It's Getting “Breeze-y” at the Port of Miami

Long known as the “Cruise Capital of the World,” it would be a stretch for the Port of Miami to make that claim in recent years. For some time the port has been bypassed by cruise lines that prefer the waters in Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, and even far-off Galveston for their ships’ homeports. So you can’t blame the Port of Miami for blowing their own horn for snagging a really big ship, even if it’s a bit early.

Although Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Breeze is still under construction in Italy and doesn’t begin its Caribbean deployment until November 2012, the Port of Miami is already rolling out the welcome mat with a colorful billboard trumpeting the ship’s new year-round homeport. Located along highway I-395 that connects Miami and Miami Beach, the massive 3,000–square-foot billboard features a banner inscribed with the words “New Carnival Breeze, Unveiling November 2012” partially covering an image of the line’s signature winged funnel.

The 130,000-ton Carnival Breeze—the largest “Fun Ship” to be based in Miami—will launch year-round 6- and 8-day Caribbean cruises Nov 24, 2012. The 6-day cruises will call at Grand Turk, Ocho Rios, and Nassau, while two different four-port, 8-day itineraries will be offered—a southern Caribbean itinerary featuring Grand Turk, La Romana (Dominican Republic), Curacao, and Aruba and an eastern Caribbean route visiting St. Thomas/St. John, Antigua, Tortola and Nassau. Prior to its Miami-based schedule, Carnival Breeze will operate a series of 12-day Mediterranean voyages June 3 through Oct 25, 2012.

As the line’s newest “Fun Ship,” Carnival Breeze will offer such features as an expansive WaterWorks aqua park, Caribbean-themed RedFrog Pub, Cucina del Capitano Italian family-style restaurant, and action-packed SportSquare featuring a ropes course and outdoor fitness area. Also new is a Caribbean-inspired décor that will be carried out in the ship’s public spaces and wide range of stateroom categories. A number of innovations unique to Carnival Breeze will be announced in the near future.

Image Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines

One Day You Might Cruise From Savannah

You may only think of Savannah, Georgia in terms of what locals call "The Book" (Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil), but there's a lot more to the city than cemeteries and intrigue. Situated on the Savannah River, just a short distance inland from the Atlantic, Savannah is Georgia's most important coastal port and some believe it would be an ideal homeport for cruises.

As reported last week by WSAV.com, The Savannah city council got an update on the possibility of cruise ships calling the city their home. According to Alderman Tony Thomas, not only one, but several cruise lines are interested. Thomas says he began talks with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines recently and they are interested in Savannah's plans. After approving an expansion of the city's cruise ship task force, the City Council should get answers to their most pressing questions, such as how much a cruise terminal would cost and how much business could downtown merchants expect to see as a result.

Initially, the city would need a temporary terminal. As a passenger on a cruise that called on Savannah several years ago, Cruise Diva can see the need. We were on Hapag Lloyd's Europa, which was able to dock for the day within walking distance to the main downtown area. It was convenient, but there is no actual passenger terminal building there.

Of the three possible temporary terminal locations mentioned (Georgia Ports Authority Ocean Terminals 1 and 2, which already dock large ships and cruise ships that call in Savannah; Hutchinson Island, across the river; and the Savannah River Landing next to the Marriott off River Street), we kind of like the idea of a passenger terminal near Savannah River Landing, but it could result in the type of traffic congestion that is causing so much controversy among the locals in Charleston. The Ocean Terminals would likely be the most practical from a driving and parking standpoint if they could eventually make it permanent.

Alderman Thomas said the additional task force time and funding will move the process along at a faster pace and the cruise industry and City of Savannah could come to an agreement in the next 12 to 24 months. That's really good news for those of us within driving distance of Georgia's most charming and intriguing city.

Carnival Ships "Perfect" From Coast-to-Coast

For the first time ever, two Carnival Cruise Lines ships recently earned perfect scores of 100 during United States Public Health (U.S.P.H.) inspections on the same day.

Carnival Glory and Carnival Paradise each earned perfect marks during inspections held last week in New York, New York and Long Beach, California, respectively.

Both vessels received the highest scores possible on all 42 items that comprise the U.S.P.H.’s comprehensive Vessel Sanitation Program checklist. The unannounced inspections, which are conducted twice a year and required for any cruise ship with an international itinerary calling at a U.S. port, evaluate vessels in a wide variety of areas, including adherence to proper food handling, preparation and storage procedures, and overall galley cleanliness. Ships’ potable water supplies used in spas and pools are evaluated, as well.

In addition, for the second consecutive week, the Carnival Glory earned a perfect 100 score on a shipboard health inspection, this time from Health Canada during an inspection in Halifax this week. The 2,974-passenger vessel received perfect marks on all items that comprise Health Canada’s vessel sanitation program checklist. The unannounced inspections, which are required for any cruise ship with an international itinerary calling at a Canadian port, evaluate vessels in a wide variety of areas, including adherence to proper food handling, preparation and storage procedures, and overall galley cleanliness. Ships’ potable water supplies used in spas and pools are evaluated, as well.

Carnival Glory is currently operating a schedule of 4- to 7-day Canada/New England cruises from New York, while 2,052-passenger Carnival Paradise is offering 3- and 4-day Baja cruises from Long Beach.

Find out how well your favorite cruise ship perfomed on its most recent inspection in CruiseDiva.com's Summary of Sanitation Inspections of International Cruise Ships chart. We update it quarterly, which means it was revised just this week.

Image Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines

The Butler Did It on Silver Spirit

The CruiseDiva.com email box is often filled with questions and we try to answer them all personally. Some, like this one, we like to share:

"Have you ever had a butler on a cruise? What did you ask him to do for you?"

Yes, we have had a butler several times and enjoyed the additional service they provided. We're pretty low maintenance and have always declined the offer to unpack our luggage. The main reason for rejecting that assistance is that we like to know where everything is and don't want to have to hunt for things. Plus, at the end of the cruise we repack our suitcases ourselves for pretty much the same reason.

The best butler we've ever met is Julian William, pictured above with Linda outside our suite on Silversea's Silver Spirit. The decorations and rose he presented her with were in honor of our wedding anniversary, which we celebrated while on board.

Let's step back to when we boarded and Julian greeted us as we arrived at our Royal Suite. To make us feel at home he pointed out the suite's amenities and where various elements were located. He also demonstrated how to use them—such as the television/DVD, CD player, alarm clock with iPod dock, and, most importantly, the numerous light switches. When he noticed our many electronic gadgets, he brought a power strip so we could plug multiple items in for simultaneous recharging. He also offered a variety of bathroom toiletries for us to choose from and asked if we had a preference from the pillow menu. Then he left after opening a bottle of champagne and returned later with afternoon canapes and the body pillow Linda finds comfortable for sleeping.

Julian always seemed to be on duty and often arrived unannounced to check on whether we needed or wanted anything. In addition to bringing afternoon canapes, he noticed which ones we liked the best and made certain those were the ones we got every day. He also took care of making our dinner reservations and served our room service orders. Mel mentioned that Linda likes a less-dry champagne and Julian brought some for her to try.

Aside from what we might have expected, there were some unexpected surprises. After a particularly warm day ashore we returned to find that Julian had drawn Linda a scented bubble bath. He also noticed hat Mel's new grey suitcase had gotten soiled in transit and cleaned it with a non-toxic cleaning solution.

Totally unexpected was our anniversary surprise. In addition to the balloons on our door in the morning, Julian and our stateroom attendant, Made Diah, decorated our dining table while we were out for the evening. We arrived back in our suite to find more balloons hovering over the table, which glowed with candlelight (battery operated). The centerpiece was a Happy Anniversary cake. Chocolate—our favorite.

That doesn't sound very "low maintenance" but most of Julian's services were spontaneous. Although we were in a Royal Suite and you would expect us to get superb service, we compared our experiences with those of our neighbors and learned that Julian did the same for all his guests.

Our cruise aboard Silver Spirit was one of our most memorable and Julian made it even more so.

Photo © CruiseDiva.com

NEW Ship Review: Carnival Magic

Welcome Aboard Carnival Magic!

Cruise Diva was aboard the newest "Fun Ship" in the Carnival Cruise Lines fleet to attend the naming ceremony and sail on the inaugural cruise from Venice to Barcelona.

Come aboard for a detailed look at the features and fun you'll find on a Carnival Magic cruise.

The Magic of FUN Permeates Carnival Magic and following her inaugural season of cruises in Europe, Carnival Magic will sail Western Caribbean departures from Galveston, Texas.

Photo © CruiseDiva.com

Get Your Grill On

It's Independence Day here in the U.S.A. and that means one thing...well actually several things. First of all it's a national holiday when we come together to celebrate our freedom with friends and family. A big part of it for many of us is an evening fireworks display reminiscent of the "bombs bursting in air" that we sing about in our National Anthem and, finally, there's the tradition of firing up the back yard grill to cook outside. With that final all-American tradition in mind, Celebrity Cruises' culinary program is heating up this summer with the introduction of its newest ship, the 2,886-guest Celebrity Silhouette, which will feature the industry's first interactive, open-air grilling restaurant, "The Lawn Club Grill."

"People tend to associate grilling with the relaxing, carefree mood of summer—exactly what a Celebrity vacation is all about," said Jacques Van Staden, Vice President, Culinary Operations. "What can be better than experiencing something that's popular among so many cultures around the world, while relaxing near a lawn of growing grass, surrounded by an endless view of the sea?"

By combining a premium culinary experience with the sensation of relaxing on the top deck of a ship, surrounded by live grass and cool ocean breezes, Celebrity's aim is to celebrate the passion people have for grilling, as they enjoy their precious vacation time. The highlight of the dining experience at the 58-seat Lawn Club Grill will be the opportunity for guests to serve as their party's "Grill Master," by being paired with a Celebrity Cruises chef to assist in preparing the menu for their table over custom-built, ventilated grills. This unique, one-on-one interaction will give the Grill Master a one-of-a-kind, firsthand lesson in proper grilling techniques and other tricks of the grilling trade. All guests will have the opportunity to choose from a gourmet salad bar, a la carte "build your own" pizzas and more than 12 grilled specialties. "Grill Masters" who wish to demonstrate their grilling prowess, or learn a few tips by being paired with a chef, will receive a complimentary apron as a memento.

"Our guests consistently tell us that fresh, exciting culinary experiences are essential to their enjoyment of their vacation, and we are always looking for new ways to deliver that to them," said Van Staden. "Just as we introduced the 'uniquely unordinary' experience of using iPad-based menus to design individual culinary journeys featuring dishes presented in unexpected ways in Qsine on Celebrity Eclipse, we are introducing customized, open-air grills to the cruise vacation dining experience."

The Lawn Club Grill, now available for online, pre-cruise bookings for ticketed guests, will be open from 5-10 pm nightly and from 12-2 pm on one "sea day" during each cruise. A reservation fee of $30 per person is required. Ticketed guests can book The Lawn Club Grill at CelebrityCruises.com.

We aren't exactly masters of the grill so I doubt that my husband or I will be bringing home a complimentary apron, but we want to share our warmest wishes to our fellow Americans on this most important of holidays. Happy Independence Day!

American Cruise Lines’ Queen of the Mississippi Construction Ahead of Schedule

American Cruise Lines, a leader in small ship cruising, has announced a significant milestone in the construction of its brand new 150 passenger sternwheeler, Queen of the Mississippi, currently being built in Salisbury, Maryland, and ahead of schedule for its summer 2012 inaugural season. Weighing at approximately 500 tons apiece, both halves of the hull have been moved from the fabrication buildings to the launchway where they were joined last week, making way for the next important steps in the construction including the completion of sections of the fourth and fifth decks. Illustrated here is the lower bow section of Queen of the Mississippi being rolled out of the fabrication building.

At nine weeks ahead of schedule, the construction progress is giving shape to the first riverboat built for the Mississippi River in nearly 20 years, and also the grandest ever. It will boast oversized staterooms larger than those of any former Mississippi riverboats, with private balconies and all of the amenities today’s travelers expect, while maintaining the traditional style and feel of the Victorian riverboats of the past.

“We have magnificent plans for this ship. From the inside out, Queen of the Mississippi will exemplify the highest level of quality,” said Timothy Beebe, Vice President, American Cruise Lines. “Building a riverboat of this class is no easy task, but we are fortunate to have a dedicated team of experts who know how to build with meticulous attention to detail.”

American Cruise Lines operates the newest fleet of small ships in the industry and offers more than 25 unique itineraries along the inland waterways and rivers of the Pacific Northwest, the Mississippi River System, Alaska, and East Coast of the United States, from New England to Florida. Visit their website to learn more.

Photo Courtesy of American Cruise Lines

So Entertaining...And She’s Off!

Celebrity Cruises’ sleek new Celebrity Silhouette served as a dramatic backdrop while a host of celebrity musicians entertained more than 25,000 people at Meyer Werft Shipyard in Papenburg, Germany last week. Yes, those little dots in the photo here are people!

The event was the internationally acclaimed Papenburg Music Festival where concert-goers enjoyed performances by Juli, Ich + Ich, Stanfour, and more. The headline act was a performance by The Scorpions, currently on their farewell tour.

Meanwhile, Celebrity Silhouette was just about to begin her own farewell to Papenburg “tour”: The ship departed the shipyard on June 30 to traverse the River Ems in an exhilarating event known as the “Conveyance.” You can be sure the banks of the River Ems were lined with thousands more people to watch her pass by as she made her way backwards up the river. Celebrity Silhouette will be named in formal ceremonies in Hamburg July 21 and officially enter service July 23.



After you watch the video above, re-live a "Conveyance" Journey by setting sail with Cruise Diva on the conveyance of Celebrity Eclipse, the third Solstice-class ship in the Celebrity Cruises fleet.

Photo Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Carnival Paradise: "Flashiest Mob" At Sea

Stories about the trend in "Flash Mobs" have been all over the news lately and most of it's not good. There are reports of teenage mobs entering convenience stores, fast food restaurants, and even department stores with the intention of overwhelming the clerks and stealing whatever they can carry off. This Flash Mob aboard Carnival Paradise is different. Very fun and very cool.

Take a look at the Flash Mob performance on Carnival Paradise led by by a Celebrity Dance Competitions group in partnership with Ahwatukee Travel.

New Cruise Review: P&O Cruises' Azura

Join Emma Gray aboard P-and-O Cruises' Azura for a cruise to some of the most popular and interesting Baltic ports of call.

Emma shares that, "Azura is one of the newest and largest of P-and-O's fleet and as such has many modern and contemporary design features. The main atrium of the ship stretches over three floors making it the smallest I have ever seen on any ship, yet despite it being far smaller in height than others it still has an open and spacious feel to it thanks to clever lighting and the use of a lot of glass.

The Glasshouse is just one of the bars on the ship which I enjoyed whilst onboard. It has a clever design plan which creates intimate corners and smaller areas whilst still being large and open plan. P&O have created The Glasshouse in partnership with Olly Smith, a television and newspaper wine specialist, and it functions as a fine wine bar and restaurant. The food here was delicious and the bar staff were very friendly and helpful at all times. I recommend that any future passengers who enjoy wine try out one of the fabulous wine flights!"

Join Emma on P-and-O Cruises’ Azura cruising through the beautiful Baltic

Carnival to Award 24 Prizes in a 24 Hour Fun-A-Thon

While they haven’t divulged what the initial 23 prizes are, Carnival Cruise Lines is hosting a contest that will award 24 prizes in 24 hours, including a cruise on the new Carnival Magic, for those who “like” the cruise line on its Facebook fan page.

All you need to do to enter the Fun-A-Thon contest is fill out the registration form on Carnival’s Facebook page between now and July 5th. Then, on Thursday, July 7th, the company will begin awarding a prize an hour for 24 consecutive hours, culminating in the grand prize of a 7-day Caribbean cruise for two aboard the new Carnival Magic from Galveston, Texas.

The contest is open to fans 21 years of age and older who are United States residents. For additional information and complete contest rules, visit Carnival's Facebook fan page and look for the “24 Prizes in 24 Hours” link in the left-hand column. Click the link and good luck!

Cunard Line Limits Smoking in Upcoming Policy

Nearly two weeks ago we shared information on updated smoking policies at Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, and Holland America Line in Carnival Cruise Brands Extinguish The Smoking Lamp In Cabins and On Balconies. At the time we wondered about other cruise lines that sail under the Carnival Corporation umbrella and whether their smoking policies would be revised as well.

Edward Goodman, a sharp-eyed reader who saw our article here on the Cruise Diva blog, alerted us to a new smoking policy at Cunard Line that we were unaware of, but which he spotted in the 2012/Winter 2013 Voyages Brochure. We checked with Cunard Line headquarters and, sure enough, here is their policy that is set to be effective next spring:

The safety, comfort and enjoyment of all our guests has always been a key
concern at Cunard. As such, smoking is no longer permitted in any public area with the exception of Churchill’s Cigar Lounge (cigars only), designated areas on the open decks, and the upper level of G32 on Queen Mary 2. Smoking is permitted on stateroom balconies.

With effect from March 24, 2012 for Queen Victoria and April 27, 2012 for Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2, smoking will no longer be permitted in staterooms; however, smoking is permitted on stateroom balconies.

As promised earlier this month, we’ll keep you posted with developments from other cruise lines as we receive them. For the latest information about where you can and can’t smoke at sea, visit CruiseDiva.com’s Smoke on the Water.

Get A Good Night’s Sleep At Sea

You want to sleep well wherever you lay your head so it’s good to know that cruise lines consider that when selecting bedding for their ships. No one want to sleep on a lumpy mattress outfitted with pancake-thin pillows and scratchy sheets. Although hotels have been in the process of offering upgraded beds and bedding for years, cruise lines have now joined the wave.

In addition to the gentle rocking motion of almost any ship, these are our favorite places to insure restful sleep at sea.

Silversea Cruises. Topped with a memory foam cover, mattresses feature a spring system with a soft and firm side that can be reversed to suit your preference. Down duvets, a choice of nine pillow types, and 300 thread count Egyptian cotton linens insure sweet dreams. (That's the bedroom in a Royal Suite aboard Silver Spirit pictured here.)

Carnival Cruise Lines. The Carnival Comfort Bed features a thick spring mattress, a downlike nonallergenic pillow, high-quality sheets and pillowcases, and a 100% hypoallergenic down duvet covered by a satiny cotton-blend duvet cover.

Holland America Line. The Mariner’s Dream bed is an extra-thick Sealy innerspring pillow-top mattress. Hypoallergenic poly or goose-down pillows and cuddly down blankets are covered in 300-thread-count sheets with a soft, sateen finish.

Oceania Cruises. Last, but not least, the line that inaugurated the bed wars at sea with its “Tranquility Bed” and upped the comfort with the “Prestige Tranquility Bed,” Oceania has outfitted all accommodations with high-quality mattresses, 350-thread-count Egyptian cotton linens, silk-cut duvets, and goose-down pillows.

Sweet dreams!

Statement Regarding Queen Mary 2's Failing CDC Score

The Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assists the cruise industry in the prevention and control the introduction, transmission, and spread of gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses on cruise ships.

Cruise ships that carry 13 or more passenger and have a foreign itinerary that also call on United States Ports are inspected as part of the Vessel Sanitation Program, including periodic, unannounced operational sanitation inspections.

More often than not, cruise ships pass with flying colors. In order to do so, a ship must receive a score of 86 or higher. So it came as a surprise to learn that Queen Mary 2 flunked her most recent inspection. It's no surprise that cruise lines take these inspections seriously and Cunard Line is no exception, as you can tell from the following statement issued by the company on Friday, June 24, 2011.

Cunard Line Responds

Cunard's Queen Mary 2 received an uncharacteristically low score of 84 following her voluntary Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) inspection in New York on June 10, 2011. On most previous inspections she has scored over 95, on three occasions achieving the maximum of 100.

The poor assessment on June 10th resulted largely from one small area of the ship's overall operation. All the issues raised in the report were immediately addressed and have now been corrected.

Ship and shore management have now redefined certain roles and responsibilities to clarify accountability and the Company's already rigorous training schedule has been stepped up. The Company is confident that failings of this nature will not occur again, and that the ship's VSP scores in the future will return to the customary consistently high level.

CruiseDiva.com publishes the scores on a quarterly basis in our Summary of Sanitation Inspections of International Cruise Ships.

Windstar Adds Pedal Power To Their Cruises

More often than not if you want to pedal more than an exercise bike in the gym, you're out of luck on most cruise ships. Exceptions are SeaDream Yacht Club and some European river boats, but the pickings are slim.

However, cycling enthusiasts now have a new biking option that features 7000-series, aluminum frame Dragon Marine Folding Bikes. Windstar Cruises has added the bike program to its fleet of sailing yachts for passengers who enjoy exploring destinations on their own by bicycle rather than on foot. Wind Surf has eight of the bikes and Wind Spirit and Wind Star each have four.

While there is no charge for using the bikes available on SeaDream and most river boats (other than when they are part of an organized shore tour), Windstar is a less-all-inclusive cruise line and their bikes come with a fee. The bikes, including helmets, locks, and chains, are available for half day rental at $39 for four hours or a full day of eight hours for $59. Bikes are available to rent in most ports and can be reserved through Windstar's Destination Manager aboard each vessel.

Gavin MacLeod Surprises LEGO “Love Boat” Creator

When we were kids my younger brothers had LEGO building blocks, but their “creativity” mostly extended to leaving them scattered on the floor where they often jammed our mother’s Hoover. If only they had been more determined, and had more blocks, they might have come up with something original like the remarkable 9.5-foot-long replica of the original “Love Boat”–Pacific Princess–that not only attracted the attention of fans at this year’s Brickworld convention in Chicago, one of the world’s largest LEGO conventions, but even caught the eye of the famous television show’s captain, actor Gavin MacLeod.

MacLeod, a Princess Cruises ambassador, paid a visit to the convention to surprise the LEGO “Love Boat” creator, Ryan McNaught. One of the few master LEGO builders in the world, McNaught had no idea he would come face to face with the real “Love Boat” captain. Their meeting was captured on the video below.

McNaught, who was even presented with his own captain’s hat, called the experience “mind blowing–especially after seeing him on TV for all those years.”

In return, MacLeod was astounded by the extraordinary ship constructed from more than 250,000 LEGO bricks. It’s the largest single project ever undertaken by McNaught, the son of a Melbourne, Australia travel agent, and a cruise fan himself.

The model features the exterior of the famous ship on one side, while the other side is an open cutaway revealing all the action inside-from chefs in the kitchen to passengers working out in the health club. Flashing LED lights for the disco and tiny motors powering the propellers and elevators complete the replica.

MacLeod was also especially interested to see the ship features the TV show cast, with LEGO models of his own Captain Stubing, as well as purser Gopher, cruise director Julie, and even some of the show’s most famous guests.

Norwegian Cruise Line Begins “Project Breakaway” Reveal

Cruise lines love to give new projects a coded name and Norwegian Cruise Line’s has dubbed their next new class of ships “Project Breakaway.” Cruise lines also like to keep us guessing about the new features and designs and host “reveals” to pique our interest as we await their launch. With the introduction of the first of two Project Breakaway vessels still two years away, NCL has unveiled a look at its new balcony and mini-suite stateroom designs for the company’s next generation Freestyle Cruising ships. Scheduled for delivery in April 2013 and April 2014, each of the 144,017 gross ton vessels will have approximately 4,000 passenger berths.

“The overall design theme for Project Breakaway’s staterooms is ‘modern boutique hotel meets the sea.’ We strongly considered the overall needs of our guests when designing these staterooms and wanted them to be greeted with an ambiance that is warm and inviting and has a very contemporary feel with clean, modern lines,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian’s chief executive officer. “We also wanted to maximize the use of space within the staterooms, so that our guests are as comfortable as possible and storage space is well planned throughout. Ultimately, our goal is to achieve a really good balance of form and function–well designed, beautiful, comfortable and sensible living space.”

Project Breakaway ships represent an opportunity for the Norwegian guest to “break away” from the routine of work, school, and daily stress, and find a true respite at sea. These new ships will take the best of the best from all of Norwegian’s existing ships drawing on the line’s experience of having launched 10 ships in the past 10 years–starting with Norwegian Star and Sun in 2001 and culminating with the launch of Norwegian Epic in 2010.

Norwegian commissioned design group Priestmangoode of the United Kingdom, working in conjunction with Tillberg Design of Sweden, to design the staterooms for Project Breakaway. Priestmangoode won accolades and awards for designing the Studios, the first staterooms designed specifically for solo travelers, on Norwegian Epic. Project Breakaway staterooms combine the form and function of the line’s Jewel class ships’ staterooms with the modern and contemporary design touches of Norwegian Epic.

Project Breakaway ships will each have 1,024 balcony staterooms and 238 mini-suites set in rich paneling with warm tones and accent colors. Each balcony stateroom has a king-size bed (that can be separated) with a pillow top mattress set against a chestnut leather headboard cushioned and tufted to make reading and sitting up in bed more comfortable. A convenient lighted recess above the bed can hold books, magazines, tablet computers, or electronic reading devices. Each room has a sofa bed with additional storage. A built-in 26-inch flat screen television is mounted on the wall and tilts so it can be viewed from the sofa or the bed. Underneath the television is another recessed nook to hold cruise information, books, and magazines. A built-in vanity area features shelving and lots of storage space. LED lighting surrounds the perimeter of the ceiling to give the room warmth. There is also a full-size closet that is easily accessible with sliding doors. The staterooms are energy efficient, utilizing key card access to control lighting in the room.

The balcony bathroom features a contemporary, clean design, ensuring more generous and comfortable space and, most importantly, privacy. Gone is unpopular bathroom cubicle layout of Norwegian Epic’s New Wave stateroom design. The new bathrooms have multiple rich-wood shelving areas to help reduce clutter and keep everything within easy reach for guests. There is an enclosed vanity underneath the sink that hides the trash bin, along with more storage. The built-in sink is generous in size and has an easy to use faucet. A private shower with a shaving bar for ladies completes the room.

Cruise Diva’s favorite category on NCL ships, the mini-suites are a roomier version of the balcony stateroom with a larger, more luxurious bathroom that incorporates a large, modern double sink with two faucets complete with a mosaic glass tile backsplash. There are open and enclosed storage spaces under the sink. The bathroom also features an oversized spa-like shower with a rain shower head and multiple body spray jets, along with a separate handheld shower head.

Norwegian will reveal additional stateroom category designs and more announcements will happen throughout the summer, fall, and beyond with the first ship scheduled to open for reservations this October. Information on Project Breakaway can be found at www.ncl.com/breakaway.

Images top-to-bottom, right: balcony stateroom, balcony stateroom, balcony bathroom; top-to-bottom, left: mini-suite, mini-suite bathroom

Seabourn Quest Makes A Dazzling Debut

As the sun set over Barcelona, Spain's waterfront, Seabourn introduced their new 450-guest Seabourn Quest to the world on June 20th during a glittering naming ceremony presided over by Blythe Danner. The award-winning actress served as godmother to the new luxury vessel, Seabourn's third new ship and the sixth to join its fleet, completing a three-year expansion for the line.

Guests booked on Seabourn Quest's Maiden Voyage had the unique opportunity to participate in the festivities. A full orchestra was arrayed on either side of the swimming pool, and a projection screen set above the deck allowed guests to view the climactic moment when a bottle of champagne smashed against the bow of the ship. Adjacent to the screen, a contingent of crew members who had served in the start-up teams of all three new ship launches instantaneously broke confetti-filled champagne bottles in a synchronized wave pattern and as the bottle crashed. The memorable evening was capped off by a dazzling fireworks display sparkling against the city's skyline.

"Seabourn Quest is the embodiment of Seabourn-style cruising," said Richard Meadows, Seabourn's president. "She is sleek and stunning, with spacious decks and public rooms, luxurious suites, a variety of award-winning dining experiences, and an amazing crew offering intuitive and highly personalized service. We can assure guests the very finest travel experiences when they cruise with us on this beautiful ship."

Seabourn Quest is the third iteration of the sleek and widely admired design that first appeared as Seabourn Odyssey in June 2009, and has been hailed as "a game-changer for the luxury segment." The second sister-ship, Seabourn Sojourn, entered service in June of 2010. Seabourn Quest's 225 luxurious and spacious suites, 90 percent of which offer private verandas, feature separate living areas and bedrooms, writing desks with personalized stationery, and generously sized granite bathrooms with separate bath and shower and twin sinks. Suites are outfitted with walk-in closets, an interactive flat-screen TV with a wide selection of music and movies, and iPod and MP3 connections. Personal bars and refrigerators are stocked according to guest preferences.

Like its sister ships, Seabourn Quest houses an 11,400-square foot Spa at Seabourn, the largest spa on any luxury vessel, providing the ultimate pampering experience at sea. The two-deck facility features a Kneipp Walk, an herbal bath facility and aroma steam bath with salt inhalation, and a Kinesis Wall. A Spa Villa is available for guests seeking an indulgent private experience, with a treatment area large enough for duet treatments, a shower, a bathtub big enough for two, a private balcony for sunbathing, a full living room, a dining table, and double daybed for relaxing.

For foodies everywhere, Seabourn Quest offers gourmet dining experiences in four dining venues that rival the finest restaurants anywhere, all at no extra charge. The Restaurant is a fine-dining and open-seating gourmet experience, with the capacity to seat all guests. Restaurant 2 offers exciting avant-garde dining, serving innovative small-plates tasting menus. The indoor/outdoor Colonnade features an open-kitchen style, while the Patio Grill offers al fresco poolside dining on deck. Guests can also enjoy meals from The Restaurant menu, served course by course in the comfort and privacy of their suite or on their veranda. All dining venues, as well as six bars and lounges, serve a full range of beverages, including Champagne, fine wines and spirits, with Seabourn's compliments.

Seabourn Quest offers a host of other amenities and features, including two swimming pools, six whirlpools, and a unique marina with a variety of watersport activities. One of the most popular spots is Seabourn Square, an innovative concierge lounge with a "club room" ambiance, making guests feel at home during their cruises.

Following the naming ceremony, Seabourn Quest departed on a 14-day Maiden Voyage to Athens, stopping at beautiful seaside towns and ports in France, Italy, Greece, and Turkey. Seabourn Quest's maiden season includes 7-day Eastern Mediterranean cruises, as well as a 7-day Black Sea voyage. In the fall, the ship will cross the Atlantic Ocean from Malaga, Spain, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from where it will sail on a series of round trip voyages in the Caribbean. On Jan 5, 2012, Seabourn Quest will begin a 109-day Maiden World Cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Venice on a unique eastbound course via South America, South Africa, the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. For more information, visit Seabourn.com.

For a first-hand look at luxury cruising aboard sister-ship Seabourn Sojourn, join Cruise Diva for a "Yachtsman’s Caribbean Voyage".

Image Courtesy of Seabourn

Man Overboard Rescue By Norwegian Spirit

About three hours after sailing from New Orleans on Sunday, and while Norwegian Spirit was still making its way down the Mississippi River, a passenger went overboard.

Thankfully, it was still light enough at about 8pm and he was seen going into the river. A boat was immediately deployed by the cruise ship to rescue him. While we are using the masculine "he/him" there is no word on who the passenger is or any additional details about the incident.

Safely back on board, the ship's medical team treated the passenger's injuries until he was disembarked for additional treatment ashore.

Norwegian Spirit is continuing its Western Caribbean cruise itinerary on schedule.

Cruise Vacations: Best Fun and Funky Activities

Being on vacation means having a good time. While you may be able to amuse yourself, your fellow cruise ship passengers might sometimes need a little nudge. The best activities get everyone involved in the fun and give them an opportunity to let loose a bit. Our favorites aren’t always the most sophisticated activities at sea, but they will make you smile.

Carnival Contests. As wacky to watch as they are to participate in, the knobby knees and hairy chest competitions are something of a throwback. However, you have to love the enthusiasm of the contestants who compete for a “solid gold” plastic ship-on-a-stick trophy.

Celebrity Solstice-class Ships Lawn Club. Hone your short game on the only real grass putting greens on the high seas. The half acre of turf above the water also provides a sea of green for genteel games of croquet, lawn games, picnics, and simple barefoot strolls.

The Costa Toga Party. Do as the Romans did—dress up in a toga (supplies and accessories are provided on board) and join in the Bacchanal. Peel a grape for your significant other as you await the arrival of Julius Caesar.

Disney “Pirates in the Caribbean” Deck Party. Even Captain Hook smiles on a Disney cruise, and nowhere is that more evident than at this fun deck party. Full of high energy and high spirits, we won’t spoil the surprise of how Mickey makes his exciting entrance, but the grand finale is the only fireworks show presented from on board a cruise ship while at sea.

Princess Cruises Champagne Waterfall. A highlight of every “Love Boat” cruise is the traditional champagne waterfall—the next best thing to New Year’s Eve. After the Maitre d’ supervises the setting up of hundreds of champagne glasses (pictured above), he deftly begins filling the “fountain” from the top. As champagne cascades into each layer below, all the ladies aboard are invited to assist. It’s a great photo op.