holland america: cruising in alaska/canada

PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE WORLD OCEAN & CRUISE LINER SOCIETY
Vol. 35, Issue 2 - December 15, 2015
“Our 35th Year of Continuous Publication”
Single issue price $2.50
HOLLAND AMERICA: CRUISING IN ALASKA/CANADA
By Art Sbarsky
Most North American cruises (i.e.,
Caribbean, coastal, river, New England/Canada
and Mexico), aren’t really considered exotic
anymore. But Alaska/Canada still is. Maybe
it’s the distance from large population bases in
the United States, requiring longer and/or
multiple flights, maybe it’s the very unusual
nature of what a cruise to the region offers, such
as glaciers, dog-sledding, whales/bears/otters,
etc. Maybe it’s even the stories of how gold
was discovered and how the extreme wilderness
comes into play.
My cruise this past late summer, round-trip
from Seattle on Holland America’s Westerdam
gave me a chance to enjoy Alaska all over
again. And absolutely reinforced the sense that
the whole operation, meaning pre/post, shore
excursions and onboard, is intricately wound
together in ways that other destinations do not
require. And Holland America did an excellent
job all around.
WHO WAS ON BOARD?
One fact about an Alaskan cruise
historically is that it attracts an older audience.
This cruise really wasn’t an exception as it did
seem to skew older. Mark Pells, the Hotel
Director and a 20-year HAL veteran, told me
that the 1,913 guests on board (95% came from
North America; seemed like lots from the
Seattle area) came to an average age of about 57
or so. Maybe it was the 70 youngsters under 18
that brought the age down. Note: the ship’s
space ratio is 42, tonnage is 82,348 and crew
size is just over 800.
It wasn’t a late night crowd to be sure (late
shows were sparsely attended) but with over
half of the guests on board being first-time
cruisers balanced against nearly 800 Holland
America veterans onboard, there certainly was a
great amount of interest in what Alaska itself
offers as well as what the line had on board that
tied shore and ship together.
As an example of this, when we left
Ketchikan at midday, there was a poolside
salmon grill lunch with over 1300 trays used by
guests; at dinner, in the main dining room there
were two different salmon offerings each night
(salmon for all of this was locally sourced); and
one
of
the
well-attended
cooking
demonstrations featured two different ways to
prepare halibut (another fish famous in Alaska).
NEW ENTERTAINMENT
So how does the age skew react to the more
youthful entertainment being offered now by
Holland America, particularly in the evening?
The new BB King All-Stars blues/jazz show,
mostly featuring music from the well-known
and highly popular Beale Street scene in
Memphis, answers that since much of the
musical styling come from King’s most popular
years, back in the 60’s yet appeals to a wide
range of ages who were bopping along with the
songs, especially favoring the six outstanding
musicians (the singers, not as much). Most
nights there were three 45 minute shows; some
guests hung around during breaks to get another
fix.
One new nightly show was Recycled
Percussion, a group of four guys with roots in
the Las Vegas scene, who make percussion
instruments out of a wide-range of nontraditional items. It’s loud, fast, colorful and
(Continued on page 14)
2
- PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY The World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society
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Shawn J. Dake
Art Sbarsky
Theodore W. Scull
Ben Lyons
Andy Hernandez
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EDITORIAL
While most of this new tonnage is long
overdue it also represents a large jump in size
and passenger capacity compared to the lines
existing ships. The hallmark of all three of these
luxury products is their high level of service and
attention to the passengers. As the tonnage and
passenger capacities increase will they still be
able to provide the high levels of service that
their passengers expect?
Seabourn was able to achieve this when they
jumped from their 10,000-ton, 200 passenger
yachts to the new Odyssey Class of 32,000-ton,
450 passenger ships. This was quite an
achievement and we hope that they can do this
again when the new Encore enters service next
year. Let’s hope that both Regent and Silversea
can do this as flawlessly.
The next few years will be challenging for
the luxury market. Regent has already
announced free internet a feature I am sure the
others will offer, but there is little more to give
away on these ships as everything is already
included in your fare. With the expansion and
competition within the luxury market we may
start to see some very good deals within this
segment. Keep an eye out as it should be an
interesting year or two coming up within the
luxury cruise market.
Sincerely,
Within this issue is a “Ship of the Month”
feature on the Seabourn Odyssey, the first of
three new ships built by Seabourn back in 2009.
Since the building of the three Seabourn ships
new building in the luxury market has been
dormant but that is now re-awaking with a flood
of new luxury tonnage.
Regent will get the ball rolling with the
introduction of their new 54,000-ton, 750
passenger ultra-luxurious Regent Explorer in the
summer of next year. This is their first new ship
since the Voyager entered service in 2003. Then
in December of 2016 Seabourn will introduce the
new 40,000-ton, 600 passenger Seabourn Encore
with a sister due in 2018. Not to be outdone,
Silversea has the new 40,000-ton, 600 passenger
Silver Muse entering service in 2017 with talk of
possibly two sisters to follow.
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3
LOOKING BACK
A look at what was making news in Ocean &
Cruise News, Five, Ten, Fifteen and Twenty years
ago.
Five Years Ago – December 2010....When
Inger Klein Olsen assumed command of Cunard
Line's Queen Victoria on December 1 she made
history by becoming Cunard Line’s first female
captain....Oceania cruise’s confirms that
Entertainment Tonight host Mary Hart will be
godmother of their' new cruise ship
Marina....Norwegian Cruise Line announces its
largest European deployment ever for the
2012/2013 season with four ships, including
two that will sail European waters year-round.
Ten Years Ago – December 2005....Carnival
Corporation announces that it will build four
new cruise ships worth more than $2 billion for
Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Costa
Crociere and Holland America Line....MSC
Cruises announces year-round sailings from
New York City with the 58,600-ton, 1,590passenger MSC Lirica home porting in New
York year-round beginning in April 2007 with
sailings to Bermuda, Canada and the Caribbean
....Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas
begins sailing from Tampa.
Fifteen
Years
Ago
–
December
2000.....Crystal Cruises announces that it has
signed a letter of intent for the construction of a
68,000-ton passenger ship expected to enter
service in 2003… Carnival Corporation signs a
contract to build the world’s longest and largest
passenger ship Queen Mary 2….Holland
America Line announces that Internet centers
will be installed on all its ships by the fall of
2001.
Twenty Years Ago – December 1995.Princess
Cruises announces that with the new Sun
Princess they will be the first cruise line to offer
the Discovery and Learning Channels on their
on-board television line-up….Delta Queen
steamboat Company schedules a $2.5 million
makeover of the Mississippi Queen during the
upcoming winter ….Disney Cruises announces
the name of its first ship will be Disney Magic.
American Queen Steamboat Company,
operator of America’s most opulent and
luxurious paddlewheel vessels, is celebrating the
success of the American Empress’ 2015 season
and preparing for 2016 with the announcement of
newly added amenities and menu options.
Known as being the largest, most elegant
riverboat in the Pacific Northwest, the American
Empress had an outstanding 2015 season
showcasing the beauty of the region during her
voyages along the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
Highlights of the 2016 American Empress
season include:
· Newly added Commodore Services for
guests
holding
select
suite-level
accommodations. Guests of the Luxury Suites
will also receive the additional services of a
friendly River Butler.
· An exquisite array of menu options for
breakfast, lunch and dinner inspired by the
Pacific Northwest and prepared by an awardwinning culinary team. Menu choices include
made-to-order omelets for breakfast, creative
soups, salads and hearty entrees for lunch, and
nightly five-course meals for dinner in the
Astoria Dining Room. The River Grill & Bar is
also a favorite among the guests on the American
Empress.
· Numerous premium shore excursions are
available including a pre- or post-cruise tour of
Mount St. Helens in Portland, Ore., a scenic jet
boat experience at Hells Canyon in Lewiston,
Idaho or the Western Antique Aeroplane and
Automobile Museum in The Dalles, Ore.
For further information and reservations on
all American Queen or American Empress
voyages for 2016, please call American Queen
Steamboat Company at 888-749-5280, visit them
online at www.AQSC.com or call a professional
travel agent.
4
Longtime member of the Oceania Cruises
family, Claudine Pépin will serve as godmother
for Sirena at the ship’s christening ceremony in
Barcelona on April 27, 2016. Claudine’s father,
legendary master chef Jacques Pépin, has been
Oceania Cruises’ Executive Culinary Director
since the line’s inception.
An acclaimed cookbook author and regular
co-host on Jacques’ PBS show “Heart and Soul
in the Kitchen,” Claudine will officially christen
Sirena by breaking a bottle of champagne against
the ship’s hull during an intimate pier-side
celebration in Barcelona.
Following the
ceremony, she will sail on Sirena’s maiden
voyage with her father, mother, husband and 12year-old daughter, Shorey.
For
more
information
visit
OceaniaCruises.com, call 855-OCEANIA or
contact a professional travel agent.
In January 2017, Queen Victoria will begin
her 2017 World Cruise, visiting three continents
and providing an in-depth discovery of the
Americas and the South Pacific. Guests will be
able to sail a 95-night Full World Voyage roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale.
During Queen Victoria’s special 95-night
journey, guests will have the opportunity to be a
part of history as she becomes the largest cruise
ship to transit the Amazon River, and visits both
the rainforest city of Manaus and the more urban
Santarem. She will then visit Rio de Janeiro,
Montevideo, and Buenos Aires before navigating
through the Magellan Straits and cruising by the
stunning Amalia and Pio X Glaciers. Following a
visit to Valparaiso, Queen Victoria will make her
way across the South Pacific, stopping in French
Polynesia and Tonga, then visiting the friendly
cities of Australia and New Zealand. As she
ventures from New Zealand back towards the
Americas, she will call in Samoa and at two
Hawaiian islands. Guests will enjoy an overnight
in San Francisco and a visit to Los Angeles
before continuing on to Cabo San Lucas in
Mexico and Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala. Queen
Victoria will then transit the Panama Canal and
stop in the Caribbean ports of both Aruba and
Grand Cayman prior to returning to Fort
Lauderdale.
Fares for this unique and unforgettable
95-night round-trip voyage from Fort Lauderdale
start at $15,849 per person, excluding taxes, fees
and port expenses.
For more information about Cunard contact
your travel agent, call Cunard Line toll-free at
1-800-728-6273, or visit www.cunard.com.
When Holland America Line’s ms
Koningsdam debuts in April 2016, the ship’s
senior staff officers will set sail with a combined
95 years of company loyalty and experience. In
addition to the previously announced
appointment of Captain Emiel de Vries, the
cruise line announced that Hotel Director Stan
Kuppens, Chief Engineer Willem Zuidema, Staff
Captain Kevin Beirnaert and Safety,
Environmental and Health Officer Martijn van
Dam will lead Koningsdam’s shipboard teams.
The 99,500-ton ship currently is under
construction at Fincantieri’s shipyard at
Marghera, Italy. During its inaugural year
Koningsdam will explore the Mediterranean and
northern Europe in summer and the Caribbean in
winter.
For more information about Holland America
Line, consult a travel professional, call 1-877SAIL HAL (877-724-5425)
or
visit
hollandamerica.com
5
European voyage than with a relaxing flight in
the comfort of Business Class Air. Additional
Business Class Air* upgrades are available from
only $499 per person, each way in all other suite
categories.
The magnificent new Norwegian Escape –
Norwegian’s largest ship and the first in its
Breakaway Plus Class – was christened last
month in a stunning ceremony worthy of her size
and status. International music sensation Pitbull,
who also served as Godfather for Norwegian
Escape, thrilled fans and VIPs alike at the
PortMiami pier side concert. The ship’s
breathtaking hull artwork, created by Guy
Harvey, who made a special guest appearance,
served as the backdrop for the epic event.
Norwegian Escape, the largest in
Norwegian’s fleet of 14 vessels, features an
elevated design that makes for a decidedly
upscale experience. Quality finishes, curated
artwork and the most luxurious The Haven by
Norwegian™ exclusive ship–within-a-ship suite
complex are just a few of the standout features
that put Norwegian Escape in a class of her own.
Learn more about Norwegian Escape’s
luxurious accommodations, as well as its
distinctive dining, entertainment, shopping and
leisure
options,
by
visiting
http://www.escape.ncl.com/. To book a cruise on
Norwegian Escape, contact a travel professional,
call Norwegian at 888-NCL-CRUISE(6252784), or visit www.ncl.com.
This summer, allow yourself to be swept
away by the most enchanting ports Europe has to
offer, aboard the elegant Seven Seas Voyager® or
Seven Seas Navigator®. Whether you are sailing
from Stockholm to Copenhagen or from
Barcelona to Rome, you will arrive refreshed and
in style with FREE Business Class Air* in
Penthouse Suites and higher. There is no better
way to begin and conclude your luxurious
For full Terms & Conditions and more
specific itinerary details or for general
information about Regent Seven Seas Cruises,
guests
can
visit
RSSC.com,
call
1.844.4REGENT (1.844.473.4368) or contact a
professional travel agent.
Seabourn, the ultra-luxury, small-ship cruise
line, has announced its plan to return to "The
Great Land" of Alaska beginning in 2017.
Responding to high guest demand and having not
deployed a ship there for 15 years, Seabourn
Sojourn will offer a series of 11-, 12- and 14-day
itineraries sailing from Vancouver, British
Columbia, and Anchorage (Seward), Alaska.
Seabourn will offer unique voyages
combining Alaska's most popular ports with
rarely visited hidden gems of the Inside Passage.
Taking advantage of Seabourn Sojourn's
intimate size and nimble maneuverability, guests
will enjoy a privileged view of The Last Frontier
that larger ships cannot access.
In addition, each of the new 11-, 12- and 14day cruises will include complimentary
Seabourn all-weather jackets; inspiring Seabourn
Conversations with special onboard guest
speakers; opportunities for frequent wildlife
sightings from the ship and shore; and a "Caviar
on the Ice" deck party and other special deck
events.
For reservations or more information on
Seabourn's 2015-2016 cruises to Asia, please
contact a professional travel advisor; call
Seabourn at 1-800-929-9391 or visit
www.seabourn.com.
6
SHIP OF THE MONTH: SEABOURN ODYSSEY
by Tom Cassidy
Over the past year and a half an amazing
transformation has taken place at Seabourn Cruise
Line. Their smaller older ships, once the industry
leader in the luxury segment, have been sold off
leaving Seabourn with her three new 32,000-ton
sisters; the Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn
and Seabourn Quest. This transformation makes
Seabourn the youngest fleet in the luxury market.
The first of these sisters was the Seabourn
Odyssey which I visited during her maiden call to
Miami back in 2009. Today I am lucky to go back
for a longer visit, a cruise, to see how she had
matured and to experience the Seabourn product.
THE LINE – Seabourn was formed back in 1986
by a group of Norwegian shipping executives.
They started with the 212-passenger Seabourn
Pride, commissioned in 1988, and the Seabourn
Spirit, which was added a year later. A third sister
was planned, but not acquired. The rights to this
ship were sold, and then completed in 1992, as the
Royal Viking Queen. She was transferred over to
Royal Cruise Lines in 1994 where she sailed as the
Queen Odyssey. In 1996, with the influx of
Carnival Corporation money, Seabourn bought the
Seabourn Odyssey in San Juan
original third sister ship back and re-commissioned
her as the Seabourn Legend. This created the
original 3 ship fleet sometimes known as the
Yachts of Seabourn.
In 1991, Carnival Corporation purchased a
25% stake in Seabourn and upped its stake to 50%
in 1996. In 1998, in partnership with a consortium
of Norwegian businessmen, Carnival purchased
the remaining 50% stake in Seabourn, as well as
acquiring Cunard Line from Kvaerner ASA. It then
merged the two brands into an entity called Cunard
Line. In 1999, three Cunard ships, Sea Goddess I,
Sea Goddess II, and Royal Viking Sun were
transferred into the Seabourn fleet as Seabourn
Goddess I, Seabourn Goddess II, and Seabourn
Sun.
In 2001, Carnival bought out the Norwegian
shareholders, and Seabourn's parent company
became a wholly owned subsidiary of Carnival.
That summer, Seabourn Goddess I and Seabourn
Goddess II were sold to Seabourn's original
founder, Atle Brynestad, for his SeaDream Yacht
Club. In 2002, Seabourn Sun was transferred to the
Carnival-owned Holland America Line becoming
Photo by Tom Cassidy
7
the Prinsendam, thus reducing the Seabourn fleet
to its three original sister ships, and the company
was de-merged from Cunard Line and reorganized
as a stand-alone operating brand of Carnival
Corporation.
In the fall of 2006 an expansion program was
announced. The expansion program called for
three new ships to be approximately 32,000-tons
and carrying 450 guests, to be introduced in 2009,
2010 and 2011, bringing the line’s total to six ships
and 1986 berths. Seabourn Odyssey debuted to
rave reviews in 2009, the first of the three-ship
expansion program. At that time she was the
largest of the company’s ships. She was then joined
by her nearly-identical sisters, Seabourn Sojourn in
2010 and Seabourn Quest in 2011.
Seabourn sold the three original 208-passenger
ships to Windstar Cruises with the Seabourn Pride
being transferred to Windstar in 2014 and the
Seabourn Spirit and Seabourn Legend being
transferred earlier this year. Now with a fleet
consisting of only the three newer and larger sisters
Seabourn has the newest fleet in the luxury market.
Seabourn’s fleet is still expanding and they will
welcome two new ships, staring with the 40,000ton Seabourn Encore in late 2016 and her sister
Seabourn Ovation in 2018.
THE SHIP – The launch of 458-passenger
Seabourn Odyssey in June 2009 began Seabourn
Cruise Line's $750 million investment in three new
Odyssey-class "yachts”. She was christened in
Barcelona Spain in June of 2011 during a glittering
naming ceremony presided over by actress Blythe
Danner. At 32,000 tons, the Seabourn Odyssey and
her two sisters are more than three times larger than
the line's three older vessels.
The Odyssey has the sleek lines of a yacht as
but she still weighs in at formidable 32,000 tons
and has a length of 650 feet and a width of 84 feet.
Physically, the ship is spectacular in a most
understated way. She is tasteful, and obviously
luxurious. She is an architectural and design
delight. Each public room is quite different from
the next yet they all flow together to form a very
sophisticated cohesive interior look and feel. When
combined with her external lines she does maintain
the previous elegant and stylish yacht profile of the
smaller ships, but in a larger package. Guests
appreciate the intimate size of the ship, which has
only 229 suites. This means that you’re never too
far from anything; if you forget something in your
suite, it’s no more than a 10-minute walk from
anywhere on the ship to get to your suite.
Starting from the top on Deck Eleven at the
very forward end is the Retreat a tiered series of
deck chairs. It’s a very quiet spot, though a bit
windy when the ship is underway, but it’s ideal for
that midday snooze or read or just sunbathing.
On Deck Ten forward is the very popular
Observation Bar. Mostly quiet during the day, it
comes to life during teatime, at cocktail hour and
late at night. Then at the aft of this deck with
fabulous views over the ships stern are the 4
elegant new Spa Suites accessed via a spiral
staircase from the lobby of the spa below.
The spa is at the stern on Deck Nine. For a
luxury ship this size, the spa seems appropriately
sized with a variety of seven treatment rooms. It
contains a salon, a gym and a fitness studio (with a
high tech Kinesis work out center). Probably the
best part is the small spa pool with the quiet
lounging space surrounding it. Forward on Deck 9
is the outdoor Sky Bar overlooking the pool area.
This was a favorite area to relax and enjoy a cold
drink on a hot afternoon and just observe the
activities around the pool and view the ever
changing sea. Forward on Deck Nine are suites and
the bridge.
At the stern end of Deck 8 is one of the most
beautiful casual restaurants at sea, the Colonnade.
Featuring lots of indoor and outdoor dining space
it is open daily for casual breakfast and casual
themed lunches and dinners. Adjacent to The
Colonnade is Restaurant 2, which is open only in
the evening and requires reservations (no charge).
It is a modern yet elegant room with distinctive
trendy décor. Mid-ships on Deck 8 is the teak
decked main pool with whirlpool and lounge chair
sections plus the Patio Grill and Bar another great
outdoor dining option open for both lunch and
dinner. While the pool area on the earlier Seabourn
yachts where relatively small, on the Odyssey there
is plenty of room to enjoy the outdoors in style.
8
During my Caribbean cruise there were evening
deck parties held here that were very well attended.
Deck 7 aft is where the innovative Seabourn
Square is located. It is a combination front desk,
concierge lounge, shore excursions desk, library,
Internet center, indoor/outdoor sitting area plus a
coffee and snack bar. It works brilliantly at all
these tasks. I never had a problem getting on a
computer and at the peaks times of the day there
were four desks manned to answer any questions
or requests. It is the true town square of the ship
and a perfect meeting place to find or meet friends.
Just forward of the Square are the shops and the
card room and forward of those are suites.
Aft on Deck 6 is the Grand Salon, which is
where enrichment lectures and evening
entertainment is held. As a result of the size of the
ship and smaller scale of this showroom the stage
area is somewhat limited. This small area is a bit
constricted and therefore limits what the
entertainers can do, but the shows were still
outstanding taking this into consideration. The
room is perfectly sized for intimate entertainment,
such as the cabaret performers that perform here
during the cruise. For the best view of the entire
stage it is recommended to sit in front of the pillars
that bisect the room. Also, the sofa/chair areas
around the edges of the room aren't the most
comfortable. Again forward on this deck are a
large number of suites and all the way at the bow
there is open deck space with deck chairs and a
guest whirlpool which seems to get very little use.
The Club at the aft end of Deck 5 features
several different seating sections where guests can
choose to be near the stage where combos and
individual performers entertain or you can sit
further away for conversation or in the very
popular bar area. Next to the entrance to The Club
is the small but adequate casino. One of the most
underutilized places on the entire ship is a small
pool with two whirlpools, a dozen or so lounge
chairs and great stern views of where the ship has
been. It can be found just aft of the Club. It’s the
perfect spot for a glass of champagne at sunset.
Deck 5 also has open promenade space, though not
wrap around, suites forward and a small card
room, a small library room as well as small
conference room plus a self-serve laundry rooms
that is available to passengers at no charge. It
included washers, dryers and ironing boards and it
actually was busy during my cruise.
The stunning open-seating Restaurant on Deck
4 is capable of seating all guests at once. It is one
of the most beautiful main restaurants at sea,
especially the middle section which soars two
decks high capped by stunning twin chandeliers. It
is elegant and very tastefully decorated. Forward
of this deck are suites containing window instead
of balconies.
Deck 3 has the medical center while Deck 2 aft
is the Seabourn exclusive Marina that can be
lowered from the stern, allowing guests easy sea
access for kayaking, water-skiing, windsurfing,
and swimming. Weather and sea conditions
permitting, it’s used at anchor on designated
“Marina Days”. I am sorry to report that there was
no “Marina Day” scheduled during my trip so I
was not able to see this area in action.
THE CRUISE – This cruise was a 12-day
Caribbean Odyssey aboard the Seabourn Odyssey
offering a nice selection of 7 islands and four full
days at sea. The Odyssey had just returned to Fort
Lauderdale from Europe that morning so the
mandatory Coast Guard inspection slowed the
usual seamless Seabourn boarding process up
some but refreshments were served while we
waited and once the ship was cleared we all
boarded quickly and efficiently.
Once we departed Fort Lauderdale we had two
full days at seas to relax, explore and get to know
the Odyssey. Her "space ratio", a measurement of
how much space there is per passenger, is among
the highest in the industry based on her 458 full
passenger capacity. We had a full passenger load
on our cruise buy it still seemed as though we were
on our own private yacht.
Our first port of call was San Juan, Puerto
Rico. We were the only ship in town that day
which was a pleasure and we docked at the
facilities in the old city. All you do is disembark the
ship and the old city is right across the street from
the pier, very convenient if you want to wander on
your own. I opted to do this and walked up the hill
and enjoyed a cold fin & tonic in the shady
9
courtyard of El Convento before returning to the
ship. It was Halloween and there were many young
children in costume, trick or treating in the
winding streets of the old city. While I opted to
tour on my own you could have done the almost
compulsory for Puerto Rico first time visitors, the
City & Bacardi Rum tour for $94pp or a zip line
through the La Marquesa Forest reserve for
$169pp.
The next morning had us anchored off of the
upscale French Island of St. Barthelemy better
known as St Bart’s and the port of Gustavia.
Unfortunately this was a Sunday and not just
you’re usual Sunday it was All Saints Day so the
town and the island for all practical purposes was
in shutdown. I took the tender ride to town to walk
around some but little was opened. This must have
pleased many of the men aboard the ship as all
those fancy upscale shops were closed thus the
wives could not shop or spend money. Here you
could have enjoyed a short one hour Island
Overview for $40.00 pp or go on the yellow
Submarine Sub Exploration for $79.00.
Then we visited two more French islands
during the next two day, the islands of Guadeloupe
and Martinique. The town of Terre-de-Haut on
Guadeloupe is a small fishing village that has
changed little over the years. While nice to walk
around and soak up the local atmosphere there is
not much to do in town. However you could do a
3 hour island tour for $69.00pp or try your hand at
kayaking for $79.00pp.
The island of Martinique with its port city of
Fort de France is the opposite from Guadeloupe,
busy and bustling with lots to see in town or about
the island. I opted for the 4 hour St. Pierre & Run
tour that took me to the compulsory run factory but
also the fascinating town of St. Pierre. This town
was destroyed by a volcanic eruption back in 1902
killing all in town, some 30,000 souls with but one
surviving. While in St. Pierre you can see some of
the ruins and tour a small museum with before and
after photos of the town and many artifacts. This
very interesting tour cost $69.00pp. You could also
explore the island by 4x4 for $99.00 or go
snorkeling diving for $69.00.
Our next port of call was St. Johns on the lush
island of Antigua. We had been fortunate up to
now to be the only ship in town at our other ports
of call but here Celebrity’s Summit and the Royal
Princess joined us putting the town and it shop into
tourist overload. Here could tour the island for 3
hour for $89.00 or for the adventurous with deep
pockets you could take a helicopter over to the
island of Montserrat and buzz the active volcano
there for $399pp. The other St. John was our next
port of call, Cruz Bay on the island of St. John in
the Virgin Islands. Here snorkeling is king with
tours from $49 to go to Trunk Bay Beach and
snorkel or $99pp for a champagne sail plus beach
and snorkel.
Our last port of call was Isla Catalina which is
a lush tropical island located approximately 1.5
miles from the mainland of the Dominican
Republic, near La Altagracia and La Romana. It is
a typical out island to relax on and enjoy the beach
and water sports. However Seabourn makes it
anything but typical with “Champagne and Caviar
in the Surf”. The day also includes a beach
barbecue which begins with a red carpet in the
sand to welcome guests as they’re dropped off by
the ships tender, a huge gourmet spread, a full bar,
and uniformed waiters who wade around in the
surf, serving iced champagne and caviar from a
customized life-ring. It was the perfect way to end
a perfect cruise.
Here you were also able to enjoy many of the
water activities that Seabourn typically offers on
their Marina Days when they make use of the
unique retractable Marina platform that each ship
has on its stern. I was sorry that this platform was
not used during out trip even though weather
appeared perfect in each port where we anchored.
From Isla Catalina we had two full luxurious days
at sea back to Fort Lauderdale.
At each port, a port representative came aboard
with maps and to answer question in the Seabourn
Square plus the shore excursion staff was excellent
and the tours well run and reasonable priced for
what you received. Seabourn supplies it
passengers with a small pocket sized booklet in
your suite that contain information such as the
ports history, sightseeing highlights, shopping and
eating. A very nice Seabourn touch!
10
PUBLIC ROOMS & ACTIVITIES – For a
smaller ship the Seabourn Odyssey has a
surprising variety of public spaces and activities to
please every passenger. Highlights of the cruise
include the Seabourn Signature events which
began with the Captain’s Gala Welcome Aboard
party held in the Grand Salon the first full night at
sea, very fancy and very grand as it is held on one
of the two formal nights during our cruise. And as
to be expected the Odyssey’s passengers dressed to
the nines on formal night. Definitely bring along
your tuxedo and ladies should pack a few long
gowns.
Another Signature event is the Block Party
where passengers come out of their suites for predinner wine and snacks and mix with their
neighbors in the corridor as the Captain and crew
go from deck to deck mixing and greeting the
passengers. It is held early in the cruise and is a
great way to meet your neighbors. Later in the
cruise the captain and officers join passenger’s
poolside for the Officers on deck event where food
stations are set up around the pool and passengers
and officers meet and mingle over drinks and
gourmet tidbits. Then of courses we enjoyed the
famous Signature event of the beach BBQ and
Caviar in the Sand. These are all enjoyable events
and Seabourn exclusives.
I must give praise to Cruise Director Heather
Clancy and her staff who kept the parties going
and very subtly would get the passengers in the
mood to participate. They mixed with the
passengers at all times and made everyone feel at
home by the first day at sea. Not an easy task on
any ship. Case in point was our Halloween Rock
the Boat Party held poolside Halloween eve, it was
well attended and many passengers were in some
form of costume and participating and having a
great time. Thanks to Heather and her great staff.
The main gathering places are the Observation
Lounge which offers great views of the sea and has
very nice background piano music and great
appetizers before dinner and late night piano
entertainment supplied by the very talented and
personable Lorenzo; and The Club which also
offers pre-dinner piano music, post-dinner dancing
and late night dancing from 11pm to the wee hours
with The Band. Shows, dance classes, lectures and
cookery demonstrations take place in the Grand
Salon on Deck 6. And remember all drinks are free
on Seabourn.
We had some very interesting enrichment
lecturers aboard however Seabourn calls these
lectures conversations due to the more intimate
room and size of audience. This is not to say that
the conversations were not well attended, they
were, but you just do not have the large number of
passengers as on the typical mega-cruise ship.
Plus the overall evening entertainment was
excellent with the Seabourn singers and dancers
providing some outstanding show. Seabourn has
come a long way in this area and the entertainment
is now top notch.
Seems that our capable cruise director Heather
Clancy started her carrier as a opera singer and has
one brilliant voice and amazingly found the time
to entertain us at a one women pre-dinner show
one evening that was standing room only. Heather
is an amazing talent and outstanding cruise
director.
Daytimes onboard are "resort casual,"
although most interpret this as fairly stylish.
Evenings are casual, semiformal or formal, with
most passengers following the dress code found in
the program. Always check you daily program
called the Seabourn Herald for details. It is well
laid out and easy to read and highlights the day’s
events. Also you are given a copy of the dinner
menus in all the restaurants, the evening before, so
you can plan ahead.
Tips are included in the price of the cruise, and
Seabourn makes it clear that further gratuities are
not expected by stating. However if someone
performs a special service, such as organizing a
private party in your suite, it would be appropriate
to offer something. A nice feature is the ship is
announcement free plus has the best in cabin
entertainment that I have ever enjoyed, if you’re a
movie fan, you may never leave your cabin as the
on-demand selection on the stateroom TVs is large
and varied.
It should be noted that most activities on
11
CRUISE FACTS — SEABOURN ODYSSEY
Passenger Capacity: 458
Number of Crew: 330
Tonnage:
32,000 gross tons
Length:
650 feet
Beam:
84 feet
Draft:
21 feet
Entered Service: 2009
Builder:
T. Mariotti, Italy
Registry:
Bahamas
Maximum Speed: 21 Knots
Propulsion: Diesel Electric
Passenger Decks: 10
Ocean & Cruise News Classification: Ultra-Deluxe 6-Star +
Passenger Cabins:
Wintergarden Suites.......................................... 2 Spa Penthouse Suites...................................... 4
Signature Suites................................................ 2 Veranda Suites................................................. 46
Owner Suites.................................................... 5 Window Suites................................................. 26
Penthouse Suites.............................................. 23
Services and Amenities: Three restaurants plus pool grill/buffet and 24-hour room service;
Seabourn Square (front desk services, concierge, computer center, library, shore excursions, coffee
and snack bar); wi-fi and cell phone access throughout the ship; five bars; health spa, fitness center
and salon; three pools and six whirlpools; water-sports marina; casino w/blackjack, roulette, poker
and slot machines; card room; three boutiques; laundry/dry cleaning and self-service launderettes,
medical facility; six elevators; extensively outfitted suites including interactive flat screen tvs with
music and movies
Restaurants: The Restaurant, The Colonnade, Restaurant 2 and pool buffet/grill.
Grading System: A basic score of 2 indicates the ship being graded is performing to the general
standards of the classification. A score of 3 indicates it is performing above what is normally
expected for the classification. A score of 1 indicates it is performing below what is normally
expected for the classification. A + or – is used to indicate minor differences, but not enough to
warrant a higher or lower whole number.
Level of Activity...............................................3
Quality of Ports................................................3
Air/Sea Program................................................3
Guest Conveniences.........................................3
Alternate Dining................................................3
Quality of Food................................................3
Food Presentation .............................................3
Food Preparation..............................................3
Stateroom Comfort ...........................................3
Overall.............................................................3
Suggested Tipping: : None required, all staff gratuities are included in the cruise fare.
Strong Points: Stylish yet elegant ship , exceptional dining, proactive friendly and personal service
Weak Points: None
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Seabourn ships are geared to grownups, and there's
no children’s playroom, teen club or video arcade
to keep the young ones occupied. However during
peak summer and holiday travel times Seabourn
has youth councilors aboard and special activities
planned. Just not on every cruise.
And a very nice touch is that Seabourn gives
each passenger an actual guest list or passenger list
as a keepsake at the end of the cruise listing all
passengers and their home town as well as officers
and containing a voyage log. A classic tradition of
proper ocean travel still provided at Seabourn, well
done!
And I was surprised at what appeared to be the
average age of my fellow passengers. I was
expecting an older 65 to 70 plus crowd but found
my fellow passengers to be obviously well-off
passengers averaging 55-65 years of age.
STATEROOMS – Seabourn Odyssey’s 229 suites
are all outside, and all but 26 of them offer private
balconies. Decor is understated and stylish and the
layout is spacious and cool, without any sense of
clutter. The standard accommodation aboard is the
Veranda Suite, which offers about 300 square feet
of interior space plus a 65-square-foot balcony.
A curtain divides the Veranda Suites large
living room and bedroom areas, which are
outfitted with a queen-size bed, walk-in closet,
stocked bar and fridge, flat-screen TV, writing
desks with personalized stationery, iPod and MP3
connections and a large marble bathroom with
twin sinks and separate bath and shower. The
fridge was filled with our choice of spirits, wines
and soft drinks and fresh fruit, the fruit of the day,
was delivered every morning. In the standard
suites, bathrooms are comfortably large, with
double sinks framed in granite and separate baths
and showers, though only the shower has a
handheld spray. The shower is roomy, with a wide,
clear glass door and a big shower head.
If the standard Seabourn suite is not big
enough for you there’s the 1,000-square-foot
Wintergarden Suite. It offers two bedrooms, a
separate dining area, a huge balcony, and a glass
solarium with a day bed and whirlpool tub. The
forward-facing Signature and Owner's Suites have
huge, wraparound balconies from which you will
feel the wind when the ship is at sea. Owners
Suites vary in size from 611 to 675 square feet
with 149- to 375-square-foot balconies, while the
Signature Suites, at 907 square feet with 353square-foot balconies, are the largest for
entertaining in terms of indoor and outdoor space
for the party animals amongst us. And there are the
four new Penthouse Spa Suites offering 516 to 538
square feet of inside space, with expansive private
verandas of 172 square feet with views over the
ship’s stern and the sea.
SERVICE & CREW – The international crew
totals 338 individuals and represents 34 countries.
It’s a very European crew, especially in the dining
areas. There is nearly one staff member for every
passenger aboard the Odyssey.
Crew members do go the extra mile and are all
trained to try and solve problems, rather than
simply just smiling politely. The initiative shown
by the crew on Seabourn is impressive. They seem
to learn your name and preferences within the first
day and then go out of their way to help you. If
there was something they couldn't do, they were
very nice about it and suggested an alternative.
Simply put, service is proactive to an extensive
degree and virtually no request seems to be too
farfetched. The feeling one gets is that if it can be
done, it will be done. Quickly and efficiently!
Seabourn service has always been exceptional and
this still holds true.
FOOD & DINING – Simply called The
Restaurant, the main dining room is one of the
most beautiful dining rooms at sea, with lots of
white and cream, highlighted by the two deck high
center section with billowing curtains and large
crystal chandeliers. Breakfast, lunch and dinner
are all served here, open seating of course, with
many tables for two and larger tables as well.
Table settings and linens are exceptional and they
serve as the canvas for the artistic and exquisite
cuisine. Some of the main course options from my
cruise were: Mustard Crusted Scallops, Grilled
Lobster Stuffed Calamari and Pan Sautéed
Halibut. Naturally there are appetizers, salads and
delicious desserts offered as well as vegetarian
options. A jacket, (but no tie) is required for the
main dining room
13
On my cruise The Restaurant was somewhat
underutilized at breakfast and lunch allowing you
the opportunity to enjoy a table by the window
with commanding view of the sea and enjoying
exceptional table-side service. Like your own
private dining room.
The Colonnade aft on Deck 8 is a lovely
informal place to dine, especially outside on the
stern. This restaurant is used for breakfast, lunch
and dinner. Breakfast is part buffet, part menu,
with specials of the day like crabmeat omelet’s or
Eggs Benedict. Lunch is themed but whether or
not you want the themed dishes, the salads and
cold appetizers are delicious, and there's always a
choice of more regular items like pasta or steaks to
choose from. It also offers alfresco dining for
supper especially nice on a balmy Caribbean night.
Dinners are usually regionally themed and bistrostyle.
Seabourn has a partnership with worldrenowned American chef and restaurateur Thomas
Keller who has brought his award-winning French
and American cuisine to Seabourn adding new
flavors and flair to complement their already
celebrated cuisine. Two evening during the cruise
the Colonnade showcased Keller’s cuisine with a
special reservation only dinner. Keller and
Seabourn are developing a signature restaurant
that will debut on the new Seabourn Encore in
2016.
Restaurant 2 as its name implies, is a second
dining room on the ship that offers an avant-garde
dining experience. It features a colorful, somewhat
unusual tasting menu of seven courses of exquisite
petite dishes all beautifully presented. The food is
a mix on French nouvelle cuisine with some Asian
influences featuring specialties such as Fois Gras,
Creme Brulee, Shellfish Cappuccino, Pan-seared
Quail Breast, or Lobster with Lemongrass, is
prepared by two chefs who serve only this
restaurant. Because the food is so special, there are
no deviations from the menu. Reservations are
recommended here and there is no charge.
There’s also a poolside grill as an option for
lunch or dinner, both are often regionally themed.
Here you can get burgers grilled to your liking and
the best French fries at sea for lunch among a
variety of other choices. In the evening, they turn
the pool grill/buffet area into an outside grill,
offering up a range of beef options (including
outstanding Filet Mignon, NY Strip and Ribeye
steaks) but there’s Giant Shrimp and Lobster
available. They’re happy to turn a meal into surf
and turf if desired.
For those who want a more private dining
experience, the dinner menu from The Restaurant
can be served course-by-course in the suite, either
inside or on the balcony. A room service menu of
comfort food -- burgers, steaks and club
sandwiches, for example, is always available and
room service is great for breakfast. It is very fast
and efficient and everything that should arrive hot
does so. And for sheer indulgence order some
caviar and champagne on your balcony before
dinner, all gratis naturally. I did that on more than
one occasion.
In the afternoon, you can take a very
sophisticated high tea at The Club, with servers
bringing elegant finger food, teas in silver services,
and honey in tiny individual pots. Plus the
Seabourn Square coffee bar does a busy trade all
day.
CONCLUSION – Seabourn Odyssey and her
sisters make up the youngest fleet in the luxury
cruise segment. The new generation of ships have
all been constructed since 2009, so what you’ll
find are elegant, modern vessels that appeal to
sophisticated travelers of all ages. And Seabourn
itself was founded on the principle that dedication
to personal service in elegant surroundings would
appeal to sophisticated, independent-minded
passengers whose lifestyles demand the best. This
held true in 1986 and it still holds true today.
I am glad to say that the renowned service and
cuisine are as strong today as it ever was. And it is
no wonder that Seabourn has won our best value
award in the Ultra Deluxe – 6 Star + category for
the past four years. We look forward to the arrival
of the new Encore and Ovation and the
continuance of the outstanding Seabourn product.
14
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totally electric, getting the audience involved by
handing out drum sticks and small metal items to
use them on. The “older” guests in the audience
really seemed to respond positively to the show.
Two other cabaret acts, a comedian (one night,
one show) and a “rockstar” juggler (one night,
two shows) were outstanding. They both offered
up plenty of original content that received lots of
laughs and applause. The comedian used no blue
language but pushed the edge very well. The
juggler interplayed with the audience and, again,
pushed it to the edge without going overboard; he
was also quite funny as one of the three judges for
the finals of the Dancing With the Stars show. I
went to a couple of the dance classes which were
very well attended; maybe it was the allure of
being chosen as one of the finalists for the Final
event, held the last afternoon at sea. The
attendance for this event was very good and the
audience really appreciated the six performances
by their fellow guests dancing with the
entertainment team. I’ve never seen the show so
I don’t know how close it was to the popular
reality show in terms of format: I only know I
found it to be as thoroughly entertaining as
everyone else.
The two production shows with a cast of six
singers and six dancers also had a youthful vibe,
especially the one offering updated versions of
three fairy tales (think a shorter version of the
recent movie “Into the Woods” with even more
singing and dancing).
Naturally, there was plenty to do on board,
both during the day and in the evenings: live
music of differing variety; classes in computers
and photography among others; lectures about the
ports for both shore excursions and shopping. The
best talks were the ones featuring the On Location
expert; his talks covering Alaska were really
interesting and well-presented without being stiff.
expertise shines through. They give guests the
chance the see Alaska water-based wildlife from a
variety of small craft; scenery from floatplanes
and helicopters (absolutely mandatory for
someone who has never been there before) or bus
tours in every place. I don’t take a lot of show
excursions but I took three (glaciers from the air;
bears by land and otters/seal/whales (lots of them)
by boat; and the famous Butchart Gardens in
Victoria using the ship’s bus excursion for
transportation to and from). They were all great
in terms of organization and content.
As I talked to various fellow guests on board,
I found first-time cruisers to this area that were
not doing any shore excursions. Cost seemed to
be a big factor and general lack of interest and
knowledge of what could be seen also played a
role. I do agree that Alaska shore excursions,
especially flight-seeing adventures, aren’t really
cheap. But if ever there was a place where just
getting off the ship and walking around the ports
simply isn’t enough, this is it. Yes, there was a
time when ports like Ketchikan, Skagway and
Juneau still had an aura of the frontier about them.
Not so much anymore as the local business
community have combined with retailers and
even with the cruise industry to get rid of a lot of
the local flavor (this is my opinion of course but
do they really need a Little Switzerland jewelry in
virtually every port). So, maybe the Red Dog
Saloon in Juneau is fun for an hour or so but
getting above things via helicopter or float plane,
going out into the local waters and seeing whaletails galore or other options is important to the
overall experience. Plus, there may not be a better
treat than going to a local restaurant (even some of
the dockside “shacks”) and feasting on locally
cost and freshly prepared halibut and crab.
Size of operation and scale does matter since
between Holland America and Princess, both
large brands that are part of Carnival Corporation,
they have a huge amount of cruises to
Alaska/Canada, from Seattle and Vancouver.
When we got off the ship in Seattle, everyone
SHORESIDE ACTIVITIES
from Westerdam and Crown Princess walked into
the same large terminal. Princess guests had their
Tying the experience in Alaska/Canada luggage on one side, Westerdam was on the other.
together of course were the shore excursions and There was plenty of signage differentiating the
here is an area where HAL’s experience and two ships and lots of guides to make sure guests
15
did not get confused. We met up again as the bus
to the airport had travelers from both Holland
American and Princess on board. It was fun
eavesdropping and hearing both sets of guests
bragging about their experience.
THE HAL FLEET
pre/post stay. One major advantage is the
simplicity of airport clearance. By virtue of being
in the United States, legalities at the airport are a
virtual non-issue. And when the ship comes back
through Canada (in this case, for a stop in
Victoria) the ship handles the paperwork so
efficiently, it’s a breeze. The other main place for
round-trip cruises is Vancouver, another great
pre/post city. But it is Canadian which brings
airport immigration into play. It’s not a huge
factor since Americans can clear US legalities on
the Canadian side, making arrival back into ones
home city or airport that much easier.
Of importance is that Westerdam is going in
for drydock in 2016 and will be getting extensive
renovation/refreshing. They may be updating it
but the HAL hallmarks of traditional cruising
style; darker woods and warm colors; and great
historical artwork are sure to still be there. They
may be making their entertainment a bit more
Plus, by being further north to start and end,
youthful in orientation but it should all fit there’s likelier opportunity to cruise the Inside
together for a variety of age demos.
Passage which is more scenic and calmer than the
ocean route (you can check itinerary options
I don’t know exactly what the changes are easily enough via cruise line websites/brochures
going to be but it points to the fact that the or by calling and asking). The third option is a
Holland America fleet (like virtually all cruise one-way cruise northbound or southbound which
fleets) does not consist of identical ships. They gets you further up into Canada and provides the
currently have 15 ships and a new one, ms opportunity to add on a land trip via bus and train
Koningsdam to be introduced in 2016. The to some of the interior parts of Alaska. Again,
current fleet carries a range of guests numbering Holland America and its sister brand, Princess,
from 835 to just over 2100 (Koningsdam will are truly expert at this and have ground
have 2650 lower beds). So it’s natural that not all operations seemingly all over the place. If you’ve
facilities are on all of the ships. For example, got the time and funds, I heartily recommend this
when I was on Eurodam back in 2010, I option. I suspect you’ll be quite happy you did.
absolutely loved Tamarind, the pan-Asian
restaurant open for dinner and on occasional days
By now, it should be obvious that I enjoy
for lunch as well. I could have eaten there every cruising to Alaska/Canada. I do indeed. I look
night, even with the surcharge. But that forward to going back again.
restaurant isn’t on Westerdam. Bummer, but I ate
well anyway. Also, the BB King show is on
MSC Back to Miami
about half of their ships. So, if you’re truly
interested in this music, you need to check that
MSC Cruises celebrated the arrival of MSC
your ship has the show on board. The new Divina, one of the company's newest and most
Koningsdam is naturally going to have some ultra-modern ships, to Miami In addition it was
features, particularly in dining and entertainment announced that sales for its next-generation
that the existing ships do not have. If they prove cruise ship MSC Seaside, will open on December
to be popular, you can bet that they will be added 15th, two years ahead of her debut, in December
to some of the older ships as time, money and 2017.
space allow. But that’s down the road a bit.
MSC Seaside, which will join MSC Divina in
CRUISE OPTIONS
sailing from a newly renovated and expanded
dedicated berth and terminal at PortMiami, will
While my trip was round-trip Seattle, there be the first MSC Cruises' ship to head directly to
are really three options involved in taking an the U.S. from the shipyard, and be the first MSC
Alaska/Canada cruise. Seattle is a great city and Cruises' ship to be christened in the U.S.
is certainly worth a day or two at either end for a
16
MONTHLY NOTES AND COMMENTS
When Holland America Line’s ms Koningsdam
debuts in April 2016, the ship’s senior staff officers
will set sail with a combined 95 years of company
loyalty and experience. In addition to the
previously announced appointment of Captain
Emiel de Vries, the cruise line announced that Hotel
Director Stan Kuppens, Chief Engineer Willem
Zuidema, Staff Captain Kevin Beirnaert and Safety,
Environmental and Health Officer Martijn van
Dam will lead Koningsdam’s shipboard teams.
The brand new 254-passenger Aranui 5
passenger-freighter, has arrived to its home port of
Papeete, Tahiti and is scheduled for its inaugural
sailing on December 12, 2015. The new ship is a
custom-built, dual-purpose vessel that sails from
Tahiti to the Marquesas, Tuamotu and Society
Islands in French Polynesia on a 14-day allinclusive itinerary.
Holland America Line’s ms Eurodam earned its
ninth consecutive perfect score of 100 on a recent
routine United States Public Health inspection
conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, the first time in the company’s
history that a ship achieved this distinction, said a
statement from Holland America Line. Also this
year, ms Statendam received its third consecutive
100, and ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms
Ryndam and ms Veendam also earned perfect
scores. In 2015, six Holland America Line ships
have received a total of nine perfect scores.
MSC Cruises today announced a long-term
partnership with Cirque du Soleil -- the Quebecbased world leader in artistic entertainment -- that
will set new standards in live entertainment at sea.
In a first at sea, brand new Cirque du Soleil shows
will be created exclusively for MSC Cruises guests
aboard the cruise line's next-generation Meraviglia
ships in a multi-million dollar, ground-breaking
entertainment and dining venue, designed in
collaboration by MSC Cruises and Cirque du
Soleil.
Cunard has announced plans to transform
Queen Mary 2's Winter Garden into an elegant, airy
and versatile new venue: the Carinthia Lounge.
Named after Cunard's beloved Carinthia ships, the
new Carinthia Lounge will take shape during
Queen Mary 2's multimillion dollar refit from 27
May to 21 June 2016. Designed to be one of the
most stylish and talked-about destinations on
Queen Mary 2, the Carinthia Lounge will transition
seamlessly throughout the day, from a serene and
cheery lounge serving light breakfast and lunch
dishes, to an elegant evening destination. It will
become the perfect spot to sit and relax; the place to
catch up with friends or the venue to enjoy a good
book.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has announced
that it has entered into an agreement with Meyer
Werft in Germany to order a fifth Quantum-class
ship for delivery in the Fall of 2020.
Viking Ocean Cruises and Fincantieri have
signed an agreement for the construction of two
additional cruise ships, said the yard in a prepared
statement. The new units, like the four sister ships
which Viking has already ordered, will become part
of Viking’s fleet in mid-2018 and at the end of
2020. The first ship was delivered in early 2015; the
second and third ships are scheduled for delivery in
2016 and 2017, respectively.
Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 was greeted
with excitement during her inaugural visit to
Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic on
November 22. Coming from Tortola in the British
Virgin Islands on her Caribbean voyage, Queen
Mary 2’s visit to Amber Cove marked the first call
that the ocean liner has ever made in the Dominican
Republic.
Oceania Cruises will add new curriculum to
The Culinary Center and new Culinary Discovery
Tours in some of the Caribbean’s hottest epicurean
locales as part of its upcoming season. The new
programs, developed by longtime Director of
Culinary Enrichment Chef Kathryn Kelly, will
debut on Riviera starting in December 2016.
Carnival Cruise Line has expanded its popular
Carnival LIVE entertainment concept to include
two hilarious performances by two-time Emmy and
Grammy award-winning comedian Kathy Griffin
in February 2016.