The curtain has been raised on another neighborhood aboard Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International’s newest and highly anticipated ship set to launch in November 2009.
Entertainment Place, a complex of diverse entertainment venues, is one of seven neighborhoods on the world’s largest and most revolutionary cruise ship – a unique concept providing vacationers with the opportunity to seek out relevant experiences based on their personal style, preference or mood. Previously announced neighborhoods include, Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, and the Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center.
A contemporary night club district, Entertainment Place will introduce new signature after-dark spaces in more intimate venues that offer a variety of entertainment experiences. The new collection of venues will include Blaze, the hottest nightclub at sea; Jazz on 4, an intimate lounge filled with live jazz and blues; and Comedy Live, featuring side-splitting comedy. Dance enthusiasts also will be able to enjoy an elegant evening in Dazzles, a dance lounge featuring musically themed evenings, dance lessons and competitions. Learn more about these venues by clicking on “more” below.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced that it will invest approximately $40 million dollars to implement an extensive refurbishment and enhancement of the line’s all-suite vessels: Seven Seas Voyager®, Seven Seas Mariner®, and Seven Seas Navigator®. This investment is in addition to the $20 million that was spent on the fleet over the past two years as the line re-branded under the Regent moniker.
The refurbishments will commence in December 2008 with the dry-dock of Seven Seas Voyager, followed by Seven Seas Mariner in January 2009, and Seven Seas Navigator in the first half of 2010, and result in a new look that is fresh, elegant and luxurious yet retains the familial warmth and charm for which Regent Seven Seas Cruises is lauded.
In addition to the scheduled technical work, almost every area of the ships will be refurbished, with public rooms being substantially re-designed with new furniture, using sumptuous materials like imported leathers, suede, and mahogany, along with warm color schemes and rich fabrics offset by lustrous marble and granite accents. The renowned marine architectural firm of Yran and Storbraaten of Oslo, Norway, is overseeing the design work along with Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Vessel Operations team. Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner will be refurbished at the Grand Bahama shipyard in Freeport, Bahamas. Final details and the location of Seven Seas Navigator’s 2010 dry dock will be announced at a later date.
Highlights of the refurbishment program for Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner include:
- The creation of a new alternative dining concept and venue – a steakhouse named Prime Seven -that will replace the current Indochine-menu Latitudes restaurants
- The re-design of lounges and public rooms to create more spacious areas for relaxation
- The creation of elegant new lounge and dining areas around the Pool Grill
- New carpeting, wallpaper, upholstery, light fixtures, and drapes in most public areas and guest suite accommodations
- More casual dining options with the addition of pizza ovens and ice-cream bars
- The creation of an extended coffee and snack bar area on Seven Seas Voyager, similar to the very popular Coffee Connection on Seven Seas Mariner
As a result of the closure of the Port of Galveston due to damage from Hurricane Ike, Carnival Cruise Lines’ two Galveston-based ships, Carnival Conquest and Carnival Ecstasy, are scheduled to operate their regular cruise programs from the Port of Houston’s Bayport Cruise Terminal effective with this weekend’s departures.
The 2,052-passenger Carnival Ecstasy will resume its four- and five-day Mexico schedule from the Port of Houston starting with a five-day cruise departing Saturday, Sept. 20. Beginning with the departure of Sunday, Sept. 21, the 2,974-passenger Carnival Conquest will depart Houston on seven-day cruises to the western Caribbean.
Both vessels are currently docked in New Orleans where they were deployed following the closure of the Port of Galveston. Carnival Conquest will arrive at the Port of Houston on Thursday, Sept. 18, and Carnival Ecstasy on Friday, Sept. 19, to disembark those guests who opted to remain aboard the vessels following their previous voyages.
Carnival’s two Houston-based ships will operate the same itineraries as they did from Galveston. Carnival Conquest will sail seven-day western Caribbean voyages departing Sundays to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Carnival Ecstasy will depart Thursdays on four-day cruises to Cozumel, and on Mondays and Saturdays on five-day voyages to Cozumel and Progreso.
The Port of Houston’s newly opened Bayport Terminal is an $81 million state-of-the-art facility with 96,000 square feet of space. It is conveniently accessed from both of the city’s airports, and a variety of fine restaurants and shops are located nearby. The Carnival Conquest and Carnival Ecstasy will be the first cruise ships to utilize the new facility.
This week, Michael and I explore this week’s news and there are two rants — one is even a bonus rant.
Note that the deal of the week this week is a “Sale-a-Bration” in honor of Patricia’s birthday. Don’t miss your change to sail from Spain to the US for REALLY, REALLY little money.
As always if you want to take advantage of the Deal of the Week, call 888-286-9827. If you have any comments, or birthday wishes, feel free to leave them here.
Centrally located bars and lounges aboard five Holland America Line ships are being upgraded and reconfigured to bring a new concept to the shipboard bar scene. The highlight is a large, new space located in the heart of the ship, called Mix, that incorporates three specialty theme bars — Martinis, Champagne, and Spirits & Ales. These enhancements are part of a new $200-million Signature of Excellence upgrade to ms Statendam, ms Maasdam, ms Ryndam, ms Veendam and ms Rotterdam.
So what’s in store for the ships? Click on “more” below to find out
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