Category Archives: New ships

Royal Caribbean at it again with four newbuild ships over six years

Posted on by alanwhitt
As Royal Caribbean's enthusiastic fans continue to speculate about the line's new Project Sunshine ship, images such as this one from Falmouth, Jamaica, continues to make the rounds. The vessel on the right is said to be the ship in question, but Royal Caribbean has released nothing to confirm it.

As Royal Caribbean’s enthusiastic fans continue to speculate about the line’s new Project Sunshine ship, images such as this one from Falmouth, Jamaica, continues to make the rounds. The vessel on the right is said to be the ship in question, but Royal Caribbean has not confirmed it.

I’m trying to decide which Royal Caribbean newbuild news excites me more – the fact that they’ve building a third (2016) and possibly fourth (2018) Oasis-class ship … or the new generation Project Sunshine ship scheduled for delivery next year.

Alan Whitt

Alan Whitt

Since I’ve sailed on Oasis of the Seas, I guess the inquisitive side of me is more anxious for the Project Sunshine ship. That’s because I know that Royal Caribbean has to have a few surprises up their collective sleeves for their very enthusiastic fans.

Not much has been released on the Project Sunshine ship. If the ship is successful (and do you doubt it will be) Royal Caribbean has an option for a second ship in 2015.

Right now the message boards are all over the place with speculation as to what will be added … including a ferris wheel! This ship will be slightly larger than the line’s three Freedom-Class ships at 158,000 tons and will carry just over 4,100 guests based on double occupancy.

The new Oasis-class ships will weigh in at 225,282 tons and carry 5,400 passengers just like Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.

When Oasis of the Seas debuted in late 2009 many wondered if Royal Caribbean was pricing itself out of the range of normal cruise passengers. That theory was immediately rebuked with sold out ships at premium prices.

“The Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas have fundamentally transformed the cruise experience for our guests,” said RCCL Chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain. “These ships have consistently generated outstanding guest satisfaction ratings and continue to produce superior financial results. We are thrilled to be adding a sister to this extraordinary class of vessels at a compelling price. Being back building in France just adds to the pleasure.”

The many original amenities have proven so successful that Royal Caribbean is currently undergoing a fleet-wide revitalization program to add those innovations to all of their ships in some form.

Visit Allure Quest Travel Experience and We 2 R 1 Honeymoons on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, insightful videos, the latest travel news and vacations to book.

The new Carnival: Recently debuted Breeze tones down the glitz

Posted on by alanwhitt

Carnival Cruise Line has always been proud of it’s outrageous decor and feel. It usually takes a few days to adapt to the atmosphere and sometimes you never do.

Alan Whitt

A cruise line executive once told me that when passengers board a Carnival ship he wanted them to now they weren’t in their living room.

My description of a Fun Ship has always been “out there.”

Well, things are changing … beginning with the brand new Carnival Breeze. The 130,000-ton, 3,690-passenger ship has a surprising modern decor.

However, don’t expect bland. Carnival fans will be relieved that the color scheme will remain bright, including staterooms with yellow and blue striped cushions an drapes.

“Carnival Breeze has a different look and feel,” says Carnival president and CEO Gerry Cahill.“It’s a little more contemporary, a little more Caribbean.…We are a fun-and-sun brand at our core, and the new design reflects that.”

One of my Carnival pet peeves has always been the dark, closed-in feeling onboard, unlike other modern cruise lines. Carnival Breeze breaks the mold with more indoor-outdoor spaces.- including Ocean Plaza with lanais with hot tubs and indoor eateries and entertainment.

You can expect the enhancements – along with the new branded dining options – to be added to other Carnival ships over the next few years.

Check out Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, insightful videos, the latest travel news and vacations to book.

Coming to America: MSC’s newest ship to sail from Miami in 2013-14

Posted on by alanwhitt

It’s no secret that I absolutely love cruising. Of course, as with anything else, you love some more than others.

Alan Whitt

I got a spot of good news recently. One of my favorite cruise lines is bringing its newest ship to the United States.

The 139,500-ton, 3,300-passenger MSC Divina, which debuted over the weekend, will spend the 2013-14 winter season in Miami, replacing the smaller MSC Poesia.

The move brings to reality MSC president & CEO Rick Sasso’s dream of bringing more ships to America – perhaps even as a year-round presence. He told me two years ago that MSC wanted more ships in the United States, including one on the West Coast. But the faltering world economy put those plans on hold until now.

Coming to America: MSC’s newest ship to sail from Miami in 2013-14

MSC has fantastic ships and one of the newest fleets in the world. It seems that the privately-owned line is debuting a new ship every year.

Not true. Divina is MSC’s first new ship in two years … but still, 11 of the 12-ship fleet was built since 2001. MSC Preziosa joins the fleet in 2013.

So why is MSC one of my favorite cruise lines?

  1. Cleanest ships
  2. Best original entertainment
  3. MSC Yacht Club
  4. Exquisite authentic italian cuisine
  5. White-gloved escort to your cabin when you board the first day.
  6. A virtual Formula 1 auto racing simulator

Sasso says MSC take great pride in the first two categories.

An MSC ship is as clean on the final day of a cruise as it is the first day. No matter where you are on a ship, it’s either spotless or someone’s there cleaning.

Sasso says MSC seeks out the best entertainment beyond cruising. You won’t find lasers, lights or special effects on an MSC vessel … just quality performers and acts.

MSC brands its Yacht Club, a 69-luxury suites area, as a “ship-within-a-ship.” The Yacht Club has butler service, free wine and other alcohol in exclusive lounges and pool area, and other private venues – including a restaurant.

Check out Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, insightful videos, the latest travel news and vacations to book.

Riverboat cruising returning to the Mississippi River in August

Posted on by alanwhitt

The Queen of the Mississippi will debut in August with a round-trip sailing from New Orleans.

There remains no better way to experience America’s heartland than on a river cruise.

Thanks to the new Queen of the Mississippi the long tradition of a leisurely riverboat cruise along more than 2,320 miles of America’s most famous river is experiencing a resurgence.

Alan Whitt

Steamboats were once the major method of transport for passengers and freight from one end of the Mississippi to the other. But just as air travel caused the downsizing of passenger travel on railways, those same railways had a similar impact on river cruising.

Then came Hurricane Katrina, taking out New Orleans and leaving the riverboat cruising industry in tatters.

By 2008, riverboat cruising was finished. Or so everyone thought.

Now comes a brand new ship scheduled to debut with seven-night sailings involving both Memphis and Nashville in August.

The Nashville sailings are August 18 Memphis to Nashville and August 25 Nashville to St. Louis.

The new world of Mississippi river cruising begins August 4 with a round-trip New Orleans cruise, followed by New Orleans to Memphis on August 11 including stops at Helena, AR; Vicksburg and Natchez in Mississippi; and St. Francisville, Baton Rouge and Oak Alley in Louisiana.

The Nashville to St. Louis cruise stops in Clarksville and Dover, TN; Paducah and Columbus in Kentucky and Cape Girardeau, MO. The Memphis to Nashville cruise replaces Cape Girardeau with New Madrid, MO.

Over the next year the Queen of the Mississippi, the first sternwheeler built for the Mississippi in 20 years, will sail from St. Louis to Cincinnati, St. Louis to St. Paul, Cincinnati-Pittsburgh, Memphis-St. Louis, with round trips sailings from St. Louis and Memphis.

The Queen of the Mississippi recreates the allure of past riverboats while adding modern technology and safety into the mix. Although the riverboats resemble their predecessors form a century ago and more, these are not your great-grandparent’s vessels.

This ship will have the largest staterooms on the Mississippi, along with private balconies in 85% of the staterooms. Queen of the Mississippi will feature six unique lounges, a library, a dining salon and elevator service to all decks.

Success breeds success. Construction has already began on a new American Cruise Lines riverboat, this one slightly larger than the 150-passenger Queen of he Mississippi.

Check out Allure Quest Travel Experience on the web for all your travel needs – including analysis of destinations, insightful videos and the latest travel news.

Royal family: Princess releases virtual tour of newest ship

Posted on by alanwhitt

If you’re a fan of a particular cruise line – or simply a cruise connoisseur like me – there’s always excitement and anticipation as a new ship begins to take shape. You clamor for those first images, curious to find out what they’ve come up with next.

Alan Whitt

Today that ship is Royal Princess, the first of two new ship for Princess Cruises and their first since Ruby Princess debuted in 2008.

Royal Princess is actually more than a year away from completion with a June 2013 launch date. that’s why the excitement level is so high.

Today Princess released the first in a series of virtual tours of the new ship to travel professionals, and I thought I would share it with you, some of my closest friends.

Today’s tour is of the ship’s Piazza and Atrium, the main artery of every Princess ship.

Check out this virtual world where Princess Cruise’s largest ship (at 141,000 tons) currently resides.

Of course, as more are released I’ll be more than happy to share them with my readers.