A sneak peek at Allure of the Seas – Photos [...]]]>  

A sneak peek at Allure of the Seas – Photos – USATODAY.com

.

Norwegian Cruise Line and Nickelodeon are offering the ultimate family cruise vacation with two “Nickelodeon All Access Cruises” setting sail in 2011. These special Nickelodeon-themed cruises give guests access to seven days of slime-filled entertainment all day, every day aboard Norwegian Jewel, sailing from [...]]]> Miami – Aug 23, 2010 —

Norwegian Cruise Line and Nickelodeon are offering the ultimate family cruise vacation with two “Nickelodeon All Access Cruises” setting sail in 2011. These special Nickelodeon-themed cruises give guests access to seven days of slime-filled entertainment all day, every day aboard Norwegian Jewel, sailing from New York on February 20, 2011; and on the cruise line’s newest and most innovative ship, Norwegian Epic, sailing from Barcelona on July 24, 2011. Families who book an All Access Cruise between August 23, 2010 and September 13, 2010 will receive a special offer of up to $250 in on-board credits, based on stateroom category; and half off the deposit (excluding the Garden Villa and other suite categories).

Norwegian and Nickelodeon have partnered to provide families with a once-in-a-lifetime cruise vacation that is all Nickelodeon, all week long. Exclusive Nickelodeon family programming featured on the two “Nickelodeon All Access” cruises includes:

- Ultimate sliming experience offers a chance for the whole family to get slimed together.

- Meet & greets with the stars of Nickelodeon’s hottest live-action shows. Special cruise guests have included stars from iCarly, True Jackson VP, and the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants.

- This year’s star line-up is still to be announced, but promises to be just as exciting.

- Special viewings and premieres of never-before-seen episodes of Nickelodeon’s hit TV shows like iCarly, Victorious and SpongeBob SquarePants.

- Meet & greets with some of your favorite Nickelodeon characters including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Aang the Last Airbender and many more!

- Nickelodeon’s signature messy game shows like Slime Time LIVE! and poolside events.

- Breakfast with Nickelodeon characters every day of the cruise.

- And much more!

- Plus, families can enjoy the freedom and flexibility of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Freestyle Cruising®.

The non-stop excitement and thrills of the “Nickelodeon All Access Cruise” are only available on: Norwegian Jewel sailing President’s Day holiday, February 20, 2011, round-trip from New York to Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; and Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island or Norwegian Epic departing on July 24, 2011 from Barcelona with ports of call including Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia), and Naples, Italy; and Palma, Majorca, Spain. Starting rates are from $899 per person double occupancy on Norwegian Jewel and from $1299 per person double occupancy on Norwegian Epic.

The on-board credit limited time offer includes $250 per stateroom when sailing in a Garden Villa, available on Norwegian Jewel; $150 for suites; $100 for mini-suites and deluxe balcony staterooms; $75 for balcony staterooms; $50 for ocean view and $25 for inside staterooms.

To book one of the only two “Nickelodeon All Access Cruises” in 2011, call Norwegian at 866-770-NICK (6425), visit www.ncl.com/nickallaccess, or contact a travel professional. Get the latest updates, play interactive games and connect with other families on the Nickelodeon All Access Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/nickallaccess.

via Welcome to NCL.

Details on the North American cruise industry’s overall economic impact in the United States in 2009 were released today by the Cruise Lines International Association.

“Despite a protracted global recession, the North American cruise industry continued to make an impact on the U.S. economy in 2009,” said Terry Dale, CLIA’s president and CEO. Last year was tough [...]]]> lfagan@cruising.org

Details on the North American cruise industry’s overall economic impact in the United States in 2009 were released today by the Cruise Lines International Association.

“Despite a protracted global recession, the North American cruise industry continued to make an impact on the U.S. economy in 2009,” said Terry Dale, CLIA’s president and CEO. Last year was tough for everyone. We are encouraged that the current economic climate is showing signs of improvement and cruise lines have been reporting strong activity thus far in 2010.”

North American cruise lines, their employees and passengers generated $35.1 billion in gross output in the U.S. last year, including 313,998 jobs paying a total of $14.23 billion in wages and salaries, and direct cruise industry spending totaled $17.15 billion, according to “The Contribution of the North American Cruise Industry to the U.S. Economy in 2009,” an annual report prepared for CLIA by Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA). BREA, based in Exton, Pa., has been compiling annual economic impact reports for CLIA since 1997.

The cruise industry’s U.S. economic contribution in 2009 was felt in every state to varying degrees. Of the 13.44 million CLIA member cruise line total cruisers in 2009, U.S. ports embarked 8.9 million passengers, accounting for 66 percent of the worldwide total. Florida port embarkations grew by nearly 3 percent for a total of 59 percent of the U.S. total, due to gains in Port Everglades, Tampa and Jacksonville.

Industry expenditures typically correlate with volume of cruise passengers, with the top fifteen U.S. cruise ports accounting for 92 percent of 2009 U.S. embarkations. Direct spending increases in Massachusetts, Maine, Louisiana, Maryland and Alabama reflected increased cruise activity while Nevada and Arizona benefited thanks to increased numbers of residents taking cruises and increased direct cruise line spending. Declines in Hawaii and Alaska were due to redeployment of cruise ships which resulted in reduced capacity.

“We are encouraged, not only by signs that a turnaround is in progress, but also by the industry’s history of out-performing other tourism sectors and even the national economy,” Dale said.

The 2009 economic environment for the travel industry was daunting. Most of the negative impact of the global recession, which experts have determined to have occurred between December 2007 and the fourth quarter 2008, were felt during 2009 due to continuing nationwide loss of jobs and consequent rising unemployment. Not surprisingly, real inflation-adjusted consumer expenditures fell by .6 percent in 2009, with discretionary spending on such items as transportation services falling by 3.7 percent. In short, last year represented an economic environment in which consumers were steadily reducing their spending particularly for discretionary services.

These circumstances had a consequent effect on the industry’s level of economic contribution to the U.S. but it is worthwhile putting 2009 in historical perspective. While last year’s contribution of $35.1 billion represents a 12.8 percent decrease for the year, over the last decade the cruise industry has outperformed the national economy and the travel and tourism (T&T) sector. Between 2000-2008, annual direct expenditures of the cruise industry had increased by 85 percent, approximately double the 48 percent increase in annual personal consumption expenditures and the 40 percent increase in annual direct output of the T&T sector. As of 2009, the cumulative growth in direct expenditures by cruise lines was still 50 percent higher than the cumulative growth in personal consumption expenditures and more than double the increase in direct T&T output. It is also noteworthy that, in 2009, the cruise industry out-performed several other segments of T&T, including traveler accommodations, air transportation and other transportation.

CLIA members responded to last year’s challenges presented by these economic realities by offering attractive cruise fares and other incentives. As a result, net capacity (available bed days) among CLIA members in 2009 rose 3.8 percent and average capacity utilization was 104.6 percent for the year. Even with these results, total gross revenue declined by 11.4 percent.

The “long view” is not the only cause for optimism looking ahead. The 13.44 million people who cruised in 2009 represented a 4.8 percent increase, a strong sign of continuing consumer interest and demand. The North American cruise industry continues to expand its presence throughout Europe, a continuing source of new passengers. Cruise capacity in Europe grew by 8 percent from 2008, and has grown by 75 percent from 2005. The number of U.S. resident cruise passengers, who represent 70 percent of all cruisers, grew in 2009 by 1.5 percent, largely reflecting the popularity of Europe.

At the same time, cruise lines continue to report positive statistics for 2010 and beyond, citing improved revenue yields for the first time since 2008, strong booking volumes for the second half of the year and the effectiveness of cost-control measures. With demonstrated consumer interest in new ships, some lines see increased capacity as an opportunity to drive revenue rather than as a challenge to fill staterooms.

“Given what we’ve been through, CLIA’s cruise lines can look ahead with a good measure of optimism,” said Howard Frank, vice chairman of the board and chief operating officer of Carnival Corporation & plc, and chairman of CLIA’s executive committee. “Demand is solid, advanced bookings are encouraging, there are significant growth opportunities around the world, and we’re seeing opportunities for better pricing strategies that, in the end, mean better results for the cruise lines and greater contributions to the economies where we operate.” For more information about CLIA, visit www.cruising.org.

The Ems Conveyance of the Disney Dream will be in mid November. The Disney Dream will be one of the largest ships built at the Meyer werft shipyard.

The ship’s departure will likely [...]]]> The Meyerwerft shipyard in Papenburg Germany has a tentative date of October 30th to undock the new Disney Cruise ship “Disney Dream”.

The Ems Conveyance of the Disney Dream will be in mid November. The Disney Dream will be one of the largest ships built at the Meyer werft shipyard.

The ship’s departure will likely be broadcast from the webcam on the Meyer Werft website, go to the cam at www.meyerwerft.de

The Disney Dream will sail backwards assisted by tugs down the Ems to Eemshaven (Netherlands) for further outfitting and sea trials before delivery to Disney Cruise Line.

Once the Dream is undocked in Hall 6 the Celebrity Silhouette will occupy this hall for assembly.

It’s hard to believe we are only 160 days away from the maiden voyage of the Disney Dream. All of the spaces on the ship are quickly transforming from cavernous steel hollows to beautiful guest areas.

Construction is moving very quickly on the Buena Vista Theatre which will span two decks and have capacity for [...]]]>  

It’s hard to believe we are only 160 days away from the maiden voyage of the Disney Dream. All of the spaces on the ship are quickly transforming from cavernous steel hollows to beautiful guest areas.

Construction is moving very quickly on the Buena Vista Theatre which will span two decks and have capacity for 399 guests. As you can see, the decorative ceiling is nearly complete, the stadium seating structure is already in place and furnishings will be installed shortly.

For cinephiles, the Buena Vista Theatre will be home to first-run-movies, including releases in stunning digital 3-D. Take a look at this rendering of the finished venue.

Disney Dream Construction Update – It’s Almost Showtime « Disney Parks Blog.

MIAMI, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Playing off the series of hip, high-tech “firsts” it has introduced in recent months, premium cruise line Celebrity Cruises is debuting the industry’s first self-guided art tours on an iPad®. Earlier this year, Celebrity introduced the first “Celebrity iLounge” – a [...]]]>

Celebrity becomes first cruise line to present art tours on iPads

MIAMI, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Playing off the series of hip, high-tech “firsts” it has introduced in recent months, premium cruise line Celebrity Cruises is debuting the industry’s first self-guided art tours on an iPad®. Earlier this year, Celebrity introduced the first “Celebrity iLounge” – a modern lounge equipped with MacBook® workstations, a retail space featuring Apple products and accessories, and an enrichment center where certified staff present a variety of courses and offer guests tips on Mac and iPod® usage. Celebrity Cruises is itself an iPad pioneer, having become the first cruise line to present a menu and wine list on an iPad when it introduced its engaging “Qsine” specialty restaurant earlier this year.

“The response to the Celebrity iLounge and to the iPad menus in Qsine was so positive, we knew our guests would relish yet another opportunity to capitalize on the latest technology in an entertaining, enriching way,” said Celebrity’s Senior VP of Hotel Operations Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. “Celebrity’s ‘Designed for you’ platform is built on our commitment to listen to our guests and offer experiences inspired by them and their sophisticated travel desires.”

A new addition to Celebrity’s extensive “Celebrity Life” series of onboard entertainment and enrichment activities, the iPads on each Solstice Class ship house floor plans of every deck on the ship, with select works of art flagged on every deck. A guest simply touches the screen to select the work of art he or she would like to learn more about, and the screen transitions to full details about the piece, including the title of the work, artist’s name, medium used, description and image. In addition to the art tour application, the iPads also present guests with the opportunity to explore digital versions of each Solstice-Class vessel’s in-stateroom art catalogs.

With more than 14,000 works of original, contemporary art on its three Solstice Class ships alone, Celebrity Cruises is the holder of one of the world’s largest corporate collections of contemporary art. Throughout the ships, a vast range of mediums is represented, including glass, acrylics, oils, photography, digital prints, video, etchings, sculptures and collages. Approximately 15 percent of the art on each Solstice Class ship is site-specific or commissioned artwork, such as the signature living trees in enormous vases suspended within the Solstice Class ships’ sweeping, airy Grand Foyers.

Celebrity’s new iPad art tours will be available on Celebrity Solstice beginning August 15, and on Celebrity Eclipse and Celebrity Equinox beginning August 21. The tours currently are in English, and also will be offered in Spanish by the end of this year. Celebrity will add German and French versions in 2011.

Celebrity Cruises is designed for discerning cruisers, with modern, sophisticated environments, impeccable service, enriching and inspiring onboard programs, and world-class cuisine. The ultimate in premium cruising, Celebrity sails in Alaska, California, Canada/New England, Europe, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal, South America, and year-round in the Caribbean and the Galapagos Islands. Celebrity also offers immersive cruisetour experiences in Alaska, Canada, Europe and South America. Celebrity’s mega-series of honors include being named the top mega-ship line in Condé Nast Traveler’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards (November 2009). Celebrity’s fleet currently consists of 10 ships. Its $3.7-billion investment in building five stylish Solstice Class ships between 2008-2012 represents the largest five-year investment in premium cruising. For more information, call your travel agent, dial               1-800-437-3111         1-800-437-3111 or visit www.celebritycruises.com.

via Contemporary Art and Ultra-Contemporary Technology Converge on the High Seas With Latest Novel Concept… — MIAMI, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ –.

Meyerwerft Website

.