Jul 31

Showman Ship: Allure Entertainment in the Spotlight

Jul 31

Law requires security video, peep holes on cruise ships – Business – MiamiHerald.com

BY HANNAH SAMPSON

hsampson@MiamiHerald.com

Addressing concerns over cruise ship safety and transparency, President Barack Obama this week signed into law new measures that mandate crime reporting, require aid for rape victims and force all ships to have cabin peep holes and guard rails of a certain height.

An industry group said most cruise lines already abide by the rules, but that the law brings welcome consistency.

The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act touches on safety design features as well as practices of reporting and dealing with allegations of crime, including:

• Requiring 42-inch guard rails and peep holes in the cabin doors of every passenger and crew member, on-deck video surveillance and an emergency sound system.

• Forcing ships to maintain a log book that records deaths, missing people and allegations of crime.

• Requiring rape kits, medications to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and a trained forensic sexual assault specialist to be aboard each ship.

• Mandating training of crew members in preventing and detecting crime, preserving evidence and reporting crimes in international waters.

Cruise Lines International Association, which includes the nation’s major cruise lines, released a statement supporting the law. So did the International Cruise Victims Association, which helped spur legislation.

`PRETEND FIX’Miami-based maritime attorney Charles Lipcon, however, called the act “a pretend fix.”

“It’s full of sound and fury, signifying nothing,” said Lipcon, who represents passengers who have been victimized by crime on cruise ships.

Some parts of the law are helpful, Lipcon said, like mandating 42-inch guard rails and peep holes. But the law should have gone farther to require video cameras in hallways and deadbolts or chain locks on doors and to prohibit over-serving of alcohol, he said.

PUBLIC IMAGEStill, he said, the impending law has likely spurred change for the better.

“I think cruise lines have been doing a better job of reporting crimes, contacting the FBI, preserving evidence and cooperating with law enforcement,” Lipcon said. “I think they wanted to put their best foot forward, and they have.”

While most cruise lines are likely already following the new laws, public perception could change as a result, said Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of CruiseCritic.com. “It’s important for the industry because the perception that cruise ships aren’t safe is ludicrous, but unless cruise lines step up to the plate and say, `We’re willing to be accountable,’ they will not be able to change that perception,” she said.

Read more: via Law requires security video, peep holes on cruise ships – Business – MiamiHerald.com.

Jul 31

Starting the Disney Dream Engines « Disney Parks Blog

 

Disney Dream Engine

 

Starting the Disney Dream Engines

posted on July 30th, 2010 by Christi Erwin Donnan, Manager of Public Affairs, Disney Cruise Line

A major milestone was achieved for the Disney Dream this week when testing began on the ship’s five engines at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. Several months ago, the engines were installed on the ship, and this week the team at the yard started the engines for the first time!

Talk about powerful … The five engines combined have a total output of 103,000 horsepower, which will give the ship a top speed of 23.5 knots.

At 128,000-tons and 14-decks tall, the magnificent Disney Dream continues to take shape. This initial test begins several months of engine testing, which will continue through the ship’s sea trials. With just 180 days until the maiden voyage on January 26, 2011, the excitement of each milestone continues to build as we approach the Disney Dream becoming a reality.

via Starting the Disney Dream Engines « Disney Parks Blog.

Jul 26

Princess Cruise Ship Loses Power off Florida Coast – AOL Travel News

 

The 3,100-passenger Emerald Princess cruise ship lost power Sunday for more than four hours after embarking from Fort Lauderdale on an Eastern Caribbean sailing.

The ship was without propulsion and passengers were without air conditioning and some other hotel services as power went on and off, Princess Cruises confirmed.

The cruise line said the incident happened 90 minutes after the ship left on a weeklong sailing, at about 6:30 p.m. Power was not restored until 11 p.m.

“At no time was there any danger to the ship or its passengers and crew,” the line said.

In addition to a lack of air conditioning, at least one passenger wrote on the message board at CruiseCritic.com of limited lights, a limited dinner menu and canceled shows and entertainment, while the ship was dead in the water.

Once the power was restored, the three-year-old ship was given clearance by the United States Coast Guard and continued its itinerary, though a call at Princess Cays, the cruise line’s private Bahamas beach, was canceled.

Spokeswoman Karen Candy tells AOL Travel News an investigation into the outage is underway, and a technician will join the ship in St. Maarten on Wednesday to help determine the cause. There were reports a computer glitch may have been to blame.

Candy said passengers would be compensated for their inconvenience and the missed port call

Princess Cruise Ship Loses Power off Florida Coast – AOL Travel News.

Jul 22

Behind the Scenes of the Disney Dream Mock-Up Room « Disney Parks Blog

Behind the Scenes of the Disney Dream Mock-Up Room « Disney Parks Blog.

Jul 19

Norwegian Epic cruises into fun-filled waters – St. Petersburg Times

 

 

Norwegian Epic cruises into fun-filled waters

By Sean Daly

The Epic Plunge, the largest bowl water slide at sea, is the centerpiece of the Aqua Park, which includes two other slides and a Splash Zone for young children. Other activities to keep passengers busy include a casino, a 33-foot-high rock-climbing wall, six bowling lanes and an ice rink.
 
[Times photo illustration by Steve Madden; Joshua Prezant photo]

ABOARD THE NORWEGIAN EPIC 

Leo Gutierrez and I are bonding. In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. In a bathroom unlike any we’ve ever seen. That we are strangers unzipped at neighboring urinals does not diminish this magic moment. 

Gutierrez can’t get over the view outside. It isn’t just pants-dropping; it’s jaw-dropping. 

Whiz-bang, you might say. 

“This is a first!” belly-laughs the 39-year-old Colombian, an electrical engineer who wires up major cruise ships. 

On this new state-of-the-art ocean liner — which touts, among myriad diversions, a bar made entirely of ice, two bowling alleys, a teppanyaki restaurant and a water park with a nefarious wedge-a-nating slide called the Epic Plunge — there is also a state-of-the-art men’s room, a communal commode near the pool that offers panoramic, floor-to-ceiling views of the Big Briny. You can see out, and only the seagulls can see in. 

Seriously, it’s like dropping trou in an IMAX theater. 

That’s the currency on the Norwegian Epic, which many are calling a game-changer in the world of cruise ships. This floating Mall of America strives so hard to heighten every moment of your stay, to demand your attention to its buoyant bacchanal of delights — to punish the inert! — you even feel guilty for not hitting the head more often. 

As he washes his hands, Gutierrez speaks softly, as if what he’s about to bestow upon me is nothing less than the wisdom of the ages: “Let me tell you: You should feel privileged that you have had an oceanview pee.” As he leaves, sucked back into this leviathan of excess, he cries out: “Only on the Epic, my friend!” 

• • • 

About 10 years ago, I took my first and what I thought would be my only cruise; it was a nightmare. I’ll withhold the name of the company, but let’s just say the SS Minnow had better accommodations. It was like a gurgling Econo Lodge, with gray food that would cause a flotilla of pirates to surrender. The entertainment had all the zip of Grandpa Ed telling knock-knocks. The crew spoke English only when it suited them — and not, for instance, when they lost our luggage. 

And yet, when offered the chance at a two-day swing on the 19-deck, 1,080-foot Norwegian Epic — an inaugural sojourn “to nowhere” that would get to the Bahamas, if not exactly stop there — my curiosity trumped my Gilligan fears. 

After all, these are the days of glorious distraction, of excess, of apps, of anything shiny to take our minds off the mortal coil. And with the exception of the computer world and the roller coaster racket, no industry indulges in indulgence quite like cruising. Word was that Norwegian Cruise Line had upped the ante to wildly gaudy heights. How could I say no to Nero on the Sea? 

I invited my longtime buddy Sandy, who, despite his irrational fear of a rogue wave, gladly accepted on the promise of all the Coors Light he could drink. We drove to the Port of Miami, where the Epic sprawls out, 153,000 gross tons of titillation for more than 4,100 guests. By comparison, the average Carnival cruise out of Tampa carries about 2,100. 

Yeah, it’s a big’un. 

When you first see the Epic, it doesn’t look like a sea-faring vessel at all; it’s the Imperial Cruiser from Star Wars. 

A travel agent from Seattle told me: “You don’t need Dramamine on this ship.” And he was right. I didn’t feel a ripple the entire cruise. The Epic is so big, it defies the ocean, a nature-thwarting pleasure beast at 22 knots. 

But its technological girth isn’t nearly as glitzy as its guts: 21 restaurants, just as many bars, a Second City comedy club, a Vegas-style casino, brand-name shows by Blue Man Group and Nickelodeon, any sport you want, any spa treatment you crave. 

That just hasn’t been done before — so many environments in a matter of steps. It’s busy, noisy, and yet the pervasive design is Scandinavian calm: wood and chrome, minimalist touches out of Architectural Digest. It’s elegant and head-spinning all at once. 

The Epic trumpets the experience of “freestyle cruising,” an oft-heard buzzphrase that implies a newfound liberty at sea. But if “freestyle cruising” also sounds a bit like “free-range chicken” — the appearance of free will, when in reality, your fate is just as sealed as the other cluckers’ — you’re not entirely wrong there, either. 

• • • 

For the longest time, the cliche of cruising — and, on most ships, the reality — has been the famously set schedule. You eat at the same time, with the same people, in the same large, blah dining room every night. Mass-cooked filets for dinner; Charo for dessert. Larry from Wichita, your assigned tablemate, is everywhere you turn, a communal designation not unlike your roommate with the deodorant aversion in the freshman dorm. 

With freestyle cruising, however, the notion is that you can eat what you want, when you want, with whomever you darn well please. There are still the mass buffets to trough from if you so choose, and 10 other dining possibilities included in the basic rate. There are also specialty restaurants, 10 of ’em, with a “cover” of between $15 and $30 per person. 

Your time is your own on the Epic. Julie Your Cruise Director doesn’t plan your day; you do. “Choices” is another buzzword. (I’m telling you, Arthur Schopenhauer didn’t talk about man’s desire to choose as much as the marketing folks behind the Epic.) If you see Larry from Wichita headed for the sushi bar, you just duck into Cagney’s Steakhouse, a D.C.-style dark-wood beauty straight out of a congressman’s budget. That was my first meal: Salmon Oscar with king crab, a colossal shrimp cocktail and a sublime 2007 José Maria da Fonseca Periquita Reserva red wine. I did have to share a table, but my companions — a TV crew from Miami — were delightful. 

That is, until they showed up again, at the pool area, 30 minutes later, and threatened to film my jiggly parts hauling down the waterslide. Buzzkill. Larry from Wichita would never do that. 

• • • 

Flip-flops are a must on the Epic, but track shoes and Red Bull don’t hurt, either. After two days onboard, I felt like I had run a marathon — and subsequently set a record for pina colada consumption. It’s not that the Epic is too epic to manage; it’s actually incredibly streamlined, an easily navigable procession of walkways and elevators. But it breeds exertion, that’s for sure. 

In the span of a few hours, Sandy and I ate at Teppanyaki, a Japanese steak house with Benihana’s shrimp-hurling flair . . . then conned our way into the 17-degree Svedka Ice Bar, where we donned fur-lined parkas and slammed shots of vodka while sitting on benches made of ice and watching Northern Lights pulse in the walls . . . then played a furious game of Ping-Pong on the sports-aplenty aft deck . . . then hit the roulette wheel, where the minimums, even in prime time, are a delightful $5 per play . . . then hung out at O’Sheehan’s neighborhood-style bar, which acts as a main hangout area . . . then hit the Blue Man Group show, a reliable diversion of multicolored ooze and percussion. Huzzah! 

There’s usually a slothful pride in how much weight you gain on a cruise ship. You leave tan, rested and adorned with three new chins. But the Epic inspires such a furious pace, I think I actually lost a few pounds. Yes, you could just laze around on the Epic, but then, what’s the point? 

Of course, for all the pull of the action, the Epic features some 13 different lodging options, from the Deluxe Owner’s Suite with panoramic views of the ocean to what Sandy and I shared: a balcony stateroom, which looked not unlike a swingin’-’60s pad James Bond would conquer in. Yes, it was small: A curtain separated a teeny toilet and a full shower from the bedroom, which had a queen-sized bed, barely large enough for two dudes who really don’t want to touch during the night. But the room was posh and comfortable, and the balcony was fantastic. Still, when you’re on the Epic, sitting around is for sissies. 

• • • 

The Epic isn’t all spectacular. There are a few glaring miscues. For as cool as the Aqua Park is, the saltwater pools themselves are small, murky, warm. Submerging into one of these square utilitarian jobs isn’t refreshing; it’s Seniors Night at the Y. Maybe a decent wading area isn’t important when you’re docking in paradise every day, but the only way I could cool off was a trip down one of the waterslides. 

Another downer on the Epic is one of its featured shows: Cirque Dreams and Dinner, a rubber-chicken and bad-theater groaner that’s more Cirque du So Lame than anything resembling the revered theater troupe. The singing is a caterwauling mess, the amped-up quasi-Euro accents are cloying and the acrobats, while impressive, don’t hit the high-wire enough. Sandy and I ditched on Cirque Dreams after eating a few bites of our ghastly chicken Florentine. 

And then, at last, we come to that recirculated air on the Epic, the smell of perfume, duty-free Marlboros and money lost. It’s that same suffocating stench you notice after two days, and 10 trips to the ATM, in Las Vegas. 

Maybe I was the only one who could smell it, in the casino and out. And maybe that means I’m just not a cruise guy. But for all the talk of “freestyle cruising,” that air was symbolic, a claustrophobic whiff that ultimately revealed the Epic, for all of its pizzazz, to be just another a cruise ship, albeit in its most puffed-up, regal form. The ship just happens to excel at the illusion of freedom better than the others — and these days, maybe that’s good enough. 

Sean Daly is the Times’ pop music critic. He can be reached at sdaly@sptimes.com  His Pop Life column runs every Sunday in Floridian. 

Norwegian Epic cruises into fun-filled waters – St. Petersburg Times 

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Jul 19

Celebrity Cruises Presents Exotic New Voyages in Australia, New Zealand. Indonesia and French Polynesia

Celebrity Cruises Presents Exotic New Voyages in Australia, New Zealand. Indonesia and French Polynesia
Inspired by guest demand, new itineraries feature 36 ports in six countries MIAMI, July 19, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ —

Like the iconic boomerang believed to have originated in Australia, Celebrity Cruises today announced plans to return to the region in 2011-12, with an enticing new series of vacations on Celebrity Century.

“This marks a significant expansion of Celebrity’s diverse array of global vacation options,” said Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. “We’re thrilled to return to Australia and New Zealand. It’s a region our guests and trade partners around the world have said they wanted to experience again with Celebrity, pairing our award-winning dining, exceptional service and high style with the beauty, charm and diversity of the area. This move further exemplifies our ‘Designed for you’ platform, and how we fulfill what cruisers desire.”

Marking the line’s first return to the land Down Under in two years, Celebrity’s exotic new Australia and New Zealand season – bookended by a series of vacation options in Hawaii – features a total of 36 ports in six countries: Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, French Polynesia, the U.S. and Mexico. The lineup includes 10 distinct itineraries, with six varied departure ports, including Sydney and Perth (Fremantle), Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; Honolulu, Hawaii; San Diego, California, and Ensenada, Mexico.

Celebrity’s new series begins October 2, 2011, with two consecutive 15-night Hawaii sailings from San Diego, followed by a 10-night Hawaii cruise from Ensenada to Honolulu. An 18-night “Pacific Jewels” voyage departs Honolulu November 11, followed by five 12- and 13-night New Zealand cruises between Sydney and Auckland, including a festive holiday sailing departing Sydney December 24. These offer a more destination-rich experience for cruisers, with only three days at sea, versus five on most competing lines’ itineraries.

Cruisers also have the opportunity to experience a rare, 36-night circumnavigational voyage – a first for Celebrity – through two combinable 18-night sailings: One will sail around the southern portion of Australia, featuring an overnight stay in Sydney and transits through three sounds – Milford, Doubtful and Dusky – in New Zealand’s World Heritage-designated Fiordland National Park. The second of the combinable 18-night sailings takes cruisers around Australia’s northern coast, and features a visit to the idyllic island of Bali, Indonesia – marking yet another first for Celebrity.

The new series also includes two tantalizing, 18-night Trans-Pacific voyages visiting the French Polynesian islands and Hawaii.

Among the ports Celebrity will visit for the first time are Geraldton, Broome, Darwin, Cairns, Brisbane, Adelaide, Albany, Bunbury and Perth, Australia, in addition to Burnie, Tasmania, and Bali.

To complement the cruises and allow guests to delve deeper into the land Down Under, Celebrity has created a series of cruisetour packages, with details to be announced when bookings open for the entire slate of vacation options on Thursday, July 29. Celebrity also will announce details of an early booking incentive on that date.

The 1,814-guest Celebrity Century is ideal for offering guests spectacular views of the scenic region, having been refitted in 2006 to add 314 new verandas, along with the elegant Murano restaurant and the truly “cool” Martini ice bar.

Celebrity’s new itineraries replace the previously announced series of 12-night Caribbean cruises from Baltimore on Celebrity Century. Guests with individual and group bookings that are named and deposited on Celebrity Century departing between November 1, 2011 and March 21, 2012, have the option to cancel their booking, or move to the same category of accommodations on a comparable Transcanal voyage on Celebrity Infinity, either October 28, 2011, or March 27, 2012; Celebrity Century’s Hawaii sailings October 2 or 17, 2011, or April 2 or 20, 2012; 10- or 11-night Caribbean cruises on Celebrity Equinox in 2011, or entirely new 12-night Caribbean sailings from Cape Liberty, NJ, on Celebrity Silhouette, the line’s fourth Solstice Class ship, entering service in 2011. Holiday sailings are open only to guests currently booked on Celebrity Century’s double-holiday voyage of December 23, 2011. Guests with applicable bookings who opt to shift to one of the eligible sailings will receive a $200 per stateroom or $400 per suite onboard credit.

Guests with reservations on the previously announced sailings on Celebrity Century from Baltimore in 2011-12 will be proactively contacted by Celebrity Cruises. Guests with questions specific to those bookings are welcome to call 1-888-281-9343.

via Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. : Investor Relations : RSS Content.

Jul 17

Disney Dream Ship Closer to Reality « Disney Parks Blog

It’s hard to believe that the maiden voyage for the Disney Dream is a little more than 6-months away! The ship is really starting to take shape. We put together this short video showing the construction progress to date with some amazing renderings of what the end product will look like – it’s truly going to be an incredible ship. Hope you enjoy!

via Disney Dream Ship Closer to Reality « Disney Parks Blog.

Jul 16

Port Everglades racing Port of Miami to be No. 1 cruise base

BY MARTHA BRANNIGAN

For decades, Miami has claimed the title Cruise Capital of the World, cultivating a picture-postcard image of majestic ships gliding past downtown towers, glitzy Star Island and glamorous South Pointe.

Yet now Miami is on the verge of being outflanked by Port Everglades, its neighbor 28 miles to the north, better known for its praying mantis-like cargo cranes and unsightly oil tank farm.

If current trends continue as expected, Port Everglades will bypass the Port of Miami in cruise business by 2012, an unthinkable scenario until recently. In 2000, the Port of Miami had twice as many cruise travelers as Port Everglades.

It is a high-stakes competition that goes beyond bragging rights as the world’s largest cruise port. The cruise industry means thousands of jobs and millions in tourist dollars for Miami-Dade and Broward, whose county governments have committed millions to port infrastructure to ensure they remain competitive.

The shift is due, in part, to a newly aggressive pitch by Broward officials for business. Also in the mix: consternation from cruise operators over a billion-dollar project to build a tunnel connecting Watson Island and the port, which they fear will bring headaches for them and passengers.

“The competition has gotten more steep. And it’s real, it’s significant,” Port of Miami Director Bill Johnson recently told the Miami-Dade County Commission, concerned over a recent spate of gains by Fort Lauderdale.

Johnson says much of the port’s value comes from its less glamorous but more voluminous cargo operation. And indeed, Miami’s cargo business contributed $15 billion to the economy, according to the port, compared to $2 billion from its cruise business.

But Miami’s sun-and-fun image is not built on cargo containers stacked at the port.

BIG PUSHStewart Chiron, a Miami cruise expert and CEO of cruiseguy.com, said Port Everglades has simply become more aggressive, “as evidenced by the huge increase at one port and the decrease at the other.”

Fort Lauderdale’s big push for cruise ships will bring an estimated 3.2 million passengers this fiscal year, up 31 percent from 2006, while Miami’s traffic has sputtered after reaching 4.1 million passengers in fiscal 2008.

Among the shifts in the seas:

• In April, Miami’s Carnival Corp. agreed to funnel 25.5 million passengers through Port Everglades over the next 15 years in exchange for upgrades to four passenger terminals. That contract will produce an estimated $500 million in port revenue.

• Days later, Royal Caribbean International said its 3,634-passenger Liberty of the Seas will make its home at Port Everglades instead of Miami when it returns from Europe next year.

That will trim Royal Caribbean International’s Miami presence to a single, 28-year-old ship — the 2,744-passenger Majesty of the Seas. That’s down from four ships this year.

• Royal Caribbean decided to home-port the world’s two biggest cruise ships at Port Everglades. The 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas began sailing in November 2009, generating buzz, and sister ship Allure of the Seas will begin year-round Caribbean cruises in December.

Clinching those deals was key for Port Everglades, particularly since cruise lines expect to slow their fleet expansion in coming years, with much of the growth heading to new markets outside the Caribbean, like Europe and Asia.

“Bill Johnson and I have this friendly competition going,” said Port Everglades Director Phil Allen, flashing a grin. “We realized in Broward if we were going to continue to compete in the Caribbean, we better go after the Oasis.”

He initially saw the quest for Oasis as a long shot.

“Everyone was saying: `Oh, in Miami, Royal Caribbean’s headquarters is just right down the street.’ We made a very aggressive run at it.”

DOMINO EFFECTThe cruise business carries big financial stakes that go beyond the journey at sea. Cruise passengers account for an estimated one of every seven leisure travelers arriving at Miami International Airport, according to Port of Miami officials. And they are major bookers of hotel rooms.

“I don’t think for a minute that Miami is out of the game,” said Miami’s Johnson, a veteran county employee who took charge of the port four years ago. “Travel the world, and people know Miami as a brand.”

Miami can boast of a deal to home-port Norwegian Cruise Line’s new $1.2 billion Epic, a 4,100-passenger vessel expected to be the year’s hottest ship when it debuts in July. Even so, the splashy vessel will spend May to November of 2011 in the Mediterranean, not Miami. Meanwhile, Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship, the Eclipse, will sail from Miami from November through April 2011-12.

Some cruise business that could be Miami’s is going beyond Fort Lauderdale, too. Carnival Cruise Lines considered putting its newest, largest ship, the Carnival Dream, in Miami, but that high-profile vessel wound up going to Cape Canaveral last fall.

Port Everglades’ gains helped energize negotiations between Carnival Corp. and the Port of Miami, and Miami-Dade County executives recently reached a cruise terminal agreement that extends Carnival Corp.’s commitment to the Port of Miami to 2018, five years beyond an existing contract.

Last week, the Miami-Dade County Commission approved the pact, which ensures Carnival’s long-term commitment and increases the guaranteed revenue it will bring Miami.

“We’re confident we’re going to have stability there at the port with Carnival,” County Manager George Burgess said.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.’s level of commitment is less clear. Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., declined to comment on its future plans to sail from Miami, nor would he say whether Royal, which owns several brands including Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises, intends to keep its headquarters at the port after its building leases expire in 2011 and 2014.

Burgess and Johnson are confident Miami-Dade will cement deals on both fronts, and the port plans to spruce up some of Royal’s facilities. “We need to roll up our sleeves and negotiate with Royal, just like we did with Carnival,” Burgess said.

TUNNEL WORRIESOne challenge for Miami is assuaging concerns among cruise lines that construction of a port tunnel, a $1 billion project just under way, will disrupt their operations.

In a May 5 letter, Carnival Corp. chairman and CEO Micky Arison told Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez the cruise giant will hold the county responsible if tunnel construction disrupts cruise operations — and asked for a disaster plan. That plan “should include the purchase by the County of insurance to cover the business interruption and other losses of its Port clients,” he wrote.

Mayor Alvarez invited Carnival executives to meet with county and tunnel officials, and said written details on the project’s insurance and safeguards are forthcoming.

Port Everglades director Allen said congestion at the Miami port and anxiety about the tunnel have helped steer business to Port Everglades, which lies at the end of a broad highway and is an easy shot from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

“The Port of Miami has been abused by Miami-Dade and the city of Miami for years,” Allen said, citing poor planning in erecting AmericanAirlines Arena and a row of new condo towers along Biscayne Boulevard, where they aggravate port congestion.

Still, much of Port Everglades’ growth seems tied to its willingness to reach. When Royal Caribbean was scouting for a home port for Oasis, the Miami-based cruise company got a mild reception in Miami, where port officials say the gargantuan vessel would have taken up two terminals.

Port Everglades didn’t have a suitable facility either for the groundbreaking ship, which was 40 percent bigger than anything built before it. But Port Everglades offered to turn its aging Terminal 18 into a state-of-the-art cruise facility.

Royal Caribbean’s CEO Fain, known as a perfectionist, pressed for assurances that passengers boarding Oasis could zip from curb to ship within 15 minutes. No cruise line had ever tried to funnel 5,400 people on to a ship before, and Royal Caribbean wanted the experience to be hassle-free.

Allen went back to the Broward commission, which agreed to double the terminal budget to $75 million from $37.4 million originally envisioned. Royal, in turn, promised to send even more passengers to Port Everglades to compensate for the extra cost of the 5.5-acre super terminal, which has 90 ticket counters.

The verdict: Cruise expert Chiron recently took an Oasis cruise and clocked his boarding time at Port Everglades at “seven minutes from curb to ship.”

At the Port of Miami, officials are devising plans to maintain their ranking. A key focus: completing a new 35-year master plan by fall that includes ideas for a new passenger terminal that could serve multiple cruise lines and provide room for growth.

“This is a very competitive business, and for those who are asleep at the wheel, the business will bypass you,” Johnson told county commissioners. “I assure you, I guarantee you, I promise you: This port administration is not asleep at the wheel.”

via Port Everglades racing Port of Miami to be No. 1 cruise base – International Business – MiamiHerald.com.

Jul 16

Princess Cruises Announces Details of 2011-2012 Asia Cruise and Cruisetour Season

From Ancient Temples to Modern Skyscrapers This Land of Contrasts Offers an Array of Cruise Vacation Options

Santa Clarita, Calif. (Vocus) July 16, 2010

The diverse lands of Asia evoke images of exotic cultures, ancient mysteries and modern bustling cities. Whether visitors long to see the ornate gilded pavilions, ancient temples, towering skyscrapers or distinctive natural beauty, an Asia cruise offers a truly unique cruise vacation. For the Fall 2011–Spring 2012 Asia season, Princess Cruises will offer 14 itineraries that include more than 60 vibrant ports throughout Asia and beyond, plus land and sea cruisetours to visit more of mainland China.

The world’s largest and most populous continent, Asia encompasses a rich collection of nations, peoples, sights and sounds. From the grandeur of China’s Great Wall to the jeweled palaces of Bangkok, the continent’s attractions dazzle on a variety of Princess itineraries, including Southeast Asia and China routes, roundtrip voyages from Australia, and multi-continent adventures that include travel to and from Alaska, Australia, or Africa. Passengers can choose to sail on Diamond Princess, the intimate Ocean Princess, or even aboard one of the Princess ships based “Down Under.”

“The unique sights, sounds, and even tastes of Asia make it one of our most sought after exotic vacation options,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “We’ve been taking passengers to these ancient lands for decades and passengers continue to be fascinated by the range of cultures and astounding sites they can experience in the Far East.”

In China, cruisers can see the ultramodern and the ancient juxtaposed at the port of Shanghai, as the city’s gleaming skyscrapers clash against its colorful temples. In bustling Hong Kong, passengers can explore the former British colony from its harbor or narrow streets. This duty-free capital of the world offers endless shopping and unique dining experiences on floating restaurants. On some itineraries, passengers can enjoy extra time in Hong Kong including an overnight stay with Princess’ signature Two-Day Experience.

Travelers who opt for a China cruisetour spend extra time in Beijing, where they can explore a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the massive Forbidden City where they can wander through its 250 acres of palaces, pavilions and courtyards. Once designed to keep invaders out, The Great Wall presents an unforgettable sight, stretching more than 4,000 miles. In Xian, travelers discover one of the 20th Century’s greatest archaeological finds – more than 8,000 Terra Cotta Warriors and horses. On the Yangtze River cruise, passengers sail through the region’s renowned gorges, and visit the Three Gorges Dam site.

The cities of Japan and South Korea offer another look at Asia, including the juxtaposition of war and peace in Nagasaki. Once a symbol of the horrors of war, this beautiful setting today draws visitors to its Peace Park and atomic bomb museum. Busan, South Korea’s second largest city, is the gateway to a fascinating land that is the second-oldest country in Asia.

Among the distinct countries of Southeast Asia, passengers can experience the rich culture of Thailand with a visit to Bangkok, home to gilded temples, monks in saffron-colored robes and a maze of canals. In Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon, bustles with activity and offers fascinating sites such as the National History Museum, the Mekong Delta and Cu Chi Tunnels. Singapore, the commercial center of Southeast Asia, is a gleaming mix of cultures and a shopper’s paradise. As a new itinerary feature this season, many Princess routes are now scheduled to sail in or out of Singapore, giving passengers an opportunity to spend additional time exploring this diverse cosmopolitan society.

Cruises Princess offers passengers a variety of Asia itineraries, to explore China, Southeast Asia, or even multi-continent voyages. Travelers can also choose “Aussie style” voyages sailing to Asia from the Australian ports of Sydney, Brisbane or Perth.

Southeast Asia & China Sailings – Passengers can enjoy the best of Asia as they travel between Beijing and Singapore. This 16-day voyage takes travelers to Busan, Nagasaki, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and Bangkok, with the option to add an overland excursion to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat. Sailings depart throughout the Fall 2011-Spring 2012 season aboard Diamond Princess from October 2011 until April 2012.

Australia & Asia sailings – Travelers can explore two continents aboard Diamond Princess with sailings between Sydney and Singapore or Beijing. The Australia & Asia itinerary takes passengers on a 19-day journey from Singapore to the Asian ports of Ko Samui, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Bali; plus Australian calls at Darwin, Port Douglas and Airlie Beach for the Great Barrier Reef. The 23-day Australia & China route also sails around northern Australia and adds ports such as Taipei, Nagasaki, Busan, Shanghai and Dalian. Sailings depart November 27, 2011 and February 4, 2012.

Australia & Asia Small Ship Experience – Ocean Princess offers journeys between Australia and the wonders of Asia, featuring the intimate, classic cruising atmosphere of a small ship. The 20-day Australia & Asia voyages sail to northern Australia, including the Whitsunday Islands, Great Barrier Reef and Darwin; plus call in Bali, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), and Bangkok and Ko Samui in Thailand. Ocean Princess sets sail on November 12, 2011 and March 17, 2012.

Alaska & Far East Sailings – Princess passengers can also explore the northern reaches of the Pacific with voyages between Alaska and the heart of Asia. Diamond Princess sails on 15- or 19-day itineraries between Beijing and either Anchorage or Vancouver. The ship takes passengers across the international dateline and calls at Sapporo (Muroran), Vladivostok, Busan, and Qingdao and Dailan in China. Sailings depart on September 24, 2011 and May 1, 2012.

Mediterranean, India & Asia – For a far-flung adventure, passengers can sail on a 28-day voyage from Rome to Singapore aboard Ocean Princess. The small ship will take cruisers to Sorrento, Athens, and Kusadasi before transiting the Suez Canal and continuing on to Sharm El Sheik, Aqaba, Safaga, Dubai, Muscat, Mumbai, Cochin, and Kuala Lumpur. Ocean Princess departs on October 15, 2011.

Africa, India & Southeast Asia – The intimate Ocean Princess also offers a 30-day journey from Singapore to Cape Town. Passengers can enjoy the small ship experience on an itinerary to Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Maldives, Mumbai, Muscat, Dubai, Mauritius, Reunion, Durban, and East London, plus an overnight call in Cape Town. Travelers have the option to visit the Taj Mahal in India or take a safari to Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa. The sailing departs on April 6, 2012.

Roundtrip Asia Sailings from Australia – Australia-based Sea Princess and Sun Princess offer a variety of sailings to Asia roundtrip from Australia. These “Aussie Experience” cruises offer activities and cuisine that reflect local tastes and use Australian dollars as the onboard currency.

  •     Sun Princess sets off from Perth on a roundtrip Southeast Asia Explorer itinerary that ventures to a variety of ports in a 21-day adventure. With calls at Bali, Ho Chi Minh City, Sihanoukville (Cambodia), Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, travelers will experience the rich diversity of Southeast Asia. The ship departs on August 11, 2011.

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  •     The Treasures of Asia Grand Adventure encompasses voyages to and from Singapore from Perth, combined into an unforgettable 25-day roundtrip grand voyage. Sun Princess will call at Phuket, Langkawi, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Sihanoukville, Bangkok, Ko Samui and Bali. The adventure begins on June 18, 2011.

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  •     The 42-day China & Japan journey sails roundtrip from either Sydney or Brisbane. Passengers on these voyages will calls at ports such as Airlie Beach, Darwin, Kota Kinabalu, before spending two days in Hong Kong on Princess’ signature Two-day Experience. Other stops include Shanghai, Busan, Nagasaki, Osaka, Tokyo, Iwo Jima scenic cruising, Guam and Rabaul (Papua New Guinea). Sailings on Sea Princess and Sun Princess depart on September 21, 2011 and Mar 4, 2012 respectively.

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  •     Covering several continents, the South Africa & Indian Ocean Odyssey, sails roundtrip from Perth, on a 46-day adventure. Sun Princess will call at Asian ports such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Phuket, then move on to India with visits to Mumbai, Goa, and the Maldives. After crossing the Equator, the ship visits the Seychelles, and the South African ports of Richard’s Bay, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, and Durban. The ship calls at Reunion Island and Mauritius before returning to Perth. Sun Princess departs on May 3, 2011.

 

Cruisetours
Princess creates a full land and sea vacation for travelers to see more of the treasures of China. Passengers can choose from two land packages to that combine seamlessly with Diamond Princess Asia sailings. These five- or eight-day tours both highlight China’s most dramatic attractions, including many UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The five-night Best of China cruisetour starts in the bustling city of Beijing, and offers three nights in the Chinese capital and two nights in Xian. In Beijing, passengers will experience the ancient wonder of the Great Wall plus the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven (all UNESCO World Heritage Sites), the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. The mysterious Terra Cotta Warriors (also a UNESCO World Heritage Site) highlight the Xian portion of the tour, along with the Wild Goose Pagoda and a dinner show at the Tang Palace Theatre.

The eight-night Yangtze Experience also incorporates the highlights of Beijing (three nights) and Xian (one night), plus includes a three-night cruise of the Yangtze River and a night in Wuhan. Passengers will also visit a zoo in Chongqing to view pandas before embarking on their Yangtze River cruise vessel. Along the river they will enjoy several excursions and cruise the Three Gorges Dam locks.

via Princess Cruises Announces Details of 2011-2012 Asia Cruise and Cruisetour Season.