers or cruising veterans — to sail on our incredible new Freestyle Cruising ship, Norwegian Epic.” The Studios on Norwegian Epic are a private key-card access complex on two decks consisting of 128 staterooms and the Studio Lounge.  This unique and thoughtfully designed concept provides comfort and convenience for the solo traveler.

Each Studio stateroom, at approximately 100 square feet of living space, features a contemporary design with a full-size bed and separate areas for the bathroom, sink and shower.  In addition, guests in the Studios have private access to the exclusive Studio Lounge.  Here, guests can grab a cup of coffee in the morning, meet up with fellow cruisers and plan their day or relax with a drink in the evening.  Since many of the Studio staterooms are connecting, there is also the opportunity for friends to travel together while giving each their own private space.

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12-Day Voyages Offer Savings of up to $1,500

A highlight of Queen Victoria’s 2010 itineraries is her series of fall voyages sailing deep into the Mediterranean, where guests can experience the region in elegant style and sophistication. These 12-day voyages begin and end in different alluring ports and feature several overnight visits in Venice, Barcelona and Istanbul. In addition, Cunard Line announces a special offer for early bookings on these Mediterranean Voyages, with savings of up to $1,500 per stateroom.

Based on the itinerary, guests can see wonders such as the Athenian Acropolis and the mysterious pyramids of Giza, or set sail on a roundtrip exploration from the Eternal City of Rome.

“The appealing blend of fascinating ports and overnight stays in historic Mediterranean cities on these Queen Victoria voyages truly epitomizes the new golden age of ocean travel,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. “We’re pleased to make these voyages even more compelling with this attractive stateroom offer.”

Voyages include the Mediterranean Odyssey, departing 7 October from Venice (overnight visit) and calling on Dubrovnik, Katakolon, Mykonos, Istanbul, Kusadasi (Ephesus), Messina (Sicily), Rome (Civitavecchia), Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Marseille and arriving into Barcelona; Pearls of the Adriatic, departing from Barcelona on 19 October, with stops in Monte Carlo, Livorno, Naples, La Goulette, Valletta, Athens, Katakolon, Dubrovnik and Venice (overnight visit); and Ancient Treasures, departing roundtrip from Rome (Civitavecchia) on 12 November and visiting Messina, Valletta, Port Said, Limassol, Rhodes, Kusadasi, Athens and Naples.

Designed in grand Cunard tradition, Queen Victoria is the second largest Cunarder ever built, weighing in at 90,000 gross tons. Having debuted in December 2007, she captured the world stage in a way few ships ever do – becoming one of the most fêted ships to be introduced in recent years and quickly establishing herself in the Cunard fleet. Every inch of the 2,000-passenger liner is infused with a sense of luxury and tradition, from the Royal Court Theatre, which includes the first private viewing boxes at sea, to the signature two-storey library with a spiral staircase and nearly 6,000 volumes.

Queen Victoria features double- and triple-height public rooms that evoke the rich and well-recorded history of ocean liner and Victorian era design. Most distinctive of all, of course, is the line’s legendary White Star Service for which Cunard is renowned. Onboard, guests revel in the luxury of time, experiencing such Cunard hallmarks as traditional afternoon tea served by white-gloved waiters, an engaging variety of intellectual and stimulating pursuits – including fencing – and extraordinary dining rivaling the finest restaurants in the world.

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Grab Your Cowboy Hat and Boots while Two-Stepping to the Bellamy Brothers for MSC’s Country Music Caribbean Cruise February 20

The Bellamy Brothers – a very likable and talented duo for the past 30 years – will be the featured performers on MSC Cruises’ Country Music cruise aboard MSC Poesia on it’s 7-night, February 20, 2010 sailing.

Howard and David Bellamy have been a constant in country music for more than 30 years with 21 singles and more than 50 hits on both the pop and country charts. One of their most famous songs, “Let Your Love Flow,” received the distinguished BMI Five Million Performance Award and was No. 68 on BMI’s Top 100 Songs of the Century.

This year, they teamed up with siblings Kevin and Michael Bacon of the Bacon Brothers, to film a video for the song “Guilty of the Crime.” The Bellamy Brothers will have guests dancing in the aisles during their one-night performance. In addition to line dancing lessons and country music karaoke, guests can two-step to other country music performances featured during the cruise.

The “Eastern Caribbean Enchantment” itinerary for this unique Country Music theme cruise sails roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale and calls at ports in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas. Cruise-only rates begin at $419 per person, double occupancy; government fees and taxes are additional. As on all MSC Cruises’ sailings, kids ages 17 and younger sail free when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults.

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January 11, 2010.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited and Rolls-Royce announced today that they have reached a suitable and amicable resolution to the lawsuit regarding the Mermaid pod-propulsion system on Celebrity Cruises’ Millennium-class ships.

When they were first designed and implemented, podded propulsion was a significant technological advance over traditional shaft propulsion, but it experienced a number of technical issues in the early years of use. However, working together, Royal Caribbean and Rolls-Royce have been successful in improving the reliability of the design. Mermaid pods are installed on four Celebrity ships – Millennium, Summit, Infinity and Constellation.

“We look forward to continuing our alliance with Rolls-Royce for many years to come,” said Daniel J. Hanrahan, president and chief executive officer, Celebrity Cruises. “Rolls-Royce has one of the best reputations for reliability, and guests and travel agents should feel confident in Rolls-Royce’s assurances of the reliability of the Mermaid pods.”

“We are not only satisfied to have reached a solution with Celebrity Cruises, but that we have been able to improve and enhance the Mermaid pod’s reliability,” said John Paterson, President-Marine, Rolls-Royce. “We look forward to the opportunity to continue contributing to Celebrity’s high operating standards now, and in the future.”

The settlement will generate a net increase of approximately $65 million in Other Income/(expense) in Royal Caribbean’s 2010 first quarter results.

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Celebrity Cruises latest campaign – named “Designed For You”- was fleshed out further yesterday with the announcement that the Millennium-class ships will be retrofitted to add several features from the Solstice-class vessels.

Celebrity President & CEO Dan Hanrahan says the success of the Solstice-class ships has caused them to take a look at the Millennium-class ships and “Solsticize” all four of these vessels.

The changes will include the following:

- The addition of popular Tuscan Grille extra-fee restaurant.

- The addition of the ice-topped Martini Bar and the Crush vodka bar.

- Café al Bacio and Gelateria.  This will take the place of the current Cova Cafe.

- Bistro on Five, the popular creperie introduced on Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox

- A new wine bar which features a wine serving system where passengers can select and serve wines by the glass with the touch of a button.

- New cabin furnishings with flat-screen TVs and upgraded bedding.

- More suites.

The Constellation will be first when it undergoes a 2-week shipyard period this coming April.  Celebrity aims to refit one ship per year which means all work will be completed by 2014.

Additionally, and perhaps more importantly to long-time Celebrity fans who remember the high end cuisine of the Chandris days (it has declined since the line was purchased by Royal Caribbean), the cruise line is also taking a serious look at their food service with a goal of regaining a reputation for excellent food.

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