RCI's Oasis of the Seas

Posted 07/24/08

Royal Caribbean International: Oasis of the Seas
The massive 220,000-ton Oasis of the Seas will enter service in late 2009, and will operate seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. The inaugural voyage is scheduled for Dec. 12, 2009 from its homeport at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Royal Caribbean has been working closely with the ports to ensure a fantastic cruise experience. Ports like St. Maarten, Cozumel, St. Thomas, Nassau, Haiti (Labadee's Dragon's Breath Flight Line has proven to be one of the destination's most popular attractions) and Jamaica. In Jamaica, they are working to complete the new Falmouth Cruise Pier by March 2010. A historically important 18th century settlement, Falmouth was a colonial center of Jamaica's sugar and rum industry. The town's history and Georgian architecture has most recently drawn the attention of Prince Charles, a long-time supporter of restoring historic buildings. The ship will be docked in all of its ports.

When launched in late 2009, Oasis of the Seas will be the largest cruise ship in the world with 16 decks and 2,700 staterooms which will accommodate approximately 5,400 guests. Oasis of the Seas will feature a neighborhood concept of seven themed areas, including Central Park, Boardwalk and the Royal Promenade.

Central Park: Nature meets nautical.
Introducing the first neighborhood concept onboard a ship—Central Park^SM. Elegant and lively, Central Park’s piazza is the ship’s town square, which evolves from a tranquil atmosphere by day to a gathering space by night with dining, entertainment, and street performances.
There are several alfresco dining options and more than 300 staterooms, which rise up six decks to overlook the park. Quiet reading corners, specimen gardens, and other hidden surprises await you among the winding paths. At the center of the ship, the park opens to the sky and features lush tropical grounds spanning more than the length of a football field.

Boardwalk: Family fun meets nostalgia.
Dedicated to family fun and nostalgia, the new groundbreaking Boardwalk^SM neighborhood is a slice of old-world charm with a modern twist. Introducing the one-of-a-kind AquaTheater and the first ever Carousel at sea, and a zipline suspended nine decks above where riders will speed diagonally across the open air atrium. Boardwalk^SM offers enough games, amusement and attractions to keep everyone entertained. Surrounded by casual restaurants, including Johnny Rockets^® and the Seafood Shack, a coffee and donut shop, bars, candy shop and more—it’s the place to be for the entire family.

Royal Promenade: excitement meets the heart of the ship.
The Royal Promenade^SM neighborhood is the most expansive promenade at sea. It’s the heart of the ship, and now, it’s better than ever. For the first time, it will have a mezzanine level that overlooks the space below and will feature Rising Tide: a levitating bar that ascends and descends over three decks. And enough shops and restaurants to entertain even the most traveled of travelers. In the morning, enjoy a relaxed atmosphere over coffee, and people watch. The afternoon ambiance becomes more energetic and vibrant with shopping, lunch, or drinks in the pub. In the evening, the energy rises with parades, nightlife, and entertainment for everyone. It’s a destination unto itself.

Holland America Alaska Cruise Tours

Posted 07/24/08

Holland America: 29 Alaska Cruise-Tours
Alaska celebrates 50 years of statehood in 2009. Can you think of a better time to see it than on a cruise-tour? It combines an Inside Passage cruise with land tours into the Alaskan wilderness. There are many choices, here are a few:
Double Denali – 20 cruise-tours will feature this two-night stay at a wilderness lodge near the gates of Denali National Park, plus a guided Tundra Wilderness Tour.
Great Land Tours – these cruise-tours include three- or four-day Inside Passage cruises between Vancouver and Skagway; trips into Tracy Arm to see the twin Sawyer Glaciers; and Glacier Bay National Park.
Great Land Klondike – these cruise-tours offer 11- to 15-day adventures to Denali National Park, Dawson City with optional excursions to Tombstone Territorial Park, Fairbanks, a Yukon River cruise aboard the Yukon Queen II, and Whitehorse, capital of the Yukon Territory.
Arctic Circle – 19 itineraries include options to travel above the Arctic Circle, cruise the Kenai Fjords National Monument, explore the Kenai Peninsula or stay two nights at the Alyeska Resort near Anchorage.

Carnival's new dream.

Posted 07/24/08

The Carnival Dream: A new class of Fun
Setting sail in September 2009, Carnival Dream was designed to be the largest and most innovative floating resort in the "Fun Ship" fleet. Among many amazing features, she will boast more outdoor deck space, more stateroom categories, the largest spa Carnival has ever built, Carnival Waterworks and a new dining and entertainment complex called The Piazza.

Scheduled to enter service September 21, 2009, the Carnival Dream begins with an inaugural 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruise from Rome (Civitavecchia) and two additional 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruises in October, 2009. The ship will then sail on a 16-day transatlantic crossing from Rome (Civitavecchia) to New York in November, 2009. From New York, the Carnival Dream will sail two eight-day Bahamas/Florida cruises, these voyages include a call at Port Canaveral (in proximity to Orlando-area attractions), followed by a visit to Nassau and Freeport in The Bahamas.

Following its New York departures, Carnival Dream will reposition to Port Canaveral, Fla., where it will launch year-round seven-day Caribbean cruises Dec. 5, 2009, departing every Saturday on alternating weeklong cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Eastern Caribbean cruises will call at Nassau; St. Thomas/St. John, U.S.V.I.; and St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles; while exotic Western Caribbean voyages will visit Cozumel; Belize; Costa Maya; and Nassau.