Cruise Holidays Irish Cruise Blog

Carnival Cruise's new fleet bars

Carnival Cruises has revealed a massive fleetwide overhaul.

The line revealed plans for five new branded drinking venues that will roll out on multiple Carnival ships over the next four years as part of $500 million in upgrades.

Among the new venues is a sports bar branded around video game manufacturer EA Sports and a tequila bar to be called BlueIguana. The line also plans a branded rum bar and two branded cocktail lounges.

 

Artist's drawings of the new concepts are here for your critique. Carnival says the EA Sports venue is designed to be the "ultimate hangout for sports fanatics" and will offer the chance to play EA Sports videogames and watch live sports on a video wall behind the bar made up of 16 big screens. Real-time sports scores will be displayed around-the-clock on an electronic ticker.

The RedFrog Rum Bar, a poolside version of the Caribbean-themed RedFrog Pub that debuted earlier this year on the Carnival Magic (becoming the first pub on a Carnival ship). It'll serve rum-based frozen drinks and beers, including Carnival's new private label ThirstyFrog Red.

The BlueIguana Tequila Bar, which Carnival says will offer a laid-back Mexican-themed atmosphere and specialize in tequila-based frozen drinks and Mexican beers.

The Alchemy Bar will serve cocktails and the line says Carnival mixologists, as it is dubbing bartenders, will "prescribe" unusual concoctions at the outlet.

 

The Library Bar, designed as a quieter retreat for cruisers will offer wine out of automatic wine dispensers.

In addition to the five new bars, Carnival on Monday also announced plans for a new Mexican taqueria and burrito station to be called the BlueIguana Cantina. It'll be located on ships near the new BlueIguana Tequila Bars.

The new venues are in addition to a new burger joint branded around Food Network star Guy Fieri that the line on Monday said will be rolling out across its fleet.

 

New Images of Carnival Breeze

Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Breeze is being built at a shipyard near Trieste and is due to launch their cruise holiday season next June. They've just released these computer generated images. What do you think?

 
Adult Only Serenity Retreat

 
Red Frog Pub

 
Sapphire Dining Room

 
Piano Bar

 
Atrium

 
Resort Style Pool

 
Cucina del Capitano

Carnival Cruises' heading to New Zealand

Carnival Cruise Lines knows Kiwis love to be active in the water and that’s why the biggest addition to Carnival Spirit will be two new water firsts for the New Zealand market, a thrill slide and a splash park. Carnival WaterWorks, onboard Carnival Spirit, will have the steepest water slide at sea.

It will have a vertical drop set to send pulses racing, kids screaming with excitement and bigger kids screaming even louder. Plus, there’s a giant soaking water bucket in the splash park – perfect for the young ones.

Kiwis can enjoy good times with friends and family by indulging in the full onboard entertainment programme, which has been tailored specifically to suit the taste of New Zealanders.

We all know Kiwis are spoilt at home when it comes to wine, coffee and world class cuisine. For this reason, Carnival Spirit has ensured the onboard offering will be up to Kiwi standards with cuisine sourced locally in Australasia and flat whites available around the clock!

Apart from the food, Kiwis can laugh the night away at ‘The Punchliner’ comedy club, featuring some of the best comedians on the Australian circuit, test out their vocal skills in the ‘Superstar live karaoke’ or explore Carnival Spirit’s 16 bars and lounges.

The entertainment programme continues all day long with live music, art auctions, exclusive retail sales, family ping pong tournaments, dance classes, wine tasting and destination seminars to ensure guests get the most of their time ashore.

Kids will be entertained throughout the day at one of Carnival Spirit’s three dedicated kids clubs and well into the evening with babysitting services.

The new Serenity area offers the ultimate in chilled out time, minus the kids. This large open-air deck has a pool, spa, comfortable lounges and a bar so you can enjoy a cocktail or two and watch the world go by.

Plus, two-thirds of Carnival Spirit’s staterooms have their own balconies so you can experience your own private space with expansive ocean views.

Guests can experience a dedicated menu with some well-loved iconic dishes made from the freshest local produce. Even the coffee is being refined by working with popular baristas to get the perfect blend of latte, cappuccino and flat white.

Carnival Cruise Lines has even nailed the fine print by featuring New Zealand power points so there’s no need to travel with an adaptor.

And of course, the Carnival Cruise Lines commitment to fun and quality doesn’t stop at its products. One of the cruise liner’s top-rated cruise directors worldwide has been carefully selected to be the first Cruise Director for Carnival Cruise Line’s itineraries departing from Australia.

As a born and bred Sydneysider, Stu Dunn knows what Kiwis call fun and has a legion of fans from all over the globe. Stu will be the Carnival Spirit’s first Cruise Director when she sails out of Sydney. He will be responsible for coordinating the onboard entertainment programme so guests can enjoy their type of holiday every day.

Weezer teams up with Carnival for unique cruise holiday

 

American rock band Weezer has teamed up with Carnival Cruises to offer fans a unique cruise holiday opportunity.

For four nights in January 2012 the band – joined by a stellar cast of international rock talent – will sail from Miami to the island of Cozumel off of the Gulf Coast of Mexico aboard the Carnival Destiny.

Guests will be treated to all-inclusive 24-hour room service, in-door and out-door Weezer shows and a Q&A with the band.

“That’s right – Weezer is hitting the open seas,” read a statement from the band.

“It’s going to be our own floating music festival on a cruise ship.

“Bands will perform on the outdoor Lido deck and in the inside theatre.

“All of the bands will be performing in stages around the ship, festival style, so you can catch any or all of them during the entire trip to Cozumel and back.”

Sebadoh, Yuck, Wavves and the Antlers will also perform on this exciting cruise holiday.

Prices start at $799 per person for double cabins, or pile in four people for just $599 per person plus $179 for taxes and port fees.

Departure is on January 19^th.

 

P&O Launch Competition to Dispel Cruise Myths

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

P&O Cruises have launched a controversial competition for anti-cruisers and the top 6 winner’s will be sent on a nine-day Pacific Islands cruise with their experience’s on board to be filmed. To enter all they have to do is upload a video explaining why they are anti-cruise.

P&O Cruises said the competition is designed to overcome the believed misconceptions people have about cruising holidays.

P&O Cruises is the oldest cruise line in the world starting back in 1837 and consists of a fleet of seven the newest being Adonia launched in May 2011:

These are the ships that make up the P&O fleet: Adonia -Acadia -Aurora -Azura -Oceana -Ventura -Oriana.

“We know from our research that some people hesitate to take a cruise because they are concerned about getting sea sick,” said Jenny Lourey, senior vice president of Carnival Australia. “Others think they’ll be bored and there are some who don’t want to spend days getting to a destination. They are exactly the kind of people we want to enter this competition.”

”The campaign will change people’s perception of cruising by dispelling common myths. We are confident that once we put people with such doubts on a cruise they’ll change their perception of cruising,” she added.

Is this competition a good idea?

Carnival Kids Club Now Open till 3am

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Carnival Cruises is extending its late night kids programme across the fleet until 3am!

‘Camp Carnival Night Owls’ is offering parents a little ‘me’ time with children up to the age of 11 able to play video games, get involved in arts/crafts and sports and watch late-night movies until the early hours of the morning.

Owl Jams – a night of ‘high energy fun’ that runs from 10pm to midnight and is aimed at two to 11 year olds and costs $13 per child.

Fun ‘Til One – this action packed night caters to six to eight year old and takes place from 10pm to 1am and costs $20 per child.

Fun at Sea is aimed at kids from nine to 11 and offers activities throughout the ship and runs from 10pm to 3am. Participants are escorted to their staterooms after the party and the cost is $33 per child.

The Night Owl parties are held at least once per sailing under the direction of Carnival's youth staff. Carnival also offers late-night babysitting services from 10 pm to 3 am for $6.75 per child per hour.

Would you let your kids stay up that late on your family cruise holiday?

Lovin’ Carnival Magic

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

The 3,690-passenger ship, Carnival Magic, makes for a fun and lively cruise holiday with a host of new features to keep everyone in the family entertained.

WaterWorks - WaterWorks offers two water slides, the 312-foot-long Twister and the towering, funnel-style DrainPipe. There's also two side-by-side miniature slides for toddlers and a 300-gallon "dump bucket" that sends water cascading over a wide area when you least expect it.

SportSquare – The cruise industry's first suspended-in-the-sky ropes course and first outdoor weightlifting area. SportSquare also encompasses Carnival's first two-level miniature golf course; a jogging track; Vita exercise course; ping pong and foosball tables; and a lighted multi-purpose court designed for basketball, volleyball and soccer.

Serenity – Carnival Magic is home to an adults-only, deck-top hideaway called Serenity, with cushion-topped chaise lounges and chairs, lusciously large hammocks and two jumbo-sized whirlpools and a private bar.

RedFrog Pub – This bar is infused with a laid-back Caribbean vibe, and serves up its own private-label draught beer, ThirstyFrog Red, as well as a wide selection of Caribbean beers in bottle. Food items are decidedly Caribbean in flavor, from Bahamian conch salad and grouper fingers to firecracker Jamaican chicken wings.

Cucina del Capitano - The first Italian eatery on a Carnival ship is a lively, family-style affair that pays homage to the company's historical connections with Italy. The walls of the restaurant are lined with framed archival photographs of the line's many Italian captains as well as Carnival's founders and other Carnival executives posing in front of early vessels. There also are singing wine stewards and dancing waiters. On the menu: Homemade pastas, risottos and other made-to-order Italian specialties.

   

Cougar Cruise with NCL

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Norwegian Cruise Line has been causing a stir with a "cougar cruise" setting sail last Friday.

Following Carnival and Royal Caribbean’s lead the cruise was organised by California-based Singles Travel Company.

The Third International Cougar Cruise set sail Friday on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sky.

Carnival hosted the world's first cougar cruise in December 2009, a three-night romp that drew international headlines, and Royal Caribbean hosted a Second International Cougar Cruise in May aboard Mariner of the Seas.

The controversial escapades are aimed at older woman who pursue younger men and NCL’S three-night sailing from Miami to the Bahamas sold cabins starting at $99 per person, based on double occupancy, not including taxes and fees.

As in the past, Singles Travel Company promised three days of singles meet-ups, dancing and fun inspired by Valerie Gibson's 2001 book Cougar: A Guide for Older Women Dating Younger Men. As the firm noted last year in a press release, a cougar "knows exactly what she wants ... (and) what she doesn't want is children, cohabitation or commitment."

Would you go on a cougar cruise?

Carnival Magic ‘floated out’

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Carnival Magic has reached another construction milestone after being “floated out” in Italy.

Presently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, the vessel was floated from her outfitting quay ahead of her debut.

The initial stages of a cruise ship’s construction take place in a dry dock facility.

Once exterior outfitting is completed, the dry dock is flooded with water and the ship is “floated out” and moved to a wet dock facility where construction continues. 

Carnival Magic is to debut with a nine-day cruise holiday from Venice to Barcelona on May 1st-10th, 2011, followed by a series of seven- to 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona.

Following a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing, Carnival Magic will launch seven-day Caribbean service from Galveston November 14th, 2011, becoming the largest cruise ship ever based in Texas year-round.

 

Cruise ships change route to avoid Hurricane Paula

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Six Carnival cruise vessels have been forced to alter their itineraries, to avoid being hit by Hurricane Paula.

Carnival revised routes for Ecstasy, Triumph, Conquest, Valor, Imagination and Legend. The changes meant the ships avoided Western Caribbean ports such as Cozumel, Roatan, Progreso and Belize.

Celebrity Cruises also had to revise its route of Celebrity Solstice.