A Cruise Line is Born

Welcome to the new Viking Cruises

Just Announced May 17, 2013

Torstein Hagen, the visionary founder of Viking River Cruises, the world's largest and fastest growing river line, told the assembled travel agents, journalists and past passengers the company would launch its ocean-oriented cruise line in May 2015.  The announcement came at a gala banquet in Beverly Hills, California.

Click on this interactive image to start exploring the new cruise line and the first of its ships, Viking Star.



Viking Cruises, the new name of Viking River Cruises, announced the launch of its ocean product line, Viking Ocean Cruises, marking the introduction of the travel industry’s first new cruise line in nearly a decade.

Destination is Key Focus

Developed from the ground up to return the focus of cruising to the destination, Viking Ocean Cruises will begin sailing in May 2015 with its first vessel—Viking Star—embarking on maiden voyages in Scandinavia and the Baltic; and the Western and Eastern Mediterranean.

Leveraging extensive feedback and input from Viking River Cruises passengers, Viking Ocean Cruises was developed with experienced travelers in mind. Itineraries are curated for maximum time in port, often with late evenings or overnights, so guests can experience local nightlife or evening performances. Ports include both cosmopolitan cities and “collector ports,” and appeal to those with an interest in history, art and culture.

Small Ship Sailing with Unparalleled Value

All-inclusive pricing provides unparalleled value—with every cruise fare including a veranda stateroom, shore excursions in each port of call, all onboard meals, and all port charges and government taxes. Passengers also enjoy many complimentary amenities as part of their fare, including: beer and wine with lunch and dinner service; wi-fi; self-service laundry and 24-hour room service—a value of more than $2,400 per couple for an average cruise. 

Continued Fleet Expansion

Viking Cruises has aggressive expansion plans in both the ocean and river cruise categories, with a second ocean ship on order for delivery in 2016 and conditional orders and options for four more additional ocean vessels. The ocean ship order follows the company’s continued rapid fleet expansion in the river cruise sector, with 10 new river ships recently christened in March of this year and 12 new river ships planned to launch in 2014.

Earlier this year Viking set the World Record for the most ships launched on a single day: World Record Ship Launching

Working Closely With Viking to Launch New Cruise Line

Bookings Now Open for Viking Star 

Introducing Viking Star

“It is our view that in the race to build bigger ships, many cruise lines have lost sight of the destinations to which they sail,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises. “With our new ocean cruises, we are applying the same principles behind our award-winning river cruises to our itinerary and ship design; privileged-access excursions; and onboard experiences to make destinations the true focus.” 

Come Explore The New Viking Star - Sailing May 2015 

Viking Star

Classified as a “small ship,” the new 928-passenger all-veranda Viking Star is engineered at a scale that allows direct access into most ports, so guests have easy and efficient embarkation and debarkation. The ship’s understated elegance and modern Scandinavian design is crafted for maximum guest comfort. Highlighted features include:

• All Veranda Staterooms: Guests can choose from five stateroom categories, starting from a 270 sq. ft. veranda stateroom, all with private verandas, king-size beds, large showers, and LCD TVs.
  
• Explorer Suites: Viking Star’s 14 Explorer Suites are two-room suites ranging from 757 to 1,448 sq. ft. and offer sweeping views from wrap-around private verandas as well as the most amenities and privileges of any category onboard.
  
• Two Pool Choices: In addition to the Main Pool with a retractable dome permitting any-season swimming, Viking Star features one of the only infinity pools at sea, allowing passengers to swim surrounded by their destination in a glass-backed pool cantilevered off the stern.
  
• The Spa: In keeping with Viking’s Nordic heritage, The Spa onboard Viking Star is designed with the holistic wellness philosophy of Scandinavia in mind—from the centuries-old tradition of the sauna to a “snow grotto” where snowflakes gently descend from the ceiling through chilled air.
  
• Explorers’ Lounge and Wintergarden: Spaces designed to facilitate mingling and storytelling, the two-deck Explorers’ Lounge at the bow of the ship is the perfect spot for taking in scenery through double-height windows over a glass of aquavit or pint of local craft beer; and the Wintergarden is a serene environment in which to relax and enjoy afternoon tea service complete with a curated tea selection.
  
• Dining Choices: Viking Star offers multiple restaurant locations and food choices—from The Restaurant and the World Café, serving a variety of global cuisines and regional specialties—to intimate dining experiences at The Chef’s Table, Italian Grill and The Kitchen Table, all serving meals prepared with fresh, local ingredients. Furthermore, with multiple choices for outdoor seating during meals, Viking Star offers more al fresco dining than any other ship.
  
• Enriching Entertainment:, Connecting passengers to their destinations through authentic experiences is central to Viking Cruises, and Viking Star’s onboard venues include a dramatic three-deck atrium where passengers can enjoy musicians playing regional and classical music; the Star Theater, home of enrichment lectures from scholars and experts; an onboard cooking school where guests can learn local specialties; and the Viking Piano Lounge, where guests can relax, mingle, and exchange stories after a day of exploring.
  
• Sustainable Features: Designed with the environment in mind, Viking Star features energy-efficient hybrid engines, a hydro-dynamically optimized streamlined hull and bow for maximum fuel efficiency, onboard solar panels, and equipment that minimizes exhaust pollution and meets the strictest environmental regulations.
  

The ship has been designed by experienced nautical architects and engineers, including an interior design team of London-based SMC Design, and Los Angeles-based Rottet Studios. The first of two ocean ships on order, Viking Star will be built by Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard.

Farewell Destiny Hello Sunshine

Destiny Went In and Sunshine has Emerged

Serenity Deck on Carnival Sunshine   Courtesy CCL

The long awaited transformation of Carnival Destiny into the Carnival Sunshine is now complete as the ship sailed it's inaugural voyage out of Venice with some work remaining to be completed.

This is amongst the largest re-makes in the cruise industry and certainly the largest undertaking for a Carnival cruise ship.   See what you think...

  Watch the Transformation of Carnival Destiny into Carnival Sunshine   
Inaugural Voyage Not All Sunshine

When the revitalized Carnival Sunshine set sail from Venice on its inaugural 12-Night Mediterranean voyage on May 5th, there still was some work to be done to totally complete the transformation. It wasn't until 3 days before the cruise ended that the new WaterWorks Aqua Park was opened to the public. The Rope Course was another feature that was unavailable until near the end of the voyage.

Since Mediterranean cruises are so sightseeing intensive, there might not have been a lot of time to enjoy the facilities on board the ship anyway, but Carnival did the right thing and compensated passengers with a $150 on board credit.

Was It Worth the Wait?

The $155M transformation had originally been slated to be completed by April, but the Carnival Triumph fire that left that ship stranded had a cascading effect on the entire Carnival fleet.   President and CEO Gerry Cahill promised to increase operating redundancies, emergency power and fire prevention, detection and suppression systems fleetwide, so the dry-dock was extended to complete that work on the new Carnival Sunshine.

Read more about the delays: Carnival Triumph & Sunshine Returns Delayed

Carnival Sunshine becomes the first ship in the Carnival fleet to have all of the Fun Ship 2.0 features as well as the first ship to deploy the new safety improvements making it an ideal ship for your next vacation at sea.

Want to Learn more about Fun Ship 2.0? TOUCH this Image and then move your mouse over the various interactive buttons.  Watch Videos, View Menus, Get More Facts.   Enjoy !!

 

 Highlights:

• A fleet first: Carnival Sunshine's WaterWorks area introduces Speedway Splash, featuring two lanes of long-distance waterslide racing action.
• With a brand-new Cloud 9 Spa, plus 95 brand-new Cloud 9 Spa Staterooms, Carnival Sunshine practically floats on air!
• Carnival Sunshine's Serenity Adults-Only Retreat spans three decks, which means relaxation on a whole new level... or two, actually.
• Hungry for something new? Carnival Sunshine will feature 10 dining venues that are either brand-new or completely redesigned.
• Even with all the added decks, staterooms and fun features, Carnival Sunshine's weight will only grow by about 1% (from 101,353 to 102,853 tons).
• 3,006 passenger capacity, 1,150 onboard crew, 893 length in feet

Learn more about the changes:  Destiny Goes In Sunshine Comes Out

Click for Carnival Sunshine Sailings

Now is the Time to Plan a Cruise Down Under

Sydney Harbour - Credit: Tourism Australia Copyright

Now is the Time...

Cruise Australia

More Ships

Larger Ships

More Choices

Some time in our lives we'd all love to leave our footprints on a white sand beach or snorkel the crystal clear waters of the Great Barrier Reef. It is here, in Australia and the South Pacific, that natural beauty abounds. Fascinating people inhabit peaceful islands and charming cities combine old-world atmosphere with hardy, frontier spirit.

Cruise Season:  October - April


A cruise to Australia, New Zealand, and/or the South Pacific can fulfill almost every exotic adventure that a serious traveler could dream. Cruises and cruisetours start at 14 nights long and sail seasonally between October and April. The beauty of these itineraries is that you can see as much of the South Pacific as you like in one cruise.

Great Barrier Reef - Credit: Tourism Australia Copyright

2014-15 Deployments Announced

Cruise lines have begun announcing their Australia plans for the 2014-15 season, and now is the time to plan a cruise vacation there as additional capacity means greater flexibility and potential savings.   In this article, we will discuss the deployments that have been announced.  In future articles and on our website, we will provide updates on the itineraries, and also take a closer look at the destination itself.

Australia is one of the world's fastest-growing cruise destinations and this next deployment reflects increases to programs as the lines establish a strong presence Down Under.

Carnival Cruise Line continues to base the 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit in Sydney, Australia year-round. The Spirit will sail 8- to 12-night voyages to the Pacific Islands as well as 13-night sailings to New Zealand.  The 88,500-ton Spirit  is so big it can't fit under the city's Harbour Bridge, therefore, it will be based at Circular Quay's Overseas Passenger Terminal.

The 88,500-ton, 2,680-passenger Carnival Legend, sister ship to the Carnival Legend, will be deployed seasonally in Australia after being "Aussified".  According to the local Carnival Cruise Line director, “Carnival Legend will go into dry dock in 2014 where she will receive a range of upgrades to ensure she's perfectly suited for the tastes of the Aussie market. We will be using our valuable learnings from the first year of Carnival Spirit's deployment to decide on the best features and enhancement for Australians.” 

Last year Celebrity Cruises announced plans to  send  the 2,850-passenger Celebrity Solstice, to Australia and New Zealand in December, 2012, taking the place of the smaller, 1,814-passenger Celebrity Century.  For the 2014-15 Season, Celebrity Century rejoins Celebrity Solstice in Australia.

Celebrity Century and Celebrity Solstice together will offer 27 cruises in Australia in 2014-15, representing a 50 percent increase from the previous season. The itineraries offer guests a vast array of options, ranging from three to 23 nights, departing from Sydney, Fremantle and Auckland.

Celebrity Century will visit 17 ports in four countries during the Australia season, including five first-time ports: Port Lincoln and Cairns, Australia; and Champagne Bay, Mystery Island and Vila, Vanuatu. Within the complete collection of itineraries are a 23-night “Golden Gate to Sydney Opera House” cruise from San Francisco to Sydney via Hawaii and Tahiti; 8-night Australia vacations and a 7-night Tasmania cruise; 12-night South Pacific and Fiji Islands sailings, and a 14-night South Pacific cruise. Celebrity Century will cap her Australia/New Zealand season with a 14-night cruise to Singapore January 11, 2015, where the ship will present a new Southeast Asia series until April 2015.

Celebrity Solstice will set sail on her third Australia/New Zealand season from Sydney October 10, 2014. The ship’s three-month Australia/New Zealand season will be highlighted by Celebrity’s first cruise combining Tropical Queensland with the South Pacific islands; new 12- and 14-night Australian itineraries, in addition to a three-night weekend getaway from Sydney and an eight-night South Australian cruise; a 12-night South Pacific/Fiji cruise; a 17-night Australia/New Zealand sailing from Auckland to Perth, which can be combined with a 17-night “Top End” Australia cruise from Perth to Sydney to create an exceptional 34-night circumnavigation of Australia, and an 18-night sailing across the Pacific from Sydney to Honolulu.

Royal Caribbean International announced that it will have three ships in Australia during the 2014-15 season.Voyager of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas will continue to be based in Sydney, offering two- to 17-night sailings around Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. The line offers the most ships and sailings from Sydney seasonally.

Royal Caribbean has big plans for the 2014-15 season as they announced their biggest deployment to date. Part of the plans call for Voyager of the Seas to undergo a multi-million dollar refurbishment before the new cruise season kicks off.

At press time, we didn't have updates for Holland America and Princess Cruises but we expect similar deployments from last season:

Holland America had two ships sailing in Australia:  the 1,926-passenger Oosterdam and the 1,432-passenger Volendam,    Holland America sailed 10- to 25-day itineraries in and around Australia and New Zealand.

Princess Cruises deployment  included 4 ships, 11 itineraries, and 45 voyages. There were  three ships deployed in the region: Diamond Princess, Dawn Princess and Sea Princess.

Contact us for more information about Cruising in Australia

Visit Australia.com to learn more about what Australia has to offer during your cruise vacation. 
 

TM © The Brand Australia trademark and the Tourism Australia trademark are the subject of copyright and trademarks of Tourism Australia, 2004.

Norwegian Breakaway Christening Live

Watch the Christening Live

Norwegian Breakaway To Set Sail

It seems like yesterday that Norwegian Cruise Line announced that they were building a new cruise ship which would be make its home in New York City.

Today is the day that the final milestone in the construction takes place.   The traditional naming / christening of the new ship will take place in New York City.   Norwegian Cruise Line will be broadcasting live during this event which will undoubtedly be as spectacular as the new features on this ship.

Built for Family Fun

Start with an exciting Aqua Park and a spectacular three-story Sports Complex. Then add in the all-new youth programs with dedicated areas for kids and teens and you’ve got a recipe for the perfect family vacation.
We've written several articles about Norwegian Breakaway already and also have a microsite devoted to all the information you'll want about the new ship, so we won't repeat ourselves here.

Our suggestion is to watch the christening live today, visit our site to learn more, and plan your family getaway to Bermuda on this brand new ship.   Don't you love the new ship smell?    There are still cabins available for the rest of the year.   Note that we will be on the ship for our national conference, so you could take advantage of special pricing for that voyage if you are interested.   See our website for complete details.

EXPLORE NORWEGIAN BREAKAWAY BEFORE YOU GO

CSU 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Prediction

2013 Atlantic Hurricane Forecast

Forecasters at the Colorado State University are predicting that the 2013 Atlantic basin hurricane season will have enhanced activity compared with the 1981-2010 climatology The season begins June 1st and continues through November 30th.

Their current (April 10^th) forecast calls for above-average activity in the Atlantic this Hurricane Season.

It is impossible to precisely predict this season’s hurricane activity in early April.

NOAA won't even make their first prediction until the end of May. So, why does Colorado State University's team of scientists create this forecast? Mainly because the public is curious about predictions based on the current global oceanic and atmospheric conditions. The forecasting team created their predictions using a statistical model based on 29 years worth of data.

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

The tropical Atlantic has anomalously warmed over the past several months, and it appears that the chances of an El Niño event this summer and fall are unlikely. The scientists anticipate an above-average probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the United States coastline and in the Caribbean.

Coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season for them, and they need to prepare the same for every season, regardless of how much or how little activity is predicted.

The April forecast calls for 18 named tropical storms with 9 strengthening to hurricane status. Of those hurricanes, 4 are predicted to be a major hurricane (Category 3,4, or 5).

The team forecasts a 72% chance of one major hurricane making landfall on the U.S. coastline (compared to 52% for last century), 48% for U.S. East Coast Including Peninsula Florida (average for last century is 31%), 47% for Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle westward to Brownsville (average for last century is 30%) and a 61% chance for the Caribbean (compared to 42% average for last century).

More reading: Current and Past Forecasts

ATLANTIC BASIN SEASONAL 

HURRICANE FORECAST FOR 2013

Forecast Parameter and 1950-2000 Climatology (in parentheses)	Issue Date   10 April 2013
Named Storms (NS) (12.0)	18
Named Storm Days (NSD) (60.1)	95
Hurricanes (H) (6.5)	9
Hurricane Days (HD) (21.3)	40
Major Hurricanes (MH) (2.0)	4
Major Hurricane Days (MHD) (3.9)	9
Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) (92.0)	165
Net Tropical Cyclone Activity (NTC) (103%)	175

Another reason why Colorado State University publishes forecasts is for hurricane preparedness.   We too are publishing this information, along with updates throughout hurricane season, to help protect life and property when danger approaches.   Additional information and links can be found on the Weather Tab of this blog.

As I've said many times,  the cruise line industry has safety of passengers, crew, and vessels as their number one priority.   The cruise lines work closely with the NHC and other agencies to monitor all sorts of weather conditions, including tropical storms.   The ships may alter courses and cancel ports of call in order to maintain the level of safety for all onboard.  We will keep you posted about any known itinerary changes during hurricane season.   Should your cruise itinerary change due to a tropical storm, don't be upset, but rather thank the Captain and crew for taking you out of harm's way.

Hurricane Preparedness Week - May 26^th through June 1^st

Disney to Sprinkle Pixie Dust on Magic

You've Probably Heard the News...

Disney Magic will be 

Re-Imagined This Year

We thought we'd take a different approach to the latest news coming out of Disney Cruise Line by looking at Disney Magic then (1998) and now (2013).

First, the News...

Disney Cruise Line has announced that they will sprinkle some pixie dust on the 15 year old Disney Magic vessel which will transform the ship into something closer to the more recent additions to the line, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.

The ship will be taken out of service from September 7 to October 10 for its biggest-ever refurbishment. The operation, being done in Cadiz, Spain, will cover restaurants, bars, the spa, the atrium, cabins and kids' spaces, and will include the addition of an AquaDunk water attraction that can be seen in the photo above. It will be similar, but quite different to the AquaDuck on the Dream-class ships.

It's 1998...

When the Disney executives decided to enter the Cruise market in the 90's, they set about bringing the on-land Disney family experience to sea. Obviously, there were some standard features that are needed on a cruise ship that they started with, but they made some changes geared towards family entertainment and the Disney culture.

Most notably missing was the casino, which could be found on most other ships of the same size, currently sailing the seven seas. Disney wanted to have entertainment for the entire family to enjoy throughout the day and into the evening. Therefore, they added an entire deck's worth of space devoted to kids and family activities, and two technologically advanced theaters which featured evening entertainment appropriate for all ages. 

Cabins were another area that needed attention for families traveling together. The standard outside cabin (with or without balcony) was clearly designed with families in mind. Beds convert from twins to queen and are placed in the middle section near a curtain that divides the bedroom area from the sitting area, which is particularly useful at night, after the kids are asleep. In the sitting area, there's a sleeper sofa, coffee table, desk and color television. Balcony cabins are plentiful at 44 percent of outside staterooms.

After the Pixie Dust Settles...

Guest this Fall will be amongst the first to see the changes that occur during the month-long dry-dock including the following: 

• AquaDunk on the Disney Magic is a thrilling three-story body slide that begins with a surprise launch, sending guests on a near-vertical drop and through a translucent tube that extends 20 feet over the side of the ship.
• The grand atrium lobby on the Disney Magic, inspired by elegant art deco and elements of the sea, features a palette of vibrant coral, blue and aquamarine, a dazzling new chandelier and a grand staircase.
• The vibrancy of Rio de Janeiro creates an energetic atmosphere in Carioca's, a new restaurant on the Disney Magic. During the day, buffet meals feature a festival theme before night falls and the atmosphere transforms into an after-hours scene of Rio de Janiero, with city-side windows softly illuminated and lanterns flickering overhead. 
• Disney Cruise Line's popular adult-exclusive Palo restaurant receives a makeover on the Disney Magic, with stylish wood fixtures, glass artwork panels, decorative lighting and hand-tufted carpet.  
• Animator's Palate on the Disney Magic, one of the most popular restaurants on the Disney ships, is updated with all-new, animation-adorned walls and larger high-definition flat-screens to provide the best views of the animation magic that takes place all around. 
• Cabanas on the Disney Magic, drawing inspiration from Australian influences with uniquely Disney touches, includes a beach-themed dining room that has beach umbrellas and teak Adirondack chairs to create a sunny "down under" décor for guests. 
• Fathoms on the Disney Magic is a night club inspired by the excitement of the sea that utilizes special effects, lighting and sound to create different atmospheres from early evening to night. 
• The youngest (and smallest) cruisers --- ages three months to three years --- can enjoy the new It's a Small World Nursery on the Disney Magic. 
• Mickey Mouse Club is a new youth area in Disney's Oceaneer Club on the Disney Magic where kids can create crafts and play games on custom, ear-shaped tables, in a room splashed with Mickey's signature colors of red, yellow and black.  
• Keys on the Disney Magic is a piano bar and lounge perfect for guests wanting a low-key nighttime experience. 

These are but a few of the many changes onboard the re-imagined Disney Magic, which will emerge following the completion of its dry-dock in October.

To learn more about the changes and see an album with the Disney Imagineers renderings, become a fan on our Facebook Page and click the Disney Link on our Welcome Page.

Click on this image to go there now.

The newly reimagined Disney Magic will sail from Miami this fall! Enjoy 3-, 4- and 5-night Disney Cruise Line sailings to the Bahamas, or 5-night Western Caribbean cruises, all departing from this vibrant South Florida city. Explore the Everglades by airboat, stop by Little Havana, soak up the sun on South Beach and more!