This week Disney Dream celebrated a major construction milestone as the last block of the hull was put in place.

Norwegian introduces a unique new opportunity – for the privacy of your stateroom, plus they’ve installed the largest chandelier at sea AND have announced that lifeboat drills will soon not require lifejackets on all ships except Pride of America.

The keel is laid on Oceania’s newest ship Riviera and Azamara Club Cruises wants us to remember that their butlers are not just cabin attendants.

Royal Caribbean has tweaked the Crown & Anchor Society benefits (although we’re not sure that any substantial changes have been made) and they’ve announced an exciting partnership with Dreamworks Animation.

At the ceremony Frank Del Rio, the line’s founder and chairman and CEO of its parent company, Prestige Cruise Holdings, and Oceania Cruises President Bob Binder, welded four U.S. silver coins onto the keel. The welding of coins into a ship’s keel is an age-old maritime tradition believed to solicit good fortune for the ship, its crew and its passengers.

The four coins – dated 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2009 – represent the years keels were laid for the four other vessels in Oceania Cruises’ upper-premium fleet: Insignia, Regatta, Nautica and Marina, respectively.

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….

This new wine-tasting center will be home to a series of educational seminars and tastings so guests can better appreciate the nuances of the varietals in the regions where Marina sails. Select evenings during each voyage, seven-course, gourmet tasting menus paired with fine wines will also be offered. Although there is no charge for the food and service, wines are additional.

Situated high atop the ship on Deck 12, La Reserve sports a sophisticated, yacht club décor with seating for 24 guests as well as an al fresco patio boasting panoramic views. As part of the pioneering partnership, the wine list in the ship’s Grand Dining Room will also feature daily red and white wine recommendations from magazine editors which are perfectly paired with the evening’s menu offerings.

Cunard announced that QM2 will spend almost a month in Australia next year…

A passenger is accused of doing something stupid on Carnival Paradise…

Celebrity Eclipse makes the River Ems transit…

Crystal offers Cosmonaut training…

Oceania, Princess and Royal Caribbean announce their 2011 European deployments, and Royal Caribbean announces that year round cruising will continue in 2011 from Baltimore and New York.

We also took a look at the idox Traveler iPod case.  For some reason I kept calling this a dock – it’s not, it’s a case.  Bottom line, we were impressed with it for what it is.  To purchase one or for more information visit the idox website.  Sorry Zune fans, this one is only available for iPods…

We also had a quick review of Brian David Bruns’ book Cruise Confidential: A Hit Below the Waterline.  Mr. Bruns was and may still be the only American to successfully complete a contract in the dining rooms of Carnival without quiting or transferring to a different department.

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…

The stunning Lalique Grand Staircase will feature double curved staircases and balcony with balustrades of crystal medallions and scrolled iron. Six crystal pillars rising from the landing adorn the two-story, glass elevator surround. A brass banister is complemented by a mahogany handrail.

At the base – as a dramatic centerpiece – is Lalique’s highly prestigious Cactus table surrounded by etched crystal screens and flanked by newels capped with prominent crystal finials. An exquisite and striking Lalique vase, with fresh flower display, will sit atop the table.

Lalique sculptures and crystal accessories will also be displayed throughout the ship as part of Marina’s multi-million dollar art collection.

Oceania Cruises previously announced that its palatial Owner’s Suites would be furnished exclusively in Ralph Lauren Home. Additional design elements will be unveiled over the next month.

The 1,258-guest Marina has been purposefully designed to carry discerning travelers to the world’s most alluring ports in elegance and style. Crystal, rich woods, marble and granite, wool carpets and lustrous leathers adorn public rooms. Facilities include 10 dining venues – six of which are open-seating gourmet restaurants, an array of bars and lounges, a full-service Canyon Ranch SpaClub and fitness center, outdoor swimming pool and hot tubs.

Azamara, who really needed a direction gets a new name and a new attitude.  Maybe this one will work?

Costa’s newest completes technical trials, and the Seabourn triplets are getting renovations.

A new villainous show is coming to Disney and so are some family friendly shore excursions.

Princess looses a ship when Royal Princess heads to P&O while Silversea takes delivery of their newest  Silver Spirit.

Oceania’s massive owner’s suites on Marina will showcase Ralph Lauren.

Carnival Dream isn’t compatible with a pier in San Juan.

A few of Holland America’s ships are getting some really cool tech…

We got a request to talk about a few other things from our Westerdam trip and there’s some new video’s up for you to check out as well!

Oceania Cruises’ three 684-guest vessels – Regatta, Insignia and Nautica – offer a choice of four different dining venues, all of which come under the watchful eye of renowned master chef, Jacques Pépin, who serves as executive culinary director for the cruise line. Guests can choose from The Grand Dining Room, Polo Grill, Toscana and Tapas on the Terrace.

The new online “Dining Reservations Calendar” conveniently includes the times the ship is in port, as well as any pre-reserved shore excursions to assist guests in selecting the ideal dining times. Reservations can be made 90 days in advance of sailing, once final payment has been received, and will remain available until 10 days prior to departure.

Guests may now access the Dining Reservations Calendar beginning with the 2009-2010 Winter Collection voyages of Regatta, Insignia and Nautica to Asia and Australia, South America and the Caribbean. To access the calendar, guests must register in the “Already Booked” section of OceaniaCruises.com.

In the news this week:

Construction has begun on Oceana’s Marina, and Disney has named their newbuilds.

James Taylor will be onboard Queen Mary 2.  Royal Caribbean is enhancing their kids programs, and Carnival will be sailing to Alaska from Seattle in 2010.

Sailings have been cancelled and Millenium is headed for some quick propulsion repairs.

Marina, the first of the new Oceania-Class, represents an evolution of the line’s extremely popular Regatta-Class ships, retaining all of the warmth, popular design elements and signature amenities the line is renowned for while affording guests an additional level of comfort, convenience and many new luxury amenities. Designed to cruise to all corners of the globe, the new ships will boast a cruising speed 20% faster than the Regatta-Class.

The new ships will be awash in rich woods, Italian marble, lustrous granite, fine wool carpets and sumptuous leather. No detail is being overlooked to create an array of spacious, yet intimate public spaces and luxurious staterooms and suites. They will accommodate 1,252 guests in 626 staterooms and suites who will be served by more than 780 staff members. 96% of all accommodations will feature private teak verandas and guests will dine in their choice of six open seating restaurants.

Additional details on the Marina’s suites and staterooms, restaurants, guest facilities and itineraries will be released in the coming months.

Frank Del Rio, chairman of Prestige Cruise Holdings, stated that the company was eliminating these charges due to the dramatic decrease in the price of crude oil. “As the price of oil has tumbled into the low $40 range, we can now eliminate the fuel surcharge on all 2009 voyages and as long as the price remains below $65 per barrel, we are confident that we will not require a surcharge in the future,” he added.

The fuel supplement charge will be removed from reservations for all 2009 voyages at the time of final payment. Guests who have already paid in full for their 2009 voyage will be issued a shipboard credit equal to the fuel supplement charge they were assessed.

Prestige Cruise Holdings will continue to monitor the price of fuel and retains the right to reinstate the fuel supplement charge at any time should market conditions warrant.

Princess announced their plans for the holidays, and Crystal’s holiday gift to you – $1500 off most European sailings next year.

All the major lines announced that fuel supplements are either gone or will be gone as of the New Year.

Carnival Corp is suing Rolls Royce and Converteam over the Mermaid propulsion pods that were installed on QM2.  They’ve also signed a deal for berthing rights in Seattle for both Holland America and Princess.

Port Canaveral has started moving on the improvements for Disney’s new ships with the awarding of the first contract.

Finally, with a name like Cruise Planners it’s easy to forget that we do more than just cruises.  This week we talk about some of the other things that we do…

Oceania President Bob Binder says that eight shots were fired but none hit the ship. The closest the pirates ever got to the vessel was 300 meters.

At the time of the attack Nautica was sailing within the Maritime Safety Protection Area which is patrolled by international anti-piracy task forces. The Maritime Safety Protection Area is eight miles wide and 550 miles long.  As the vessel passed several groups of fishing vessels, two small skiffs were sighted by the officer on duty and deemed potentially hostile.

The skiffs, approached from approximately 1,000 meters and attempted to intercept the vessel. Nautica began evasive maneuvers coming to flank speed and outrunning the skiffs.

According to reports the incident began at 0528 GMT and all written reports to the requisite authorities were filed by 0543 GMT.  .

In the news this week NCL announced the upgrades Norwegian Spirit will be getting during her upcoming refit.

As fuel prices continue fall, yet another line has announced that they are dropping their fuel surcharges, this week it’s Oceania and Regent Seven Seas.

Some of Celebrity’s new ships are getting new shows.

Ruby Princess was named and Princess also announced that they will be bring Movies Under the Stars to almost every ship in the fleet over the next two years.

Holland America is bringing new Signature of Excellence improvements to select ships.

Carnival Dream has been floated out of the fitting out key and is one step closer to completion, and QE2 isn’t the only Queen that will be leaving service this year.  With no buyer in sight, the queens of Majestic America’s fleet will be ending operations in just a few weeks.

For voyages departing in 2010, no fuel supplement will be charged on new reservations. For existing reservations on voyages departing in 2010, the fuel supplement charge will automatically be removed from the guests’ final payment balance. For voyages departing in 2009, the company will continue to apply a $15 per guest per day fuel supplement. Fuel supplement charge adjustments, if any, will be determined on a quarterly basis. Refunds, in the form of shipboard credits, will be applied to all reservations to which a fuel supplement had previously been charged if the quarterly closing price on the New York Mercantile Exchange of West Texas Intermediate fuel is below $65 per barrel two weeks prior to the beginning of the upcoming calendar quarter.

Frank Del Rio, Chairman of Prestige Cruise Holdings, stated that the company was implementing these changes due to the recent decline in fuel prices. “If oil stabilizes below $65 per barrel, we are confident that we can effectively eliminate the need to charge our guests a separate fuel supplement. However, we must see stability in fuel pricing on a mid- to long-term basis as there could still be significant volatility in the marketplace,” stated Del Rio.

The dates on which the price of West Texas Intermediate fuel will be measured and the quarters during which refunds may be applied are listed below.

Crystal is offering a collection of savings and perks on their 2009 World Cruise.

Louis completed the purchase of Norwegian Majesty, and we found out that the future of Majestic America Line.

Carnival Fantasy has been turning around in Mobile due to the troubles in New Orleans on the Mississippi River.

We also got news about Oceania’s newest ship Marina, as construction began.

This week we take a look at an up and coming Mexican land destination, and our Deal of The Week as actually a land package.

Carnival had named the Godmother for Carnival Splendor.

Oceania delivers two pieces of bad news – they’re raising their fuel surcharge and canceling Nautica’s call on Burma that was scheduled for later this year.

Bermuda will be allowing ships to open casinos and stores when in port after 10PM and Crystal is expanding their Crystal memories program.

This week we talk a bit about shopping.  We’ve got a few things that you should know before you get on board.  There are some great deals to be had – but doing some research before you leave can be the difference between a great deal and a not so great deal.

“While Myanmar was an eagerly anticipated destination for our guests, the state of affairs after the tragic cyclone has prompted us to seek alternative destinations to replace Yangon,” stated Bob Binder, President of Oceania Cruises.

An additional highlight of this revised itinerary is an extended land tour to the fabled Taj Mahal in India. Details are below and space is limited, so we encourage guests to reserve their space today on this epic excursion.

2 Night Overland Tour to the Taj Mahal 3 Days / 2 Nights ……… $1,899.00 per guest

Explore the enchanting soul of India on this three day, two night excursion to glorious Agra. A charter flight will transport guests to Agra, the charmed city that enjoys one of the most splendid structures in the world, as well as three World Heritage monuments. They will visit the jewel of Muslim art in India, and world renowned architectural masterpiece, the Taj Mahal.

This package includes all transfers, flights via private jet, deluxe hotel accommodations, sightseeing, luggage handling and some meals.

The fuel surcharge of $15 per guest per day, regardless of voyage length, will be effective for all new reservations as of June 16, 2008. The fuel surcharge applies only to the first two guests in the stateroom or suite and does not apply to third or fourth guests.

NCL: The new fuel supplement will be $11 per person per day for the first and second guests in a stateroom and $5 per person per day for any additional guests in the same stateroom. The increased fuel supplement applies only to new individual reservations made on or after June 20, 2008. The increased fuel supplement applies to any group reservation booked on or after June 20, 2008. The increased fuel supplement will also apply to group space held prior to June 20, 2008 without specific names and full confirming deposit by June 19, 2008.

Carnival, Princess, Cunard, Holland America: will increase their current fuel supplement from $7 to $9 (USD) per person per day. The fuel supplement for third and fourth passengers will increase from $2 to $4 (USD) per person per day. The new fuel supplement will apply to all new bookings effective June 12, 2008. The fuel supplement will not exceed $126 per person per voyage for the first and second passengers, and $56 per person per voyage for the third and fourth passengers in a stateroom. For bookings made from April 21, 2008 to June 11, 2008, the current fuel supplement of $7 (USD) per person for the first two passengers, and $2 (USD) per person per day for the third and fourth passengers will apply.

The fuel surcharge of $10 per guest per day, regardless of voyage length, is effective for all new reservations as of May 1, 2008. The fuel surcharge applies only to the first two guests in the stateroom or suite and does not apply to third or fourth guests.

Silversea has announced that they are naming their newest ship HSH Prince Albert II.

Norwegian Jade will be deployed in Europe until at least 2010 – which means that Pride of Hawai’i will not be returning until at least after 2010.

Oceania has started releasing the details of the new Oceania Class.

Princess is sending 6 ships to Europe in 2009, and Regent has announced their 2009 Antarctic  itineraries.

Finally Hawai’i is considering sulfur emissions limits for Kaua’i.

The new ships will be awash in rich, dark woods, Italian marble, lustrous granite, fine wool carpets and sumptuous leather. No expense is being spared to create an array of spacious, yet intimate public spaces and luxurious staterooms and suites.

The new ships will accommodate 1,252 guests in 626 staterooms and suites who will be served by more than 780 staff members. 96% of all accommodations will feature private teak verandas and guests will dine in their choice of six open seating restaurants.

Deck by deck highlights can be found by clickig on “more” below.

Deck-by-Deck Highlights:

Deck 15

• Horizons – observation lounge and nightclub
• Sports Deck

Deck 14

• Spa and Fitness Center
• The Patio
• Library
• Polo Grill – classic steakhouse
• Toscana – gourmet Italian restaurant

Deck 12

• Guest Suites
• Culinary Arts Center
• Enrichment Center
• Waves Bar
• Swimming Pool and Jacuzzis
• Waves Grill & Milkshake Bar
• Private Dining Rooms, Wine Cellar and Veranda
• Terrace Café – casual buffet restaurant

Decks 11 through 7

• Guest Staterooms and Suites

Deck 6

• Upper Hall
• Martinis
• Casino
• Card Rooom
• Grand Bar
• Grand Dining Room – Continental Cuisine

Deck 5

• Main Lounge
• Reception Hall and Lounge
• French Restaurant – country French cuisine
• Asian Restaurant – a fusion of Asian cuisines

The Oceania-Class represents an evolution of the line’s extremely popular Regatta-Class ships. This new class of mid size cruise vessels will retain all of the warmth, popular design elements and signature amenities of the Regatta-Class while affording guests an additional level of comfort, convenience and many new luxury amenities. Designed to cruise to all corners of the globe, the new ships will boast a cruising speed 20% faster than the Regatta-Class. In addition to their greater speed, the new ships will have a greater range that enables them to undertake the itineraries to virtually any destination worldwide.

Oceania-Class Facts:

In theory, Pride of America should be remaining in Hawai’i at least through 2010 and the stories at the beginning of the week seemed to indicate that – until USAToday and the Honolulu Star Bulletin report that NCL has been hinting to Hawai’i state leaders that if the CBP ruling doesn’t go their way then Pride of America could potentially leave the islands as well…

While we understand NCL’s concerns – the uncertainty that they are injecting into the issue doesn’t help anybody.  NCL’s casting doubt on their ability or desire to remain in Hawai’i for the long run makes it hard to make a confident decision about sailing on NCLAmerica.

There was some other news this week – like the lawsuit filed against various cruise lines accusing them of collusion when implementing their fuel surcharges late last year.  Oceania’s Regatta  was a good samaratan. Royal Caribbean will upgrade their Labadee pier to accommodate the Genesis ships, and Celebrity and Azamara will join Princess and offer weddings at sea…

Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises will be placed under the ownership of Prestige Cruise Holdings, Inc. (PCH), a corporation controlled by Apollo which will manage certain cruise portfolio assets of Apollo. NCL Corporation will remain a separate holding outside of PCH.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises will remain a wholly independent brand under the guidance of Mark Conroy, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and will continue to operate from its Fort Lauderdale, Florida headquarters, and Oceania Cruises will remain in its Miami headquarters, headed by Bob Binder, president of Oceania Cruises. Both Binder and Conroy will report directly to Frank Del Rio, chairman and CEO of Prestige Cruise Holdings.

The transaction is part of a unified strategy undertaken by Apollo and Carlson to expand their respective core cruise and hotel operations, and become the world’s preeminent operators of luxury hotels, resorts and cruises. Carlson will retain ownership of the master Regent brand, along with the worldwide operations of Regent Hotels & Resort.

Apollo’s acquisition of Regent Seven Seas Cruises strengthens its position in the cruise industry with the addition of an award-winning luxury cruise brand to its cruise portfolio. Regent Seven Seas Cruises will continue to focus on the luxury segment of the marketplace by offering a six-star, all-inclusive experience, and Oceania Cruises will continue to lead the Upper Premium segment.

Princess has announced their 2008/2009 slate of Caribbean Escapes offering itineraries on 7 ships. Further south, Royal Caribbean will be offering sailings from Colon, Panama on Enchantment of The Seas.

Majestic America has announced that Delta Queen will be retired next year.

Carnival Valor managed to hit a parking structure while mooring in New York, and somebody got a little too close to Queen Mary 2 as she moored in New York.

NCL is taking part in a unique program recycling used cooking oil and other oily wastes.

Port Everglades is negotiating with Royal Caribbean to have at least one of the two new Genesis class ships homeported in Fort Lauderdale.

This week we talk about being healthy while on your cruise, and staying healthy starts before you even leave.

Oceania Cruises announced that its 2008-2009 Winter Collection of sailings to Asia, Australia, the Caribbean and South America will open for reservations on August 1, 2007. In the tradition of offering discerning travelers an extraordinary introductory offer, all 2008-2009 Winter Collection itineraries will offer Free Round-trip Economy Airfare and 2 for 1 Cruise Fares through December 31, 2007.

“Our new Winter Collection of sailings adds a new dimension to the destination experience through more overnight port stays and enticing new ports. We’re delighted to be able to offer our guests and travel partners unique and enriching journeys to the most spectacular destinations worldwide,” stated Bob Binder, President of Oceania Cruises.

Highlights of the 2008-2009 Winter Collection:

• An unrivaled roster of overnight port stays in Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong, Sydney, Buenos Aires, Luxor, Dubai, Yangon, Bali, Bangkok, Hanoi, Saigon, Itajaí, São Paulo, Kyoto, and Taipei.
• Nautica returns to Australia and Asia with eight unique voyages ranging from 15 to 35 days.
• Insignia sails an enchanting array of 12- to 19-day voyages to the verdant coastal villages of Brazil and the mesmerizing Chilean fjords.Three exciting new 19-day cruises between Rio de Janeiro and Valparaiso offer a grand look at a grand continent.

For more details click below or call us at 888-286-9827 to book onboard

A Wider Array of Longer Voyages

To offer adventurous travelers a wider variety of destination-rich experiences, we have crafted a series of longer itineraries to sate their appetite for new and enthralling experiences.

• 32-day Rome to Singapore cruise aboard Nautica visiting Capri, Messina, Cairo, Luxor, Salalah, Muscat, Dubai, Cochin, Yangon and Phuket.
• Two 19-day voyages between Rio de Janeiro and Valparaiso visiting São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Port Stanley, Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, Laguna San Rafael, Puerto Chacabuco and Puerto Montt.
• 26-day Amazon Adventure aboard Regatta. Sailing roundtrip from Miami, guests will call on virtually every port in the vast Caribbean and experience the majesty of the mighty Amazon River and historic Manaus.

New Ports of Call

• Yangon, Myanmar – Nautica will spend three magical days in the capital of the former British colony of Burma which is brimming with a rich and fascinating history. Take time to explore the Shwedagon Pagoda, the Karaweik Palace on Kandawgyi Lake or voyage overland to fabled Mandalay which was immortalized by Rudyard Kipling and Frank Sinatra.
• Puerto Chiapas, Mexico – Shrouded in mystery and mysticism, Puerto Chiapas is the gateway to the legendary world of the Mayans. Adventure abounds in the region of the Tacana Volcano, exotic wildlife can be found in the surrounding jungles, and the legendary Mayan pyramids at Palenque are close at hand.
• Huatulco, Mexico – Huatulco offers the cosmopolitan atmosphere of a chic resort, combined with old-world charm. A beautiful seaside town, it is set upon nine breathtakingly blue bays which are rimmed with sugar-sand beaches to relax on and verdant jungles to explore.

Free Airfare and 2 for 1 Cruise Fares

With Free Airfare from 20 North American gateways and 2 for 1 Cruise Fares, these extraordinary voyages are the pinnacle of value. 2 for 1 Cruise Fares that include Free Airfare start at just $1,499 per guest. Guests are urged to make their reservations as early as possible to ensure that they take advantage of the Free Airfare and receive the accommodations of choice on their preferred voyage.

“I am delighted to have finalized the contracts for these magnificent ships and I am confident that Oceania Cruises and Fincantieri will set new standards with the new Oceania Class when they debut in just a few short years,” stated Frank Del Rio, Chairman and CEO of Oceania Cruises. Now that all technical specifications have been finalized, Oceania Cruises and Fincantieri will now move forward with detailed design work for the interiors. The world-renowned architectural firm of Yran & Storbratten has been retained to design the ships’ luxurious accommodations and dramatic public areas. “Fincantieri and Oceania Cruises share a legacy of innovation and superior product delivery, and I am certain that our guests and travel agent partners will find that the new Oceania Class will elevate our upper premium experience to new heights,” stated Del Rio.

Steve Martinez of Apollo Management commented, “We are extremely pleased with the expedient manner in which Frank and the entire team at Oceania Cruises have finalized the agreement with Fincantieri. Oceania Cruises has enjoyed tremendous success and we are confident that these spectacular new ships will further solidify their leadership position within the hospitality industry.”

So what will the new Oceania Class look like? Click on “more” below for more information.

The design specifications for the Oceania Class call for the vessels to be 782 feet long, 105 feet wide, with a draft of 24 feet, and will accommodate 1,260 guests on 11 guest decks. The ships will feature 630 staterooms and suites that are on average, 50% larger than the Regatta Class; 98% of all guest accommodations will feature sweeping ocean views and 95% will boast oversized, private teak verandas. The ships will be powered by diesel-electric engines and operate with twin screw propellers, with a speed of 20 knots. They will be equipped with two bow thrusters to enhance maneuverability, and will also be “green ships” employing the most advanced environmental systems and technology.

“We are very happy and enthusiastic to start work on this new project. Fincantieri is a well-established leader in the cruise sector and is in a strong position to take up this challenge given the company’s wealth of expertise and experience in this field. Moreover, these vessels will further extend our product range which spans from mega yachts of over 70 metres to cruise ships of more than 113,000 gross tons,” stated Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri.

About the New Oceania Class

Designed by Fincantieri and the world renowned architectural firm of Yran & Storbratten, the Oceania Class vessels will usher in new generation of luxurious, mid size cruise ships. Under the direction of Y&S Executive Architect, Gunnar Aaserud, the Oceania Class represents an evolution of the line’s extremely popular Regatta Class ships. This new class of mid size cruise vessels will retain all of the warmth, popular design elements and signature amenities of the Regatta Class while affording guests an additional level of comfort, convenience and many new luxury amenities. Designed to cruise to all corners of the globe, the new ships will boast a cruising speed 20% faster than the Regatta Class. In addition to their greater speed, the Oceania Class will have a greater range that enables them to undertake itineraries to virtually any destination worldwide.

The new Oceania Class vessels will set a new standard in culinary excellence, featuring six open-seating gourmet restaurants which boast the capacity to seat 150% of the ship’s guests in a single seating. The Grand Dining Room will be an opulent space crowned with a magnificent frescoed domed ceiling. The four specialty restaurants will feature the line’s signature Polo Grill and Toscana along with two new specialty dining venues, an elegant French bistro and a Pan-Asian restaurant. hese new ships have been designed with all the signature elements that guests and travel agents cherish, and the décor will be imbued with the same warmth and charm that the Regatta Class is renowned for. Signature public spaces will include the Martinis, Horizons, The Patio, and a Grand Staircase that sweeps up both sides of the lobby. Public areas and accommodations will include rich wood paneling and granite accents, opulent furnishings and a museum quality art collection that will include many rare nautical antiques.

Celebrity has decided to order a fourth Solstice class ship, and sister line (or is it subsidiary?) Azamara Cruises has announced their 2008 itineraries for their two ships Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest. While I didn’t rattle off all the ports in the show, click here for more information.

On the luxury front, kid’s sail free on two upcoming Crystal sailings, and Oceania’s Regatta has become the first Western cruise ship to visit Albania.

Crown Princess hosts a college grad, and Disney Magic arrived in Barcelona to kick off Disney Cruise Lines’ inaugural European season.

Finally, Regent Seven Seas has announced a new fashion conscious Circle of Interest excursion and Empress of The North has arrived in Ketchikan for repairs.

Thanks to the reshuffle in Princess’ 2008 Alaska schedule SeaSocks 2008 has been re-tooled.  We’re on a different ship, on a different itinerary and even a longer sailing.  The details are all here.

Don’t forget to check out this week’s Deal of The Week.

As always you can find the show over in iTunes, or click below to download the show or play it right in your browser window.