Whether you are a cruise newbie or a cruise columnist, you can get genuinely excited when you see new markets, something unique added to traditional cruises, or new ships that are offering more amenities.
If you go to www.sailwx.info and connect on ship tracker, you will be able to find where most cruise ships in the world are on any given day. You will not find a lot in the Atlantic or the Pacific.
Look at each ship's onboard webcam at www.krooozecams.com and you can see where they are at that very moment. Those locations will change come September through November when they make their way back to North America.
With that comes good news - the traditional transatlantic cruises are undergoing changes.
Most of these dashes across the ocean are still available for those who are on a tight budgets - be it money or time. Many are offering pricing you won't find anywhere else.
The change means the addition of more interesting ports and a new mix of countries from northern to southern Europe. The lack of availability on some ships is heralding the success of these itinerary changes.
One line, Holland America, is using its 1,200-passenger Maasdam to sail both southerly and northerly transatlantic return routes.
The Maasdam sailed on a return trip from Boston earlier this year to Iceland and then onto other European ports (a planned stop in Greenland was cancelled due to heavy seas). In October, it will make a return trip from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with stops in Morocco, Spain, the Canary Islands, Italy, Portugal and Gibraltar - including several overnights - before arriving back in Fort Lauderdale 42 days later.
Norwegian Cruise Lines has also started longer, more interesting crossings with the Norwegian Sun. It's merging two cruises, leaving Copenhagen for Miami on a 28-day trip that takes in Iceland, Norway, Scotland, Greenland, Ireland and Portugal before crossing the ocean to Miami through Funchal and Madeira.
When ships on transatlantic cruises leave from London (Southampton), Rome (Civitavecchia), Venice, Barcelona and other major European centres, it gives the keen cruiser an opportunity to visit some of the world's great cities before crossing the ocean.
Rome is the departure port for the Crown Princess in November, when it will make a 32-day journey that encompasses Mediterranean history. Ports include Naples, where you can visit Capri and Pompeii, five in Greece, including Santorini, plus Florence, Barcelona and Lisbon before crossing the ocean for the final destination, Galveston, Texas.
If price is your deal-maker, here are two transatlantic cruises you'll like:
- Copenhagen to Miami on the Norwegian Sun: 14 days for only $499, or about $35 a day
- Southampton to Miami on the premium ship Celebrity Constellation: 15 days and three ports: Paris (Le Havre), Lisbon and Tenerife (Canary Islands) starting at $599, or about $40 a day
For one cruise line, Holland America, the transatlantic is becoming a destination with return trips that eliminate the high cost of air travel and hotel travel.
Looking for the latest FABCruise offers on a wide range of cruise holidays let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Showing posts with label Holland America. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holland America. Show all posts
Monday, 13 August 2012
Transatlantic cruises offer fantastic value
Cruise Lines, Cruise Ships
Cruise Destinations,
Cruiselines,
Holland America,
Norwegian Cruise Line,
Transatlantic Crossings
Thursday, 26 July 2012
More Holland America Line Capacity in Alaska for 2013
For the 2013 Alaska cruise season, Holland America Line is increasing its presence in the region with more departures and more guests than in previous years.
Although the number of Holland America ships deployed in Alaska will remain at seven — the same as 2012 — ms Amsterdam will double its departures on new seven-day roundtrip sailings from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As a result, Alaska-season departures will increase 8.5 percent and guest capacity will increase 6 percent over 2012.
Plus, Early Advantage savings feature complimentary upgrades and free and reduced fares for third or fourth guests who share the same stateroom on select sailings. By planning ahead, a family of four can take advantage of fares on select departure dates starting at $699 per person for the first and second guest in a stateroom, and the third and fourth sailing free. Taxes are additional.
“Increasing our capacity in Alaska means that Holland America Line will offer nearly 1.6 million passenger days in the 2013 season,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “These itineraries have always been among our most popular, and Amsterdam’s new seven day departures will allow us to bring more guests to Alaska and show off the natural beauty of this part of the world. We also encourage travelers to book early and enjoy greater benefits with Early Advantage savings.”
When the 1,380-guest Amsterdam begins its Alaska season May 24, the ship will sail a series of 17 seven-day Inside Passage voyages. The Vancouver sailings feature port calls at Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, Alaska, as well as scenic cruising throughout Glacier Bay National Park or Tracy Arm Fjord/Twin Sawyer glaciers.
For the 2013 Alaska cruise season, Holland America Line also will feature ms Zaandam and ms Statendam each sailing on 18 Gulf of Alaska departures from Vancouver. Statendam and Zaandam also will sail four total Inside Passage routes, along with Amsterdam (17), ms Volendam (21) and ms Zuiderdam (20). In addition, ms Oosterdam and ms Westerdam are slated to sail 21 and 20, respectively, seven-night voyages from Seattle, Wash.
Seven-day Alaskan Explorer Voyages Sail Roundtrip from Seattle
Starting May 5 and 11, respectively, the 1,916-guest Oosterdam (Sunday departures) and 1,916-guest Westerdam (Saturday departures) will sail 21 and 20 seven-day Alaskan Explorer voyages departing roundtrip from Seattle. The itinerary features port calls at Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, Alaska; Victoria, British Columbia; and a scenic cruising experience at Tracy Arm Fjord/Twin Sawyer glaciers or Glacier Bay National Park.
Seven-day Inside Passage Voyages Sail Roundtrip from Vancouver
Five Holland America Line ships – Amsterdam, Statendam, Volendam, Zaandam and Zuiderdam – will sail roundtrip from Vancouver on a series of seven-day Inside Passage voyages. The 1,432-guest Volendam (Wednesday departures) and 1,916-guest Zuiderdam (Saturday departures) sail a total of 41 voyages from May 1 to September 21. During those voyages guests will visit Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Glacier Bay National Park and make a shore excursion call at Tracy Arm Fjord.
Four additional Inside Passage cruises sail aboard Statendam and Zaandam. Statendam departs Vancouver May 5 and 12, and September 22. Zaandam departs May 5.
During embarkation for the Seattle voyages, a ranger from the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park will be available to talk to guests about the Klondike parks and other national parks located throughout the Inside Passage. On all Glacier Bay sailings, a park ranger and native interpreters from the Huna people board the ships to explain the origins of their tribe and cultural traditions.
Seven-Day Glacier Discovery Voyages Sail from Vancouver to Seward (or reverse)
The 1,260-guest Statendam and 1,432-guest Zaandam once again will provide the only mid-sized cruise ship experience available in the Gulf of Alaska. Glacier Discovery cruises sail between Vancouver and Seward (Anchorage) with Sunday departures May 13 through September 16. The itinerary features port calls at Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, a day at sea in the Gulf of Alaska and scenic cruising through the Inside Passage. Each ship will sail 18 voyages and include a visit to Glacier Bay.
CruiseTours and Exclusive Shore Adventures Provide More Discovery of Alaska
Added capacity and departures also will send more guests on the line’s CruiseTours, which combine a three-, four- or seven-day Inside Passage cruise with in-depth overland tours to the Yukon and Alaska’s interior. Offering up to three days at Denali National Park for wildlife viewing and spectacular scenery, CruiseTours are designed to highlight the best of Alaska’s wilderness, wildlife, native culture and history.
Holland America Line offers more than 250 optional shore excursions in conjunction with its Alaska cruises. While in port, guests can optimize their Alaskan experience with excursions that involve everything from adventure and wildlife watching to history, art and cuisine. Exclusive Cruise with Purpose shore excursions turn vacation time into an exciting give-and-take opportunity — combining traditional tour content with a chance to make a difference to society, the environment, animal welfare or economic growth.
Guests also can enjoy active excursions such as sea kayaking, fly or sport fishing, dog sledding and viewing eagles, sea otters and whales. Other exciting excursions feature such attractions as the White Pass Summit Scenic Railway from Skagway, Russian heritage in Sitka, a photography tour in Haines and a five-course tasting meal featuring Alaska seafood prepared by a local chef in Ketchikan.
Looking for the latest FABCruise offers on a wide range of cruise holidays let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Although the number of Holland America ships deployed in Alaska will remain at seven — the same as 2012 — ms Amsterdam will double its departures on new seven-day roundtrip sailings from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As a result, Alaska-season departures will increase 8.5 percent and guest capacity will increase 6 percent over 2012.
Plus, Early Advantage savings feature complimentary upgrades and free and reduced fares for third or fourth guests who share the same stateroom on select sailings. By planning ahead, a family of four can take advantage of fares on select departure dates starting at $699 per person for the first and second guest in a stateroom, and the third and fourth sailing free. Taxes are additional.
“Increasing our capacity in Alaska means that Holland America Line will offer nearly 1.6 million passenger days in the 2013 season,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “These itineraries have always been among our most popular, and Amsterdam’s new seven day departures will allow us to bring more guests to Alaska and show off the natural beauty of this part of the world. We also encourage travelers to book early and enjoy greater benefits with Early Advantage savings.”
When the 1,380-guest Amsterdam begins its Alaska season May 24, the ship will sail a series of 17 seven-day Inside Passage voyages. The Vancouver sailings feature port calls at Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, Alaska, as well as scenic cruising throughout Glacier Bay National Park or Tracy Arm Fjord/Twin Sawyer glaciers.
For the 2013 Alaska cruise season, Holland America Line also will feature ms Zaandam and ms Statendam each sailing on 18 Gulf of Alaska departures from Vancouver. Statendam and Zaandam also will sail four total Inside Passage routes, along with Amsterdam (17), ms Volendam (21) and ms Zuiderdam (20). In addition, ms Oosterdam and ms Westerdam are slated to sail 21 and 20, respectively, seven-night voyages from Seattle, Wash.
Seven-day Alaskan Explorer Voyages Sail Roundtrip from Seattle
Starting May 5 and 11, respectively, the 1,916-guest Oosterdam (Sunday departures) and 1,916-guest Westerdam (Saturday departures) will sail 21 and 20 seven-day Alaskan Explorer voyages departing roundtrip from Seattle. The itinerary features port calls at Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, Alaska; Victoria, British Columbia; and a scenic cruising experience at Tracy Arm Fjord/Twin Sawyer glaciers or Glacier Bay National Park.
Seven-day Inside Passage Voyages Sail Roundtrip from Vancouver
Five Holland America Line ships – Amsterdam, Statendam, Volendam, Zaandam and Zuiderdam – will sail roundtrip from Vancouver on a series of seven-day Inside Passage voyages. The 1,432-guest Volendam (Wednesday departures) and 1,916-guest Zuiderdam (Saturday departures) sail a total of 41 voyages from May 1 to September 21. During those voyages guests will visit Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Glacier Bay National Park and make a shore excursion call at Tracy Arm Fjord.
Four additional Inside Passage cruises sail aboard Statendam and Zaandam. Statendam departs Vancouver May 5 and 12, and September 22. Zaandam departs May 5.
During embarkation for the Seattle voyages, a ranger from the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park will be available to talk to guests about the Klondike parks and other national parks located throughout the Inside Passage. On all Glacier Bay sailings, a park ranger and native interpreters from the Huna people board the ships to explain the origins of their tribe and cultural traditions.
Seven-Day Glacier Discovery Voyages Sail from Vancouver to Seward (or reverse)
The 1,260-guest Statendam and 1,432-guest Zaandam once again will provide the only mid-sized cruise ship experience available in the Gulf of Alaska. Glacier Discovery cruises sail between Vancouver and Seward (Anchorage) with Sunday departures May 13 through September 16. The itinerary features port calls at Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, a day at sea in the Gulf of Alaska and scenic cruising through the Inside Passage. Each ship will sail 18 voyages and include a visit to Glacier Bay.
CruiseTours and Exclusive Shore Adventures Provide More Discovery of Alaska
Added capacity and departures also will send more guests on the line’s CruiseTours, which combine a three-, four- or seven-day Inside Passage cruise with in-depth overland tours to the Yukon and Alaska’s interior. Offering up to three days at Denali National Park for wildlife viewing and spectacular scenery, CruiseTours are designed to highlight the best of Alaska’s wilderness, wildlife, native culture and history.
Holland America Line offers more than 250 optional shore excursions in conjunction with its Alaska cruises. While in port, guests can optimize their Alaskan experience with excursions that involve everything from adventure and wildlife watching to history, art and cuisine. Exclusive Cruise with Purpose shore excursions turn vacation time into an exciting give-and-take opportunity — combining traditional tour content with a chance to make a difference to society, the environment, animal welfare or economic growth.
Guests also can enjoy active excursions such as sea kayaking, fly or sport fishing, dog sledding and viewing eagles, sea otters and whales. Other exciting excursions feature such attractions as the White Pass Summit Scenic Railway from Skagway, Russian heritage in Sitka, a photography tour in Haines and a five-course tasting meal featuring Alaska seafood prepared by a local chef in Ketchikan.
Looking for the latest FABCruise offers on a wide range of cruise holidays let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Cruise Lines, Cruise Ships
Cruise Destinations,
Cruise Ships,
Cruiselines,
Holland America,
MS Amsterdam,
ms Statendam,
ms Volendam,
ms Zaandam,
ms Zuiderdam
Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Master Chef's International Dinner Introduced by Holland America
Holland America Line has unveiled a new Master Chef’s International Dinner in the main dining room, a unique experience showcasing signature dishes from around the world. The exotic menu is offered once a cruise and features cuisine from six continents crafted by Holland America Line’s award-winning Master Chef Rudi Sodamin in collaboration with several of the line’s expert chefs.
Guests can design their international three- or four-course meal by choosing each course from selections that represent a variety of cultures. The exclusive 20-dish menu includes appetizers, entrees and desserts from Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, North and South America, as well as wine pairings from each region. Guests also can choose Chef Rudi’s Tour Around the World, a pre-selected three-course meal by the master chef.
“The Master Chef’s International Dinner is a special culinary celebration of cultures around the world,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “Each dish captures the essence of the region’s cuisine with each course complementing the next, making for a truly exquisite dining experience for our guests.”
The international menu includes Scandinavian-style Seafood and Potato Chowder, Lebanese Lamb Shank, Argentinean Guiso Soup, Bourbon Glazed Beef with Grilled Portabella Mushrooms and Tofu and Vegetable Korma. Desserts include New York-style Cheesecake, Viennese Mohr im Hemd and Kiwi and Passion Fruit Pavlova, a traditional meringue-based Russian dessert.
Looking for the latest FABCruise offers on a wide range of cruise holidays let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Guests can design their international three- or four-course meal by choosing each course from selections that represent a variety of cultures. The exclusive 20-dish menu includes appetizers, entrees and desserts from Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, North and South America, as well as wine pairings from each region. Guests also can choose Chef Rudi’s Tour Around the World, a pre-selected three-course meal by the master chef.
“The Master Chef’s International Dinner is a special culinary celebration of cultures around the world,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “Each dish captures the essence of the region’s cuisine with each course complementing the next, making for a truly exquisite dining experience for our guests.”
The international menu includes Scandinavian-style Seafood and Potato Chowder, Lebanese Lamb Shank, Argentinean Guiso Soup, Bourbon Glazed Beef with Grilled Portabella Mushrooms and Tofu and Vegetable Korma. Desserts include New York-style Cheesecake, Viennese Mohr im Hemd and Kiwi and Passion Fruit Pavlova, a traditional meringue-based Russian dessert.
Looking for the latest FABCruise offers on a wide range of cruise holidays let FABTHINGS2do help you.
Cruise Lines, Cruise Ships
Cruiselines,
Holland America,
On Board Activities
Friday, 1 January 2010
How was 2009 for Cruising?
2009 was the busiest year in cruising history. A 2009 Cruise Industry Review.

The cruise industry must be doing better than most people expected. Carnival Cruise Lines just ordered a brand new ship, a third sister ship in the Carnival Dream class, and Royal Caribbean just announced that the financing for Allure of the Seas, the sister ship to Oasis, is already 80% in place with another loan guarantee (up to 95% of $1.13 billion) from Finnvera, the Finnish export credit agency.
In the latest Carnival Corp earnings statement CEO Micky Arison said "We weathered the most challenging economic environment in the company's history exceptionally well. In 2009, Carnival was the most profitable leisure travel company, which is testament to the strength and quality of our global portfolio."
2009 brought us several brand new ships of significant size and evolution in design; starting with Seabourn Spirit, the first of the next generation of luxury cruise ships carrying as many as 450 passengers without changing the spacious cabins and personalized service. Celebrity Equinox arrived last summer, the sister ship to the Solstice-class from Celebrity. In November Carnival launched their largest ship ever, Carnival Dream. Just two weeks later we saw Oasis of the Seas arrive from Royal Caribbean.
January 20th, 2010, Silversea Cruises, arguably the most luxurious cruise line in the world - the line for people who want the best at any price - will introduce their brand new 450-passenger ship, Silver Spirit, in Fort Lauderdale. The ship has six different restaurants onboard plus full room service where your butler will bring your entire dining room meal to your suite, if you wish, set up a table with linens and serve it to you course by course.
There will be a spa on Silver Spirit where you can actually get Botox and other surgical enhancements and recover in privacy. They also offer unique eastern medicine treatments such as acupuncture and bamboo massage. The ship's first cruise after her inaugural is a 91-day circumnavigation of South America, and is already nearly sold out.
Reports come in to Holidays Online that certain kinds of cruises are still doing remarkably well. River cruises in Europe, for example, are more popular with Americans than ever before due to a realignment of focus towards the American audience. They now offer a larger variety of shore excursions, which they are making longer than before instead of rushing back to the ship for lunch every day, a practice the Europeans expect but Americans view as an annoyance. Since these riverboats now sail with almost 90% passengers from the United States, there is no longer any reason to take up valuable time translating lectures or having different shore tours for different languages. In addition, the new riverboats are beautiful, with actual balconies for fresh air in every stateroom and even free Internet access available via Wi-Fi throughout the boat.

In fact, computer use onboard ships is finally emerging as a real priority. Carnival Dream has a "FunHub" where cruisers can log in for free at several stations onboard and leave messages for other passengers. Brad Ball from Silversea Cruises tells me more people are coming on cruises and continuing to do their work; almost as if they never left land. As long as they have their computer and Blackberry they are essentially just as connected at sea as they are in the office. Cruising has become the preferred vacation for people who need to work while they play. Although Internet access isn't free on any cruises other than riverboats yet, I personally see this as a very big future draw and I predict that the first cruise line to offer unlimited Internet access for a reasonable fee will find that to be a highly attractive option to draw new business.
One thing that has proven itself is that veteran cruisers will still pay a premium to go on the newest and nicest ships; just for a chance to see something different with all of the latest enhancements.
Meanwhile, the cruise lines also continue to upgrade their older ships by re-decorating them and adding more amenities such as Wi-Fi, new restaurants, new rooms for onboard enrichment such as computer classes and additional places to eat more varieties of food. Holland America has spent more than 500 million dollars now to upgrade their entire fleet by continuing the "Signature of Excellence" campaign started in 2004. Carnival upgraded all of their Fantasy class ships over the last four years to include new water parks for kids, serenity areas for adults, more varieties of food onboard, better Internet access and nicer pool areas with hot tubs and cabanas.
Even the luxury cruise lines are enhancing their older vessels. Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn and Crystal have all announced significant upgrades to their older ships during the last year, making them all highly attractive and utile vessels.
In the long run, while the economy has slowed down consumer spending, it doesn't mean the cruise industry has gone into any kind of suspended mode by any means. Unlike previous economic downturns or interruptions in travel, such as 9/11, this recession has not had the effect of putting any cruise lines out of business or even in the position where they have had to cut back on their plans to continue to grow and improve their fleets.
The only exception was the decision of NCL not to go forward with building two of the F3-class of new vessels, the first of which will debut in June 2010 with Norwegian Epic. So they are only building one instead of two; if the economy gets better and Norwegian Epic is as well received as we predict it will be they can always change their minds again. After all, no one expected Carnival to order a brand new ship just two weeks ago, and yet they did.
It is surprising, in fact, how little effect this recession has had on the continuing plans of the cruise lines. Cruise fares are down so cruising has never been more affordable, and with all of the continuing upgrades we have seen throughout the cruise industry you can truly say that cruising is a strong industry with a proven track record of financial stability. If you believe Micky Arison, CEO of Carnival Corp, cruising is arguably the strongest leisure travel industry in the world right now.

The cruise industry must be doing better than most people expected. Carnival Cruise Lines just ordered a brand new ship, a third sister ship in the Carnival Dream class, and Royal Caribbean just announced that the financing for Allure of the Seas, the sister ship to Oasis, is already 80% in place with another loan guarantee (up to 95% of $1.13 billion) from Finnvera, the Finnish export credit agency.
In the latest Carnival Corp earnings statement CEO Micky Arison said "We weathered the most challenging economic environment in the company's history exceptionally well. In 2009, Carnival was the most profitable leisure travel company, which is testament to the strength and quality of our global portfolio."
2009 brought us several brand new ships of significant size and evolution in design; starting with Seabourn Spirit, the first of the next generation of luxury cruise ships carrying as many as 450 passengers without changing the spacious cabins and personalized service. Celebrity Equinox arrived last summer, the sister ship to the Solstice-class from Celebrity. In November Carnival launched their largest ship ever, Carnival Dream. Just two weeks later we saw Oasis of the Seas arrive from Royal Caribbean.
January 20th, 2010, Silversea Cruises, arguably the most luxurious cruise line in the world - the line for people who want the best at any price - will introduce their brand new 450-passenger ship, Silver Spirit, in Fort Lauderdale. The ship has six different restaurants onboard plus full room service where your butler will bring your entire dining room meal to your suite, if you wish, set up a table with linens and serve it to you course by course.
There will be a spa on Silver Spirit where you can actually get Botox and other surgical enhancements and recover in privacy. They also offer unique eastern medicine treatments such as acupuncture and bamboo massage. The ship's first cruise after her inaugural is a 91-day circumnavigation of South America, and is already nearly sold out.
Reports come in to Holidays Online that certain kinds of cruises are still doing remarkably well. River cruises in Europe, for example, are more popular with Americans than ever before due to a realignment of focus towards the American audience. They now offer a larger variety of shore excursions, which they are making longer than before instead of rushing back to the ship for lunch every day, a practice the Europeans expect but Americans view as an annoyance. Since these riverboats now sail with almost 90% passengers from the United States, there is no longer any reason to take up valuable time translating lectures or having different shore tours for different languages. In addition, the new riverboats are beautiful, with actual balconies for fresh air in every stateroom and even free Internet access available via Wi-Fi throughout the boat.
In fact, computer use onboard ships is finally emerging as a real priority. Carnival Dream has a "FunHub" where cruisers can log in for free at several stations onboard and leave messages for other passengers. Brad Ball from Silversea Cruises tells me more people are coming on cruises and continuing to do their work; almost as if they never left land. As long as they have their computer and Blackberry they are essentially just as connected at sea as they are in the office. Cruising has become the preferred vacation for people who need to work while they play. Although Internet access isn't free on any cruises other than riverboats yet, I personally see this as a very big future draw and I predict that the first cruise line to offer unlimited Internet access for a reasonable fee will find that to be a highly attractive option to draw new business.
One thing that has proven itself is that veteran cruisers will still pay a premium to go on the newest and nicest ships; just for a chance to see something different with all of the latest enhancements.
Meanwhile, the cruise lines also continue to upgrade their older ships by re-decorating them and adding more amenities such as Wi-Fi, new restaurants, new rooms for onboard enrichment such as computer classes and additional places to eat more varieties of food. Holland America has spent more than 500 million dollars now to upgrade their entire fleet by continuing the "Signature of Excellence" campaign started in 2004. Carnival upgraded all of their Fantasy class ships over the last four years to include new water parks for kids, serenity areas for adults, more varieties of food onboard, better Internet access and nicer pool areas with hot tubs and cabanas.
Even the luxury cruise lines are enhancing their older vessels. Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn and Crystal have all announced significant upgrades to their older ships during the last year, making them all highly attractive and utile vessels.
In the long run, while the economy has slowed down consumer spending, it doesn't mean the cruise industry has gone into any kind of suspended mode by any means. Unlike previous economic downturns or interruptions in travel, such as 9/11, this recession has not had the effect of putting any cruise lines out of business or even in the position where they have had to cut back on their plans to continue to grow and improve their fleets.
The only exception was the decision of NCL not to go forward with building two of the F3-class of new vessels, the first of which will debut in June 2010 with Norwegian Epic. So they are only building one instead of two; if the economy gets better and Norwegian Epic is as well received as we predict it will be they can always change their minds again. After all, no one expected Carnival to order a brand new ship just two weeks ago, and yet they did.
It is surprising, in fact, how little effect this recession has had on the continuing plans of the cruise lines. Cruise fares are down so cruising has never been more affordable, and with all of the continuing upgrades we have seen throughout the cruise industry you can truly say that cruising is a strong industry with a proven track record of financial stability. If you believe Micky Arison, CEO of Carnival Corp, cruising is arguably the strongest leisure travel industry in the world right now.
Cruise Lines, Cruise Ships
Carnival Cruises,
Cruise Reviews,
Cruise Ships,
Crystal Cruises,
Holland America,
NCL,
New Cruise Ships,
River Cruises,
Royal Caribbean,
Seabourn,
Silversea
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