Princess Cruises announced that it has reached an agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri S.p.A. to build two new ships, entering into service in 2019 and 2020.
The finalization of the contract follows the announcement late last year of a memorandum of agreement between Princess Cruise’s parent company, Carnival Corporation & plc and Fincantieri for five new ships including the Princess Cruises new builds.
The contract was signed on Saturday (April 2) at a ceremony at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera attended by: Italian Minister of Infrastructures and Transport Graziano Delrio, Carnival Corporation Chairman Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation CEO Arnold Donald, Fincantieri CEO Giuseppe Bono and Stein Kruse, CEO of Holland America Group, which includes Princess Cruises.
“We are incredibly proud and excited to add two new ships to our already formidable fleet,” said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises. “With this new ship commitment, Princess Cruises will continue to grow and expand globally as the world’s destination leader in premium cruising.”
The unnamed 143,700-ton, 3,560-passenger ships will be the brand’s fourth and fifth Royal-class vessels, featuring an evolution of the successful design platform used on Royal Princess, Regal Princess, and the new Majestic Princess coming in 2017.
The new Princess ships will include the signature elements that have become synonymous with the brand’s best-in-class guest experience featuring a soaring central atrium, multiple dining, entertainment and retail venues; outdoor theater experience; and 80 percent of all staterooms with balconies. The ships will also include new innovations to enhance the guest experience even further.
Specific features and amenities for the ships, along with deployment details, will be revealed soon.
Holland America Line dates back to 1873 when the then Dutch shipping line began transporting immigrants from the Netherlands to North America. Part of Carnival Corporation since 1989, Holland America Line currently has 15 ships in operation with new ms Koningsdam set to launch soon. I sailed to Alaska not long ago on ms Westerdam, round-trip Seattle and found the line’s current offering a great fit, but not for reasons one might think.
1- Relaxed Onboard Ambience
Unique to Holland America Line to the extent that I don’t think even they know it, the atmosphere aboard ms Westerdam was relaxed and pleasant from the time I walked on the ship until the time I left.
Never rushed, never in a hurry, the crew on board under direction of Hotel Manager Mark Pells runs a confident onboard experience that can be as engaging (or not) as one feels comfortable with.
2- An Extra Layer Of Excellence
I was there to take a look at their Sip, Savor, Sail program, an additional layer of culinary excellence that fit quite nicely on top of what they normally do on each and every sailing. Food-, wine- and beer-oriented experts on board for our special sailing complemented a well-orchestrated onboard product that is a stand-alone hit with cruise travelers. Example: A nightly Sip & Savor event is held in the ship’s Culinary Arts Center (sponsored by Food & Wine magazine) where, on any given sailing, passengers can choose to enjoy a glass of wine and an appetizer before dinner for a nominal fee.
The attraction here is to get the evening started nicely with something like Pinnacle Grill Crab Cakes and the Cellar Master’s Wine Pairing ($5) That this was a Sip, Savor, Sail event brought Seattle Space Needle Chef Jeff Maxfield, Seattle area vintner Bob Bertheau of Chateau St Michelle, Chef Seis Kamimura of Centurylink Field (home of the Seattle Seahawks) and Alaska Brewing Company’s Steve Gamba, all of whom were great hits with guests on board. No extra charge for these guys and that’s the last time I will mention them in this article. They are not what this is about.
3- A Great Stand Alone Value
And so it goes with Holland America Line, breaking down a number of options that carry a nominal fee, holding down prices for everyone and giving great value to those who want a bit more. This is very much not ‘nickel and diming’ passengers. Nickel and diming happens when passengers feel forced to pay extra for the good stuff, the best experience, food, etc. Skip all possible options to pay extra (I did) and one can still walk away from the experience saying “That was a great deal”“.
4- Going To Alaska? Go With The Best, Often For Far Less Holland America Line’s Alaska program offers some of, if not the best opportunities to engage the land of the midnight sun as only a line who has been there and established itself as a leader can. Now partnering with sister line Princess Cruises, also an Alaska powerhouse, there is simply no other line that offers as many options. That’s important because a lot of the Alaska experience happens off the ship, at additional cost. Holland America Line’s strong Alaska presence (they have more ships there than anyone else) gets their passengers top priority on the most sought-after Alaska experiences. Pricing the 2016 Alaska season recently, Holland America Line consistently had the best pricing, especially on early and late season sailings. Actually, they are there first and stay later than all other lines.
5- They Own Alaska- Check with your travel agent or just click around the Internet and see for yourself; Holland America Line and Princess Cruises pretty much own the Alaska market and compare quite favorably on pricing on a $ per person, per day basis. Far more importantly, those dollars go farther on either line compared to competitors. Where this comes into play and really slaps one in the face is during scenic cruising along the coast or in Glacier Bay, arguably a premiere attraction of any Alaska experience. Here you are, sailing along the amazing majesty of Alaska for about the same price as a Caribbean cruise, seeing the same magnificent glaciers, mountains and (on a good day) wildlife for a fraction of what premium lines charge and far, far less than a land tour.
6- Little Features That Can Add Up To A Great Big Wonderful Experience Holland America Line has some unique elements not offered by other lines, worthy of mention.
Your Alaska Explorer is a detailed guide that highlights every day of the sailing; sort of like a diary but in advance. This is a supplement to the ship’s daily Today On Location Program newsletter that gives an excellent overview of what to expect at each port of call and onboard as you sail along. Each port is detailed with “Things To See”, directions on where to Shop and a unique feature “Get Out Of Town” that details features in closeby areas that passengers can see and still get back to the ship on time.
Location Guides- Like having a personal shore excursion expert in your back pocket, Holland America Line has regularly scheduled time when a location expert is available to help plan days ashore in Alaska. The big difference I experienced: This is not a sales pitch. These guides genuinely want to match travelers with the right experience for them, as it should be.
Alaska-Themed Events– Included for all passengers, a number of Alaska-themed events and enrichment activities on board. Some examples include a Klondike Gold Rush Dinner, Meet The Glacier Bay Park Rangers, The Wonders of Glacier Bay, a Russian Heritage Event, an Alaska Salmon Bake (pictured) and more.
7- One Final Thought
We commonly suggest that visitor get up in the air via helicopter or airplane to see parts of Alaska just not possible to view from land. We also suggest booking that twice as weather can often cause up in the air tours to stay down on the ground. Exactly that happened to us in Juneau, canceling our airplane flight while helicopter tours were still running. Luckily we had paid attention to our own advice and booked another one for our stop in Ketchikan. That one went off without a hitch and brought some great memories. The video below, while not of our tour, gives a good idea of what to expect in a typical flightseeing tour.
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Anyone who has planned a cruise vacation, or any vacation for that matter, knows that there is a whole lot more to it that there might appear to be. Booking the cruise is just one part. Packing, getting to the ship, a budget for what to spend and being sure everyone going has the right documentation are just some of the concerns that the person in charge has to be concerned with. The larger the group, it seems, the more there is to do. Having the right person in charge can make or break the whole experience.
Before taking on the position of “leader” of your group, be it just you and one other person or 100 of your closest friends, there are some critical qualities you need to have.
Good leaders know themselves, their schedule and their limitations- Unless you are making planning travel your job (like I did), you probably have other responsibilities so prioritizing your life all of the sudden becomes important.
Good leaders are not power-hungry monsters– In line with #1, a good leader will not hesitate to delegate responsibility for some part or parts of the whole process to a capable group member. Like take the standard line item in any cruise plan “Getting to the pier”. There are a number of ways to do it but having the plan made, if not paid for, in advance is critical. We don’t want Lazy Susan on this.
Good leaders are committed to having the best experience- Price is one thing and a big thing at that, but just one part of the whole equation. Bad Leaders focus too much on the rock-bottom low price with no regard for anything else. They want bragging rights. Good Leaders consider, hunt for and find the best value which may not be the lowest price. Example: Cheap Carla got the cruise for $800 per person from her nameless InternetCruise Broker. Smart Susan got it for $825 but it includes better accommodations, bonus amenities and the beginnings of a long-term business relationship with a travel agent who will do her good in the future when she wants to book again.
Good leaders are open to change, know everything won’t go exactly as planned– Major components of a cruise vacation are pretty standard from line to line and don’t vary all that much from sailing to sailing. Still, this is travel, not using the remote control, and things don’t always go as planned. Itineraries get changed, there are lines where one might not anticipate lines should be and not everyone is going to like which side of the ship is facing the dock.
Good leaders are not afraid to tell group members when they are wrong– It is often hard when someone who normally takes orders from someone else is all of the sudden in charge. This is usually one of the first encounters a group leader has, when one of the members has a “better idea” that they pulled out of thin air after the group leader spent three days on the phone working out some odd little detail.
Good leaders are organized- If you can’t balance your checkbook, this is not the job for you. If you are the person in your home who pays the bills (and does a good job of it), you might be a good leader.
Good leaders can communicate– but there is a difference between “can communicate” and are “willing to communicate to everyone even if you hate their guts otherwise” because the later is just as critical as the former. Everyone needs to know, for example, that they need a visa to board the ship in StrangePlaceistan or they will be denied boarding with no refund and have to find their own way home, at their expense. Not just your friends.
Good leaders are popular and liked by group members- Nobody wants the person everyone talks about behind their backs planning their fabulous cruise vacation. There will be serious doubts as to their ability no matter how good it is.
Good leaders read this whole list– because they are detail-oriented and comfortable with things like spreadsheets, email communications and lists. People that scan things for what they find interesting are the same people that think the cruise is going to be $499 and fail to add in the port charges and taxes when considering pricing information.
Not all group leaders are going to hit all these ten qualities. Some do but most don’t. It’s more important to have more of these qualities with a larger group than it is with just one or two people to be sure. Its also important to have more of these qualities when dealing with group members you are not related to as relatives are often more forgiving of the mistakes you will make than strangers are.
One last, critical part of the process is seeking the guidance of a travel professional somewhere along the line. By all rights, if you use that travel professional, pick their brains for information and book a cruise, it should be done through them. It is totally unfair and you will surely have bad things happen on your cruise vacation if you use a travel professional, gain all the knowledge they freely give you, then book online with some cruise broker just to save a little cash.
Facts:
That travel professional does not cost you anything.
You are not “eliminating the middleman” to save money by booking online.
In the long run, having a travel professional in your back pocket will reap you and the group huge rewards
This article is brought to by Cruise Compete. CruiseCompete.com allows you to easily compare multiple offers from Cruise Experts.
Carnival Vista will be the latest, greatest ship from the cruise line that defined Fun at sea decades ago. Kept current with a number of updating initiatives over the year, we’ve watched the evolution of that Fun as Carnival Cruise Line has grown. Expanding their offerings to have something for nearly everyone, most of the recent updates to the Carnival onboard experience have come in the form of remodels of older ships; upgrades of existing hardware. Taking advantage of a new ship that can be anything they want it to be, the designers of Carnival Vista have been paying attention to their passengers. Looking to launch a ship that both excites long time fans and draws in new ones, Carnival Vista has unique elements that give a glimpse of the future.
Turning It Inside Out
‘Connecting passengers with the ocean’ is an over-used marketing ploy that a number of cruise lines have thrown out there for us to gobble up recently. That usually translates to big windows or an indoor/outdoor dining, drinking or entertainment venue. It’s an interesting way to look at things that may or may not resonate with would-be passengers, mainly because we already understand that connection. Breaking news: we get it. Carnival Vista heads in this direction too, but in a bold new way we have not seen elsewhere.
Havana Bar & Pool is an onboard retreat that’s an exclusive paradise by day and a music/dancing hotspot at night. Featuring handcrafted Cuban cocktails like the classic Mojito or traditional Daiquiri, plus fresh (free) Cuban snacks. The bar is just steps from the Havana Pool, whose ocean view and atmosphere mingles with the bar’s own, for a bit of that old-time Cuban resort flavor.
SportSquare has SkyGreens minature golf, a basketball court and SkyCourse ropes course. Featured is a new SkyRide that lets passengers strap in and zip around a bike course high above the deck.
The Clubhouse features indoor activities like mini-bowling and arcade-style basketball with soccer, volleyball and ping-pong close by
Multiplex featuring IMAX brings not one but two theaters to sea. One is a full size IMAX theater, the other a 3D Thrill Theater
Carnival Waterworks just gets better all the time and the facility on Carnival Vista is no exception. An all new Kaleid-O-Slide is the new kid on the block here and said to be a must-see, from the inside where passengers zip through on rafts with lights colors and sound all around. Think along the lines of Disney’s Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster .
Bigger And Better Than Ever
One thing Carnival learned a long long time ago on the way to perfecting Fun at sea: Don’t mess with a winner. Funny pool games still bring laughs, keeping the mood light still resonates with anyone worth resonating with and kids like water slides. Still, that does not mean they can’t improve along the way and add new elements to sure fire hit features
Carnival Vista’s Serenity Adults-Only Retreat has more for adults, Moving beyond the main attraction (kids not allowed), Carnival Vista adds a chopped salad station and a large, accessible bar plus more intimate seating that will let guests connect and enjoy sea breezes and peace
Cherry On Top has become quite a hit on nearly every other ship in the Carnival fleet since its rollout as part of their Funship 2.0 initiative, bringing what is described as a candy-and-more-store. Taking the pretty much dead space of the Formalities shop on older ships and prominently positioning the space on newer ones, the Carnival Vista rendition will have a premium ice cream counter with toppings for those for whom unlimited soft serve is just not enough.
Dr. Seuss Bookville takes the highly successful partnership between Carnival Cruise Line and edutainment icon Dr.Seuss to an entirely new space, custom designed for it, as opposed to refits of older ships on a number of lines. On that same children’s campus, Camp Ocean breaks young cruise travelers age 2-11 down into age-based groups for appropriate interaction with each other and degreed educators who man the space.
A Fun Lineup Of Eateries
Seafood Shack will feature New-England style complete meals with a view of the ocean
The Chef’s Table on Carnival Vista promises to do what other renditions of the chefs table on other lines fail to do: make it fun. The venue itself makes the whole idea of it work, with an open kitchen and plenty of space for guests and chefs to share fun in the kitchen, as opposed so much focus on “I’m the highly skilled chef, let me impress you”
Ji Ji Asian Kitchen is my main number one reason for wanting to sail Carnival Vista. I think it’s one of the best foodservice operations Carnival does and it’s only on Carnival Breeze right now. How good is it? When we sail Carnival Breeze, we commonly dine there multiple times on each sailing. It’s just that good.
Cucina del Capitano continues the successful Italian eatery concept with similar decor and feel, tapping family albums of Carnival’s marine officers with an Italian farmhouse ambiance.
BlueIguana Cantina is Carnival Vista’s taco and burrito place and a favorite Chipotle-style you pick the ingredients venue
A Stateroom To Enjoy
Also featured on Carnival Vista, a variety of new stateroom configurations to compliment standard interior, oceanview, balcony and suite accommodations. Cruise travelers who have convinced themselves that “the cabin is just a place to sleep” will probably rethink that after sailing Carnival Vista. The standard fare looks quite comfortable and continues a Carnival tradition of having some of the roomiest living spaces at sea. Still, there are a number of featured categories that take an entirely different look at cruise ship accommodations:
Havana Staterooms And Suites are located close to the Havana Bar and Pool, intended for exclusive use of guests booked in this part of the ship. The main attraction and star of the show is the Havana Cabana suite
Family Harbor Staterooms and Suites also have a bit of exclusivity, close to the Family Harbor Lounge which is open 24 hours for breakfast, snacks during the day, games, family movies and more. Stay here and your kids eat free in most onboard specialty restaurants.
Cloud 9 Spa Staterooms and Suites get priority spa reservations and more access than anyone else to all things spa
That’s a really quick rundown of interesting features coming up on new Carnival Vista. Also of interest, a variety of entertainment options, shore excursion choices and pretty much an entire re-thinking of the standard fare. More to come.
Going about the business of pricing a cruise seems to be done almost as many ways as there are travelers booking sometimes. In the past, some buyers would click-to-buy, others would use a travel agent, and all had different considerations when making a buying decision. Regardless of how we went about it, when all was said and done, we had a cruise booked and could look forward to a fabulous vacation. Today, the way we go about booking is changing and those stuck in the past might very well be missing out on some of the best values available.
“Consumers today are much more sensitive to price, given the economic climate. It’s natural for consumers to keep a watchful eye on their budgets during recessionary times,” Dwain Wall, Senior Vice President and General Manager of CruiseOne told me in a recent interview.
A lot of what goes into cruise line pricing strategy is based on demand and demand almost always changes over time. There are a number of factors at work here including ship positioning, the economy, the effect of new ships just entering the marketplace on the sales of older ships, and more.
Consider the price at the time of booking simply the starting price and use a travel agent to keep an eye on it.
When cruise lines were very similar, it was simply a matter of choosing a sailing that worked with our travel window and an itinerary we liked. Buying online was arguably a viable option for booking. Now, with dynamic pricing strategies, differentiated onboard programming that varies widely from line to line and many more options, booking on line is becoming more difficult all the time.
Now is the time to take another look at what cruise lines are actually offering right now vs. what your long-held beliefs are about what is happening on their ships.
In the olden days, travel agents tried to be everything to everyone, selling any type of travel product. Most of them went broke. Today, more and more agents are becoming specialists in just cruise vacations and even specific cruise lines. That laser-sharp focus has brought better pricing, a better booking experience that often includes bonus amenities and almost always equals a better value.
Ask your travel agent what they specialize in. If they don’t say “cruises”, don’t buy from them.
Loyalty often does little more than make us feel good. That goes for travel agents as well as cruise lines. There should be no doubt in your mind about the value your travel agent adds. The same goes for cruise lines and their loyalty programs. Continuing to book with the same cruise line because some day we will get free laundry service is a horrible buying strategy. If that loyalty blinds us from other offers that may have better value, we could easily lose savings far greater than the cost savings realized by a few loads of laundry.
Speaking about cruise line loyalty programs, Wall notes “as loyal cruisers look to broaden and diversify their travel experiences, even they are more open now to enticing offers from competing cruise lines.”
This article is brought to by Cruise Compete. CruiseCompete.com allows you to easily compare multiple offers from Cruise Experts.
Today Holland America Line took delivery of ms Koningsdam 2016, officially making it the first Pinnacle-Class ship in the fleet.
The signing ceremony took place at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy. The Dutch flag was raised on the ship for the first time following the signing since Koningsdam is registered in the Netherlands.
The ship will soon make its way to Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, for its premiere voyage departing April 8. Following a series of premiere Mediterranean voyages, Koningsdam‘s official naming ceremony will take place in Rotterdam on May 20.
“Today is a day of celebration for the entire Holland America Line family, and a milestone in our company history. We all share in this proud moment as we welcome Koningsdam to our fleet,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “Koningsdam looks spectacular, beyond our expectations, and we thank all those involved for their dedication and commitment in bringing our vision to life.”
Fincantieri Shipyard Director Antonio Quintano and Orlando Ashford, president, Holland America Line sign papers for delivery of ms Koningsdam.
Following the naming festivities in May, the ship will head to its summer home port of Amsterdam and sail a series of northern Europe and Baltic cruises before returning to the Mediterranean in September.
In the fall, the ship will head across the Atlantic Ocean to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where it will homeport at Port Everglades and spend the season exploring the Caribbean.
The 99,500-ton vessel accommodates 2,650 guests and is the ultimate expression of Holland America Line’s brand evolution. Koningsdam debuts several innovative concepts and new public spaces and venues while still featuring popular amenities guests associate with the cruise line.
The ship will feature Holland America Line’s first purpose-built staterooms for families and solo travelers among its 1,331 guest accommodations.
Stein Kruse, Captain Emiel de Vries, Micky Arison, Arnold Donald and Orlando Ashford at the ms Koningsdam delivery ceremony
Grand Dutch Cafe debuts onboard with traditional Dutch treats and European beer, while a redesigned Lido Market with themed serving stations revolutionizes the buffet experience. A stunning main dining room is a focal point of the ship, and favorites return such as Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto Italian restaurant and Pan-Asian Tamarind.
Onboard entertainment will be taken to a new level with the energetic Music Walk area featuring all genres of music showcased in venues including: Lincoln Center Stage, offering chamber music nightly; Billboard Onboard, where live musicians rock the crowd with chart-topping hits; and the popular B.B. King’s Blues Club in the Queen’s Lounge, bringing the best of Memphis music to sea.
With the 270-degree LED projection at World Stage, new concepts for show-time performances will immerse the audience in panoramic visual and sound effects.
Today Norwegian Cruise Line revealed features and amenities for Norwegian Joy (Xǐ Yuè Hào) — its most innovative and luxurious ship ever — arriving next summer.
Home porting in Shanghai & Tianjin (Beijing), Norwegian Joy was built and styled exclusively for Chinese guests and was designed by the team at NCL to provide “First Class at Sea” experiences.
Built at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, the ship features German precision engineering to the highest possible standard, all while offering superior customization for the culture and preferences of Chinese guests. Norwegian Joy also has the exciting and innovative features found on NCL’s most recent vessels.
Accommodations
With a capacity of 3,900 guests, Norwegian Joy will deliver on the promise that guests will enjoy “First Class at Sea” experiences, starting with her VIP accommodations. Norwegian Joy will feature The Haven by Norwegian®, the line’s exclusive, ship-within-a-ship suite luxury complex.
Accessible only by personalized key card, The Haven offers a private respite that features personal butler service, a dedicated concierge, priority access to entertainment and specialty dining, a private restaurant, enclosed courtyard, and 74 spacious and meticulously decorated suites.
The ultra-exclusive experience in The Haven will also include an all-new observation deck that will feature 180 degree views, the same as the ship’s officers experience from the bridge, with gourmet canapés and premium beverages.
Norwegian Joy will also debut an all new accommodations category: the first at sea concierge level. Guests who stay in the concierge staterooms will enjoy a VIP experience, featuring larger balcony staterooms with luxurious en suite amenities and the services of a dedicated concierge to make arrangements on board–from entertainment to dining. The concierge staterooms will also offer guests an exclusive concierge lounge, with a private bar and refreshments available throughout the day.
The ship features a wide array of mini-suite, balcony, ocean view, and interior staterooms–many with virtual balconies–to fit every traveler’s need. Accommodation offerings also include staterooms designed specifically for families and a multitude of connecting staterooms for extended families traveling together.
Entertainment & Activities
Norwegian Joy will continue NCL’s long history of innovation in providing engaging, exciting features and amenities for guests of all ages to enjoy. The ship’s top decks will offer a wide-range of never-before-seen at sea experiences.
At the very top of the ship, guests will take the ride of a lifetime on a thrilling two-level competitive racetrack – the first ever at sea. Cruisers can race family and friends and even share a photo of their first place finish. Afterwards, they can challenge one another to a game of laser tag in the open-air course.
When guests step inside Norwegian Joy’s Galaxy Pavilion, they will find themselves in a world unlike anything they’ve ever seen at sea, complete with immersive virtual reality experiences, thrilling simulator rides, and interactive video walls. Guests can go for a spin with friends or family on exciting hover craft bumper cars or start their engines in a professional single-seat racecar that’s been converted into a state-of-the-art racing simulator.
Three interactive dark ride simulators provide guests with a captivating experience featuring real-time 3D graphics, 360-degree surround sound and multi-sensory special effects, while flight and car simulators will let guests take flight or take to the road. Movie buffs will be transported to a galaxy far, far away and into an intense battle as they pilot a fighter to take on the forces of the dark side in a Star Wars® battle pods video game, and gamers can partake in a contest of skill at six Xbox® console stations.
Those guests who enjoy advanced technology will be exhilarated by state-of-the-art virtual optic experiences by Oculus that include designing and then riding a personal roller coaster; soaring to new heights over mountains and oceans; or living on the edge and walking along a cliff or on top of a ten-story building.
Continuing the adrenaline pumping recreation activities on the ship, Norwegian Joy will also feature two multi-story waterslides. Not for the faint of heart, the high-speed Double Aqua Loop free fall slide includes two exhilarating loops — one that extends out over the side of the ship and second see-through loop that stretches down to the deck below. The tandem Aqua Racer slide allows guests to race side-by-side on inner tubes for more than 360 feet as they twist and turn to the finish line.
The top deck of Norwegian Joy will also feature a tranquil open space park, where guests can enjoy a partially covered serene setting designed for relaxation. Offering greenery, a soothing pool, and chaise lounges, it’s the perfect spot to meditate in the fresh air, gaze out to the open sea, or practice tai chi and yoga.
Norwegian Joy will feature an upscale shopping venue — the largest in Norwegian’s fleet — complete with everything from exceptional duty-free shops to high-end international brands. The shops will offer renowned global luxury brands in fashion, jewelry, and electronics.
Norwegian Joy will also offer bow to stern Wi-Fi connectivity — the fastest in the Norwegian fleet — so that guests can share their exciting “First Class at Sea” experiences and stay in touch with family and friends during their cruise.
Fusing a western cruise vacation with the comforts and preferences that Chinese guests expect–plus the freedom and flexibility that Norwegian Cruise Line offers–Norwegian Joy is a true east meets west experience.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s US-flagged Pride of America returned to her homeport of Honolulu on Saturday, March 26, as a nearly new ship.
During a three and a half week dry dock, Pride of America received ship-wide enhancements, including newly designed public spaces, brand new venues, and refreshed décor in all staterooms. Pride of America’s extensive renovation is a part of “The Norwegian Edge” program, a $400 million investment that sets a new standard of excellence.
“When guests step aboard the all new Pride of America, they will be amazed by the breadth of this renovation,” said Andy Stuart, Norwegian Cruise Line president and chief operating officer. “This is much more than just a fresh coat of paint and new drapes. Pride of America is now essentially a new ship, and the only one to offer this incredibly unique way to experience the Hawaiian Islands with 100 hours of time in port.” Many of Pride of America’s public spaces — along with several of the ships’ restaurants, bars, and lounges — were refreshed from top to bottom to receive a modern, updated look with new contemporary décor and furniture as well as new lighting and flooring. Every stateroom aboard Pride of America was renovated, receiving new bedding, new furniture, new flat screen televisions, and updated flooring.
Pride of America guests will now be able to enjoy not only refreshed spaces but also new modern venues including the Soho Art Gallery, an expansive venue that features original works of art available for purchase; the new Perspectives Photo Studio, an area for couples, families, and friends to have professional photo memories of their vacation; and Dolce Gelato, Norwegian’s signature gelateria.
Those looking to tie-the-knot while in any of the ship’s enchanting ports-of-call can do so in the ship’s wedding chapel, now in a new location on deck six with new flooring, furniture, and wall fixtures.
Guests looking to enjoy some quiet time can now do so in the completely transformed conservatory, complete with new furniture, flooring, and modern décor. The library and card rooms received new flooring, furniture, and six computer stations for Internet access.
The Mandara Spa was expanded and revitalized to feature more treatment rooms so guests can enjoy massages, facials, and more. The spa features New Mexican décor including soft, neutral colors and natural elements like stone and wood to provide a tranquil atmosphere.
Dining enhancements for Pride of America include extensive renovations to all of the existing complimentary dining venues. Most notable is the ship’s Skyline Main Dining Room, which received a refreshed look with new décor including: a new entrance, new carpet design, new furniture upholstery, new window drapes, and new columns throughout the restaurant. La Cucina, Norwegian’s signature Italian restaurant, has been transformed into an elegant and intimate venue where guests can enjoy fine Italian fare. The ship’s specialty restaurants East Meets West, Cagney’s Steakhouse, and Jefferson’s Bistro also received enhancements to upgrade the venues to a modern look with new flooring, reupholstered furniture, new artwork, lighting fixtures, new window treatments, and more.
Beyond hardware upgrades, guests sailing aboard Pride of America can now enjoy new menus in all dining outlets. With additional choices and à la carte priced items, the menus offer more freedom and flexibility to guests.
Building on the success of the enhanced menus aboard Norwegian’s newest ship Norwegian Escape, Pride of America’s new menus now feature increased variety and have been carefully developed by Norwegian’s culinary team with a focus on balancing popular traditional dishes like prime rib, chateaubriand, rack of lamb, and escargot with current dining trends and heightened guest expectations.
In springtime, it’s possible to experience three seasons on a single voyage.
While it is still winter in the north, as you venture further south the climate change to spring and then summer.
This season is an explosion of life, fragrance, colour and light.
We hope you enjoyed this small taste of Hurtigruten’s unique heritage. They breathtaking nature-based experiences in remote corners of the world. For more information visit them at https://www.hurtigruten.us
Award-winning explorer cruise line Hurtigruten has been upgrading four of its 11 Norwegian coastal ships after a successful financial turnaround over the recent years.
The extensive refurbishment of the MS Kong Harald and MS Polarlys has been completed, and both ships are receiving rave reviews from their guests. The makeovers of the MS Nordkapp and MS Nordnorge will be completed in April and November, respectively.
Hurtingruten is also adding its first new expedition ship in 10 years, the MS Spitsbergen, which will be completed in May.
“We are a first mover company, and we are now reinventing the Hurtigruten experience,” says Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam. “By combining tradition, innovation and sustainability, we aim to ensure the position as world leader in nature-based explorer travels in polar waters.”
The new look, aptly named the “New Artic Interior,” includes the replacement of the cruise interior and furnishings typical of the nineties with a modern Scandinavian interior, drawing inspiration from the spectacular nature outside the panoramic windows.
The new design entails a stylish and yet unpretentious feel and affects all of the ship’s common areas — reception foyers, cafes and bistro areas and the aft deck. The colors will be earthy and derived from the coast and the sea, while making use of many natural materials, such as wood, slate and leather. Designs and shapes are expected to bear a resemblance to those found in nature – such as the flow of the waves or the strength of the majestic fjords.
Of equal importance is the ongoing transformation of the restaurants. With more than 100,000 foreign guests sailing annually, Hurtigruten has partnered with dozens of local food suppliers to develop the Coastal Kitchen concept. With seasonal ingredients, often harvested the same day, guests are able to enjoy the freshest and best Norwegian food available.
Refurbished MS Polarlys
A range of fresh pastries from the ship’s own bakeries will be offered and barbeque stands are being added to the outside decks. The bar will be moved to the panoramic lounge, offering incredible views as guests enjoy an afternoon or evening cocktail. And fitness rooms will now have the world’s best views.
In addition, Hurtigruten has purchased and is doing a near-complete reconstruction of the MS Spitsbergen. She was built in Portugal in 2009 at the Viana do Castelo shipyard and is now undergoing adaptation for polar waters; upgrading the cabins, suites, and public spaces for the 320 guests; and adjusting the power plants and emissions so as to meet Hurtigruten’s high standards. The ship will join the fleet along the Norwegian Coastal Voyage route later this spring and replaces the MS Midnatsol, which will join the MS Fram in Antarctica for the 2016/17 season.
Hurtigruten is a world leader in expedition voyages, sailing to the most remote of destinations, including Antarctica, Greenland. and the Arctic’s Spitsbergen, as well as year-round along Norway’s coast and to Europe in the spring and fall.
The company’s fleet of 14 intimate ships, which each carry 100 to 646 guests, allows travelers to enjoy the scenery and culture of the destination in a relaxed atmosphere. For more information on Hurtigruten visit them as www.hurtigruten.us
