Kung Fu Panda kicks Johnny Rockets off Quantum of the Seas
Kung Fu Panda kicks Johnny Rockets off Quantum of the Seas
Po, the loveable panda from Kung Fu Panda has ousted Johnny Rockets on-board Quantum of the Seas with Royal Caribbean’s first DreamWorks-themed restaurant taking the burger bar’s place. The Johnny Rockets concept on-board Quantum-class ships had been augmented from the 50’s style diner concept found on other Royal Caribbean ships. Instead of sit-in, all-you-can-eat diner
July 2015
Costa Cruises orders two 6,600-passenger LNG-powered cruise ships
Costa Cruises orders two 6,600-passenger LNG-powered cruise ships
In June Carnival Corporation announced it had ordered four of the largest cruise ships ever built based on maximum passenger capacity. Two will be heading to AIDA Cruises and now it has been revealed the remaining pair will be joining the Costa Cruises fleet. The ships on order form part of the previously announced Memorandum
July 2015
P&O Cruises’ Britannia completes maiden British Isles voyage
P&O Cruises’ Britannia completes maiden British Isles voyage
Despite launching back in March the 141,000 gross ton Britannia has only now just completed her maiden British Isles voyage. The 12-night voyage aboard P&O Cruises’ flagship vessel, dubbed a ‘lap of honour’ in celebration of all things British, departed Southampton on 6 July. En-route to her first port of call in Edinburgh the ship sailed
July 2015
Norwegian Cruise Line switches speciality restaurants to à la carte pricing
Norwegian Cruise Line switches speciality restaurants to à la carte pricing
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced it is to move away from cover charges in most of its speciality restaurants with the introduction of à la carte pricing. At Cagney’s Steakhouse, the $29.95 (£19.20) per person cover charge (excluding gratuities) will be replaced with per-item charges. Starters on the new à la carte menu will range
July 2015
Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas to remain in its fleet
Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas to remain in its fleet
Royal Caribbean has reversed an earlier decision to transfer Majesty of the Seas to the Pullmantur brand and will instead send it to dry-dock for major improvements. In November 2014 Royal Caribbean announced that the ship would be transferred to the Pullmantur brand in April 2016. She is the last remaining Sovereign-class ship in the fleet, as
July 2015
Fred. Olsen reveals plans for 20 adults-only cruises in 2016/2017
Fred. Olsen reveals plans for 20 adults-only cruises in 2016/2017
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has launched its new ‘Worldwide Cruises 2016/17’ brochure along with news that there are 20 adults-only cruise planned. In 2016/17, Balmoral, Braemar, and Black Watch – will be visiting 253 destinations across 84 countries around the globe. A total of 20 adults-only cruises, for passengers aged 18 or above, are offered
July 2015
Norwegian Cruise Line to part company with Nickelodeon
Norwegian Cruise Line to part company with Nickelodeon
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that it will be ending its agreement with Nickelodeon at the end of 2015, with branding phased out fleet-wide by January 2016. Under the agreement with the popular cable network Nickelodeon-themed entertainment was offered on-board selected cruise ships in the Norwegian fleet. Activities on offer typically included: Slime Time Live, Nickelodeon’s
July 2015
Hurtigruten invests in new expedition ship, the MS Norway Explorer
Hurtigruten invests in new expedition ship, the MS Norway Explorer
Hurtigruten has invested in a new expedition ship, the first time such an investment has been made for nearly 10 years. This investment takes the Hurtigruten fleet up to a total of 13 vessels. The ship, formerly a car ferry named MS Atlantida, was built by Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo (ENVC), Portugal, in
June 2015
Nine killed as plane carrying cruise passengers crashes in Alaska
Nine killed as plane carrying cruise passengers crashes in Alaska
Nine people have been killed when a sightseeing plane on a shore excursion crashed into a cliff near Ketchikan, Alaska. Eight of those on-board the turboprop DeHavilland DHC-3 Otter aircraft were passengers from Holland America Line’s MS Westerdam. The plane was on a ‘Misty Fjords Floatplane’ shore excursion sold through the cruise line when the
June 2015
Carnival Vista’s coin ceremony, with a little help from her ‘godchild’
Carnival Vista’s coin ceremony, with a little help from her ‘godchild’
Carnival Vista has reached the next construction milestone with the traditional coin ceremony signifying the exterior of the hull is now complete. The maritime tradition of welding a commemorative coin to the ship’s mast, otherwise known as ‘mast stepping’, dates back to ancient Roman times when it was believed that these would bring good luck
June 2015
The cruise industry’s contribution to the British economy grew in 2014
The cruise industry’s contribution to the British economy grew in 2014
The cruise industry’s contribution to the British economy grew in 2014, according to a report released today by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). The industry’s direct contribution to the UK economy, including items such as goods and services purchased by the cruise lines, and the salaries of their employees, grew to €3.155 billion (£2.247
June 2015
MSC Meraviglia 2017 itineraries go on sale as steel for MSC Seaside is cut
MSC Meraviglia 2017 itineraries go on sale as steel for MSC Seaside is cut
MSC Cruises has opened up bookings for inaugural summer 2017 cruises on-board MSC Meraviglia at the same time the steel cutting ceremony for MSC Seaside took place. Sales of cruises on-board MSC Meraviglia have been exclusively opened up to existing customers who are MSC Club members. The itineraries go on general sale on 5 July.
June 2015
Harmony of the Seas float-out in pictures
Harmony of the Seas float-out in pictures
On Friday Harmony of the Seas, currently under construction at the STX France shipyard in St Nazaire, France, was floated out of the dry-dock and moved over to the outfitting dock. This was the first time the 362 metre-long passenger cruise ship had taken to the water. Shortly before 7am local time the ship travelled
June 2015
Spectacular maiden arrival in Hong Kong for Quantum of the Seas
Spectacular maiden arrival in Hong Kong for Quantum of the Seas
Quantum of the Seas, the largest cruise ship to visit Asia, made a spectacular entrance to Hong Kong’s Victoria harbour today. The ship, which debuted in Southampton last October, will be based in Shanghai. Sister ship Anthem of the Seas is sailing from the UK throughout the summer. The ships carry up to 4,905 passengers
June 2015
What Viking Star means for cruising – and for the next generation
What Viking Star means for cruising – and for the next generation
There are two main occupational hazards to being a writer specialising in cruise travel – and I’m not talking here about the potential damage to my waistline or my liver. The first problem is that every time I set off to see another ship my friends, family, colleagues and workmates all assume that I’m taking
June 2015