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Carnival Splendor is scheduled to enter service in 2008. Representing a new class of ship for the line |
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Carnival Cruise Lines new 112,000- ton ship Carnival Splendor is scheduled to enter service in 2008. Representing a new class of ship for the line, the 3,006-passenger vessel will be constructed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and feature an innovative new design. The newest "Fun Ship" will include spa staterooms and a 17,800-square-foot spa – the largest ever incorporated into a Carnival ship. Encompassing two forward decks, the facility features an elaborate thermal suite, a variety of health and beauty treatment rooms, and Carnival’s first thalasso therapy pool. Encircling the upper level of the spa will be a winter garden that will include a ceremonial tea house. The vessel will also include 1,503 staterooms, 60 percent of which will offer an ocean view with 60 percent of those featuring private balconies. |
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"Evolutions of Fun" enhancements on Carnival's Fantasy Class Ships |
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Fantasy-class "Fun Ships" which include the Fantasy,
Ecstasy, Sensation, Fascination, Imagination, Inspiration, Elation
and Paradise, comprise the most successful series of ships ever
introduced. Many of the the "Evolutions of Fun" enhancements have already been completed on the Fantasy, Ecstasy and Fascination. These same enhancements have been partially executed on the Sensation, Imagination, Inspiration, Elation and Paradise. The Imagination and Inspiration are next in line to receive the full "Evolutions of Fun" enhancements and innovations during month-long dry docks this fall. Enhancements to all Fantasy-class ships are expected to be completed by 2009. Click here for full details of this comprehensive upgrade. |
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Tuya - the latest floating hotel to sail on the Nile River. |
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Emeco Group is proud to announce the
launch of Tuya - the latest floating hotel to sail
on the Nile Tuya follows the illustrious
Ancient Egyptian Royal tradition maintained for the
last three years by its sister cruiser Tiyi – the
talk of the trade due to unparalleled services
offered since it first set sail. Both floating
hotels provide guests with a fantastic array of
stellar services, exciting activities, fabulous
dining and entertainment, as well as first-class
facilities.
- Medical clinic with emergency care |
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Celebrity Cruises new "Deluxe" Cruise Line - Azamara Cruises |
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Celebrity Cruises has made the introduction of their latest liner especially significant. Celebrity not only marked the launch of a 710-guest ship, but also introduced an entirely new, deluxe cruise brand: "Azamara Cruises." Designed to offer exotic destination-driven travel experiences, Azamara Cruises -- consisting of Azamara Journey, and sister ship, Azamara Quest, which enters service in October -- will present a more intimate onboard experience, while allowing access to the less-traveled ports of call experienced travelers want to visit. "We created Azamara Cruises to target an area of the market that we believe is underserved, and an area this product is ideally suited to fill," said Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited, parent company of Azamara Cruises. "This new line falls into what we consider the deluxe category -- a category between premium and luxury." According to Azamara Cruises President Dan Hanrahan, who also is president of Celebrity Cruises, "Azamara Cruises is expressly designed for travel enthusiasts who appreciate what a cruise vacation has to offer, but are looking for something a little different, and a little more special. And what's special about Azamara Cruises is its distinctive combination of impeccable service, exceptional cuisine and off-the-beaten-path destinations, with truly immersive excursions." Complementing the exotic Caribbean and Europe itineraries for Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest, previously announced under the former "Celebrity Expeditions" banner, Hanrahan today announced that Azamara Cruises' itineraries will not only take travelers to some of the most desirable locations in the Caribbean, but will immerse them in Asia, and even transport them around the world. Itinerary details for Azamara Cruises' Asia and world cruises are yet to be announced, but once finalized, the line expects to visit more than 200 ports -- most of them new to cruise travelers -- in over 70 countries. While delving deep into the history and culture of remote destinations larger ships can't reach, guests sailing with Azamara Cruises also will enjoy a more exclusive guest experience. Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest offer butler service in every stateroom and suite, as well as concierge-style amenities, including fresh-cut flowers, fresh fruit, Elemis toiletries, complimentary use of Frette cotton robes, two complimentary pairs of slippers, plasma TVs and plush European bedding. Despite the ships' smaller size, each offers two specialty restaurants: On Azamara Journey, the Mediterranean-influenced "Aqualina" and the stylish steak and seafood restaurant, "Prime C." Guests staying in suites will receive two nights of complimentary dining in one of the two specialty restaurants, while guests in staterooms will receive one. The ships will not require formal attire for dining, and will feature open seating in the main dining room. Azamara Cruises also presents a wine bar with a spectacular wine cellar offering wine and champagne tastings, seminars, and mini-pairings of food and wine, in addition to its standard menu of fine wines by the glass or bottle. Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest offer an enhanced emphasis on spa and relaxation, with treatments many cruise travelers have never experienced. Guests in suites can enjoy certain spa services in the privacy of their room. Both ships also will offer an outdoor spa relaxation lounge and an aesthetics suite offering acupuncture, laser hair removal and microdermabrasion. An onboard "excursion expert" will not only help guests select shore excursions based on their personal interests, but also will serve as a destination guide, offering information about the culture and history of each port of call. The Azamara retail experience onboard also will be enticing to most experienced travelers, with its focus on fine art, sculpture, photography, jewelry, and upscale resort wear. Just prior to setting sail on its maiden voyage (May 5), Azamara Journey completed a four-week, approximately $19-million makeover, highlighted by the conversion of 48 staterooms into 32 suites, a complete refurbishment of the dining areas to create the two new specialty restaurants, an expansion of the spa area to include an aesthetics suite, a new Sunset Bar on the aft deck, a new art collection, Cova Cafe, entirely new carpets and flooring throughout, new exterior decking, new paint schemes, new walls, and entirely new "soft goods," ranging from plush European bedding to cushions, drapes and table linens. The name "Azamara" is a coined term, rooted in Romance language references to blue ("aza"), the sea ("mar"), and a lesser-known word, "acamar," which, in Classical times, was the southernmost bright star that could be seen from the latitude of Greece. Hanrahan said the company views the new brand as "a bright star on the deep blue sea." Azamara Cruises unlocks the hidden corners of the world for those who desire to immerse themselves in the rich details of every voyage. The deluxe ships -- Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest -- offer an intimate experience, while allowing access to exotic destinations experienced travelers long to reach. For the 710 guests on each Azamara Cruises ship, every moment at sea embodies the pinnacle of luxury, and each footstep on shore accentuates the difference between visiting a place and getting a true sense of place. Azamara Cruises presents the best of Bermuda and Panama Canal/South America in 2007, elite Asia and the most captivating Caribbean, South America and Europe in 2008, and around-the-world voyages in 2010. |
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Ambassadors International Inc.'s Empress of the North cruise ship ran aground off the coast of Alaska |
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Ambassadors International Inc.'s Empress of the North
cruise ship ran aground off the coast of Alaska, forcing passengers
and crew members to abandon the vessel shortly after midnight. Forty crew members and 208 guests have been transferred to private vessels or the Alaska state ferry Columbia, according to U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant Dave Oney. Thirty-three crew members remain onboard. No injuries have been reported. The ship ran aground and began taking on water about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Juneau in 3-foot (1-meter) seas, 15- knot (28-kilometer-an-hour) southerly winds and light rain, Oney said. The 360-foot boat is now en route to Juneau on its own power. The ship was listing at 8 degrees. The flooding was controlled by its double-hull structure, Oney said. There was no indication that fuel was leaking, Oney said. Passengers walked from the Empress of the North to other ships as they pulled up alongside, Ambassadors' Majestic America division said today. The rescued passengers are headed to Juneau, where the company will arrange lodging and transportation home. Empress of the North was on the second day of a seven-day cruise. The boat also ran aground in March 2006 in the Columbia River, 20 miles east of Portland, Oregon, said Majestic spokeswoman Ann Marie Ricard. |
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Oceania Cruises’ Insignia and Nautica rendezvous in Croatia on Tuesday |
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Both ships sailed in tandem past the walls of the Old City and
Insignia, under the command of Capt. Giulio Ressa, performed several
figure-eights around her anchored sister ship. It was the first time Insignia
and Nautica have been in port together, and for many of the Croatian officers
and staff, the day was a homecoming. ‘Tuesday was one of the proudest days in my career, to have not one, but two of our magnificent ships visit my home together, and yesterday, Regatta visited Dubrovnik as well,’ said Capt. Jurica Brajcic, master of the Nautica. One of Oceania Cruises’ most popular ports, Dubrovnik will see 25 calls from the line in 2007 and 22 in 2008. |