Profiel and Photo Tour of AIDAluna

AIDAluna may be on the crest of a new wave in cruising. It takes the concept of unstructured cruising far beyond what any other line is doing. For example, not only are there no assigned dinner times and no assigned tables, there is no formal dining room. Instead, there are three buffet restaurants where passengers come when they want, serve themselves and sit where they like. AIDA has similarly dispensed with the traditional rules with regard to entertainment.

The ship’s physical layout reflects AIDA’s approach to cruising. The décor is very contemporary and colorful. In addition, the use of very large spaces re-enforces the atmosphere of freedom.

I began cruising with Cunard, which is one of the more structured and traditional cruise lines and I still greatly enjoy that experience. However, as Club manager (i.e. Harald Bernberger told me AIDA is no seeking to do away with the traditional cruise experience but rather to offer a different alternative that lends variety to cruising. As he noted, sometimes you want to go out for pizza and sometimes you want to do fine dining. To just do one all the time would be boring.

The AIDA ships are targeted to the German-speaking market. However, there is nothing about them that really requires speaking German. It is an international lifestyle, one that would appeal to people from any country who are seeking a casual, unstructured vacation experience.

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

Mr. Bernberger talks about AIDAluna at http://www.beyondships.com/AIDAluna-art-HD.html
.While we are on the topic of German ships, I have posted a photo essay on TUI’s Mein Schiff, the former Celebrity Galaxy at http://www.beyondships.com/Celebrity-Galaxy-Mein-Schiff.html

Cruising to Northern France

Cruising to Northern France is an unforgettable experience. There are so many A-list places to see and so much variety.

There are two cruise ports in Northern France - - Le Havre and Cherborug. Both are on the English channel and serve as jumping off places for shore excursions into Normandy and the interior of France.

If one is interested in art, there is Monet’s home at Giverny. The grounds of the house were the subject of many of the Impressionist master’s finest works. Restored to how they looked in his day, a visit to the gardens is like stepping into the paintings.

An emotional experience of a different kind is a visit to the D-Day landing beaches along the Normandy coast. Peaceful now, this area still retains reminders of the struggle that took place there in 1944 for quite literally the future of the world. If one knows the history of the battle, one can walk the area and see where the various incidents occurred. However, even if one is not a history buff, places like the American Cemetery with its rows upon rows of grave markers bring home the human element of the story.

Yet another experience is journeying into Paris for the day. Paris is a significant distance from the ports. However, there is enough time during the typical port call to make a visit. Paris is one of the world’s great cities and there will not be time to get to know her in depth. However, for those who are new to the city, there is enough time to get a quick overview of the landmarks and a feel for the atmosphere. For those who have been there before, there is time to make a focused visit limited to one or two aspects of the city.
Beyondships’ photo essay on cruising to Northern France begins at http://www.beyondships.com/Ports-France-North-1.html

Profile and Photo Tour of MSC Poesia

MSC Cruises has emerged in the last few years as a fourth major player in the cruise industry. It now has 11 ships, most of which were built specifically for the line during the last decade. It has become a leading cruise line in Europe and is now in the process of making inroads into the rest of the world.

In North America, MSC Poesia is leading the way. This is a large ship, 92,000 gross tons, that entered service in 2008. She is a very pretty ship. Her interior is done in a contemporary European style and is enhanced by the line’s high standard of cleanliness.

This is very much a European cruise experience designed around European expectations. The dinners are done in the traditional passenger ship style and there are no towel animals on the bed each night. As MSC Cruises USA President & CEO Richard Sasso told me, if you are going outside of the country, why not have an international experience while you travel.

Beyondships’ profile of MSC Poesia is at http://www.beyondships.com/MSC-Poesia-Profile.html and the multi-page photo tour begins at http://www.beyondships.com/MSC-Poesia-Tour-1.html My interview with Mr. Sasso is at http://www.beyondships.com/MSC-art-Sasso.html

Profile and Photo Tour of P&O Cruises' Arcadia

P&O Cruises’ Arcadia is a unique ship.

Wait! Isn’t she a Vista class cruise ship and aren’t there Vista class ships in the fleets of Holland America, Costa, and (in a modified version) Cunard? Also, aren’t there six other ships in the P&O fleet?

Yes to both questions. However, Arcadia is unique because she is the only P&O Vista. Stepping aboard, one can see immediately that this ship is different from her Holland America, Costa and Cunard sisters. She has that clean, crisp contemporary British look that immediately tells one that they are on a P&O ship.

There are indeed other P&O ships. However, the P&O fleet is not a cookie-cutter fleet. While there is an overall atmosphere that unites the brand, there has been a conscious effort to have differences between the ships. Some are family-oriented, some are adults-only. Some have a two-tier dress code while others have a three-tier. As a result, each ship has its own character.

Arcadia has a very modern feel. Her interior design is quite contemporary but still restrained Her all white exterior shows off the lines of the Vista class design to their best advantage.

She is one of P&O’s adults-only ships. This lends itself to a more sophisticated atmosphere. In addition, the space that is normally devoted to children and teens is utilized to provide additional activities for adults.

Beyondships profile of Arcadia is at http://www.beyondships.com/PO--Arcadia-Profile.html The multi-page photo tour and commentary begins at http://www.beyondships.com/PO-Arcadia-Tour-1.htm