American Cruise Lines has recently revealed design details of its new modern riverboats. American first announced its plans for the series of 5 in March. At 345 feet long and 60 feet wide, the new riverboats will feature the largest staterooms in the U.S., private balconies, and hotel-size bathrooms.
Modern Riverboat Deck Plan
The spacious accommodations are a result of constructing only 2 staterooms across the entire width of the ship. This design approach is unique and vastly different from many riverboats which force 3 to 4 staterooms within a similar width. “The thoughtful layout of our new builds allows for all outward facing staterooms and private balconies,” says Timothy Beebe, Vice President of American. “Every guest has a magnificent view.”
The modern riverboats will also feature a four story atrium in the center of the ship.
“The atrium will be the largest of its kind on a riverboat and will create an incredible first impression for guests as they board,” says Beebe.
Carrying 200 passengers, the first riverboat inspired by modern design is scheduled to begin passenger service on the Lower Mississippi River in the fall of 2018 and reservations are now being accepted. Columbia & Snake River cruises aboard the new riverboats are slated to begin in 2019.
Norwegian Bliss to feature Tony Award®-Winning Musical “Jersey Boys” along with an original Cuban-inspired Broadway-style musical, reimagined comedy club and more when she debuts next summer
Norwegian Cruise Line will once again bring the best of Broadway to sea, with the 2006 Tony Award® winner for “Best Musical,” Jersey Boys, and a completely new and original show created by Tony Award®-winning director and choreographer Warren Carlyle, headlining on the Norwegian Bliss’ main stage, the Bliss Theater. The ship will also feature a new comedy club and nightlife venue, a new theatrical cocktail hour experience, Happy Hour Prohibition- The Musical, an outpost of the legendary Beatles’ venue The Cavern Club and much more.
“With Norwegian Bliss, we are continuing our legacy of bringing our guests the finest entertainment at sea,” said Andy Stuart, Norwegian Cruise Line’s president and chief executive officer.
“Our entertainment team is bringing to life dazzling displays and award-winning musical sounds across our fleet, and Norwegian Bliss will continue that legacy with the Tony Award®-winning Jersey Boys and incredible new concepts created just for this spectacular ship.” Norwegian has paved the way for outstanding entertainment in the cruise industry, as the first cruise line to feature branded entertainment in 2010 aboard Norwegian Epic. Today, Norwegian is known for its bold and vibrant musicals and Broadway-style shows. Norwegian Bliss will build on the company’s success and commitment to excellence in entertainment with the ship’s two main stage shows.
Headlining in the Bliss Theater will be the 2006 Tony Award®-winner for Best Musical, Jersey Boys. The show goes behind the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, and follows four blue-collar kids working their way from the streets of Newark to the heights of stardom. Jersey Boys features all of their hits including “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Oh What A Night,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and “Working My Way Back To You.” Jersey Boys will hit the high seas for its first production at sea after 11 record-breaking years on Broadway. As one of the longest running shows in Broadway history, including many world tours, Jersey Boys has been seen by more than 24 million people worldwide. Jersey Boys is written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe.
Norwegian Cruise Line is currently developing an exclusive original musical theater show created and produced specifically for Norwegian Bliss. The new show will be a Cuban-inspired Broadway-style musical created by Tony Award®-winning director and choreographer Warren Carlyle, featuring electrifying dance, colorful pageantry and sensational sounds developed by some of the most sought-after names on Broadway today. Warren Carlyle has worked on countless Broadway productions; acclaimed as one of Broadway’s best, Carlyle most recently choreographed the Broadway musical Hello, Dolly starring Bette Midler and directed and choreographed After Midnight, which earned the Tony Award® in 2014 for “Best Choreography” and is currently delighting audiences on Norwegian Escape. Norwegian Bliss’ new show will also feature costumes by famed Cuban-American fashion icon Isabel Toledo, whose diverse design eye has made her a coveted name in high-end couture, mainstream fashion and Broadway costume design, having designed for First Lady Michelle Obama as well as earning a Tony Award® nomination for “Best Costume Design” in 2014 for After Midnight. Isabel’s husband, Ruben Toledo, will be developing the new show’s art and scenic designs; also a Cuban-American artist, Ruben’s work has appeared across the globe including in Vogue magazine, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. More details on this incredible new show will be shared this fall.
In a new concept exclusive to Norwegian Bliss, the Alibi is a reimagined comedy and nightclub space that will feature sets from today’s most popular stand-up comedians, and then transform to a chic nightclub late in the evening. Alibi will feature two comedy performances six nights a week, offering both family-friendly and mature comedy shows. Guests who visit the swanky club will find intimate seating and cocktail tables during comedy performances, while those who visit Alibi after 10 p.m. will be captivated by the lounge’s black and white chevron patterned dancefloor, LED disco lighting and a DJ spinning today’s hottest hits.
Norwegian Bliss’ guests will have the opportunity to travel back in time to January 16, 1919 – the eve of the Prohibition era – for a rowdy good time with the new show, Happy Hour Prohibition- The Musical. Created by Broadway sensations Holly-Anne Palmer, whose creative talent has been featured in hits like Bring It On and Jersey Boys, among others, as well as Liz Muller and Collin Simon of Pipe Dream Theatre, Happy Hour Prohibition – The Musical will hit the high seas after delighting audiences for nearly two years in New Orleans and New York City. Guests will join the talented cast in Miss Lulu’s infamous New Orleans speakeasy, Mahogany Hall, as they entertain with tales of bootleggers and intoxicating choreography by Broadway veteran Lauren Lim Jackson, set to some of the era’s most famous tunes including Let’s Misbehave, Happy Feet and Makin’ Whoopee. During the one hour performance, guests will savor their own Prohibition era specialty cocktails, each with a modern twist. The show will be performed on select evenings as a happy hour pre-dinner show and once each cruise as a late night adults-only show in the Alibi Comedy and Nightclub.
In an expansion of the successful partnership that began during Norwegian Epic’s recent renovation through the Norwegian Edge™ program, the extremely popular rock and roll venue The Cavern Club will delight guests aboard Norwegian Bliss. The Cavern Club is inspired by the Liverpool club where the Beatles performed frequently in the 1960’s. The lounge brings rock and roll to life with nightly live performances and a Beatles cover band singing hits like “Penny Lane,” “Yellow Submarine,” and more.
For more information on Norwegian Bliss, including an animated video of the ship’s accommodations, please visit bliss.ncl.com. To book a cruise aboard one of Norwegian’s newest ships, contact a travel professional, call Norwegian at 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784), or visit www.ncl.com.
Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, the 133,500-ton Carnival Horizon, will be the first in the fleet to feature Dr. Seuss WaterWorks. A water park inspired by the whimsical world and words of the legendary children’s author. The 3,934-passenger vessel is set to debut in EuropeApril 2, 2018.
Carnival President Christine Duffy and Dr. Seuss Enterprises President Susan Brandt made the announcement at Cruise3Sixty, an annual gathering of travel agents held in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
At a Thursday, April 20, 2017, news conference at the Cruise3Sixty travel agent convention, Dr. Seuss characters pose with Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy, second from left, and Dr. Seuss Enterprises President Susan Brandt , second from right, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Dr. Seuss WaterWorks is to be installed on the 3,934-passenger Carnival Horizon, slated to debut in April 2018. (Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line)
Dr. Seuss WaterWorks builds upon the line’s distinction as the family cruise leader carrying nearly 800,000 kids a year as well as the incredible success of the fleetwide Seuss at Sea program, an exclusive partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises that features immersive onboard Dr. Seuss-themed youth, family, dining and entertainment experiences.
Located on Deck 12, Carnival Horizon’s Dr. Seuss WaterWorks will offer two distinctly different slides each promising their own splash-tastic fun.
Inspired by everyone’s favorite feline, The Cat in the Hat slide will feature an enclosed raft slide offering more than 450 feet of heart-racing twists and turns. The entrance resembles The Cat’s famous red and white hat with the distinctive color pattern carried throughout the slide in alternating translucent and opaque sections.
Sure to be equally fun will be the Fun Things slide, an enclosed body slide with whimsical polka dots and special lighting effects and named after the mischievous duo Thing 1 and Thing 2 and encompassing 213 feet of exhilarating all-ages fun.
Dr. Seuss WaterWorks will also include a 150-gallon tipping bucket patterned after The Cat’s hat, along with a kiddie splash zone with dozens of water spray toys.
Larger-than-life images of famous Dr. Seuss characters – including The Cat in the Hat holding an inner tube, The Grinch sporting a surf board tucked under his arm, and Thing 1 and Thing 2 frolicking atop their namesake slide – will greet visitors as they enter the park, with memorable Dr. Seuss phrases displayed on clear partitions that surround the facility.
”Our ships are designed as the ultimate seagoing playgrounds and Carnival Horizon will take this concept to the next level with the spectacular Dr. Seuss WaterWorks which promises fun for guests of all ages,” said Duffy. “Dr. Seuss is an iconic American brand and we’re delighted to expand our partnership with this incredible top-deck water attraction for our guests.”
Dr. Seuss WaterWorks
Added Brandt, “We’re excited to build upon our relationship with Carnival by introducing our first-ever water park. Dr. Seuss is all about family fun and togetherness and we can’t wait to see our characters come to life in this colorful and exciting space.”
Dr. Seuss WaterWorks is just one of several family-friendly features on Carnival Horizon which will also feature the groundbreaking bike-ride-in-the-sky attraction called SkyRide, an IMAX Theatre and the SportSquare outdoor recreation area with a suspended ropes course. A wide range of accommodations will also be offered, including extra-roomy staterooms in Family Harbor, which will include a Family Lounge area with large screen TVs, board games and complimentary breakfast, cookies and other snacks.
Carnival Horizon will also feature the Dr. Seuss Bookville family reading and play venue and popular Seuss at Sea activities like The Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with The Cat in the Hat and Friends and the Seuss-a-palooza Parade and Story Time.
Carnival Horizon is scheduled to make its maiden voyage April 2, 2018, with a 13-day Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona – the first of four round-trip departures from this port. Carnival Horizon will reposition to the U.S. with a 14-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Barcelona to New York May 9-23, 2018.
Norwegian Cruise line to employ certified lifeguards on select ships this summer and fleetwide by early 2018
Norwegian Cruise Line today announced that the line will begin employing certified lifeguards at all of the family pools across their fleet. The first responders will be trained and certified by the American Red Cross in lifesaving rescue measures and will monitor the family pools during scheduled pool hours. The lifeguards will begin service this summer on the line’s four largest ships – Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Epic – and on the remainder of the fleet by early 2018.
In addition to uniformed lifeguards, Norwegian will also begin offering complimentary swim vests for both adults and children on the line’s four largest ships. Parents can obtain the safety vests at the towel station on the ship’s pool deck during daytime hours.
Norwegian Cruise Line offers guests the freedom and flexibility to explore the world on their own time and experience up to 27 dining options, award-winning entertainment, superior guest service and more across all of the brand’s 14 ships. To book a cruise aboard a Norwegian ship, contact a travel professional, call Norwegian at 866-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784), or visit www.ncl.com.
Viking Cruises® has signed on to sponsor National Geographic’s first fully scripted global anthology series, “Genius,” which in its debut season tells the story of the 20th century’s most brilliant icon, Albert Einstein. The new premier partnership with National Geographic builds on Viking’s continued commitment to supporting enriching cultural programming, with current and past partnerships including PBS’ MASTERPIECE, the Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl, the Munch Museum and more. During the global premiere of Genius on April 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on National Geographic, Viking will showcase a new brand campaign entitled “Time,” featuring Torstein Hagen, Founder and Chairman of Viking Cruises. A lifelong admirer of Einstein, Hagen, who is also a physicist, shares Einstein’s interest in the concept of time and often refers to time as “the only scarce commodity.” The campaign debuts today and will roll-out across additional marketing channels throughout the show’s 10-part global event series on National Geographic.
“Through my formal education, I studied nuclear physics, and as a scientist, I have always been fascinated with Einstein and his work as a theoretical physicist,” said Torstein Hagen, Founder and Chairman of Viking Cruises. “We are pleased to have a premier partner in National Geographic, to further bring enriching offerings through art, history and exploration to audiences around the world, while also continuing to showcase The Viking Way of travel.”
“Genius exemplifies National Geographic’s commitment to premium content, and we are thrilled that it is attracting premium partners like Viking,” said Brendan Ripp, Executive Vice President of Sales and Partnerships for National Geographic. “Viking’s commitment to expanding cultural horizons is truly inspiring, and we hope Genius is just the beginning of our joint efforts to bring consumers the type of content we both believe in.”
Dramatizing the stories of the world’s most brilliant innovators, season one of Genius reveals how Albert became Einstein, exploring his extraordinary professional achievements along with his volatile, passionate and complex personal relationships. The series is based on Walter Isaacson’s book “Einstein: His Life and Universe” and is executive produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, with Howard making his scripted television directorial debut with the first episode. Featuring Einstein’s lovers, enemies and fellow scientific luminaries, the all-star cast includes Geoffrey Rush (“The Kings Speech,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Shine”) as the celebrated titular scientist, Johnny Flynn (“Clouds of Sils Maria,” “Song One,” “Lovesick”) as Albert in the years before he rose to international acclaim and Emily Watson (“Theory of Everything,” “The Book Thief”) as his second wife — and first cousin — Elsa Einstein.
Throughout the series, audiences will experience key locations of Einstein’s life, including his time in Germany (Berlin, Munich, Würzburg, Heidelberg), Switzerland (Zurich, Basel) and Austria (Vienna, Salzburg), as well as his later years in the United States (New York City, Boston) – all of which are also destinations on Viking’s river and ocean cruise itineraries.
Designed for discerning travelers, Viking offers guests “the thinking person’s cruise” as an alternative to mainstream cruises. The Viking Difference is providing guests with extraordinarily well-designed cruises that bring them closer to the cultures of the world. Itineraries are designed for maximum time in port, often with late evenings or overnights, so guests can experience local culture at night or evening performances. And only The Viking Way brings guests itineraries that feature Local Life, Working World and Privileged Access experiences.
Celebrating 20 years of innovation and growth and on the heels of christening two new Viking Longships®, 2017 marks another year of impressive growth for Viking. The company launched its third ocean ship, Viking Sky®, in February and will add a fourth ocean ship, Viking Sun®, in October. By 2019, Viking will have a fleet of six ocean ships and will be the largest small ship ocean cruise line.
Through April 30, 2017, Viking is offering U.S. residents 2-for-1 cruise fare, plus up to free air on select popular 2017 and 2018 Viking river itineraries including Rhine Getaway, Grand European Tour and Danube Waltz. Also on select ocean itineraries, Viking is offering 2-for-1 cruise fare, plus up to free air on Panama & Central America; in addition, on Viking Homelands, guests also receive a choice of free beverage package, $400 shipboard credit, or prepaid onboard gratuities. Call Viking toll free at 1-855-8-VIKING (1-855-884-5464) or contact a travel agent.
Join Cruise Addicts for this Celebrity Edge reveal. The Celebrity Edge is the first cruise ship completely designed in 3-D, and featuring the work of A-list global architects and designers, the 2,918-guest CelebrityEdge aims to make discerning global travelers redefine how they experience the world and how intimate a vacation can be.
“Celebrity Edge is one of the most exciting, innovative and transformational ships I have ever been involved with,” said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “The new features and refined design will establish a new baseline for ships from here on out.”
“Our guests don’t want to just skim the world like a magazine – they want to feel a human connection with it,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. Every element of Celebrity Edge is meant to make that connection intense and unforgettable. Our new class of ship will allow guests to experience their journeys with the uniqueness and sophistication that marks the rest of their lives.”
Viking Ocean Cruises® and Fincantieri signed a memorandum of agreementfor the construction of two additional cruise ships, with an option for another two. The new builds will be sister ships to the six already ordered and will enter Viking’s fleet in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The agreement will be effective subject to financing and other customary closing conditions.
Viking
Viking Ocean Cruises
The new ships will follow the same successful and award-winning design as the current ships ordered and in operation. The entire fleet is comprised of all-veranda staterooms; each ship has a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons and accommodates 930 guests in 465 cabins. As with the other sister ships, the new ships will be built according to the latest navigation regulations and equipped with the most modern safety systems, including the “Safe return to port” system.
The Atrium
Viking Ocean Cruises
The first ship built for Viking Ocean Cruises, Viking Star® was delivered at the shipyard in Marghera in spring 2015. The second and the third ships, Viking Sea® and Viking Sky®, took the sea from the yard in Ancona, respectively, in early 2016 and early 2017. Viking will take delivery of the fourth ship, Viking Sun®, in late 2017 and the fifth ship, Viking Spirit®, in 2018. A sixth, yet-to-be-named ship will be delivered in 2019, marking Viking as the largest small ship ocean cruise line.
Viking is forecasted to have a dominant market share of the luxury ocean industry in 2020 of 23.9% (on a per berth basis according to Cruise Industry News). The additional vessels will add to this already impressive statistic.
“Our guests and the industry have spoken, and they love the ocean ships that we have built with Fincantieri. In our first year of operation we were named the World’s Best Cruise Line by Travel + Leisure, and we are proud of Viking’s dominance in Cruise Critic’s 2017 Cruisers’ Choice Awards, where we won 10 categories, including ‘Best Overall’ and ‘Best for First-Timers,’” said Torstein Hagen.
Living Room
Viking Cruises
“We set out to bring the destination back to cruising, and the cruising public has responded. These additional ships are needed to meet the demand we are experiencing. Once only known for being the leading river cruise line, we are now equally known for upscale, inclusive ocean cruise experiences. As we celebrate our 20th year of operation in 2017, we are pleased to continue innovating and to introduce even more guests to The Viking Way of exploration.”
“The extraordinary moment of the cruise sector is continuing, and with this announcement Fincantieri reaffirms its worldwide leadership in the segment. The series – which began with the Viking Star prototype – reaches eight ships with these additional units, with the possibility to further grow thanks to the expansion plans of this dynamic cruise company,” said Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri. “As the worldwide river cruise leader, Viking decided to enter the ocean cruise segment with a startup together with Fincantieri as shipbuilder, achieving great success. We can but consider this agreement as a strategic and commercial success, which allows us to further strengthen our already excellent partnership with Viking Ocean Cruises.”
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has announced a partnership with Scuderia Ferrari Watches as a part of the entertainment and activities on board Norwegian Joy, its soon to-be-unveiled 3,850 passenger vessel. Norwegian Joy will be Norwegian Cruise Line’s first purpose-built ship for the Chinese market, designed to deliver on the promise that guests will enjoy ‘First Class at Sea’ experiences. Norwegian Joy will home port in Shanghai and Tianjin, following a grand inaugural port tour leading up to a christening ceremony on June 27, led by her Godfather, ‘King of Chinese Pop’ Wang Leehom.
Norwegian Joy Speedway is located at the top of the ship and lets riders race in F1 replica electric cars.
Feature A Ferrari Branded Race Track
A two-level Ferrari branded competitive racetrack will be located on the top deck of the ship, where guests may take a thrilling ride in electric go-carts. Up to ten drivers at a time will be able to race each other on the course and have photos taken at the finish line to share with friends and family back home. Guests of Norwegian Joy’s The Haven and Concierge class will enjoy a number of complimentary rides as part of the amenities and benefits of their suites and staterooms.
Ferrari represents fun, passion, and competitive spirit, and this partnership will bring the spirit of the brand to Norwegian Joy’s guests. This is the first time Ferrari Watches has partnered on a branded go-kart track and Scuderia Ferrari Watches will be featured in a retail store adjacent to the racetrack.
Norwegian Joy will officially be delivered on April 27 in Bremerhaven, Germany. The ship will then set sail for China, where she will be showcased through a grand inaugural port tour featuring one-day events at the ports of Qingdao, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong, as well as VIP partner cruises from Norwegian Joy’s home-ports of Shanghai and Tianjin. This unique showcase tour will give travel agents and valued partners across the region the special opportunity to experience all that Norwegian Joy has to offer leading up to the ship’s christening ceremony on June 27, led by her Godfather, ‘King of Chinese Pop’, Wang Leehom.
Norwegian Cruise Line
For more information on Norwegian Joy, please contact an authorized Norwegian travel partner or visit www.goncl.cn (in China) or https://www.ncl.com/norwegian-joy (in US). Reservations for Norwegian Joy from June 28 onwards are currently available through travel agent partners across China.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Jewel-class ship returns to service with upgraded dining options, newly designed spaces and clean modernizations across the entire ship just in time for her summer season in Europe
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jade has begun cruises from her seasonal homeport of Tampa as an essentially new vessel recently, following a three week dry dock where she received enhancements to every part of the onboard experience, from two brand new restaurants and two new bars and lounges, updated design and décor in many public spaces, and a refurbishment of all staterooms. Norwegian Jade’s extensive renovation is a part of The Norwegian Edge™, an investment program that sets a high standard of excellence encompassing the entire guest experience across Norwegian’s fleet. Norwegian Jade’s extensive enhancements come just in time for her highly anticipated summer season, the brand’s first ever complete season sailing from Hamburg, Germany to the Norwegian Fjords, with embarkation also available in the UK.
Norwegian Jade guests can now enjoy two new restaurants, as well as redesigned spaces in many of the ship’s existing restaurants. Norwegian’s 24-hour neighborhood pub-style restaurant, O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill, has been added to deck eight. Serving up cold brews and snack-time favorites in a relaxed atmosphere, the new venue features modern flooring, refurbished front and back bars and new banquet seating. The Pit Stop, a newly installed concept for Norwegian Jade, will serve up poolside fun and fare in a 1950s-style American diner atmosphere, clad with vintage license plates, gas station signage and classic car elements.
Norwegian Jade
The AtriumTeppanyakiSugarcane Enhanced Staterooms Moderno ChurrascariaLa CucinaCagney’s SteakhouseJasmine GardenO’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill
Moderno Churrascaria received a new home on deck 13 and features a new upscale glass door entrance, floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing for stunning panoramic views of the ocean enhanced by new flooring, wall coverings and upgraded furniture. Now, even more Norwegian Jade guests can enjoy Cagney’s Steakhouse, as the ever-popular restaurant has added additional seating to the completely refurbished space, which offers a new color scheme befitting of a classic steakhouse, upgraded flooring, new wall linings and an intimate new virtual fireplace. La Cucina, Norwegian’s signature Italian specialty restaurant, received an elegant modernization with several new features including updated décor and furniture, flooring, a new decorative bar and an impressive wine display wall. Teppanyaki, Norwegian’s Japanese hibachi grill restaurant, was enhanced with updated furnishings and fittings while complimentary favorites Jasmine Garden and the Garden Café also received extensive enhancements including newly designed spaces with upgrades to furniture, new flooring and much more.
Those looking to dance the night away aboard Norwegian Jade can now do so in the chic new Bliss Ultra Lounge on deck seven, which has the feel of an upscale Miami nightclub and features a cool color palette of silvers, greys and black. Guests who wish to indulge in an exotic cocktail can enjoy their favorite mojito, or opt for a flight and try them all, at the new Sugarcane Mojito Bar on deck 13 adjacent to Moderno Churrascaria, a Norwegian fan favorite since the concept debuted on Norwegian Getaway in 2014. Sugarcane features, new granite bar fronts, as well as new furnishings and finishes. Norwegian Jade’s Spinnaker Lounge also received a complete redesign of the entire space to include new flooring and window treatments, decorative chandeliers, reupholstered seating and refurbished bars with contemporary mosaic tiling and LED lighting.
Every stateroom on the ship was enhanced during this renovation, with all receiving new carpets, furniture, flat screen TVs, new larger headboards with USB charging outlets and more than 2000 new pieces of artwork. Guests sailing in The Haven®, Norwegian’s ship-within-a-ship luxury suite concept, will now enjoy a more modern chic atmosphere in all suites and villas, as they now feature new finishes to walls and ceilings, new flooring throughout the suites and balconies, plus new soft goods and drapery. Norwegian Jade’s villas and suites also received more than 250 new pieces of artwork alone. Luxury has been taken to the next level aboard Norwegian Jade with a complete refurbishment of the ship’s Haven Courtyard. Guests of the ship’s top villas and suites can soak up the sun in style one of the Haven’s four new plush cabanas nestled at the top of the ship or take a dip in the newly refinished pool surrounded by modern furnishings and new artwork.
The Atrium, the heart of the action on Norwegian Jade, has been enhanced with a refreshed look and décor brought to life with an eye-catching, custom-designed marquee chandelier, as well as new modern finishes in modern calming grey tones, updated flooring, enhanced reception and shore excursion areas, a new large TV screen and relaxed banquette seating so guests can relax in a contemporary lounge atmosphere while enjoying all of the ship’s excitement. Norwegian Jade will also now offers guests easier ways to view and purchase mementos of their cruise vacation with an upgraded Photo Gallery featuring new individual digital monitors and larger photo display panels, along with sleek furniture and tile flooring. The ship’s main pool deck was also touched by this extensive refurbishment, with the addition of glistening new lighting fixtures as well as new flooring and tiling around the pool and whirlpools.
Norwegian Jade now offers fitness enthusiasts the opportunity to work up a sweat with all-new TechnoGym fitness equipment and new rubber flooring, ideal for weightlifting and plyometric workouts. Junior cruisers aboard Norwegian Jade can now enjoy playtime with new floorings in Splash Academy that include new noise reducing mats so kids are free to play into the evening hours. The ship’s elevator landings were also all refurbished with updated interior finishes and flooring, new wall coverings, new carpet and updated light fixtures. In addition, the ship’s stairways all received new carpeting featuring a new contemporary designed featuring new modern artwork in in all mid-stairwell landings.
Norwegian Jade is currently sailing the final part of her winter season, cruising from Tampa to the Western Caribbean. On April 30, she will journey across the Atlantic to her summer home ports of Southampton and Hamburg, where she’ll sail the Norwegian Fjords as well as Norway & North Cape itineraries. For more information or to book a cruise aboard the beautifully enhanced Norwegian Jade, contact a travel professional, call Norwegian at 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784), or visit www.ncl.com.
The Cruise Industry Reveals the top summer destinations for cruisers
The warm weather season is quickly approaching and many travelers are beginning to plan summer vacations. From family-friendly beach getaways to adventurous voyages into little explored places, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, reveals the top five destinations for summer 2017 travel.
“Cruising can take you to some of the most amazing destinations around the world,” said Cindy D’Aoust, president and CEO, CLIA. “Cruise lines continue to expand itineraries to not only include time-honored favorites but to also introduce unique experiences in pockets of the world travelers have yet to discover, and this summer’s destinations are no different.”
From sun and sand to adventure and Arctic temperatures, the top five destinations for cruise travel in the 2017 summer season are:
1.) Havana History: A sought-after and recently attainable destination, Cuba offers historic beauty, culture, and music like almost nowhere else. Cuba is a hot summer destination as travelers to the Caribbean’s largest island can learn to dance to live salsa at the famous Cabaret Tropicana Night Club, puff cigars, view famous Spanish-inspired architecture, and visit eclectic museums and art galleries. Once being in Cuba you should also try the taste of it by best cuban cigars for immersing in the atmosphere of Cuba. Many lines offer shore excursions like checking out UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Cienfuegos or Trinidad and touring “the place untouched by time,” the Malecón, in a vintage car.
2.) The Gorgeous Galapagos: The dynamic Galapagos Islands are a destination unlike any other teeming with diverse wildlife—that Charles Darwin famously studied—and lush greenery, perfect for the modern explorer. Cruisers who visit these famous islands are engulfed in nature, with chances to photograph unique species that inhabit this archipelago both on land and sea and explore the landscape of this living museum of natural history. From excursions including catamaran tours and snorkeling to hiking and photography, the Galapagos Islands are a top destination for nature-lovers.
3.) Adventuresome Passage: Looking for a wintery destination in the heart of summer? The Northwest Passage is perfect for travelers looking to find polar adventure in the warm summer months and beyond. Passage cruises lend themselves to bird watching, kayaking, and polar bear sightings while sailing this famed passage that connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Cruisers on many Northwest Passage-bound ships can follow in the footsteps of icy explorers sailing to pockets of the Earth like Pond Inlet above the Arctic Circle in Nunavut, Canada where there may be a once-in-a-lifetime narwhal sighting.
4.) Exotic Africa: Travelers to Africa can bask in the urban beauty and shopping that Cape Town has to offer, take part in stunning safaris in the savannah, check out the famous Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, and become immerse in storied culture. Excursions on Africa-bound cruise ships may even include game drives that reveal leopards and elephants as well as trips to Manibia’s famous dunes and tastings of Africa’s famously varied cuisine.
5.) A Diver’s Dream: Cruise travelers with the tropical paradise of Belize on the itinerary will be surrounded by beach beauty and ancient culture as well as some of the most famed diving spots in the world. This coastal spot offers nearly unbroken lines of reefs and cayes that make for excellent diving views, as well as a high concentration of ancient Mayan ruins to explore. Cruisers can take part in excursions both onshore and off with hikes through lowland jungles full of impressive wildlife and crystalline rivers, snorkeling off of silk-sand beaches, and mountain biking through vast rainforests.
