Cruise Holidays Irish Cruise Blog

New Design on NCL Cruises

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

The new cabin design on Norwegian Cruise Lines two new vessels has been revealed and named as Project Breakaway.

According to the Mirror newspaper the new cruise ships which are to be constructed at the Meyer-Werft shipyard in Germany, will each carry approximately 4,000 passengers and this week's announcement was about the 1,024 balcony cabins and 238 mini-suites.

"The overall design theme for Project Breakaway's staterooms is 'modern boutique hotel meets the sea.' We wanted an ambiance that is warm and inviting, and has a very contemporary feel with clean, modern lines.

"We also want to maximise the use of space within the staterooms, so our guests are as comfortable as possible and storage space is well planned throughout."

 


The cabins have been drawn up by London designers Priestmangood and working alongside Tillberg Design of Sweden, slot together with a wide section for the bed and a narrower area for the sitting space.

Each balcony stateroom onboard the new ships will have a king-size bed (which can be split into twins) with a leather headboard. There's a lighted recess above the bed to hold books, magazines, iPads and Kindles - which every passenger will no doubt travel with. A 26 inch television is mounted on the wall and tilts so it can be seen from the bed or sofa.

The bathrooms in the balcony cabins will have plenty of storage space and a decent-sized basin - neither of which was part of the design of the Epic cabins - and a "private shower" with a shaving bar.

The mini-suites will have oversized spa-like showers with a rain-shower head and multiple jets, along with a separate handheld shower head.

With these new cabin features, would it encourage you to take your cruise holiday with NCL Cruises?

Oceania's Marina impresses its first customers

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Oceania Cruises’ new Marina arrived in Santa Cruz de Tenerife yesterday, the last call on her inaugural cruise before crossing the Atlantic for Miami, and the 1,250-guest ship has raised the bar on upper-premium cruising.

“Marina has been handling great since leaving Barcelona,” stated Captain Dimitrios Flokos, the ship’s master. “She is running very well which is exactly what we expected.”

Marina left Barcelona on Jan. 22 and called at Morocco, where many guests took a tour highlighting the architectural heritage of Casablanca. Guests have also discovered Marina’s many onboard amenities including participating in the first Bon Appétit Culinary Center class making frittatas and scones.

“We are so impressed,” explains guest Leslie Deemer, who like many other guests, booked his stateroom on the maiden voyage over a year ago. “When I walked into the Grand Dining Room, it felt like I was in a movie.”

Guest Doug Moreland shared, “Marina is beautifully finished, which is what you expect from Oceania Cruises. She is truly first-class and the artwork is exceptional.”

When will you experience her delights?

 

Oceania Cruises new Marina is ready

 

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Oceania Cruises recently took delivery of Marina, the line’s first newly built ship which measures 66,000 tons and accommodates 1,250 guests.

A ship of firsts, Marina features the Bon Appétit Culinary Centre, the first hands-on cooking school at sea, Master Chef Jacques Pépin’s first namesake restaurant at sea, Ralph Lauren Home-furnished Owner’s Suites, luxurious accommodations by designer Dakota Jackson, Wine Spectator wine program, a Lalique grand stairway and Canyon Ranch SpaClub. Moreover, Marina has been designed for epicureans offering an unprecedented 10 dining venues – comparable in quality to the very best shore-side restaurants.

According to Frank Del Rio, the founder of Oceania Cruises and chairman & CEO of parent company Prestige Cruise Holdings, “Marina is unlike any ship built in the past 50 years and is destined to be a game-changer in the industry. The superb gourmet restaurants and exquisite residential interiors reflect the best of what makes Oceania Cruises such an unrivalled experience.”

“The new Marina is not only beautiful, but one of the most elegant ships we have built in the last years,” stated Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri. “Today is a proud day for all of our employees and partners associated with this first new build for Oceania Cruises. We are honoured to have been chosen to build the first ships from the vision of Mr. Del Rio.”

Entertainment Tonight’s, Mary Hart, will name Marina at a lavish gala ceremony on February 5 and christen her with a 15-liter Nebuchadnezzar of Champagne, custom-made by Armand de Brignac, commemoratively crashing against the hull. The evening will be capped by an extravagant fireworks display, a gift from Oceania Cruises to the ship’s US home port.

After the christening festivities in Miami, Marina sets sail February 8th on the first of two 18-day Panama Canal transits that visit San Francisco or San Diego, both new ports for Oceania Cruises. Marina then operates a 12-day Caribbean cruise, round-trip from Miami, departing March 16th, before sailing along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard and on to Europe to begin her inaugural Mediterranean season.

Oceania Cruises’ new Marina has been purposefully designed to carry 1,250 guests to the world’s most alluring ports in elegance and style. Rich woods, marble and granite, fine wool carpets and illustrious leathers adorn public rooms. Facilities include 10 dining venues including six open-seating gourmet restaurants, an array of bars and lounges, a full-service Canyon Ranch SpaClub and fitness centre, swimming pool and hot tubs.

 

 

Disney Dream arrives in Port Canaveral

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

The newest Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Dream, sailed into its home port of Port Canaveral, Florida this morning after a 16-night trans-Atlantic voyage from Germany, where it has been under construction for nearly two years.

“We are delighted to welcome the Disney Dream to its new home port,” said Karl Holz, president of Disney Cruise Line. “As we grow the Disney Cruise Line business, not only does this mean a positive economic impact for the region, but this allows us the flexibility to provide even more options to our guests. With new innovations onboard and new destinations to explore, ultimately we’re providing even more ways for guests to enjoy a family cruise vacation.”

With the arrival of the Disney Dream to its home port in Florida, preparations are underway for its inaugural cruises and events, including the traditional christening of the vessel.

Accommodating up to 4,000 guests, the 130,000-ton Disney Dream takes Disney’s special brand of family cruising to a whole new level with industry firsts such as the AquaDuck water coaster and Magical Portholes that transform inside staterooms into rooms with magnificent views. All of the ship’s new features – combined with Disney quality entertainment, unique dining experiences and age-specific areas for children, teens and adults – create an unforgettable cruise experience for the entire family.

 

A sister ship, the Disney Fantasy, is under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, and will arrive in early 2012. It will sail seven-night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries, also from Port Canaveral.

With the addition of two new ships, Disney Cruise Line is offering a wider variety of itineraries and will sail to more destinations around the world, including a repositioning of the Disney Wonder to the West Coast of the United States, sailing Mexican Riviera and first-ever Alaskan itineraries in 2011. Meanwhile, the Disney Magic will spend another summer sailing European itineraries in 2011.

 

Celebrity Cruises Winter 2011-2012 Itinerary

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

Celebrity Cruises have just announced their 2011-12 winter Caribbean cruise itinerary. Eight ships will host itineraries ranging in length from four to 14 nights with "firsts" in the season including four modern Solstice-class ships deployed to sail in the Caribbean and the availability of four and five-night Caribbean cruises on Celebrity Millennium.

"We believe that our 2011-12 winter destination portfolio brings to life the essence of our brand platform, 'Designed for you,'" said Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. "Our guests told us that they wanted more variety in the Caribbean, so we not only sent all four of our newest ships, we also created a line-up of itineraries offering cruisers the opportunity to choose from a wide range of sailing lengths and destinations on our award-winning ships - all of which include Celebrity's signature service, style and world-class cuisine."

Celebrity Silhouette
For the first time, a Solstice-class ship - Celebrity Silhouette, launching in 2011 - will sail from Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey. From November 2011 to April 2012, Celebrity Silhouette will sail 14 alternating Southern and Eastern Caribbean voyages of 12 nights in length. The Southern Caribbean itineraries will visit St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Lucia and St. Maarten. Celebrity Silhouette's Eastern Caribbean cruises include visits to San Juan, Labadee (Celebrity's private-island destination in Haiti), St. Croix, St. Thomas, Antigua and St. Maarten. Celebrity designed the Bayonne offerings as a result of guests and travel agents expressing a strong desire to experience a Solstice-class ship within driving distance from major Northeast metro areas. First booking rights went to members of Celebrity's loyalty program, Captain's Club, earlier this month. Today, these cruises - as well as Celebrity Silhouette's summer 2011 Europe voyages - opened for booking by the general public.

Celebrity Equinox
Sister Solstice-class ship Celebrity Equinox also will offer long Caribbean itineraries in the winter of 2011-12, sailing 15 alternating 10 and 11-night "Ultimate Caribbean" cruises out of Fort Lauderdale. The 10-night line-up focuses on Southern Caribbean experiences, with visits to St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Barbados, Dominica and St. Maarten. The 11-night cruises take cruisers into the Western Caribbean and Panama, with visits to Mexico, Belize or Honduras (depending upon itinerary), Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Grand Cayman.

Celebrity Constellation
Celebrity Constellation, which this month will undergo the brand's first "Solsticizing" (refitting to include many of the most popular Solstice-class attributes, such as Tuscan Grille and Bistro on Five specialty restaurants), will present a series of 14-night Southern Caribbean cruises roundtrip out of Fort Lauderdale, from November 2011 through April 2012. Ports of call include Aruba, Curacao, Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Maarten and St. Thomas.

Celebrity Century
For the first time, Celebrity Century - which underwent a significant revitalization in 2006, including the addition of 314 new stateroom verandas, a Murano specialty restaurant and the first "Ice Martini Bar" at sea - will present a season of 12-night Eastern Caribbean sailings out of Baltimore. The Caribbean season will be bookended by two Hawaii "mini-seasons" - one in the fall and one in spring - and also will include two special Panama Canal sailings between Baltimore to San Diego.

Celebrity Solstice

Celebrity's flagship Solstice-class vessel, Celebrity Solstice, will return to South Florida to offer roundtrip seven-night Caribbean cruises out of Fort Lauderdale in the winter of 2011-12. These will be a series of 25 alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, including a special eight-night Eastern Caribbean holiday sailing on December 18 that will feature an extra sea day, giving cruisers even more time to enjoy Celebrity's outstanding cuisine and extraordinary service. Celebrity Solstice also will present a one-time six-night Western Caribbean voyage on January 2, ideal for cruisers who wish to experience a Solstice-class ship in the Caribbean but have less than a week to spend at sea. Celebrity's third Solstice-class ship, Celebrity Eclipse will return for the Caribbean for a second consecutive winter season in 2011-12, offering seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises roundtrip out of Miami.

Celebrity Millennium
Cruisers seeking shorter Caribbean getaways in Celebrity's signature style can experience four- and five-night cruises roundtrip out of South Florida on Celebrity Millennium, for the first time, when the 2,034-guest vessel takes over Celebrity Century's previous five consecutive winter seasons of short Caribbean cruises. Sailing four- and five-night cruises roundtrip out of Miami, Celebrity Millennium will offer a total of 41 sailings with four distinct itineraries visiting a total of six ports.

Celebrity Xpedition
Building on the variety that Celebrity continues to offer, the brand will continue to offer its popular year-round Galapagos Islands experiences on the 92-guest mega-yacht, Celebrity Xpedition. These all-inclusive voyages that feature naturalist-led excursions through the awe-inspiring region, include pre- and post-cruise stays in Quito, Ecuador. Celebrity Xpedition's 2011-12 cruises opened for sale last month.

Celebrity Infinity
Celebrity will continue to sail even further south than the Galapagos Islands with a variety of itineraries in South America - a region will visit for the 12th consecutive year in the winter of 2011-12. From December through February, Celebrity Infinity will present 13-, 14- and 15-night cruises between Valparaiso and Buenos Aires. These will be bookended between a 15-night repositioning cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Valparaiso - including a trip through the Panama Canal - on December 3, and the reverse on March 11.

Celebrity Infinity's line-up also includes a wide range of Panama Canal voyages lengthened from 14 to 15 nights. The Panama Canal voyages will now include the new port of Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, and two-day Canal experience including a full day spent in the crossing and an extended (full-day) stay in Colon, Panama, allowing cruisers to spend more time in the region. Celebrity Infinity's Panama Canal voyages between the U.S. East and West coasts will be offered in September and October 2011, and March and April 2012. Celebrity Millennium also will offer a 15-night Panama Canal cruise from San Diego to Miami to reposition the ship from Alaska to the Caribbean, departing on September 19, 2011.

 

Wine tasting aboard Marina

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

 

Marina has it all, Ralph Lauren-decorated suites, laptops in every cabin, Chef Jacques Pepin's first restaurant and now a wine tasting centre, “La Reserve”.

 

La Reserve situated on Deck 12 will boast decadent yacht club décor, with seating for up to 24 guests as well as a patio for al fresco sipping. Guests will learn about fine wines and sample produce selected by the experts at Wine Spectator magazine, some of which may reflect the area of the world where Marina is sailing. La Reserve will also host premium tastings for more intimate gatherings.

Oceania President Bob Binder said, “Marina is truly a ship for epicureans. Complementing our acclaimed cuisine with the ideal wines is the ultimate enrichment for our gourmand guests.”

The Marina's maiden voyage departs Barcelona on January 22nd, 2011.

Adult-only cruise offers from P&O

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

 

P&O Cruises will offer adult-only holidays in the Mediterranean, onboard their new 710-passenger ship Adonia, joining the fleet in May 2011.  

 

Adonia’s well appointed cabins will feature Egyptian cotton linen and tea and coffee making facilities, and over 75% of the cabins will have a private balcony.

 

Adonia’s main restaurant will be the Pacific dining room and the vessel will also boast have eight bars. The Oasis Spa is another feature that will offer a range of treatments and therapies including Aromasoul massages and body scrubs, Aromatherapy, and reflexology. There is also a well equipped gym with panoramic sea views.

P&O Cruises, managing director, Carol Marlow, said: “Adonia is an exciting introduction to our fleet and one that enables us to diversify the range of cruise destinations that we offer

“She is a small ship and her size enables her to visit off the beaten track destinations and lesser known ports of call. Adonia will be our pathfinder ship, but she will, of course offer our tried and tested P&O Cruises experience.

“We know that many of our passengers prefer a cruise experience exclusively for adults and also the intimate atmosphere and sense of camaraderie that comes with a smaller ship. Adonia will fit the bill perfectly and we are confident that she is going to be a much-loved addition to the P&O Cruises fleet.”
 
The ship will be based in

Southampton between May and October 2011, offering cruises from seven to 26 nights in duration to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. The itineraries will feature overnight calls in Athens and St. Petersburg, as well as a round Britain cruise.

In October, Adonia will reposition to the Mediterranean and offer six open-jaw Central and Eastern Mediterranean fly-cruises, departing from Savona, Athens, Trieste and Naples. Itinerary highlights include a Christmas and New Year cruise to the Holy Land.

Prices on Adonia start from £1,924 for the 16 night

Western Mediterranean maiden cruise from Southampton in May 2011, £899 for a seven night ex-Southampton Norwegian Fjords cruise, and £1,399 cruise only, for a 14 night Central Mediterranean holiday from Trieste to Athens in December 2011.

 

Sophia Loren christens MSC's Magnifica

Posted by Susan O’Driscoll

 

Stunning Sophia Loren was absent from the Oscars this year but was seen opening a glistening christening ceremony to name MSC's Magnifica in Hamburg on Saturday night.

Loren cut the ribbon, sending a bottle of champagne crashing into the side and the ceremony was filled with opera music and an elaborate firework display. Highlights can be enjoyed on the attached video. Enjoy!

 

 

Glimpse of Celebrity Eclipse

Posted by Susan O'Driscoll

 

Prepare to be amazed as the third in Celebrity Cruises' $3.7-billion Solstice Class fleet is revealed. Celebrity Eclipse emerged from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany on Sunday looking every inch the luxury liner promised.

 

Celebrity Eclipse is to offer sailings of the Canary Islands, Scandinavia/Russia and Spanish Mediterranean, all roundtrip from Southampton in the U.K. From November the new vessel from Celebrity Cruises will also offer Caribbean cruise itineraries from Miami.

MSC Cruises to launch new ship in 2012

 

Posted by Susan O'Driscoll

MSC Cruises have signed a letter of intent with STX Europe shipyard for the delivery of a new ship in June 2012.

The MSC Favolosa will be 1,094 feet long and will boast 1,751 cabins.

Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Cruises stated: “We are immensely proud to announce the signature of a letter of intent for the building of a new ship, MSC Favolosa. At a time when many companies are cautious about investing, with this announcement MSC Cruises once again signals the record-breaking extent of its ambition.

“The new ship will bring our capacity to 1,400,000 passengers in 2013, confirming both the success of our strategy and our confidence in further growth. This letter of intent is also a demonstration of our faith in the STX Europe shipyard, which we are delighted to be able to support in these challenging times. We would like to thank all parties involved in making this initiative possible.”

 

MSC Magnifica, the Italian line’s latest vessel, will set sail on its maiden voyage on March 7.