Holland America Line will name its latest Signature Class ship and the 15th in its fleet, ms Nieuw Amsterdam. To be delivered in 2010, the 86,000-ton Nieuw Amsterdam will be built at Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard and its interior design and art collection will reflect the glamour and history of New York City, formerly called Nieuw Amsterdam.
The first Nieuw Amsterdam was launched in 1906 and used both a full set of sails and steam engines. She was 17,149 tons and carried 2,886 passengers, 2,200 of them in third class. She sailed in regular service through World War I and then through to 1932.
The famed Nieuw Amsterdam II joined the fleet in 1938 as the company’s flagship. The silhouette of this ship can still be seen today behind Henry Hudson’s Half Moon in the company’s logo. At 36,287 tons, “the Darling of the Dutch,” as she was known, was decorated in great style and was launched by Her Majesty Queen Wilhemina of the Netherlands. Nieuw Amsterdam II served proudly in World War II completing 44 war time voyages carrying nearly 400,000 passengers (mostly troops). Following the war, she was rebuilt and, as the queen of Holland America Line’s “spotless fleet,” hosted countless well-known figures among her guests, including Katherine Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, Spencer Tracey and Albert Schweitzer.
Nieuw Amsterdam III was launched in 1983 as one of the most elegant ships of her time. At 33,900 tons, Nieuw Amsterdam III sailed in Alaska in the summers and in the Caribbean in the winters.
Previous new-build series include the four-ship Statendam Class group, four-ship Rotterdam Class and four-ship Vista Class. The line also owns and operates the 793-passenger, ms Prinsendam. The first Signature Class vessel, ms Eurodam, joined the fleet this past July.
Eurodam, and now Nieuw Amsterdam, further define and expand the Holland America Line premium brand with new concepts such as the innovative pan-Asian Tamarind restaurant and Silk Den lounge surrounded by panoramic views overlooking the ocean expanse and the Lido pool. Other additions are an Explorer’s Lounge Bar, a premium wine-tasting lounge, an elegant luxury jewelry boutique, new atrium bar area, enhanced and reconfigured show lounge, and a new photographic and imaging center.
Carnival is reporting that it’s initial assessment has confirmed that the Grand Turk pier escaped damage. The cruise center facility has some roof damage, and landscaping was lost. However until a more detail evaluation of the roof can be completed it’s still too early to estimate an accurate cost for repairs.
Thanks to the relatively limited damage to the cruise center, repairs could be completed fairly quickly, Carnival said in a statement. However, it added that the pace of repair work and the reopening of the cruise center is largely dependent on overall recovery efforts on Grand Turk. More information should be available in the coming week.
Carnival passengers who were scheduled to go to Grand Turk will be notified of the port change.
MSC Cruises has announced the further expansion of its fleet with the order of two additional ships from the Aker Yards France at St. Nazaire.
The announcement was made at a press conference today in Milan, attended by Pierfrancesco Vago, CEO of MSC Cruises worldwide, and Domenico Pellegrino, General Manager of MSC Cruises, as well as Jacques Hardelay, General Manager of Aker Yards France.
The new ships – due for delivery in 2011 and 2012 – will be named MSC Meraviglia (“marvelous/amazing”) and MSC Favolosa (“fabulous”) and will be the fifth and sixth sister ships in the “Musica” class, at 93,000 tons and with 1,275 staterooms and a capacity of 2,550 passengers, double occupancy.
MSC Meraviglia and MSC Favolosa will join the current fleet for a total of 14 ships and more than 1.4 million passengers carried by 2012. These two ships will complete the development plan that has allowed the company to achieve a series of records:
- the most modern fleet in the world: most of the ships are less than 5 years old;
- an investment of 5.5 billion Euros between 2003 and 2009 for the construction of 10 new generation ships, subdivided into three classes: Lirica class (60,000 tons), Musica class (93,000 tons), Fantasia class (133,500 tons);
- the largest cruise company with entirely European capital;
- two super-flagships — MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida, at 133,500 tons – will be the largest ships ever built for a European shipping company;
- the first company to receive the ‘6 Golden Pearls’ from the Bureau Veritas
Construction will start on MSC Meraviglia and MSC Favolosa under the guidance of the Korean STX Shipbuilding at the Aker Yards France.
Cruise West will now offer Quito & the Galápagos Islands cruises on select dates throughout 2009. The cruise sets sail onboard the luxurious 40-guest yacht, Isabela II. In the company of naturalist guides and a Cruise West Exploration Leader, guests will explore the natural museum of flora and fauna on the Galápagos Islands as well as Quito, celebrated as the best-preserved Colonial historic center in Latin America.
The Galápagos journey lasts 10 days and starts in UNESCO World Heritage site, Quito with two nights at the deluxe and centrally located Hotel Hilton Colón Quito. Guests may choose to explore Quito on their own or take a tour to Antisana, the 4th tallest volcano in Ecuador. The afternoon is spent on a guided walking tour with a chronological narrative of the area’s history as well as a drive up to the observation point El Ventanal.
Guests fly to Baltra Island to board the Isabela II and set sail for North Seymour Island known for its bird colonies of blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls, sea lions and marine iguanas. Along the way, they will learn the tales of its early inhabitants and the adventures of pirates and whalers who once traveled to these islands. At Gardner Bay on Hood Island there is ample opportunity to snorkel or enjoy the marine life on a glass bottom boat. At Punta Suarez, guests can walk on lava terrain to visit unique bird colonies including the Waved Albatross.
The highlights of Point Cormorant on Floreana Island include nature hikes to see the flamingos that inhabit a brackish-water lagoon as well as great snorkeling and kayaking opportunities. There is further exploration by panga boats to nearby islets to observe sea lions, rays and sea turtles, boobies and possibly the Galápagos penguin. Tortoises are found on Santa Cruz Island, known for its seven different vegetation zones including Scalesia forests, home to a huge variety of smaller plants, many of them endemic to Galápagos; the site of Los Gemelos; the infamous Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens.
Thousands of frigate birds, red-footed and masked boobies, gulls, herons, finches and mockingbirds are found at the beautiful natural harbor Darwin Bay, Tower Island where adventurers may choose to walk up Princes Philip’s Steps to observe more large bird colonies. After cruising across the Equator line on the Isabela II, anchor at Tagus Cove on Isabela Island where the landscape is tuff-stone and lava flows. Marine iguanas graze on the algae beds, indigenous Galápagos fur seals welcome guests, and snorkelers will explore the bountiful sea life found in the area due to the upwelling of the Cronwell Current. Punta Espinoza, Fernandina Island offers more wildlife including the highest density of marine iguanas, sally lightfoot crabs, hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorant.
More island exploration is found on James and Bartolome Islands before guests disembark and fly to Guayaquil to either travel home or continue on the six-day Cuzco and Machu Picchu post-cruise program.
Add-on Cuzco and Machu Picchu Land Program
The fully guided Peru post-cruise land program includes six days of visits to Cuzco the historical capital of the Inca Empire; and “The Lost City of the Incas,” Machu Picchu, located at 7,875 above sea level. This inclusive program includes guided tours of Cuzco’s most historical monuments and markets; a special dinner of Novo Andina Cuisine (a fusion of Andean ingredients and European techniques); and the comfort of the exclusive five-star Hotel Liberador Palacio del Inca.
Guests travel by Vistadome Train to Aguas Calientes and transfer to the lovely Spanish colonial Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel for two nights. There they will spend a day and a half exploring mysterious Machu Picchu, guided or independently. The last night is spent back in Cuzco with tours of the Inca Fortress and Citadel of Ollantaytambo as well as the circular terraces of Moray.
Three departures will be offered on August 23, August 30 and September 6, 2009. The Ecuador and Galápagos Cruise Program begins in Quito and ends in Guayaquil and starts at $6,399 per person, double occupancy including internal flights and the Galápagos National Park Fee. The Cruise Program plus Peru extension, commencing in Guayaquil and ending in Lima, starts at $10,659 per person based on double occupancy including internal airfare in Ecuador and Peru.
We’re a little late this week although it’s not for lack of trying.
As we get ready for our QE2 trip in a few weeks we decide to NOT do a show on packing! 
This past week Princess announced the Ultimate Ship Tour – it’s a bit pricey but definately a unique experience
Disney Magic is currently in drydock get some upgrades.
Cunard announced their 2010 World Cruise itineraries.
San Diego is considering offering naming rights on their new cruise terminal and some passengers behaved badly on Carnival Miracle.
This week we decided to take a look at travel gadgets – the stuff we either travel with or want to travel with. We’re sure that your list is a little differnt so go ahead and leave us a comment with those gadgets that you don’t wan’t to leave home without.
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