Carnival Cruise Lines’ 110,000-ton Carnival Liberty will launch a new seven-day Caribbean cruise schedule from Miami featuring a variety of tropical ports of call, including the cruise industry’s newest destination, Grand Turk, and the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay beginning in May 2008.In addition, Carnival Liberty’s sister ship, the new Carnival Freedom, will reposition to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to assume the Carnival Liberty’s popular six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises beginning in November 2008.
You’ll find more information about both ship’s 2008 Florida departures when you click on “more” below. We should have the details on these new itineraries over on the Cruise Planners site soon, in the mean time call us at 888-286-9827 for more information or to book any of Carnival’s itineraries around the world.
We’re still on our Holiday Break, but we’ve still got something for you to listen to this week. This week’s it’s an encore presentation of the feature section of Episode 4 where we do some mythbusting.
We’ll be back right after the new year with a brand new show, and we’ve got some great things planned for 2007.
As always you can find the show in iTunes or click below to download the show or play it right in your browser window.
On January 10, 2007, maritime and Cunard ocean liner enthusiasts will have a rare opportunity to see the line’s legendary liners – Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth 2 – set sail on simultaneous, but different, World Cruises. A Royal Rendezvous of the world’s most famous ocean liners, the two iconic ships will depart Port Everglades, Florida on southward journeys; Queen Mary 2 on her first-ever World Cruise – an 81-day circumnavigation of the globe – and Queen Elizabeth 2 on her Silver Jubilee World Cruise – an exotic 108-day voyage marking her 25th around the world.
Views of the historic event are available from several vantage points, including the 17th Street Causeway Bridge. At 5 p.m., viewers can also watch the ships sail together from Fort Lauderdale Beach, at either the pier or beach at John U. Lloyd Beach State Park.
“The start of any Cunard World Cruise is cause for celebration so we are doubly excited about this first-ever simultaneous departure from Ft. Lauderdale,” said Carol Marlow, president and managing director of Cunard Line. “Watching these celebrated ships as they set sail on such extraordinary journeys is a thrilling experience, even for a veteran cruiser.”
The World Cruises are just a part of the ships’ compelling 2007 itineraries. In the coming year, the flagship Queen Mary 2 will offer an expanded season of transatlantic travel, as well as introduce a series of 10-day Connoisseur’s Caribbean voyages and series of four-day Getaway sailings. Out of her homeport of Southampton, Queen Elizabeth 2 will depart for a range of magical European voyages, with the highlight being her 40th Anniversary Celebration Voyage, visiting Newcastle, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Greenock, where she was named by Her Majesty the Queen, 40 years ago to the day. The year concludes with the highly anticipated maiden voyages of the new Queen Victoria, which will mark the first time in Cunard’s 167-year history that three Cunard Queens will be in service simultaneously.
Cunard Line, operator of the luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2 and QE2, has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries and the epitome of British finesse since the company’s first paddle-wheeled steamer, the Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. Cunard voyages bring together like-minded travelers who relish the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star ServiceSM, fine dining, sophisticated adventure and the legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel.
Carnival Corporation & plc today announced that it has exercised an option for a new 130,000-ton ship for its Carnival Cruise Lines brand.The new vessel, which will have 3,652 lower passenger berths, will be built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri at its Monfalcone yard at an estimated all-in cost of €565 million. The ship is scheduled for delivery in summer 2010.
The vessel will be a sister ship to a previously announced 130,000-ton ship slated to enter service in fall 2009 that will begin a new class for the line. The two sister ships will be the largest ever constructed for Carnival Cruise Lines.
“Carnival Cruise Lines remains the undisputed leader in contemporary cruising and these new ships represent the most spacious and innovative design ever created for a Carnival ‘Fun Ship,’” said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO. “In addition to introducing a host of new and exciting facilities and features, this groundbreaking class of ship will enable us to build upon our distinction as world’s most popular cruise line,” he added.
With today’s announcement, Carnival Cruise Lines now has four new ships on order or under construction with Fincantieri representing a combined 13,284 total lower berths.
Corporate-wide, Carnival Corporation & plc now has 19 new ships on order – 13 of which are being constructed by Fincantieri.
Commented Enrico Buschi, Fincantieri merchant ship general manager, “Once again the excellent relationship between industry leaders Carnival Corporation & plc and Fincantieri is underlined. We wish that such a strong relationship may continue with the same success in the future. The Carnival group operates some of the world’s best known cruise brands and we are truly pleased that the company has placed its trust in Fincantieri’s expertise one more time.”
Emerging from a five-week work period, Windstar Cruises’ motor sailing yacht Wind Surf sailed from Barbados on December 16 with all Degrees of Difference enhancements completed on board.The multi-million dollar investment added more luxury amenities on board and updated public spaces and staterooms. Two new luxury suites were added on the Bridge deck bringing the ship’s capacity to 312 guests. Work was also completed on technical operations of the ship.
The Yacht Club replaces the library and provides comfortable seating for relaxing and socializing. An espresso bar offers gourmet coffee drinks and eight computers with Internet access are available; personal laptops may also connect to wireless Internet. A large flatscreen television anchors a seating area for group gatherings to watch special events such as the Oscars or the Super Bowl. A library of books, CDs and DVDs are available for checkout.
Two new luxury suites on the Wind Surf’s bridge deck are approximately 500-sq. feet each and include a living and dining area, separate bedroom with walk-in closet, and a marble bathroom with whirlpool tub and separate shower. Guests in the Bridge Suites will enjoy extra service amenities such as unpacking service, invitation to dine with Captain, laundry and pressing, evening appetizers, high tea service upon request, complimentary bottled water in the suite, chilled champagne upon arrival, and additional L’Occitane bath amenities.
All suite and stateroom bathrooms have been remodeled for a more contemporary look with new fixtures, open glass shelves, new cabinets, granite countertops, porcelain sinks, and a magnifying mirror. Refinished teak floors retain the popular nautical style. Egyptian cotton towels and bath amenities by L’Occitane have recently been added.
Also in the stateroom, desks have been resurfaced with granite and full-length mirrors added. In suites, a second flat panel television and DVD player was added. Wireless Internet is already available throughout the ship along with Bose SoundDock speakers in all staterooms, Apple iPod Nanos pre-loaded with music for complimentary check-out and laptops for rent.
In other areas of the ship, new weights and televisions were added to the gym. A pedicure chair and a couples massage room enhance the full-service WindSpa. New audio visual equipment was installed for meetings. The Veranda, where breakfast and lunch are served, has expanded its covered outdoor seating with new awnings. Balinese sun beds will soon be added to the Star deck and cooling mist sprays will be located near both pools.
The Bistro has been renamed Degrees and serves a Splichal-inspired steak house menu four nights a week and offers rotating menus from Northern Italy, France and Indonesia other nights. There is still no charge, but reservations are required.
Degrees of Difference updates will follow on the Wind Spirit in spring 2007 and the Wind Star in fall 2007. The Wind Surf, fresh from its Degrees of Difference updates for the 2007 Caribbean season, sails alternating northbound and southbound itineraries roundtrip from Bridgetown, Barbados.
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