May23

New Luxury cruise line is launching!

by admin on May 23, 2013 at 12:09 pm
Posted In: River Cruise

 

River cruise giant Viking’s move into ocean cruising became official late Thursday as the company unveiled details of a new line to be called Viking Ocean Cruises.

“It is our view that in the race to build bigger ships, many cruise lines have lost sight of the destinations to which they sail,” Hagen said. “With our new ocean cruises, we are applying the same principles behind our award-winning river cruises to our itinerary and ship design; privileged-access excursions; and on-board experiences to make destinations the true focus.”

Viking has ordered two 928-passenger ships for the new line and has conditional orders and options for up to four more. Hagen on Thursday said the first of the 47,800-ton vessels will begin sailing in May 2015 and be called Viking Star. It’ll sail maiden voyages in Scandinavia and the Baltic; and the Western and Eastern Mediterranean, he said.

Viking is a leader in river cruising but until now has not operated ocean cruises. The company’s fast-growing Viking River Cruises line operates more than 30 vessels, including 10 new ships unveiled in March at a record-setting event in Amsterdam. The company has 12 more river ships on order for 2014.

Viking Ocean Cruises will be the first major new ocean line to debut in nearly a decade and enters an arena dominated by a handful of big players such as Miami-based Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruises. Carnival Corp. owns 10 brands that offer ocean cruises including Carnival, Princess, Holland America and Seabourn, and accounts for nearly half of the worldwide ocean cruise business. Royal Caribbean owns five ocean cruise brands including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara.

Viking Ocean Cruises likely will compete most directly with Azamara, which operates two upscale, 710-passenger ships, and Oceania Cruises, which has four upscale ships that carry from 684 to 1,250 passengers.

As you may well know, I have a real soft spot for luxury cruising. They may not be cheap although they do often offer really good value for money but at the end of the day, you get what you pay for. I’m hoping that this new line doesn’t overprice themselves but rather helps to bring down the price of all the others by offering more competition.

We will just have to wait and see.

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May07

Would you rob a bank to go on a cruise? This guy did.

by admin on May 7, 2013 at 4:29 pm
Posted In: cruise.co.uk

An avid cruiser has allegedly held up a bank so that he could pay for a Disney cruise for his family.

Cedrick Swinson is alleged to have staged the robbery after realizing he didn’t have enough money in his own bank account to pay for the trip.

The 37-year-old left his girlfriend and two children in a car outside the bank Thursday while he went inside to carry out the alleged robbery.

They had no idea what he was doing, but when he returned to the car and drove off in a hurry his girlfriend is alleged to have said to him: ‘What did you do, rob a bank?’

Police said Swinson, who was on holiday in Florida from North Carolina, told them he wanted the money to pay for a Disney cruise.

He had promised the family a trip but when he checked his bank account realized he did not have enough to pay the final installment for the trip.

Swinson told investigators it was a spur of the moment decision to rob the bank as he felt ‘pressured’ to honor his promise of the cruise.

He was arrested minutes after the robbery after police pulled over his SUV. Cash stolen during the holdup was found in the vehicle.

The cash-for-holiday robbery took place in Satellite Beach, Florida, at a Navy Federal Credit Union branch.

Swinson walked into the branch and handed a bank clerk a note demanding money. He patted his pocket to indicate he was armed.

He was captured on CCTV cameras as he stood waiting for his money.

Police questioned his girlfriend but later released her as she was not aware of the bank robbery.

cruise

Swinson was booked on robbery, grand theft and driving on a suspended license.

Swinson, who has previous convictions for passing worthless checks and theft, was charged with robbery, grand theft and driving on a suspended license.

I know Disney cruises is not the cheapest family cruise option but before you feel you need to rob a bank for your holiday, give me a call and I’ll see if I can get you a more affordable way to get away.

 

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Apr18

Caviar-Topped Sorbet? It’s on the Menu at Seishin

by admin on April 18, 2013 at 9:01 pm
Posted In: cruise.co.uk

In the exclusive world of small-ship cruising, Silversea offers an unmatched variety of creative culinary options designed to suit the most discerning palates.

Did you know that the Silver Spirit is home to no fewer than six uniquely inspired dining venues?(I’ve tried 5 of them) The Restaurant, La Terrazza, Le Champagne, Stars Supper Club, The Grill, and Seishin, our popular Asian fusion restaurant where you have the opportunity to savour a delectable sorbet topped with caviar — are all available in addition to complimentary 24-hour room service.

Jason Leppert, cruise expert and editor-in-chief of the cruise review website Popular Cuising, has been sailing aboard Silver Spirit this week and sharing his experience in a Live Voyage Review. In his latest installment, he takes readers on a tantalising photographic journey to discover the culinary delights of Seishin and Le Champagne — as well as other dining and entertainment options. Click here to follow along.

 

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Mar28

Have you seen one this big? Here’s your chance.

by admin on March 28, 2013 at 2:12 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized

World’s largest and most innovative cruise ship to call into UK port
Oasis of the Seas to visit Southampton in October 2014
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The world’s largest cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas, will offer cruises in Europe for the first time in autumn 2014, including making its first ever port of call into Southampton on 15 October 2014.

Accommodating 6,400 guests at total capacity, Oasis of the Seas is longer than four football pitches, wider than almost six London buses parked end-to-end, and is a huge 225,282 Gross Registered Tons. When Oasis of the Seas arrives in Southampton, it will be 40 per cent larger than any other cruise ship to ever dock in the UK and will join two further Royal Caribbean International cruise ships based in the port.

Oasis of the Seas will leave Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, its home port since December 2009, on 1 September 2014 on a 12-night eastbound transatlantic cruise to Barcelona. The world’s largest and most innovative cruise ship will offer a series of cruises from the Spanish port – two five-night roundtrip Western Mediterranean sailings and a seven-night sailing to Rotterdam – before heading to dry-dock in the Képpel Verolme shipyard in the Netherlands for routine maintenance.
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The ship will return to Port Everglades on a 13-night westbound transatlantic cruise on 14 October 2014, departing from Rotterdam in the Netherlands and calling into Southampton on 15 October 2014 where UK guests can join the ship to sail across the Atlantic.

Jo Rzymowska, associate vice president and general manager, Royal Caribbean International, UK and Ireland, explains:

“Oasis of the Seas sailing from Southampton is going to be the hottest ticket in town. Bringing the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ship to Europe, and specifically the UK and Southampton, is testament to how much the cruise industry has grown. When Oasis of the Seas was launched, the ship was a real game-changer for the cruise industry and it continues to be one of the most innovative holiday resorts in the world. Royal Caribbean International is proud to have a long heritage of ships calling in and based from Southampton and we’re very excited to add Oasis of the Seas to this.”

With a range of exclusive features onboard such as its very own Central Park, Oasis of the Seas has a real outdoor park about the size of a football pitch filled with more than 12,000 real trees and plants, an 82 foot-long zip wire, a hand-crafted carousel, a huge open air theatre – the AquaTheater – rock climbing walls and surf simulators. The ship features 16 decks packed full of activities and entertainment including the West End hit, Hairspray, huge open air spaces and more activities for families than have ever been seen at sea before.

Ship owner, Royal Caribbean International, is also hopeful that Oasis of the Seas will deliver a positive impact for the city of Southampton. Economic impact analysis carried out by the Port of Southampton states that a ship turnaround in the port generates around £2.5 million of knock on revenue for the city and surrounding area.

I will be first in line to see her as unfortunately I just don’t think I’ll be able to get to the Caribbean before then.
Will you be there to see her sail in or will you be one of the lucky ones to get to sail her?

The first ever European season and UK based cruise of Oasis of the Seas will go on sale on 11 April 2013. For more information and to book please visit www.cruise.co.uk, call 0800 408 6119 or email me graemep@cruise.co.uk.
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Mar14

Imagine Jumping Overboard and then suing the cruiseline for a delayed rescue!

by admin on March 14, 2013 at 6:00 pm
Posted In: cruise.co.uk

A woman who drank too much and then jumped off her cruise ship balcony is suing Carnival Corp. for delaying her rescue and then refusing to adequately treat her.

Sarah Kirby was on a five-night Caribbean cruise onboard Carnival Destiny in October 2012 when the incident occurred. Though Kirby alleges in her suit that she fell from her balcony, witnesses told Carnival Cruise Lines she jumped, Cruise Critic reported at the time.

According to Courthouse News Service, lawyers for Kirby wrote that after becoming “extremely intoxicated,” she stepped on to her balcony for air. “As she was holding on to the balcony’s wooden banister, the plaintiff lost her grip and balance, slipped off the ground and fell overboard into the ocean.”

Kirby alleges in her lawsuit that despite a friend immediately reporting that Kirby went overboard, the captain of the ship refused to stop or turn around until a 90-minute shipwide search had been conducted.

Once the ship did turn around and rescue Kirby from the water, she claims ship doctors refused to treat her injuries (including multiple broken bones, lung contusions and blood clots), giving her only pain medication. Additionally, she claims Carnival refused to airlift her to a hospital in Miami, instead diverting the ship to Key West.

Kirby further accused Carnival of getting her drunk by “pushing” Long Island iced-teas on her and encouraging her to drink more by giving her free $5 casino coupons each time she purchased more drinks.

She is suing Carnival Corp., as well as four people, including two of the doctors on the ship at the time, for negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

It sounds crazy to me and its one persons word over another but the whole story sounds a little strange to me.
Should cruiselines limit the amount of alcohol you consume? Make the balcony’s higher?
What are your thoughts?

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