July 6, 2004 -- In the latest cruise news, Frommer's lets you in on the newest entertainment, line changes, and the best ships with Internet connectivity.
Celebrity Pairs with Cirque du Soleil for Specialty Entertainment
Never having been a fan of the flashy song-and-dance revues that pass for entertainment on a lot of ships, I'm happy every time something different comes along in the cruise industry, whether it's the Bollywood-themed shows on NCL, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts performances on QM2, or Disney's high-quality family shows.
Celebrity Cruises (tel. 800/437-3111, www.celebrity.com) may have just taken a step toward entering that company, pairing with fantasy circus troupe Cirque du Soleil (www.cirquedusoleil.com) to create unique onboard entertainment.
The first step involves transforming the large observation lounges on Constellation and Summit into "The Bar at the Edge of the Earth," which Celebrity and Cirque describe as "a place that invites guests, for two hours every evening, to cross the mirror to another universe." Think surreal characters emerging for two hours each evening to interact with guests, rather than simply performing from a stage.
"Celebrity truly understands how to work with Cirque du Soleil," said Cirque President and COO Daniel Lamarre, "allowing us complete freedom to develop a creative concept that is truly unique in their industry."
In addition to nightly activities, a Cirque du Soleil Masquerade Ball and performance will be presented once on every cruise. Other Cirque projects for Celebrity are being explored.
Constellation will be the first ship to feature the Cirque-created experience on its seven-night Southern Caribbean cruises departing round-trip from San Juan beginning December 4, 2004. Summit will follow in early 2005. No word on a further expansion to the rest of the fleet.
SeaDream Yacht Heads Down Mexico Way
Still the new kid on the ultra-luxe block, SeaDream Yacht Club (tel. 800/707-4911, www.seadreamyachtclub.com) has until now sailed primarily in Europe and the Caribbean, but the line announced last week that it would be changing SeaDream II's late-2004/early-2005 schedule, offering sailings around Belize and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.
Beginning in December and running through April 2005, when both yachts return to the Mediterranean, SeaDream II will sail three distinctive itineraries round-trip from Puerto Morelos, a small town located between Cancun and Playa del Carmen.
- The Yachtsman's Mayan Riviera visits Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Laguna Campechen (on the border of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve), Puerto Aventuras, and Punta Venado, offering lots of beachgoing and opportunities to explore Yucatan's Mayan ruins.
- The Yucatan Explorer visits classic Spanish colonial cities and haciendas, rich natural history, and secluded private beaches. Ports are San Felipe, Progresso, Celestun, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras, and Punta Venado.
- The Mexico-Belize Eco-Adventure cruises focus on eco-tourism in the biosphere and water sports on isolated private beaches, visiting Puerto Aventuras, Punta Herradura, Belize City, Ambergris Cay (Belize's largest island), and Punta Venado. This itinerary includes an optional visit to Guatemala's principal Mayan ruins, at Tikal.
SeaDream I will continue to operate advertised Caribbean itineraries, sailing round-trip from St. Thomas, USVI, Nov 2004-April 2005.
Commenting on the new Yucatan routes, SeaDream president and CEO Larry Pimentel said, "I knew the Yucatan area only a big ship destination and we are not a big ship operator. So, the problem was how to develop itineraries in the region that provided a true SeaDream experience: small and intimate yachting ports, away from the crowds and large cruise ships, and in a private and sheltered environment. We found what we were looking for in these three new itineraries. Recently Mexican officials presented us with approval to operate in the area. We jumped at the chance."
Introductory fares start at $1,999 per person, double occupancy. Air travel, ground transfers, and port fees/taxes are not included, but (as with all SeaDream sailings), unlimited wines and spirits are, as well as tips.
Seabourn Goes Wi-Fi
Beginning this summer, the ultra-luxe, 208-passenger Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Spirit, and Seabourn Legend of Seabourn Cruise Line (tel. 800/929-9391, www.seabourn.com) will be upgraded to allow wireless internet connectivity everywhere onboard.
Wi-fi is shorthand for wireless fidelity, a system that utilizes radio signals from a transmitter/receiver located in a laptop computer or PDA to connect to networks and the internet. Most ships (including some or all in the fleets of Carnival, Holland America, NCL, and Princess) have specific "hot zones" where laptops or PDA with wi-fi cards can get a signal, but due to the small size of the Seabourn vessels, there will be few dead zones aboard. Additionally, a new satellite service provider means reduced prices for connectivity, with bulk packages lowering the per-minute cost to as little as 25 cents.
Crystal Announces 17 Theme Cruises for '05
At one time, you couldn't swing a cat without hitting a theme cruise, but in general the cruise industry today isn't in love with them the way it used to be. One major exception? High-toned theme cruises on the luxury lines. Last week, Crystal Cruises (tel. 866/446-6625, www.crystalcruises.com) announced its own series for 2005, highlighting fashion, photography, fitness, and culinary cruises.
Themes were chosen to complement each cruise's destination or its additional days at sea. Think Garden Design sailings through the British Isles, Fashion & Style in Italy, a Nature & Wildlife program along the coast of Baja California, a Trans-Atlantic Big Band party, and Photography cruises that offer Alaskan glaciers or Roman ruins as subjects.
In all, Crystal's three-ship fleet -- Crystal Harmony, Crystal Symphony, and Crystal Serenity -- will offer 64 theme cruises representing 17 different topics, sailing all over the world. New programs (such as Art & Architecture cruises with overnight stays in cities like London, St. Petersburg, Venice, Istanbul, and Athens) join proven favorites including Crystal's Health & Fitness series, cruises hosted by The Smithsonian Associates and Sotheby's Institute, and the popular Crystal Wine & Food Festival, which will celebrate its ninth year in 2005.
NCL to Put Second Year-Round Ship in New York for 2006
The same week Norwegian Cruise Line (tel. 800/327-7030, www.ncl.com) launched its ambitious Hawaii program with year-round 7-night sailings from Honolulu (see feature story), it also announced it will be positioning the 76,800-ton, 1,960 -passenger Norwegian Spirit in New York full-time after her summer Alaska season in 2005.
Spirit's sister ship Norwegian Dawn is currently operating from New York, offering weeklong itineraries down the U.S. coast to Florida and the Bahamas, and 10- and 11-night Caribbean cruises in winter -- the latter of which Norwegian Spirit will take over once it hits the big apple, sailing to St. Thomas, Antigua, Barbados, Tortola, and St. Martin. (On 11-night itineraries, Grenada and Dominica replace St. Martin.)
A third ship, Norwegian Crown, will offer Bermuda sailings from New York in summer only.