Some times we have an episode that just names itself – and this was one of them…
It was a busy week Celebrity moves some ships around and trades Baltimore sailings for South Pacific Sailings.
Carnival is adding comedy clubs and testing out a new smoking policy.
HAL will sail to Bermuda from NY for another year, and MSC firms up the order for their latest newbuild (and renames the ship too!).
Emerald Princess has some trouble off Ft Lauderdale, and Cunard commemorates their 170th anniversary.
1 is dead and another injured after a bizarre incident in Genoa, and the Cruise Vessel Safety and Security Act has been signed into law.
Holland America Line will offer 24 seven-day cruises to Bermuda aboard ms Veendam in 2011, continuing the schedule established this year with weekly cruises to the popular vacation destination.
Holland America Line returned to regular Bermuda service departing from New York in 2010 after more than 25 years. The 2011 voyages begin May 1 and will sail roundtrip from New York through Oct. 9, calling at St. George’s and Hamilton.
The 1,350-guest Veendam will spend one day at St. George’s and two nights at Hamilton, providing guests with multiple opportunities to experience the island’s British charm, world-renowned pink-sand beaches and abundant cultural heritage sites by day and to sample its lively evening restaurant and nightclub scene.
Seatrade Insider is reporting that Holland America Line is looking closely at ships of around 110,000gt with capacity of 3,000 passengers for its next generation of cruise ships. Don’t get too excited though while onboard Nieuw Amsterdam HAL chief executive Stein Kruse reiterated new ship building orders are not imminent.
At the same time, the company is examining its options in light of the expected completion of the Panama Canal expansion project in 2015. ‘Our size restrictions are driven by the Panama Canal,’Kruse said.
‘We want to be able to move our ships in an inter-dependent way. If we have a ship in Europe and we want her to be in Alaska, we want her to be able to go through the canal.’ After the canal’s enlargement, ‘a 32.8mtr beam will no longer be an issue. The question then is how big do you go?’
According to Pieter Rijkaart, the company’s newbuild director this is the first time the line will have completed a ship without having a follow-up order.
But he added that ‘when the new Panama Canal opens up there will be opportunities,’ and that 2011 might therefore be the right time to embark on new, and larger prototype. He said HAL is considering a 110,000gt vessel with capacity for 3,000-plus passengers and 1,500-1,600 cabins.
Kruse said a number of considerations would play into an eventual decision, perhaps the most critical of which: ‘Is it true to the brand?’
The line recognizes that the appeal of HAL’s mid-sized ships rests on personal service, ample premium space per passenger, and the intimacy of the cruise experience, as well as a huge palette of port calls, including many smaller, more remote destinations.
At 86,273gt and with capacity for 2,106 passengers, Nieuw Amsterdam and its sister Eurodam are now the largest vessels in HAL’s fleet. As Kruse noted, however, ‘this ship cannot get to Montréal because of issues with the turning basin and height restrictions.’
Building too big, he said, would threaten the basis of HAL’s brand appeal so any judgment must be finely calibrated. ‘The ultimate danger to the cruise business in general is if it becomes commoditised. I don’t want to see our industry go that way. But so far Carnival has been brilliant at well-communicated brand differentiation.’
Yes it was a long break – but we’re back! With the summer here we’re doing our best to have a consistent schedule but obviously we don’t have everything worked out this year.
In the news this week – Celebrity is enhancing their onboard concierge services, Carnival is adding new sailings from Tampa and Jacksonville in 2011. They’ve also announced that they’ll be offering sailings from San Pedro CA in 2011 – the first time in 8 years! The Carnival Fascination had some engine trouble last week too…
Possible good news for the efforts to save the SS United States.
Holland America takes delivery of Nieuw Amsterdam and NCL christens Norwegian Epic.
Last week we talked about a good friend’s first cruise and this week it was our turn to talk about our trip. It wasn’t a cruise though – instead we returned to Walt Disney World for the first time in 10 years. While we may be a cruise centric show – Disney Vacations is a close partner of ours and we can help you with booking a Disney vacation too!
Guests aboard ms Nieuw Amsterdam, Holland America Line’s newest Signature-class ship, will experience a blending of modern and historic elements in the stateroom ambience.
Created by Seattle-based NB Design Group, Nieuw Amsterdam’s staterooms reflect a refined interpretation of the contemporary motifs that debuted aboard sister ship ms Eurodam, launched in 2008.
The 2,106-guest Nieuw Amsterdam features stateroom décor reflecting contemporary art influences that tie in classic themes. Mixed-media wall art that combines classical painting with surrealist themes plus colorful abstract landscapes and historic photographs of old New York and Amsterdam adorn the walls in guest accommodations. The rich artwork is paired with sophisticated bedding, upholstery and furnishings that create a premium cruise experience honoring the historic glamour of New York City, known as Nieuw Amsterdam to its Dutch founders.
Staterooms on the 11-deck Nieuw Amsterdam will feature upscale interior design. The ship’s 60 deluxe verandah suites and 50 superior verandah suites will emphasize rich walnut wood and powder blue and champagne-colored fabrics, along with contemporary leather furniture and brushed nickel finishes. Deluxe verandah suites will display reproductions of original Matisse and Picasso drawings, along with colorful Tuscany landscapes created from original woodcuts.
Superior verandah suites also will utilize historic photographs of New York and Amsterdam and colorful reproductions of original paintings by avant-garde Dutch artist Karel Appel. Following similar themes with understated colors and woods paired with classical art themes, the ship’s two penthouse verandah suites were designed by Architectenbureau VFD, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Nieuw Amsterdam’s 558 deluxe verandah ocean-view and 175 ocean-view staterooms will showcase coffee, burgundy and sandstone tones in window coverings, bedding and fabrics, plus rich wood and metal accessories alongside custom furniture. Artwork will exhibit reproductions of surrealist oil paintings and feature classical themes combined with contemporary photography.
The ship’s 152 interior staterooms switch color schemes to light maple wood, bedding and fabric in slate and sky blue with tangerine accents, and sleekly finished wood and metal accessories. Stateroom art is highlighted by reproductions of surrealist oil paintings.
Nieuw Amsterdam’s guest accommodations also include 56 luxury spa staterooms — 46 deluxe verandah ocean-view, four ocean-view, four interior and two exclusive spa deluxe verandah suites located on the ship’s two highest decks, Panorama and Observation. Named for their proximity to the Greenhouse Spa and Salon, the exclusive spa staterooms offer special in-room amenities such as yoga mats and an iPod docking station, and provide guests with the ultimate in relaxation, privacy and serenity. All spa staterooms are decorated in a naturalist theme, with furnishings, bedding and window treatments finished in soft earth tones with bright aqua blue and charcoal accents. A water feature provides a natural, soothing ambient background sound.
Staterooms will offer Signature of Excellence premium amenities: plush Euro-top Mariner’s Dream beds, deluxe waffle/terry cloth robes, Egyptian cotton towels, flat panel televisions, DVD players, make-up mirrors with halo lighting, massage shower heads, professional-grade hair dryers, fresh flowers and complimentary baskets with guests’ personal fruit choices and Elemis bath amenities.
Built at Fincantieri’s Marghera yard near Venice, Italy, Nieuw Amsterdam will be named by Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands and then sail its maiden voyage on July 4, 2010. After a series of 12-day Mediterranean sailings, the ship embarks on a fall trans-Atlantic crossing to the Caribbean to sail seven-day eastern and western itineraries from November 2010 through March 2011.
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