After an almost two month absence WE’RE BACK!!!!!! Sadly we may also be a little rusty too – sorry…
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.
Due to a weather delay, embarkation will not begin until approximately 6:00pm on Tuesday, January 5th.
Please do not arrive at the pier before 6:00pm. For the most current information and to avoid any unnecessary waiting, Princess encourages passengers to call the local Princess ground handler, Destination Management Chile, at the below before you depart for the ship.
Calling from an international number: 56 2 3431 334 Calling in Chile from a regular phone: 3431 334 Calling in Chile from a Chilean mobile phone: 02 3431 334
OR
Calling from an international number: 56 9 7 897 27 85 Calling in Chile from a regular phone: 09 7 897 27 85 Calling in Chile from a Chilean mobile phone: 7 897 27 85
This week there were quite a few long stories -
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!
One of the small ships of Princess Cruises, the 710-passenger Royal Princess, will depart the line’s fleet in spring 2011, transferring to sister company P&O Cruises in the U.K. The ship will be renamed Adonia.
As a result, five sailings in April and May will be cancelled, and in place of these a 26-day South Pacific and Andes Explorer cruise will be offered prior to the transfer.
The ship’s 2010 cruise program includes sailings to the Amazon, Caribbean, Panama Canal, Alaska, Hawaii and French Polynesia.
With the transfer of Royal Princess there will be one less Princess ship in Alaska for the 2011 season, though full details are not yet available. During summer 2010, the ship will sail on a 14-day roundtrip “Connoisseur” cruises from Seattle to Alaska.
The following 2011 sailings are being cancelled:
- April 6, 2011 10-day Tahiti & Polynesia
- April 16, 2011 10-day Tahiti & Polynesia
- April 26, 2011 12-day Hawaii & Tahiti
- May 8, 2011 10-day Hawaiian Islands
- May 18, 2011 1-day coastal
The new 26-day cruise that replaces these sailings will depart April 6, 2011 and travel between Papeete, Tahiti and Fort Lauderdale. Ports of call will include Bora Bora, Moorea, Pitcairn Island (for scenic cruising), Easter Island, Pisco (San Martin), Lima (Callao for Machu Picchu overland excursion), Quito (Manta), Panama Canal Transit, San Blas, and Limón. Fares begin at $4,145 per person, double occupancy.
The ship will then go into a drydock in the Bahamas to change its livery prior to joining the P&O Cruises fleet in May 2011.
Royal Princess joined the Princess fleet in 2007, having originally been built in 2001.
We are back! And to thank you for bearing with us during the extended break we bring you a LONG show this week…
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.
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