blog

Port of Galveston upgrade for bigger Carnival ship

The Port of Galveston will undergo nearly $11 million in renovations to help prepare for the 2011 arrival of Carnival Magic, the cruise line's newest and largest vessel. The port board of trustees has awarded a $7.4 million contract to Houston-based Webber LLC to expand waiting areas, add restrooms and move the embarking screening area from the terminal's second floor to the first floor. The Galveston County Daily News reported Tuesday that the board also approved an agreement with Trelleborg, Sweden,-based FMT to install a new gangway by Aug. 31. The cost limit is $3.5 millio...Read More...

Posted on September 24,2010

Celebrity Cruises Celebrates Autumnal Equinox by Naming Fifth Ship In Widely Heralded Solstice Class Fleet

In light of the images of sun and shadow conveyed in the names of Celebrity Cruises' stylish Solstice Class ships, the world's top-rated premium brand is marking autumnal equinox by announcing the name of the fifth in its 'Xceptional' series: Celebrity Reflection. "Selecting the name of the fifth ship in the class led us to reflect back on the significant impact the Solstice Class has had on the cruise industry," said Celebrity's President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. "Our Solstice Class ships offer the finest in premium cruising, with service provided by the best men ...Read More...

Posted on September 23,2010

Top 10 Reasons to Cruise

by Erica Silverstein, Cruise Critic - September 14, 2010 Travelers who haven't yet tried a cruise tell us that popular cruising myths like "I'll get seasick" and "I'll feel claustrophobic on a ship" are among the reasons they've not yet crossed the gangway. At the same time, compelling lures, like commercials you see on TV of families sliding down onboard waterslides or of couples gazing out to sea from their private balcony are tempting. Even more tantalizing: friends who have cruised and who come home from vacation just raving. If you're among those who's considering a fi...Read More...

Posted on September 20,2010

Norwegian Cruise Line Kicks Off Exciting NFL Season

Norwegian Cruise Line will be the host of America's favorite pastime as the National Football League (NFL) season kicks off this fall. Norwegian will broadcast 44 NFL regular season games including three exciting match ups on Thanksgiving Day. In addition to the Sunday and Thursday night games, eight playoff games, the NFC and the AFC conference championships, and the ultimate battle for the championship ring, the Super Bowl, will be broadcast on the line's fleet of Freestyle Cruising ships (except Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Gem while in Europe). Guests can pack their jerseys and support...Read More...

Posted on September 20,2010

From Blue-Faced Men to Rainbow-Colored Carousels

Entertainment & Enrichment at Sea Remember when shipboard entertainment was simply a poolside game led by the cruise director and perhaps the occasional ice carving contest? These days it’s more like surfing on Royal Caribbean’s FlowRider and splashing in Disney Dream’s AquaDuck, the first water coaster at sea. When cruise lines proclaim that a vessel has more activities onboard than most resorts, they’re not kidding. Here’s a sampling of what modern ships have to offer in the arena of entertainment and enrichment. Ice Bar aboard Norwe...Read More...

Posted on September 10,2010

A sneak peek at Royal Caribbean's next ship, Allure of the Seas!

Could the 5,400-passenger Allure of the Seas be the new "world's biggest cruise ship?" That's the question that was hanging in the air this week as Royal Caribbean offered cruise writers a sneak peek at the soon-to-debut sister to the much-ballyhooed, ten-month-old Oasis of the Seas (the current record holder for size). Over a two-day visit to the still-under-construction vessel at the STX Europe shipyard in Turku, Finland, the subject came up a number of times in discussions with executives (click HERE for our extensive Photo Tour of what we saw while touring Allure). At one point, Allu...Read More...