Showing posts with label cruises. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cruises. Show all posts
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
RCI Adds Dance Program to Fleet
Royal Caribbean International (RCI) has added a new hip hop dance program to its ships. Gotta Dance offers guests the opportunity to "wow" their cruisemates with cool new dance moves. The guest-participatory experience is being offered exclusively by RCI and will be offered fleetwide in summer 2009.
"Gotta Dance is the newest Royal Caribbean International program that offers guests an opportunity to try something different on their vacation regardless of age and experience," said Peter Compton, vice president, entertainment for RCI. "Every age is welcome and no experience is necessary. As with many of our onboard programs, Gotta Dance helps bring families closer together and build lasting relationships among guests for an unforgettable cruise vacation."
Gotta Dance is based on the documentary film by Dori Berinstein that chronicles the first-ever senior-citizen, hip hop dance troupe for the New Jersey Nets basketball team. The film opens in July 2009.
Kicking off each cruise will be a special screening of the film. Participants will then be divided into teams and, over the course of their vacation, will learn choreographed routines with a member of the Royal Caribbean dance team in rehearsals during sea days. The program culminates with a farewell show on the last evening of the cruise, whereby each of the teams performs their routine in the ship's main theater.
"Gotta Dance is the newest Royal Caribbean International program that offers guests an opportunity to try something different on their vacation regardless of age and experience," said Peter Compton, vice president, entertainment for RCI. "Every age is welcome and no experience is necessary. As with many of our onboard programs, Gotta Dance helps bring families closer together and build lasting relationships among guests for an unforgettable cruise vacation."
Gotta Dance is based on the documentary film by Dori Berinstein that chronicles the first-ever senior-citizen, hip hop dance troupe for the New Jersey Nets basketball team. The film opens in July 2009.
Kicking off each cruise will be a special screening of the film. Participants will then be divided into teams and, over the course of their vacation, will learn choreographed routines with a member of the Royal Caribbean dance team in rehearsals during sea days. The program culminates with a farewell show on the last evening of the cruise, whereby each of the teams performs their routine in the ship's main theater.
Norwegian Epic Reveals: Blue Man Group, Epic Casino and a Big Top at Sea
Norwegian Cruise Line continues to "break the mold" of the onboard cruise experience.
At its latest, and final, announcement here regarding its upcoming Norwegian Epic cruise ship, the cruise line announced the line-up of onboard entertainment options, which will include a full-length Blue Man Group show, an interactive Cirque Dreams and Dinner show, and more.
"The face of Norwegian entertainment is obviously blue," said Andy Stuart, executive vice president of global sales and passenger services for Norwegian, explaining the process the line took when looking for the right partner to represent the face of Norwegian Cruise Line's entertainment.
According to Stuart, Norwegian Cruise Line's executives looked at entertainment offerings in New York City's Broadway, the Las Vegas Strip and London's West End, all revealed one thing -- Blue Man Group, no matter where its staged, is one of the most popular show productions out there. Furthermore, Stuart said, the Blue Man theater company and Norwegian are aligned in "our idea of breaking the mold" of traditional cruise ship entertainment.
"They're all about innovation and we're all about innovation... it was a meeting of the minds," he said.
Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's CEO, added: "Having a world class creative organization like Blue Man Group headline the entertainment on Norwegian Epic will provide our guests with a sensory experience unlike any other at sea."
The Blue Man Group, which incorporates music, comedy and multimedia theatrics, will perform eight full-scale productions a week in the ship's 685-seat Epic Theater. According to Phil Stanton, one of the three founding members of Blue Man Group, each Blue Man production is site specific, so parts of the Norwegian Epic's show will involve being on a ship.
'Big Top' at Sea
In yet another first for the cruise line, Norwegian Epic will be the first ship to feature a Spiegel Tent, or "big top" at sea. Housing a 265-seat theater-in-the-round, the big top will feature Cirque Dreams and Dinner.
The two-hour, one-of-a-kind interactive, theatrical, dining experience will offer aerialists, acrobats and contortionists performing in mid-air and juggling of dinner courses, among other feats.
According to Neil Goldberg, producer/director of Cirque Dreams, contortionists will be cocktail waitresses bending over backwards to pick up a guest's napkins and aerialists will drop from the sky to fill their water glasses.
The Second City, Norwegian's popular comedy act that currently plays limited shows on every sailing, will be given a dedicated home onboard the Epic -- the Headliners Comedy Club. The 280-seat comedy club will enable The Second City to perform their improvisational comedy act every night.
Fat Cats, a 200-seat jazz club, will feature nightly live blues and jazz performances. The venue is designed to be as laid back as jazz, with a hint of Memphis in its décor.
Not quite as laid back will be the Epic Casino, Norwegian Cruise Line's largest casino.
The Epic Casino will span more than 13,000-square feet, feature a Monte Carlo-inspired theme and offer 340 slot machines, as well as numerous table games. The Casino will be open to Taste, the Atrium restaurant below it, and open to Bar Central above it.
Open for Bookings
Norwegian Epic's 2010 inaugural sailings are now open for individual bookings, with cruise fares starting at $699 per person. The first Eastern Caribbean sailing from Miami (its year-round homeport) is scheduled for July 17, 2010, and the ship's alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries are available through April 2011.
At its latest, and final, announcement here regarding its upcoming Norwegian Epic cruise ship, the cruise line announced the line-up of onboard entertainment options, which will include a full-length Blue Man Group show, an interactive Cirque Dreams and Dinner show, and more.
"The face of Norwegian entertainment is obviously blue," said Andy Stuart, executive vice president of global sales and passenger services for Norwegian, explaining the process the line took when looking for the right partner to represent the face of Norwegian Cruise Line's entertainment.
According to Stuart, Norwegian Cruise Line's executives looked at entertainment offerings in New York City's Broadway, the Las Vegas Strip and London's West End, all revealed one thing -- Blue Man Group, no matter where its staged, is one of the most popular show productions out there. Furthermore, Stuart said, the Blue Man theater company and Norwegian are aligned in "our idea of breaking the mold" of traditional cruise ship entertainment.
"They're all about innovation and we're all about innovation... it was a meeting of the minds," he said.
Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's CEO, added: "Having a world class creative organization like Blue Man Group headline the entertainment on Norwegian Epic will provide our guests with a sensory experience unlike any other at sea."
The Blue Man Group, which incorporates music, comedy and multimedia theatrics, will perform eight full-scale productions a week in the ship's 685-seat Epic Theater. According to Phil Stanton, one of the three founding members of Blue Man Group, each Blue Man production is site specific, so parts of the Norwegian Epic's show will involve being on a ship.
'Big Top' at Sea
In yet another first for the cruise line, Norwegian Epic will be the first ship to feature a Spiegel Tent, or "big top" at sea. Housing a 265-seat theater-in-the-round, the big top will feature Cirque Dreams and Dinner.
The two-hour, one-of-a-kind interactive, theatrical, dining experience will offer aerialists, acrobats and contortionists performing in mid-air and juggling of dinner courses, among other feats.
According to Neil Goldberg, producer/director of Cirque Dreams, contortionists will be cocktail waitresses bending over backwards to pick up a guest's napkins and aerialists will drop from the sky to fill their water glasses.
The Second City, Norwegian's popular comedy act that currently plays limited shows on every sailing, will be given a dedicated home onboard the Epic -- the Headliners Comedy Club. The 280-seat comedy club will enable The Second City to perform their improvisational comedy act every night.
Fat Cats, a 200-seat jazz club, will feature nightly live blues and jazz performances. The venue is designed to be as laid back as jazz, with a hint of Memphis in its décor.
Not quite as laid back will be the Epic Casino, Norwegian Cruise Line's largest casino.
The Epic Casino will span more than 13,000-square feet, feature a Monte Carlo-inspired theme and offer 340 slot machines, as well as numerous table games. The Casino will be open to Taste, the Atrium restaurant below it, and open to Bar Central above it.
Open for Bookings
Norwegian Epic's 2010 inaugural sailings are now open for individual bookings, with cruise fares starting at $699 per person. The first Eastern Caribbean sailing from Miami (its year-round homeport) is scheduled for July 17, 2010, and the ship's alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries are available through April 2011.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Carnival, Royal Caribbean Plan Return to Mexico
Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International will resume visits to Mexican ports of call since the Centers for Disease Control is no longer recommending against non-essential travel to the country. Voyages with previously modified itineraries will continue and revert to their original routes in Mexico; most itineraries were modified through mid-June with the exception of the Holiday which was modified through late May. A ship-by-ship listing, including dates for when each vessel will resume its original itinerary, is available at www.carnival.com/cms/fun/cruise_control/itinerary_updates.aspx.
Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean will resume its port calls in Cozumel beginning with sailings that depart on or after May 24. Ships with Cozumel port calls include Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Enchantment of the Seas. Mariner of the Seas will continue its modified Pacific Northwest itinerary, up to and including, its June 14 sailing. Several other lines that operated Mexico itineraries this past winter have since repositioned ships to Alaska for the summer.
?We are very pleased to resume our previous itineraries to Mexico, one of the cruise industry?s most popular destinations, and we thank those guests who were impacted by the modified schedules in recent weeks for their understanding and patience,? said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO. ?The health and well-being of our guests and crew is our highest priority and we are returning to Mexico after careful evaluation and consultation with the CDC. It is important to note that the concentration of H1N1 flu cases in Mexico has been inland rather than in the coastal resort areas where our ships visit.
As the cruise lines announced their return to Mexico, Puerto Costa Maya President Teofilo Hamui noted that ?neither Costa Maya nor Mahahual, its neighboring fishing village, have had any reported cases of the H1N1 virus, which further solidifies this region as a safe place for travelers. With Costa Maya located in a remote and pristine area on the Yucatan Peninsula, we have remained unaffected by the virus that had hit other parts of our country and the world. We hope cruise ships and passengers returning to our shores will feel secure knowing that they can enjoy our destination once again without concern for their health and well-being.
Carnival and Royal Caribbean both said they will continue to follow CDC guidelines, which include pre-boarding health questionnaires, sanitizing, and stocking of influenza test kits and anti-viral medications. ?Mexico has so many wonderful sites and attractions and feedback from our customers suggests that the majority support a resumption of port calls in Mexico, Cahill said. ?We know that they and our port destination partners are very much looking forward to our return.
Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean will resume its port calls in Cozumel beginning with sailings that depart on or after May 24. Ships with Cozumel port calls include Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Enchantment of the Seas. Mariner of the Seas will continue its modified Pacific Northwest itinerary, up to and including, its June 14 sailing. Several other lines that operated Mexico itineraries this past winter have since repositioned ships to Alaska for the summer.
?We are very pleased to resume our previous itineraries to Mexico, one of the cruise industry?s most popular destinations, and we thank those guests who were impacted by the modified schedules in recent weeks for their understanding and patience,? said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO. ?The health and well-being of our guests and crew is our highest priority and we are returning to Mexico after careful evaluation and consultation with the CDC. It is important to note that the concentration of H1N1 flu cases in Mexico has been inland rather than in the coastal resort areas where our ships visit.
As the cruise lines announced their return to Mexico, Puerto Costa Maya President Teofilo Hamui noted that ?neither Costa Maya nor Mahahual, its neighboring fishing village, have had any reported cases of the H1N1 virus, which further solidifies this region as a safe place for travelers. With Costa Maya located in a remote and pristine area on the Yucatan Peninsula, we have remained unaffected by the virus that had hit other parts of our country and the world. We hope cruise ships and passengers returning to our shores will feel secure knowing that they can enjoy our destination once again without concern for their health and well-being.
Carnival and Royal Caribbean both said they will continue to follow CDC guidelines, which include pre-boarding health questionnaires, sanitizing, and stocking of influenza test kits and anti-viral medications. ?Mexico has so many wonderful sites and attractions and feedback from our customers suggests that the majority support a resumption of port calls in Mexico, Cahill said. ?We know that they and our port destination partners are very much looking forward to our return.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Next Norwegian Cruise Line ship will have massive water park, rappelling wall
They're calling it epic, and now we know why.
Norwegian Cruise Line is taking a page from the Royal Caribbean playbook with its next cruise ship, the Norwegian Epic, by loading it with unusual and at times groundbreaking decktop amusements such as a massive water park, a rappelling wall and a 33-foot-high 'extreme' rock climbing wall.
The industry's perennial underdog, which is announcing the decktop areas today in an online news conference, long has promised the massive vessel would break new ground for the line in both size and features. The line already has announced the 4,200-passenger ship, scheduled to debut in May 2010, will boast such innovations as curve-walled cabins and an ice bar.
At 150,000 tons, the Epic will be 60% larger than the largest NCL ship now at sea, and the Aqua Park the line is announcing is a sprawling affair with three major water slides among other features.
In an unusual twist, one of the Aqua Park's water slides, designed specifically for children, will zip straight through the ship's rock climbing wall. A more adventurous slide will twist and turn down three stories, and the biggest slide, dubbed the Epic Plunge, is billed as the only tube slide at sea of its kind. Passengers on the Epic Plunge will ride inner tubes down a 200-foot long tube into a bowl where centrifugal forces will spin them high on the wall for several turns before they splash down.
The Aqua Park also will include two main pools with arching water effects that illuminate at night; five whirlpools; a wading pool and a children’s Splash and Play Zone that features a kid's pool, whimsical sculptures, water sprays and effects, along with a kiddie slide.
The repelling wall NCL plans for the ship is an industry first, and the rock climbing wall -- a concept pioneered by Royal Caribbean -- will be one of the biggest at sea and accessible from two levels.
NCL also is announcing the Epic will have bowling alleys -- something the line pioneered in the industry several years ago and now offers on two ships. The line is expanding on the idea, offering bowling in two lounge venues on the Epic.
The line also is announcing the Epic will have 14 eateries -- the most of any ship at sea.
Currently under construction in Europe (click HERE for exclusive construction photos), the Epic is scheduled to sail in the Caribbean year-round after it debuts in the summer of 2010.
NCL originally ordered two Epic-sized ships for delivery in 2010, but earlier this year the line announced it had canceled one of the two orders with the shipyard, STX Europe. Epic now is the only NCL ship on order.
NCL says the ship will open for sale to the general public on May 20, when further details about its entertainment areas will be revealed.
For more information and brochures call 866-782-9838
Also check out www.supremeclientele.net
Norwegian Cruise Line is taking a page from the Royal Caribbean playbook with its next cruise ship, the Norwegian Epic, by loading it with unusual and at times groundbreaking decktop amusements such as a massive water park, a rappelling wall and a 33-foot-high 'extreme' rock climbing wall.
The industry's perennial underdog, which is announcing the decktop areas today in an online news conference, long has promised the massive vessel would break new ground for the line in both size and features. The line already has announced the 4,200-passenger ship, scheduled to debut in May 2010, will boast such innovations as curve-walled cabins and an ice bar.
At 150,000 tons, the Epic will be 60% larger than the largest NCL ship now at sea, and the Aqua Park the line is announcing is a sprawling affair with three major water slides among other features.
In an unusual twist, one of the Aqua Park's water slides, designed specifically for children, will zip straight through the ship's rock climbing wall. A more adventurous slide will twist and turn down three stories, and the biggest slide, dubbed the Epic Plunge, is billed as the only tube slide at sea of its kind. Passengers on the Epic Plunge will ride inner tubes down a 200-foot long tube into a bowl where centrifugal forces will spin them high on the wall for several turns before they splash down.
The Aqua Park also will include two main pools with arching water effects that illuminate at night; five whirlpools; a wading pool and a children’s Splash and Play Zone that features a kid's pool, whimsical sculptures, water sprays and effects, along with a kiddie slide.
The repelling wall NCL plans for the ship is an industry first, and the rock climbing wall -- a concept pioneered by Royal Caribbean -- will be one of the biggest at sea and accessible from two levels.
NCL also is announcing the Epic will have bowling alleys -- something the line pioneered in the industry several years ago and now offers on two ships. The line is expanding on the idea, offering bowling in two lounge venues on the Epic.
The line also is announcing the Epic will have 14 eateries -- the most of any ship at sea.
Currently under construction in Europe (click HERE for exclusive construction photos), the Epic is scheduled to sail in the Caribbean year-round after it debuts in the summer of 2010.
NCL originally ordered two Epic-sized ships for delivery in 2010, but earlier this year the line announced it had canceled one of the two orders with the shipyard, STX Europe. Epic now is the only NCL ship on order.
NCL says the ship will open for sale to the general public on May 20, when further details about its entertainment areas will be revealed.
For more information and brochures call 866-782-9838
Also check out www.supremeclientele.net
Sunday, February 15, 2009
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