We may have missed a week, but we’re back now. Taking the week off allowed us to collect a whole show’s worth of cruise line news too.
Carnival Sensation will be getting her Evolutions of Fun upgrades in January, while Carnival Fantasy will be staying in Mobile until she heads to the shipyards for her own Evolutions of Fun upgrades.
MSC will be sending their two newest ships to the Caribbean for the 2009/10 season and orders two new Musica class ships from Aker Yards.
Carnival will be recategorizing their staterooms and we get some insight into how Joe Farcus designs ships for Carnival and Costa.
Cabo San Lucas is getting some infrastructure updates and is considering an actual cruise ship pier.
Princess has selected the Godparents for Ruby Princess and we get a look at some of what’s planned for Seabourn Odyssey.
Be sure to check in next week when I’ll be talking about a different sort of cruise that I’m taking this week.
(0) Comments (Leave a Comment)
Filed under: Carnival Cruise Lines, MSC Cruises, Podcast, Princess Cruises, The Yachts of Seabourn Posted by Michael on 08/08/08
North American guests will be able to experience the Caribbean on two of MSC Cruises’ newest and largest ships when MSC Poesia and MSC Magnifica arrive in Fort Lauderdale for their inaugural 2009-10 Caribbean seasons.
In addition to sailing on the two newest of the line’s popular “Musica” class ships, guests can select from a variety of roundtrip itineraries that includes 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings and four different 10-night itineraries. Itineraries feature many of the most popular ports of call as well as several exciting not-so-often visited ports, such as Playa del Carmen, Curacao and Aruba, on select itineraries.
Cruise-only rates begin at $499 per person, double occupancy for 7-night cruises and $749 per person, double occupancy for 10-night itineraries. Government fees and taxes are additional, as is a fuel surcharge.
As with all MSC Cruises’ sailings, kids ages 17 and under sail free when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults.
Both MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia feature 1,275 staterooms, of which 80% are outside staterooms and 65% have a balcony. There will be 236,000 square feet of public spaces, 2 pools and 4 hot tubs, plus a 13,000-square-foot spa. On each ship, guests can select from four restaurants, including a Sushi Bar alternative dining restaurant.
In addition, MSC Magnifica features a Magrodome that allows guests to enjoy the pool area no matter what the elements.
Like their sister ships (MSC Musica and MSC Orchestra), both MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia feature sophisticated and elegant decor and the finest in international entertainment and Italian hospitality that ensures guests enjoy a ‘Beautiful. Passionate. Italian.’ experience.
(0) Comments (Leave a Comment)Filed under: MSC Cruises Posted by Michael on 06/09/08
There were some issues with the original file. I’ve re-encoded it and re-uploaded it. Everything should be better now.
A bit of news this week and a quick packing tip-
Silversea names their newest ship, and fuel supplements are going up.
Carnival homeports a ship in Baltimore, and keeps Carnival Freedom in Florida.
Holland America expanding their onboard enrichment programs, while Royal Caribbean has a new fundraising partnership with Make-A-Wish.
Finally, a strange collision in Dubrovnik….
(4) have commentedFiled under: Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Podcast, Princess Cruises Posted by Michael on 03/10/08
Just one show this week - there was enough to talk about in the news this week that we ended up filling up the show before we had a chance to even get to a feature this week.
MeyerWerft says that they’re getting an order from Royal Caribbean for a fourth Freedom Class ship, while Celebrity Galaxy will be getting a refit soon.
Crystal launches Newspaper Direct, a new way of getting full format newspapers while at sea.
In other shipbuilding news, Aker France floats out two new ships for MSC.
Senators Ted Stevens and Danial Inouye pressed DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff not just for a decision on Customs and Border Patrol’s proposal to re-interpret the Cabotage rules but to also to limit the decision to Hawai’i.
Finally, Patricia has earned the Accredited Cruise Counsellor designation from CLIA.
1 comment so farFiled under: Crystal Cruises, MSC Cruises, Podcast, Royal Caribbean International Posted by Michael on 02/03/08
Overall it’s been pretty quiet on the news front - and probably will stay that way for another month or so. We did have a few stories of interest this week.
Carnival Fantasy gets a date with the shipyard for her Evolutions of Fun upgrades.
Princess had several stories this week - from their first fleet wide series of casino tournaments, to a dramatic change to their disembarkation process, to the floating out of Ruby Princess.
Apollo Management completes their acquisition of Regent Seven Seas and promptly gives them the go ahead to lay the groundwork for a new ship.
Florida’s Attorney General has launched a “preliminary” investigation of the various fuel surcharges that were enacted this past fall.
Finally, MSC says that they haven’t given up on the New York market and may move a ship there in 2010.
This week we turn the spotlight on a cruise line - and selected Celebrity Cruises who will be hosting SeaSocks 2008 with us onboard the Infinity. Celebrity is relatively new line although with some old roots. The have very distinctive ships, which are easily spotted by their blue and white paint scheme and big white X on their stack… BUT that’s not really an X on their stack - you’ll have to listen to find out just what’s on their stack - and why… 
This week we don’t have a Deal of the Week, but rather a Deal of the Day. This Tuesday February 5 only, you can book the March 29, 12 night trans-Atlantic sailing of the Summit for just $549 and for under $1000 for a Concierge Class cabin! But you have to contact us this TUESDAY to take advantage of this!
(0) Comments (Leave a Comment)Filed under: Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises, Podcast, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises Next Page »
