Carnival Dream Christened, Debuts In North America

Carnival Cruise Line’s newest fun ship, the 130,000-GRT Carnival Dream, has been christened in the New York by her godmother Marcia Gay Harden. The award-winning actress swung an official Yankees baseball bat autographed by player Alex Rodriguez at a 1.8-meter tall faux bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne onstage in the ship’s theater, triggering the release of a real bottle against the ship’s hull.

 

The festivities, hosted by Carnival’s Senior Cruise Director John Heald, continued throughout the ship and guests at the Encore! show lounge were treated to a live dance performance by Carnival Dream’s Fun Force dance troupe. Dressed in blue track suits, the performers breakdanced and cartwheeled to techno music, with one performer being revealed at the end of the number to be Carnival Cruise Lines CEO Gerry Cahill.

 

The 3652-guest Carnival Dream is the largest ship in the Carnival fleet and offers a host of innovations, including the Ocean Plaza indoor/outdoor dining and entertainment venue and a 2,206-square meter Cloud 9 Spa. The ship also features the longest water slide at sea as part of the Carnival Waterworks aqua park, to be christened with a ride down by Hailee Steberger, the winner of Carnival’s “Virtual Book of Dreams” contest.

 

Constructed in Italy, Carnival Dream entered service in September 2009 , sailing in the Mediterranean before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to New York, making her North American debut. She will operate a series of short cruises before repositioning again to homeport in Port Canaveral in Florida to operate Caribbean cruises throughout the year.

 

For more information, visit www.carnival.com.

Cruise To Seychelles In December 2009 With Silversea Cruises

Luxury cruise operator Silversea Cruises will operate an exotic voyage from Dubai to Mahe in December 2009. The 16,800-GRT Silver Wind will call at ports in India, Maldives, Oman and Sri Lanka during the 16-day cruise as it makes its way across the Indian Ocean to the Seychelles.

 

Departing Dubai on 4 December 2009, the vessel makes its way to Muscat, capital of the Sultanate of Oman, before spending 2 days at sea as she cruises to India. Silver Wind arrives in Mumbai on the morning of 8 December 2009, where guests opting for a shorter 12-day voyage can join the ship, before continuing to Cochin, Colombo and Male. From the Maldives, the vessel explores the ports of Curieuse Island, La Dique, Praslin in the Seychelles, arriving in Mahe on the morning of 19 December 2009.

 

Silversea Cruises has planned a series of shore excursions and activities for guests on the cruise, including private city tours in Cochin, Colombo, Mahe, Male, Mumbai and Muscat, as well as visits to Agra and the magnificent Taj Mahal. Onboard Silver Wind, guests will enjoy all-suite accomodation, gourmet meals accompanied by fine wines and champagne, as well as the attentive service the cruise line is known for.

 

For more information, visit www.silversea.com.

Carnival Dream Embarks On Inaugural Cruise

The newest and largest ship of Carnival Cruise Lines, Carnival Dream, makes its inaugural cruise today from the Italian port of Civitavecchia. The vessel will take guests on a 12-day Grand Mediterranean voyage, calling at Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Messina, Monaco, Naples, Livorno and Venice.

 

The 130,000-GRT ship was handed over to Carnival in a traditional maritime ceremony at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard and incorporates a host of innovations. Guests can look forward to a sprawling Carnival WaterWorks aqua park featuring the longest water slide at sea, cantilevered whirlpools and a wraparound promenade at The Lanai, outdoor laser shows and movies at the Waves Lido pool and a 2,206-square meter Cloud 9 Spa. Other entertainment options onboard include a comedy club featuring 24-hour performances, the Jackpot Casino, the adult-only retreat area Serenity and the Ocean Plaza, an indoor/outdoor venue featuring live music performances.

 

Dining options are spearheaded by The Crimson and The Gathering formal dining rooms offering extensive menus and wine lists. For casual dining, Carnival Dream offers a variety of restaurants and cafes serving a multitude of cuisines, ranging from The Chef’s Art Steakhouse and its USDA prime beef to delectable sushi at Wasabi and freshly baked pastries, specialty coffees and world famous teas at the Plaza Cafe. Guests can also find a 24-hour pizzeria, a pasta bar and Indian tandoor specialties onboard, before heading for the ship’s bars and clubs, including the Caliente Dance Club, The Song Jazz Bar, Sam’s Piano Bar and the Scarlet Lounge.

 

The ship also offers a host of accomodation categories, ranging from well-equipped Interior Staterooms to the luxurious Penthouse Suites with its own walk-in closets, to suit the varied needs of guests. Travelling families will appreciate the additional space and amenities of the 2-bath, 5-berth staterooms, while the Cove Balcony cabins offer spectacular views from its proximity to the waterline. The Cloud 9 staterooms and suites also feature private access to the spa and exclusive spa amenities.

 

Carnival Dream will sail a 16-day transatlantic crossing on 27 October 2009 following its Mediterranean voyages to New York, where she will operate a special 2-day cruise to nowhere and 2 8-day Caribbean sailings. The vessel will then reposition to homeport in Port Canaveral in Florida to cruise the Caribbean year-round. The 23rd vessel and the first of a new class of ships in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Dream will be joined in 2011 by her sister ship Carnival Magic, currently under construction in Italy.

 

For more information, visit www.carnival.com.

Disney Cruise Line Unveils Itineraries For 2011

Disney Cruise Line has announced the itineraries for its ships in 2011, with cruises in the Mexican Riviera, Europe and Alaskan cruises for the first time. The Disney Wonder will sail 18 voyages during its 4-month deployment to Alaska, while sister ship Disney Magic will spend the summer in Europe cruising the Mediterranean.

 

Disney Wonder To Sail Alaska, Mexican Riviera

from 3 May 2011 to 30 August 2011, the 83,000-GRT Disney Wonder will be homeported in Vancouver and offer 7-night cruises to Alaska, marking Disney Cruise Line’s debut in the largest state of the USA. 

 

The new itinerary takes guests to experience the breathtaking vistas of majestic glaciers and fjords in Juneau, catching a glimpse of brown bears, bald eagles and other abundant wildlife. In Ketchikan, guests can also learn more about the rich history and customs of Alaska’s native culture through hand-carved totem poles and fish for some of the largest wild salmon in the world, while Skagway offers the opportunity to pan for gold like the miners from the famous Klondike gold rush.

 

Prior to repositioning to Alaska, Disney Wonder will sail 7-night voyages out of Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera, including a special 10-night cruise with a stop at Manzanillo. The ship will resume cruising voyages from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera after its Alaskan deployment, calling at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.

 

Disney Magic Returns To The Mediterranean

Departing out of Barcelona, Disney Magic will sail 10- and 11-night Mediterranean cruises for the 2011 summer season, taking guests to popular ports in France, Italy and Spain to explore the cultures of Europe.

 

Beginning 28 September 2011, the vessel offer 10 cruises calling at Civitavecchia, La Spezia, Naples and Villafranche, with 2 or 3 days at sea. Disney Magic will also visit Ajaccio in Corsica, the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, as well as the island nation of Malta and explore the Arab influences of Tunis in North Africa.

 

For the majority of 2011, Disney Magic will sail out of Port Canaveral on alternating 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises, with both itineraries calling at Disney’s private island Castaway Cay. The vessel will also sail 2 repositioning 14-night transatlantic voyages.

 

For more information, visit disneycruise.disney.go.com.

Silversea To Sail Singapore – Sydney In December

Luxury cruise operator Silversea Cruises has announced a series of voyages onboard the all-suite Silver Whisper from Singapore. On 3 December 2009, the vessel makes its way from the Southeast Asian city-state to Sydney, offering guests the opportunity to sail 4 short cruise segments ranging from 6 to 10 days.

 

The first leg of the journey takes passengers on a 3-day sailing to Semarang, Indonesia, where guests can visit the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Borobudur temple complex, before re-boarding the ship to continue their journey south. Silver Whisper will spend the next 3 days at sea enroute to Darwin and guests will be able to enjoy the luxurious facilities onboard.

 

From Darwin, the vessel will sail the next leg to Cairns, arriving on the morning of 13 December 2009 to spend the day in port, before meandering through the pristine waters of the Australian east coast and Great Barrier Reef to Brisbane. Along the way, Silver Whisper will call at the ports of Townsville and Hamilton Island in the Whitsunday Islands group. The voyage concludes with a morning arrival in Sydney at 0800 hrs on the morning of 19 December 2009.

 

Silversea Cruises has lined up a series of shore excursions at each port for guests, ranging from private city tours to wildlife and nature experiences in the Australian outback. Guests will also be treated to the world-class accomodation, dining and facilities onboard the Silver Whisper, coupled with the highly personalised service from the crew.

 

Silversea Cruises is recognized as one of the world’s leading luxury cruise operators. The line currently operate 5 ships (Silver Cloud, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper, Silver Wind and the expedition ship Prince Albert II) and is due to introduce the Silver Spirit, a new 36,000-GRT, 540-guest ultra-luxury vessel in late 2009.

 

For more information, visit www.silversea.com.

Disney’s Castaway Cay To Be Expanded

Disney Cruise Line has announced that Castaway Cay, it’s private island in the Bahamas, will be expanded and enhanced to provide guests with more water-based family activities, conveniences and beachside luxury. The 1,000-acre island was designed by Disney with one-of-a-kind areas and activities whilst preserving its natural beauty.

 

Expanded Family Beach

The Castaway Family Beach will be extended by more than 213 meters for beachgoers to enjoy the pristine sand and warm, azure waters of the lagoon. Together with the longer beach, guests can look forward to new Flippers & Floats beach rentals providing essential equipment such as snorkels, masks and fins, as well as a new Buy the Sea Shore merchandise store complementing the She Sells Sea Shells & everything else store.

 

As an added convenience, the new Cookies Too located in a covered pavillion near the beach serves barbecue buffet and a variety of snacks, including island-spiced rotisserie chicken, burgers, grilled fish, salads, flatbreads, ice cream and complimentary soda. For adult guests, the Sand Bar offers cold beers, mixed drinks such as Castaway Cay’s signature Konk Kooler and other beverages.

 

New Water Feature and Water Play Areas

Guests can slide and splash at a new water feature called the Pelican Plunge,  a 223-square meter floating platform adorned with various flotsam and jetsam. Featuring an enclosed corkscrew slide and a 13-meter open slide, guests are twisted and turned before ending in the clear waters of the lagoon. The platform also has a giant “bucket dump” to deliver hundreds of gallons of water onto waiting guests, while the 4 water cannons test guests’ marksmanship skills.

 

On the island, a brand new water play area called Spring-a-Leak is being developed. In the form of a storm-ravaged beach dwelling, the 223-square meter structure offers guests a sensory experience with dripping pipes, broken plumbing and hissing meters. At its centerpiece is a splash pad giving the impression of water pooled on the ground as water jets squirt and douse guests.

 

Disney will also add a new water play area at Scuttle’s Cove for young guests as part of supervised youth activities on the island. The soft, wet deck area is 112-square meters and provides freshwater fun with its array of jets, bubblers and geysers

 

New Beach Cabanas

For a quiet time at Castaway Cay, 20 new private beach cabanas are available. Each 30-square meter cabana is furnished with comfortable cushioned chairs, chaise lounge chairs, side tables and dining table. There is also a refrigerator, lockable storage unit, outdoor shower and sail cloth providing shade.

 

The majority of these exclusive cabanas will be located on the far side of the Family Beach, although Disney will place a handful on the nearby adults-only Serenity Bay Beach. There will also be 3 new massage cabanas offering panoramic views of the sea.

 

Other Enhancements

Castaway Ray’s Stingray Adventure, where guests can swim and interact with stingrays, will be moved to a new location with a larger area within the lagoon. At Hide Out, a new secluded area on the island, teenage guests can gather, relax and enjoy themselves in their own exclusive space. Disney is also adding a new In Da Shade Games Pavillion for guests to escape the sun and play indoor games such as table tennis and foosball.

 

To handle the increased traffic from these improvements, the island’s tram paths will be expanded and a new Pelican Point tram stop constructed near most of the new attractions. On the water, an expanded Marge’s Barges & Sea Charters Dock will be able to handle more excursion boats for offshore activities, while the Cruise Ship Dock will allow Disney Cruise Line’s ships to moor directly on the island.

 

The additional facilities are scheduled to be completed by summer 2010 in time for special 5-night cruises aboard the Disney Wonder with 2 stops at Castaway Cay and cruises by the new Disney Dream, scheduled to enter service in early 2011. Disney Cruise Line sails to Castaway Cay on all voyages originating from Port Canaveral, Florida.

 

For more information, visit disneycruise.disney.go.com.

Road To Mandalay Returns To Cruise Irrawady River

Following an extensive refurbishment, Orient Express’ Road to Mandalay river cruiser has returned to service on the Irrawady River in Myanmar, sailing between Bagan and Mandalay. The vessel’s remodelling was led by French-born and Laos-based architect Francoise Geck, with work carried out by local craftsmen.

 

Road to Mandalay now features larger cabins, ensuring more space for the 82 guests onboard. 5 accomodation types are available to guests, ranging from the 10.6-square meter Single Cabin to the newly-created, luxurious 29.1-square meter Governor’s Cabin. Each cabin is furnished with luxury bedding, ensuite bathrooms, LCD televisions, wardrobes, in-room safe and large windows for guests to take in the scenery.

 

An acclaimed gourmet menu of eastern and western delicacies is offered onboard the vessel. A buffet lunch is served on the observation deck or in the Restaurant under 7 different themes: Burmese, Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Shan, Thai and Western. Guests can choose to enjoy dinner at their convenience in the Restaurant, selecting from a variety of dishes and fine wines, before retreating to the Piano Bar for an evening in the company of fellow travellers.

 

Besides the breathtaking vistas of Myanmar, Road to Mandalay features a 33-square meter fitness facility on the Deluxe deck in the form of Wellbeing. A range of beauty treatments such as aromatherapy, facials, massages, manicures and pedicures are also available to guests.

 

As before, Road to Mandalay will cruise Myanmar’s main artery with a range of 3-, 4- and 7-night itineraries, as well as special sailings to Bhamo, in the remote north of the country. All itineraries can be combined with stays in Yangon, Inle Lake or Ngapali on the coast of the Indian Ocean.

 

For more information, visit www.orient-express.com.

More Food & Wine Cruises From P&O In Australia

Following the sell-out of its first food & wine cruise onboard the Pacific Dawn, P&O Cruises has announced 3 additional gourmet sailings from the Australian ports of Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle in 2010.

 

Australia’s newest cruise liner, the Pacific Jewel and her sister ship, the 69,845-GRT Pacific Dawn, will once again showcase the products of the Hunter Valley region on their cruises from Sydney (29 January 2010) and Brisbane (12 May 2010) respectively. The smaller, 47,262-GRT Pacific Sun, will offer guests in Western Australia a gourmet cruise from Fremantle on 17 December 2010.

 

Guests can look forward to 3 nights of food-themed activities onboard, ranging from wine tastings and Master classes hosted by some of Australia’s top winemakers to cheese tastings and barista classes helmed by P&O Cruises’ coffee ambassador. Rounding up the experience is gourmet dining with a new all-Australian wine list and new a la carte restaurant menus.

 

Pacific Jewel will also offer several firsts for Australians, including the country’s first high-wire circus and trapeze at sea and P&O Cruises’ largest spa in the southern hemisphere, The Aqua Health Spa Fitness. Guests onboard Pacific Dawn and Pacific Sun will enjoy familiar amenities and highlights, such as the viZion laser and light show.

 

Part of cruise giants Carnival Corporation & PLC, P&O Cruises Australia currently operate 2 ships, with a third ship, Pacific Jewel joining the fleet in December 2009. A fourth vessel, the Pacific Pearl, is due to join the fleet in 2010. The cruise line offers sailings from Australia to New Zealand and the South Pacific.

 

For more information, visit www.pocruises.com.au.

Explore Indonesia’s Komodo National Park Onboard Amanikan

Luxury resort operator Amanresorts has introduced the Amanikan, a custom-built 32-meter coastal cruiser. Based at the Amanwana resort in the Indonesian island of Moyo, the vessel will host the 2009 Komodo Expedition, a 5-night exploration of the islands and waters of Komodo National Park coupled with a 2-night stay at Amanwana.

 

Constructed to the specifications and style of a traditional Indonesian wooden vessel known as the Phinisi, the Amanikan is equipped with 3 air-conditioned cabins offering modern amenities to complement the charm of spice trading ships. A large master cabin is located on the upper deck at the stern of the vessel, furnished with a king-sized bed and surrounded by wraparound windows offering panoramic 270° views of the surroundings. There are also 2 other cabins, located on the main deck and equipped with queen-sized beds and private sun decks. Guests enjoy the convenience of ensuite bathrooms with double vanities, wardrobes, showers and separate toilets.

 

Amanikan’s bow incorporates its main lounging area where guests can gather to sunbathe, enjoy the food and drink or sleep under the stars as the ship sails the waters of Indonesia through the Nusa Tenggera chain of islands. Guests enjoy a variety of activities from snorkelling and diving to the wildlife encounters with buffalo, deer, monkeys, wild horses and the famed Komodo dragons in their natural habitat, before returning to Amanwana.

 

Featuring 20 air-conditioned hardwood-floor tents, Amanwana is situated in a cove on the western edge of Moyo island overlooking Amanwana Bay and the Flores Sea. Surrounded by lush tropical rainforest, the resort brings guests back to nature, whilst delivering the luxury and comfort synonymous with Amanresorts. An open-air dining room and bar, library, music pavillion, dive center, spa and gift shop are available to guests.

 

Amanresorts operate 23 world-class properties across the world, including resorts in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, France, French Polynesia, Indonesia, India, Laos, Montenegro, Morocco, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Turks and Caicos Islands, USA and the flagship Amanpuri resort in Phuket, Thailand.

 

For more information, visit www.amanresorts.com.

Celebrity Equinox Officially Named In Southampton

Celebrity Cruises has officially named its newest ship, the 122,000-GRT Celebrity Equinox, in formal ceremonies at the port of Southampton in the UK. The second of the Solstice-class cruise ships, Celebrity Equinox was christened by her godmother, Nina Barough, Commander of the British Empire and founder of the breast cancer charity “Walk the Walk”.

 

The ceremony was opened by buglers and a bagpipe and drums corps, followed by a piano rendition of The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun”. In an industry first, Celebrity Cruises invited the godmother of Celebrity Equinox’s sister ship Celebrity Solstice, Sharon Smith, to the ceremony. Together with Celebrity Cruises’ Chairman Richard Fain, both godmothers cut the pink ribbon – a symbol in recognition of breast cancer causes – to release the bottle of champagne that crashed against the ship’s stack.

 

The bottle was created by the renowned Corning Museum of Glass, a strategic partner of Celebrity Cruises since 2008. Like her sister ship, Celebrity Equinox will offer the usually standing-room-only Hot Glass Show, becoming only the second cruise ship to showcase the glassblowing demonstration at sea. Other notable features onboard include the top deck Lawn Club, Sky Observation Lounge and Cellarmasters, inspired by the vineyards of the Napa Valley. Gourmet dining at the Silhouette Dining Room, Murano Restaurant, Tuscan Grill Restaurant and the Silk Harvest Restaurant offer an epicurean experience for guests.

 

Leading the variety of accomodation options onboard the ship is the luxurious Penthouse Suite. At 120 square meters, the suite features its own living and dining areas, verandah with whirlpool and lounge seating, creating the intimate atmosphere of a private yacht within the ship. Guests can also indulge in the AquaClass staterooms, with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors leading out to the verandah, Hansgrohe shower panel paired with luxury amenities from AquaSpa and dining at the exclusive Blu Restaurant.

 

Celebrity Equinox enters service on 31 July 2009, sailing a 8-night Norwegian Fjords cruise from Southampton, before returning to the British port to embark on her maiden voyage on 8 August 2009 to the Mediterranean. The vessel will present a series of Mediterranean sailings from Civitavecchia (Rome) through fall, after which it will transit to Fort Lauderdale to sail the Caribbean in the winter.

 

For more information, visit www.celebritycruises.com.