Beyondships Cruising Blog

St. Thomas Cruise Destination Photo Guide

2012-01-22T10:20:00.003-05:00

St. Thomas is one of the most popular ports in the Caribbean. Indeed, it is so much in demand that it is not uncommon to have five large ships in port at the same time.

One of the reasons that St. Thomas is so popular is the shopping. Not only are there hundreds of shops geared toward the cruising public in downtown Charlotte Amalie but now there are malls that border the island’s two cruise ports.

However, there is more to St. Thomas than the shopping. The island has some beautiful beaches and not just Magens Bay, which has been called one of the top ten most beautiful beaches in the world.

The island also has an array of other attractions for sightseeing and activities. A person would be hard pressed to say that there is nothing to do.

I have been visiting St. Thomas since the early 1990s and the island has developed considerably since then. It has become much more tourist friendly.

Beyondships’ multi-page cruise destination photo guide to St. Thomas begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-StThomas.html

Celebrity Silhouette - Talking with the Captain and Hotel Director

2012-01-15T11:14:00.002-05:00

Continuing our coverage of Celebrity Silhouette, this we have interviews with two of the individuals who play a major role in creating the cruise experience on Silhouette - - her captain and the hotel director.

The captain of a cruise ship does not just drive the ship. In fact, only a relatively small portion of his time is spent with his hands on the controls - - usually just going in and out of port. Rather, the captain has ultimate responsibility for everything that goes on aboard the ship. He is the CEO, the big picture guy.

Captain Nicholas Pagonis is the captain of Celebrity Silhouette. A very open and friendly person, he is often seen out and about amongst the guests. This is in order to further his vision of what the atmosphere on Silhouette should be like. At the same time, the safety of the ship and the guests is his number one priority, which he takes quite seriously.

In our conversation, we spoke about Silhouette both from a nautical perspective as well as about the overall cruise experience it offers. The interview is posted at http://www.beyondships2.com/celebrity-silhouette-captain-interview.html

Sue Richardson is Silhouette’s hotel director and as such is directly responsible for most of the things that the guests experience onboard - - the accommodations, the dining, the entertainment and the activities. I asked her to describe the cruise experience that Silhouette offers and who the Silhouette is seeking to attract as guests. That interview is at http://www.beyondships2.com/celebrity-silhouette-hotel-director-interview.html

Celebrity Silhouette - Profile, Photos and Dining

2012-01-08T09:41:00.000-05:00

This week we begin coverage of a spectacular new ship - - Celebrity Silhouette. She is not spectacular because of her size although she is a large ship (122,000 gross tons). Nor is she spectacular in the sense of having shock and awe decoration. Rather, she is spectacular in the way everything comes together to form a really high quality whole.

Silhouette is a premium cruise ship. Her interior design is eye-pleasing and decorated in a contemporary style. There has been attention to detail in the design and in the people flow through the public rooms. Guests have an impressive range of dining options as well as a range of choices in entertainment and activities. It all just comes together very well.

One of the things that I like very much about Silhouette is that she is not merely a clone of her three sister ships - - Celebrity’s Solstice, Equinox and Eclipse. Having built one successful ship, a cruise line might well be tempted to merely build all the rest of the class in the same way. However, such an approach tends to make the subsequent ships uninteresting. In addition, it overlooks the fact that the cruise industry is quite competitive and the other cruise lines will have analyzed the first ship in the class and adopted the best ideas into their own fleets. Thus, to stay competitive, innovation is the key.

While Silhouette was built on the model of her predecessors, she also has several new innovations. For example, there are two new dining venues - - The Lawn Club Grill and The Porch. Several of the bars have been re-focused to create a different experience. She has a new Art Studio where guests can unleash their creativity. These innovations on top of the differences in décor give Silhouette her own character.

The Beyondships profile page for Celebrity Silhouette is at http://www.beyondships.com/Celebrity-Silhouette-Profile.html It includes examples of the ship’s daily programs (Celebrity Today) as well as copies of menus from most of the ship’s dining venues.

The multi-page photo tour of the ship’s public areas begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Celebrity-Silhouette-Tour-1.html

In addition, we have a dining guide in which Food and Beverage Manager Carlos Echaiz describes each of the ship’s dining venues. http://www.beyondships2.com/celebrity-silhouette-dining-guide.html

Rounding it out, there are my reviews of Blu - - a dining venue that is both a first class restaurant and a healthy dining venue. http://www.beyondships2.com/celebrity-silhouette-blu-review.html and of Silhouette’s innovative new dining venue The Lawn Club Grill. http://www.beyondships2.com/celebrity-silhouette-lawn-club-grill-review.html

Photo Essay on Explorer of the Seas; Review Johnny Rockets

2012-01-01T11:47:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year all!

My last cruise of 2011 was on Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas. I had enjoyed cruising on her earlier in the year to Bermuda so when an attractive opportunity arose for a longer cruise on the ship to the Caribbean, I signed up.

Explorer is the second ship in Royal Caribbean’s Voyager class. At one time not so long ago, she and her sisters were the largest cruise ships in the world. Lately, I have heard people refer to her as a medium sized ship. That really is not fair or accurate. At, 138,000 gross tons she is still a big ship in absolute terms. Furthermore, there are still only a handful of ships that are larger - - Royal Caribbean’s two Oasis class ships and four Freedom class ships; Queen Mary 2, and Norwegian Epic.

Explorer has been sailing out of Bayonne, New Jersey in New York harbor on a year-round basis for more than half a decade. People in the New York area have become familiar with her and with her crew. (Friendliness is a watchword onboard). This fact coupled with the fact that many people in the northeast who like the Royal Caribbean product would rather drive to the pier than fly to Florida, means that she gets a lot of repeat passengers.

Planning is underway for a major refit of the ship. Royal is going through its fleet and enhancing each ship with new features derived from the success of Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. Fleetmate Radiance of the Seas had her makeover last Spring and added numerous dining venues to her features. Explorer’s turn will come. In addition to dining venues, there is speculation that features such as a Flo-rider surfing simulator and a large outdoor video screen will be added. However, nothing appears to be written in stone.

These changes may not benefit Explorer’s New York/New Jersey area fans. The ship is only scheduled to be in New York until April 2013 and the refit may well occur after that. There have long been rumors that Liberty of the Seas would be deployed to replace Explorer. While there is some appeal to having a ship named Liberty sailing from Cape Liberty, these rumors appear to have lost currency. Instead, the speculation is that one of the forthcoming Project Sunshine ships may replace Explorer.

Royal has been quite tight-lipped about Project Sunshine. All that has leaked out is that the ships will be about the same size as the Freedom class ships and will be built by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. (The builders of Celebrity’s Solstice class, Norwegian’s Jewel class and Royal’s Radiance class). Beyond that, all that is being said is that they will be “all-weather cruise ships.”

That phrase could mean a couple of things. It could simply mean that the pool deck will be covered in a similar fashion to Holland America’s Vista class ships. On the other hand, it could mean that the ships will have the power, hull design and strength to withstand major storms. If that is the case, the Project Sunshine ships will in essence be 21st century ocean liners - - something all ship enthusiasts would applaud.

My recent voyage on Explorer produced quite a lot of material that I will be sharing in coming weeks including an interview with Captain Olav. This week I have posted a new photo essay showing Explorer in various ports that she visited long with some of the ships that she met there. http://www.beyondships.com/Explorer-photos-Caribbean.html

I have also added new daily programs (Cruise Compasses) to the Explorer of the Seas’ profile page. http://www.beyondships.com/Explorer.html

Finally, I have added a specialty restaurant review of Johnny Rockets. On this last cruise, I found that people assumed that Explorer’s Johnny Rockets was simply a hamburger venue along the lines of the Mast Grill on Celebrity’s Solstice class ships or the Bimini Grill on Norwegian Dawn. While Johnny Rockets produces very good burgers, is more than that. It is an experience. The review is posted at http://www.beyondships2.com/explorer-of-the-seas-johnny-rockets-review.html

Profile and Photo Tour of Oceania's Regatta; Photo Essay on Carnival Dream

2011-12-25T13:34:00.000-05:00

This week the focus is on two ships that present quite different cruising experiences. Indeed, they could be said to be polar opposites. Both ships are very good at providing the type of cruise experience that they set out to provide. However, that experience is quite different and whether you will be happy cruising on either of these ships very much depends upon your tastes and lifestyle. Thus, they serve to illustrate that all cruise ships are not fungible and thus it is important to investigate the type of cruise experience that a ship provides before booking a cruise.

Oceania Cruises Regatta is one of eight essentially identical cruise ships that were built for Renaissance Cruises. When that company went out of business the eight ships were dispersed among several cruise lines. Previously, Beyondships has profiled R Four, which is now Ocean Princess of Princess Cruises http://www.beyondships.com/Princess-OP-Profile.html and R Eight, which is now Adonia of P&O Cruises. http://www.beyondships.com/PO-Adonia-Profile.html Regatta was formerly R Two.

The R class ships are relatively small ships providing an elegant cruise experience in an intimate setting. They have wood-paneled public rooms that are furnished with overstuffed chairs and subtle unobtrusive art collections. The atmosphere is reminiscent of an upscale country club. Wisely, Oceania has maintained this atmosphere on Regatta.

Regatta is offered as a luxury cruise experience. It includes a gourmet dining program developed by Chef Jacques Pepin. Things like airfare are included in the fare and there is no cover charge for the two specialty restaurants. The intimate shipboard spa is operated by Canyon Ranch.

With only 684 passengers, the ship is uncrowded. Moreover, the guest to staff ratio is 1.71 to one, which allows for very personalized service.

As a small ship, Regatta is able to get into ports that the larger cruise ships cannot. Thus, her itineraries include ports that are off the beaten track.

As a result, Regatta tends to attract experienced travelers as well as those who are seeking a luxury experience. Guests are often mature and well-to-do.

Beyondships’ profile of Regatta is at http://www.beyondships.com/Oceania-Regatta-Profile.html The multi-page photo tour begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Oceania-Regatta-Tour-1.html

Carnival Dream is the largest cruise ship in the Carnival fleet. In fact, in terms of gross tonnage, she is four times the size of Regatta. She carries more than five times as many passengers.

Although Carnival still calls its ships “Fun ships,” they are not the young singles party boats that they were when the line began. Rather, the focus is on young families. Carnival provides a good quality cruise experience at reasonable rates designed to embrace people for whom cruising was not an affordable vacation option in the past.

Dream is big, bold and brassy. While her interior is more subdued than earlier Carnival ships, it is still intended to evoke a good times atmosphere. Furthermore, as a very large ship, there is space for lots of amenities and features. The spa is quite large as is the outdoor pool deck. There are also numerous bars, lounges and public areas.

Carnival Dream currently operates out of Port Canaveral in Florida. Her itineraries include major Caribbean ports where she can dock. These are popular ports that are well-developed for tourism.

I’ve added a new photo essay to Beyondships’ profile of Carnival Dream showing her in one of those popular ports - - St. Maarten. http://www.beyondships.com/CarnivalDream-photo-essay.html We have also added some more Fun Times daily programs to the profile page. http://www.beyondships.com/CarnivalDream-Profile.html

Thus, Carnival Dream and Regatta provide much different vacation experiences. Which is better depends upon what you like.

Crysal Symphony Profile, Photo Tour and Dining Guide

2011-12-18T09:22:00.003-05:00

Crystal Symphony, along with her fleetmate Crystal Serenity, provide the benchmark for luxury cruising. Not only do other luxury lines compare their products to Crystal but officers on premium ships aspire to have their levels of service and quality approach those of Crystal. Thus, as part of our focus on luxury cruising, we had to return to Crystal Symphony.

This ship was one of the first ships profiled on Beyondships in 2007. Since then Crystal Symphony has undergone an extensive refurbishment.

The refurbishment did not change the essential character of this ship, which is one of understated luxury. Her interiors are not elaborate. The public areas have a streamlined contemporary style. They are extremely well-maintained and glisten in their cleanliness.

This is not to say that there have been no major changes. The pool area, the special restaurants, and the buffet restaurant have all been significantly altered. However, their elegance remains - - they are still eye-pleasing without calling attention to themselves.

Our new photo tour of Crystal Symphony begins at http://www.beyondships.com/CrystalSymphony-Tour-1.html

. The profile page remains at http://beyondships.com/CrystalSymphony-Profile.html but has new menus and new other information about the ship.

Another addition to our coverage of Crystal Symphony is an insider dining guide. I sat down with Food and Beverage Manager Walter Pietsching to talk about dining on Crystal Symphony. Not only did we discuss each of the dining venues on the ship but also the secret behind Crystal’s legendary service. http://beyondships.com/CrystalSymphony-dining.html

Talking with Cunard Commodore Rynd and Oasis of the Seas Photos

2011-12-11T10:14:00.002-05:00

We have two new items this week.

First, we speak with Commodore Christopher Rynd of Cunard Line. The commodore of a passenger ship line is the senior seagoing officer in the line’s fleet. Traditionally, he has been the master of the line’s flagship and unlike a commodore in the military, his role has been pretty much limited to that ship.

Commodore Rynd, who was appointed commodore in April 2011, aims to break with tradition. While his two immediate predecessors as commodore were necessarily focused on bringing the line’s flagship, Queen Mary 2, into service and establishing her as a viable competitor in the modern cruise industry, Commodore Rynd sees his role as extending fleet-wide - - the goal being to further facilitate a unified Cunard product across the line’s three ships.

I sat down with Commodore Rynd during a transatlantic voyage on Queen Mary 2 and asked him about his vision for his new role. As in past interviews, his answers were well-thought out and well-articulated. Our conversation is at http://www.beyondships.com/QM2-Rynd-3.html

The second item this week is a new photo essay on Oasis of the Seas. On November 23, 2011, Oasis paid a call at the Caribbean island of St. Maarten. Although there were five other first-class cruise ships in port with her, Oasis was the center of attention. As the photographs of her during the course of the day and into the evening show, she attracts attention not just because of the enormity of her size but also because of the sense of excitement that she generates. The photo essay is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/RCI-OOS-StMaarten.html

Seven Seas Navigator Cruise Ship Profile and Photo Tour

2011-12-04T10:17:00.001-05:00

Continuing our look at some of the ships in the luxury/ultra-luxury segment of the cruising, this week we focus on Seven Seas Navigator of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

I was quite surprised to find out that Seven Seas Navigator is only 28,000 gross tons. The first time I saw her was several years ago when she was docked with Holland America’s Noordam at Grand Turk. Although she was clearly smaller than Noordam, she did not look one-third the size. Rather, she looked and still looks to be a substantial ship.

Perhaps this is because her hull was designed originally to be that of an exploration ship. It was only after her hull was completed that she was transformed into a luxury cruise ship. Thus, at her roots is a ship designed to travel any seas - - not a bad thing for a ship that roams far and wide cruising.

Navigator has a very traditional style. There is nothing that is designed to produce a “wow” or make you stagger back with awe. Rather, it is a conservative approach to luxury with extensive wood paneling, leather chairs, and understated colors. It is an approach that says quality and richness without shouting.

Regent is expanding on the concept of what is included in an “all-inclusive” fare. Of course, not everything is included in an all-inclusive fare. For example, they do not give you free of charge the chips to gamble with in the casino. However, on Navigator, an unlimited number of shore excursions are included as is round-trip airfare, a one-night stay in a hotel and many other things.

Beyondship’s profile of Seven Seas Navigator is at http://www.beyondships.com/Regent-Navigator-Profile.html The multi-page photo tour and commentary begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Regent-Navigator-Tour-1.html

Seabourn Sojourn Cruise Ship Profile and Photos

2011-11-27T09:26:00.001-05:00

This week we look at the first of several ships that we will be profiling in upcoming weeks that compete in the luxury/ultra-luxury segment of the cruise industry.

The luxury/ultra-luxury segment is the top tier of cruise ships as far as luxury goes. Guests are pampered by top service and with top quality accommodations and dining. The fares are much higher than the fares for all but the best suites on the premium and mass market ships. However, more is included in the fare.

Luxury/ultra-luxury ships are almost all small ships - - less than 50,000 gross tons. This makes the cruise experience more intimate and gives an impression of exclusivity. Since the guests typically are experienced travelers, they are attracted by itineraries that include ports that are not usually on cruise itineraries. Smaller ships can get into more of these ports than their larger brethren.

Entering service in June 2010, Seabourn Sojourn is one of the more recent additions to this segment. She is the second ship in Seabourn’s Odyssey class and brings much of what is state-of-the-art thinking in the cruise industry to a small ship. I was particularly impressed by how well the outdoor space on the ship is utilized.

Sojourn still sparkles like a new ship. She is clean and well-maintained. She is clean in another way as well - - her interior spaces often rely on clean lines unbroken by decorative frills. It is very much a contemporary elegance rather than traditional luxury.

Beyondship’s profile of Seabourn Sojourn is at http://www.beyondships.com/Seabourn-Sojourn-Profile.html The multi-page photo tour begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Seabourn-Sojourn-Tour-1.html.

Curacao - cruise destination photo guide

2011-11-20T11:17:00.002-05:00

This week, we again go beyond ships and present a profile of another place where ships go - - the island of Curacao. Located off the coast of Venezuela near Aruba and Bonaire, Curacao is a popular stop on Southern Caribbean cruises and often on Panama Canal cruises.

Any cruise to Curacao starts with the capital city Willemstad. The cruise ships dock near the center of the city and all of the sights are within walking distance of where the ships dock. Willemstad is a unique Caribbean city. At first glance, the architecture looks Dutch but there is clearly a Spanish influence. The pastel colors of the buildings are Caribbean. In short, the architecture is a blend of styles that reflects the island’s mix of cultures. With its history and shopping opportunities, Willemstad is an interesting place to explore.

Outside of Willemstad is a different world. The countryside is wild and often undeveloped. Large sections are preserved as national parks so there are opportunities to hike and take all terrain vehicles through this arid landscape.

The coastline is also two worlds. The beaches tend to be small, often tranquil coves that are quite scenic. Since the water is very clear, there are numerous dive sites as well. But then there are also places where the sea hurls itself again the land with great force. At Boka Tabla, for example, the sea has carved a deep grotto out of the rock cliffs.

Beyondships’ cruise destination photo guide to Curacao begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Curacao.html There is also a slideshow of scenes from Curacao at http://www.beyondships2.com/curacao-slideshow.html

Celebrity Silhouette - Introduction; Talking with Mr. Ocean Liner

2011-11-13T11:16:00.000-05:00

Just over a week ago Celebrity Cruises brought its new ship Celebrity Silhouette to the United States for the first time. The ship was built in Germany and was named there in July. Following that, she did a season of Mediterranean cruises. However, since the United States is still Celebrity’s biggest market, the ship’s arrival in the U.S. was reason to hold another celebration.

All of the top Celebrity executives were there for the American naming ceremony. I asked Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations to give us some thoughts that would introduce us to the ship. In her position, she is responsible for essentially all the services - - dining, accommodations, entertainment etc - - that guests onboard the Celebrity ships utilize and so she is able to talk about the ships from a unique vantage point.

Celebrity Silhouette is the fourth ship in a class of ships that begun with Celebrity Solstice. These ships have won many awards for their elegant design and innovative amenities. However, as good as the individual parts are, they come together into a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts. Consequently, I was interested in finding out what was the underlying philosophy that was used in creating these ships.

While the first ship in the class received the plaudits of the critics and passengers, Celebrity was not content to build four more (one more is coming in 2012) that were identical to the first. They are quite similar but with each ship the line has come up with new ideas. Lisa pointed out several of the changes that have been made on Silhouette and underlined some of the popular features that have been carried forward.

We also had the opportunity to discuss Celebrity Infinity. Infinity is one of Celebrity’s Millennium class ships and this month, she is going into drydock for three weeks in order to give her some of the features of the Solstice class ships. Lisa outlined some of the changes that will be made during this major revitalization of a popular ship.

My interview with Ms. Lutoff-Perlo is at http://www.beyondships.com/Celebrity-Silhouette-Lutoff-Perlo.html

Also posted this week is my interview with Bill Miller. Bill is one of the most popular onboard lecturers speaking on cruise ships today. Because of his expertise on the history of ocean liners and cruise ships - - 80 books and hundreds of articles - - he is known as “Mr. Ocean Liner.” Moreover, because of his dynamic and entertaining speaking style, his lectures are usually packed with many more guests watching via the onboard television systems.

I spoke with Bill about his background and the passion that drives his work. In addition, I asked him to give us some thoughts about the cruise industry today and the future of passenger ships.

My interview with Mr. Miller is at http://www.beyondships.com/Cruise-people-miller.html

AIDAaura Profile and Photo Tour; Talking with her Club Manager

2011-11-06T10:41:00.000-05:00

I find the AIDA approach to cruising intriguing. Essentially, it tosses away the traditional rules of cruising in order to foster a more open, club-like atmosphere. In some ways, it is like Norwegian Cruise Line’s Freestyle approach but more so. For example, not only are there no assigned dining times but there is no traditional dining room. Instead, there is a choice of buffet restaurants and specialty restaurants.

Of course, this approach to cruising is not for everyone. I like traditional cruising with its formal nights and rituals of the sea. However, variety is good too.

AIDA manages to execute its approach to cruising quite well. The ships are well-maintained and spotlessly clean. In addition, the staff is open and friendly.

The line is Carnival Corporation’s German cruise line and the cruise experience is designed for the German market. It has been quite successful there, generating a loyal and growing following. Indeed, the line has been adding ships at a rapid rate in order to keep up with the demand. I find it interesting that both AIDA and Cunard do very well in the German market even though the cruise experiences that they offer are at the polar extremes of formality.

This week, our focus is on one of AIDA’s smaller ships, the 42,000 gross ton AIDAaura. This ship provides a more intimate version of the AIDA experience than her larger fleetmates. Also, the smaller ships such as the Aura are used as pathfinders to explore new destinations before one of AIDA’s larger ships is committed to that itinerary.

Beyondships’ profile of AIDAaura is at http://www.beyondships.com/AIDAaura-Profile.html and the multi-page photo tour of the ship begins at http://www.beyondships.com/AIDAaura-Tour-1.html

I also spoke with Harald Bernberger, the Club Manager (Hotel Director) on AIDAaura about his ship and how it differs from Mr. Bernberger’s last ship the larger AIDAluna. He also provided some insights on why AIDA ordered its next two ships from Mitubishi Heavy Industries in Japan rather than from the German yard that built AIDA’s most recent class of ships. That interview is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/AIDAaura-art-HD.html

Aruba Cruise Destination Photo Guide/ Today's Fast Cruise Ships

2011-10-30T12:20:00.000-04:00

As I sit here, there is approximately a foot of snow covering the ground and weighing down the trees, most of which still have green leaves on them. Although the storm that did this was an unusual one for the New York area, it underscored that it is not too early to think about the Caribbean.

In Aruba, the temperature has been in the mid to upper eighties the last week. Instead of white snow, Aruba has gorgeous fine white sand beaches that lead up to the clearest turquoise blue water that I have encountered in the Caribbean. With the palm trees and the divi-divi trees that border the sand, these are immensely attractive beaches.

While it is tempting to spend all of ones stay in Aruba on the beaches, there is more to the island. There is very little rainfall on Aruba and so the area away from the resorts of the west coast beaches is quite dessert-like. However, intermixed with the cacti and other dessert vegetation are some intriguing natural phenomena such as the Casibari Rock Formations with its mountains of boulders. They have been sculpted by the wind and with the vegetation it is like an other-worldly garden.

In complete contrast to the tranquility of the western beaches is the rugged northern coast. There, giant waves roll in and crash against the limestone shore in an explosive spray. Until 2005, there was a large natural bridge that had been carved out of the shore by the waves. However, the force of the sea became too much for it and it collapsed. The ruins of the bridge are still popular and next to it, the smaller “Baby Bridge” is spectacular in its own right.

For shoppers, there is the island’s capital Oranjestad. Along its main street, you can find all of the chain stores that populate all the popular Caribbean ports. In addition, there are high end luxury boutiques and stalls where local craftsmen and entrepaneurs offer their wares.

Beyondships’ cruise destination photo guide for Aruba is at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Aruba.html

I have also posted an article about today’s fast cruise ships. Traditionally, cruise ships have been relatively slow ships. However, in recent years quite a few ships have been built capable of doing a respectable speed. Cunard, Norwegian (NCL), and Royal Caribbean, all have fast ships in their fleets.

Often when I interview cruise ship captains, I ask them how fast their ship can go. The answer is sometimes higher than the published speed. While they typically point out that in order to concerv fuel, ships today rarely travel at full speed, there are times when speed is quite useful.

In any event, a fast ship is sort of neat regardless of whether the full speed is ever used. It is like a fine sports car - - having a Ferrari is cool regardless of the fact that you’ll probably never drive it at a speed that you could not do in a Volkswagen Beetle.

The article is posted at http://www.beyondships2.com/the-need-for-speed-----todays-fast-cruise-ships.html

A new profile of Norwegian Jewel and a conversation with her captain

2011-10-23T08:12:00.004-04:00

Before sitting down to write this, I asked myself what is there to like about Norwegian Jewel? After thinking it over, I decided there are several things that I like about this ship.

The Jewel, as she is known to her friends, was the lead ship in Norwegian Cruise Line’s Jewel class of cruise ships. For the last few years, she has been based for all or a large part of the year in New York and since I am also based there, the ship has become a familiar sight.

Starting with the basics, Jewel was built by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Pappenberg, Germany. Over the years, I have developed a high regard for Meyer Werft, which has produced such impressive ships as Celebrity’s Solstice class and Royal Caribbean’s Radiance class ships. Like fine sports cars, their ships are often fast and very maneuverable. They always are good quality. Norwegian Jewel is no exception.

Stepping inside, I like the fact that the ship is run with an eye towards innovation. In the early years of this century, NCL inaugurated the Freestyle dining concept, which has now been adopted in various forms by most of the major cruise lines. They also were a leader in basing their ships outside of the traditional Florida cruise ports so that passengers did not have to travel so far to get to the cruise. On Jewel, this spirit of innovation continues with various new programs that combine dining and entertainment.

I also like the service on the Jewel. The crew seems happy and I found that they make a real effort to please.

In the final analysis, however, it does not really matter what I think of a ship. Rather, what is important in deciding whether a particular ship is right for your cruise vacation is whether the ship offers a cruise experience that is consistent with your tastes, needs and preferences. Accordingly, I have updated and expanded the Beyondships profile of Norwegian Jewel with more information. http://www.beyondships.com/NCLJewel.html

It includes more menus from the main dining rooms and from the major specialty restaurants http://www.beyondships2.com/norwegian-jewel-menus.html as well as more daily programs (Freestyle Daily) .

http://www.beyondships2.com/norwegian-jewel-daily-programs-and-information.html

There is also a new interview with Captain Lars Bergstrom and Hotel Director Hugo Vanosmael in which they share their views on why Norwegian Jewel has been successful sailing out of New York. http://www.beyondships.com/NCLJewel-captain.html

There is our first-ever cruise ship slideshow. http://www.beyondships2.com/norwegian-jewel-slideshow.html

Finally, the photo tour and commentary has numerous new photos. Indeed, so many that I had to expand it by a page. The tour begins at http://www.beyondships.com/NCLJewel-Tour.html

Photo Guides to Holland America's Rotterdam and to Bayeux France

2011-10-16T09:24:00.000-04:00

This week I have posted two photo guides.

Rotterdam is one of two flagships of Holland America Line. She is the sixth HAL ship to bear the name and perhaps because her immediate predecessor was so beloved and well-known, this ship has been somewhat overlooked. This is unfortunate because she is one of the faster passenger ships in service today (25 knots) and is capable of handling the rigors of a transatlantic crossing. Indeed, designing her was the project Stephen Payne worked on before turning to designing Queen Mary 2. This summer she demonstrated her transatlantic capability by doing two traditional ocean liner crossings between Rotterdam and New York.

What is more impressive about Rotterdam is her interior. As with all the current HAL ships, she has a museum quality art collection distributed through the public rooms. In addition, the furnishings, lighting and décor are tasteful and light quality.

I decided to return to the Rotterdam in order to capture the changes that were made to her during her 2009 refit. The biggest change to the interior was the addition of an area called “Mix.” This area replaces some of the prior lounges with a large open area that includes three bars - - a champagne bar, a spirits and ale bar and a martini bar. Mix does give the public spaces a more lively and younger feel than the prior lounges. I did have some doubt, however, about whether the furnishings were consistent with the ship’s overall décor.

Outside, the aft section of the open deck has become an adult-oriented area called the Retreat. The Sea View swimming pool that once dominated this area has been replaced with a shallow pool with sun loungers. This seems to be a recognition of the fact that relatively few passengers actually swam in the pool while quite a few like to relax in the sun. Overhead, a large video screen has been installed.

In addition to photographing these two areas, I re-photographed the rest of the ship. This picked up the more subtle changes that have taken place since the last time I photographed the ship. In addition, there have been advances in digital photography since then. The Beyondships photo tour of Rotterdam is at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Rotterdam-Tour1.html The profile page with a new daily program and some new menus is at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Rotterdam.html

I have also added a new cruise destination page on Bayeux, France. Bayeux is in the Normandy region of Northern France and can be visited during port calls at Cherborugh and Le Harve. Its most important attraction is the Bayeux Tapestry, a 1,000 year-old embroidered cloth that tells the story of the Norman Conquest of England.

Also, in Bayeux is a large cathedral, which was consecrated in 1077. Built over several centuries, it incorporates several different styles of architecture and is an impressive sight.

Located not far from the D-Day landing beaches, there are many D-Day related sites around the town and a museum dedicated to the Battle of Normandy in the town. Much more sobering is the Bayeux military cemetery, which is the largest World War II British cemetery in France. It gives an idea of the price of freedom.

Although in the battle zone, Bayeux did not sustain much damage during the war. As a result, it is still a traditional French town with buildings dating back to the Middle Ages. It is particularly picturesque along the River Aure, which runs through the center of town.

The Bayeux page is at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-France-North-5.html and is an addition to the Northern France section of Beyondships.

P&O Cruises Adonia - - Profile, Photo Tour and Interview with Managing Director Carol Marlow

2011-10-09T11:11:00.000-04:00

Adonia is one of eight jewel-like ships that were originally built for Renaissance Cruises. After Renaissance went bankrupt the eight were dispersed amongst various cruise lines and now after a period of nomadic wandering have settled with two being owned by Azamara Club Cruises, three by Oceania, two by Princess Cruises and one, Adonia, by P&O Cruises. Despite their difficult beginning, the eight have gone on to achieve a very good reputation amongst cruise connoisseurs.

I am not particularly partial to small ships. However, I thought the 30,000 gross ton Adonia was a charming ship when I first saw her back in the days when she was the Royal Princess of Princess Cruises.. With its wood paneling, cushioned furniture, and traditional art work, the interior has the charm of an English country house. The ship is nicely laid out as well. The designers were able to include most of the things one would expect on a modern cruise ship - - specialty restaurants, a spa, a pool, shops, bars and lounges, etc - - within a relatively small space.

When the ship was transferred from Princess to P&O Cruises earlier this year, very few changes had to be made. P&O serves the British market and the ship already had a British decor. Consequently, all that had to be done was modify a few public areas so as to include some of P&O’s signature venues. Of course, the existing specialty restaurants which were signature Princess restaurants, also had to be changed. For that task, P&O turned to celebrity chef Marco Pierre White to create a new restaurant for Adonia. The other specialty restaurant was developed in-house by P&O.

To mark Adonia’s arrival at P&O Cruises, I asked P&O Cruises’ Managing Director to give us her thoughts about the line’s new ship. She discussed how the ship came to P&O Cruises and what the line plans for the ship. That article is posted at: http://www.beyondships.com/PO-Adonia-Marlow.html

I’ve also created a Beyondships profile of Adonia that includes copies of daily programs, menus from the restaurants, and other information about the ship. http://www.beyondships.com/PO-Adonia-Profile.html. As always, there is a photo tour and commentary about the ship. http://www.beyondships.com/PO-Adonia-Tour-1.html

Songwriting, Juilliard Jazz, and Gourmet Dining - - Sea Days on Queen Mary 2

2011-10-02T16:12:00.000-04:00

People considering a transatalantic voyage for the first time often ask “Won’t I be bored with all of those days at sea?” However, unlike the old days when passengers had to entertain themselves, today ships crossing the pond offer an array of activities design to entertain and stimulate passengers. Moreover, the intense competition amongst the cruise lines is driving the lines to continuously develop new and innovative programming for sea days.

This is particularly tru for Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, which specializes in transatlantic crossings. QM2 is a beautiful ship both technologically and in the facilities it provides to passengers. However, Cunard is well aware that today’s vacationers want more than a pretty face. Accordingly, the line strives to present sophisticated programming that will attract the discerning traveler.

One example of such programming is the QM2 Songwriting Voyages. Developed with British songwriter/musician Chris Difford, this program gives guests the opportunity to write songs during the course of the voyage. Working with a team of professional songwriters, the guest write, record and perform their songs in the ship’s Royal Court Theatre. Along the way, the guests have fun, make new friends and often learn something new about themselves. My article about the songwriting program is at http://www.beyondships.com/QM2-songwriting.html

Another way Cunard enhances its transatlantic voyages is through partnerships with renown artistic academies. For several years, Cunard has had troupes London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts onboard QM2 to perform and to provide acting workshops. (See article at http://www.beyondships.com/QM2-rada.html). More recently, Cunard has had faculty, graduates and students from the jazz division of New York’s Juilliard School onboard selected crossings. The jazz musicians perform and interact with the guests. My article about this popular program is at http://www.beyondships.com/QM2-Juilliard.html

A longstanding Cunard partnership is with celebrity chef Todd English, who has developed a seagoing version of his restaurant for QM2. Sea days allow QM2 to open this specialty restaurant for lunch. My review of lunch at QM2’s Todd English is at http://www.beyondships.com/QM2-review-Todd-English-lunch.html

The bottom line here is that with activities such as these available, it is very unlikely that any one is going to get bored during sea days on QM2. In fact, most passengers complain that there was not enough time during the voyage to do everything that they wanted to do.

Monarch of the Seas - - Profile and Photo Tour

2011-09-25T13:00:00.001-04:00

Monarch of the Seas still attracts a wide variety of cruisers. When she entered service in 1991, Monarch was the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ship. Today, she is far from the largest. Her older sister, Sovereign of the Seas, has been transferred to Royal Caribbean’s Spanish affiliate Pullmantur. However, Monarch has found a market niche that keeps her viable in the American market.

That niche is small get-away cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida to the Bahamas. Monarch does three and four day cruises that call at Nassau and at Royal Caribbean’s private island Coco Cay.

Port Canaveral is not far from Orlando and families vacationing at the theme parks in the Orlando area often want to add a short cruise to their vacation. Because the cruises on Monarch are shorter and less expensive than the cruises done by such first tier ships as Freedom of the Seas, Disney Dream and Carnival Dream that also sail from Port Canaveral, Monarch is able to attract some of the theme park vacationers.

The price and the short length of the cruises also make Monarch attractive to young people looking to try cruising for the first time.

They also make Monarch attractive to veteran Royal Caribbean cruisers who live in Florida. Without much planning, travel or expense,, they can hop onboard for a few days in familiar surroundings.

Although much has been spent to refurbish and maintain the ship over the years, one cannot expect all of the features of the new Royal Caribbean ships. Still, the core features of the Royal Caribbean product are there. One will find that many of the bars and lounges are signature Royal Caribbean venues. Similarly, the ship offers many of the activities that are popular with Royal Caribbean cruisers. Furthermore, while Monarch is not as big as Oasis of the Seas, she is still a big ship with big ship facilities.

Beyondships’ profile of Monarch of the Seas is at http://www.beyondships.com/RCI-MONS-Profile.html and the multi-page photo tour and commentary is at http://www.beyondships.com/RCI-MONS--Tour-1.html

Cruise Destination - - Bar Harbor, Maine

2011-09-18T08:57:00.002-04:00

September and October are the peak seasons for cruises to New England. The leaves start to turn color and the air turns cool, crisp and invigorating. It just seems like the time to be out in the New England countryside.

Bar Harbor is a classic, small New England town on the coast of Maine. In its center is a village green with a bandstand. From there Main Street slopes down a slight hill to the harbor where the fishermen still bring in their catches.

One does not have to go far from the tiny business district to sample the natural beauty of the area. There is a path along the shore where the crystal clear water washes over the craggy rocks. Out in Frenchman’s Bay there is a sprinkling of forest-covered islands. The path is shaded in part by trees and has wildflowers growing along side it. In other places, it passes the lawns and gardens of mansions that remain from the days when Bar Harbor was the summer vacation home of Astors, Rockefellers and Morgans.

Bar Harbor is surrounded by Acadia National Park, one of the most popular national parks in the United States. The cruise lines offer excursions into the park as do other tour providers. It is also possible to explore the natural attractions of the park independently

If you are looking for Maine lobster, Bar Harbor has them in abundance. Seemingly, every restaurant and eatery in the town offers some form of lobster dish.

Not surprisingly, Bar Harbor has become a popular cruise destination port. When I first cruised there in the early 1990s, people came from miles around to stand on the shore and look at the QE2 anchored in the bay. These days, the ships do not attract the locals’ attention. Although some of the shops have become a little more commercialized, the town still has much of its charm. It is not to be missed.

Beyondships’ cruise destination photo guide begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Bar-Harbor.html

New York City Cruise Destination Photo Guide

2011-09-11T11:09:00.002-04:00

I thought it would be appropriate this week to add New York City to Beyondships cruise photo destination guides. To me, the fact that New York is such a vibrant destination illustrates the City’s resilience and its recovery. Our photo guide pays tribute to the City and hopefully illustrates some of its spirit.

New York Harbor is the year-round homeport for ships from Norwegian Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean. Carnival Cruise Lines has announced that it too will be basing a ship in New York year-round starting next year. On a seasonal basis, New York is the base of ships from Celebrity Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises and Carnival. Disney has announced its intention to deploy a ship to New York as well.

In addition to the ships that cruise from New York, there are many other lines with ships that come for a day or two for a port call including AIDA, P&O Cruises, Seabourn, Oceania, and Crystal.

Thus, New York is a cruise destination in two ways. First, it is an embarkation port where passengers often stay for a day or so before or after a cruise. Second, it is a port of call where passengers explore the city as part of their cruise experience.

The Beyondships’ New York guide presents photographs and a discussion of New York as a cruise port, getting around, the places of interest and the museums. There is also an overview and a brief history. As always, the guide was written with the cruise passenger in mind. Although it is extensive, there is so much in New York it was impossible to cover everything. More will be added over time.

Our photo guide to New York City is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-NYC.html

Explorer of the Seas - Profile, Photo Tour, Captain's Interview

2011-09-04T11:09:00.000-04:00

Explorer of the Seas is one of five Voyager class ships that were built for Royal Caribbean. Although she has been in service for 11 years now, she remains one of the largest cruise ships. More importantly, she has been able to survive in the very competitive New York area cruise market for five years on a year-round basis while other ships have come and gone.

I returned to Explorer recently to see if I could uncover the secret of her longevity in New York. Although she does not have all of the features of her giant fleetmates Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, as a large ship, she still has quite a lot. There is always something happening on the Royal Promenade and as I discussed in an earlier posting, her Portofino specialty restaurant is the best that I have sampled in the Royal Caribbean fleet.

Furthermore, you do not have to travel all the way to Florida to get on the ship. If the destination is the Caribbean, you get there by sea. There is also the option of just going to Bermuda or up to Canada and New England. It is very convenient if you live in the northeastern United States or are in New York for a visit.

Another thing I noticed was the friendliness of the staff. Captain Henrik Loy, master of the Explorer, told me that he sees the bond that forms between the crew and the guests as one of his ship’s greatest strengths. As proof, he pointed out that half of the guests that cruise on Explorer are repeat guests. Hotel Director Benny Weidecker added that Royal Caribbean is very much focusing on personalized service in order to create such connections.

My interview with Captain Loy and Mr. Weidecker is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/EOS--Captain-HD.html

Also while I was onboard, I re-photographed the ship. As a result, the Beyondships photo tour of Explorer of the Seas has many new photographs. It begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Explorer-tour.html

Similarly, the Explorer profile has been updated with new Cruise Compasses, menus and various informational handouts that were distributed onboard. There are also many new exterior photos of the ship. The profile page is at http://www.beyondships.com/Explorer.html

Asuka II - - Japanese Luxury Cruising.

2011-08-28T20:51:00.001-04:00

Earlier this month, AIDA announced its intention to build its next two ships in Japan. The press reports on this move almost universally mentioned that the shipyard that is to build these ships, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, was the ship yard that built the Diamond Princess and the Sapphire Princess. However, before Mitsubishi built those ships, it built the Asuka II of NYK Cruises, which is part of the world’s largest shipping company, NYK.

The fact that Mitsubishi built Asuka II is a considerable feather in its cap. Asuka II is the highest-rated luxury cruise ship serving the Japanese market, which is quite discerning and demanding when it comes to luxury. Furthermore, Asuka II is over 20 years old now and yet it is still able to provide luxury service. That indicates that the ship was well-built as well as that it has been well-maintained.

Asuka II was formerly the Crystal Harmony of Crystal Cruises. In that incarnation, she garnered a reputation for providing a six-star luxury cruise experience. Despite this popularity, in 2006, NYK, which owns both NYK Cruises and Crystal Cruises decided to transfer the ship to NYK Cruises to replace the smaller Asuka.

Although NYK Cruises refurbished the ship for the Japanese market, much from her Crystal Harmony days was carried over. As a result, the ship is still very much a western-style cruise ship. Indeed, the only decidedly Japanese additions were the bath house and the traditional matted tea room. This underscores that standards of luxury have become international.

Beyondships’ profile of this fascinating ship is at

http://www.beyondships.com/AsukaII-Profile.html

and the multi-page photo tour begins at http://www.beyondships.com/AsukaII-Tour-1.html

Quebec City - Cruise Destination Photo Guide

2011-08-21T10:19:00.000-04:00

A cruise port that comes into its own in September and October is Quebec City. This is when the cruise ships do their Fall Foliage cruises and more of them take the journey down the St. Lawrence River from the sea. Even before the trees change color this is a scenic trip as much of the shoreline is undeveloped and covered in forests.

Quebec City appears quite suddenly. One moment the ship is sailing past forests and farmlands and suddenly the river narrows and there is a substantial city on the northern bank. Most of the city towers above the river on a high plateau that drops almost vertically to the river. As a result, Quebec City presents a bold skyline to visiting ships dominated by the romantic Chateau Frontenac.

The cruise ships do not dock in the commercial seaport where the cargo ships go. Rather, the cruise terminal is along the river in the historic Lower Town, where the first French settlers in the early 1600s built their homes. The area has been thoughtfully preserved and it is only a short walk from the ship to the area’s shops, museums and historic places. You can take the funicular up to the Upper Town and explore the rest of the attractions of the Old City including the Chateau, the Citadel, the Cathedral, the boardwalk, the cafes and the shops.

For history lovers, there is much to see in Quebec City. It is one of the oldest settlements in North America. It is here where the titanic struggle between Great Britain and France for North America was finally decided in the Battle of Quebec. More recently, Churchill and Roosevelt met here twice during World War II to plan the defeat of the Nazis.

Another attractive aspect of Quebec City is its old world atmosphere. Although the city passed to British control in 1763, the first language of Quebec remains French and the city has maintained ties to French culture. The streets of the Upper Town bear a resemblance to European cities. Many visitors also appreciate the fact that the city has maintained the French emphasis on good food.

Beyondships’ cruise destination photo guide of Quebec City is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Quebec.html

Radiance of the Seas - - Profile and Photo Guide

2011-08-14T12:23:00.000-04:00

When people think of Royal Caribbean, they tend to think of the line’s big ships - - Oasis of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and their sisters. However, there is also another side to Royal. Here, I am not talking about the older ships - - the Vision and Sovereign classes - - but rather a class of smaller ships that was built contemporaneously with the Voyager class. The lead ship of that class is Radiance of the Seas.

Radiance is not merely a scaled down version of Royal’s giant ships. Rather, it is a different type of cruise experience. Yes, it has the flavor of a Royal Caribbean cruise but it emphasizes the more elegant aspects of Royal. By elegant, I do not mean formal - - it is relaxed and casual atmosphere - - but rather the handsomeness of the décor, the sophistication of the layout etc.

Although Radiance is significantly larger (90,090 gross tons) than Royal’s Sovereign class ships (73,941 gross tons), she carries less passengers than the Sovereign class ships. Thus, there is more space per passenger, giving the ship a more luxurious feel.

In a recent refit, Royal enhanced the ship with the addition of a variety of new specialty restaurants including a Brazilian steakhouse, a Mexican cantina, an Asian restaurant, a specialty hot dog stand, and a venue that serves more healthy light fare. The card room was also transformed into a room for the sophisticated Chef’s Table, where a small group of guests are led through a specially-prepared multi-course meal by a chef and a sommelier. These additions plus the existing Chops Grille steakhouse, give guests lots of choices. What makes the decision making more difficult is that the ship’s main dining room is quite spectacular.

Radiance is also elegant technologically. In many ways, she is like a fine European sports car. Her gas turbines combined with her azipod systems make her very fast and maneuverable. She is finely tooled for performance. As with a sports car, one may not need such performance on an everyday basis but it is neat to know that it is there.

Beyondships’ profile of Radiance of the Seas is at http://www.beyondships.com/RCI-ROS-Profile.html. The multi-page photo guide begins at http://www.beyondships.com/RCI-ROS-Tour-1.html

Cruise Destination Photo Guides To Boston and Halifax

2011-08-07T12:08:00.000-04:00

As Fall starts to approach, people start thinking about cruising to New England and Canada. These “Fall Foliage” cruises are famous for combining crisp air with spectacular colorful displays. However, the region is a nice place to visit just for its history and lifestyle. Of course, the best way to get there is by cruise ship.

Quite a few ships do New England/Canada cruises in the Fall. In addition to the ships that ply these waters during the spring and summer, quite a few ships come to the region to do a season of cruising. Many of these ships come over from Europe as the European cruising season winds down. Eventually, they go to the Caribbean for the winter but the Fall is the peak hurricane season down there so its better to spend some time in Northeastern America before heading south. Moreover, these are popular cruises.

The unofficial capital of New England is its largest city, Boston, Massachusetts. It is both a port of call on New England/Canada cruises and an embarkation port. Several ships use it as their base for such cruises while others cruise from Boston to Bermuda and points south.

Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States and so has an extensive history. Indeed, if one is interested in the birth of the United States, Boston has preserved many of the sites that played an important part in the early days of the American War for Independence.

With a long cultural and intellectual tradition, it is not surprising that Boston has a bevy of museums covering a spectrum of topics from fine art to politics to science. There are also some 50 colleges and universities in the area, which gives the town a youthful feel.

While Boston is a large city, it is a friendly town. Moreover, many of the things of interest to visitors are centrally located. In fact, quite a few of the historic sites are along the two and a half mile long Freedom Trail.

Beyondships new cruise destination photo guide to Boston is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Boston.html

A second popular stop on Canada/New England cruises is Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia. Even more so than Boston, the majority of the places of interest are concentrated not far from the cruise port. Furthermore, the short walk along the Harbor Boardwalk to downtown Halifax is a pleasant stroll takes you past sailing ships, shops, museums, and restaurants.

Beyondships has had a section about Halifax since last year. However, I have added an additional page to that section to incorporate photos that I took last month on yet another cruise to Halifax. The cruise destination photo guide to Halifax is at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Halifax