Oasis Lives

Oasis of the Seas departing Turku on October 30, 2009.

Photo courtesy Royal Caribbean International

The biggest newsmaker this week was, without a doubt, the handover of Oasis of the Seas to Royal Caribbean.  Whether she's your cup of tea or not, there's no denying this is a major milestone for nautical engineering, shipbuilding, and even hotel management - with over six thousand guests, Oasis of the Seas is also one of the world's largest hotel management operations.

Oasis of the Seas departed Turku, Finland yesterday with Captain William S. Wright in command.  As of this writing, she is just off the coast of Denmark, and is destined to call in Southampton, England on Monday, November 2nd.  After that, it's across the Atlantic where she will arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 11.

Oasis of the Seas will be officially named during a ceremony on November 30th, with her first revenue-maiden voyage occurring on December 5th.  For more information on Oasis of the Seas, including a fantastic video of her first departure as seen from the Bridge, visit the Oasis of the Seas website.

For pricing and itinerary information, visit Royal Caribbean's website. 

What Recession?

Last week, Crystal Cruises announced something guaranteed to make the executives of any company smile: a 70% increase in bookings from September.

Crystal also stated that bookings for 2010 were up well over 100% when compared to 2009 bookings made during the same time last year. 

If you watch your local news, however, you hear reports of how dire the economy is, and how much people are reigning in their spending.  But are they?

Crystal's success can be attributed to a few unique factors - reduced pricing, including two-for-one fares on select 2010 voyages, a price guarantee for all cruises, free airfare for most cruises and for those booking Penthouse staterooms, free Business Class airfare. 

For travelers looking to experience Europe, the savings can be well worth it.  While other mainstream lines may have a lower base fare, Crystal's two-for-one fares and included airfare means a voyage on Crystal can actually be more affordable than a similar mainstream itinerary.

The underlying theme is that travelers still have money to burn for a vacation - they're just looking to get more bang for their buck.

For more information, including itineraries and pricing, visit Crystal Cruises website.

If At First You Don't Succeed...

MSC Poesia.

Photo courtesy MSC Cruises

With fall comes the return to the archetype of cruising: the Caribbean cruise.  With its crystal-blue seas, warm temperatures, and myriad of destinations, the Caribbean is a no-brainer for North Americans and even Europeans looking to escape the winter snow and rain.  Unlike Alaska, cruise lines don't have to convince people to cruise the Caribbean - they already want to.

One cruise line, though, is again going that extra mile this year and trying just a little harder than everyone else.  In fact, this particular line has been trying hard to make significant inroads into the Caribbean market for a few years now - offering up their newest vessels, theme cruises, attractive pricing and unique itineraries in order to sway North American cruisers away from their usual favorites.  We're talking, of course, about MSC Cruises. 

Currently the third largest cruise operator in the world, Naples-based MSC Cruises has embarked on a rapid program of expansion since the introduction of MSC Lirica in 2003.  Since then, MSC has built six stunning new vessels, ranging in size from the 89,600 GRT Musica class ships to the lines award-winning 135,000 GRT Fantasia class vessels.

To put all this in perspective, not even Norwegian Cruise Line, who publicly embarked on a campaign to have the youngest fleet in the industry back in 2001, can match the incredible progress of MSC.

In 2008, MSC sent MSC Orchestra to the Caribbean, marking the first time a Musica-class vessel had deployed to North America.  The ship arrived in Ft. Lauderdale on Jan 2, 2009 to much fanfare and press, and set off on its first  cruise - a 2-day jaunt to the Bahamas and back.

Simply put, the first voyage was an unmitigated disaster.  The ship arrived late, passengers arrived at the terminal as early as 10am only to discover the earliest check-in would begin was 4pm, and to top it all off, the computer systems at the terminal crashed.

Once onboard, passengers found a litany of additional items to complain about: a largely indifferent crew bickering amongst themselves and the passengers, cabins that weren't ready, lack of free water in the dining rooms, and a mandatory lifeboat drill that was pushed back to 8:30am the next morning, requiring passengers to be up before 7:30am.  A few even bemoaned the lack of towel animals and pillow chocolates.  All parties involved wrote it off as a 'nightmare.'

Hindsight, of course, shows us it was just as bad for MSC as it was for their passengers.  What should have been a celebratory occasion turned into total chaos in the span of a few short hours.  While the next Caribbean voyages proceeded without incident, the damage was already done.  Passengers on future voyages bailed out, and despite the positive comments that slowly started trickling in on CruiseCritic, and the personal attention that the line's North American President, Rick Sasso, gave the matter, the Caribbean season didn't exactly end as MSC had hoped.

MSC, however, has picked itself up and dusted itself off, and is ready for another go.  Passenger's main complaints - lack of free water and beverages - will be remedied, with free water available during dinner on all North American voyages.  Dining times will be adjusted to better suit North American cruisers who are more accustomed to eating earlier than their European counterparts.  Food will be adjusted to be just a little 'more American.'  A bevy of soda, wine and beer packages will be offered.  And MSC will start the 2009 Caribbean season off with a new ship: MSC Poesia.

Things MSC did right in 2008: there were no complaints about the ship, which by all accounts is amazing.  Entertainment was likewise a high-point, and by the end of the Caribbean season, reports of stellar service became commonplace.  It's important to remember: the season for the crew started off just as badly as it did for the passengers,with one chief difference: the passengers got to get off.  The crew did not.

So why should a North American cruiser consider MSC?  First and foremost, because the line has addressed the main source of complaints that arose from last year.  Secondly because they offer a superb product that, while different from many North American offerings, still offers a tremendous cruise value.  Last but not least, because they are trying damn hard to make this work - offering rock-bottom prices on some sailings and theme cruises on others to entice passengers.

It is important to remember, this is a European cruise line.  The food you're going to eat here is not what you'd find at The Olive Garden.  Europeans by and large like a huge diversity in their food which can overwhelm passengers not accustomed to this.  Sure, they may not give you towel animals, but is that a deal-breaker?  They're not Carnival, and that should be part of the appeal: they represent another choice, another option for cruisers looking to expand their horizon.

And they're trying to make sure that the 2009 Caribbean season is their best yet.  Not content to rest on their laurels, they are also sending MSC Poesia back across the Atlantic to operate their first ever Canada & New England cruises in September 2010.

Stay tuned!

For more information, visit the MSC Cruises website. 

Unique Itinerary Of The Week - 10/24

Seabourn Spirit.

Photo courtesy of The Yachts of Seabourn

The Yachts of Seabourn provide us with this week's Unique Itinerary.  Not only is it a unique Caribbean voyage, but it sets sail from a unique homeport and comes with a unique price.

Departing December 2, 2009, this seven-day voyage aboard Seabourn Spirit sails roundtrip from Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas.  The Seabourn Spirit then spends one day at sea, followed by calls at:

Deshaies, Guadeloupe

St. John's, Antigua

Gustavia, St. Barthelemy

Marigot, St. Martin

Prickly Pear Island

Yes, Prickly Pear Island, BVI.  Part of the British Virgin Islands, and just off the Virgin Gorda, Prickly Pear Island is home to - surprise - plenty of prickly pears, a type of cactus.  If weather permits, the ship will stop at Spanish Town to disembark guests going on tour before repositioning off Prickly Pear where the crew puts on a complementary Prickly Pear beach party.  If you think that sounds like a mouthful to say, try typing it. 

It's also important not to confuse this Prickly Pear Island (BVI) with Prickly Pear Island, Antigua - home to twelve inhabitants and an enormous underground cache of used nuclear reactor rods from Royal Navy submarines that have left the island in a highly radioactive state for the next 1,200 years or thereabouts.  Not the sort of place you want to go on a cruise, at least not without a lead bib and a good Geiger counter.

Like Prickly Pear Island BVI, the other ports of call are all off the beaten path from the typical Caribbean cruise: you're not going to find Cozumel or Grand Cayman on this itinerary, and that's how Seabourn's guests like it. 

The best part about this itinerary is arguably its price: starting at $1,999, this voyage is an excellent chance for those looking to experience The Yachts of Seabourn to do so without breaking the bank.  Seabourn has long distinguished itself as one of the finest ultra-luxury lines afloat, and the chance to hop onboard for as little as two grand is almost unheard of.

For more information on this exciting itinerary, visit The Yachts of Seabourn.

 

Reuniting Down Under

Pacific Dawn.

Photo courtesy of P&O Cruises

When a cruise line decides the time has come to jettison their older vessels, they usually end up scattered all over the globe, pressed into service for lines looking to expand in emerging markets.  P&O Cruises Australia is the lucky recipient of one such ship next month, though the event will actually reunite two former sister ships instead of separate them.

They are the former Crown Princess and Regal Princess - reunited again as Pacific Jewel and Pacific Dawn.

Originally ordered by Sitmar Cruises, the still under-construction vessels were transferred to Princess Cruises when P&O acquired Sitmar in 1988, which named them Crown Princess and Regal Princess.

With exteriors designed by Renzo Piano, they became distinct at an early age, and easily recognizable owing to their dolphin-like dome situated on top of the navigation bridge.  Internally, they were not much different from their distant sister ship - Sitmar Fairmajesty, later Star Princess - but outside, they were unrecognizable.

During their time with Princess, the two sister ships would quickly earn the reputation of being the most photographed cruise ships in the world during the early part of the 1990's, thanks in large part to their unique exterior designs.  Many postcards, advertisements, and generic travel photography still features them to this day.

However, with the introduction of the Grand Princess in 1998 and the subsequent order two additional Grand-class vessels, the Crown Princess and Regal Princess began to look dated.  In 2002, Princess transferred Crown Princess to A'Rosa Cruises and began sailing as A'Rosa Blu.  In 2004, she was transferred again, this time to AIDA Cruises, which named her AIDAblu.  In 2007, she was passed along to Ocean Village, which called her Ocean Village Two.

Regal Princess, meanwhile, fared better.  She remained with Princess Cruises until 2007 before being transfered to P&O Australia where she debuted with much fanfare as Pacific Dawn.  Branded as Australia's first superliner, she quickly became a hit down under.

Last October, Carnival Corporation & plc made the announcement that it intended to close their Ocean Village brand and transfer the remaining ships over to P&O Cruises Australia.  These included Ocean Village, formerly Star Princess and Sitmar Fairmajesty, as well as Ocean Village Two - the former Crown Princess.

After seven years apart, the distinctive sister ships will once again be reunited to sail under one cruise line.  Ocean Village Two will be renovated and renamed Pacific Jewel, and will be home ported in Sydney.

For more information about the ships, their itineraries, and fares, visit P&O Cruises Australia.   

Unique Itinerary Of The Week - 10/18

18-Night Southeast Asia Cruise on Azamara Quest

Illustration courtesy Azamara Cruises

Asia has become a cruise destination that continues to emerge slowly.  Cruise lines like Costa and Royal Caribbean have cautiously deployed a few ships there, in order to test the local market.  At first, there were teething problems catering to the mainly Asian client base, and the lines were caught off guard by one factor in particular: the number of North Americans willing to take a ten-to-fourteen hour flight in order to experience Asia on a cruise.  Starting this December, Azamara Cruises plans to tap into some of that willingness.

From December 9, 2009 to March 6, 2010 (and again from December 2010 to March 2011), Azamara Quest will offer a variety of 12, 14, and 18-night voyages calling at a number of popular Asian destinations, as well as some obscure ones - the December 21, 2010 voyage, for example, calls at Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

This week's Unique Itinerary of the Week is the December 22, 2009 18-Night Southeast Asia Cruise aboard Azamara Quest.

Starting with an overnight in Singapore on December 22nd and December 23, the  Quest then sets sail for a three-night call in Bangkok, Thailand.  After that, it's on to an overnight in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, another overnight in Hue (Danang), Vietnam, a call in Canton (Guangzhou), China, and finally ending in an overnight in Hong Kong.

What makes this cruise so special is the amount of overnight calls in port.  These give passengers the chance to experience multiple sights and excursions that a single-day port call simply could not offer.  In addition, the voyages five sea days are interspersed to allow rest between ports.

Perhaps the best feature about this exotic holiday cruise is its price point: cabins start at just $2,539 CAD - exceptional for an 18-day cruise.

For more information, visit the Azamara Cruises Website.

Another Look Behind the Scenes

Coral Princess in drydock at Freeport, Bahamas.

Photo courtesy Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises is once again pulling back the proverbial curtain to allow us to see what goes on during a drydock.  The lucky recipient this time?  Coral Princess.

Built in 2002, the 92,000-ton Coral Princess is the next in line to receive a massive refurbishment intended to bring the most popular features introduced on the Caribbean and Crown Princess to the rest of the fleet.  The best part is, you can watch the whole thing happen via their Coral Princess Drydock Photo Journal.

Enhancements include the addition of The Sanctuary, an adults-only retreat featuring padded loungers and dedicated Serenity Stewards serving refreshing beverages and light snacks.  Coral Princess will also receive Movies Under the Stars, Princess's signature outdoor moviegoing experience first introduced on Caribbean Princess.  Not only has Princess been quick to retrofit their fleet to provide this popular feature, but other lines, including Carnival, Disney, and MSC have followed suit, installing giant LED screens on the pool decks of some of their ships.

Other changes will be less noticeable:  Coral Princess is due to get new upholstery and carpeting, plus a brand-new silicone anti-fouling paint below the water line that helps reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency. 

Once drydock is complete, Coral Princess will resume her winter Panama Canal sailing schedule before heading north to Alaska next spring.

To follow along with the drydock of Coral Princess in Freeport, Bahamas, view the photo blog, or check out Princess's Facebook Page, Twitter feed, and Flickr photostream.

For more information on Coral Princess's itineraries and pricing, visit the Princess Cruises website. 

Epic Appointments

Norwegian Epic.

Illustration courtesy Norwegian Cruise Line

At From The Deck Chair, we usually try to showcase news and interesting facts from a wide variety of cruise lines.  Norwegian Cruise Line, however, is making that increasingly difficult: it seems as if in the past few months, there's been a slew of NCL-related information, and with good reason: the company is ramping up for the launch of Norwegian Epic, due to be delivered to the line in June, 2010.

Yesterday, Norwegian Epic passed another milestone with the appointment of her Captains and Hotel Directors.

Captain Trygve Vorren, a familiar face to those who have sailed NCL frequently, will have the honor of being Epic's first master.  Hailing from Norway, Captain Vorren has been with Norwegian Cruise Line since 1980, when he joined as First Officer on the SS Norway.   His relief will be Captain Hakan Svedung, who has spent thirty-five years at sea, including three with NCL and a further twelve with Star Cruises. 

In the position of Hotel Director will be Klaus Lugmaier, with Sean Wurmhoeinger as his relief.  Lugmaier had the distinction of, at age 26, becoming one of the industry's youngest Hotel Directors - a demanding position at any age.  Relief Wurmhoeinger has been with NCL since 2002, and has served on almost the entire fleet during that time.

It would seem that Norwegian's largest ship is in good hands. 

For more information on Norwegian Epic and her itineraries, visit NCL's website.   

The Non-Travel Travelogue

Independence and Grandeur of the Seas at Cozumel, Mexico.

Photo copyright 2009 Aaron Saunders

Preparing myself for a 90-minute ferry ride from Vancouver to Victoria this past weekend required some good cruise-related literature.  What better, of course, than a major national paper advertising a special eight-page long section devoted entirely to cruising?

Of course, there's a reason I'm not naming the paper - the articles, indeed the entire section, were embarrasing - the sort of thing a first-year journalism student might write.  I read halfway through an entire page-length article before I discovered the name of the ship the writer was traveling on.  The rest of the article was filled with the standard, cutesy facts about Juneau, or how Ketchikan's Creek Street has that 'fishy' smell you only find in Alaska.  The companion article to this was one that semi-bashed the idea of a cruise vacation entirely.

Which got me thinking: what is it about printed travelogues that just doesn't work for cruises?  I have yet to read one printed travelogue that adequately captures the absolute magic of being onboard a magnificent cruise ship - the ocean passing underneath the hull, the gentle sway of the decks, the joy of just being onboard.  Heck, most of them don't even tell you which night is lobster night.  Worse, the writers either got paid for the article or had their cruise comp'd - or maybe both - a dream for the avid cruiser. 

That's not to say that all cruise-related reporting is bad.  Look at the tremendous works of John Maxtone-Graham if you're after a slice of cruising both past and modern.  Read the well-written, lovingly prepared and photographed blogs of Peter Knego, who has made a career for himself of photographing and documenting some of the last classic ocean liners still sailing the seas before their inevitable - and sad - end on the beaches of Alang, India, where they are dismantled piece by piece and sold for scrap. 

Love or hate Carnival, there's no denying the daily blogging delights from Carnival Senior Cruise Director John Heald not only make the reader want to cruise, but to also learn about the inner workings of those mini cities at sea that we all love.  And ShipParade's Bart de Boer keeps us up to date with photo-tours of some of the newest cruise ships.

So while a lot of print information about cruising still tends to be bland and watered down, the online resources available for the avid cruiser continues to grow and expand at an impressive rate. 

We couldn't be happier.

A Little Break

In recognition of Thanksgiving here in Canada (and because there's the distinct possibility I will be too sluggish after loading up on turkey, pumpkin pie and the like), From the Deck Chair will take a little break but will be back with more news and interesting facts, and a fresh Unique Itinerary of the Week on Tuesday, October 13th.

A Nieuw Look at a New Ship

Nieuw Amsterdam's Ocean Bar

Photo-illustration courtesy Holland America Line

When Holland America Line launched the Eurodam in 2008, they knew she'd have a sister.  Last year, they named that sister Nieuw Amsterdam.  Yesterday, we got our first glimpse of what she'll look like inside when Holland America posted new renderings on their blog.

Building on the success of the Eurodam, and the Vista class ships like Noordam and Oosterdam that came before her, Nieuw Amsterdam is poised to carry on the Holland America Signature of Excellence for a new generation when she sets sail in the summer of 2010. 

Nieuw Amsterdam will be officially named in Amsterdam on July 4, 2010.  For a look at more renderings, visit Holland America's blog.

For information on the inaugural season of the Nieuw Amsterdam, visit Holland America's website. 

Unexpected Caribbean

Illustration courtesy Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Sometimes things work out in ways you didn't initially anticipate.  This is very much the situation Regent Seven Seas found themselves in when arranging their winter lineup for Seven Seas Navigator. 

The final ship to undergo Regent's extensive (and highly successful) refurbishment program, Seven Seas Navigator will sport new dining options, refreshed public areas with brand new color schemes and furnishings, as well as updated staterooms when she emerges from refit on December 28, 2009.  The work will be completed in less time than first thought, allowing Regent to add two brand-new Caribbean itineraries on this excellent ship.

The first, a 10-day Eastern Caribbean voyage departing January 13, 2010 from Ft. Lauderdale, will call at Princess Cays, San Juan, Saint Maarten, St. Barts, Virgin Gorda, Cayo Leventado, and Grand Turk.

The second, a 10-day Western Caribbean voyage (pictured above) departing January 23, 2010 from Ft. Lauderdale, swings around to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize, Santo Tomas, Roatan, Costa Maya, and beautiful Key West before arriving back in Ft. Lauderdale. 

Prices for the Western Caribbean itinerary start at $3,965; the Eastern Caribbean at $4,465.  Considering every stateroom onboard Seven Seas Navigator is a suite - and a newly refurbished one at that, plus the fact that all gratuities and most alcoholic beverages are included onboard Regent, we think that's one heck of a deal.

For more information, visit Regent's website.

They're Practically Giving It Away

Onboard Norwegian Pearl

Photo ©2009 Aaron Saunders

We seem to be talking a lot lately about Norwegian Cruise Line.  First we told you about the departure of the Norwegian Majesty, then one day later we talked about NCL's unique South America itineraries aboard Norwegian Sun.  Now, NCL is giving us yet another reason to talk about them: their Deals of the Decade promotion.

Designed to celebrate a decade of innovation (and increase bookings, no doubt), the Deals of the Decade sale is a little different from other sales in that it covers a wide variety of destinations and departure dates.  If you can pack up your bags and go in the next two or three weeks, you can practically get onboard for next to nothing - indeed, some Caribbean and Bahamas sailings are going for less than a nights stay at a nice hotel.

For more information on this sale, and to get in on the action yourself, visit NCL's Deals of the Decade page - they have last minute sales on the front page, but don't forget to play with their booking engine to search for other dates and destinations. 

A Journey of a Lifetime

Penguins in Antarctica.

Photo courtesy Hurtigruten

One of the most remote, unique cruise destinations on the planet is without a doubt Antarctica.  And after 2011, it will be one of the most difficult destinations to cruise to.

Antarctica has no permanent population.  It is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent - in fact, it's so dry that it is actually considered a desert.  Like its northern counterpart, it has been the subject of numerous expeditions - from Captain James Cook's arrival in 1773 to James Clark Ross in 1841 - with the Ross expedition commanding HMS Erebus and Terror, which five years later would be beset by ice in the Arctic under command of the ill-fated Sir John Franklin.

Norwegian Roald Amundsen was the first to reach the South Pole on December 14, 1911, managing to beat the ill-fated expedition led by Robert Scott by a mere month. 

Ernest Shackleton led three expeditions in 1901, 1907, and 1914 - the latter having claimed their ship, Endurance and resulted in the party barely escaping with their lives.  Indeed, Shackleton is perhaps better known today as a result of this harrowing journey to Elephant Island.

The seductive pull of Antarctica has not subsided for many modern-day travelers.  Many cruise lines sail a handful of voyages between January and March, and expedition vessels dedicate even more time to visiting this snowy continent.  So what do you choose - Expedition ship or cruise ship?  Depending on your preference, you might pick one over the other.

Here's our guide:

Mega-Ships:  Celebrity, Holland America,and Princess all have ships sailing to Antarctica in the winter of 2010 and 2011.  While you'll travel in supreme comfort, these ships carry too many passengers to make shore landings - you will visit Antarctica, but it will be scenic cruising only.

After 2011, mega-ship cruising to Antarctica is up in the air.  Strict environmental restrictions may result in cruise lines having to pull out of the region permanently.  If you want to take a megaship to this amazing place, GO NOW.

Mid-size ships:  Hurtigruten offers voyages to Antarctica aboard its purpose-built MV Fram.  Built in 2007, the Fram carries less than a full passenger compliment, allowing for shore landings.

Also in this category, but traveling in supreme luxury, is Silversea's small expedition vessel Prince Albert II.  Carrying only 132 passengers, Prince Albert II is able to ferry passengers ashore in zodiacs when weather permits.

Expedition ships:  There are many lines that offer expedition voyages to Antarctica, but perhaps the most extensive and well known are the ships of Quark Expeditions.    Founded in 1991, Quark offers the widest variety of polar itineraries of any adventure company, and the largest number of departures to Antarctica.  Shore landings are possible when weather permits, and their Icebreaker-class ships even boast onboard helicopters.  Their flagship icebreaker, 50 Years of Victory, is even nuclear-powered.

For more information on each lines Antarctic offerings, visit their websites:

Quark Expeditions

Silversea

Hurtigruten

Princess Cruises

Holland America Line

Celebrity Cruises 

Last Song for Black Prince

Black Prince.

Photo courtesy Fred.Olsen

Today's update is a chance to let someone else do the talking.  Peter Knego has a fantastic blog on his Sea Treks page that chronicles the last voyage of Fred. Olsen's Black Prince.  The venerable (and unusual) ship is being withdrawn from service due to SOLAS 2010 regulations, though she has reportedly been sold to Venezuelan-based SAVECA for potential use as a floating hotel.

Read Peter's fascinating blog here.

Also check out Bart de Boer's fantastic ShipParade website for a great shot of Black Prince in the Photo of the Week section.

For information on Fred.Olsen, visit their website.

Unique Itinerary of the Week - 10/3

Illustration courtesy Norwegian Cruise Line

Always in search of the unique and different, this weeks Unique Itinerary comes to us from Norwegian Cruise Line.

Departing from Buenos Aires, this 14-night cruise aboard the Norwegian Sun travels around the horn of South America, calling at Montevideo, Puerto Madryn, Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands, Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, Puerto Chacabuco, Puerto Montt, and finally arriving in Valparaiso, the port for Santiago, Chile.

The ship also spends time cruising the scenic Beagle Channel, home to Argentina's glaciers, as well as time spent cruising the Chilean Fjords and the Strait of Magellan. 

While the embarkation and disembarkation ports of Buenos Aires and Santiago may seem to be a long distance from North America, they are in fact connected by daily, sometimes nonstop flights from cities like Toronto, Houston, New York and Miami.  In fact, a standard flight to South America may involve less connections than a transcontinental flight across the United States!

Perhaps the best thing about this unique itinerary may be its price: fares start at just $999 USD.

For more information including pricing and itinerary details, visit NCL's website.  The Norwegian Sun sails this itinerary from November 2009 to March 2010. 

Majesty, Meet Majesty

The Norwegian Majesty.

Photo courtesy Norwegian Cruise Line

Saying goodbye is always difficult.  On October 31st, Norwegian Cruise Line prepares to say goodbye to one of the last remnants of the old NCL - the Norwegian Majesty.

Built in 1992 as the Royal Majesty for Majesty Cruise Line, the ship became part of the NCL fleet in 1997.  In 1999, fresh off the success of lengthening the Norwegian Wind and Norwegian Dream by way of cutting the ships in half and inserting a new, prefabricated midsection, the decision was made to also lengthen the Norwegian Majesty.  A new 110-foot midsection was inserted at the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany.  Things looked good for the midsize cruise ship.

In 1999, however, NCL launched the Norwegian Sky - their first newbuild in over six years , and the first ship at sea to offer features like an Internet Cafe.  NCL re-branded itself in 2001, launching an open dining and relaxed dress code concept called Freestyle Cruising.  The dual launch of the Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Star in late 2001 firmly ushered in this concept with ships purpose-built with multiple dining options - options the Norwegian Majesty noticeably lacked.

The Majesty outlasted the Norwegian Wind and Dream, built in 1992 and 1993 - both of which were larger and offered more amenities.  The Norwegian Wind was transferred to Star Cruises to become SuperStar Aquarius sailing out of Hong Kong.  The Norwegian Dream has languished at anchor off of Piraeus, Greece since being removed from service in October 2008 - awaiting a buyer to put her back into service.

The Norwegian Majesty was sold in 2008 to Cyprus-based Louis Cruise Lines, which plans to rename her Louis Majesty and deploy her on a series of Mediterranean cruises from Italy starting in December.

Why is this a good thing?  The Norwegian Majesty has served NCL well, but the last few years with the line have seen it stagnate: the ship has not received either the much-applauded Freestyle 2.0 enhancements or the colorful hull artwork that so distinguishes the ships of NCL.  With Louis Cruise Line, the ship will hopefully find a new legion of fans and carry many more passengers thousands of nautical miles around the warm shores of Italy, Greece and France.

For more information on the soon-to-be Louis Majesty, visit the Louis Cruise Line webpage. 

It's Never Winter In The Nation Of Why Not

It's October, and for most of us, that means it's getting colder.  Maybe you've had to dig out the umbrella recently, or prep the snow gear for another season or maybe you just saw them setting up the Chrismas trees at Costco.  In September.  Either way, Royal Caribbean noticed it was getting colder too - and they're here to help.

Starting on October 6th and continuing until October 7th (that's next Tuesday and Wednesday, people), Royal Caribbean is offering 50% Reduced Deposits and Onboard Credits of up to $200 depending on stateroom category.

The sale is valid for any cruise or cruisetour departing on or after December 1, 2009 - but excluding Oasis of the Seas sailings between January 1 and March 31, 2010.  In order for the reduced deposit and onboard credit to be valid, you must book and make the deposit on October 6th or 7th - courtesy holds will not count.

The offer is also only valid on new bookings only, so if you have an existing Royal Caribbean sailing booked, do not cancel and re-book!

If you're thinking of planning a winter getaway, this is a fantastic time to do so.  Visit Royal Caribbean's site for more details and information.