Cruise Holidays Irish Cruise Blog

Carnival's new policy to prevent cruisers 'saving' deck chairs

We all know how annoying it is when cruise holiday guests "save" deck chairs in prime locations for hours at a time without using them?

Great news then that Carnival cruise director John Heald announced on their Facebook page that staffers on the line's new Carnival Breeze have begun policing seat saving by placing stickers with the current time on any deck chairs that are being saved with towels, books, shoes and other passenger items.

After 40 minutes, if the chair still is reserved but unoccupied, the staff will remove the items and take them to the towel station by the main pool, Heald says. The staff will leave a note explaining what they have done.

"It has been a subject discussed over and over again, and it has been so because it continues to be a concern," Heald notes. "We went with 40 minutes as we felt that this was a fair amount of time if guests get up to eat, drink, pee, swim or slide."

Heald, who is aboard the Carnival Breeze, says the new policy eventually will roll out fleetwide.

"Once we finish the test here this cruise and next, we will make adjustments and then add to the rest of the fleet," he says.

Do you agree with this policy?

Best Cruise Ship Shower Ever

Check out this amazing shower in the top suite on Celebrity Reflection!

The first drawings of the glass-enclosed space, were unveiled today and show a soaring, polygonal area that juts outward from the 14th deck of the vessel, affording sweeping vistas to the sea.

Billed as an industry first, the cantilevered shower will feature see-through glass on its floor and ceiling as well as its sides that is coated with a reflective material that Celebrity promises will keep outsiders from looking in during the day. At night, shower users can flip a switch to trigger a fogging function that further obscures the view.

"You can see out, but the important part of the story is no one can see in. We spent a lot of money making sure of that," said Celebrity senior vice president of hotel operations Lisa Lutoff-Perlo.

Announced in December, the 1,636-square-foot Reflection Suite will be the largest accommodations ever on a Celebrity ship, eclipsing the 1,432-square-foot Penthouse Suites found on the line's four Millennium Class vessels.

The Reflection Suite will be the first suite on a Celebrity ship with two bedrooms and come with a wrap-around balcony that at 194 square feet is larger than some basic cabins on the vessel. Designed by New York-based BG Studio International, it'll also feature a butler on call around the clock (as do all Celebrity suites) and can accommodate up to six passengers.

Lutoff-Perlo says there's growing demand from Celebrity's customers for elaborate suites, even at high prices, and the line has realized it needs more of them. The Reflection Suite is one of six large new suites that Celebrity is placing on the Celebrity Reflection.

"The type of people we are attracting is a customer that is willing to pay more and is looking for these kind of accommodations," Lutoff-Perlo says. "We spend a lot of time listening to our customers."

The Celebrity Reflection enters service on October 12th with a nine-night sailing from Amsterdam to Barcelona followed by two more Europe sailings and a trans-Atlantic voyage from Europe to the USA.

Celebrity 'ConciergeClass' is Even Better

Cruise holiday makers who love the personalised services of a professional concierge are likely to relish the new, modern luxury amenities Celebrity Cruises has added to its plush "ConciergeClass" accommodation.

Guests booked in Celebrity's ConciergeClass staterooms still will be treated to the full slate of services and amenities associated with the category since it was introduced including;

• A bottle of chilled Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine with a commemorative label featuring exclusive artwork from the ArtCenter/South Florida artists upon arrival
• Fresh fruits and flowers
• Daily delivery of afternoon savories
• Pillow menu and the Celebrity eXhaleTM bedding program, with premium mattresses
• 100% Egyptian cotton linens and plush duvets and pillows
• Personalised stationery
• Oversized tote bag
• Special room service breakfast menu
• Frette bathrobes
• Plush bath rugs
• Two hair dryers
• Hansgrohe massaging showerhead
• Use of in-stateroom golf umbrellas and binoculars
• Custom-blended bath amenities including fine shampoos, body lotions and soaps
• A veranda table large enough for dining al fresco, with cushioned chairs
• Services including priority luggage delivery, dining time, shoe shine service, and priority embarkation and debarkation privileges.

"Expanding our already broad array of ConciergeClass amenities is yet another illustration of our recognition of how rare and important vacation time is for our guests, and our continuous focus on finding the best ways for them to maximize that time," said Celebrity's Senior VP of Hotel Operations Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. "Just as a professional, personal concierge is devoted to ensuring his or her clients' specific, individual preferences are met, so is our ConciergeClass category of accommodations."

ConciergeClass staterooms are offered on every ship in the Celebrity fleet, with the exception of Celebrity Xpedition, the line's luxurious megayacht sailing year-round in the Galapagos Islands.

Have you ever been a Concierge Class passenger? Would you pay for these extra luxuries?

Celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian set for Norwegian Breakway

Passengers sailing aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line vessel could be set for an exquisite taste of the high seas next summer, with celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian opening a seafood concept restaurant on board.

Zakarian is a popular figure among the US public, starring on the Food Network television channel with epic cooking contest Iron Chef among his onscreen engagements.

From May 2013 though, the American will set sail aboard the Norwegian Breakaway, with his new luxury seafood dining experience the Ocean Blue set to open onboard.

The US celebrity is keen to take an active role in all areas of the establishment, from the menus to the dining areas, staff uniforms and glassware. Zakarian will also be available for meet-and-greets on certain cruises, with in-person demonstrations and cooking experiences available for groups of guests.

Commenting on the latest addition to the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, chief executive officer Kevin Sheehan described his arrivals "like hitting the culinary lottery".

"Not only do we win big, but so do our guests on Norwegian Breakaway who will get to experience his world-class cuisine in three dining outlets on the ship," he said.

The Norwegian Breakaway is set to begin sailing from New York in May next year.

Is food an important factor for you when considering your cruise holiday options?

Retro Rock Cruise with MSC

MSC Poesia will be hosting a retro rock fest next March – with top heavy metal bands performing.

Passengers will be treated to a head-banging extravaganza, which will feature top acts from the metal heydays of the 1970's and 80's.

The cruise is inspired by the legendary festival of the same name, which started back in 1980 at the popular Castle Donington site in Leicestershire.

Fans will enjoy performances from the likes of Helix, Tesla, Kix, Great White, Y&T, Lita Ford, Enuff Z Nuff, XYZ and many more.

Dubbed "The Lost Weekend" by organisers, the special voyage will depart Fort Lauderdale on March 16th, sailing to Nassau and Coco Cay in the Bahamas on March 20th.

'Rocking' onboard activities include a 1987-themed prom, shotgun wedding renewal ceremony and tattoo contest.

The highlight will undoubtedly be the rock star dating game though, which will give passengers the chance to win a date with a star of their choice.

Watch this year’s 'Monsters of Rock' cruise here.

 

 Would you be into this type of themed cruise holiday?

Titanic Belfast Centre boosts cruise industry

Cruise port workers in Belfast Harbour are preparing for a record-breaking summer season, with 40 vessels set to sail into the city over the next few months..

According to the Irish Times, this represents a record number of ships for the facility, with the busy cruise season bringing 32 cruise calls and 58,000 passengers in 2011.

Experts are putting the rise in projected visitor numbers down to the opening of the new Titanic Belfast centre.

Developed with the aid of £13.6 million in funding from the Belfast Harbour group, this is the latest memorial to the ill-fated liner, which sank a century ago after clashing with an iceberg.

Have you visited the Titanic centre yet?

 

Broadway's "Rock of Ages" To Headline Norwegian Breakaway's Entertainment

Norwegian Cruise Line continued its legacy of innovating cruise ship entertainment as it announced that the five-time Tony Award nominated musical ROCK OF AGES will be featured on Norwegian Breakaway, along with two additional Broadway shows: the dance sensation BURN THE FLOOR and CIRQUE DREAMS & DINNER JUNGLE FANTASY.

"As a lifelong New Yorker, it's critically important to me that Norwegian Breakaway becomes New York's ship, the only way to cruise from New York when she arrives next May. Our goal is to bring elements of New York on board so that guests will feel a real connection to the ship as New York's true flagship," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's chief executive officer.

"With ROCK OF AGES performing in the Breakaway Theater, along with BURN THE FLOOR, CIRQUE DREAMS & DINNER JUNGLE FANTASY in the Spiegel Tent, and all the other entertainment offerings, we are truly bringing Broadway to the high seas and delivering the high caliber entertainment that New Yorkers have come to expect."

ROCK OF AGES is one of the longest running shows in Broadway history and offers Broadway's best party. The New York Times has called the show, "Absurdly enjoyable! About as guilty as pleasures get!"

The classic rock love story of the decade features such feel-good, sing-out-loud songs such as "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," "I Wanna Know What Love Is," "Here I Go Again," "Don't Stop Believin," and more. The Broadway show is now also Hollywood's biggest party as the film of the musical by New Line Cinema was released on June 15, 2012.

Norwegian Breakaway will feature multiple, specially-designed entertainment venues throughout the ship so that guests can choose from a wide variety of entertainment each evening of their cruise with choices to appeal to a broad audience.