“Kiwis, eh?” said Todd, the crisp young purser as he checked us in and handed over our cabin key. “We don’t get many people from Downunder on board the Wind Surf. After a magical eight-night, nine-day Italian voyage, I have a feeling the Americans won’t be able to keep her to themselves for much longer as more and more New Zealanders discover the joy of luxury cruising under sail.
At 617 feet (188m), the five-masted Wind Surf is one of the largest sailing ships in the world. She has two smaller sister sailing ships, the Wind Spirit and the Wind Star, but they’re half the size of their big sister. She cruises at 10-12 knots under engine, but when all her sails are unfurled, she does 15 knots. It’s the sails that make the difference. She might be small but she’s perfectly formed and her size means she can get into the smaller ports that can’t manage the big liners.
Returning from our daily shore excursions, you couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride comparing her with the great cruising factories towering over her in the harbour.
If you choose to sail on Wind Surf come prepared to make your own fun. There are no organised activities on board and if it’s origami at 11am, line dancing at 2pm and bingo at 5pm you’re after, this is not the ship for you. She carries a maximum 300 passengers, and usually attracts newly weds or baby boomers on their second honeymoons. There weren’t many oldies and children are not encouraged.
On-board facilities do include a well-equipped gym, a spa and hairdresser, a DVD and book library, casino and internet centre. But we were in port every day bar one of our nine-day voyage, so we didn’t need much in the way of entertaining.
Archive for October, 2007
In the ultimate convergence (or collision) of cruise and pop trends, Norwegian Cruise Line plans to pick the godmother for its newest ship based on a YouTube-style video posted at the ship’s personal blog.
Yes, the ship, Norwegian Gem, has its own blogger site.
The cruise line is inviting past and current passengers to submit a video at GemItGirl.com “explaining why they should be named godmother of Norwegian Gem.”
Marketing for the new ship revolves around it being the ‘ultimate `It’ Girl” — the hottest, hippest vessel sailing. The godmother should embody those traits, according to the company, as well as “sophistication, independence and confidence, eagerness to explore new destinations and learn new things, glamorous, stylish and cultured, along with a youthful and adventurous spirit regardless of age.”
Once the domain of dignitaries, royal family members and wives of CEOs, the title of ship’s godmother increasingly is bestowed based on contests and advertising campaigns. Feel like making a video?
The contest runs through Nov. 12, with the winner named from five finalists at the ship’s christening on Dec. 18 in New York. For details, visit www.gemitgirl.com.
Photo from GemItGirl.
The 2008 Peter Deilmann River Cruises brochure has just been released, this time with 134 pages featuring their 254 cruise departures.
Along with their specialised river cruises, the new brochure also includes 11 Cruise/Tour options with short and long stays of seven to fourteen nights. The new brochure also includes special ‘Discovery’ add-ons, which allow passengers to enjoy a couple of extra nights pre- or post- voyage.
With eight deluxe river ships, Peter Deilmann River Cruises offers destinations such as Prague, Berlin, and Rhone.
All prices are quoted in US dollars but can be converted into Aussie dollars, come final payment.
Agents are advised that commissions will remain at 10% of all cruises, and to book quickly as some sailings are already sold out.
“Traditionally, dinner on a cruise ship is set for a specific time at a table with the same people for the entire cruise. Usually there are at least a few nights where formal dress in
the dining room is required.
Seven years ago, Norwegian Cruise Line introduced a different system, which the company calls “Freestyle Cruising,” on one of its ships. If you want to eat in a restaurant on an NCL ship, you show up between 5:30 and 10:30 p.m. and order off the menu. There is no dress code. You can ask for a table for two, or you can ask to sit at a large table and meet other passengers.
The concept has been a success, and is now available on all 15 NCL ships.NCL promotes the idea as a way to dine when and with whom you want, at a choice of restaurants — and generally in less formal attire. The flexibility to relax until early evening, then dine when we were ready — without having to pack five days worth of formal wear — fit well with what my wife and I like to do on vacation: Let our whims drive the schedule.”
Photo by taminsea
Cruisers can share quality time and share new places and experiences with family and friends while someone else does the work. Possibilities include Caribbean, South American and Hawaiian cruises, as well as leisurely river cruises through Europe and along the Mississippi, Columbia and Snake rivers.
A sampling of holiday cruises:
Magical Wonderland
Disney Cruise Line offers seven-day Caribbean cruises and four-night Bahamian itineraries. The highlight of both is a visit to Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island, transformed into a Magical Wonderland complete with snow, Christmas trees, Mr. and Mrs. Snowman in tropical attire and a sleigh full of presents. On board, cruisers will enjoy a three-deck-tall tree, snow flurries, caroling, family gingerbread making, holiday feasts and ship-wide New Year’s Eve parties.Special Family Fares
Holland America is offering special family fares for seven- to 21-day holiday cruises to the Caribbean, Mexican Riviera and the Panama Canal. The ships will feature holiday decorations, special movies, traditional dinner selections, a visit from Santa—sometimes by parasail—tree lighting, caroling, Santa’s milk-and-cookie late night snack, a Christmas show featuring the crew, turndown gifts and gala feasts for Christmas, Chanukah and New Year’s Eve.Home Away From Home
Carnival’s 22 ships will offer a “home away from home” atmosphere with an oversized Christmas tree, wreathes and other decorations. The holiday themed lounge shows will feature cozy sets decorated with oversized fireplaces, large comfortable chairs and Christmas trees decorated by the kids from Camp Carnival. Highlights include caroling, holiday menus, themed movies and a visit from Santa. New Year’s cruises have a traditional countdown ceremony.
It was just seven years ago that the old Fair Princess cruised out of Sydney for the last time, destined for her final resting place at the bottom of the South China Sea after a short, failed stint as a casino ship.
That same month - November 2000 - Regal Princess docked in Darling Harbour for the first time, unloading about 1900 international passengers on the Australian leg of a world voyage.
The contrast in the ships could not have been greater if you had lined up a rowboat next to the Manly ferry.
Fair Princess had not had an upgrade since Noah skippered the ark; Regal was one of the most popular ships in the modern Princess fleet.
Nobody could have known that the Australian cruise market would explode to the extent that Regal would become Sydney’s year-round resident cruise ship - renamed as P&O Cruises’ Pacific Dawn - almost seven years to the day after her Australian debut.
I have just cruised on the ship from Los Angeles to Hawaii, an ideal chance to assess her because days at sea, followed by successive island stops, is similar to what her routes out of Sydney will be.
Two things stand out right away: lots of extra room and classy finishes, such as the three-storey atrium with its shops, bar, cafe and large waterfall flanked by palm trees and two smaller waterfalls.
The extra room is apparent in the bars and lounges, the two-storey show lounge, the cabins and the main deck, a great place to hang out with its 340 deckchairs, two pools and two spas. It also has dozens of outdoor eating tables.
Royal Caribbean International’s Rhapsody of the Seas made its debut in Australian waters over the weekend, docking at Circular Quay before departing on its Australian/South Pacific voyage.
The towering 2,435 passenger ship welcomed travel industry partners on board giving agents the chance to tour the vessel before leaving Sydney on Saturday afternoon.
RCI, famous for introducing cruise enthusiasts to rock-climbing, ice-skating and some of the best productions at sea, have found Australians are flocking to experience the journey closer to home this season.
“More and more Australians are taking to cruising,” Royal Caribbean Cruises Australia, Richard Cranmer said.
“They are not only booking a lot of our cruises circumnavigating Australia, they’re also cruising the Tasman, South Pacific and around Asia”
“This is not only first time cruisers, but also a lot of people who are returning for their second, third and even sixth and seventh times. They are looking for more from their cruising experience which is why we think they are looking to brands like Royal Caribbean where we offer an almost endless range of quality entertainment, cuisine and both the relaxing and adventurous things people love to do on holiday.”
Rhapsody of the Seas will offer 14-night open jaw sailings from Sydney and New Zealand this season, cruising through the Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound and calling on the ports of Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga and Auckland.
“With sailings up to 20 days, Holland America Line’s 2008 Caribbean itineraries feature 121 varied departures that focus on longer, port-intensive options for premium cruise
guests. The line continues to lead major cruise lines with sailings of 10 days or more and will introduce the new 2,104-guest ms Eurodam to
“Holland America Line once again offers more choice, longer itinerary options and greater port diversity in the
Holland America Line will sail ten ships to the Caribbean in 2008 from Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and New York: ms Noordam, ms Zuiderdam, ms Westerdam, ms Maasdam, ms Prinsendam, ms Rotterdam, ms Veendam, ms Volendam, ms Statendam, and the new ms Eurodam.
Sailing from
Photo by Chris&Steve
“Small ship luxury cruise line Hebridean International has some interesting last minute cruise specials for those looking for a “different”, yet elegant cruise experience.
Hebridean Spirit small cruise ship. Discounts range from 12 to 25 percent off. Hebridean Cruises are expensive, but all-inclusive. Even the shore excursions are included!
One of the cruises in mid-November sounds particularly interesting. The cruise starts in the Santiago Islands and visits the Cape Verde Islands before ending in Madeira. These islands off the coast of Africa are not visited often by cruise ships, so this might be a good opportunity to see an exotic part of the world and experience this very special cruise line at the same time.”
American consumers might not think the specials are so great when they see the prices are in pounds. With the dollar becoming less and less in the world market, some consumers might decide just to stick with a company who charges America, thus saving quite a bundle when considering other international cruise lines.
Photo by sudius217
Here’s what to expect on the new cruise ship horizon.
- Cunard rolls out the regal Queen Victoria in December with an elegant Todd English restaurant.
- MSC’s Poesia is poised for March, carrying 3,013 guests on 13 passenger decks. Amenities include a tennis court, teen club, cigar room, disco and miniature golf.
- Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas makes waves in England in May with a spa and well-being center with thermal caves.
- Next summer, Holland America debuts the 2,104-passenger Eurodam, the largest ever for the line. New innovations include a topside pan-Asian restaurant and a lounge that overlooks the ocean and pool.
- Carnival’s Splendor makes its inaugural cruise next July. The 113,000-ton ship will have a sliding Sky Dome, a 21,000-square-foot health and fitness center and 68 special spa staterooms.
- The 113,000-ton, 3,080-passenger Ruby Princess sparkles in November 2008 with a dramatic piazza-style atrium and performing street entertainers, in addition to its signature Movies Under the Stars.
- The 122,000-ton Celebrity Solstice takes its maiden voyage in December 2008.
- In the fall of 2009, Royal Caribbean’s “Project Genesis” ship will set a record as the largest cruise ship on the sea. This whopping 220,000-ton, next-generation ship will carry 5,400 passengers.
