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!

The deal could pave the way for the ship to be converted into some sort of dockside attraction – however before that can happen the ship needs to be cleaned of PCBs which many parts of the ship may be contaminated with.  As part of the deal the Conservancy will also be paying the $60,000 monthly bill for keeping the ship moored in it’s current berth in Philadelphia.

We’re expecting an official announcement from the SS United States Conservancy later tonight…

The chandelier is the most energy efficient at sea. It is completely illuminated by LED technology, using over 10,000 diodes. It is fully dimmable to most effectively enhance the lead crystals and is currently being programmed by UK-based Project International. The impressive structure, which will be the focal point of the ship’s Atrium, took a team of people three weeks to install it.

Guitars, pods and accessories will be available to guests at a cost of $10 per day rental every day except on embarkation/disembarkation. The Check-In-Rock-Out program will be available in Norwegian Epic’s Fat Cats Jazz and Blues Club. Each pod includes controls and special effects so that guests can select the type of sound they want to create, from classic rock to heavy metal, blues, classic and country – and then choose their own song to play. The pods are supplied by Line 6 and the headphones and cables are supplied by Monster Cable.

To book tickets for many of these performances, Norwegian Epic guests can pre-book reservations prior to their cruise. Booked guests can go to the Norwegian website, log in to the “My NCL” section and visit a special entertainment page where they can select and reserve their desired performance. Pre-booking will be available for performances of Blue Man Group, Cirque Dreams & Dinner, Legends in Concert, The Second City Comedy Troupe, Nickelodeon” Slime Time Live!, Breakfast with Nickelodeon” and the Murder Mystery “Presumed Murdered.” Guests may make a reservation for each show once per sailing.

Online bookings open 45 days prior to sailing date. Reservations for entertainment events with no cover charge are valid until 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. At that time, all unclaimed reservations with be released to guests on a first come first serve basis. Cancellations of reservations for entertainment events which have a cover charge must be made no later than 24 hours prior to the scheduled start time to receive a full refund. If cancellation occurs with less than 24 hours notice, the full price of the ticket will be charged. Once on board, guests may still make reservations for available shows through the ship’s iTV system or by contacting the Box Office.

This week Celebrity Constellation debuted with features from the Solstice class.  Carnival went a different route with their newest ship – and didn’t lift the name from another ship (or line!)

Silversea’s Prince Albert II got held up in Portsmouth due to overloading and the former Majestic America Line paddlewheeler Mississippi Queen has been sold.

Norwegian Epic and Seabourn Sojourn both had their godmother’s revealed.

There was a lot coming out of Royal Caribbean this week with Oasis of The Seas reveals, announcements about new features coming to Freedom of The Seas and Independence of the Seas, the end of Park West auctions onboard Royal Caribbean ships, and some comments from Adam Goldstein regarding Royal’s shift from Miami to Port Everglades.

NCL said that in keeping with Norwegian Epic’s focus on exceptional entertainment, it is fitting that an entertainer christens the ship.

McEntire, who recently hosted the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, has sold more than 55m albums worldwide, earned 34 No. 1 singles and won 15 American Music Awards, 12 Academy of Country Music Awards, nine People’s Choice Awards, seven Country Music Association Awards and two Grammy Awards.

She is also an avid cruiser and has taken several family cruise vacations, most recently on Norwegian Gem in the Mediterranean.

NCL ceo Kevin Sheehan met the singer and her family on board.

Crystal visits Mexico, Princess gets two new builds and Cunard re-introduces the dreaded fuel supplement.

A criminal investigation is underway to determine the cause of a fire onboard Norwegian Epic.

Carnival ships will be frequent visitors to Bermuda, and there was a lot of Royal Caribbean news this week – from new shows on Allure of the Seas to a crew member overboard from Explorer of The Seas and an explanation about Royal’s decision to pull out of California and the Mexican Riviera.

Thankfully we had a few things to talk about this week-

Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands will name the Nieuw Amsterdam.

As we mentioned in the last show – Carnival is making changes to their Mexican Riviera sailings from San Diego.

NCL rolls out a guarantee that sounds better than it truly is.

Princess repeats their 2010 Alaska schedule in 2011 and rolls out a new air program.

Finally we look at the Gulf oil spill and talk about what impact it may have on the cruise industry.

If you’re not a fan of our rants – well good news for you this week – there was some cruise news!

See EVERYBODY WINS!

We start off though with a quick mention of our trip to the Corning Museum of Glass.  Overall, we had a good time, and it’s worth a visit if you’re in the area or will be passing through the area.

There was a bit of news this week as Celebrity took delivery of Celebrity Eclipse which along with Celebrity Summit will be going Mac and even have a small Apple Store onboard.  Celebrity has also announced that all 4 Solstice Class ships will be headed to Europe for the 2011 season.

Norwegian Epic will be the host venue for this year’s Macy’s 4th of July fireworks.

In the luxury market – Oceania will introduce a Wine Tasting Center onboard the new Marina, and Crystal will be offering new enrichment programs just for teens.

Disney has also announced a new upscale dining venue for the Disney Dream.

Finally, we weigh in on new fees one airline has decided to introduce….

As Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship to date, Norwegian Epic will be an ideal venue for the fireworks show. Guests will have incredible views of the New York skyline and river from the ship’s pool and outer decks. The expansive ship – the length of more than three football fields — will provide multiple vantage points to view the largest and most spectacular fireworks display in the nation.

Spectators from coast-to-coast will have a front row view of the fireworks by tuning into NBC’s national broadcast of Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular beginning at 9:00 p.m. (check local listings). In addition to the splendor of the nation’s largest fireworks display, the spectacular entertainment broadcast will feature a star-studded line-up of performances by America’s most popular recording artists.

NCL announced some work at Great Stirrup Cay as well as some more information about Norwegian Epic.

Celebrity Mercury continues to battle Norovirus.

Seabourn gives us a construction update on Seabourn Sojourn.

Holland America continues their Signature of Excellence upgrades and creates a stir in Alaska who is now reconsidering the head tax.

Guests on board Norwegian Epic can select from a variety of cuisines, dining styles and atmospheres on board with a total of 21 dining options. Those that will be free of charge are:

• -Taste, the atrium restaurant serving traditional and contemporary cuisine;
• -Manhattan Room, reminiscent of an elegant supper club complete with music, dancing and entertainment;
• -O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill, serving American favorites and comfort food, 24 hours;
• -Garden Café, Norwegian’s signature action station casual restaurant;
• -Great Outdoors, the pool-side grill;
• -Spice H20, serving Latin and Asian-influenced cuisine in the adults-only complex;
• -Atrium Cafe and Wine Bar;
• -Studio Lounge, serving snacks and light fare;
• -Epic Club, the elegant, exclusive eatery available to Norwegian Epic’s Suite and Villa guests;
• -Courtyard Grill, the more casual, outdoor area of the Epic Grill, open for breakfast and lunch; and
• -24-hour room service.

In addition, Norwegian also announced the cover charges for Norwegian Epic’s specialty dining/entertainment venues:

• -La Cucina, Tuscan-style eatery serving regional Italian specialties, $10 per person;
• -Cirque Dreams & Dinner, two shows nightly including a three-course meal, $15 for general seating/$20 per person for preferred seating;
• -Shanghai’s, Norwegian Epic’s new Chinese restaurant serving a delicious mix of Chinese dishes and noodle bar specialties, $15 per person;
• -Shanghai’s Noodle Bar, a la carte pricing;
• -Wasabi, expansive sushi and sake bar, a la carte pricing;
• -Le Bistro, Norwegian’s elegant bistro serving classic French cuisine with an American flair, $20 per person;
• -Moderno Churrascaria, expansive salad bar and choice of a variety of meats served by tableside passadors, $18 per person;
• -Cagney’s Steakhouse, the line’s signature American steakhouse, $25 per person;
• -Teppanyaki, the largest signature Japanese experiential restaurant at sea, $25 per person; and
• -Pizza delivery, $5, available 24 hours around the ship.

The ship’s luxurious 31,000 square foot Mandara Spa will feature 24 treatment rooms, two private couple’s villas, two exotic steam Rasul rooms, a DIY Scrub Experience, Hydrotherapy Courtyard & Thermal Suite, full-service salon, fitness center and barber shop.

In another first for the line, Norwegian Epic features 39 spa suites, deluxe balcony and balcony staterooms, which are accessed via private key-card and offer complimentary access to the enclave surrounding Norwegian Epic’s luxurious Hydrotherapy Courtyard & Thermal Suite and state-of-the-art fitness center. For an added indulgence, eight spa suites each feature an in-room whirlpool.

The spa features more than 50 treatments for both men and women including Elemis facials, massages, body therapies, bliss® face and body treatments, and acupuncture along with cosmetic medical treatments performed by a licensed doctor. The salon features hair, nail and waxing services. In addition, kids and teens can choose from a selection of kid-friendly spa services.

Among the two dozen treatment rooms are two new couple’s villas for the ultimate in togetherness massages with the opportunity to soak in a private, outdoor whirlpool. Two solo villas also have outdoor whirlpools, and six treatment rooms have balconies with chaise lounges where guests can relax privately outdoors before or after their treatment.

The first phase of improvements to Great Stirrup Cay is already underway. This includes the excavation and formation of a new entrance channel for tenders, marina basin and arrival area with welcome pavilion that will be the site for new tender landings and docks. Once this is complete, the island’s current beach front will be expanded significantly to accommodate more guests.

New infrastructure and landscaping to enhance the guest experience is planned in the second phase including new dining and bar facilities; several comfort stations; a band stand; cruise program activity area; private beachfront cabanas; a kid’s play area; straw market; and beach volleyball courts. Several new island activities and shore excursions will be added including wave runners, a floating Aqua Park with a variety of water toys, kayak tours through man-made rivers within the island, an eco-cruise, and a stingray encounter experience. These are in addition to the existing snorkeling; floats; inflatable hippo slide; and parasailing that are currently offered.

Norwegian has owned the island since 1977 when it became the first cruise line to offer an uninhabited tropical island experience exclusively for its guests. Great Stirrup Cay offers magnificent white sand beaches, majestic palms and calm, pristine waters where an abundance of colorful marine life inhabits the surrounding coral reefs.

Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Pearl regularly call on Great Stirrup Cay throughout the year.

This week – NCL gave us more details about their Studio cabins – most importantly they’re going to be singles and shouldn’t include a single supplement!

NCL also announced a partnership with Nickelodeon to bring Nick themed entertainment to some ships.

The keel of Carnival Magic was laid this past Tuesday, and Royal Caribbean and Rolls Royce have kissed and made up over Celebrity’s Mermaid Pods.

The situation in Haiti also touched the cruise industry and we talk about Royal Caribbean’s aid efforts and their return to Haiti as well as some of the other things going on to help out those in need.

What are your thoughts about Royal Caribbean’s quick return to Labadee?  We want to know, and you can leave your thoughts over on the Facebook page…

Beginning in April on Norwegian Jewel and this summer on Norwegian Epic, Nickelodeon NCL experiences will include character meet and greets and game shows. The exclusive three-year partnership also entails Nickelodeon-themed cruises featuring Nickelodeon TV stars, show premieres and continuous themed-entertainment on board.

Nickelodeon at Sea will launch on Norwegian Jewel when the ship begins sailing from New York in late April, and on the new Norwegian Epic in July. Each cruise will feature live Nickelodeon-themed interactive shows, including ‘SlimeTime LIVE!’ with Nick’s signature slime, ‘Nick Live!’ poolside entertainment, character breakfasts and meet and greets, Nick-themed dance parties and more.

Nickelodeon-themed elements will also be incorporated into NCL’s Kids’ Crew program.

In addition to the year-round programming on Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Epic, Nickelodeon theme cruises will be offered annually, the first scheduled for Norwegian Jewel later this year.

Some of the features include:

• Priced for single occupancy
• Full-sized bed and contemporary décor
• Unique bathroom layout with separate sink and shower
• Many Studios are connecting, offering both privacy and togetherness with a fellow traveler
• Exclusive keycard access to Studio Lounge
• 128 Studios

Last week was a mess along the Gulf Coast with fog causing delays all along the Gulf of Mexico.

Crystal announces who will be joining their 2010 Presidents Cruise and also is inviting kids to sail free on two European itineraries.

NCL will be celebrating 10 years of Freestyle Cruising next year and we have some details on Queen Victoria’s maiden call to San Francisco next month.

We also have more details about Oceania’s newest ship Marina.

Veendam apparently has some issues with Hamilton Bermuda…

Before we dive in to our recap of Westerdam though we give you a quick recap of the news while we were gone…

First up was some new build news – Disney revealed that Sorcerer Mickey would ride the stern of Disney Dream, Carnival ordered a third ship for their Dream class, and Princess may be get a new ship too…

Mahogany Bay is welcoming visitors, and Labadee’s upgrades are ready in anticipation of Oasis of The Seas arrival.  Speaking of Oasis of The Seas the ship has been officially named…

Finally  Norwegian Dawn has been repaired and has returned to service after a experiencing a power failure off San Juan PR.

Even though we run long this week – you’re getting an abbreviated run down of our thoughts and experiences onboard Westerdam.  There were some unexpected high points on the trip and sadly some pretty dismal low points as well.  Don’t forget to watch the photo gallery – we’re still posting pictures from the trip – and also the pages here as we post more video from the trip as well.

Legends In Concert

Legends in Concert is a live musical celebration featuring the world’s greatest celebrity tribute artists such as Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Tom Jones, Tina Turner, Madonna, Garth Brooks, Rod Stewart, Cher, Barry White, Tim McGraw and Shania Twain, among many others. Legends in Concert on Norwegian Epic will feature three celebrity tribute performers taking the stage in the Epic Theater for six 45-minute shows over three days during a seven-day cruise. In addition, a cabaret-style show will be performed on three additional nights in the Manhattan Room, the ship’s New York-inspired supper club, providing an unprecedented dining and entertainment experience on Norwegian Epic. The celebrity performers will change every four months, keeping the show fresh and exciting.

Each universally-renowned Legends in Concert performer not only looks and sounds like the star they portray, they transform themselves through hours of practice at their craft. This is accomplished by using their own natural voices and every detail is taken into consideration from choreography, to hair, make-up and mannerisms.

Howl at the Moon

Performing four times per cruise in Headliners, Norwegian Epic’s comedy club, Howl at the Moon is a total entertainment experience where the talented piano players not only entertain the guests; the guests become part of the show. The fun is centered around two baby grand pianos and a full out rock show with Howl’s entertainers playing the best music from 70′s rock to hip-hop for four hours per show. Howl at the Moon, with multiple locations across the United States, encourages people to live out their inner rock star, so guests should be ready to clap, sing, dance and howl.

The 4,200 passenger Norwegian Epic will enter service next June under the command of Captain Trygve Vorren, a 29-year seafaring veteran who is currently captain of Norwegian Jade, and Captain Hakan Svedung, at sea for 35 years and currently captain of Norwegian Dawn. Vorren, a native of Norway, joined Norwegian in 1980 as first officer on the SS Norway, then the world’s largest cruise ship. He has also served aboard Skyward, Southward, Sunward II, Dreamward, Leeward, Starward, Royal Odyssey, Norwegian Sea, Norwegian Crown, Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Majesty. Svedung, who lives in Sweden, has served on Norwegian Dawn since 2006; prior to that he worked for Star Cruises, one of Norwegian’s shareholders, for 12 years. Both captains are looking forward to this exciting and challenging new role.

Klaus Lugmaier and Sean Wurmhoeringer will serve as Norwegian Epic’s hotel directors. Lugmaier, currently director of shipboard operations at the company’s Miami headquarters, began his career at Norwegian 21 years ago aboard Seaward and held a variety of positions before becoming one of the youngest hotel directors in the cruise industry at the age of 26. As hotel director, he has launched seven of the company’s new ships, including Leeward, Norwegian Sky, Norwegian Star, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Gem. He was also part of the team that launched Norwegian Dream and Norwegian Wind. Wurmhoeringer, with Norwegian since 2002, is currently serving as hotel director on Norwegian Spirit and has also served on Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Sky.

Norwegian added two new sailings to Pride of America next year, and Regent enters the last phase of their fleetwide refits.

LA approves a major port revitalization plan which includes a big new terminal, Carnival adds a fun zone to their Miami terminal and Oasis of The Seas is on her second shakedown cruise.

Finally there was an “incident” in Cozumel last week…

Given how slow it was this past week we also wrapped up our piece on Butlers – you may be surprised by how much Butlers on some lines do – we sure were…

The sailings on April 24 and May 1, 2010 will feature a new itinerary that includes a day at sea along with the four ports currently offered on Pride of America: Hilo, Hawaii; Kahului, Maui; Kona, Hawaii; and an overnight in Nãwiliwili, Kauai. In addition, the two sailings will include an evening sail by Kilauea Volcano, a day cruise by the north coast of Molokai and an afternoon sail by the breathtaking Napali coast.

This week – NCL announced the dates of Norwegian Epic’s Trans-Atlantic crossing, and Holland America made changes to their Mariner Society benefits.

You’ll be able to try Nordic Walking on Crystal starting in October – and there some environmental controversies going on.

Queen of the West has been sold.  Carnival is moving ships again – and they’ve taken delivery of Carnival Dream.

This week we also take a look at onboard butlers…

Incentive Awards by Norwegian Cruise Line offers three tiers of pricing — Ultimate, Preferred and Value  updated on a quarterly basis allowing for attractive pricing with the availability to choose from balcony, ocean view or inside staterooms on most of Norwegian’s Freestyle Cruising ships, including the new Norwegian Epic set to launch next summer, to a variety of destinations including the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Europe, the Mexican Riviera and Hawai’i.

As part of the program, once staterooms are purchased, special cruise certificates are generated and sent to the purchaser who can award them at their convenience. Norwegian handles the fulfillment and redemption of the cruise certificates making it an easy and seamless program. Upon receiving a certificate, recipients can simply call Norwegian’s Incentive Awards desk to book the cruise of choice. To add to the flexibility, award recipients can purchase accommodation upgrades and add additional guests to the same stateroom for a nominal rate.

Incentive Awards by Norwegian Cruise Line cruise certificates are for two guests per stateroom and include the cruise fare, government taxes and fees and pre-paid service charges. Certificates are valid for up to 18 months from the date of purchase and no minimum purchase is required.

After an unprecedented response to a waitlist for Norwegian Epic’s transatlantic last month, Norwegian Cruise Line will give those guests on the waitlist first priority to confirm their booking on the transatlantic today and tomorrow. A special guest services team will be contacting those guests so that they can choose from Norwegian Epic’s wide range of accommodations from the innovative new Studios to the largest suite and villa complex at sea. On Wednesday, September 16, 2009, members of Norwegian’s past guest program, Latitudes, will have a special preview sale day to book the cruise. The much-anticipated transatlantic sailing will officially open to the public for booking on Thursday, September 17, 2009.

Norwegian Epic’s new seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise with stops in Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas, will go on sale to the public on September 28, 2009. Guests currently booked on Norwegian Epic’s July 17, 2010 Eastern Caribbean cruise will have priority to switch to the new sailing date if they so choose by calling Norwegian at 866-234-5609 by September 25, 2009.

In addition, Norwegian Epic’s 2010/11 inaugural season sailings from Miami to the Eastern and Western Caribbean are currently open for sale. The ship’s alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, available as seven-day individual sailings or 14-day combined sailings, are available through April 2011.

One of largest on the vessel, this block will house portions of The Villas, a private enclave of 60 exclusive suites located on Decks 16, 17 and 18. The radar mast will be added next which will complete Norwegian Epic’s structure before her float out and transfer to the outfitting dock on July 11, 2009.

The 153,000-gross ton, 4,200-passenger ship is scheduled for delivery at the end of May 2010.

NCL announced that the Blue Man Group will headline the entertainment onboard Norwegian Epic, while Royal Caribbean made an announcement of their own – that they were bringing a new dancing program onboard inspired by a senior citizen hip-hop group – and we really wish we were joking about that part.

With the decision to move the G8 meetings an MSC ship will not play host to world leaders as originally planned and MSC and STX are negotiating to revise the designs for some planned ships.

More Entertainment Venues, Offerings

Norwegian Epic will have multiple, specially-designed entertainment venues throughout the ship so that guests can choose from a wide variety of entertainment each evening of their cruise. No longer will entertainment be focused on two nightly shows in one large main theater. Norwegian Epic takes Freestyle Cruising to the next level by offering a number of entertainment options in specially-designed venues, some offered for the first time ever at sea, with choices to appeal to a broad audience.

Spiegel Tent: On Norwegian Epic, guests will find the only “big top” at sea. In this intimate 265-seat theater-in-the-round, famed producer/director Neil Goldberg will present Cirque Dreams® and Dinner. This one of a kind interactive theatrical dining experience will be performed in the air, while juggling dinner courses, with music, mayhem and acrobatic imagination. During this two-hour show, guests will marvel in amazement and become part of a celebration of spectacle and fantasy. The entire experience will be unlike anything else at sea.

Headliners Comedy Club: This 280-seat comedy club will feature the hilarious improvisational comedy of The Second City, as Norwegian continues its exclusive partnership with the famed troupe. For nearly 50 years, The Second City has honed the skills of comedic legends such as Bill Murray, Chris Farley, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Gilda Radner and John Belushi. The ensemble will perform a special customized comedy revue of satirical skits, hilarious songs and inventive improvisation. The venue’s design centers on a show lounge format with a small raised stage, concrete floors and brick walls with a full bar.

Fat Cats: Guests on board Norwegian Epic can sit back and relax listening to the cool vibes of jazz and blues in this 200-seat jazz club. Fat Cats will feature nightly live blues and jazz performances by world-class talent. The urban setting creates a hipster vibe complete with full bar and comfortable leather sofas and chairs.

Epic Casino: This appropriately named casino is Norwegian’s largest casino at sea, spanning more than 13,000 square feet. It features an elegant Monte Carlo inspired design theme and is open to Taste, the Atrium restaurant below, and to the excitement of Bar Central above. Here, guests will find many opportunities to try their luck including 340 of the latest slot machines; along with gaming tables featuring poker, black jack, roulette and craps. And, with the most rewarding Players Club Program at sea there will be something for everyone, from the novice to the high roller. Cascades Bar, with a grand central crystal chandelier, serves as the casino’s centerpiece.

Epic Theater: In addition, the theater will be home to another featured show which will be announced later this year.