"Freestyle Cruising" aboard Norwegian Pearl

When Norwegian Caribbean Line (Norwegian Cruise Line's original name) launched regularly scheduled cruises from Miami over forty years ago, the idea of a cruise vacation itself was innovative. Since 1966, you could say that Norwegian Cruise Line has danced to its own drummer, with other cruise lines following the beat.

With NCL leading the way, the flexibility to do your own thing without eliminating what some cruise passengers enjoy about cruising has changed the face of cruise travel in the 21st century.

Cruise Diva took a fresh look at the real cruise industry "Game Changer" when we experienced Norwegian Cruise Line's "Freestyle Cruising" aboard Norwegian Pearl.

Celebrity Cruises Takes Delivery of Celebrity Eclipse

Last week Celebrity Cruises celebrated achieving “a perfect 10.” Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO of the brand’s parent company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and Celebrity’s President and CEO Dan Hanrahan participated in a shipboard ceremony marking the transfer of ownership of Celebrity Eclipse from shipbuilder Meyer Werft to Celebrity Cruises, bringing the fleet to a total of 10 stunning ships.

On the heels of a series of promotional activities in Hamburg, Germany, and Southampton, England, the 2,850-guest Celebrity Eclipse will be formally named in ceremonies April 24, and will enter service April 26, presenting a series of sailings roundtrip from Southampton to the Mediterranean, Russia, and Scandinavia throughout the summer. The stylish new ship will offer Caribbean sailings from the Port of Miami beginning this winter.

Join Cruise Diva on the "Conveyance" Journey aboard Celebrity Eclipse, the third Solstice-class ship in the Celebrity Cruises fleet. Find out why it's the Sham-WOW of cruise ships and take an exclusive first look around the interiors.

Make Your Own "Fun Ship" Cocktail

The cruise is over, it's time to unpack, and then you ponder ... what to do with the souvenir drink glasses and mugs you've brought home.

Re-creating the memories of the fun you had on board is important. Too important to use your special glass for just any beverage. A rum and Coke seems too mundane to drink from your "Fun Ship" glass. The souvenir faux-canning jar mug pictured here was served filled with a frosty margarita and salted rim and it's been refilled with homemade margaritas on many occasions since.

While a pina colada would also be appropriate for your sipping pleasure, why not try an authentic "Fun Ship®" Cocktail perfected by Carnival Cruise Lines' bartenders? With the recipe below you can mix up your own, with or without alcohol, for a refreshing summer cooler. Fill your souvenir glass and enjoy.

"FUN SHIP®" COCKTAIL

•1/2 oz. Amaretto
•3/4 oz. 151 Rum
•3/4 oz. Vodka
•1/2 oz. Apricot Brandy
•4 oz. Fruit Punch (recipe below)
Garnish with a cherry and orange slice.

FRUIT PUNCH

•2 oz. Orange Juice
•1 oz. Pineapple Juice
•1 oz. Sweet & Sour Mix
•.25 oz. Grenadine
•.125 oz. Angostura Bitters

"FUN SHIP®" COCKTAIL
(non-alcoholic)
•4 oz. Orange Juice
•1 oz. Lemon Juice
•4 oz. Pineapple Juice
•1 oz. Cranberry Juice
•dash Grenadine
•dash Angostura Bitters
Blend and pour over ice

Princess Cruises: Update on Flight Cancellations Due to Volcanic Eruption

The airspace over the UK and much of Northern Europe remains closed due to volcanic ash clouds caused by a volcanic eruption in Iceland, and we understand the air space may be closed for a considerable time.

The National Air Traffic Services (NATS), the UK air traffic control body, is providing public updates every 6-12 hours on whether the close has been extended, but we know with certainty that flights for many of our UK passengers have been cancelled.

The main impact is on the charter flights into and out of Barbados for UK passengers disembarking or embarking Sea Princess Saturday, April 17. Our current plan is for Sea Princess to sail from Barbados tomorrow as planned.

We have deployed a Princess care team to Barbados to assist affected passengers, and we will continue to keep both outbound and incoming passengers updated with the most current information available.

Volcanic Ash: Are You Covered By Travel Insurance?

Surely no one could have imagined the havoc that a volcano erupting in Iceland could cause on air travel to and from and within Europe. Airports from London to Zurich and all points in between and further afar are closed due to the ash cloud that has drifted across Europe. You are wise to insure your travel plans, but your travel insurance may, or may not, cover you, as outlined in the following email I received today from John W. Cook, President of QuoteWright.com®.

Travel Insurance policies contain 4 separate coverages that might apply:

-- trip cancellation,
-- trip interruption,
-- missed connection,
-- travel delay.

All 4 of these are "named peril" coverages which will only provide coverage if the claim was caused by one of the specific covered events.

The ash cloud caused by the eruption can be classified as either a "natural disaster" or an "adverse weather" event. This classification can have a big effect on coverage for trip cancellation and interruption coverages. Under those coverages some, but not all, companies include "natural disasters" which causes your airline to cease operations to be a covered event. Most of the plans limit coverage for "natural disasters" that make your destination uninhabitable.

A more common covered event is "adverse weather" causing your airline to cease operations for a specific time period (usually 24 hours). If the event is interpreted to be a "natural disaster," coverage might be limited for trip cancellations or interruptions unless it's one of the plans that include "natural disasters" in their covered events that causes your common carrier to cease operations. Otherwise the question is did it make your destination uninhabitable?

Coverage for travel delay and missed connection is clearer. These coverages are also "named peril" benefits however, the majority of plans include "natural disaster" as a covered event.

Bottom line is to read your plan carefully and don't assume that there will or will not be coverage.

Azamara Club Cruises Offers Special Europe Promotion

When there’s extraordinary service, elegant surroundings, and true destination immersion awaiting on a voyage with Azamara Club Cruises, what could make it better? Try an exceptional value that just became even more enticing. The upmarket brand’s special offer of 2-for-1 fares on all sailings through March 2011 continues, and now, on bookings for select sailings made by June 30, 2010, guests will receive an onboard spending credit of $500 per booking, as well as a $500 per-person ChoiceAir credit. The new offer applies to bookings for Azamara Club Cruises’ European voyages from April 25 through Nov 10, 2010 on Azamara Journey, and voyages from May 3 through Nov 20, 2010, on Azamara Quest. The offer is applicable to new, individual bookings in North America only, in all categories with the exception of Club Interior staterooms.

Travelers who take advantage of Azamara’s new, limited-time offer also can enjoy the host of new, inclusive amenities just introduced on both ships this month. Now, guests sailing on every voyage of Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest will be offered complimentary, vintage red and white wines from boutique vineyards around the world at lunches and dinners; bottled water, sodas, specialty coffees and teas, whether in public venues or in staterooms and suites; housekeeping, dining and bar staff gratuities; shuttle bus service to and from port communities, where available; destination-influenced entertainment and enrichment programs; specialty dining in the intimate specialty restaurants, Prime C and Aqualina (complimentary for suite guests; stateroom guests are charged a $15 per person cover); true English butler service in suites; self-service laundry, and concierge services.

Among the European destinations in which guests sailing with Azamara Club Cruises can immerse themselves this year are nine first-time locations for the brand:

• Bastia, one of the two largest cities on the mountainous Mediterranean island of Corsica
• Chania, one of Crete’s most appealing cities, marked by stately neo-classical mansions and massive Venetian fortifications
• Korcula, Croatia, an island rife with small, uninhabited beaches, breathtaking views of nature and medieval architecture
• Katakolon, the Greek seaside town offering a gateway to Olympia, the birthplace of the competitive athletic games
• Skiathos, one of Greece’s most environmentally protected islands, known for its pine tree forests as well as its long, shining beaches
• Zakynthos, Greece (also known as Zante), part of the Ionian Islands and home to the endangered caretta species of sea turtle
• Trieste, the historic Italian port and capital of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, nestled in the northeast corner of the Adriatic Sea against the backdrop of a limestone plateau
Gijón, located on the Catabrian Sea on Spain’s Costa Verde, halfway between eastern and western Asturias
• Liverpool, England’s centuries-old port made just as famous by its one-time musical residents, The Beatles, as by the landmarks designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites

To offer more time in port, including time to dine and sample the nightlife ashore, Azamara Club Cruises has scheduled overnight stays in Europe this year in Florence (Livorno), Sorrento, and Venice, Italy; St. Petersburg, Russia; Barcelona, Spain; Stockholm, Sweden; Istanbul, Turkey; Edinburgh (Leith), Scotland; London (Greenwich), England; Bordeaux, France; Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany; Athens (Piraeus), Greece; and Monte Carlo, Monaco. Late-night stays (departing at 10 pm or later) are featured in 21 European ports this year, including Dubrovnik, Croatia; Alexandria and Port Said, Egypt; St. Tropez, France; Volos, Mykonos, Rhodes and Santorini, Greece; Dublin, Ireland; Ashdod and Haifa, Israel; Ravenna and Trieste, Italy; Valetta, Malta; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Kotor, Montenegro; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Lisbon, Portugal; Gijón, Spain; and Bodrum and Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey.

For more information, call 1-877-999-9553 or visit the Azamara Club Cruises web site.

Enriching New Choices for Teens Aboard Crystal Summer Cruises

As a rule, teenagers find little in the way of organized activities available for them on most luxury cruise ships. With the popularity of family and multi-generational group cruise travel, all that is changing on Crystal Cruises' fleet. Teens can learn to make sushi like a professional Nobu-trained chef, take a golf lesson with PGA pro instructors, and immerse themselves in language classes with Berlitz educators on Crystal Cruises' award-winning ships this summer. Renowned for Six-Star enrichment for adults, the luxury line offers younger guests opportunities to enhance their travel experiences with onboard programming that is sophisticated, entertaining, and complimentary.

Crystal reports that, as of March 2010, it has nearly five times more family groups booked through its Crystal Family Memories program for this year versus 2009. To accommodate this growth, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity have expanded the hours and breadth of supervised activities for junior cruisers of all ages. Junior cruisers can enjoy enriching programs like their parents in sessions tailored specially for them. From a Swedish lesson while en route to Stockholm, to Olympic-style competitions sailing from Athens, kids ages 3 to 17 can immerse themselves in destination-related activities, organized by Crystal's Junior Activities Directors on summer cruises.

Teen options include:

-- *NEW* Sushi making - From Junior Activities Directors, learn techniques practiced by Nobu-trained chefs in Silk Road and The Sushi Bar
-- Dance lessons - Group instruction with onboard championship dancers
-- DJ-hosted dance parties.

"Like their parents, our younger guests are well-traveled and curious about the places they're visiting," says Bret Bullock, vice president, entertainment. "Younger travelers enjoy the camaraderie and friendships they cultivate with their peers from around the world."

Crystal's Family Memories program group perks include a complimentary berth, Private Adventure credit, and family portraits. The purpose-built Fantasia and Waves children's and teens' facilities, rare in luxury cruising, feature crafts areas, toys and popular video games. Kids' menus, complimentary ice cream bars and babysitting are available.

Junior activities are subject to change per cruise. For more information, contact a travel agent, call 888-799-4625, or visit CrystalCruises.com.

Beautiful Bermuda. So Close, Yet Away From It All

The inevitable first question everyone asks is about the beaches, "Is the sand really pink?" Yes, it is! And the water is crystal clear. Bermuda's palette is pastel... pink, coral, green, and every shade of blue. The beaches, architecture, and water surrounding Bermuda exhibit a rainbow of soft color accented by white roofs and colorful flora.

Back by popular demand after a 3-year long hiatus, Celebrity Cruises returns to Bermuda this spring when Celebrity Summit offers 7-night cruises sailing from Bayonne, New Jersey. A Celebrity cruise is the best of both worlds—time at sea to enjoy the sophisticated ambiance, superb dining, and personal service aboard Celebrity Summit and two overnights in Bermuda, one of the world's most charming and elegant island destinations.

While Bermuda is only a 2-hour flight from many northeastern cities, a cruise is more than simply transportation. Celebrity Summit is a convenient getaway option for vacationers in the northeast, with departures from Bayonne for Kings Wharf, Bermuda on most Sundays from April 25 through Sept 5.

Wouldn't you like to arrive in Bermuda relaxed, already unpacked, and in vacation mode? Check out the Celebrity Summit sailings for one that fits your travel plans at CelebrityCruises.com.

CruiseDiva.com shares Sights To See & Things To Do in Bermuda and recommends Fodor's Bermuda 2010 for even more in-depth information.

Celebrity Eclipse to be Named by Courageous Ocean-Racing Yachtswoman

Celebrity Cruises has announced the appointment of Emma Pontin, an inspirational UK-based yachtswoman, to serve as Godmother of Celebrity Eclipse, the third in their series of five stunningly successful Solstice Class ships. Pontin will name the ship in Southampton, England, during the ship’s formal naming ceremony April 24, which will conclude with a magnum of champagne, custom-made by The Corning Museum of Glass, commemoratively crashing against the hull of the 2,850-guest ship.

Pontin began her career as an ocean-racing yachtswoman in 2002 when she crewed on her first Challenge Transatlantic race with only one week’s sailing experience. Her devotion to the sport grew to the point that, in 2006, she was selected to skipper a yacht for the ARC Transatlantic race. But, prior to the start of the race, Pontin was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to immediately return to the UK for treatment, which culminated in a double mastectomy for precautionary measures. Celebrity Cruises selected Pontin to serve in the revered role of Godmother in recognition of her positive and empowering fight against the disease, from which both her aunt and grandmother died. Throughout her chemotherapy and radiation treatments, she continued to sail, instruct, and race, and even skippered several major races during the following 12 months.

“I am hugely honored and believe that serving as the Godmother of this wonderful ship is truly one of the greatest compliments to be bestowed on me,” said Pontin. “I look forward enormously to taking up my duties in presiding over and naming this ship during what is one of the most important dates in a ship’s life. It is extremely flattering to be recognized for what came naturally to me when fighting breast cancer, and I hope that through this association with Celebrity Cruises, I will continue to inspire and encourage many others. I feel very blessed and privileged to be able to name Celebrity Eclipse in one of the UK’s sailing capitals.”

Pontin is currently mounting her next big challenge: a 30,000-mile full circumnavigation of the world, with a planned departure from London in Oct 2011 to raise funds for, and global awareness of, breast cancer. On April 24, as part of the Celebrity Eclipse naming celebrations, the first “Celebrity Sunwalk” sponsored by Celebrity Cruises will see thousands of women, men, and families walking through Southampton in decorated bras helping to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer. The walk is reminiscent of “Walk the Walk,” founded by Nina Barough, Godmother of sister-ship Celebrity Equinox and a breast cancer survivor who works tirelessly to raise funds for vital breast cancer causes.

Celebrity Eclipse enters service April 26 from Southampton on a 3-night Paris (Le Havre) cruise, then returns to Southampton to embark on the ship’s official maiden voyage departing April 29 with a short 4-night cruise to Cork (Cobh), Ireland. The ship will present a series of Mediterranean and Russia and Scandinavian cruises throughout the summer, and will offer Caribbean sailings from Fort Lauderdale, FL, beginning this winter. For more information, visit CelebrityCruises.com.

While you wait for the official launch, set sail with Cruise Diva on the “Conveyance” Journey aboard Celebrity Eclipse, the Sham-WOW of Cruise Ship Experiences and take an exclusive first look around the interiors.

Disney Cruise Line Introduces French-inspired Remy On the Disney Dream

In an exquisite, top-deck restaurant with incredible ocean views, Disney Cruise Line debuts Remy–its first-ever premier dining option. With French-inspired, gourmet cuisine by two award-winning chefs, Remy melds classic and contemporary styles in a sophisticated new dining concept exclusively for adults on the Disney Dream.

Chef Arnaud Lallement from l’Assiette Champenoise, a Michelin two-star restaurant just outside Reims, France, and Chef Scott Hunnel from award-winning Victoria & Albert’s at Walt Disney World Resort, are collaborating to create a French-inspired menu featuring superior products and seasonal ingredients sourced from around the world. Master Pastry Chef Erich Herbitschek of Victoria & Albert’s at Walt Disney World Resort and Chef Mattieu Gerard Siegrist of l’Assiette Champenoise will lend their talents to create Remy’s savory breads and delectable dessert offerings. French-trained Chef Patrick Albert, executive chef for Remy, oversees an all-star culinary team that will provide guests with a superb experience and epicurean excellence each day aboard the ship.

“Remy, a first-of-its-kind onboard experience, takes Disney Cruise Line dining to new heights,” said Ozer Balli, vice president, Disney Cruise Line Hotel Operations. “The extraordinary success of Palo on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder encouraged us to create this elegant, upscale and even more intimate dining experience for the Disney Dream.”

Dinner at Remy is a lavish and leisurely affair, starting with a signature chilled Champagne cocktail made tableside, followed by eight to nine small courses complemented by a stellar wine list. Lallement’s cuisine is simple and stylish, such as roasted lobster with cream, and fresh asparagus with black truffles and vin jaune. It earns l’Assiette Champenoise two stars (of a possible three) from Michelin, making the experience “excellent cooking and worth a detour.” Hunnel’s innovative dishes offer small tastes of everything from wild caviar to Kobe beef and Japanese Wagyu strip loin. His cuisine earns Victoria & Albert’s the coveted AAA Five Diamonds, a rating accorded a mere 0.19 percent of restaurants in North America and the Caribbean.

Polished touches at Remy include a tableside trolley for serving international cheeses, decanting stations for wines, and post-prandial coffee service including French press and grand crème. With a subtle nod to the hit Disney•Pixar film “Ratatouille” and its petite French star Remy, the softly lit main dining room with seating for 80 is designed in Art Nouveau style with a palate of soft greens, deep reds and rich gold. The restaurant’s classic French design features graceful sinuous lines on chair backs, etched in glass and in wall treatments, Nouveau-style floral and leaf design in the carpet and warm lighting. The famous Remy character is subtly and artfully integrated into the design.

Tables are elegantly set with Frette linens, Riedel glassware, Christofle silverware and china made exclusively for Remy, with gracious accents such as purse stools for women’s handbags. The attentive serving staff is part of the sophisticated story, dressed in long white aprons, black jackets or burgundy vests, and bow ties. “From the moment our guests walk through the door, they are seamlessly transported to a fine French dining experience,” said Balli.

The private Chef’s Table dining room seats 16 and offers a glimpse into the kitchen. The room is furnished with rich “Ratatouille”-inspired décor–bold red carpet, chairs and drapes with touches of gold, opulent chandeliers, and scenes of Paris on the walls. The private Chef’s Table dining room has its own entrance to the kitchen to allow the chefs easy access, and offers a special multi-course menu.

A glass-walled wine room with marble flooring has seating for up to 16 guests amid more than 900 bottles of wine including a fine rare selection of Old World wines balanced with a solid selection of New World wines. Once dinner is booked and guests are on board, they are invited to meet with a sommelier in Remy’s wine room to taste and pre-select their wines for the evening.

To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, visit www.disneycruise.com.

Norwegian Pearl, Disembarkation

One of the highest and lowest points of every cruise has to do with luggage. First, there's the high point when your suitcases are delivered to your stateroom. After unpacking, your cruise has officially begun.

We found our standard outside cabin on Norwegian Pearl to be quite comfortable and, in part, that was due to the abundant storage space. In addition to six very large drawers, there was a shallow one in the "dressing table," ample closet space for our hanging garments, and a bank of deep shelves that held our laptop cases, shoes, and camera bags. If that weren't enough, there were shelves above the dressing table and more shelves above the drawers next to the closet, where the mini-fridge is also located. A table and chair, in addition to the dressing table, had Ethernet and electrical outlets conveniently located on the adjacent wall.

And the low point? When it's time to get out the suitcases and repack to leave. My system to make that process a bit less painful is to refold our clothing after it's worn and put it in a suitcase as the week progresses. That way, by the day before debarkation, we're almost all packed and the suitcases are ready to be put in the passageway to be taken off the ship.

We found "Freestyle" disembarkation a breeze, in part because we were offered the opportunity to join the Suites & Villa VIPs. We gathered in Bliss Lounge at 8:30 where the concierge Ryan escorted us ashore after the "Easy Walk Off" passengers—those who disembarked with all their luggage—had left. A great many passengers took advantage of that option and there was surprisingly little luggage lined up inside the terminal for such a large ship with so many passengers.

After quickly locating our suitcases and making our way to the parking garage, we noted that we were on our way at 9:05. Had we not participated in the VIP process, we'd have still been off by approximately 9:30 and on the road shortly thereafter.

Disembarkation from Norwegian Pearl was bittersweet. We loved the Freestyle life on board, yet we're glad to be home with memories of an enjoyable and stress-free cruise.

Norwegian Pearl at Great Stirrup Cay

One of Norwegian Cruise Line’s most successful innovations—and one that’s been copied by other cruise lines—was the acquisition of Great Stirrup Cay, an uninhabited out-island in the Berry chain to provide passengers with a day ashore at a private beach. While many are content to relax in a beach lounger or work on their tans atop a float in the turquoise water of Bertram Cove, others can choose to snorkel, parasail, kayak, play beach volleyball, or sign up for an eco tour. Watersports and attractions include a 100-ft inflatable slide, paddleboats, and rafts.

Vendors in the Bahamian Straw Market only accept cash, but bar purchases and water toy rentals are handled with your ship charge card. There isn’t a lot of hardscape in the developed area and the use of strollers is problematic. However, passengers with mobility issues may use special sand wheelchairs on the island.

Over the years the facilities at Great Stirrup Cay have been expanded, but a huge renovation is in the works that will relocate the tendering operation to a sheltered cove and restore the beach area where tenders now perform dry landings right on the sand. While more attractions are planned for the pleasure of passengers, crewmembers haven’t been overlooked in the planning. New storage facilities will make their jobs easier when they no longer have to carry all their supplies—even including ice—to the island.

Two of the huge tenders that carried us from Norwegian Pearl to Great Stirrup Cay today offer a bit of nostalgia, and NCL history. They are Little Norway 1 and Little Norway 2, custom-built for and originally carried on the bow of the iconic SS Norway.

Norwegian Pearl at Sea

In the industry Norwegian Cruise Line has always been an innovator. For instance, the Norwegian Sky was the first cruise ship to feature an Internet café for passengers to stay connected at sea. Without that access, this blog wouldn’t be possible. Here aboard Norwegian Pearl I’m connecting my laptop to the web via Ethernet cable from my cabin. The speed is surprisingly fast for a cruise ship.

Small details make a big difference and one I find particularly helpful is the design of Norwegian Pearl’s passageway carpeting on accommodations decks. At first glance, it appears to simply be a colorful Caribbean design with tropical fish woven into a sea blue background. Look closer and you’ll see that the fish are all swimming toward the bow of the ship. So, to go forward, you follow the fish, to go aft, you walk in the opposite direction. It’s quite clever and helpful for those of us who are directionally challenged.

Beside our door (pictured above) is another clever feature—the cabin number is embossed on a “mailbox” where we find fliers and other communiqués. In addition, there is a dial to rotate indicating “welcome,” “do not disturb,” “make up cabin,” and “turn down cabin.” There’s no need to hang a tag on the door for the steward and it’s easier to remember. Little things like that, plus the abundant storage in our standard outside cabin make a big difference in comfort and convenience.

Norwegian Pearl in Tortola, BVI

When we went to the Garden Café for coffee this morning we could already tell it would be hot in port. Norwegian Pearl docked at 7am in Road Town, Tortola, but we took our time going ashore. The hot, sunny day really tested my 100 SPF sunscreen as we strolled through the vendors’ market near the piers and then headed into town to check out the wares in the craft market that fronts the water. Tortola is home to some very talented artists.

However, my main mission was something of a tradition for every time I visit Tortola—a stop at Pusser’s Outpost. Before I even asked, “Is it too early for a Painkiller?” I knew the answer would be, “It’s never too early.” Fortified by the creamy rum drink, I had enough energy to return to Norwegian Pearl in the heat. I’ll know later if the sunscreen did its job.

Taxi drivers all along the main roadway were offering rides to the north shore’s palm-fringed beaches—Cane Garden Bay, Brewers Bay, and Smugglers Cove. We are looking forward to a day at NCL’s private island for our beach outing this week so we took a pass. One of the best tours from Tortola is the boat to Virgin Gorda to visit the Baths, which we’ve done in the past and highly recommend.

Our day in Tortola was short as we sailed at 3pm. Tomorrow we’ll be relaxing on Norwegian Pearl during a sea day and it’s probably a good thing because tonight is NCL’s signature “White Hot Dance Party” and I don’t want to miss it.

Norwegian Pearl in St. Thomas, USVI

It wasn’t until after dinner last night that Mel confessed he hadn’t been looking forward to dining in Teppanyaki as much as the other specialty restaurants. However, the food, service, and the chef’s skill with a fork and spatula changed his mind. It really is a fun dining experience and it’s no surprise that Teppanyaki is so popular on Norwegian Pearl. The Land & Sea combo (filet & shrimp) was our choice and Mel was happily impressed.

We’re in St. Thomas today and, of course, I had to do a bit of shopping. Just about every store downtown has an outlet in Havensight where we are docked, so I made quick work of my purchases and spent the rest of the day enjoying the (almost) deserted ship. Even though there aren’t too many passengers left on board, there’s plenty to do with a movie in the Stardust Theater, music & games poolside, a trivia contest, soccer & basketball tournaments, ping pong, and an art exhibit. Then there is also … whatever and I think I’ll do that—just kick back and relax with a book and a cold drink.

Tonight’s comedy/improvisation show is The Second City. We’re big fans dating back to the time when John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and Bill Murray were on the stage in Chicago so we’ll be there before dinner. Tonight we are trying the buffet for a totally casual evening. Tomorrow we have reservations in Le Bistro and we’ve heard that we won’t be disappointed. The dining and entertainment choices on Norwegian Pearl really suit our style. NCL must have had us in mind when they conceived the “Freestyle Cruising” concept.

Norwegian Pearl in Samana, Dominican Republic

If there is one port where an excursion is highly recommended on this itinerary, it is today. Samana is a tiny village—so small that only one shop is on the port shopping list—yet nearby are wonderful beaches and ecological treasures. Mel chose a Caves & Mangroves Exploration tour, which is just a bit too much sun for me, so my day was spent relaxing on board all morning and a bit of wandering ashore in the afternoon. For beach lovers, the excursion to nearby Cayo Levantado is well worthwhile. The private beach property is beautifully maintained and features arts and crafts shops, water toys for rent, and a delightful folkloric show.

In addition to being wonderfully laid back, NCL cruises have always featured some of the finest entertainment at sea. Last night was a treat in the Stardust Theater starring Oh What A Night! in a tribute concert to Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. While their banter was a bit corny, their singing and choreography were outstanding. Another passenger who’s seen “Jersey Boys” commented that the tribute artists last night were even better than the performers in the musical. Oh What A Night's rendition of “Grease” brought the audience to their feet. And we learned some Four Season trivia, for instance they recorded the song “Silence is Golden” before it was made a hit by the Tremeloes, but it was on the flip side of “Rag Doll” and took a while to be discovered by The Four Seasons’ fans. To end the show, we were treated to a surprise as one of the performers announced it was going to be a special night for one couple in the theater, at which time he handed the microphone to a young man who went down on one knee to propose to his girlfriend. And, yes—she said yes. For them, it was most definitely “Oh What A Night!”

We’ve easily fallen in step with “Freestyle” dining and chose the Indigo Restaurant, one of the two main dining rooms on board, for dinner last night. A combination of filet and lamb was an excellent choice and we were impressed with the quality of the food and the service. About the only negative was the noise level—it’s spring break and there are 2,933 passengers on board, with about 900 of them under 18. Teenage voices tend to travel when they are having a good time.

Tonight we are looking forward to dinner in the specialty restaurant Teppanyaki, which is dinner-and-a-show in itself as the chefs prepare your order right in front of you. Aboard Norwegian Pearl, it’s a must-do dinner and we are glad we made our reservations as soon as possible.

Norwegian Pearl, At Sea

The curtains in our stateroom are a soothing shade of blue-green, which gives the impression of waking up in the middle of the sea. Of course that’s just where we were yesterday as we spent Easter Sunday passing the coast of Cuba on our way to the Dominican Republic.

To mark the holiday, Norwegian Pearl was decorated with Easter finery and the Easter Bunny himself even made an appearance for photos. There was a lot on the schedule, including numerous family events like Ninteno Wii on the giant lobby screen and dodgeball for parents and children. Pool games were a big draw. For adults, NCL “U” offered a French Wine & Cheese Tasting, Grey Goose Martini Tasting, and Global Beer Tasting ($15 for each class) .

As for us, we’re taking a cue from the bottom of the daily schedule that reminds us we are free to “whatever”! After a relaxing Easter morning and a bit of shopping, we took advantage of an invitation to have lunch in Cagney’s Steakhouse. Breakfast and lunch in Cagney’s is a perk reserved for passengers accommodated in suites and villas. Of all their perks, I think it’s probably the best. The food and service were excellent and we’re looking forward to our dinner reservation there later on in the week.

Norwegian Pearl, Embarkation & Sailaway

Who’s sailing on Norwegian Pearl? This week our fellow passengers are of all ages. It’s still spring break and there are families from as far away as California, Utah, and New York. We even met a couple yesterday who’d sailed on Norwegian Pearl in Alaska last summer and decided to be married on the ship.

Sailaway from Miami is always a treat and the entertainment staff went all out for the lido deck festivities. Even though embarkation was a breeze (we arrived after the noon rush), we hadn’t had time for lunch so the poolside barbeque pictured here really hit the spot and held us until dinner.

With new procedures in place for the safety drill—no life jacket is required—the mustering process was quick and easy. In fact, we’re finding everything about “Freestyle Cruising” is easy. We can eat on our own schedule and do whatever we please. There is a full schedule of events to choose from, even on embarkation day. And, as the sun went down last night, the atrium filled with basketball fans to watch the Final Four on the huge screen located there. From the cheers we heard as we grabbed an early dinner in the Blue Lagoon Café, there were a lot of happy fans aboard Norwegian Pearl.

NCL "Welcome Aboard" Norwegian Pearl

Last month when I logged into NCL.com to complete the Online Check-In process for our Norwegian Pearl cruise, I printed our e-documents to present the pier and thought nothing of also printing paper luggage tags. After all, it's become quite commonplace to no longer watch the mailbox for the arrival of a packet of cruise documents and paperwork to complete. So, it came as a surprise when I received the following email:

Congratulations, you’re about to embark on a unique cruise experience with Norwegian Cruise Line. It’s all thanks to our exclusive Freestyle Cruising®, where you’re free to whatever. Your Welcome Aboard Kit has been mailed and should be arriving soon. This kit contains your luggage tags and useful information including helpful tips on travel arrangements, what you should pack, what’s on board and a directory of the ship.

Also included in the kit are samples of our most popular Shore Excursions for your itinerary. NCL’s Shore Excursions are the best way for you to see the ports we visit. Our land tours sell out fast, so book your Shore Excursions online (up to 5 days prior to their sailing date) at ncl.com/shorex to reserve your spot.

We’re looking forward to welcoming you on board and we encourage you to complete the Online Check-In at ncl.com, for smooth sailing at the port. If you have any questions, please contact your Travel Professional or call NCL at 1.800.327.7030. Again, thanks for choosing to cruise with NCL.

What a nice touch! The booklet covers just about every question a passenger might have, and some even I hadn't thought of. So, with personalized luggage tags attached to the suitcases and our e-docs and passports in hand, we're off to the Port of Miami to board Norwegian Pearl. We'll be enjoying a week of Freestyle cruising and invite you to join us here as we share our adventure.

Innovation + Imagination = Magical Experiences Aboard Disney Dream

Adding to its impressive list of cruise industry firsts, Disney Cruise Line will combine technology-infused innovations and imagination to create a whole new level of magical experiences for families sailing on its newest ship, the Disney Dream. Throughout their cruise vacation, guests will encounter unexpected magic–such as a restaurant that transports guests under the sea, artwork that magically comes to life, and youth clubs filled with immersive gaming environments and personalized character encounters. New experiences planned for the Disney Dream include:

Animator’s Palate
For the Disney Dream, Disney Cruise Line is re-imagining a fan favorite from the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder–Animator’s Palate restaurant. The restaurant design is that of a classic animation studio filled with character sketches, maquettes (three-dimensional character models), paint brushes, colored pencils and other tools of the animation trade. Scenes and characters from popular Disney•Pixar films adorn the walls. Once the dinner service begins, however, the dining room begins a magical transformation as scores of wall-mounted LCD screens switch to scenes of a vivid undersea environment. It’s as if the restaurant was transported to the ocean floor and the LCD screens are windows, providing incredible views of a colorful coral reef and creatures that reside on the reef.

While dining, Crush, the surfer-dude sea turtle from Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Nemo,” makes a special appearance, swimming around the restaurant and engaging in live impromptu interactions with guests. Crush will ask guests about the experience onboard the ship and in turn answer questions about life under the sea. While Crush is moving throughout the restaurant, other characters from “Finding Nemo,” such as Nemo, Dory, Squirt and Bruce the shark, swim by and visit with guests. The dining experience culminates with a surfing lesson led by Crush as the EAC (East Australian Current) swirls around the room. As Crush swims away, other characters from “Finding Nemo” make a final appearance before magically turning into pencil sketches.

Interactive Play-Floor
For young cruisers, Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab will feature an interactive play-floor, a cruise industry first that blends the latest in gaming technology with Disney’s panache for storytelling. Located in the main gathering space in both venues, the interactive play-floor allows children to engage in team play exercises where their movements control the action on the interactive floor. For example, one activity has children scrambling around the perimeter of the interactive play-floor with their movements controlling the pitch of a virtual tilt maze. On the interactive play-floor, children will be able to explore a wide variety of gaming options with varying levels of difficulty. Disney Cruise Line youth counselors will use the interactive play-floor during storytelling activities where children will be able to fly over the streets of London with Peter Pan or ride the ocean waves with Crush.

Living Characters
Also in Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab youth areas, Disney characters come to life and interact with children in one-of-a-kind experiences. On a 103-inch screen, Crush, the animated sea turtle from the Disney•Pixar motion picture “Finding Nemo,” or the mischievous animated alien Stitch make scheduled appearances to chat, play and joke with kids in live, unrehearsed conversations. Sometimes using silly props from their digital environments, Crush and Stitch amaze and entertain children during real-time, personalized appearances. These magical experiences with Crush and Stitch continue Disney’s legacy of bringing characters to life in new and incredible ways.

Enchanted Art
Throughout the Disney Dream, guests will encounter Enchanted Art that immerses guests in Disney storytelling in a completely new way. Appearing as traditional framed art, Enchanted Art (pictured above) magically comes alive when guests pause to admire the artwork. Enchanted Art will carry the appearance of popular art mediums–photography, oil paintings, paper sculpture, travel posters and animation cells. In reality though, they are framed LCD screens made to look like artwork through special effects and recognizes when a guest is present…which triggers the animated sequence. Guests may see new and different animations each time they come back and visit the Enchanted Art pieces. In addition, the Enchanted Art is used as part of a one-of-a-kind detective themed adventure where guests of all ages join a ship-wide quest to find either stolen artwork or missing puppies. By using a simple card that serves as a high-tech detective device, guests can peer behind virtual canvases and discover clues that will lead them to solve the mystery and capture the villain responsible. A self-paced adventure, the game offers six potential villains and features randomized events so each time a guest plays they will encounter a different and unique gaming experience.

Virtual Porthole
The Disney Dream carries on the spirit of innovation with a cruise industry first for all inside staterooms. Virtual Portholes offer a “window” to the world with a real-time view outside the ship. High-definition cameras placed on the exterior of the ship feed live video to each Virtual Porthole. The live video feed corresponds to the stateroom location–with a view to port, starboard, forward, or aft. As guests are observing the outside views, they may glimpse a magical surprise: animated characters may pop by the Virtual Porthole. Characters may include Peach the starfish from the Disney•Pixar film “Finding Nemo,” the flying balloon house from “UP” or even Mickey Mouse.

The Disney Dream is scheduled to depart on its maiden voyage Jan. 26, 2011, and will sail alternating 3- and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. During summer months, the ship will alternate 4- and 5-night itineraries with two stops at Castaway Cay. To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a cruise vacation onboard the Disney Dream, guests can visit disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888/DCL-2500, or contact their travel agent.