The Cruise Web would like to recognize two more Cruise Consultants who were recently awarded Senior Status in recognition of their hard work and dedication to the company. On Monday, May 17th, Cruise Consultants Andy Gustafson and Corinna Crockett both earned their Senior Cruise Consultant status for their continued performance with The Cruise Web.
The Cruise Web got an opportunity to hang out with Ray Lewis, NFL Baltimore Raven’s defenseman this past weekend. The Ray Lewis Foundation hosted Ray’s Summer Days, a summertime fundraising event in Baltimore. Carnival Corporation is a sponsor to the Ray Lewis Foundation and our District Sales Manager, Kathy Donnelly extended some invites to The Cruise Web.
The Cruise Web is pleased to welcome back several Cruise Consultants from another educational Seminar-at-Sea. Jacques Botty, Tina Colicchio, Jarren Matthews, and Heather Wasson represented The Cruise Web on the 7-night Western Caribbean cruise aboard the Celebrity Solstice. The cruise was a well deserved vacation for the group and we are glad to hear that they had a wonderful time, with Celebrity’s glassblowing demonstrations proving especially memorable. Tina was kind enough to provide the following post about the hot glass shows performed aboard the ship:
I have been to a few renaissance fairs in my time and I have seen live glassblowing before. A good friend of the family is an amateur glassblower herself. For me, glassblowing was “been there, seen it, done that…” But my preconceptions about the art of glassblowing shattered right then and there. I became hypnotized by what I saw.
This December, Royal Caribbean International will once again make waves on the cruise vacation scene with the debut of the world’s next largest and most innovative cruise ship, Allure of the Seas. As did sister-ship Oasis of the Seas, the arrival of Allure of the Seas will bring an unprecedented array of brand new features and onboard amenities, including one of Broadway’s longest-running and most recognizable theatric productions, Chicago: The Musical, which will headline in the ship’s main theater. Reprising the lauded at-sea debut of Hairspray aboard Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas’ Amber Theater will join an illustrious list of venues, such as the Ambassador Theater in New York City and the Cambridge Theatre in London’s West End, that have raised the curtain on the award-winning musical.
Norwegian Cruise Line announced that one of music’s most iconic performers, Reba McEntire, will christen the company’s newest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship to date, Norwegian Epic, the hottest new ship of the year. The christening ceremony will take place in New York on July 2, 2010 on board Norwegian Epic.
Ms. McEntire, who recently hosted the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, has achieved legendary status in the music world having sold over 55 million albums worldwide; earned 34 #1 singles and won 15 American Music Awards, 12 Academy of Country Music Awards, nine People’s Choice Awards, seven Country Music Association Awards and two GRAMMY Awards. She is also an avid cruiser and has taken several family cruise vacations, most recently on Norwegian Gem in the Mediterranean.
Carnival Breeze has been selected as the name for the line’s new 130,000-ton cruise ship scheduled to enter service in spring 2012.
To be constructed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, the 3,690-passenger Carnival Breeze will be the third in the line’s Dream class. The series’ namesake vessel, Carnival Dream, entered service in 2009 and a sister ship, Carnival Magic, is currently under construction at Fincantieri and is scheduled to debut in Europe in May 2011.
Carnival Breeze will offer many of the popular innovations featured on Carnival Dream as well as some exciting and unique new elements created just for this vessel that will be detailed at a later date, along with homeport and itinerary information.
Norwegian Cruise Line and Nickelodeon today announced the dates and itineraries for the two 2011 “Nickelodeon All Access Cruises.” These special Nickelodeon-themed cruises will give guests exclusive access to a fun-filled, seven-day itinerary of Nickelodeon-themed entertainment all day, every day on board Norwegian Jewel from New York on February 20, 2011, and on the cruise line’s newest ship, Norwegian Epic, from Barcelona on July 24, 2011.
Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands will name Holland America Line’s new Signature-class ship, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, in a ceremony in Venice, Italy, July 4, 2010. The 2,106-guest ship is the fourth to carry that name for the line and is being built by Italian shipyard Fincantieri-Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A. in Marghera, Italy.
“The Dutch Royal Family is continuing a long and proud tradition of naming Holland America Line ships that started more than 80 years ago, and we are truly honored that Princess Máxima will name Nieuw Amsterdam,” said Stein Kruse, president and chief executive officer of Holland America Line. “The naming ceremony will mark a signature moment in our company’s 137-year history as Princess Máxima becomes godmother of Nieuw Amsterdam, which, with her sister-ship Eurodam, will share the distinction as the largest passenger ships ever to fly the Dutch flag.”
MSC Cruises announced that they will be operating two cruise ships simultaneously out of South African ports during the upcoming 2010/11 summer season to meet increased market demand and offer variety to the South African cruise market.
The luxurious MSC Sinfonia, with a capacity of over 2,100 passengers, has enjoyed a highly successful maiden season operating out of Durban and will be back for a second extended cruise season from November this year up until May 2011. She will be joined by the smaller, beautiful ship – already well known to the South African public – the MSC Melody, with a capacity of just 1,500 guests.
There are lots of attractions on a cruise but one of the best can be the dining experience. Whenever I cruise I try and sample one or more of the specialty restaurants on the ship. This gives you a change of pace in the decor and cuisine as well as service. Especially if you want to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or some other milestone, the specialty restaurant makes a good choice. I am frankly not a “foodie”, a food snob, or for that matter much of a cook. I love diner burgers & fries as well as the next guy. But evenings I’ve spent at specialty restaurants have given me more of an appreciation for the artistry and subtlety of fine cuisine.
