Posts from — May 2009

Courtesy of Silversea

SILVER SPIRIT

 In December 2009, Silversea will present their newest luxury cruise ship — Silver Spirit — with more verandas, more dining choices, more onboard amenities, more of the excellence you’ve come to expect of Silversea.

Accommodations aboard Silver Spirit are all-suite and the largest in the Silversea fleet. Each is a sumptuous ocean-view retreat, and 95% of all suites have a private teak veranda. Suite features include a separate sitting area, a walk-in closet, and a marbled bathroom with a double vanity and full-size tub. Silversea’s in-suite dining option invites you to enjoy breakfast in bed, a late lunch or a romantic dinner served course by course. With unobtrusive, attentive skill, your suite stewardess or butler anticipates your every wish – a level of service motivated only by a desire to see you smile, as Silversea fares cover all onboard gratuities.

All suites feature  Pommery Champagne upon arrival, fresh fruit and flowers, beverage cabinet stocked to your preference, European bath amenities, fine bed linens, your choice of pillow, plush robes and slippers, personalised stationery, daily news summary, and twice daily suite service plus turndown nightly.

In a word, life onboard reflects a philosophy of “balance”. Excitement and relaxation. Stimulation and serenity. Stretch out with some yoga or on a poolside chaise longue. Try a Balinese massage at the Spa or your luck in the Casino. Stay connected with a beginner’s meditation class. Stay in touch with home and the office at the Internet Café or keep your diet in check with Silversea’s comprehensive wellness programme.

 When it comes to dining, everyone has their own personal preferences, their own idea of which flavours, which ingredients combine to create that perfect dish. Silversea presents a choice of six dining venues — each more enticing than the next, and each dedicated to providing you with a culinary experience seemingly designed just for you. Silversea’s partnership with the Grands Chefs Relais & Châteaux brings you a signature series of innovative dishes — ‘La Collection du Monde’ featured nightly in The Restaurant, as well as the perfect pairing of renowned world wines and regionally themed gourmet favourites at the only wine restaurant by Relais & Châteaux at sea. Onboard, an open-seating policy frees you to select the time you choose to dine and the friends you wish to join your table. An extensive selection of fine wines, champagne, spirits, bottled water and soft drinks are served throughout the ship, compliments of Silversea.

 As daylight wanes and evening comes to life, so too do the choices before you. It’s the exhilaration of a live performance, drawing the ace of hearts and a splurge in the designer boutique. It’s time to savour an after-dinner cognac and fine cigar. It’s the rustle of evening dresses, the flash of cuff links and one more whirl around the dance floor. It’s a stroll on deck under a starry sky and a champagne toast to celebrate the sublime effortlessness of the day. It’s all this and more, with the ease of an open bar policy that means never having to decide whose turn it is to pick up the tab. It’s a night to remember, and it’s all yours.

On January 21, 2010, the beautiful Silver Spirit will embark on an extraordinary Grand Inaugural Voyage sailing from Fort Lauderdale southward to Rio for an unforgettable evening at Carnaval, around Cape Horn, and along the Mexican Riviera.

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

A cruise vacation gives families a chance to spend time together and say “why not” to an almost unlimited number of activities and adventures, both onshore and onboard. Where else can you and your kids enjoy a water park on a private island or see a Broadway-style show in the middle of the ocean? Royal Caribbean’s Explorations! Shore excursions will turn every destination into an adventure and their innovative ships will provide entertainment the whole family can enjoy.

Onboard Features and Activities
With the most innovative ships at sea, Royal Caribbean offers plenty of ways to keep kids entertained. Kids and their parents together can participate in fun onboard activities like ice-skating, karaoke, and talent shows. Or parents can rest easy while kids hang out with their peers in various kids and teen only lounges. Royal Caribbean’s ships are also ideal for some friendly family competition with a race to the top on their famous rock wall or a round of mini-golf, then try inline skating or book a private surfing session on the FlowRider®–an amazing wave simulator.

Their newest ships, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, take family cruising to a whole new level. Their BoardwalkSM neighborhood is a tribute to old-fashioned seaside amusement parks and features an arcade, an exhilarating Zip Line, and the world’s first at-sea Carousel. Oasis and Allure of the Seas are also host to the AquaTheater, a specialty venue featuring world-class high-dive acrobatics, synchronized swimming, and dazzling fountain & light shows.

Family Destinations and Shore & Land Excursions
Royal Caribbean’s private destinations, CocoCay® and Labadee®, have all the makings of a perfect family adventure. Both islands offer pristine beaches and spectacular scenery and Family Beach Activities, but kids will be most fascinated by state-of-the-art Aqua Parks and Labadee Luc’s Splash Bash. Older kids can try parasailing, snorkeling–or, for a truly wild adventure, they can soar along Labadee’s new Mile Long Zip Line. Younger children (ages 3 to 8), accompanied by their parents, can experience a special driving adventure on the Fisher-Price Power Wheels® Track, featured on CocoCay.

With the huge variety of shore & land excursions offered at all Royal Caribbean destinations, you’re sure to find many that are suitable for the entire family. Sightsee, snorkel, explore ancient ruins or investigate a city museum- there is an excursion to match any taste or activity level.

Royal Babies & Royal Tots
Join your 6- to 36-month-old in the fun of Royal Babies and Royal Tots, interactive playgroup sessions developed by early childhood experts at Fisher-Price®. Each 45-minute session* offers age-appropriate activities that expose children to new experiences while seamlessly combining playtime with learning time. On Royal Caribbean’s newest ships, Oasis and Allure of the Seas, they offer a full-staffed Nursery, with childcare drop-off options day and night.
*A parent or caregiver MUST accompany children during all playgroup sessions.

Kids & Teens
Adventure Ocean is a complimentary program of fun and educational activities open to all our junior cruisers, ages 3-11 Children are separated by age, and will have an opportunity to learn about local customs, perform cool science experiments, and make great new friends. Royal Caribbean’s 12-14 and 15-17 Teen groups give them the freedom to come and go as they please for sports, themed parties, movie nights and more. Teens can also meet up and chill out in the laid-back Living Room lounge, or cut loose at Fuel, our teen-only nightclub.

To participate in Adventure Ocean, children must be three years of age and potty-trained (no pull-ups or diapers). Parents can feel confident leaving their children with us because every staff member of our Adventure Ocean and Teen programs holds a college degree in education, recreation, or related field and has experience working with children ages 3-17. All are certified in CPR.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry
In addition to our Fisher Price Activities Menu and Juice and Unlimited Soda Packages for families, we’ve enhanced our family dining experience so parents and kids can have a more enjoyable vacation. My Family Time DiningSM offers Expedited Dining and Adventure Ocean Pickup Service, so kids can receive their meals within 40 minutes then join in on some onboard activities, while parents dine at their leisure. The Children’s Vitality Food menu offers options to help families promote and maintain healthier eating practices. Plus, on select nights, the youth staff hosts dinners in the casual restaurants where kids get to eat with other kids while parents enjoy the evening alone.

Time for Mom and Dad
Even on a vacation for the whole family, Royal Caribbean understands that Mom and Dad sometimes need their own time together. Through Adventure Ocean, Royal Caribbean will stimulate your kids by day and further entertain them by night with the Late Night Party Zone. And now parents can relax during lunchtime with our new Lunch and Play program providing Adventure Ocean kids with lunch, movies, cartoons and free-play time between noon and 2 p.m. In addition our Sitters at Sea program offers professional individualized childcare in your stateroom.

Read more about “Stress-free family vacation options aboard Royal Caribbean”

Courtesy of Princess Cruises

The Golden Princess floated out of drydock on May 5th, signaling the completion of the most extensive makeover ever undertaken by Princess Cruises.

The amenities added during the drydock were the Princess signature features already aboard the line’s newest ships, Crown Princess, Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess. Many were introduced aboard on Caribbean Princess, Star Princess and Grand Princess during earlier drydock periods.

Some of the new amenities include a redesigned atrium with a new Piazza. The Piazza now has an inviting street cafe atmosphere featuring roving entertainers and two new dining options. The Golden Princess also received a new restaurant called Crown Grill where passengers can enjoy watching as chefs prepare chops, steaks and seafood, including live lobsters.

The Sanctuary, Princess’ signature retreat featuring plush padded lounge chairs and the services of dedicated Serenity Stewards was added and visitors to this exclusive space can enjoy refreshing beverages and light snacks, or receive a massage in one of two private cabanas.

The Golden Princess now has Movies Under the Stars featuring a state-of-the-art Times Square-style LED screen, offering evening movies and a variety of daytime programming.  

Lastly, as part of the renovation, Golden Princess was fitted with seven new window suites with ocean-view picture windows, and a relocated casino on deck 7, bringing it into the ship’s central entertainment area. In addition, 10 new balcony suites and two ocean view cabins were added in the aft of the ship, replacing the former video arcade. Other changes include new locations for the sports court, a new Limelight boutique, new shore excursions and Captain’s Circle desks, new Internet cafe and library, and the addition of new gym equipment in the fitness center.

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

UPDATE: Royal Caribbean Has Resumed Port Calls in Mexico

Royal Caribbean International has temporarily suspended its port calls in Mexico. The decision was made in an abundance of caution, and to allow additional time to better understand the full impact of the Swine Flu.

The temporary suspension involves four of our ships currently making regularly scheduled port call in Mexico – Enchantment of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas. It also involves one additional ship scheduled to make upcoming Mexico port calls as it repositions – Radiance of the Seas. The revised sailings for each ship will be as follows: [Read more →]