|
1. Royal
Caribbean's Passengers are Climbing the Walls:
Royal Caribbean, the "Get out
there" cruise line, is now the "Get up
there" cruise line, too! By the end of November,
2003, their entire fleet of 16 ships will feature
rock climbing walls.
Who cares about a rock climbing wall on a cruise
ship? Well, as it turns out, cruise passengers care!
When introduced in 1999 on the Voyager of the Seas,
the wall, which runs up the back of the ship's funnel,
became an instant hit. Such a hit, in fact, that
every ship launched by the line since then includes
the challenge. Such a hit that Royal Caribbean is
now in the process of retrofitting all remaining
ships in their fleet with the walls.
|
|
Here's the
retrofit schedule:
|
|
|
Monarch of the
Seas:
|
late May, 2003
|
|
Majesty of the
Seas:
|
June
|
|
Sovereign of the
Seas:
|
July
|
|
Rhapsody of the
Seas:
|
August
|
|
Enchantment of
the Seas:
|
August
|
|
Vision of Seas:
|
October
|
|
Grandeur of the
Seas:
|
October
|
|
Splendour of the
Seas:
|
October
|
|
Nordic Empress:
|
November
|
|
Legend of the
Seas:
|
November
|
| |
| If you're already climbing the walls for
a rock climbing wall, here's the list of Royal
Caribbean ships you can dig your shoes into
right now: |
|
|
|
•
Adventure of the Seas
• Brilliance of the Seas
• Explorer of the Seas
• Navigator of the Seas
• Radiance of the Seas
• Voyager of the Seas |
| Don't be intimidated by
these walls - this is not the sea-going equivalent
of Everest's North Side, even if you choose the
most challenging route to the top. You're on a cruise
ship, for heaven's sake, and you're well-secured
by a safety rope. What's more, beginners can choose
an easier path up; confirmed non-climbers can watch
the foolishness up above from the comfort of a cushioned
deck chair down below. |
The reward for your climbing effort is simple but sweet
- an unbeatable view out to sea. It even tops the views
from the line's signature Viking Crown Lounge. On the
big, Voyager-class ships of Royal Caribbean you're talking
views from 200 feet above the sea! Get up there! |
2. Carnival and Princess
Tie the Knot:
As reported in our April 3, 2003 edition of Cruise News,
Carnival Corporation and P&O Princess Cruises have been
engaged in acquisition talks. In London, on April 16, 2003,
the talk became reality when P&O Princess plc approved
the proposed DLC (Dual Listed Company) transaction with Carnival
Corporation. Carnival shareholders had already approved the
DLC transaction earlier in the week. Though now a part of
Carnival Corporation, the deal allows P&O Princess stockholders
to retain their shares.
|
|
We'll do the math : - the new
arrangement adds up to 66 ships (totaling over 101,000
lower berths) representing 13 cruise brands - clearly,
the world's largest cruise entity. The lines - Carnival,
Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess, Seabourn,
Windstar and six more - carried 4.7 million cruise passengers
last year, well over half the industry total, and they'll
be adding 17 more ships (and 47,000 berths) over the
next three years.
|
|
Here's how the rankings stack up in terms of cruise
passengers carried:
1. Carnival Corporation & Carnival plc
2. Royal Caribbean (Royal Caribbean and Celebrity)
3. Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL and Orient Lines)
4. Everybody Else (Crystal, Disney, Radisson Seven Seas,
Silverseas, etc.)
|
3. Norwegian Cruise
Lines Buys U.S. Liners:
Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL), the line that is re-flagging
ships with the Stars & Stripes to snare the domestic
Hawaii market (see Cruise News - April 3, 2003), has
recently announced the purchase of two, U.S.-built classic
ocean liners. Both the sleek S.S. United States and
the smaller S.S. Independence date back over half a
century and were once proud liners working the waning
years of the regular trans-Atlantic service.
| The United States sailed
the Atlantic for 17 years, from 1952 until 1969.
On her inaugural sailing she broke the North Atlantic
speed record by crossing the ocean in 3 days, 10
hours, and 42 minutes, maintaining an average speed
of over 35 knots. Fifty-three years later she still
holds that record. Rumors had it the ship could
top out at 50 knots but her speed - and propulsion
systems - were tightly guarded secrets. |
|
The final crossing of the 990-foot liner was in October
of 1969. Since then (in fact, for two-thirds of her life)
she has been sailing at "0" knots, having been
sold from owner to owner and towed from place to place.
NCL plans to return her to service, but not on the North
Atlantic; instead, she's expected to operate unique itineraries
up and down the East Coast. A major renovation to her
passenger cabins, public rooms, propulsion systems, and
superstructure will be required as the ship served the
seas with three classes (913 First, 558 Cabin, and 537
Tourist) with a myriad of stairways, elevator shafts,
and hallways.
| The Independence has had a busier,
if somewhat less newsworthy life. Her first crossing
was in 1951, sailing the "southern route"
from New York to the Mediterranean. Though laid
up several times during her career, the Independence
later seemed to find her niche in the inter-island
Hawaii service sailing under American Hawaii Cruises
name. Service ended when the September 11th terrorist
attacks decimated tourism to the 50th state. |
|
| Although originally built in the usual,
three-class configuration (295 First, 375 Cabin,
330 Tourist), the ship was converted to one-class
cruising years ago and has received continual updates
and remodels since. She presents NCL with a relatively
easy return to passenger service.
Acquisition of the ships marks NCL as a leader
in "classic liners." Many years ago
NCL purchased the S.S. France (built in 1962 by
the French Line for trans-Atlantic service), renamed
her S.S. Norway, and converted her to year-round
Caribbean cruising. With the giants - Carnival
Corporation (with Holland America and Princess
in the fold) and Royal Caribbean (owners of Celebrity)
claiming almost 80% of the North American cruise
market, Norwegian Cruise Lines has been hustling
to separate itself from the crowd by creating
a distinctive, innovative company.
|
|
4. Norwegian Cruise Lines
Takes the Crown:
|
|
Norwegian Cruise Lines announced
a major refurbishment and a new name for the Crown Odyssey
- the Norwegian Crown. The naming convention follows the
line's use of the word "Norwegian" before each
ship in her fleet, excepting the venerable S.S. Norway.
If you've already sailed on the Crown Odyssey, here's
what's new for you on the Norwegian Crown: |
-
New itineraries. Regular roundtrip
Canada & New England sailings will be made from
Baltimore - a first for that city and a first for
NCL, too. South America and Bermuda sailings will
fill out her schedule through the summer of 2004.
-
Three New Restaurants. In keeping
with NCL's "Freestyle Dining" program,
the Crown will be outfitted with three more restaurants,
including Le Bistro (French and continental menu
in elegant, intimate surroundings, The Pasta Café
(Italian dining in a casual atmosphere), and Chopsticks
(Asian themed Pacific fusion selections).
-
Complete Renovations Throughout.
The lobby, the casino, the Lido Bar, Top of the
Crown Lounge - all have been completely redesigned
and/or redecorated.
-
New Teen and Children's Center.
A New Spa, too! The facilities for kids and teens
are all new and include a juice bar, a disco, a
video arcade, a small theater with plasma screens,
and arts & crafts center. The ship's health
spa has been completely rebuilt and expanded and
now includes nine treatment rooms.
|
Did you miss
an issue of Cruise News? Click on a date below to read back
issues.
|
