Carnival Liberty: Service With A Smile

Everywhere we go aboard Carnival Liberty we are greeted by smiling staff and servers. The one person who deserves kudos for making us comfortable is a boy named Su. That would be our cabin steward Sugangga from the Philippines, who told us, “Just call me Su. That’s easier.”

Among Su’s many talents are creating the towel animals that passengers look forward to seeing on their beds each evening. I miss my tabby cats whenever we travel and brought along Pres (short for Presley), my stuffed kitten. He’s enjoyed greeting the arrival of each towel animal and has served as the unofficial “leader” of our virtual Towel Animal Day Care Center populated with puppies, frogs, and more.

We’ll miss Su and his caring attention when we have to disembark Carnival Liberty, but look forward to seeing our trio of tabbies—Elvis, Priscilla, and Lisa Marie—when we return home.

It’s just a shame that our real kittles didn’t get to play with the towel animals.

Image © CruiseDiva.com

Carnival Liberty: “Fun Ship” 2.0 and More

Two of the new features aboard Carnival Liberty that have proven extremely popular are the RedFrog Rum Bar (pictured here) and BlueIguana Tequila Bar.

Located on opposite sides of the main Lido Deck pool, the bars engage in a bit of friendly rivalry with alternating live jams in the afternoon and even livelier nighttime deck parties featuring dancing, contests, prizes and giveaways. Red is the color to wear to RedFrog’s Caribbean Beach Party and naturally blue is de rigueur for BlueIguana’s Mexican Fiesta.

Cruise Director Jamie is on hand to lead all the action and every Tuesday night is a celebration of Mardi Gras “Fat Tuesday” aboard Carnival Liberty with dancing, live jazz, and beads to catch. I even joined in to dance…bad knees and all. That’s proof of Jaime’s infectious energy and the engaging action.

Families haven’t been overlooked and some of their fun activities have included an 80’s Name That Song contest, Balloon Bingo, Game Show Mania, and a “Thriller” Dance Class.

While the hot and Cool Dance Nightclub doesn’t get going until late, the DJs keep the music going until even later. We haven’t had the chance to check it out yet—we’ve been having too much fun, but will definitely get around to it.

Image © CruiseDiva.com

All New Full-Size Sushi Restaurant & Outdoor BBQ Venue Among Cuisine Choices On Carnival Breeze

Carnival Breeze: Bonsai Sushi

Dining is a highlight of the Carnival vacation experience and the 130,000-ton Carnival Breeze will feature a huge array of culinary choices when it enters service June 3. Two new offerings will include Bonsai Sushi, the line’s first full-service sushi restaurant, and an open-air barbecue venue called Fat Jimmy’s C-Side BBQ.

To celebrate Carnival Breeze’s exciting variety of dining choices, today Carnival Cruise Lines is launching a sweepstakes on its Facebook fan page at facebook.com/carnival that is tied to another of the ship’s dining spots, the Mexican-themed BlueIguana Cantina. The sweepstakes asks fans to choose their favorite burrito or taco toppings available at the casual dining venue for a chance to win a Caribbean cruise for two on the new 130,000-ton “Fun Ship,” along with round-trip air transportation.

Here’s a look at the Carnival Breeze’s many different tantalizing dining choices:

Bonsai Sushi – Carnival’s first full-service sushi restaurant, Bonsai Sushi offers a wide variety of Asian-inspired delicacies with a contemporary decor featuring artwork by world-renowned graffiti artist Erni Vales, colorful koi kites flown during impromptu celebrations, and, of course, several Bonsai trees. Located along Promenade Deck, Bonsai Sushi includes a number of varieties of sushi, sashimi, and rolls along with bento boxes and the venue’s own interpretation of a sushi boat–- in this case, a sushi “ship”–with prices ranging from $1 for appetizer-sized portions to $15 for a sushi ship for two.

Fat Jimmy’s C-Side BBQ – Reminiscent of a backyard barbecue, this complimentary open-air dining venue located on Promenade Deck offers a mouth-watering array of grilled favorites, including barbecued chicken breast, kielbasa, Italian sausage, and Fat Jimmy’s signature item, pulled pork sandwiches, along with traditional sides like baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw and mini-corn muffins.

Guy’s Burger Joint – fresh-made burgers, hand-cut fries and innovative toppings created in partnership with Food Network personality Guy Fieri.

BlueIguana Cantina – offering authentic tacos and burritos that can be personalized by diners at an extensive salsa and toppings bar.

The Punchliner Comedy Brunch presented by George Lopez – featuring hilarious comedic performances and an extensive menu of brunch-time favorites.

Fahrenheit 555 – a classic American steakhouse offering mouth-watering steaks and other gourmet fare with impeccable service (venue will carry a surcharge consistent with other steakhouses in the Carnival fleet).

Cucina del Capitano – a family-style restaurant reminiscent of a cozy Italian home with dishes such as Piatto della Nonna, inspired by the grandma of Carnival Breeze Captain Vincenzo Alcaras with penne pasta, crispy shrimp and prosciutto in a vodka cream sauce (venue will serve as a free lunch-time pasta bar during the day with a nominal charge for dinner).

Lido Marketplace – a casual poolside eatery offering an array of international favorites, from paninis and 24-hour pizza to Indian Tandoori and a Mongolian Wok station and just about everything in between.

“The Comfort Kitchen” – new venue located within Lido Marketplace offering American-style “comfort food.”

Ocean Plaza – an indoor/outdoor café serving cappuccinos, lattes, and espressos as well as pastries and other confections.

RedFrog Pub – an island-themed pub where guests can nosh on Caribbean-inspired fare while soaking up the distinct British-West-Indies-meets-Key-West ambiance.

Serenity – salads, sandwiches, wraps and other light fare available at the ship’s exclusive adults-only retreat.

The Taste Bar – complimentary bite-size offerings inspired by popular Carnival dining venues, along with a signature cocktail tied to that eatery’s particular theme available for purchase.

Sea Dogs – a hot dog-shaped cart within the SportSquare outdoor recreation area offering all-beef franks and traditional toppings (debuts on Carnival Breeze in November).

‘BlueIguana Cantina Fight for Your Appetite’ Sweepstakes
Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, the “BlueIguana Cantina Fight for Your Appetite” sweepstakes runs from today through May 10 on Carnival’s Facebook fan page. Fans are asked to choose their favorite taco and burrito toppings in a series of head-to-head competitions pitting such options as guacamole vs. sour cream or breakfast burritos vs. traditional tacos. All participants who vote are entered into a drawing for a Carnival Breeze Caribbean cruise for two, as well as round-trip air transportation, that will be awarded on May 17. In a fun twist, the sweepstakes includes a unique feature in which fans can digitally throw images of burrito and taco toppings and other BlueIguana Cantina food items at their fellow Facebook enthusiasts’ pages. Additional information and sweepstakes details are available at facebook.com/carnival. Images, information and videos specific to the Carnival Breeze are available at carnivalbreeze.com.

Exciting European, Caribbean Itineraries
Following an inaugural 12-day cruise from Venice departing June 3, 2012, Carnival Breeze will operate a series of 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona through Oct 25, 2012. After its trans-Atlantic crossing, Carnival Breeze will sail year-round from Miami beginning Nov 24, 2012, offering port-intensive 6- and 8-day cruises that showcase the best the Caribbean has to offer. For additional information and reservations, call 1-800-327-9501.

Image Courtesy Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Liberty: So Entertaining

Carnival Cruise Lines ships are among the only ones at sea that still feature live musical accompaniment for production shows in the main show lounges and it really makes a difference. Here aboard Carnival Liberty the really big show so far this week has been Wonderful World starring the dancing and singing troupe highlighted by vocalists Bree and Bentley. The show was a truly spectacular trip around the world from Japan and Bangkok to Italy and Spain and finally the USA, all in song and dance. Due to copyright laws it’s unfortunate that I can’t share a look at some of the stunning costumes.

However, there’s more to entertainment on board than the show lounge. Smaller groups of musicians and singers are the unsung background to enjoyable nights on board.

In the Lobby Atrium we’ve been entertained for hours by the mellow sounds of Two’s Company—Mary Ann and Rex from the Philippines—pictured here. Mary Ann’s rendition of “I Will Always Love You” sent a shiver down my spine. Rex is equally talented and together their version of “Islands in the Stream” was equally impressive.

To bring the action and sound up a notch, the four-piece combo Music Asia (also from the Philippines) provides rock ‘n roll tunes on the Promenade Deck at the Casino Bar. They’ve proven so popular that tables and chairs have been moved aside to provide additional room for dancing. The range of their playlist is incredibly diverse, including everything from Jimmy Buffett to Santana. Mel and I even joined in when they slowed down the vibe with “Unchained Melody” on Cruise Elegant night. It was like prom without all the fuss.

Image © CruiseDiva.com

Carnival Liberty: Signs of Change

Alchemy Bar

Earlier today I noticed a fellow passenger looking at the signage on Carnival Liberty’s promenade deck with a quizzical expression on his face. He wondered aloud, “What’s “Paparazzi and where is it?”

Here aboard Carnival Liberty, there are numerous changes from the original décor created by master ship architect Joe Farcus. In some cases only the signs remain as reminders of the interior design theme that celebrated the work of fine craftsmen in a variety of media.

Originally, Paparazzi was the wine bar where the craft of photography was honored. The front of the bar was a series of giant models of Leica M-3 cameras—a favorite of 1950s era paparazzi. Over the bar was a massive Speed-Graphic camera, widely used by the press in the 1940s. To complete the effect, a large flash bulb would flash periodically.

When today’s Carnival Liberty received Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades, Paparazzi morphed into the Alchemy Bar where they serve a mean Cosmopolitan (made with Chopin vodka, lemoncello, and cranberry juice). You might think it’s an old fashioned pharmacy, with servers in lab coats and drink creations concocted from prescription pads, but in reality it’s the spot to go for almost any drink that might cure what ails you. Just don’t ask for a rum punch. They don’t do that.

Image: CruiseDiva.com

Carnival Liberty at Half Moon Cay

One of our favorite ports of call on this Eastern Caribbean cruise aboard Carnival Liberty is the private island Half Moon Cay. While we aren’t big beach people, we love the island’s beauty—the white sand beaches, crystal clear water, and wonderful facilities. We looked forward to a walk along the beach, a rum punch, and the barbeque. Sadly, we awoke to the same weather we left behind in Miami on embarkation day. Only worse! Overcast and drizzling in the morning, by noon it poured rain.

Like the note atop our beach towels requested, we really wanted to add some sunshine, but all we got was the liquid variety. Hardy souls who went ashore returned wet and chilled.

To make lemonade from the lemon of a day, our cruise director Jaime added onboard activities and a movie in the main show lounge to the day’s roster, which originally included such fun as beach volleyball, a pirate beach party, and a sand castle building contest.

Darn!

As for us, we chilled out for a while in one of the lounges where we met some really nice shipmates and then headed to Guy’s Burger Joint for lunch. Contrary to the message on the back of the cooks’ shirts, you don’t have to have your burger Guy’s way—you can ask for it dressed the way you like it and then add a variety of condiments. As we chowed down on burgers and fries, we noticed a short line would form every now and then, but service is really fast and no one waited long to be served.

It was interesting to watch the burgers being prepared precisely as Guy Fieri himself demonstrated on television. Mel really liked the “shop towel” napkins—a fun touch that adds to the Southern California roadside eatery theme of the décor.

The rest of the afternoon was a wash-out as well so we followed the cruise tradition of an afternoon nap before dinner and dreamed of a sunny sea day coming up.

Images: CruiseDiva.com

Carnival Liberty: Diamonds Steakhouse

After boarding Carnival Liberty in Miami we took a few minutes to acquaint ourselves with the schedule for the evening in the Fun Times daily program and we’re glad we did. Mel noticed that if we dined in Diamonds Steakhouse for our first dinner onboard that we would receive a complimentary bottle of wine with our meal. Since we planned to have dinner there at least once during our cruise, I immediately called and was able to secure a reservation for 8:00pm.

Our waiter Ruby started us off right with a traditional steakhouse presentation of the USDA Prime beef selections and we made our choices. For me, a surf ‘n turf combo of filet and lobster tails accompanied by a baked potato and mushrooms, and Mel’s favorite NY Strip with mashed potatoes.

Backing up a bit, we started with escargot for me and shrimp cocktail for him followed by a Caesar salad for us both. I’m a bread lover and have to make mention of the rolls served with our meal…seasoned and scented with rosemary, they were warm and delicious.

But after such a sumptuous meal, would we have room for dessert? Of course. Mel ordered simple vanilla ice cream with chocolate topping and I splurged on a medley of chocolate—four different tastes and flavors. Every dish was exceptional accompanied by a bottle of Santa Carolina Chilean Merlot.

Before leaving Diamonds, we made another reservation for later in the cruise. For $30 per person, it’s a thoroughly satisfying dining experience and we look forward to another fun evening with our waiter Ruby. We’ll meet our assigned table mates in the dining room eventually, but we couldn’t pass up the Carnival steakhouse as the perfect way to start our cruise.

By the way, if you have sailed on Carnival Liberty in the past you might remember the steakhouse as the supper club Harry’s, named after Harry Winston, the world-famous jewelry maker. Although the name has changed, the décor remains a tribute to his artistry with cases around the room displaying finely made jewelry of real gold and faux stones. Even the lighting in the room mimics diamond necklaces and the columns look like a stack of large gold rings set with rubies and sapphires.

Images: CruiseDiva.com

NOTE: Shortly after our cruise the per person steakhouse charge was increased to $35. It's still an extremely good value.

Carnival Liberty: Home At Sea

It was November 10, 2005 when I first sailed on Carnival Liberty’s Inaugural Caribbean Cruise with my friend Amber and it’s good to be back on board with my husband Mel. I’m looking forward to discovering all the Fun Ship 2.0 Initiative upgrades, but one area that didn’t need improving is our accommodations.

I’ve always felt that Carnival Cruise Lines’ ships have some of the most comfortable standard accommodations at sea. Our starboard side ocean view stateroom 1057 with a balcony on Carnival Liberty’s Panorama Deck (Deck Ten) is no exception. Its features include light wood cabinetry, a soothing pastel decor, mirrored accents, small refrigerator, personal safe for valuables, a sitting area with sofa, stool and table, and a hairdryer in a vanity/desk drawer. A convenience is plenty of shelving for all the odds and ends we tend to bring along. Closet and drawer space, as well as bathroom shelves, are more than adequate. Happily, I saved room in our suitcases by not having to pack bathrobes—they are provided for use during the cruise.

Nothing can spoil a vacation faster than a lumpy, bumpy bed with scratchy sheets and pancake thin pillow. To insure sweet dreams, the exclusive “Carnival Comfort Bed” systems are a delight. They start with plush mattresses and add soft and comfy duvets and upgraded pillows and linens for a good night’s sleep.

Bathroom amenities include shampoo and bath gel in shower mounted dispensers and an array of sample toiletries. The shower itself is roomy and has a pull-out clothesline for drying bathing suits or hand laundry. A real bonus is the two-sided (regular and magnifying) bathroom shaving/make up mirror.

With 1,487 staterooms, Carnival Liberty offers a wide array of accommodation types, ranging from standard Interior and Oceanview staterooms to Oceanview staterooms with private balconies and Suites and Penthouse Suites with larger private balconies. More than 60% of all staterooms are outside and, of those, 60% have balconies. For families, the sitting area sofa converts to an additional sleeping area at night and connecting cabins are available. Passengers with physical challenges haven't been overlooked—staterooms have been designed that take their special needs into consideration. While smoking is allowed on private balconies, all cabin interiors are non-smoking.

With our home on Carnival Liberty conveniently located near the forward elevators and staircase, it’s only a short distance to the spa and gym and adults-only Serenity Deck above us and to the terraced lounging area of the Lido Deck aft of our location. We can pop down to the pool area with its RedFrog Rum Bar, BlueIguana Tequila Bar, Guy’s Burger Joint, and the buffet restaurant in a jiffy. My only complaint? I couldn’t bring along Elvis, Priscilla, and Lisa Marie, our trio of tabbies. They’re at home being pampered by their cat sitters while we’re preparing for pampering by our stateroom steward Su aboard Carnival Liberty.

Photo © CruiseDiva.com

Meet The Guy Behind Carnival Cruise Lines’ Burger Joint

With a cruise on Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Liberty coming up, I did a bit of pre-sailing “research” on the Food Network when they recently aired the show Guy’s Big Bite starring culinary rock star Guy Fieri.

Guy is, of course, the guy behind Guy’s Burger Joint, one of the new features on board Carnival Liberty that was introduced last fall as part of the Fun Ship 2.0 Initiative. In the “Kids, Eat With Your Hands” episode, Fieri demonstrated step-by-step how he creates a Straight-Up with a Pig Patty Burger.

Now, you might be wondering if I’m going to wait to order one on Carnival Liberty or if I tried recreating the burger topped with a bacon patty and sauces myself at home. I do a few things well in the kitchen—brewing coffee and loading the dishwasher are my noteworthy skills—but my cooking prowess is limited to more basic dishes and I admit that Fieri’s complex burger creation is a bit of a stretch.

However, I made a batch of the Donkey Sauce that accompanies the Straight-Up with a Pig Patty Burger and served it with meatloaf topped with melted cheese. I know, I know… that’s not really much of an accomplishment, but Mel and I enjoyed the simple-to-prepare sauce that includes ingredients most of us have on hand, and we’re looking forward to sampling the real thing.

If you’re more at home in the kitchen and you’d like to give it a try, here’s the entire recipe, including both “secret” sauces, and detailed instructions.

Image Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines

Cruise News:Princess Cruises Raises the Curtain on New Royal Princess Entertainment Venue

Princess Live!

Entertainment is a big part of every cruise, and even though it’s included in the fare, many shows are worthy of a box office tariff. Cruise lines put a lot of effort into the selection of entertainers and the content of their shows. And now Princess Cruises has announced they are raising the bar at sea to provide a new style of shipboard entertainment with the introduction of Princess Live!, a new type of cruise ship entertainment venue that passengers will enjoy aboard their new Royal Princess, set to launch in June 2013. Taking the audience behind the scenes to share the excitement of a working television studio, the high-tech Princess Live! will showcase live television broadcasts, intimate performances from musicians, and special events such as cooking shows.

Located on Royal Princess’ deck 7 just aft of the Piazza, Princess Live! will be a flexible, 280-seat venue based on a television broadcast studio. When the ship debuts, Princess Live! will serve as a venue for daily broadcasts of “The Wake Show” with a new twist—a daily live audience. This popular daily show, hosted by the cruise director and featuring special guests from around the ship, is a staple across the Princess fleet, but is rarely staged live. The colorful Princess Live! studio will also host a variety of events, including game shows, interactive cooking shows, art house films, enrichment classes, murder mysteries, trivia, and “Meet the Experts” presentations from the crew. Additionally, Princess Live! will serve as a more intimate performance venue for onboard musicians who will offer “unplugged” and “in-the-round” shows, providing an opportunity for entertainers to connect with the audience in a unique environment.

And that’s not all. Princess Live! will feature an adjacent café with interactive, wall-mounted screens showing the ship’s position, ports of call, points of interest and even international newspapers. The café will serve up specialty coffees, teas and freshly squeezed citrus juice, plus it will offer a selection of fresh-baked croissants and pastries in the morning.

Royal Princess will also feature the line’s largest Princess Theater ever, with unobstructed sight lines from every seat and passengers will enjoy the return of an updated Vista Lounge at the aft of the ship to serve as an alternate evening performance venue.

Princess Cruises Executive Vice President of Fleet Operations, Rai Caluori, and Vice President of Entertainment, Martin Hall, invite you to take a virtual tour of Royal Princess’ entertainment venues in the following video.

Currently under construction for Princess Cruises, the 3,600-passenger Royal Princess is a new-generation ship with an evolutionary design that builds on all the signature features passengers have grown to enjoy aboard the current Princess Cruises fleet. Among the new features found on board will be a greatly expanded atrium, the social hub of the ship; the dramatic over-water SeaWalk, a top-deck glass-bottomed enclosed walkway on the ship's starboard side extending more than 28 feet beyond the edge of the vessel; plush private poolside cabanas that appear to be floating on the water; a dazzling water and light show; more dining options including a special Chef’s Table Lumiere, wine cellar dining area and an expanded Horizon Court with pastry shop. Eighty percent of the ship’s staterooms will feature a balcony. More information about the ship is available on the Princess Cruises website and additional details about other ship features will be released in the coming months.

Image and Video Courtesy of Princess Cruises

Cruise News: Celebrity Cruises Will Air Olympic Games On Fleet, 'Live' From London 2012

An estimated one-billion-plus people will settle in with popcorn and snacks in front of their televisions to watch this year's summer Olympic Games to be held in the host city of London, and Celebrity Cruises is the first cruise line to announce that it has arranged the rare opportunity for guests sailing on its fleet to be among them.

From the always popular Opening Ceremony July 27 to the celebratory Closing Ceremony August 12, Celebrity will broadcast 'live' via satellite the swimming, diving, gymnastics, rowing, cycling, athletics, and basketball events, in addition to airing daily compilations of highlights from all 26 sports featured in the Games of the XXX Olympiad. On Celebrity ships sailing in North America, the events initially airing live also will be re-broadcast during more convenient times of day for guests to enjoy.

Whether sailing on Celebrity Constellation in Scandinavia and Russia; in Iceland and the Fjords on Celebrity Eclipse; in the Eastern Mediterranean on Celebrity Equinox; in the Adriatic on Celebrity Silhouette; in the Mediterranean from Venice on Celebrity Solstice; in Bermuda on Celebrity Summit; or in Alaska on Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Infinity, or Celebrity Century, Celebrity's guests can stay on top of the Games while vacationing at sea.

Celebrity's guests will be able to view the Olympic Games within the comfort of their staterooms and suites, or in several bars and lounges on every Celebrity ship (with the exception of Celebrity Xpedition, which sails year-round in the Galapagos Islands). The specific locations and event times will be listed within each Celebrity ship's daily newsletter.

Photo © CruiseDiva.com

Cruise News: Structural Integrity Key To Success Of Costa Concordia Salvage Operation

Removal of the wreck of the Costa Concordia from the coast of Giglio Island will be a long and costly venture soon to be undertaken by Titan Marine, the Pompano Beach, Florida company that was awarded the project along with the Italian marine contractor Micoperi.

To get an idea of the magnitude of the task they face, we turn to Joseph Farrell, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Resolve Marine Group, which has conducted hundreds of seafaring salvage and ship wreck removal operations over the past three decades. Farrell shares his knowledge about maritime emergency and disaster response, salvage, and ship wreck recovery.

"Removal of the capsized Costa Concordia cruise ship from the Tuscany coastline is one of the largest undertakings of its kind—this is a massive and complex operation which the entire world will be watching. Resolve Marine Group has worked with Titan Salvage on a number of important maritime ship wreck projects. The Costa Concordia is a massive, international assignment that will involve hundreds of personnel including naval architects and engineers, highly experienced salvage masters and a variety of specialists such as environmental consultants. Based on my experience, Titan and Micoperio are staffed with qualified teams for this mission, which, I suspect, will require dispatching equipment and crews from around the globe," explains Farrell.

Farrell continues, "The plan to upright the capsized craft; then slowly tow it to a port near Rome could take more than a year to complete. Because of the magnitude of this project, unlike other salvage operations—and because the cruise ship is so close to land—the Costa Concordia requires special attention to the environmental concerns and to limiting disruption to the community, which relies almost entirely on tourism for its economic livelihood. The salvage team has to be extremely careful not to cause adverse effects to the environment. Rolling and then refloating the ship in one piece rather than dismantling it piece-by-piece will be quite a feat. The main concern will be to not further compromise the ship's structural integrity, so that it can be maneuvered off the coast and to another port."

With that in mind, we have a better understanding of why the project will be so delicate and take such a long time.

Diana: Legacy of a Princess Comes to Long Beach & the Queen Mary

The Pink Ribbons Crusade has been looking for the perfect venue to showcase their new world-class exhibit for developing breast cancer support funding
and they've found a fabulous location with a Royal connection—the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California.

Queen Mary's Sun Deck level will soon be the setting for Diana: Legacy of a Princess. Opening in summer 2012, the exhibit will feature an extensive collection of Royal memorabilia, including evening gowns, personal accessories, photographs, heirlooms and other cherished personal items associated with Princess Diana and the Royal Family. The impressive collection will be presented in a new 13,000 sq. ft. exhibit space, now under construction on Queen Mary. When completed, the gallery area will include a gracious formal Tea Room, gift boutique, and other visitor conveniences.

Cruise News: Cruise Season Kicks Off at Cruiseport Boston with a Boatload of New Itineraries

Cruiseport Boston’s 2012 season got underway on Saturday, April 21st when Norwegian Dawn set sail on a special 6-day cruise to Bermuda, the first of 22 weekly cruises to the island. This is the second year for the 2,224 passenger ship (picturd here) to sail the ever-popular weekly 7-day itinerary.

The season opener also brings with it a boatload of new itineraries giving vacationers many more cruising options from Boston. The main newcomer at Cruiseport Boston is Carnival Cruise Lines’ 2,974-passenger Carnival Glory, which will sail a series of 4-, 5- and 7-day itineraries to New England and Atlantic Canada during the months of June and July. The first Carnival cruise leaves Boston June 3 heading out for 7 days to Portland, Maine; Saint John, New Brunswick; and Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia. Thereafter Carnival Glory will sail a series of 4-day “long weekend” cruises to Saint John, New Brunswick, and 5-day cruises to Halifax, Nova Scotia and Saint John, New Brunswick.

“We’re going to have a very busy season at Cruiseport Boston this year,” said David S. Mackey, Massport’s Interim CEO & Executive Director. “In 2010 we completed an $11 million renovation of the facility to bolster our appeal to the cruise lines, and that investment is paying off with all the new itineraries being offered from Boston.’’

Another indication of the popularity of the renovated Cruiseport Boston facility is that the number of passengers starting and ending their cruise vacation in Boston is now 60 percent, compared to the Port-of-Call passengers who visit the city for the day. That increase is helped by the entry of Carnival Glory. The 13-deck Carnival Glory was launched in 2003 and offers spacious accommodations, a 270 square foot poolside Seaside Theatre LED screen showing movies, concerts and other programming; a 13,300 square foot spa, four swimming pools—one with a 214-foot-long Twister Waterslide; expansive, modern play areas for children, ’tweens and teens; and Serenity, an exclusive adults-only retreat. Several dining options are also available such as a 24-hour pizzeria, a patisserie, and a classic American steakhouse.

In addition, Holland America Line’s Veendam, and three luxury cruise lines: Compagnie du Ponant’s LeBoreal, Seabourn’s Seabourn Soujourn, and Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Symphony will all offer new itineraries to Canada & New England ports. As will Norwegian Dawn upon completion of regular weekly Bermuda cruises. Veendam will also offer an 18- and 31-day repositioning cruise to South America via the Panama Canal, and Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas will now sail weekly on Sundays to Canada and New England rather than on Saturdays.

This new season has the widest array of cruise options in the 26 year history of the Terminal, with something to appeal to all ages and every budget. In 2012, 112 ship calls are scheduled, and Massport anticipates a third consecutive year of more than 300,000 passengers traveling through its Black Falcon Cruise Terminal and an expectation to break the 2010 passenger record high of 322,161. The 2012 cruise season runs from April to November.

Norwegian Dawn Image Courtesy of Cruiseport Boston

And The "Crystal Award" for Innovative Ship Design Goes To... Crystal Cruises

When Crystal Cruises unveiled Crystal Serenity's $25 million redesign last year, it wasn't only her guests who offered accolades. The design world took notice as well. The ship's renovated Apropos boutique—a retail space for designer clothing and accessories—has won the prestigious Association for Retail Environments (A.R.E.) interior design "Crystal Award" for the shop's distinctive and dramatic aluminum interlocking circle screen. The design won the first-ever Wall Treatment Award in the new, Individual Element category for 2012.

"Due to marine requirements, we have more design restrictions than a space on land, so this is a huge honor for a cruise ship to have won," says Alexandra Don, Crystal's vice president hotel services and design. "Awards like this simply validate what we and our guests already know: that our ships are the ultimate of chic, anywhere on the globe."

Designed by II BY IV Design Associates, the walls of highly polished, thick aluminum, interlocking circles serve as separators for flanking vignettes within the boutique (pictured above). The design was inspired by antique nautical instruments and globe stands, with the reflective piece complementing the high-gloss fascia, wood veneer, and glass-and-mirror wall treatments surrounding them. All fixtures had to be securely bolted to fit marine building codes, yet maintain a graceful, slender appearance—a unique challenge for retail spaces at sea.

Crystal Serenity's sister ship, Crystal Symphony, will undergo her own renovations this June, completing a five-year plan to redesign all of the ship's public and private rooms.

Image Courtesy of Crystal Cruises

Cruise News: Costa Concordia To Be Refloated Intact For Removal

Wreck to be removed in one piece, refloated and towed away

Costa Crociere and the Costa Concordia Emergency Commissioner’s Office announced that the tender for the removal of the ship from Giglio Island has been awarded to Titan Salvage in partnership with the Italian firm Micoperi. The work will begin in early May subject to final approval from the Italian authorities and is expected to take about 12 months.

Titan Salvage is an American-owned specialist marine salvage and wreck removal company, part of the Crowley Group, and is a world leader in its field. Micoperi is a well-known Italian marine contractor with a long history as a specialist in underwater construction and engineering.

“We are very pleased to announce another important step toward salvaging the wreck from Giglio Island,” said Costa Crociere S.p.A. Chairman & CEO Pier Luigi Foschi. “As was the case with the removal of the fuel, we have sought to identify the best solution to safeguard the island and its marine environment and to protect its tourism. We would like also to thank Smit Salvage and Tito Neri for succeeding in defueling and caretaking operations.”

Throughout the salvage operation, environmental protection will have top priority. Once the main work is complete, the sea bottom will be cleaned and marine flora replanted. The plan also includes measures to safeguard the island of Giglio’s tourism and wider economy. Salvage workers’ presence will not have any significant impact on the availability of hotel accommodation on the island during the summer season. The main operating base will be located on the mainland at nearby Civitavecchia, where equipment and materials will be stored, thereby avoiding any impact on Giglio’s port activities.

Once floated, the wreck will be towed to an Italian port and dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the Italian authorities. The removal will be the final step of the salvage. Fuel removal was completed successfully 24 March. “Caretaking" operations, which include cleaning up the seabed and removing debris caused by the incident, will continue until Titan Salvage and Micoperi commence operations.

The plan was selected by an evaluation team with specialist representatives from Costa Crociere, Carnival Corporation & plc, London Offshore Consultants, and the Standard P&I Club. All six tenders submitted by the March 3 deadline were of a very high standard, but the evaluation team decided that the Titan Salvage/Micoperi proposal best fulfilled the main objectives set out in the tender specifications: removal of the wreck in one piece, minimal risk, minimal environmental impact, protection of Giglio’s economy and tourism industry, and maximum safety of the work.

Cruise News: Minor Engine Room Fire Last Night On Allure of the Seas

CND's Cruiseblogger reports, "There was a minor engine room fire aboard Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas last night (April 20, 2012)."

Get the full story here.

The Vikings Are Coming, Part Two

You may recall we shared the announcement that The Vikings Are Coming last December when STX France received an order to build two luxurious small cruise ships for Viking Ocean Cruises, the new sister company of Viking River Cruises. The vessels were scheduled to be delivered in spring 2014 and spring 2015.

That deal fell through earlier this month when Viking River Cruises withdraw from negotiations, apparently after financing details weren't ironed out. Not giving up on their plans, Viking Ocean Cruises has now announced they've inked a Memorandum of Agreement for the construction of two nearly identical luxury ocean cruise ships with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The memorandum also includes an option for a third vessel. The parties have reached an agreement on the financial and technical aspects of the deal and expect to sign the contract shortly, once the final documents and conditions are finalized.

In line with Viking's intimate, destination-focused approach to cruising, the new ocean ships will be small by today's standards at approximately 45,000 GRT and will host 998 passengers in 499 cabins. The first ship is scheduled for delivery in late 2014, the second one in late 2015.

Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking, commented, "We started Viking River Cruises to offer great destination experiences, and we are excited to bring this same destination focus back to ocean cruising. The ship designed by Fincantieri has a fresh and innovative design well suited to deliver the award-winning Viking experience."

We wish them luck and look forward to hearing additional details.

Princess Passengers Select Entertainer of the Year

Carlos Oscar is presented with the Entertainer of the Year
award at a party aboard Ruby Princess

Passengers aboard Ruby Princess voted and comedian Carlos Oscar was selected as the first-ever winner of the title Princess Cruises Entertainer of the Year.

In addition to performing aboard Princess ships, Oscar has appeared on “The Tonight Show,” HBO, Showtime, and Comedy Central. According to Bill Cosby, “Carlos is a comedy treasure…the only four letter words you’ll hear from Carlos are debt, kids, and help!” As the winner, Oscar received a cash prize of $5,000 and now holds the title of the line’s “2011 Entertainer of the Year.”

Five finalists performed aboard Ruby Princess during last week’s April 8-15 sailing and passengers cast their ballots after judging the live performance from each finalist during the Entertainer of the Year cruise. The Entertainer of the Year cruise will become an annual event, with another sailing for next year to be announced at a later date.

“Congratulations to Carlos on being voted our first-ever Entertainer of the Year,” said Martin Hall, vice president of entertainment. “All finalists did a fantastic job of entertaining Ruby Princess passengers, and they really showcased the variety and quality of the performers on Princess ships.”

Here's a video showcasing the Entertainer of the Year finalists and the winning moment.

Photo and Video Courteay of Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises Speaks Out

Statement on Star Princess

Princess Cruises deeply regrets that two Panamanian men perished at sea after their boat became disabled in early March. Since we became aware of this incident, we have been investigating circumstances surrounding the claim that Star Princess failed to come to the aid of the disabled boat, after a crew member was alerted by passengers.

The preliminary results of our investigation have shown that there appeared to be a breakdown in communication in relaying the passenger's concern. Neither Captain Edward Perrin nor the officer of the watch were notified. Understandably, Captain Perrin is devastated that he is being accused of knowingly turning his back on people in distress. Had the Captain received this information, he would have had the opportunity to respond.

We all understand that it is our responsibility and also the law of the sea to provide assistance to any vessel in distress, and it is not an uncommon occurrence for our ships to be involved in a rescue at sea. In fact, we have done so more than 30 times in the last ten years.

We deeply regret this incident and are continuing our investigation to fully understand the circumstances.