With millions of travelers choosing to take their trips on a cruise ship or an ocean liner there is now a growing demand for large, fast and safe cruise ships to cater to these millions of passengers. For the past five years there have been at least nine new cruise ships built every year only in the North American continent. At the moment there are three cruise ship builders that dominate the global market: Aker Yards with two shipyards in Finland and France, the Fincantieri Company in Italy and German company Meyer Werft. Aker Yards is a Finnish ship building giant with two shipyards, one in Finland and one in France. With a fresh and innovative approach to ship building the company had no problems establishing its name firmly on the list of best ship builders around the world.
This company doesn’t merely build cruise ships; it creates comfortable and wonderful facilities for the passengers and handles the cargo problem efficiently. The cleverly designed and flawlessly built Aker ships almost sail themselves allowing the passengers as well as the crew to simply enjoy the cruise. Fifteen of the largest cruise ships in the world bear the signature of Aker shipyards. Aker Yards is currently building two huge Genesis class cruise vessels that will be delivered in 2009 and 2010 for Royal Caribbean. The Italian Company Fincantieri has more than two hundred years of tradition and experience behind it. Two centuries and more than seven thousand ships after its creation the Fincantieri Company continues to search for newer and better solutions in the design and construction of their cruise ships.
The creativity and knowledge of the Fincantieri team was rewarded in 1992 and 1993 when Fincantieri cruise ships Destriero and Rex were awarded the Blue Ribbon. With nearly ten thousand employees, two design centers, two production sites, one research centre and shipyards in Ancona, Riva Trigoso, Monfalcone, Sestri Ponente, Marghera, Palermo, Muggiano and Castellammare di Stabia it’s no wonder that Fincantieri is one of the most important cruise ship builders around the world. Another huge constructor of cruise ships and cruise liners is the German Company Meyer Werft. Owner of one of the most modern shipyards in the world and employer of almost 3000 people Meyer Werft has built cruise ships like the Norwegian Pearl and the Pride of Hawaii in 2006. In plan for 2008 there are at least two cruise liners for the Disney Cruise Line and the AIDAdiva, a cruise ship with a capacity of two thousand passengers.
written by Mike Rad.
Senin, 19 Mei 2008
Fabulous Trips on Luxury Ships
Cruises to the Caribbean – The Perfect Option for your Holidays
Thanks to its magnificent landscapes and amazing beaches, the Caribbean has rapidly become one of the most desired holiday destinations in the world. The hundreds of fabulous tropical Caribbean islands welcome millions of tourists each year, drawn by the beauty of their exotic landscapes, the importance and the variety of their tourist resorts, the impeccable accommodation conditions and the quality of the overall offered services, as well as the open-minded, libertine and welcoming character of the locals.
For people in search of peace, quiet and relaxation, the Caribbean is the perfect place to spend their holidays, this exotic region being regarded as “a corner of heaven” by both locals and visiting tourists. Calm and invigorating during the day, the Caribbean isles become vivid and vibrant at night, being the best destination for people in search for fun and excitement just as well. Regardless of age or sex, people who travel to this splendid destination experience the best time of their lives, finding it very difficult to leave behind the Caribbean paradise!
If you decide to spend your vacation in the Caribbean, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the region of the Bahamas, a major center for tourism, popular for the exotic beauty of its landscapes, shores and beach resorts. The islands of Grand Bahama, Abaco and New Providence offer tourists the opportunity to visit a wide range of attractions and tourist sites, combining beautiful, wild, tropical landscapes with sumptuous and imposing, modern architecture and infrastructure. The unique, intriguing contrast between exotic landscapes that seem to be untouched by man and modern architectonic colossi, breathtaking skyscrapers and state of the art technology renders the Bahamas the perfect holiday destination for tourists in search for adventure and excitement.
To get the most out of your holiday, you can opt for an extended set of cruises in the vicinity of the Caribbean region. If you decide to cruise to the Caribbean, you will be rewarded with a magnificent, unforgettable experience! Thanks to the wide range of benefits they offer, Caribbean cruises, especially Bahamas cruises are much desired and appreciated by tourists from all over the world. An invigorating Caribbean cruise can help you escape from the routine and the stress of your daily life, accounting for a complete package of impeccable services and amenities and combining the pleasure of traveling with high comfort conditions and safety. In order to make sure that you benefit from the best travel conditions and services, you should choose a solid travel company that can satisfy your needs and requirements with professionalism, in exchange for competitive and affordable prices.
Good travel companies provide clients with a wide range of cruise packages, allowing tourists to effortlessly choose among the best journey options available. By relying on the services provided by a competitive travel agency, you will be able to fully customize your vacation cruise according to your needs and your overall holiday budget. Whether you are looking for cheap cruises or luxury cruises, a good travel agency will provide you with the best holiday offers, striving to accommodate you as well as possible and help you have a great time over the entire course of the journey.
Ask for the services of a reliable travel company and you will receive guidance and advice in choosing from an extended cruise package that includes Carnival cruises, Princess cruises, Windstar cruises, Royal cruises, Celebrity cruises and many more. Each cruise option provides customers with professional, reliable services that are focused towards ensuring a good level of accommodation and comfort, transforming the journey into a remarkable, unforgettable experience! Find the cruise package that suits you best, cruise to the Caribbean, and you will have the best vacation ever!
written by groshan fabiola.
Minggu, 18 Mei 2008
Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society Enrolls Three Millionth Member
already stocking up on suntan lotion in preparation of her free seven-night cruise for two on Royal Caribbean International, which she won for helping the line's Crown&Anchor Society reach a significant milestone. Cosad, who joined the loyalty membership program this summer after sailing onboard Adventure of the Seas, was the three millionth guest to enroll in the society.
"Repeat guests are important to everything we do at Royal Caribbean. That's why we created our Crown&Anchor Society -- to show how much we value their loyalty and look forward to serving them again and again," said Barbara Shrut, vice president, Loyalty and eMarketing, for Royal Caribbean International. "The response we've received since the program was relaunched in 2002 has been tremendous. One in every five guests who cruise with us is now a member, making Crown&Anchor one of the largest and most successful loyalty programs in the industry."
The company's loyalty program now has four levels of membership: Gold after guests' first cruise; Platinum after their fifth; Diamond after their tenth, and a newly created fourth level, Diamond Plus. To commemorate the growth of the program, the Crown&Anchor Society has created the Diamond Plus level to recognize guests who have completed 24 cruise credits. In addition to receiving the benefits of other levels, Diamond Plus members will get behind- the-scenes tours, a personalized amenity delivered to their staterooms and a stateroom upgrade. After 49 completed cruise credits, guests will have dinner with one of the ship's officers and a VIP theater experience, including a backstage tour. When a member reaches their 100th cruise credit, Royal Caribbean will treat them to a complimentary seven-night cruise in a balcony stateroom.
Guests can join Crown&Anchor after completing their first Royal Caribbean cruise. They will receive a cruise credit each time they sail, as well as extra cruise credits towards membership when they sail on a cruise/cruisetour of 12 nights or longer and book a suite stateroom.
Crown&Anchor member benefits include a subscription to the award-winning Crown&Anchor magazine and savings on future cruises, including special member cruises. While onboard, members can enjoy a "welcome back" party, a complimentary wine tasting, a commemorative gift and a value booklet including certificates to use at shipboard venues, including casinos, spas and bars. Platinum and Diamond membership entitles members to a private departure lounge, plush robes for onboard use and an exclusive onboard event on each sailing. Platinum and Diamond level members also receive priority check-in and special rates on balcony suites and staterooms.
In addition, Diamond-level members receive concierge services on select ships, priority status for dining room seating, priority status on waitlists for sold-out shore excursions and priority departure from the ship.
reference by finanznachrichten.A city on the ocean waves
YOU can stroll in the park, relax over a coffee at a pavement cafe or enjoy an alfresco meal at an exclusive bistro. On balmy nights there is always time for cocktails under the stars before indulging in a gourmet dinner, then sitting back in the best seats in the house to watch a spectacular show.
Click here to see a sneak peak video
It sounds almost too good to be true - but this dream resort is now becoming a reality, and next year Southampton is due to be one of the first cities in the world to experience the overwhelming grandeur of Project Genesis.
In a Finnish shipyard not far from the Arctic Circle, a vessel is being built like no other cruise ship in maritime history.
Southampton regularly sees huge passenger vessels - such as the vast Independence of the Seas - berthed in port, but this future addition to Royal Caribbean International's fleet will far outstrip the biggest of vessels.
A mighty 220,000 gross registered tons, Project Genesis, as she is currently nicknamed, will dwarf even the American nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz - about 97,000 tons - when she enters service in 2009.
The onboard facilities for the 6,400 guests the ship will be able to accommodate promise to be just as amazing.
At the heart of the ship, soaring more than six decks high, will be Central Park, featuring trees, lawns and flower gardens, with meandering pathways taking guests to restaurants, shops, bars and cafes. On either side of the park, which will be permanently open to the sky, will be hundreds of cabins with private balconies.
The park will include a chess garden with large-scale pieces, a Pergola garden featuring vegetation from the Caribbean, and a sculpture garden. A specially recruited horticulturist will provide educational classes for passengers who want to find out more.
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Genesis will have a highly sophisticated drainage and irrigation system built into her decks to cope with any rain that might fall during a cruise.
Another major innovation will be the Rising Tide bar, the first seagoing venue designed to move up and down over three decks, taking guests from Central Park to other public areas.
Genesis, costing well in excess of £500m, will be almost three times the size of Cunard's Queen Elizabeth and more than a third bigger than Royal Caribbean's Southampton-based Independ-ence of the Seas - at 160,000 tons currently the largest cruise ship in the world.
Genesis is expected to visit Southampton sometime in autumn 2009 while en route to her home port in Florida, USA.
reference by dailyecho.
USA TODAY exclusive: Future Royal Caribbean ships will boast a 'Central Park'
What mind-blowing innovation does Royal Caribbean plan for its next ship?
The Cruise World has been abuzz over the question for more than a year, and now it finally has an answer: A massive "Central Park" at the center of the vessel that boasts soaring trees, live grass and outdoor restaurants.
The new area, which Royal Caribbean plans to announce this afternoon at a press conference in New York, will be the central feature of the line's so-called Project Genesis ships launching in 2009 and 2010.
RELATED ITEM: Name That Ship Contest for Project Genesis
"This is very different from anything on any of our ships," the line's executive president, Harri Kulovaara, tells USA TODAY in an exclusive interview. "This is going to have real gardens, grass and trees. It has taken a lot of engineering."
Still, perhaps the biggest talker of the day is the fact that the entire Central Park area, which will run the length of a football field down the center of the ship and be lined with five decks of cabins, will be open to the air six decks above.
In other words, if it's raining outside of the ship, it'll be raining in the ship's Central Park, too.
Another big talker is that the 254 cabins overlooking the park will have balconies, allowing passengers to sit outside at night and people watch. The Royal Promenades on earlier Royal Caribbean ships are lined with three decks of cabins but do not have balconies.
Kulovaara notes that passengers on the top pool decks of the ship also will be able to look down into the Central Park area from a bridge above.
Kulovaara tells USA TODAY that the Central Park is designed to be a peaceful place for passengers to hang out during the day, noting that there will be quiet reading corners, a sculpture garden and an area for playing chess. But at night the park will morph into an active gathering space for alfresco dining and entertainment that will include outdoor concerts and street performances.
Other dining choices that Royal Caribbean will announce today include an Italian restaurant called Giovanni’s Table, a Vintages wine bar (pictured above) and Royal Caribbean’s signature Chops Grille steakhouse. There also will be several bars scattered throughout the Park, including what's billed as the first moving bar at sea. Called Rising Tide, it will slowly glide up-and-down three decks, from the base level of the Central Park downward into lower areas of the ship (see illustration below; click on the image to make it bigger). A range of stores are planned, too.
The 225,000-ton Project Genesis ships, now under construction in Turku, Finland, will be the largest cruise vessels ever built. Nearly 50% larger than the current record holders, Royal Caribbean's Freedom class ships, they'll have room for 5,400 passengers at double occupancy.
Royal Caribbean long has been an innovator in cruise ship design, unveiling the first atriums at sea in the 1980s and the first indoor promenade in 1999. Other firsts include rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks and, most recently, a pool for surfing. The gigantic size of the coming Genesis ships has led to speculation that the line planned more ground-breaking new features, but until now the line has been mum on its plans for the ships.
Tell us, Cruise Loggers, what do you think?
Illustrations courtesy Royal Caribbean
Jumat, 16 Mei 2008
Freedom of the Seas, the biggest-cruise-ship-ever
The world’s largest and most innovative cruise ship, Freedom of the Seas, left Southampton on May 3, 2006 to make her transatlantic voyage to New York.
At 160,000 tons and holding 3,634 guests double-occupancy, Freedom of the Seas will be the largest cruise ship in the world when it debuts in May 2006, according to chairman and CEO Richard Fain. He noted that in choosing the name “Freedom” for the ship, the line was emphasizing how all-inclusive the vessel will be. “Whatever you want to do, you have the freedom to choose” he said.
In addition to the Voyager-class signature features – such as an enhanced rock climbing wall, ice skating rink and Royal Promenade – the 3,600 passenger ship, will feature a number of innovations: oversized sculptures spraying water in all directions, a circular current pool and a swimming pool fed by a waterfall; a full-size boxing ring and a 14-person family suite to an eager American audience.
Freedom of the Seas’ combined pool area is 43% larger than on Voyager-class ships.
At night, the main pool area will be transformed into an open-air nightclub, with a large dance floor situated between the two pools. Passengers will have access to a water park, a promenade and a casino. She will generate 1,800,000 litres of fresh water and require 35 tonnes of ice cubes every day.
Freedom of the Seas will arrive at the Port of Miami on May 25, where she will make a series of short sailings until June 4, when she will begin her regular sailing schedule of 7-night Western Caribbean tour calling at Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Montego Bay, Jamaica and Royal Caribbean’s private destination, Labadee, Hispaniola.
Freedom of the Seas wrest the biggest-ship-ever title from Cunard’s Queen Mary 2.
The QM2 was the largest, longest, tallest, widest, and most expensive ocean vessel ever built until the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas launches in June 2006. While QM2's passenger capacity is 2,620 passengers, Freedom of the Seas can carry 6,000 passengers.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. commissioned the world's largest cruise ship, agreeing to pay Europe's biggest shipbuilder a record 900 million euros ($1.1 billion) for a vessel that will carry 5,400 passengers. Oslo-based Aker Yards ASA will deliver the Project Genesis ship in late 2009. At 222,000 gross register tons, the Royal Caribbean International vessel, codenamed Project Genesis, will be nearly half as big again as the Queen Mary 2, and 43 percent bigger than the largest cruise liner, Freedom of the Seas.
The world's two largest cruise operators, Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruises, are commissioning larger ships as increasing numbers of customers buy on-board package vacations. The number of people taking cruises surged 5.7 percent to 8.35 million in the first nine months of 2005, according to the New York-based Cruise Lines International Association.
article source at http://www.bookmeacruise.co.uk
A Cruise Through The Royal Carribbean
cruises are luxury hotels that move every half hour, it's a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, a mass of one hundred thousand tons, that glides on the ocean between Florida and the islands of the Caribbean on a regular basis.
Royal Caribbean International is the second largest cruise ship operator in the world with revenues in excess of $4 billion. It owns 28 ships with more than 65,000 berths on them and is growing. Here's their story.
Flash back to 1969. An idea suddenly struck Arne Wilhelmsen and Edwin Stephan (Arne was a Harvard-educated investor and Edwin a famous Floridian businessman). The idea was that there was a large community of extremely wealthy Americans in Florida, and that this community would put down top dollar for a short, relaxing luxury cruise to the nearby Caribbean.
Arne and Edwin marketed this brainwave to some of the shipping magnates in Norway who readily bought it and came up with large investments. After a short gestation period, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (and an entire new industry) was born.
By the next year (1970), the infant company could speak of it's first possession: The SONG OF NORWAY, a splendid cruise ship, weighing 18,500 tons and equipped for 700 passengers, custom-built in Finland. The most stunning feature of it was a cocktail lounge cantilevered around the smokestack (Edwin Stephen got the idea from the Seattle Space Needle). This lounge was built into many of the Line's later ships and became the hallmark of the Company's fleet.
* Growth, Growth and More Growth *
The founders of the Company pursued their vision of achieving market dominance through a continual program of adding ships and services. A consolidated record of this, which is very difficult to find elsewhere in the media, is presented below:
1971
Cruise ships NORDIC PRINCE and SUN VIKING arrive
1978
SONG OF NORWAY cut in half, 75-foot piece with 164 cabins introduced in between
1980
NORDIC PRINCE augmented the same way
1982
SONG OF AMERICA arrives with a larger, more luxurious lounge around the smokestack
1988
SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS, the largest cruise ship ever built at 73,162 tons for 2,276 passengers, arrives at a cost of $150 million
1990
- NORDIC EMPRESS arrives
- The Company expands beyond the Caribbean: Mexico, Alaska, and Europe are added as destinations;
- Industry's first computerized booking system introduced
1991
- MONARCH OF THE SEAS arrives, ready for 2,354 passengers
1992
- MAJESTY OF THE SEAS delivered, equipped for 2,354 passengers
1993
- The Company goes public
1995
- LEGEND OF THE SEAS arrives, built for 1,804 passengers
1996
- GRANDEUR OF THE SEAS arrives at 74,000 tons and for 2,440 passengers
- SPLENDOUR OF THE SEAS, in the same class as GRANDEUR, delivered
1997
- Name changed to Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited (RCCL)
- RCCL buys Celebrity Cruises and its four working ships from Chandris Lines at a cost of $1.3 billion
- RHAPSODY OF THE SEAS, at 79,000 tons and for 2,435 passengers, is delivered
- ENCHANTMENT OF THE SEAS, at 74,000 tons and for 2,440 passengers, arrives
1998
- Enter VISION OF THE SEAS, 79,000 tons and to carry 2,435 passengers
- Joint ownership agreement signed with Chicago's Pritzker family (that has $15 billion in assets) and Haifa's Ofer family (that owns one of the world's largest shipping companies, Ofer Brothers Shipping Co)
1999
- VOYAGER OF THE SEAS comes in at a whopping 140,000 tons for 3,114 guests
2000
- EXPLORER OF THE SEAS arrives; in the VOYAGER class, it has marine laboratories on board as well
2001
- ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS arrives: 3,114 passengers accommodated per cruise
- RADIANCE OF THE SEAS delivered: 2,100 passenger capacity at 90,000 tons, with gas turbines, it is the first in it's class
- The company buys 20% of UK tour operator First Choice and launches a joint venture cruise line. It offers land-based tours in Alaska through Royal Celebrity Tours.
2002
- BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS, a vessel in the RADIANCE class, arrives and is ready for duty
2003
- SERENADE OF THE SEAS, the third RADIANCE class vessel, is delivered
2004
JEWEL OF THE SEAS, RADIANCE class, makes its debut
... and of course, more ships, even larger that the earlier ones, are on order!
* Conclusion *
With revenues in excess of $4 billion, RCCL is a juggernaut which will not slow down.
Its ships are floating cities, boast amenities such as rock climbing walls, miniature golf courses, swimming pools, ice skating rinks, sun decks, basketball courts, beauty salons, exercise and spa facilities, gaming facilities, lounges, bars, cabaret performances, cinemas, shopping arcades, multiple restaurants and casinos.
Most importantly, when on a cruise, one experiences some priceless bonuses: unpolluted air and a virtually noise-free environment. These are truly, in the modern context, balm for the soul.
If you can afford the entirely reasonable average fare of $400 per person for a 3-night cruise in a luxury stateroom don't think twice about it, sign up for a cruise and gain the experience of a lifetime!
