Wednesday 31 January 2018

Big Changes Coming to Disney Magic

Big Changes Coming to Disney Magic

Image result for Disney Magic

Exciting new things are coming to Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Magic for families that love to hit the open seas.
At Rapunzel's Royal Table, passengers will be treated to an all-new dining experience inspired by the beloved story of Disney's Tangled. The restaurant will feature characters, live entertainment, themed menus, special activities and a parade to cap off the evening.
All of the themed events at Rapunzel's Royal Table compliment Tangled: The Musical, an original production running during each Disney Magic sailing.
Families travelling with teenagers know how fickle they can be, but the crew at Disney Cruise Line has redesigned a portion of the ship specifically for teens ages 14-17, dubbed the Vibe.
The Vibe features a new coffee and smoothie bar, video and virtual reality games, DJ spin-off activities and more in an urban loft environment. The area will be monitored by trained Disney counsellors.
For the parents and guardians of the group, the Cove Cafe is a place for adults only where they can enjoy coffee and tea or get wild with wine and a cocktail. The Cove Cafe also hosts adult beverage tastings at select times.
Other changes announced include the addition of Club Disney Junior in Disney's Oceaneer Club, a redesigned Rainforest Room with steam and hydrotherapy in Senses Spa for adults and more.
The new enhancements will debut on the Disney Magic ship starting March 9, 2018, on sailings from Miami. The four- and five-night sailings visit Key West, the Bahamas and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay.
The Disney Magic will be repositioned to Europe for the summer season on May 14, 2018.

Disney's Magical Private Caribbean Island

Disney's Magical Private Caribbean Island

Image result for castaway cay

Imagine having your own private island.
Well, Disney has done just that with its enchanted Castaway Cay. This tranquil retreat is just for Disney cruisers and embodies the perfect island paradise.
I’ve often said I’d take a Disney cruise just for a stop on this magical isle. The rest of the family heartily agreed after we returned from our 3-night sail on the Disney Dream, celebrating our grandson’s birthday.
The cruise itself was one fantastic experience. Food, service, staterooms and entertainment were all top-notch Disney-esque.
Our first port of call was Nassau— a fun place we’ve visited in the past—teeming with Bahamian and British flavour, miles of spectacular beaches and stretches of vivid coral reefs perfect for snorkelling.
Excitement, however, started to build as our ship slowly approached Castaway Cay. The tropical island hideaway located just 225 nautical miles from Port Canaveral, Florida is a stop on all Disney’s Bahamian and Caribbean cruises.
There’s no shortage of things to do here. (Actually, we found it impossible to do it all in a day.)
Ships dock right on the island, allowing Disney cruisers to disembark directly onto the pier. A short 15-minute walk leads to unbelievable amenities, including our first stop: powdery white and sandy Castaway Family Beach. The beach area is quite extensive with points and coves along the shoreline.
Trams are available for those who need them (or want to get to the beach faster) and traverse all Castaway Cay amenities. Beach towels are provided by cruise line members at the pier, so no need to pack those in your suitcase or beach bag.
Beach and Water Fun
After securing our chairs and umbrellas, the kids scurried to the bay’s turquoise crystalline waters. Snorkeling is available to those wanting to explore the Caribbean’s undersea marine habitat in Snorkeling Lagoon just off Castaway Family Beach.
Two submerged submarines from Magic Kingdom’s retired 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction add an element of adventure for intrepid snorkelers.
We found it impossible to resist Pelican Plunge, the 2,400 square-foot floating platform with two bending twisting water slides dropping squealing riders directly into the lagoon. A giant “bucket dump” of water delivering hundreds of gallons brought more anticipation and laughter. Four water cannons provided sharp-shooting fun with floating nautical targets.
Game pavilions near the Family Beach offer a variety of sand and shaded games like volleyball, tetherball, foosball, ping-pong, pool, shuffleboard and basketball. And there are also places where each age group can hang out with their peers that include planned activities like Teen Hideout or Scuttle’s Cove kids club for the younger cruisers.
Inner tubes, snorkel masks and fins can be rented from Gil’s Fin and Floats or Flippers & Floats on the beach, while kayaks, paddle boats, paddle boards and Aqua Trikes can also be rented for use in this water wonderland.
Hammocks are located beachfront and very popular with visitors. And while my husband was clowning around in one with our grandson, that wily, notorious pirate Captain Jack Sparrow snuck up on them, grabbed our camera and started snapping photos.

Carnival Miracle Kicks Off Year-Round Schedule From Tampa

Carnival Miracle Kicks Off Year-Round Schedule From Tampa

Carnival Miracle docked in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos
PHOTO: Carnival Miracle docked in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos. (photo via Wikimedia Commons/HurricaneX31)

Carnival Cruise Line's 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle kicked off a year-round program of seven-day cruises from Tampa this weekend. The move doubles the line's capacity at the port and further bolsters its position as the leader in Caribbean cruising.
Carnival Miracle will offer the only year-round, longer-length cruise program from Port Tampa Bay, offering an unbeatable mix of destinations that appeal to a broad range of consumers, including families seeking an attractive and affordable vacation option.
Carnival Miracle joins Carnival Paradise which operates year-round four- to eight-day voyages from Tampa to the Caribbean and Cuba. Together, Carnival Miracle and Carnival Paradise will carry an estimated 280,000 passengers annually from Tampa – the most of any cruise operator.
"Carnival Cruise Line has been sailing from Tampa for nearly 25 years and we're thrilled to add a second year-round ship to provide our guests with an even greater variety of fantastic cruise vacation choices from this convenient homeport," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "We would like to recognize our partners at Port Tampa Bay and the Tampa community, as well as our valued travel agent partners, for their efforts in making Tampa one of our most popular and successful embarkation ports," she added.
"We're delighted that Carnival Cruise Line will have two year-round cruise ships dedicated to the Tampa market," said Paul Anderson, President/CEO Port Tampa Bay. "It speaks to the record-breaking demand of passengers in the Tampa Bay area wanting to get on a Carnival cruise."
Seven-Day Sailings from Tampa
On its week-long Tampa-based cruise program, Carnival Miracle departs Port Tampa Bay Saturdays or Sundays calling at four popular western Caribbean ports: Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Mahogany Bay (Roatan) and Belize, each known for their world-class beaches, varied shore excursion opportunities, centuries-old historical sites and excellent dining and shopping experiences.
These voyages from Tampa are part of Carnival's exclusive Cozumel Plus program, which features extended stays that provide guests even more opportunities to experience and explore one of the Caribbean's most diverse vacation destinations with a variety of exciting and unforgettable excursion choices, many taking place on Mexico's mainland.
New Six- to 14-Day Cruises to the Caribbean, Panama Canal
Carnival recently added several six- to 14-day sailings aboard Carnival Miracle visiting spectacular ports throughout the Caribbean as well as an unforgettable opportunity to experience a partial transit of the Panama Canal. During the transit, guests will experience one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World and sail on Gatun Lake, one of the largest man-made bodies of water in the world.
The new six-day voyages feature day-long stops at Cozumel, Belize, and Costa Maya or Mahogany Bay. Departure dates include Sept. 2 and Nov. 11, 2018, and Jan. 27 and March 31, 2019.
Eight-day Panama Canal cruises depart April 14 and Sept. 8, 2018, and Feb. 2 and April 6, 2019, and include a partial transit of the Panama Canal along with stops at Limon (Costa Rica) and Grand Cayman. There's also an eight-day, five-port Caribbean cruise that departs Nov. 17, 2019, visiting Cozumel, Costa Maya, Mahogany Bay, Belize and Grand Cayman.
Miracle will also offer a 14-day Carnival Journeys Panama Canal cruise round-trip from Tampa Dec. 2-16, 2018, featuring Cozumel and Limon prior to a partial Panama Canal transit followed by visits to Cartagena (Colombia), Aruba, Curacao and Montego Bay (Jamaica). Guests sailing on Journeys cruises enjoy unique local dining and entertainment experiences and a number of shipboard-enrichment activities.
Signature Carnival Innovations
Guests sailing aboard Carnival Miracle can enjoy a wide range of onboard choices, the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub, the cocktail pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar, Nick and Nora's steakhouse located atop the ship's 10-deck-high atrium, a luxurious 14,500-square-foot spa, and a Serenity adults-only retreat. Of the ship's 1,062 staterooms, 80 percent offer either an ocean view or private balcony.
Family-friendly options include Seuss at Sea, an exclusive partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Hasbro, The Game Show, with larger-than-life adaptations of the company's iconic games and complimentary programming for children in three age groups – Camp Ocean (ages 2-11), Circle "C" (12-14) and Club O2 (15-17).


Celebrity Cruises holds its first gay wedding at sea

Celebrity Cruises holds its first gay wedding at sea

Image result for Celebrity Cruises wedding at sea

Celebrity Cruises said a gay couple was legally married on the Celebrity Equinox, a first for the line and perhaps the industry.
Francisco Vargas and Benjamin Gray were wed in a ceremony officiated by Capt. Dimitrios Manetas.
Celebrity is billing the event as the first same-sex couple to be legally married at sea on a major cruise line.
Celebrity said an October 2017 liberalization vote in Malta, where its ships are registered, opened the door for Celebrity to legally recognize same-sex marriages performed onboard while at sea.
"Words cannot express how proud I am to congratulate Francisco and Benjamin at this truly historic moment, both for them and for Celebrity," Celebrity president Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said.
Vargas, a manager in the group's department at Cruise Planners in Coral Springs, Fla., said, "We are grateful for the outpouring of support from our Cruise Planners family and hope our story brings strength for others in the LGBTQ+ community," he said.

Sunday 28 January 2018

Cruise Ship Orderbook

Cruise Ship Orderbook

This Cruiseship Orderbok update is by https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/cruise-ship-orderbook.html and our thanks go to them.

The Cruise Ship Orderbook is by Cruise Industry News, and is in no way related to us.
The global cruise ship order book lists all confirmed cruise ship newbuild orders through 2026. 
Cruise LineShipCost(1)TonnageCapacityYardSailingDelivery
2018:
CarnivalHorizon$780135,0004,000FincantieriEur/CaribMarch
Royal CaribbeanSymphony$1,300227,6255,400STX FranceEur/CaribApril
MSC CruisesSeaview$950154,0004,140FincantieriEuropeMay
TUIMein Schiff 1$625110,0002,900Meyer TurkuEuropeMay
SeabournOvation$35040,350604FincantieriWorldMay
NorwegianBliss$1,100164,6004,200MeyerAlaska/CaribMay
expPonantLe Lapérouse$11010,000180VARDWorldJune
Viking OceanViking Orion$40047,000930FincantieriEuropeJuly
expPonantLe Champlain$11010,000180VARDWorldAugust
expHurtigrutenRoald Amundsen$22020,000530KlevenEuropeAugust
expScenicEclipse$18516,500228Uljanik GroupWorldAugust
Star ClippersFlying Clipper$1008,770300BrodosplitWorldQ3
CelebrityEdge$900117,0002,900STX FranceEur/CaribNovember
Holland AmericaNieuw Statendam$52099,0002,660FincantieriCaribNovember
expMystic CruisesWorld Explorer$1009,300200West SeaWorldNovember
lngAIDA CruisesAIDAnova$950183,9005,000MeyerEuropeDecember
Note: For a full accounting of cruise ship orderbook trends dating back to 1988, please see the Cruise Ship Orderbook ReportPrint Icon Download the Current Orderbook as a PDF

2019:
expCoral ExpeditionsAdventurer$755,500120VARDAustraliaQ1
Viking OceanViking Jupiter$40047,000930FincantieriEuropeFebruary
MSC CruisesBellissima$900167,6004,500STX FranceEuropeMarch
redCosta CruisesCosta Venezia$780135,5004,232FincantieriChinaMarch
expHapag-LloydHans. Nature$15516,100230VARDWorldApril
TUIMein Schiff 2$625110,0002,900Meyer TurkuEuropeSpring
Royal CaribbeanSpectrum$950167,0004,100MeyerChinaSpring
expOceanwideHondius$856,300196BrodosplitWorldMay
expCelebrityFlora$755,739100De HoopGalapagosMay
expHurtigrutenFridtjof Nansen$22020,000530KlevenEuropeSummer
Saga CruisesS/Discovery$35058,2501,000MeyerEuropeSummer
expPonantLe Bougainville$11010,000180VARDWorldSummer
expPonantLe Dumont-d'Urville$11010,000180VARDWorldSummer
expSunStoneGreg Mortimer$658,000160CMIHWorldAugust
expSunStoneUnnamed$658,000160CMIHWorldSeptember
expHapag-LloydH/Inspiration$15516,100230VARDWorldOctober
lngCosta CruisesCosta Smeralda$950183,9005,000Meyer TurkuEuropeOctober
PrincessSky Princess$760141,0003,600FincantieriEur/CaribOctober
MSC CruisesGrandiosa$900177,1004,888STX FranceEuropeNovember
CarnivalPanorama$780135,5004,200FincantieriCaribFall
expAntarctica XXIM/Explorer$504,900100ASENAVWorldQ4
redNorwegianUnnamed$1,100164,6004,200MeyerChinaQ4
Ritz-CarltonUnnamed$22525,000298BarrerasTBAQ4

2020:
expLindbladUnnamed$135TBD126UlsteinWorldJan
RegentSplendor$47854,000738FincantieriWorldQ1
CelebrityBeyond$900117,0002,900STX FranceTBASpring
expSunStoneUnnamed$658,000160CMIHWorldMarch
SilverseaSilver Moon$37040,700596FincantieriWorldApril
SagaS/Adventure$35058,2501,000MeyerEuropeSummer
expSunStoneUnnamed$658,000160CMIHWorldSeptember
MSC CruisesUnnamed$900177,1004,888STX FranceEuropeSeptember
Royal CaribbeanUnnamed$950167,0004,100MeyerTBAFall
VirginUnnamed$710110,0002,860FincantieriCaribTBA
redCosta CruisesUnnamed$780135,5004,232FincantieriChinaTBA
lngP&O CruisesUnnamed$950183,9005,200MeyerTBATBA
lngCarnivalUnnamed$950183,9005,000Meyer TurkuTBATBA
PrincessUnnamed$760141,0003,600FincantieriTBATBA
redStar CruisesUnnamed$1,100204,0005,200MV WerftenChinaTBA
expCrystalEndeavor$19520,000200MV WerftenWorldTBA
Note: For a full accounting of cruise ship orderbook trends dating back to 1988, please see the Cruise Ship Orderbook ReportPrint Icon Download the Current Orderbook as a PDF

2021:
Ritz-CarltonUnnamed$22525,000298BarrerasTBAQ1
Royal CaribbeanUnnamed$1,300227,6255,400STX FranceTBASpring
lngexpPonantUnnamed$32430,000270VARDWorldQ2
lngCosta CruisesUnnamed$950183,9005,000Meyer TurkuTBATBA
VirginUnnamed$710110,0002,860FincantieriTBATBA
lngDisneyUnnamed$900135,0002,500MeyerTBATBA
MSC CruisesUnnamed$1,100168,3804,560FincantieriTBATBA
CelebrityUnnamed$900117,0002,900STX FranceTBAFall
lngAIDA CruisesUnnamed$950183,9005,000MeyerTBATBA
redStar CruisesUnnamed$1,100204,0005,200MV WerftenChinaTBA
Holland AmericaUnnamed$52099,0002,660FincantieriTBATBA
Viking OceanUnnamed$40047,000930FincantieriEuropeTBA
expCrystalUnnamed$19520,000200MV WerftenWorldTBA

2022:
Ritz-CarltonUnnamed$22525,000298BarrerasTBAQ1
CrystalUnnamed$900117,0001,000MV WerftenWorldQ1
lngRoyal CaribbeanUnnamed$1,100200,0005,000Meyer TurkuTBAQ2
CelebrityUnnamed$900117,0002,900STX FranceTBAFall
VirginUnnamed$710110,0002,860FincantieriTBATBA
lngMSC CruisesUnnamed$1,200200,0005,400STX FranceTBATBA
lngCarnivalUnnamed$950183,9005,000Meyer TurkuTBATBA
PrincessUnnamed$760141,0003,600FincantieriTBATBA
NorwegianUnnamed$850140,0003,300FincantieriTBATBA
Viking OceanUnnamed$40047,000930FincantieriEuropeTBA
Viking OceanUnnamed$40047,000930FincantieriEuropeTBA
lngDisneyUnnamed$900135,0002,500MeyerTBATBA
Cunard LineUnnamed$600113,0003,000FincantieriWorldTBA
expCrystalUnnamed$19520,000200MV WerftenWorldTBA
lngP&O CruisesUnnamed$950183,9005,200MeyerTBATBA
Note: For a full accounting of cruise ship orderbook trends dating back to 1988, please see the Cruise Ship Orderbook ReportPrint Icon Download the Current Orderbook as a PDF

2023:
lngDisneyUnnamed$900135,0002,500MeyerTBATBA
NorwegianUnnamed$850140,0003,300FincantieriTBATBA
redCarnival ChinaUnnamed$750135,0005,000CSSCChinaTBA
MSC CruisesUnnamed$1,100169,3804,560FincantieriTBATBA
Viking OceanUnnamed$40047,000930FincantieriEuropeTBA

2024:
lngRoyal CaribbeanUnnamed$1,100200,0005,000Meyer TurkuTBAQ2
lngMSC CruisesUnnamed$1,200200,0005,400STX FranceTBATBA
NorwegianUnnamed$850140,0003,300FincantieriTBATBA
redCarnival ChinaUnnamed$750135,0005,000CSSCChinaTBA
Note: For a full accounting of cruise ship orderbook trends dating back to 1988, please see the Cruise Ship Orderbook ReportPrint Icon Download the Current Orderbook as a PDF

2025:
lngMSC CruisesUnnamed$1,200200,0005,400STX FranceTBATBA
NorwegianUnnamed$850140,0003,300FincantieriTBATBA

2026:
lngMSC CruisesUnnamed$1,200200,0005,400STX FranceTBATBA

Coastal Ships:
DeliveredAmericanConstellation$302,000175ChesapeakeU.S.May 2017
DeliveredLindbladQuest$481,800100NicholsU.S.Summer 2017
DeliveredAustralisVentus$504,500210ASENAVSouth Am.Q4 2017
AmericanConstitution$302,000175ChesapeakeU.S.May 2018
LindbladVenture$481,800100NicholsU.S.Summer 2018
AmericanSong$303,000195ChesapeakeU.S.Fall 2018
AmericanUnnamed$303,000195ChesapeakeU.S.2019
AmericanUnnamed$303,000195ChesapeakeU.S.2020
AmericanUnnamed$303,000195ChesapeakeU.S.2021
AmericanUnnamed$303,000195ChesapeakeU.S.2022

Note: For a full accounting of cruise ship orderbook trends dating back to 1988, please see the Cruise Ship Orderbook Report
(1) In Millions (USD) | Costs May Be Estimated 
lngLNG Powered
expExpedition Vessel
redChina/Asia Market Dedicated Vessel
DeliveredDelivered
TBA: To Be Announced 
Last Updated: January 27, 2018