MSC Cruises Unveils Design for Megaship Musica
Continuing its intended move into the big time, MSC Cruises (tel. 800/666-9333; www.msccruises.com) last week unveiled details of its first megaship, the 2,550-passenger MSC Musica. Currently under construction at France's Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard and slated to debut in spring 2006, Musica will serve as the line's new flagship, with nearly 1,300 passenger cabins (85% of them outsides) and more than 242,000 square feet of public space. Sixty-five percent of all staterooms will have balconies.
Among the highlights of the new vessel will be a three-deck waterfall in the central foyer; a three-deck main theater; a variety of restaurants, including a sushi bar and a panoramic "garden" restaurant with columns and frescoed ceilings; a 13,000-square-foot spa; an 8,000-square-foot casino; and a number of themed bars, including a wine-tasting bar, piano bar, a "well-being" bar in the spa, and so-called "Cozy Bar" (for a cappuccino or after-dinner aperitif).
Musica's as-yet-unnamed sister ship is scheduled to be delivered in 2007, bringing the total number of ships in MSC's fleet to nine.
Royal Caribbean Opens New Haitian Water Park, Plans Third Giganto-Ship
Labadee, Royal Caribbean's 270-acre private beach paradise along Haiti's north coast, has been among our favorite cruise-line islands for years, blessed with a lovely setting and (despite its complete isolation from the rest of poverty-stricken Haiti) a healthy dash of the nation's rich culture. This month Royal Caribbean ratcheted up the peninsula's family-fun factor, introducing a new pirate-themed water playground called Labadee Luc's Splash Bash, featuring a beached pirate ship with four water cannons and a "treasure map trail" featuring ground geysers, toppling water buckets, and water archways. A special play area for kids ages 3 to 5 has three separate play areas with dams and water wheels. Admission to the playground is $5 per guest for two hours.
The new Splash Bash is the latest additions to Labadee's activities. At the straightforwardly named "Folkloric Show," a large, colorfully costumed troupe performs Haiti's distinctly African brand of dancing, drumming, and song, while bands comprised of acoustic guitar, banjo, and percussion are scattered all around the island, performing a Haitian version of mento music, a precursor to reggae and other Caribbean styles. It's happy stuff. Five beaches are spread around the peninsula, and are progressively less crowded the farther you walk from the dock, where enormous tenders make the short ride to and from the ship. In the Columbus Cove area, a children's aqua-park called Arawak Cay is full of floating trampolines, inflatable iceberg-shaped slides, and water seesaws. Kayaking and parasailing are offered from a dock nearby, with snorkeling and volleyball available elsewhere.
In other news, Royal Caribbean has also signed a letter of intent to build a third 158,000-ton, 3,600-passenger Freedom-class vessel at Finland's Aker Finnyards. The first of the series, Freedom of the Seas, is currently under construction at the Kvaerner Masa-Yards, with an expected delivery date of April 2006. She'll debut as the largest passenger ship in the world, taking the title back from Cunard's Queen Mary 2.
Holland America Debuts Upgraded Zaandam and Prinsendam
Continuing the rollout of its "Signature of Excellence" enhancements initiative, Holland America Line (tel. 877/724-5425; www.hollandamerica.com) recently reintroduced its 1,440-passenger, 63,000-ton Zaandam and 784-passenger, 38,000-ton Prinsendam.
Zaandam, one of our favorite Holland America ships, has been fitted with the total range of Signature features, including a vastly improved children's center; two new teen-only spaces, one indoor, one out; a new TV-style show Culinary Arts Center for cooking demonstrations, classes, and tasting events; and a sort of "Internet café plus" created in conjunction with the New York Times, where guests can surf the net, browse an extensive traditional library, listen to music at nine listening stations, grab a cup o' joe, and scan the online version of the day's Times will be available free of charge. In cabins, new amenities include premium Euro-Top mattresses, deluxe waffle and terry cloth bathrobes, flat-panel televisions, DVD players, and complimentary fresh fruit bowls.
Prinsendam, which once sailed as the Royal Viking Sun for Royal Viking Line and Cunard, received only the Culinary Arts Center and flat-panel stateroom TVs. Expanded children's facilities were deemed unnecessary due to the vessel's traditionally older demographic and longer globe-trotting voyages, and space constraints made the addition of the New York Times cafe impractical.
Cunard Announces Transatlantic Chefs & Speakers for'05
Fine food and stimulating lectures have always been mainstays of transatlantic sailings, so as Queen Mary 2 gears up to resume the route in April, Cunard (tel. 800/728-6273; www.cunard.com) has retained the services of noted chefs and speakers representing publications such as Gourmet, Architectural Digest, and House & Garden.
- April 16 (westbound): Chef Ed Brown of Manhattan's Sea Grill.
- April 22 (eastbound): Los Angeles Chef Govind Armstrong of Table 8.
- April 28 (westbound): South Florida sensation Carey Savona, executive chef of Lucca at the Boca Raton Resort & Spa.
- May 4 (eastbound): House & Garden magazine gardens editor Stephen Orr.
- May 22 (westbound): New Yorker author Jonathan Lowy.
- May 28 (eastbound): Designer William Stubbs, hailed by Architectural Digest as one of today's top 100 designers.
- September 2 (eastbound): House & Garden gardens editor Charlotte Frieze.
- September 8 (westbound): Novelist, playwright, and essayist Joshilyn Jackson.
- September 20 (westbound): Celebrity designer Roderick Shade.
- Oct 8 (eastbound): Executive chef Jim Botsacos of the New York Greek restaurant Molyvos.
- October 14 (westbound): Best-selling author Carol Higgins Clark.
- October 20 (eastbound): Los Angeles chef Suzanne Goin of A.O.C. and Lucques.
- October 26 (westbound): Chef Geoffrey Zakarian of New York's Town Restaurant.
- November 1 (eastbound): Architectural Digest top-100 designer Anthony P. Brown
Prices for transatlantic voyages on May 4, September 8 and 20, and October 14 start from $1,649 for a standard inside cabin. Staterooms on the May 22 and 28 sailings start from $1,749. July 17 and September 2, from $1,899. November 1 from $1,599.
Sail Carnival, Study Carnival, BE Carnival
Like they say, you can't argue with success, and now Carnival Cruise Lines (tel. 800/CARNIVAL; www.carnival.com), which has had more than its share over the past thirty years, has created a new "Corporate University" program to teach others how it's done.
Offered as an onboard program for business groups, the school offers a full schedule of management training sessions that can be custom-tailored to meet individual goals or objectives. Sample programming includes "Cruising to Communication," focusing on effective verbal and non-verbal communication techniques; "Win Win," an interactive exercise on building and maintaining trust; "Charting the Course," emphasizing strategies of effective leaders; "Creativity by Design," which helps participants harness their own creativity; and "Passport to Diversity," dealing with today's culturally diverse work environment.
Classes are offered aboard regular cruises, either in the ship's conference facility or in reserved public room. Prices vary according to the size of the group and the number of sessions purchased. Information is available from Carnival's incentive sales department (tel. 800/438-6744, ext. 70007).
Oceania Announces Inaugural Asia Sailings & Jacques Pepin Culinary Cruise
Oceania Cruises (tel. 800/531-5658; www.oceaniacruises.com), the line that blends low prices, midsize ships, and a quiet, upscale sensibility, has just announced its calendar for winter 2005-2006, which includes details on its first Asia itineraries, sailed aboard the 684-passenger Nautica. Sister-ship to the line's identical Regatta and Insignia (the former R1 and R2 of Renaissance Cruises), Nautica -- the former R5 -- joins the Oceania fleet in November.
Nautica begins her Asia season with a 24-day Athens-to-Singapore odyssey, departing November 28. A series of 15-day cruises follows, sailing between Singapore and Hong Kong, Hong Kong and Bangkok, Bangkok and Beijing, and Beijing and Hong Kong. Prices start from $3,299 per person, and include free airfare on bookings made through March 31.
For the winter season Insignia returns to South America. sailing eight voyages that range from 10 to 14 days. Regatta returns to the Caribbean for 10- to 16-day voyages.
Earlier in the year, Insignia will be the venue for a 14-night culinary cruise, sailing from Lisbon to Venice on August 25 and featuring Oceania's executive culinary director, renowned chef and cookbook author Jacques Pepin. In the evenings, Pépin will treat guests to specially designed signature menus in the ship's four gourmet dining rooms. By day, guests may participate in culinary demonstrations, Q&A sessions, and special culinary shore excursions. Prices currently start at $3,499, including free airfare.
Crystal Digs Dorsey, Plans Centennial Cruise for Bandleader's Birthday
Legendary trombonist and bandleader Tommy Dorsey would have been 100 this November if he hadn't died 49 years ago. No matter, because his orchestra lives on under the baton of Buddy Morrow, who first joined the Dorsey trombone section in 1938. On November 16, Crystal Cruises (tel. 866-446-6625; www.crystalcruises.com) will hold a special 10-night birthday cruise in Dorsey's honor aboard the 1,080-passenger Crystal Serenity, sailing transatlantic from Lisbon to Ft. Lauderdale and featuring performances by the band. Prices start at $2,795 per person.
Closer in, the Dorsey band will also perform aboard Crystal Symphony's April 25 transatlantic, sailing eastbound Ft. Lauderdale to Lisbon. Also featured will be jazz scholar and lecturer Dan Morgenstern, author of the book Living with Jazz and director of the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University. Prices start at $1,795 per person.
Antarctica Is Hot . . .
. . . At least for Norwegian Coastal Voyage (tel. 800/323-7436; www.norwegiancoastalvoyage.us), which began sailing the region in 2002. For 2005-2006, the line has just announced that it will be doubling its deployment, offering sixteen air-inclusive 19-day voyages to Antarctica and the Chilean fjords for the 2005-06 season aboard two ships, the Nordkapp (built in 1996) and Nordnorge (1997), both rated Ice Class C and limited to 350 passengers apiece.
NCV's Antarctica voyages combine stays in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Santiago, Chile, with a 15-day soft-adventure cruise that sail between Ushuaia, Argentina (the world's southernmost city), and Puerto Montt, Chile, sailing across the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula, past desolate Cape Horn, through narrow Lemaire and Neumayer Channels, and along the Strait of Magellan and the rugged Chilean coast. Along the way, passengers will see Antactica's glaciers and icebergs, penguins, whales, seals, and terns, with landings made at Yankee Harbor (Greenwich Island), Half Moon Island, Whalers Bay (Deception Island), Almirante Brown (Paradise Harbor), Cuverville Island, Port Lockroy, and Cape Horn, whether permitting.
The vessels will depart Buenos Aires and Santiago on alternating Wednesdays, from November 2, 2005, to February 15, 2006, with per-person prices ranging from $4,980 to $8,290. Prices include round-trip Lan flights from New York, intra-regional flights, five-star hotels, and breakfast in Buenos Aires and Santiago, plus some shore excursions, port charges, air taxes, and transfers. Add-on airfares from other gateways, optional excursions, and extra hotel nights are available. AARP members receive a discount of $150 per cabin.
The Grand European Tour, Silversea Style . . .
Some folks do Europe, other folks really do Europe. Put Silversea Cruises (tel. 877/215-9986; www.silversea.com) in the second column. Last week, the ultra-luxe line announced a nine-country, 37-city, 49-day grand tour sailing entirely in the Mediterranean. Can you say comprehensive?
The Grand Mediterranean Cruise departs June 19 from Venice aboard the 296-passenger Silver Wind and visits ports in Italy, Croatia, Greece, Malta, Tunisia, France, Spain, Monaco, and Turkey before finishing up a next month and a half later in Istanbul.
Prospective passengers can book the entire 49-day cruise (for a mere $25,044 starting price) or book any of five distinct segments. Guests on the full voyage receive several savings incentives, plus a $1,000 per-suite onboard credit. Complimentary business class air upgrades are also available with the purchase of Silversea's optional air and hotel program.Along the way, guests will be treated to several complimentary shoreside events, including a classical concert at the ancient site of Ephesus, Turkey, and enjoy onboard enrichment lectures from chef Rick Tramonto of Chicago's Tru Restaurant, who will host cooking demonstrations and a gala gourmet dinner, and Philip Di Belardino of Castello Banfi Vineyard & Winery, who will guide guests through wine tastings and share insights into the art of fine winemaking.
. . . And the Grand Tour, P&O Style
Want the whole world, rather than just Europe? Last week P&O Cruises (tel. 800/340-POSH; www.pocruises.com), parent company of Princess, announced a pair of British-style world cruises, a 100-day "Grand Voyage" aboard Oriana and an "Around the World in 80 Days" option on Aurora. Both vessels sail round-trip from Southampton, England, visiting ports in Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and North America.
Aurora's "Around the World in 80 Days" adventure, which spans 25 ports of call in 21 different countries, departs January 7, 2006, and returns March 29. Less committed passengers can book shorter segments ranging from 13 to 61 days. Oriana's Grand Voyage sets sail on January 8, 2006, and returns April 18, covering a total of 41 ports in 19 countries. Segments of 15 to 51 days are also available. Early booking fares for Aurora's world cruise start at $14,550 per person. Fares for Oriana's voyage start at $17,160.
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