Profile and Photo Tour of Oceania's Regatta; Photo Essay on Carnival Dream

This week the focus is on two ships that present quite different cruising experiences. Indeed, they could be said to be polar opposites. Both ships are very good at providing the type of cruise experience that they set out to provide. However, that experience is quite different and whether you will be happy cruising on either of these ships very much depends upon your tastes and lifestyle. Thus, they serve to illustrate that all cruise ships are not fungible and thus it is important to investigate the type of cruise experience that a ship provides before booking a cruise.




Oceania Cruises Regatta is one of eight essentially identical cruise ships that were built for Renaissance Cruises. When that company went out of business the eight ships were dispersed among several cruise lines. Previously, Beyondships has profiled R Four, which is now Ocean Princess of Princess Cruises http://www.beyondships.com/Princess-OP-Profile.html and R Eight, which is now Adonia of P&O Cruises. http://www.beyondships.com/PO-Adonia-Profile.html Regatta was formerly R Two.



The R class ships are relatively small ships providing an elegant cruise experience in an intimate setting. They have wood-paneled public rooms that are furnished with overstuffed chairs and subtle unobtrusive art collections. The atmosphere is reminiscent of an upscale country club. Wisely, Oceania has maintained this atmosphere on Regatta.



Regatta is offered as a luxury cruise experience. It includes a gourmet dining program developed by Chef Jacques Pepin. Things like airfare are included in the fare and there is no cover charge for the two specialty restaurants. The intimate shipboard spa is operated by Canyon Ranch.



With only 684 passengers, the ship is uncrowded. Moreover, the guest to staff ratio is 1.71 to one, which allows for very personalized service.



As a small ship, Regatta is able to get into ports that the larger cruise ships cannot. Thus, her itineraries include ports that are off the beaten track.



As a result, Regatta tends to attract experienced travelers as well as those who are seeking a luxury experience. Guests are often mature and well-to-do.



Beyondships’ profile of Regatta is at http://www.beyondships.com/Oceania-Regatta-Profile.html The multi-page photo tour begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Oceania-Regatta-Tour-1.html



Carnival Dream is the largest cruise ship in the Carnival fleet. In fact, in terms of gross tonnage, she is four times the size of Regatta. She carries more than five times as many passengers.



Although Carnival still calls its ships “Fun ships,” they are not the young singles party boats that they were when the line began. Rather, the focus is on young families. Carnival provides a good quality cruise experience at reasonable rates designed to embrace people for whom cruising was not an affordable vacation option in the past.



Dream is big, bold and brassy. While her interior is more subdued than earlier Carnival ships, it is still intended to evoke a good times atmosphere. Furthermore, as a very large ship, there is space for lots of amenities and features. The spa is quite large as is the outdoor pool deck. There are also numerous bars, lounges and public areas.



Carnival Dream currently operates out of Port Canaveral in Florida. Her itineraries include major Caribbean ports where she can dock. These are popular ports that are well-developed for tourism.



I’ve added a new photo essay to Beyondships’ profile of Carnival Dream showing her in one of those popular ports - - St. Maarten. http://www.beyondships.com/CarnivalDream-photo-essay.html We have also added some more Fun Times daily programs to the profile page. http://www.beyondships.com/CarnivalDream-Profile.html



Thus, Carnival Dream and Regatta provide much different vacation experiences. Which is better depends upon what you like.

Crysal Symphony Profile, Photo Tour and Dining Guide

Crystal Symphony, along with her fleetmate Crystal Serenity, provide the benchmark for luxury cruising. Not only do other luxury lines compare their products to Crystal but officers on premium ships aspire to have their levels of service and quality approach those of Crystal. Thus, as part of our focus on luxury cruising, we had to return to Crystal Symphony.




This ship was one of the first ships profiled on Beyondships in 2007. Since then Crystal Symphony has undergone an extensive refurbishment.



The refurbishment did not change the essential character of this ship, which is one of understated luxury. Her interiors are not elaborate. The public areas have a streamlined contemporary style. They are extremely well-maintained and glisten in their cleanliness.



This is not to say that there have been no major changes. The pool area, the special restaurants, and the buffet restaurant have all been significantly altered. However, their elegance remains - - they are still eye-pleasing without calling attention to themselves.



Our new photo tour of Crystal Symphony begins at http://www.beyondships.com/CrystalSymphony-Tour-1.html

. The profile page remains at http://beyondships.com/CrystalSymphony-Profile.html but has new menus and new other information about the ship.



Another addition to our coverage of Crystal Symphony is an insider dining guide. I sat down with Food and Beverage Manager Walter Pietsching to talk about dining on Crystal Symphony. Not only did we discuss each of the dining venues on the ship but also the secret behind Crystal’s legendary service. http://beyondships.com/CrystalSymphony-dining.html

Talking with Cunard Commodore Rynd and Oasis of the Seas Photos

We have two new items this week.




First, we speak with Commodore Christopher Rynd of Cunard Line. The commodore of a passenger ship line is the senior seagoing officer in the line’s fleet. Traditionally, he has been the master of the line’s flagship and unlike a commodore in the military, his role has been pretty much limited to that ship.



Commodore Rynd, who was appointed commodore in April 2011, aims to break with tradition. While his two immediate predecessors as commodore were necessarily focused on bringing the line’s flagship, Queen Mary 2, into service and establishing her as a viable competitor in the modern cruise industry, Commodore Rynd sees his role as extending fleet-wide - - the goal being to further facilitate a unified Cunard product across the line’s three ships.



I sat down with Commodore Rynd during a transatlantic voyage on Queen Mary 2 and asked him about his vision for his new role. As in past interviews, his answers were well-thought out and well-articulated. Our conversation is at http://www.beyondships.com/QM2-Rynd-3.html



The second item this week is a new photo essay on Oasis of the Seas. On November 23, 2011, Oasis paid a call at the Caribbean island of St. Maarten. Although there were five other first-class cruise ships in port with her, Oasis was the center of attention. As the photographs of her during the course of the day and into the evening show, she attracts attention not just because of the enormity of her size but also because of the sense of excitement that she generates. The photo essay is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/RCI-OOS-StMaarten.html

Seven Seas Navigator Cruise Ship Profile and Photo Tour

Continuing our look at some of the ships in the luxury/ultra-luxury segment of the cruising, this week we focus on Seven Seas Navigator of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.




I was quite surprised to find out that Seven Seas Navigator is only 28,000 gross tons. The first time I saw her was several years ago when she was docked with Holland America’s Noordam at Grand Turk. Although she was clearly smaller than Noordam, she did not look one-third the size. Rather, she looked and still looks to be a substantial ship.



Perhaps this is because her hull was designed originally to be that of an exploration ship. It was only after her hull was completed that she was transformed into a luxury cruise ship. Thus, at her roots is a ship designed to travel any seas - - not a bad thing for a ship that roams far and wide cruising.



Navigator has a very traditional style. There is nothing that is designed to produce a “wow” or make you stagger back with awe. Rather, it is a conservative approach to luxury with extensive wood paneling, leather chairs, and understated colors. It is an approach that says quality and richness without shouting.



Regent is expanding on the concept of what is included in an “all-inclusive” fare. Of course, not everything is included in an all-inclusive fare. For example, they do not give you free of charge the chips to gamble with in the casino. However, on Navigator, an unlimited number of shore excursions are included as is round-trip airfare, a one-night stay in a hotel and many other things.



Beyondship’s profile of Seven Seas Navigator is at http://www.beyondships.com/Regent-Navigator-Profile.html The multi-page photo tour and commentary begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Regent-Navigator-Tour-1.html

Seabourn Sojourn Cruise Ship Profile and Photos

This week we look at the first of several ships that we will be profiling in upcoming weeks that compete in the luxury/ultra-luxury segment of the cruise industry.




The luxury/ultra-luxury segment is the top tier of cruise ships as far as luxury goes. Guests are pampered by top service and with top quality accommodations and dining. The fares are much higher than the fares for all but the best suites on the premium and mass market ships. However, more is included in the fare.



Luxury/ultra-luxury ships are almost all small ships - - less than 50,000 gross tons. This makes the cruise experience more intimate and gives an impression of exclusivity. Since the guests typically are experienced travelers, they are attracted by itineraries that include ports that are not usually on cruise itineraries. Smaller ships can get into more of these ports than their larger brethren.



Entering service in June 2010, Seabourn Sojourn is one of the more recent additions to this segment. She is the second ship in Seabourn’s Odyssey class and brings much of what is state-of-the-art thinking in the cruise industry to a small ship. I was particularly impressed by how well the outdoor space on the ship is utilized.



Sojourn still sparkles like a new ship. She is clean and well-maintained. She is clean in another way as well - - her interior spaces often rely on clean lines unbroken by decorative frills. It is very much a contemporary elegance rather than traditional luxury.



Beyondship’s profile of Seabourn Sojourn is at http://www.beyondships.com/Seabourn-Sojourn-Profile.html The multi-page photo tour begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Seabourn-Sojourn-Tour-1.html.

Curacao - cruise destination photo guide

This week, we again go beyond ships and present a profile of another place where ships go - - the island of Curacao. Located off the coast of Venezuela near Aruba and Bonaire, Curacao is a popular stop on Southern Caribbean cruises and often on Panama Canal cruises.




Any cruise to Curacao starts with the capital city Willemstad. The cruise ships dock near the center of the city and all of the sights are within walking distance of where the ships dock. Willemstad is a unique Caribbean city. At first glance, the architecture looks Dutch but there is clearly a Spanish influence. The pastel colors of the buildings are Caribbean. In short, the architecture is a blend of styles that reflects the island’s mix of cultures. With its history and shopping opportunities, Willemstad is an interesting place to explore.



Outside of Willemstad is a different world. The countryside is wild and often undeveloped. Large sections are preserved as national parks so there are opportunities to hike and take all terrain vehicles through this arid landscape.



The coastline is also two worlds. The beaches tend to be small, often tranquil coves that are quite scenic. Since the water is very clear, there are numerous dive sites as well. But then there are also places where the sea hurls itself again the land with great force. At Boka Tabla, for example, the sea has carved a deep grotto out of the rock cliffs.



Beyondships’ cruise destination photo guide to Curacao begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Curacao.html There is also a slideshow of scenes from Curacao at http://www.beyondships2.com/curacao-slideshow.html

Celebrity Silhouette - Introduction; Talking with Mr. Ocean Liner

Just over a week ago Celebrity Cruises brought its new ship Celebrity Silhouette to the United States for the first time. The ship was built in Germany and was named there in July. Following that, she did a season of Mediterranean cruises. However, since the United States is still Celebrity’s biggest market, the ship’s arrival in the U.S. was reason to hold another celebration.




All of the top Celebrity executives were there for the American naming ceremony. I asked Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations to give us some thoughts that would introduce us to the ship. In her position, she is responsible for essentially all the services - - dining, accommodations, entertainment etc - - that guests onboard the Celebrity ships utilize and so she is able to talk about the ships from a unique vantage point.



Celebrity Silhouette is the fourth ship in a class of ships that begun with Celebrity Solstice. These ships have won many awards for their elegant design and innovative amenities. However, as good as the individual parts are, they come together into a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts. Consequently, I was interested in finding out what was the underlying philosophy that was used in creating these ships.



While the first ship in the class received the plaudits of the critics and passengers, Celebrity was not content to build four more (one more is coming in 2012) that were identical to the first. They are quite similar but with each ship the line has come up with new ideas. Lisa pointed out several of the changes that have been made on Silhouette and underlined some of the popular features that have been carried forward.



We also had the opportunity to discuss Celebrity Infinity. Infinity is one of Celebrity’s Millennium class ships and this month, she is going into drydock for three weeks in order to give her some of the features of the Solstice class ships. Lisa outlined some of the changes that will be made during this major revitalization of a popular ship.



My interview with Ms. Lutoff-Perlo is at http://www.beyondships.com/Celebrity-Silhouette-Lutoff-Perlo.html



Also posted this week is my interview with Bill Miller. Bill is one of the most popular onboard lecturers speaking on cruise ships today. Because of his expertise on the history of ocean liners and cruise ships - - 80 books and hundreds of articles - - he is known as “Mr. Ocean Liner.” Moreover, because of his dynamic and entertaining speaking style, his lectures are usually packed with many more guests watching via the onboard television systems.



I spoke with Bill about his background and the passion that drives his work. In addition, I asked him to give us some thoughts about the cruise industry today and the future of passenger ships.



My interview with Mr. Miller is at http://www.beyondships.com/Cruise-people-miller.html

AIDAaura Profile and Photo Tour; Talking with her Club Manager

I find the AIDA approach to cruising intriguing. Essentially, it tosses away the traditional rules of cruising in order to foster a more open, club-like atmosphere. In some ways, it is like Norwegian Cruise Line’s Freestyle approach but more so. For example, not only are there no assigned dining times but there is no traditional dining room. Instead, there is a choice of buffet restaurants and specialty restaurants.




Of course, this approach to cruising is not for everyone. I like traditional cruising with its formal nights and rituals of the sea. However, variety is good too.



AIDA manages to execute its approach to cruising quite well. The ships are well-maintained and spotlessly clean. In addition, the staff is open and friendly.



The line is Carnival Corporation’s German cruise line and the cruise experience is designed for the German market. It has been quite successful there, generating a loyal and growing following. Indeed, the line has been adding ships at a rapid rate in order to keep up with the demand. I find it interesting that both AIDA and Cunard do very well in the German market even though the cruise experiences that they offer are at the polar extremes of formality.



This week, our focus is on one of AIDA’s smaller ships, the 42,000 gross ton AIDAaura. This ship provides a more intimate version of the AIDA experience than her larger fleetmates. Also, the smaller ships such as the Aura are used as pathfinders to explore new destinations before one of AIDA’s larger ships is committed to that itinerary.



Beyondships’ profile of AIDAaura is at http://www.beyondships.com/AIDAaura-Profile.html and the multi-page photo tour of the ship begins at http://www.beyondships.com/AIDAaura-Tour-1.html



I also spoke with Harald Bernberger, the Club Manager (Hotel Director) on AIDAaura about his ship and how it differs from Mr. Bernberger’s last ship the larger AIDAluna. He also provided some insights on why AIDA ordered its next two ships from Mitubishi Heavy Industries in Japan rather than from the German yard that built AIDA’s most recent class of ships. That interview is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/AIDAaura-art-HD.html

Aruba Cruise Destination Photo Guide/ Today's Fast Cruise Ships

As I sit here, there is approximately a foot of snow covering the ground and weighing down the trees, most of which still have green leaves on them. Although the storm that did this was an unusual one for the New York area, it underscored that it is not too early to think about the Caribbean.




In Aruba, the temperature has been in the mid to upper eighties the last week. Instead of white snow, Aruba has gorgeous fine white sand beaches that lead up to the clearest turquoise blue water that I have encountered in the Caribbean. With the palm trees and the divi-divi trees that border the sand, these are immensely attractive beaches.



While it is tempting to spend all of ones stay in Aruba on the beaches, there is more to the island. There is very little rainfall on Aruba and so the area away from the resorts of the west coast beaches is quite dessert-like. However, intermixed with the cacti and other dessert vegetation are some intriguing natural phenomena such as the Casibari Rock Formations with its mountains of boulders. They have been sculpted by the wind and with the vegetation it is like an other-worldly garden.



In complete contrast to the tranquility of the western beaches is the rugged northern coast. There, giant waves roll in and crash against the limestone shore in an explosive spray. Until 2005, there was a large natural bridge that had been carved out of the shore by the waves. However, the force of the sea became too much for it and it collapsed. The ruins of the bridge are still popular and next to it, the smaller “Baby Bridge” is spectacular in its own right.



For shoppers, there is the island’s capital Oranjestad. Along its main street, you can find all of the chain stores that populate all the popular Caribbean ports. In addition, there are high end luxury boutiques and stalls where local craftsmen and entrepaneurs offer their wares.



Beyondships’ cruise destination photo guide for Aruba is at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Aruba.html



I have also posted an article about today’s fast cruise ships. Traditionally, cruise ships have been relatively slow ships. However, in recent years quite a few ships have been built capable of doing a respectable speed.  Cunard, Norwegian (NCL), and Royal Caribbean, all have fast ships in their fleets.



Often when I interview cruise ship captains, I ask them how fast their ship can go. The answer is sometimes higher than the published speed. While they typically point out that in order to concerv fuel, ships today rarely travel at full speed, there are times when speed is quite useful. 



In any event, a fast ship is sort of neat regardless of whether the full speed is ever used. It is like a fine sports car - - having a Ferrari is cool regardless of the fact that you’ll probably never drive it at a speed that you could not do in a Volkswagen Beetle.



The article is posted at http://www.beyondships2.com/the-need-for-speed-----todays-fast-cruise-ships.html

A new profile of Norwegian Jewel and a conversation with her captain

Before sitting down to write this, I asked myself what is there to like about Norwegian Jewel? After thinking it over, I decided there are several things that I like about this ship.




The Jewel, as she is known to her friends, was the lead ship in Norwegian Cruise Line’s Jewel class of cruise ships. For the last few years, she has been based for all or a large part of the year in New York and since I am also based there, the ship has become a familiar sight.



Starting with the basics, Jewel was built by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Pappenberg, Germany. Over the years, I have developed a high regard for Meyer Werft, which has produced such impressive ships as Celebrity’s Solstice class and Royal Caribbean’s Radiance class ships. Like fine sports cars, their ships are often fast and very maneuverable. They always are good quality. Norwegian Jewel is no exception.



Stepping inside, I like the fact that the ship is run with an eye towards innovation. In the early years of this century, NCL inaugurated the Freestyle dining concept, which has now been adopted in various forms by most of the major cruise lines. They also were a leader in basing their ships outside of the traditional Florida cruise ports so that passengers did not have to travel so far to get to the cruise. On Jewel, this spirit of innovation continues with various new programs that combine dining and entertainment.



I also like the service on the Jewel. The crew seems happy and I found that they make a real effort to please.



In the final analysis, however, it does not really matter what I think of a ship. Rather, what is important in deciding whether a particular ship is right for your cruise vacation is whether the ship offers a cruise experience that is consistent with your tastes, needs and preferences. Accordingly, I have updated and expanded the Beyondships profile of Norwegian Jewel with more information. http://www.beyondships.com/NCLJewel.html



It includes more menus from the main dining rooms and from the major specialty restaurants http://www.beyondships2.com/norwegian-jewel-menus.html as well as more daily programs (Freestyle Daily) .

http://www.beyondships2.com/norwegian-jewel-daily-programs-and-information.html

There is also a new interview with Captain Lars Bergstrom and Hotel Director Hugo Vanosmael in which they share their views on why Norwegian Jewel has been successful sailing out of New York. http://www.beyondships.com/NCLJewel-captain.html



There is our first-ever cruise ship slideshow. http://www.beyondships2.com/norwegian-jewel-slideshow.html



Finally, the photo tour and commentary has numerous new photos. Indeed, so many that I had to expand it by a page. The tour begins at http://www.beyondships.com/NCLJewel-Tour.html

Photo Guides to Holland America's Rotterdam and to Bayeux France

This week I have posted two photo guides.




Rotterdam is one of two flagships of Holland America Line. She is the sixth HAL ship to bear the name and perhaps because her immediate predecessor was so beloved and well-known, this ship has been somewhat overlooked. This is unfortunate because she is one of the faster passenger ships in service today (25 knots) and is capable of handling the rigors of a transatlantic crossing. Indeed, designing her was the project Stephen Payne worked on before turning to designing Queen Mary 2. This summer she demonstrated her transatlantic capability by doing two traditional ocean liner crossings between Rotterdam and New York.



What is more impressive about Rotterdam is her interior. As with all the current HAL ships, she has a museum quality art collection distributed through the public rooms. In addition, the furnishings, lighting and décor are tasteful and light quality.



I decided to return to the Rotterdam in order to capture the changes that were made to her during her 2009 refit. The biggest change to the interior was the addition of an area called “Mix.” This area replaces some of the prior lounges with a large open area that includes three bars - - a champagne bar, a spirits and ale bar and a martini bar. Mix does give the public spaces a more lively and younger feel than the prior lounges. I did have some doubt, however, about whether the furnishings were consistent with the ship’s overall décor.



Outside, the aft section of the open deck has become an adult-oriented area called the Retreat. The Sea View swimming pool that once dominated this area has been replaced with a shallow pool with sun loungers. This seems to be a recognition of the fact that relatively few passengers actually swam in the pool while quite a few like to relax in the sun. Overhead, a large video screen has been installed.



In addition to photographing these two areas, I re-photographed the rest of the ship. This picked up the more subtle changes that have taken place since the last time I photographed the ship. In addition, there have been advances in digital photography since then. The Beyondships photo tour of Rotterdam is at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Rotterdam-Tour1.html The profile page with a new daily program and some new menus is at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Rotterdam.html



I have also added a new cruise destination page on Bayeux, France. Bayeux is in the Normandy region of Northern France and can be visited during port calls at Cherborugh and Le Harve. Its most important attraction is the Bayeux Tapestry, a 1,000 year-old embroidered cloth that tells the story of the Norman Conquest of England.



Also, in Bayeux is a large cathedral, which was consecrated in 1077. Built over several centuries, it incorporates several different styles of architecture and is an impressive sight.



Located not far from the D-Day landing beaches, there are many D-Day related sites around the town and a museum dedicated to the Battle of Normandy in the town. Much more sobering is the Bayeux military cemetery, which is the largest World War II British cemetery in France. It gives an idea of the price of freedom.



Although in the battle zone, Bayeux did not sustain much damage during the war. As a result, it is still a traditional French town with buildings dating back to the Middle Ages. It is particularly picturesque along the River Aure, which runs through the center of town.



The Bayeux page is at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-France-North-5.html and is an addition to the Northern France section of Beyondships.

P&O Cruises Adonia - - Profile, Photo Tour and Interview with Managing Director Carol Marlow

Adonia is one of eight jewel-like ships that were originally built for Renaissance Cruises. After Renaissance went bankrupt the eight were dispersed amongst various cruise lines and now after a period of nomadic wandering have settled with two being owned by Azamara Club Cruises, three by Oceania, two by Princess Cruises and one, Adonia, by P&O Cruises. Despite their difficult beginning, the eight have gone on to achieve a very good reputation amongst cruise connoisseurs.




I am not particularly partial to small ships. However, I thought the 30,000 gross ton Adonia was a charming ship when I first saw her back in the days when she was the Royal Princess of Princess Cruises.. With its wood paneling, cushioned furniture, and traditional art work, the interior has the charm of an English country house. The ship is nicely laid out as well. The designers were able to include most of the things one would expect on a modern cruise ship - - specialty restaurants, a spa, a pool, shops, bars and lounges, etc - - within a relatively small space.



When the ship was transferred from Princess to P&O Cruises earlier this year, very few changes had to be made. P&O serves the British market and the ship already had a British decor. Consequently, all that had to be done was modify a few public areas so as to include some of P&O’s signature venues. Of course, the existing specialty restaurants which were signature Princess restaurants, also had to be changed. For that task, P&O turned to celebrity chef Marco Pierre White to create a new restaurant for Adonia. The other specialty restaurant was developed in-house by P&O.



To mark Adonia’s arrival at P&O Cruises, I asked P&O Cruises’ Managing Director to give us her thoughts about the line’s new ship. She discussed how the ship came to P&O Cruises and what the line plans for the ship. That article is posted at: http://www.beyondships.com/PO-Adonia-Marlow.html



I’ve also created a Beyondships profile of Adonia that includes copies of daily programs, menus from the restaurants, and other information about the ship. http://www.beyondships.com/PO-Adonia-Profile.html. As always, there is a photo tour and commentary about the ship. http://www.beyondships.com/PO-Adonia-Tour-1.html

Songwriting, Juilliard Jazz, and Gourmet Dining - - Sea Days on Queen Mary 2

People considering a transatalantic voyage for the first time often ask “Won’t I be bored with all of those days at sea?” However, unlike the old days when passengers had to entertain themselves, today ships crossing the pond offer an array of activities design to entertain and stimulate passengers. Moreover, the intense competition amongst the cruise lines is driving the lines to continuously develop new and innovative programming for sea days.




This is particularly tru for Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, which specializes in transatlantic crossings. QM2 is a beautiful ship both technologically and in the facilities it provides to passengers. However, Cunard is well aware that today’s vacationers want more than a pretty face. Accordingly, the line strives to present sophisticated programming that will attract the discerning traveler.



One example of such programming is the QM2 Songwriting Voyages. Developed with British songwriter/musician Chris Difford, this program gives guests the opportunity to write songs during the course of the voyage. Working with a team of professional songwriters, the guest write, record and perform their songs in the ship’s Royal Court Theatre. Along the way, the guests have fun, make new friends and often learn something new about themselves. My article about the songwriting program is at http://www.beyondships.com/QM2-songwriting.html



Another way Cunard enhances its transatlantic voyages is through partnerships with renown artistic academies. For several years, Cunard has had troupes London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts onboard QM2 to perform and to provide acting workshops. (See article at http://www.beyondships.com/QM2-rada.html). More recently, Cunard has had faculty, graduates and students from the jazz division of New York’s Juilliard School onboard selected crossings. The jazz musicians perform and interact with the guests. My article about this popular program is at http://www.beyondships.com/QM2-Juilliard.html



A longstanding Cunard partnership is with celebrity chef Todd English, who has developed a seagoing version of his restaurant for QM2. Sea days allow QM2 to open this specialty restaurant for lunch. My review of lunch at QM2’s Todd English is at http://www.beyondships.com/QM2-review-Todd-English-lunch.html



The bottom line here is that with activities such as these available, it is very unlikely that any one is going to get bored during sea days on QM2. In fact, most passengers complain that there was not enough time during the voyage to do everything that they wanted to do.

Monarch of the Seas - - Profile and Photo Tour

Monarch of the Seas still attracts a wide variety of cruisers. When she entered service in 1991, Monarch was the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ship. Today, she is far from the largest. Her older sister, Sovereign of the Seas, has been transferred to Royal Caribbean’s Spanish affiliate Pullmantur. However, Monarch has found a market niche that keeps her viable in the American market.




That niche is small get-away cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida to the Bahamas. Monarch does three and four day cruises that call at Nassau and at Royal Caribbean’s private island Coco Cay.



Port Canaveral is not far from Orlando and families vacationing at the theme parks in the Orlando area often want to add a short cruise to their vacation. Because the cruises on Monarch are shorter and less expensive than the cruises done by such first tier ships as Freedom of the Seas, Disney Dream and Carnival Dream that also sail from Port Canaveral, Monarch is able to attract some of the theme park vacationers.



The price and the short length of the cruises also make Monarch attractive to young people looking to try cruising for the first time.



They also make Monarch attractive to veteran Royal Caribbean cruisers who live in Florida. Without much planning, travel or expense,, they can hop onboard for a few days in familiar surroundings.



Although much has been spent to refurbish and maintain the ship over the years, one cannot expect all of the features of the new Royal Caribbean ships. Still, the core features of the Royal Caribbean product are there. One will find that many of the bars and lounges are signature Royal Caribbean venues. Similarly, the ship offers many of the activities that are popular with Royal Caribbean cruisers. Furthermore, while Monarch is not as big as Oasis of the Seas, she is still a big ship with big ship facilities.



Beyondships’ profile of Monarch of the Seas is at http://www.beyondships.com/RCI-MONS-Profile.html and the multi-page photo tour and commentary is at http://www.beyondships.com/RCI-MONS--Tour-1.html

Cruise Destination - - Bar Harbor, Maine

September and October are the peak seasons for cruises to New England. The leaves start to turn color and the air turns cool, crisp and invigorating. It just seems like the time to be out in the New England countryside.




Bar Harbor is a classic, small New England town on the coast of Maine. In its center is a village green with a bandstand. From there Main Street slopes down a slight hill to the harbor where the fishermen still bring in their catches.



One does not have to go far from the tiny business district to sample the natural beauty of the area. There is a path along the shore where the crystal clear water washes over the craggy rocks. Out in Frenchman’s Bay there is a sprinkling of forest-covered islands. The path is shaded in part by trees and has wildflowers growing along side it. In other places, it passes the lawns and gardens of mansions that remain from the days when Bar Harbor was the summer vacation home of Astors, Rockefellers and Morgans.



Bar Harbor is surrounded by Acadia National Park, one of the most popular national parks in the United States. The cruise lines offer excursions into the park as do other tour providers. It is also possible to explore the natural attractions of the park independently



If you are looking for Maine lobster, Bar Harbor has them in abundance. Seemingly, every restaurant and eatery in the town offers some form of lobster dish.



Not surprisingly, Bar Harbor has become a popular cruise destination port. When I first cruised there in the early 1990s, people came from miles around to stand on the shore and look at the QE2 anchored in the bay. These days, the ships do not attract the locals’ attention. Although some of the shops have become a little more commercialized, the town still has much of its charm. It is not to be missed.



Beyondships’ cruise destination photo guide begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Bar-Harbor.html

New York City Cruise Destination Photo Guide

I thought it would be appropriate this week to add New York City to Beyondships cruise photo destination guides. To me, the fact that New York is such a vibrant destination illustrates the City’s resilience and its recovery. Our photo guide pays tribute to the City and hopefully illustrates some of its spirit.




New York Harbor is the year-round homeport for ships from Norwegian Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean. Carnival Cruise Lines has announced that it too will be basing a ship in New York year-round starting next year. On a seasonal basis, New York is the base of ships from Celebrity Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises and Carnival. Disney has announced its intention to deploy a ship to New York as well.



In addition to the ships that cruise from New York, there are many other lines with ships that come for a day or two for a port call including AIDA, P&O Cruises, Seabourn, Oceania, and Crystal.



Thus, New York is a cruise destination in two ways. First, it is an embarkation port where passengers often stay for a day or so before or after a cruise. Second, it is a port of call where passengers explore the city as part of their cruise experience.



The Beyondships’ New York guide presents photographs and a discussion of New York as a cruise port, getting around, the places of interest and the museums. There is also an overview and a brief history. As always, the guide was written with the cruise passenger in mind. Although it is extensive, there is so much in New York it was impossible to cover everything. More will be added over time.



Our photo guide to New York City is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-NYC.html

Explorer of the Seas - Profile, Photo Tour, Captain's Interview

Explorer of the Seas is one of five Voyager class ships that were built for Royal Caribbean. Although she has been in service for 11 years now, she remains one of the largest cruise ships. More importantly, she has been able to survive in the very competitive New York area cruise market for five years on a year-round basis while other ships have come and gone.




I returned to Explorer recently to see if I could uncover the secret of her longevity in New York. Although she does not have all of the features of her giant fleetmates Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, as a large ship, she still has quite a lot. There is always something happening on the Royal Promenade and as I discussed in an earlier posting, her Portofino specialty restaurant is the best that I have sampled in the Royal Caribbean fleet.



Furthermore, you do not have to travel all the way to Florida to get on the ship. If the destination is the Caribbean, you get there by sea. There is also the option of just going to Bermuda or up to Canada and New England. It is very convenient if you live in the northeastern United States or are in New York for a visit.



Another thing I noticed was the friendliness of the staff. Captain Henrik Loy, master of the Explorer, told me that he sees the bond that forms between the crew and the guests as one of his ship’s greatest strengths. As proof, he pointed out that half of the guests that cruise on Explorer are repeat guests. Hotel Director Benny Weidecker added that Royal Caribbean is very much focusing on personalized service in order to create such connections.



My interview with Captain Loy and Mr. Weidecker is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/EOS--Captain-HD.html



Also while I was onboard, I re-photographed the ship. As a result, the Beyondships photo tour of Explorer of the Seas has many new photographs. It begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Explorer-tour.html



Similarly, the Explorer profile has been updated with new Cruise Compasses, menus and various informational handouts that were distributed onboard. There are also many new exterior photos of the ship. The profile page is at http://www.beyondships.com/Explorer.html

Asuka II - - Japanese Luxury Cruising.

Earlier this month, AIDA announced its intention to build its next two ships in Japan. The press reports on this move almost universally mentioned that the shipyard that is to build these ships, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, was the ship yard that built the Diamond Princess and the Sapphire Princess. However, before Mitsubishi built those ships, it built the Asuka II of NYK Cruises, which is part of the world’s largest shipping company, NYK.




The fact that Mitsubishi built Asuka II is a considerable feather in its cap. Asuka II is the highest-rated luxury cruise ship serving the Japanese market, which is quite discerning and demanding when it comes to luxury. Furthermore, Asuka II is over 20 years old now and yet it is still able to provide luxury service. That indicates that the ship was well-built as well as that it has been well-maintained.



Asuka II was formerly the Crystal Harmony of Crystal Cruises. In that incarnation, she garnered a reputation for providing a six-star luxury cruise experience. Despite this popularity, in 2006, NYK, which owns both NYK Cruises and Crystal Cruises decided to transfer the ship to NYK Cruises to replace the smaller Asuka.



Although NYK Cruises refurbished the ship for the Japanese market, much from her Crystal Harmony days was carried over. As a result, the ship is still very much a western-style cruise ship. Indeed, the only decidedly Japanese additions were the bath house and the traditional matted tea room. This underscores that standards of luxury have become international.



Beyondships’ profile of this fascinating ship is at

http://www.beyondships.com/AsukaII-Profile.html

and the multi-page photo tour begins at http://www.beyondships.com/AsukaII-Tour-1.html

Quebec City - Cruise Destination Photo Guide

A cruise port that comes into its own in September and October is Quebec City. This is when the cruise ships do their Fall Foliage cruises and more of them take the journey down the St. Lawrence River from the sea. Even before the trees change color this is a scenic trip as much of the shoreline is undeveloped and covered in forests.




Quebec City appears quite suddenly. One moment the ship is sailing past forests and farmlands and suddenly the river narrows and there is a substantial city on the northern bank. Most of the city towers above the river on a high plateau that drops almost vertically to the river. As a result, Quebec City presents a bold skyline to visiting ships dominated by the romantic Chateau Frontenac.



The cruise ships do not dock in the commercial seaport where the cargo ships go. Rather, the cruise terminal is along the river in the historic Lower Town, where the first French settlers in the early 1600s built their homes. The area has been thoughtfully preserved and it is only a short walk from the ship to the area’s shops, museums and historic places. You can take the funicular up to the Upper Town and explore the rest of the attractions of the Old City including the Chateau, the Citadel, the Cathedral, the boardwalk, the cafes and the shops.



For history lovers, there is much to see in Quebec City. It is one of the oldest settlements in North America. It is here where the titanic struggle between Great Britain and France for North America was finally decided in the Battle of Quebec. More recently, Churchill and Roosevelt met here twice during World War II to plan the defeat of the Nazis.



Another attractive aspect of Quebec City is its old world atmosphere. Although the city passed to British control in 1763, the first language of Quebec remains French and the city has maintained ties to French culture. The streets of the Upper Town bear a resemblance to European cities. Many visitors also appreciate the fact that the city has maintained the French emphasis on good food.



Beyondships’ cruise destination photo guide of Quebec City is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Quebec.html

Radiance of the Seas - - Profile and Photo Guide

When people think of Royal Caribbean, they tend to think of the line’s big ships - - Oasis of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and their sisters. However, there is also another side to Royal. Here, I am not talking about the older ships - - the Vision and Sovereign classes - - but rather a class of smaller ships that was built contemporaneously with the Voyager class. The lead ship of that class is Radiance of the Seas.




Radiance is not merely a scaled down version of Royal’s giant ships. Rather, it is a different type of cruise experience. Yes, it has the flavor of a Royal Caribbean cruise but it emphasizes the more elegant aspects of Royal. By elegant, I do not mean formal - - it is relaxed and casual atmosphere - - but rather the handsomeness of the décor, the sophistication of the layout etc.



Although Radiance is significantly larger (90,090 gross tons) than Royal’s Sovereign class ships (73,941 gross tons), she carries less passengers than the Sovereign class ships. Thus, there is more space per passenger, giving the ship a more luxurious feel.



In a recent refit, Royal enhanced the ship with the addition of a variety of new specialty restaurants including a Brazilian steakhouse, a Mexican cantina, an Asian restaurant, a specialty hot dog stand, and a venue that serves more healthy light fare. The card room was also transformed into a room for the sophisticated Chef’s Table, where a small group of guests are led through a specially-prepared multi-course meal by a chef and a sommelier. These additions plus the existing Chops Grille steakhouse, give guests lots of choices. What makes the decision making more difficult is that the ship’s main dining room is quite spectacular.



Radiance is also elegant technologically. In many ways, she is like a fine European sports car. Her gas turbines combined with her azipod systems make her very fast and maneuverable. She is finely tooled for performance. As with a sports car, one may not need such performance on an everyday basis but it is neat to know that it is there.



Beyondships’ profile of Radiance of the Seas is at http://www.beyondships.com/RCI-ROS-Profile.html. The multi-page photo guide begins at http://www.beyondships.com/RCI-ROS-Tour-1.html

Cruise Destination Photo Guides To Boston and Halifax

As Fall starts to approach, people start thinking about cruising to New England and Canada. These “Fall Foliage” cruises are famous for combining crisp air with spectacular colorful displays. However, the region is a nice place to visit just for its history and lifestyle. Of course, the best way to get there is by cruise ship.




Quite a few ships do New England/Canada cruises in the Fall. In addition to the ships that ply these waters during the spring and summer, quite a few ships come to the region to do a season of cruising. Many of these ships come over from Europe as the European cruising season winds down. Eventually, they go to the Caribbean for the winter but the Fall is the peak hurricane season down there so its better to spend some time in Northeastern America before heading south. Moreover, these are popular cruises.



The unofficial capital of New England is its largest city, Boston, Massachusetts. It is both a port of call on New England/Canada cruises and an embarkation port. Several ships use it as their base for such cruises while others cruise from Boston to Bermuda and points south.



Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States and so has an extensive history. Indeed, if one is interested in the birth of the United States, Boston has preserved many of the sites that played an important part in the early days of the American War for Independence.



With a long cultural and intellectual tradition, it is not surprising that Boston has a bevy of museums covering a spectrum of topics from fine art to politics to science. There are also some 50 colleges and universities in the area, which gives the town a youthful feel.



While Boston is a large city, it is a friendly town. Moreover, many of the things of interest to visitors are centrally located. In fact, quite a few of the historic sites are along the two and a half mile long Freedom Trail.



Beyondships new cruise destination photo guide to Boston is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Boston.html



A second popular stop on Canada/New England cruises is Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia. Even more so than Boston, the majority of the places of interest are concentrated not far from the cruise port. Furthermore, the short walk along the Harbor Boardwalk to downtown Halifax is a pleasant stroll takes you past sailing ships, shops, museums, and restaurants.



Beyondships has had a section about Halifax since last year. However, I have added an additional page to that section to incorporate photos that I took last month on yet another cruise to Halifax. The cruise destination photo guide to Halifax is at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Halifax

Carnival Liberty Photos; Luxury Cruising on NCL; and a New Look for Beyondships

This week there is a new look and some new features on Beyondships. While one is mindful of the adage that “if it isn’t broke don’t fix it,” I hope these changes will make for a better experience in using the site.



First, I am shifting the list of new articles and items from the home page to a separate page. This will make the home page less crowded while at the same time making it easier for viewers to find some of the permanent items. There are also various technical advantages in doing it this way.



Second, I am adding a Beyondships Cruise FAQ section. Often when I am cruising people ask questions about the ships and the way they operate. Since the questions are often similar, it follows that they must be topics that are on a lot of people’s minds. Despite a friend’s warning that I won’t have anything to talk about at dinner if I did so, I have posted some answers to some of the questions that often come up. My intent is to keep expanding this section over time. The section index is at http://www.beyondships2.com/beyondships-cruise-faqs.html



In addition to the aforementioned changes to the site, this week Beyondships is featuring two new items. The first is a photo essay about Carnival Liberty. This essay shows the Liberty returning to her homeport of Miami just as dawn is breaking. It is at http://www.beyondships.com/CarnivalLiberty-photoessay1.html



Finally, there is a new illustrated article about luxury cruising on NCL. Most people know NCL as a mass market cruise line. However, when I have been on NCL’s more recent ships, I have been struck by the fact that there is also quite a good luxury operation going on side by side with the mass market operation. The facilities are quite lavish and the service is excellent. Heretofore, NCL has seemed almost reluctant to talk about it. However, in connection with Project Breakaway - - the two new ships NCL has on order - - the line has turned the spotlight on its ship-within-a-ship luxury operation and even given it a name - - The Haven By Norwegian. Accordingly, I have put together an article discussing NCL’s luxury operation along with some photos of the existing ships and some artist renderings that NCL has provided of the new ships. It is posted at http://www.beyondships2.com/ncl-luxury-cruising.html

Talking with the Capain of Zuiderdam; Afternoon Tea on Queen Mary 2

This week we have three new articles on Beyondships.




The first is an interview with Captain Christopher Turner and Hotel Director Edwin Blunik of Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam. When I booked my cruise on Zuiderdam, I wasn’t expecting anything special. My impression was that she was just another of the larger HAL ships. While I had enjoyed my cruises on HAL Vista and Signature class ships, I had no reason to think that this one would be special.



Yet when I had actually experienced Zuiderdam, I learned that she was special. Yes, she adheres to the basic HAL formula of a cultured environment with good food and service but she carries out that formula very nicely. Also, the atmosphere, perhaps reflecting the décor, seemed brighter than my previous HAL experiences.



Apparently, other cruisers have found the same thing. Based on guest comment cards, in 2010, Zuiderdam exceeded HAL’s target ratings in every area. in which a ship is rated. No other ship had similar results. Therefore, I asked Captain Turner and Mr. Blunick to explain why Zuiderdam receives such top ratings. The interview is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Zuiderdam-Captain.html



If you are interested in food, you’ll probably want to check out The Pinnacle Grill on Zuiderdam. It is the ship’s top specialty restaurant. Once a cruise, the Pinnacle Grill is transformed into a seagoing version of New York’s famed Le Cirque. (See review at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-LeCirque.html ). But most nights it is its own brand of relaxed elegance; combing a steakhouse menu with elements of fine dining. My review is at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Zuiderdam-Pinnacle.html



Changing ships, a unique experience at sea is afternoon tea on the Queen Mary 2. Several other lines have afternoon tea. These are usually done in one of the ship’s dining rooms or in one of the bars. In addition, the staff is often unfamiliar with how an afternoon tea works. On Queen Mary 2, one can have afternoon tea in the largest ballroom at sea. As one would expect from a very traditional British line, the staff understands afternoon tea. Consequently, afternoon tea on QM2 is more than just a culinary event. My review is at http://www.beyondships.com/QM2-review-tea.html

Holland America's Zuiderdam, Profile and Photo Tour

This week, the focus is on Holland America’s Zuiderdam. I will confess at the outset that I quite like Zuiderdam. In fact, I would say that she is now my favorite of the Holland America ships.




To start at the beginning, Holland America Line provides a premium cruise experience. All of the ships have a magnificent art collection and there is a feeling of cultured sophistication. The crews strive to provide excellent service.



The HAL fleet can be broadly divided into two parts. There are the smaller ships - - the S-class, R-class and the unique Prinsendam - - and the larger ships - - the Vista and Signature classes. The smaller ships are somewhat older but more intimate. The larger ships are newer, have more features but are still relative to the rest of the industry only medium size.



Zuiderdam was the first of the larger HAL ships. She marked a new direction for the line when she entered service in December 2002. Accordingly, she was given a décor that is somewhat brighter and bolder than the prior HAL ships. The line subsequently retreated from this direction and so Zuiderdam is also different from the ships that followed. There is nothing outrageous about it but it does give the ship a noticeably livelier atmosphere.

At the same time, it is noteworthy that Zuiderdam was the first Vista class ship built for HAL by the Fincantieri, the Italian ship builder. This design was used for three subsequent Vista ships for HAL and the Signature class is really an expanded version of the design. Indeed, the design is also the basis for ships in the Costa, Cunard and P&O fleets. Clearly it is a successful design and it all began with Zuiderdam.



Holland America likes to roll back the successful features that it develops for new ships into the line’s existing fleet. As a result, Zuiderdam has the Screening Room movie theater, the Canaletto Italian specialty restaurant, the Digital Workshop, and the Explorations Café that debuted on subsequent Vistas or Signature class ships.



What makes Zuiderdam stand out, however, is not the features but how they are used. My impression was that the officers and crew on Zuiderdam enjoyed being there and when people like their work it translates into a better experience for the customer.



Beyondships profile page for Zuiderdam with copies of daily programs, menus and restaurant reviews is at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Zuiderdam.html The multi-page photo tour and commentary begins at http://www.beyondships.com/HAL-Zuiderdam-Tour1.html



Also, we have added a new photo essay on Queen Mary 2’s Fourth of July cruise roundtrip from Manhattan. QM2 normally does not dock in Manhattan. However, because another ship was at her usual berth in Brooklyn, the largest ocean liner ever built had to dock at the piers that were the New York home of the great ocean liners of the past. Because of the currents and the size and layout of the piers, this is not so easily done. But, it is magnificent to sail up or down the Hudson past the Manhattan skyline on a summer’s day. The photo essay is at http://www.beyondships.com/QM2-Manhattan-2.html

Baltic Cruise Photo Guides - - Oslo and Copenhagen

This is the time of year for cruising the Baltic. The days are long and often filled with sunshine. The temperatures are pleasant with just a touch of cool crispness that is refreshing for people traveling from more southerly areas. In short, it is perfect for exploring the cultural abundance of this area and viewing its splendid scenery.




Two ports which are often included in the itinerary of a Baltic cruise are Oslo, Norway and Copenhagen, Denmark. Although they are both Scandinavian capitals, they are quite different experiences.



Ships calling at Oslo arrive at their destination after traveling through a 60-mile long fjord. This fjord does not have tower cliffs jutting up from the water like those further north in Norway. Rather, it is surrounded by tree-covered rolling hills punctuated by ancient rock outcroppings. The city of Oslo is not inconsistent with this scenery as it too is surrounded by hills and has much green space within its boundaries. Although large in geographic area, it has a small city feel with much of the city within walking distance from the cruise terminal.



Copenhagen is the largest city in Scandinavia. It has much more of a big city feel. However, at the same time, it feels more relaxed than cities in the United States or the UK. As in Oslo, most cruise ships dock in the center of the city and again many attractions are within walking distance. However, the cultural and historic sights have more of a cosmopolitan air and include several palaces, cathedrals and world class art collections.



In part, these differences reflect the large difference in the populations of the two cities. But it also reflects the countries’ histories. For significant periods, Norway was under the control of either Denmark or Sweden. Denmark has been a dominant force in the Baltic.



One thing that the two cities share is that they are delightful and interesting cruise ports. Oslo has an intimate feel with pretty broad boulevards and scenic panoramas from places such as the Ackershus Castle that overlooks the fjord. The center of Copenhagen is also charming with its Old World architecture interspersed with majestic buildings.



Beyondships cruise photo guide to Oslo is at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Oslo.html and the cruise photo guide to Copenhagen is at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-Coph.html The object of these guides is to give a flavor of the port. They give a brief description of the city, its history, and its cruise port. There is also a photo tour of some of the places that cruise passengers visit in those ports. In addition to the photos and descriptions, there are links to other websites that have additional information including the webpages about the port posted on the websites of a number of the major cruise lines. There are also links to the Beyondships’ profiles of some of the ships that have called at the port recently.

Talking with the Captain of Liberty of the Seas; Review of Chops Grille

For Liberty of the Seas, 2011 is a transformational year. The ship has already undergone a multi-million dollar refit that saw the addition of a number of new features to the ship. Her entertainment offerings have also been transformed with the addition of the Dreamworks Experience, 3-D movies and a full-length musical stage production of Saturday Night Fever. Finally, Liberty of the Seas’ itinerary has been transformed so that she is no longer a Caribbean cruise ship but a ship that has entered the more cosmopolitan atmosphere of the European cruise market.




The man in charge of guiding Liberty through this transformation is Captain Charles Teige. Captain Charles has been with Royal Caribbean for nearly 20 years. However, his approach to command is not rooted in the past. Rather, he is one of a growing number of cruise ship captain who view themselves as team leaders rather than as all powerful sovereigns. Captain Charles is personable and one who enjoys interacting with people, both his crew and the guests on Liberty of the Seas.



I recently had an opportunity to sit down with Captain Charles and talk about how Royal Caribbean has changed over the years, his style of command and the transformation of Liberty of the Seas. That interview is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/RCI-LOS-Captain.html



When I was onboard Liberty, I also tried out its specialty restaurant the Chops Grille. This is a relaxed steakhouse offering high quality meals. My review of the Chops Grille is at http://www.beyondships.com/RCI-LOS-Review-Chops.html

Profile and Photo Tour of Liberty of the Seas

Liberty of the Seas was one of the first ships profiled on Beyondships. The ship had just come out of the shipyards and Royal Caribbean had brought her to the Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal on the Jersey side of New York harbor to show her off and for some pre-inaugural activities. In May 2007, she was the world’s largest cruise ship - a title she shared with her sister Freedom of the Seas - - and her size was impressive. In addition, her décor was somewhat more subtle than her sister and thus more relaxing at least to my eye. Captain Herman Zini who was in the process of bringing out the ship spoke with pride about Liberty during our interview.




Earlier this year, Liberty went through a major refit during which a number of enhancements and improvements were made. Accordingly, it seemed like an appropriate time to travel to Miami and revisit her. Moreover, during the time since I was last on her, the Beyondships’ profiles had become much more comprehensive and it would enable me to get the material I needed to do a profile of Liberty that was as comprehensive as those for the other ships on the site.



One of the first things I noticed about Liberty was that she no longer felt very big. After sailing on Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, which are about a third again larger than Liberty, she no longer felt vast. Rather, it seemed a comfortable size.



Another question in my mind was how the service would be on Liberty. All of the ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet had contributed crew members for Oasis and Allure. Had all the good people been cherry-picked away for the line’s two new flagships? I was relieved to find that they had not. The service was quite good, friendly and professional.



The new enhancements blended well into the existing ship. The Cupcake Cupboard looked like it had always been part of the Royal Promenade and no one seemed to notice that the barber shop was missing. The outdoor movie screen in the pool area provides a focal point and is colorful at night. While its placement is not ideal for viewing, its location is about as good as it could be given where the pools and the hot tubs are located.



An addition to the programming onboard is the Dreamworks Experience. This entails having the characters from Dreamworks animated movies participate in various onboard activities such as parades and children’s breakfasts. The ship has also been equipped with 3-D technology so that the movies can be shown in the main theater. The children onboard seemed to enjoy the Dreamworks programming and it does not intrude into the adult world except that one may occasionally encounter Shrek when walking through the public rooms.



In any event, you can see for yourself what Liberty of the Seas is all about - - the new Liberty profile with copies of daily programs, menus and other information is at http://www.beyondships.com/RCI-LOS-Profile.html The comprehensive photo tour and commentary begins at http://www.beyondships.com/RCI-LOS-tour-1.html

Super-cruiser Mario; Dining with the Officers; Norwegian Jewel and Zuiderdam Restaurant Reviews

This week Beyondships features something different. In the past, we have brought you interviews ship officers, cruise line executives and people whose work involves them with ships such as marine artists and ship designers. This time, we bring you an interview with a passenger. But what a passenger - - Mario Salcedo has done over 500 cruises with more than 400 of them on Royal Caribbean ships.




Mario is a man living his dream. A successful businessman, Mario rose to hold a prominent position with a Fortune 500 company. Rather than just continue on that path, he turned his back on the corporate life before he turned 50 and dedicated himself to living the life he had always dreamed of. Now he essentially lives 52 weeks a year on cruise ships, mainly RCI’s Liberty of the Seas.



A friendly and outgoing person, Mario likes to chat with his fellow passengers. His is a unique story and he is often asked about how he manages to live at sea. People are also interested in tapping into his expertise and knowledge about cruising.



Beyond ships interview with Mr. Salcedo is at http://www.beyondships.com/Cruise-articles-Super-cruiser.html



In recent years, the tradition of having officer tables in the ship’s main dining room has all but vanished. A few lines still have a captain’s table on formal nights but with the exception of Cunard Line, one rarely finds tables hosted by the staff captain, the chief engineer, the hotel director or one of the junior officers.



It is a shame that this tradition is fading away. Dining at an officer’s table gives passengers a unique insight into the operations of the ship and personalizes the relationship between the cruise line and the passengers. Also, I have often found that people who sit down at an officer’s table as strangers often arise as friends. Indeed, I still hear from people who I dined with at an officer’s table years ago.



Somewhat surprisingly, Norwegian Cruise Line, which has a tradition of being non-traditional, is experimenting with reviving this tradition. Of course, various modifications had to be made in order for this tradition to fit with the modern cruising environment. However, the pilot program has been received very well on Norwegian Jewel with many more passengers signing up for it than can be accommodated.



I recently had the opportunity to participate in this program and was able to discuss it with Jewel’s Hotel Director Hugo Vanosmael. The article is at http://www.beyondships.com/NCLJewel-officers.html



One of the dining venues on the Jewel is Mama’s Kitchen, a casual Italian restaurant. It could perhaps better be described as an American-style Italian restaurant, serving dishes that one is more likely to find in the States than in Tuscany. By this, I mean no slight. There is a reason that this type of cooking is popular not only in America but worldwide - - it is good. In any event, I have posted a review of Mama’s Kitchen that also looks at Canaletto, a similar concept on Holland America’s Zuiderdam. The review is posted at http://www.beyondships.com/Cruise-articles-Canaletto-Mamas-review.html

Norwegian Sky - - Profile and Photo Tour

What impressed me the most about Norwegian Sky was how nicely NCL has blended the elements of its Freestyle Cruising into the more traditional passenger ship décor of the ship. I tend to associate Freestyle with the contemporary décor of NCL’s more recent ships. However, the idea of having a number of alternative venues for dining, libations and activities fits well with the more classic design. As proof, the Sky has six restaurants, nine bars and lounges a theater, two swimming pools, five hot tubs, basketball and volleyball, golf driving nets, a library, shopping and more.




For people who really like ships and the traditions of the sea, there are some quite nice rooms including Captain Cook’s Bar and the wood-panels Mark Twain Library. The French specialty restaurant Le Bistro is done in a pretty Second Empire/art nouveau style.



This is not to say that Norwegian Sky is old or old fashioned. Her lines are sleek and her mural-painted white hull glitters in the bright sun. The ship entered service in 1999 and is the newest ship competing in the short cruises from Florida to the Bahamas market. For awhile, NCL assigned her to its NCL America subsidiary where she did cruises around Hawaii under the name Pride of Aloha. Before returning her to the main fleet in 2009, the ship received a multi-million dollar refurbishment. As a result, the public areas look new.



The short Bahamas cruise itinerary is a popular one. It attracts young people and young families interested in trying cruising for the first time, visitors to Florida who want to add a trip to the Bahamas to their holiday, and people who want a short break.



The Sky offers alternating three and four day cruises from Miami. The three day itinerary goes to Nassau and to NCL’s private island Great Stirrup Cay. The four day cruise adds a stop in Freeport.

Beyondship’s profile of Norwegian Sky is at http://www.beyondships.com/NCLSky.html and the multi-page photo tour and commentary begins at http://www.beyondships.com/NCLSky-Tour-1.html For those interest in the ship’s itinerary, we also have a photo tour of Great Stirrup Cay http://www.beyondships.com/NCL-GreatStirrupCay.html