Awesome Oasis of the Seas
By · CommentsBy the Avid Cruiser
In December 2009, Royal Caribbean International introduced the world’s largest cruise ship: the 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas.
Let’s start by getting the size factor out of the way. Yes, the ship is mammoth. It spans 16 decks, encompasses 220,000 gross registered tons, and if full, holds 6,200 guests. But as the bigwigs at Royal Caribbean tell us, the company has been here before – twice in fact.
No modern cruiser would bat an eye at a 3,114-passenger vessel, but that is the size of the Voyager of the Seas, which was the world’s largest cruise ship when it debuted in 1999, roused the same questions the Oasis did: Will it float? Will it fit into ports? Will it take half a day to get on and off?
It is natural to focus on Oasis’ size. We did so with Voyager and also when Royal introduced the 4,300-passenger Freedom of the Seas in 2006. But with the Oasis, its size is not the story behind this ship.
The Oasis has amenities never seen afloat before, such as a zip-line and a carousel, as well as the first moving bar at sea, which ascends from the ship’s Promenade area of indoor stores and cafes, to its Central Park, an open-air outdoor “park” with pathways, flower gardens and canopy trees that span the length of a football field.
A pool situated at the very back of the ship, the deepest at sea, is by night an outdoor amphitheater, hosting synchronized swimming and diving shows featuring Olympic athletes that jump from as high as 72 feet up. During the day guests can swim or take SCUBA lessons in the pool, or relax on loungers located on tiered platforms surrounding it. Speaking of pools, the Oasis has four of them. Two are made to feel like a beach with sloped entries you can walk into just as you would the ocean.
The Oasis revolutionized cruise ship accommodations, offering 37 different accommodation categories, and unique offerings such as duplex “loft suites” that have 18-foot windows looking on to the ocean. Other cabins have views of the line’s seven “neighborhoods” such as the aforementioned Central Park and also the Boardwalk, home to the Carousel and venues like a (fake) tattoo parlor.
In addition to Central Park, the “neighborhoods” include the Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone: 28,700-square-feet just for kids and teens with Kids Avenue, a central boulevard connecting various themed play areas; a nursery for infants and toddlers; a theater just for children.
All this give parents time to enjoy the adults-only retreat, the open-air Solarium. Adults have their own swimming pool and six whirlpools – four of them cantilevered 136 feet above the ocean. At night, the Solarium becomes an adults-only setting for specialty dining and outdoor dancing.
The Oasis’ itineraries – seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean – are certainly not original. It is true that there are few ports worldwide that could accommodate such ships. But the Oasis forced innovation at some of these ports, and will be a boon to all of them at a time when there is nary a destination that can’t use an influx of several thousand tourists each week.
In Fort Lauderdale, where the Oasis and its sister ship the Allure of the Seas homeport, Port Everglades built the world’s largest terminal for the Oasis ships. It is actually two separate terminals designed so that embarkation and debarkation can happen simultaneously, drastically saving time. The port has even said that its goal is to get passengers from curbside to the vessel in just 15 minutes.
Jamaica and Royal Caribbean worked together to create a new cruise port designed specifically for the two Oasis ships. Falmouth, which is also open to other cruise lines when Royal Caribbean isn’t there, is located 20 minutes from Montego Bay and 30 from Ocho Rios. It has been revitalized to reflect its heritage as an “old English town.” But construction delays forced Royal Caribbean to replace Falmouth with Costa Maya (Mexico) on the ship’s first 16 Western Caribbean sailings.
Anyone who hangs around with Royal Caribbean’s employees can feel a palpable enthusiasm. As the line’s chairman Richard Fain proclaimed: “It’s a good day in my neighborhood — all seven of them.”
From its Miami headquarters, Royal Caribbean continues to spread the word about its “Nation of Why Not?” campaign, which defines Royal Caribbean’s fleet as the ideal destination to declare independence from ordinary vacations. Clearly, “awesome” Oasis offers anything but an ordinary vacation.
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When In Belfast, See City Hall
By · CommentsBy the Avid Cruiser
Crystal Symphony recently called on Belfast. One of the key attractions in the capital of Northern Ireland is the Belfast City Hall, situated in the city center.
Built mainly from Portland stone in Baroque Revival style, Belfast City Hall dominates the city center skyline. The design of the building is reminiscent of London’s Old Bailey.
Free guided tours are offered daily, except Sundays. Monday through Friday the 45-minute to one-hour tours are offered at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. On Saturdays, tours are offered at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. If you plan to join a tour, show up in the City Hall reception area 15 minutes in advance.
Plans for the City Hall began in 1888 when Queen Victoria awarded Belfast city status. The original proclamation can be seen in the reception area. City status was in recognition of Belfast’s expansion and thriving industries, including ship-building (Titanic was constructed here) and linen.
Construction of the city hall began in 1898 under the supervision of architect Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas and was completed in 1906. Durban, South Africa’s City Hall is almost an exact replica of Belfast’s City Hall.
Belfast City Hall was officially reopened on October 12, 2009, following a two-year refurbishment. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton performed a ribbon cutting ceremony and unveilled a plaque to mark the reopening.
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Norwegian Epic
By · CommentsBy the Avid Cruiser
With more than 20 different dining options and a host of choices when it comes to accommodation, entertainment and activities, the Norwegian Epic underlines what NCL is all about: Freestyle Cruising.
Here is a taste of what is being offered on board.
Some staterooms on board the Norwegian Epic feature curved walls. With the New Wave staterooms (available in two categories: balcony and deluxe balcony), NCL brings something new to cruising.
Another cruise industry first introduced on the Norwegian Epic are the Studios – designed and priced for solo travelers. Guests staying in the 97 square-foot Studios also have access to the two-story Studio Lounge. We were impressed by the studios. NCL executives on board told us the studios have “just walked out the door on their own,” without being heavily marketed.
Each of the eight, 322-square-foot Spa Suites come with private key card access to the Spa Stateroom complex. Guests also have access to the exclusive Courtyard pool and fitness area on board. These suites feature whirlpool tubs and a sitting area.
The Epic Club Lounge is available to guests staying in the suites, villas and penthouses found on two private decks (16 and 17). This corner of the ship is known as the Courtyard area.
Equipped with three water slides, a climbing wall and various other amenities on the top decks, the Norwegian Epic is sure to be a hit with anyone looking for a fun-filled vacation. According to reports from test pilots, the green water slide is the fastest of the three.
La Cucina is one of the 20 dining options found on board the Norwegian Epic. Nine of those restaurants – including the Italian-flavored La Cucina – feature a cover charge of between $10-25 per person. Cagney’s Steakhouse is another option, sure to be familiar with those who have previously cruised with NCL.
The Spiegel Tent is more than a dining venue: it combines dining and show, creating an experience for all senses. As acrobats performed during the Cirque Dreams and Dinner, guests almost forgot to eat.
There were more shows going on on board the Norwegian Epic. For the first time ever at sea, the Blue Man Group performed in the Epic Theatre. Blue Man is well known from The Tonight Show and from shows in New York, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas and Orlando.
The Norwegian Epic was christened in New York on July 2, 2010 with the well-known country music artist Reba McEntire as godmother.
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Disney Dream Features… WOW!
By · CommentsBy the Avid Cruiser
Of course we expect great, magical, innovative things from Disney, but still, we were bowled over by the Disney Dream when she debuted in January 2011. Like her two sisters, the Dream’s design blends elegant Art Deco motifs with fun Disney whimsy. Mix in a bunch of mind-blowing new features and the ship’s a winner.
Here are the highlights:
- AquaDuck Water Coaster – Disney debuted a cruise-industry first: a shipboard water coaster called the AquaDuck. This high-speed flume ride has twists, turns, drops, uphill acceleration and river rapids – all while traversing the upper decks of the ship. AquaDuck stretches 765 feet in length – more than two and a half times the length of a football field – and spans four decks in height. Guests slide 13 feet over the side of the ship in a translucent swing-out loop allowing them to look down on the ocean 150 feet below. Experience coaster-like thrills as high-powered water jets push passengers upwards and forwards at 20 feet per second. AquaDuck continues through the forward funnel, encounters a 335 foot stretch of river rapids and splashes down to an end on Deck 12.
- A Virtual Porthole for Inside Staterooms. All inside cabins aboard the Disney Dream have a virtual porthole that offers guests a real-time view outside the ship. High-definition cameras placed on the exterior of the ship feed live video to each virtual porthole. Of course, expect some animation to be a part of the scene ala Peach the Starfish from the Disney*Pixar hit film “Finding Nemo” or Mickey Mouse.
- A Magical Oasis for Children. Nearly an entire deck is dedicated to youth areas, with two main spaces for children ages three to 10. Both venues feature interactive animation via 103-inch plasma screens, so kids can joke, chat and play with characters such as Crush, the sea turtle from “Finding Nemo” and Stitch, the alien from “Lilo and Stitch.”
- Disney’s Oceaneer Club invites children to play among larger-than-life characters from Disney*Pixar’s “Toy Story” in Andy’s Room; explore the Laugh Floor with lovable monsters Mike and Sully from “Monsters, Inc.;” dive under the sea with Nemo and friends; or visit Tinker Bell’s fairy forest.
- In Disney’s Oceaneer Lab children can pretend they’re embarking on a great seafaring adventure in a room filled with maps, maritime instruments and swashbuckling artifacts; and try their hand at animation, become a pop star, or navigate ships through digital seas.
- Chill-Out Zones for Tweens and Teens. Located inside the forward funnel is Edge, a lounge just for tweens ages 11 to 13. Hi-tech entertainment ranges from making and staring in photo postcards to video karaoke using green-screen technology.
- Vibe is a trendy indoor/outdoor space for the 14 to 17 set. A “teen-only” swipe card provides access to the nearly 9,000-square-foot club. Teens can create and edit videos, play computer games, access the onboard social media application or try their hand at spinning and mixing dance tracks. Teens have their own private outdoor deck area with chaise lounges for sunbathing, two wading pools, misters and pop jets for cooling off, and deck games like ping-pong and foosball.
- Rotational Dining. Just as aboard her two older sisters, the Dream features innovative rotational dining between three different restaurants for dinner. Servers accompany diners, offering friendly, familiar, personalized service each night. The rotational dining restaurants include Animator’s Palate, a signature Disney restaurant featuring Disney animation; Royal Palace, an elegant restaurant inspired by the classic Disney films “Cinderella,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Sleeping Beauty;” and Enchanted Garden, a casual venue inspired by the gardens of Versailles and featuring a dining environment that magically transforms from day to night.
- Just for Adults. Of course it’s not just the kids who will have a great time aboard the Disney Dream, adults will get pampered too. The District is a nighttime entertainment area with five sophisticated venues, each with its own unique design, look, feel, and theme. Senses Spa & Salon offers its brand of bliss in 17 private treatment rooms; spa villas with indoor treatment rooms and private outdoor verandahs; and Rainforest, a special section of the spa where guests can enjoy the relaxing and restorative benefits of steam, heat and hydrotherapy. Palo is an intimate adults-only restaurant featuring ocean views and soothing sounds of a pianist.
The Disney Dream sails alternating three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. During summer months, the ship alternates four- and five-night itineraries with two stops at Castaway Cay.
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Stockholm Gets New Nobu Restaurant!
By · CommentsBy the Avid Cruiser
Sweden’s capital city now has a Nobu Restaurant!
This is big news. Nobu Matsuhisa is one of the worlds top sushi chefs. Theres only one problem: The restaurant leaves town tomorrow.
The Nobu restaurant I’m referring to is on Crystal Cruises Crystal Symphony, tied up alongside the dock yesterday and today at Stockholm’s Frihamnen. You’ll need to cruise on Crystal to dine at Nobu. What can you expect from Nobu?
Well, if you spend an evening at Matsuhisa Restaurant in Beverly Hills, you can easily rack up a tab totaling a few hundred dollars. Sushi of this quality does not come cheap. But at the famed chef’s restaurants on the two ships operated by Crystal Cruises, you’ll need to pony up only US$7 per person after you’ve laid down your chop sticks for a final rest.
Long a land-based favorite, sushi has returned to the sea at Nobu’s restaurants on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony. And at what a price. That US$7 per person? It’s for suggested gratuities; Crystal charges nothing for dining at Nobu’s Silk Road and The Sushi Bar.
Nobu is about as good as it gets, says Thomas Mazloum, senior vice president of hotel operations for Crystal Cruises. His cuisine is unique, creative and healthy, and he has a name that resonates well around the world.
For people who love sushi, cruises on Crystal, with rates that range from US$300 to US$500 per person per day, can prove to be quite a value, especially considering that you could dole out US$100 or more per person for similar dining experiences ashore.
And it would be hard to swallow that the sushi is fresher elsewhere than in a restaurant floating directly over sushi’s natural habitat.
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Oasis Of The Seasick? Not Likely, According To Captain
By · CommentsBy the Avid Cruiser
Normally, stablizers are used to test the stability of a ship during sea trials. But when the Oasis of the Seas underwent its sea trials, the stablizers were used to deliberately make the ship roll.
Often, a pitch of 11 to 12 degrees can be achieved, according to Oasis’ Captain Bill Wright. But on the word’s largest cruise ship, “we couldn’t even get three degrees,” he says.
Harri Kulovaara, Royal Caribbean‘s executive vice president, marine, says, “I don’t know why we haven’t been building the wide bodies (ships) all along.”
Not only do wide ships allow for more facilities, but with a width of about 50 meters, more than 160 feet, Oasis is more stable than any of the ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet.
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Christmas: On The Rivers Of Europe With Family & Friends
By · CommentsBy the Avid Cruiser
Europe is a winter wonderland during the holidays.
Since 2006, I’ve celebrated Christmas with friends and family in an unlikely setting — on the rivers of Europe. It’s a tradition that I have very much enjoyed and one that I plan to continue.
I love the cozy feeling of being on a vessel that transports me, and a hundred or so others, along the main arteries of Europe during this festive time of year. I enjoy bundling up to stroll historic city streets among the Christmas markets and returning to the ship to sip on hot mulled cider or, when the mood strikes, Gluhwein.
If you’re lucky, as I have been on a few Christmas cruises, snow will blanket the villages along the rivers. Last year, I trudged on powder with my family and friends through the uber-charming Rothenburg ob der Tauber. We felt like we were walking in a fairy tale. Christmas trees were decorated with red ribbons and sparkly white lights. Branches were laden with clumps of snow that had fallen from the rooftops. Icicles appeared like mini-stalactites from awnings, and under them, shop windows presented everything from wurst to gingerbread cookies, baked in Old World tradition.
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Port Profile: Kalmar, Sweden
By · CommentsBy the Avid Cruiser
Voted one of Sweden’s best summer cities, there are many other facets to Kalmar than that as a popular destination for vacationers.
One of the most visible of those facets is the history of this city on Sweden’s east coast. Kalmar slott (the Kalmar Castle) is a symbol that the inhabitants quite rightly take pride in. In a way, the castle epitomizes Kalmar’s entire past. Once visitors start to scratch the surface, though, they will find that there is more than the castle to experience.
It was in Kalmar that Kalmarunionen (the Kalmar Union) was signed in 1397. The union united the three kingdoms of Sweden (including Finland), Denmark and Norway. And it was here that the well-known Swedish King Gustav Vasa landed in the year 1520 after having escaped from Danish imprisonment.
One of Sweden’s oldest cities, Kalmar’s port activities date back more than 1,000 years. In the Middle Ages, the port played an important role with its strategic location on the Kalmarsund trade route. Trade with the Hanseatic League was robust, imbuing Kalmar with Germanic atmosphere.
The city center is crammed with historical sites and renovated buildings that serve as reminders of developments and events like these, and of Sweden’s era as a country of great power in the Baltic region. Many of the more newly erected buildings have also been designed so as to blend in with the older houses.
But Kalmar has also developed while, at the same time, glancing at its history. This is a contemporary city, which attracts visitors from near and far. To many Swedes, Kalmar is synonymous with vacation, beaches and summertime fun. Witness Kalmar’s tenth place in a poll that ranked the favorite destinations for Swedes in summertime.
Quite a few Swedes also associate Kalmar with Oland, Sweden’s second-largest island. Oland is possibly even more of a summer paradise than Kalmar. This is where Sweden’s Royal family spend their summers, at the Solliden Palace. Oland is connected to mainland Sweden by a bridge that starts (or ends) in Kalmar. The bridge is one of the longest in Europe.
To view cruises to Sweden & Northern Europe, click here.
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Eyeing Eidfjord’s Shore Excursions
By · CommentsBy the Avid Cruiser
Yesterday, we traveled by helicopter from Bergen to Eidfjord, an exhilarating 30-minute trip. I can certainly recommend that anyone cruising Norway pony up for at least one helicopter excursion.
Seeing the topography from up above provides a completely different perspective of this mountainous and fjord-rich country. “It’s an amazing way to see the landscape,” says Aslaug Selland, director of shore excursions for European Cruise Service, based in Bergen. “For most people, it is an experience that they will never forget.”
You need spend no more than 20 minutes aloft from Eidfjord to see Voringsfossen, Norway’s best-known waterfall, and the Hardangervidda plateau, two of Eidfjord’s top attractions.
Eidfjord’s Top Shore Excursions
If you’re not for going “up in the air,” there are many “down to earth” shore excursions in and around Eidfjord. A sampling includes:
- The Voringsfossen waterfall – (as mentioned)
- Hardangervidda Plateau – an experience that provides an immersion into the dramatic scenery and beautiful nature of Europe’s largest mountain plateau.
- Fjord cruises - For those who want to get even closer to the Hardangerfjord, cruises with local boats or ferries are offered.
- Kjeasen Mountain Farm in Simadel - Experience traditional Norwegian farm life from the perspective of the owner of the farm. Good views along the 15-kilometer drive from the port.
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In-Depth Alaska: Cruise + Tour = Cruisetour
By · CommentsBy the Avid Cruiser
Research shows that most people planning a trip to Alaska want to see two places: Glacier Bay National Park and Denali National Park. You can get to Glacier Bay aboard a cruise ship and admire the national park’s stunning scenery from the comfort of your balcony stateroom. But to get to Denali (a.k.a. Mt. McKinley), you’ll have to get off the ship, lace up your hiking boots, and trek inland. That’s where a cruisetour comes in.
Cruisetours combine a cruise voyage with a fully escorted stay on land. The cruise lines have streamlined their product so that you’ll pay one price in exchange for two vacations: one at sea, and the other on land in the Alaskan interior. You’ll also enjoy two completely different travel experiences. While at sea, you’ll gaze out at glaciers, fjords, and lots of marine life. While in the interior, you’ll see snow-capped mountains (on a clear day, you may want to “fly by” Denali, North America’s tallest peak), wildlife, and what some have called “the real Alaska.” While a cruise offers travelers an excellent taste of Alaska, a cruisetour serves up the complete five-course dinner — the total Alaska experience.
Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International are all among the major cruise lines offering cruisetours. Each line employs their own tour guides, owns their own fleet of comfortable buses, and operates private glass-domed railcars that hitch up to the Alaska Railroad for the journey between Anchorage and Denali. The rail journey alone is spectacular — on a clear day, you’ll spot Denali’s dome several times from along the rails.
In total, a cruisetour will last anywhere from 10 days to three weeks. That includes the cruise portion of your trip, and you can choose to add your land stay either before or after you sail. Some cruisetours include two full days in Denali National Park, allowing you plenty of time to spot grizzly bears and admire the mountain scenery.
Travelers can explore Denali via 90 miles of semi-paved road that reaches deep into the park, or take to the skies and see Denali from an aerial perspective. Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to stay in back country lodges or mountain chateaus, and you’ll likely spend at least one night in Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city.
Some cruise lines offer close to thirty different cruisetour options. With so many variations available, it’s always advisable to speak to your cruise consultant about which option is best for you. Cruisetours also fill up quickly, so plan as far in advance as possible. The greatest number of cruisetour bookings occur in October and November — for the following year’s peak season — but it’s never too late to see what’s available.
Alaska is enormous. At 586,412 square miles, it’s more than twice the size of Texas, and cruise lines skirt only a small portion of the state’s 33,904 combined miles of coastline. For many, the real Alaska lies in the vast wilderness beyond the shorelines — and a cruisetour can take you there.
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