Norwegian Cruise Line Introduce Kids Upgrade

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has announced it is revitalising its current youth programme and will implement a new best-in-class programme fleet wide in order "to better meet the needs of the growing family holiday market."

The re-branded programme will be introduced on Norwegian Gem in mid-February and will be rolled out to all of the line’s Freestyle Cruising ships subsequently. The current programme, NCL’s Kid’s Crew, has been in place since 1999 and will be renamed, with the age groups being redefined to better address the skills and interests of children. The new age groups will be: three to five years; six to eight years; nine to 12 years; and two teen groups, 13 to 14 and 15 to 17 years. There will also be programming for babies and toddlers from six months to two years. 

The new fully developed and enhanced curriculum tailored to each age group is being produced in conjunction with The King’s Foundation and Camps, a UK-based organisation that provides high quality sport and activity programmes designed to make a positive impact on children. More focus will be placed on sporting activities, arts and crafts, theatre and technology.

The company has engaged Cirque Du Jour, a New York-based company that specialises in teaching children real circus skills such as scarf juggling, ball juggling, plate spinning, clowning and acrobatics. Circus workshops and shows will also be offered for the entire family. 

The youth programmes will also be expanded to utilise other areas of the ships, including the sports courts, rock walls, theatres, lounges and public spaces and will feature more family events such as parades and scavenger hunts. In addition, other family activities will be offered, including Nick Jr. story time, family trivia and special arts and crafts sessions.

For all NCL booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

NCL's Big Changes For 2013

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced its summer deployment for 2013/2014, with a four-ship deployment in Europe – continuing with two ships based in the region year-round.

New to the European fleet is Norwegian Star, which replaces the Sun in the Baltic, further increasing the capacity in this popular cruise destination. Further highlights include the addition of a third ship in Alaska, sailing seven-night ‘open jaw’ itineraries between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Whittier, Alaska.

In Europe, Norwegian Epic (above) returns for her third season, sailing seven-night Western Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona from May 5, 2013, to October 13. A new itinerary features five ports of call in three countries - Spain, Italy and France - and a call to Palma in Majorca.

Norwegian Jade returns to Venice in May for the summer season and will offer alternating seven-night Greek Isles and seven-night Adriatic, Greece and Turkey itineraries. In the Autumn/Winter, Jade repositions to Rome (Civitavecchia) for a series of eight 10-night Eastern Med and nine 11-night Mediterranean & The Holy Land itineraries from October 26, 2013, to April 12, 2014.

In Alaska, beginning May 20, 2013, Norwegian Sun’s northbound itinerary to Whittier departs Vancouver on Mondays and will cruise the Inside Passage, Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier and make stops in the Alaskan favourites of Ketchikan, Skagway and Juneau.

Beginning May 18, 2013, Norwegian Jewel will sail a series of 18 seven-night Sawyer Glacier itineraries from Seattle every Saturday, with stops in Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway and Victoria (British Columbia).

Pride of America will continue as the only US-flagged vessel sailing among all four of Hawaii’s main islands, offering seven-night inter-island cruises that depart Honolulu every Saturday. Ports of call include: an overnight in Kahului (Maui); Hilo and Kona (on the Big Island); an overnight in Nãwiliwili, (Kauai); and an afternoon cruise along the breathtaking Nãpali Coast.

For a shorter cruise option, Norwegian Sky will continue sailing three and four-night cruises to the Bahamas year-round from Miami through April 25, 2014.

For booking options, be sure to check out this link with the UK's leading cruise agent specialsts, the Cruise Line Ltd.

NCL's Great Bahamas Upgrade

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that it has completed the first phase of enhancements at Great Stirrup Cay (above), the line’s 250-acre private island in the Bahamas.

The company has opened a new marina and dining facility on the island, representing a significant milestone in the more than $20 million enhancement project currently under way.

Norwegian Sky’s 2,000 guests were the first to experience the opening of the marina basin with four docks for the island’s tenders and the new 8,500sq ft dining facility, complete with two bars and four picnic pavilions.

NCL president and CEO Kevin Sheehan explained: “Both the new marina and the dining facility greatly enhance the guest experience on Great Stirrup Cay, which is our second busiest port of call this year. By moving the tenders’ arrival to the marina and away from the beach, we have now opened up a great expanse of beachfront for our guests to enjoy and relax. We’ve also built a new, large dining facility that is similar to the action station restaurants we have on board our Freestyle Cruising ships.”

The marina is approximately 12ft deep at low water and is home to the island’s four tenders. It took more than eight months to excavate the basin and the entrance channel. The dining facility includes a central pizza-making station, two grills, hot and cold food stations, as well as fresh fruits and breads. There are two full bars on either side of the facility for added convenience.

The four pavilions, each more than 1,800sq ft, offer picnic tables with a total seating capacity for more than 500 guests. Enhancements have been under way since January 2010 and will continue until the end of this year.

Several new activities have been added since the project began, including more than 16 wave runners, kayak rentals and an eco-adventure boat tour around the island. These are in addition to the existing snorkelling, floats, inflatable hippo slide and parasailing.

The second phase of enhancements includes an arrival/departure pavilion; additional bar facilities; several comfort stations; a band stand; cruise programme activity area; private beachfront cabanas; a kids' play area; straw market; and beach volleyball courts. The beachfront will continue to be expanded on the island’s west end.

NCL has owned the island since 1977 when it became the first to offer an uninhabited tropical island experience exclusively for its guests. Great Stirrup Cay offers magnificent white sand beaches, majestic palms and calm, pristine waters where an abundance of colourful marine life inhabits the surrounding coral reefs.

Norwegian Gem, Jewel, Sky and Pearl regularly call there throughout the year. For more information, call 0845 201 8900 or visit www.ncl.co.uk.

A Jewel For Alaska

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced it will position Norwegian Jewel in Alaska for the first time in 2012/13. Jewel will replace Norwegian Star, which will offer sailings to Bermuda from her new home port of New York.

Jewel will cruise from Seattle on a seven-day Sawyer Glacier itinerary. The weekly Sawyer Glacier cruises will depart from May 26-September 8, 2012, and will call at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia.

Families onboard can enjoy Jewel’s Nickelodeon at Sea entertainment, offering live Nickelodeon-themed interactive shows, Nick Live! Poolside entertainment; character breakfasts and meet and greets and Nick-themed dance parties.

NCL will sail two ships to Bermuda weekly from April until October calling at King’s Wharf. Star will sail from New York on Sundays, staying for three full days, and Dawn will sail her Bermuda itinerary departing on Fridays from Boston, also with three days at the island.

Kevin Sheehan, NCL's chief executive officer, insists: “The 2012/2013 season is filled with new and exciting Freestyle Cruising choices. Whether it’s our ships cruising different destinations, disembarking from new homeports or sailing new itineraries, we offer the most freedom and flexibility when it comes to cruise travel. We are pleased to bring Norwegian Jewel to Alaska and Star to Bermuda, along with continuing our popular Hawaii inter-island cruises and short cruises to the Bahamas through early 2013.”

Additional itinerary announcements for 2012/13:

Norwegian Jewel will sail a seven-day Sawyer Glacier cruise from Vancouver to Seattle on May 19, 2012, and a seven-day Sawyer Glacier from Seattle to Vancouver on September 15.

Norwegian Pearl (above) will return to Seattle sailing her weekly seven-day Glacier Bay cruises departing on Sundays from May 13 to September 9, 2012, calling at, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria.

Norwegian Pearl will also sail a seven-day Glacier Bay cruise from Vancouver to Seattle on May 6, 2012, and a Seattle-to-Vancouver cruise on September 16.

Pride of America will continue as the only US-flagged vessel sailing among all four of Hawaii’s main islands. Her seven-day cruises from Honolulu are available now until April 7, 2013. Ports of call include: an overnight in Kahului, Maui; Hilo, Hawaii; an evening sail by the Kilauea Volcano (weather permitting); Kona, Hawaii; an overnight in Nãwiliwili, Kauai; and an afternoon cruise of the breathtaking Nãpali Coast.

Norwegian Sky will continue sailing three and four-day cruises to the Bahamas year-round from Miami until April 15, 2013. The three-day Bahamas cruise departs on Fridays and includes stops in Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL's private island in the Bahamas. On Mondays, the ship departs on a four-day cruise with stops in Grand Bahama Island, Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau.

For more information, call 0845 201 8900 or visit http://www.ncl.co.uk/, or check out the specialist cruise agents of The Cruise Line Ltd.

New edition of World of Cruising!

The Autumn edition of World of Cruising magazine goes to print this week, with readers getting their copies on September 20, and it is definitely one to look forward to.

Our headline feature is a look at Hurtigruten's classic Norwegian Coastal Voyage (above), with Steve Newman detailing what makes this route so special with its mixture of fjords, wildlife and unusual ports of call.

It is also the opening element of a two-part adventure cruise special as we visit the small-scale Alaska of American Safari Cruise, a very different and far more personal experience to the big cruise lines.

For ship features, we have a detailed report on P&O's new Azura; the boutique-smart RMS St Helena on its unique South Atlantic voyages; the luxury style of Crystal Serenity; the headline-catching latest newcomer from NCL, Norwegian Epic; the Louis Majesty of specialist Cyprus operator Louis Cruises; and the Spa style of Seabourn Odyssey.

We go in depth with the recently re-branded Azamara Club Cruises, the start-up operations of Voyages to Antiquity and a special head-to-head comparison of Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises with our US expert Steven B. Stern.

And we have all our usual features and news items, including The Admiral, Cruise Fashion, World of Spas, First Timers' Cruising and a special Aft View.

As ever, it all adds up to the best read on the subject and the most impressive coverage of the wide World of Cruising from Europe's longest-running cruise magazine. All aboard now...!

Ready, Shrek, Go!

Once upon a time, there was a little cruise line. And the little cruise line had a Big Red Boat. And on the Big Red Boat were Disney characters. And all the little children on the Big Red Boat were happy.

Then Disney started its own Cruise Line and all their characters jumped ship, leaving the Big Red Boat to struggle along with Loony Tune characters....

But, in the big wide world of cruise ship marketing, a major trend had been started, and everyone took notice. While Disney Cruise Line officially set sail in 1998, 'Fun Ship Freddy' joined Carnival Cruises in 2002 and a trend had become a major onboard entertainment feature.

Then, earlier this year, NCL announced a major tie-up with Nickelodeon to use their characters aboard the forthcoming Norwegian Epic. And now comes another move in this direction as Royal Caribbean staged a major press conference yesterday to unveil a marketing alliance with DreamWorks Animation.

The details - which add the likes of Shrek and Donkey; Kung Fu Panda; the characters from the Madagascar series (notably the hysterically funny penguins); and an Ice Show based on the recent film 'How To Train Your Dragon' - reveal that Royal Caribbean believe they need to not only acknowledge this trend but take it to a whole new level.

To that end, the new Allure of the Seas - due to sail this December - will be the line's trailblazer for this new tie-up between one of the world's biggest cruise lines and one of the most successful animated film studios.

The alliance will see a whole raft of new children's programming and activities (naturally enough) for a cruise line that already boasts a fantastic option for families with their Adventure Ocean kids areas (for 3 to 11-year-olds), but DreamWorks boss Jeffrey Katzenberg made it clear they really wanted to push the possibilities with this deal, and that has led to some interesting additions to Allure's onboard entertainment quotient.

As well as the themed Ice Show, there will be DreamWorks characters added to the AquaTheater show in the ship's signature after show area; there will be a new 3-D film capapbility in the main theatre, so passengers can see the latest movies in 3-D as well as past DreamWorks favourites.

Add in character breakfasts, parades, special events and other photo opportunities (weith the DreamWorks options also being added to Oasis, Freedom and Liberty of the Seas after Allure) and you have an amazing new package - and a whole new style - of cruising from Royal Caribbean, and just one more reason to consider taking a holiday with them next year.

Whether you have kids or not!

The Best Free Dining at Sea? It's An Epic Choice

It's fascinating to watch the details continue to roll out ahead of this summer's launch of the new Norwegian Epic, the largest and most feature-packed vessel in the history of NCL.

So far, we've seen a revolutionary take on cabin design, an amazing line-up of entertainment, the largest-ever Spa complex at sea and some superb children's programmes, all of which we have detailed in recent months here on our Time Spent At Sea blog. Now comes the full array of Dining choice - with no less that 11 complimentary experiences (out of 21 in total), arguably the most comprehensive and eye-catching of any ship to date.

The free-to-dine restaurants include many that are new to NCL, such as the Manhattan Room, reminiscent of an elegant supper club and complete with music, dancing and entertainment; O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill, serving American favourites; Spice H20, serving Latin and Asian-influenced cuisine; the Studio Lounge, serving snacks and light fare to solo travellers; and the Epic Club, the exclusive dining venue for Norwegian Epic's Suites and Villa passengers. Other regular options include the Garden Cafe buffet, the Great Outdoors al fresco pool grill and even a Kids Cafe.

The additional 10 dining options will all have a nominal cover charge (ranging from $5-$25 per person), with a la carte pricing in Shanghai’s noodle bar and Wasabi sushi bar.

I especially like the sound of Taste (picture above), a dramatic-looking and high-energy style of restaurant that promises an array of traditional and contemporary cuisine, and Cagney's Steakhouse & Churrascaria, as NCL have always done this style of dining extremely well.

NCL also insist that there is one more upscale dining option still to be revealed in May. Get your tastebuds ready!

Meanwhile, the luxurious Mandara Spa will be the largest at sea, housing 24 treatment rooms, two private couple’s villas, two exotic steam Rasul rooms, a DIY Scrub Experience, Hydrotherapy Courtyard & Thermal Suite, full-service salon, fitness centre with TRX training and a barber shop. The Spa features more than 50 treatments for both men and women, including Elemis facials, massages, body therapies, bliss® face and body treatments, and acupuncture, along with cosmetic medical treatments performed by a licensed doctor. The salon features hair, nail and waxing services. In addition, kids and teens can choose from a selection of child-friendly spa services.

Once again, it all serves to highlight the astonishing array of facilities that are being packed into this ship - and the mind-boggling choice that cruising represents in the 21st century.

Europe Or Bust!

The charge is on - and European waters may never be the same again!

That is to say, there will be more ships in the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas than ever before, and the cruise menu will be bulging at the rivets with possibilities for April-October 2011.

For reasons that even the cruise industry seems to be struggling to explain (although it may have something to do with lower port duties and fees in many of the ports, as opposed to Alaska), there will be an absolute plethora of maritime options throughout Europe next year.

As if the high numbers and record-breaking volume of the cruise capacity in 2010 isn't enough, many lines are going a step further in 12 months' time. And it is not just the mass-market operators - everyone is at it, including upmarket companies like Oceania Cruises and the Yachts of Seabourn.

One by one, from Princess to NCL to Holland America to Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, the lines have announced increased capacity, more ports of call and enhanced itineraries. It is not so much a rush as an ocean-going stampede - and the cruise customer stands to benefit enormously.

There are already some handsomely attractive advance deals (like Oceania offering two-for-one pricing), and they could well become the norm in the coming months as this year fills up and people start to look at 2011.

Here's how the 'big boys' of the cruise business are shaping up:

Princess Cruises: 7 ships, with 106 itineraries, 42 of which are brand new.

Celebrity Cruises: 3 of their Solstice-class vessels will be in Europe for the first time

NCL: 3 ships, based uniquely in Copenhagen (Norwegian Sun), Barcelona (the new Norwegian Epic) and Venice (Norwegian Jade).

Royal Caribbean: a stunning 10 ships, visiting 78 ports on 109 different itineraries.

Holland America: 7 ships - including 2 of their largest Signature-class - offering 15 maiden ports of call and 16 overnight ports.

And that is before you consider the 'resident' European specialists like P&O, Fred. Olsen, Costa, MSC Cruises and Thomson.

It is an amazing line-up of cruise-going hardware - in excess of 60 vessels all featuring European itineraries - and it all serves to underline, yet again, that the best holiday choice remains a cruise choice.

Or, in the words of a famous politician, You've never had it so good. Or so varied!

An Epic Moves Closer

Some heartening news from NCL re the launch of their Norwegian Epic this summer:

16 February 2010: Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest and most innovative ship to date, returned from her first successful sea trials on Sunday, 14 February 2010, after four days of sailing the Atlantic Ocean for the first time.

During the sea trials, 300 technicians and engineers from STX FRANCE SA, along with 30 Norwegian Cruise Line representatives, checked more than 60 different aspects of the ship’s performance by running trials of the vessel’s speed, maneuverability, hydrodynamics and propulsion, amongst others.

“During her first time ever at sea, Norwegian Epic performed above expectations with excellent marine behaviour,” said Roberto Martinoli, Norwegian Cruise Line’s president and COO, who was on board during the sea trials. “All tests were conducted with positive results. She is a beautiful ship with outstanding performance. Now that sea trials are completed, we can concentrate on finishing the ship and showing her to the world in June.”

A second round of sea trials is scheduled for mid-April in order to finalise all tests, including final speed measurement. The 153,000-gross ton, 4,200-passenger ship – the largest ship ever built in Saint-Nazaire - is scheduled for delivery on 15 June, 2010.

Following her UK inaugural, seven-day transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York departing on 24 June 2010 and inaugural activities in New York and Miami , Norwegian Epic will sail alternating seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami from 10 July 2010 through to 30 April 2011.

Ports of call on the Eastern Caribbean itinerary include Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas. The Western Caribbean cruises visit Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico.

Norwegian Cruise Line also recently announced that Norwegian Epic will be based in Barcelona from May to October 2011 from where she will sail a series of seven-day Western Mediterranean cruises.

Now It's Epic Fun For Kids!

NCL's big advance roll-out of information (and excitement) for the arrival of their Norwegian Epic this summer continued this week with two big 'announcements,' one of which is sure to go down a storm with younger cruisers.

While all the previous info updates on Epic have concentrated on the 'grown-up' aspects of the 150,000-ton ship (the Blue Man Group, Cirque Dreams dinner show, Legends in Concert, Howl at the Moon Saloon, etc), this one was purely for the kids (and lovers of all things slimey!).

Nickelodeon have been signed up to provide a signature family programme on NCL's latest and greatest (as well as on Norwegian Jewel out of New York this summer), which means the likes of Spongebob Squarepants and Dora the Explorer will be the focal points of the various kids clubs.

The Nick TV entertainment company also have programmes geared for pre-schoolers and teenagers, so no-one should be left out, and the whole family will be able to join in some of the events (like game shows and other presentations that will use the ship's bigger theatre areas), which are guaranteed to come with plenty of signature slime.

There will even be character breakfasts with the Nickelodeon characters (albeit with a separate charge), plus storytime sessions and shows like Slime Time Live (yes, really!).

The innovative move from the innovative line is another shot in the arm (and clever advance marketing) for the year's most groundbreaking newcomer, and it serves to underline the clever, out-of-the-box thinking that is going into every facet of Epic's onboard line-up.

NCL's other announcement also highlights this latter. As well as some new, non-linear designs with their standard cabins, Epic will boast the cruise industry's first purpose-built, new-look cabins for solo travellers. Although fairly small at just 100sq ft (and NCL are right up front about the size), these 128 studio-type rooms will have room for just a bed, separate WC and shower unit and a vanity desk (plus drawer space). They will all be inside (with a view over an internal corridor) and come at a set rate $799/person (i.e with NO single supplement).

There will also be a special communal studio lounge for all guests in these cabins.

Once again, it marks NCL out as a fresh-thinking, go-ahead alternative in the big-ship business, and it continues to enhance the build-up to the biggest ship they have ever built. Roll on June.....!

Happy Cruise New Year!

We all look forward to a New Year in one way or another but 2010 promises to be better than most, and not just because the financial and economic scene shows signs of getting back on a healthier, even keel.

As I have already written, there is an amazing variety of new ships to anticipate, with several that should be genuinely ground-breaking (notably Oceania's Marina and NCL's Norwegian Epic).

There should also be plenty of good deals to be had, too, as cruise lines look to tempt people back to sea-going holidays after the recession-hit days of 2008/09 (so be sure to check with our sister company The Cruise Line Ltd for all the best offers - and look early and often in January as many lines are already flagging up their New Year 'Sails'!).

There is also more focus than ever before on attracting first-time cruisers to this holiday style, with companies big (like Royal Caribbean, NCL and P&O) and small (the likes of Compagnie du Ponant, Pandaw Cruises and Hurtigruten) putting out some tempting campaigns to lure newcomers.

In fact, the appeal of the small, deluxe, niche operators like Ponant and Pandaw should be uppermost in the minds of those looking for that 'something new' factor in 2010.

One I am especially looking forward to investigating for the terrific feedback they have already generated in a relatively short time is Chilean specialist Nomads of the Seas and their unique ship the Atmosphere (pictured above).

The appeal of touring the majestic Chilean fjords in the company of this ship's purpose-built style is immensely appealing and should be one of the highlights of the year for us at World of Cruising, so stay tuned for our report in due course.

I would especially recommend taking a look at their website, http://www.nomadsoftheseas.com/, for those who really want to get off the beaten cruise track, enjoy some of the world's most spectacular scenery and wildlife, sample the tastes and culture of a truly unique region and do it all in some of the highest quality possible in the 'soft' adventure-cruising category.

Can you tell I'm looking forward to 2010?!

Truly Epic Entertainment!

NCL held their second 'webinar' last Friday (a live seminar on the web) to hail all the new entertainment elements on board their forthcoming Norwegian Epic. And a truly 'epic' array of talent and excitement it turned out to be.

We already know about the six lanes of 10-pin bowling (split into two different venues), the unique offering from the award-winning Blue Man Group that will be one of the feature shows, the Headliners comedy club featuring the Second City company (from Chicago), Fat Cats jazz and blues club and the visionary Cirque Dreams dinner show.

But the latest instalment of 'news' and revelations gave us even more. And it left me thinking that this has to be the most imaginative line-up of entertainment options and original ideas anywhere at sea.

In addition to all the above, the Epic will also boast the Howl at the Moon dueling pianos rock 'n roll show, and the Legends in Concert music tribute show (with performers still to be decided). The former is a fun, lively and interactive (think raucous sing-along!) music show in a club-style setting, with two baby grand pianos providing a continuous parade of rock tunes from the 1970s, 80s and 90s. There are 14 Howl at the Moon saloon locations throughout the US and they are a tried & trusted formula dating back to 1990.

Legends in Concert is a Vegas-style music tribute act that has 7 locations in America (including Atlantic City, Vegas and Seattle) and bills itself as "the world's greatest live tribute show." Their performers mimic the acts of the likes of Tina Turner, Elvis, the Blues Brothers, Cher and Madonna, and the Epic will feature three different acts that change periodically.

The 'webinar' provided quite a bit of detail (and fun - you can listen to it on the Epic website), but a press release today also adds some more detail:

FAMOUS FACES AND ROCK ’N’ ROLL DUELLING PIANOS JOIN NORWEGIAN EPIC
- Legends in Concert and Howl at the Moon Announced -

Live tribute artists and celebrity look-alikes such as The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Madonna, and Tom Jones will feature on NCL’s newest ship, Norwegian Epic, launching in June 2010.

Legends in Concert is known as the world’s greatest live tribute show and has been a staple on Las Vegas ’ centre strip for 25 years, being seen by audiences worldwide.

Norwegian Epic also welcomes Howl at the Moon - the world’s greatest rock ‘n roll dueling piano show that encourages audience participation.

“Norwegian Epic has already made headlines with its world-class entertainment offerings, such as Blue Man Group and Cirque Dreams™ and Dinner. Now, with the addition of Legends in Concert and Howl at the Moon, we have raised the bar even higher, taking cruise ship entertainment to a whole new level, on par with major entertainment hubs like Las Vegas and New York,” said Kevin Sheehan, NCL’s chief executive officer.

Sheehan adds, “With their wide range of incredibly talented superstar tribute artists and celebrated entertainers, Legends in Concert will appeal to music fans of all ages, making this a must-see show for our guests. Howl at the Moon gives guests the chance to sing along to music from the ‘70s to today in a highly interactive show.”

Legends In Concert

Legends in Concert on Norwegian Epic will feature three celebrity tribute performers taking the stage in the Epic Theatre for six 45-minute shows over three days during a seven-day cruise. In addition, a cabaret-style show will be performed on three additional nights in the Manhattan Room, the ship’s New York-inspired supper club. The celebrity performers, some of whom come from the UK , will change every four months, keeping the show fresh.

Each Legends in Concert performer looks and sounds like the star they portray. They use their own natural voices, and every detail is taken into consideration from choreography, to hair, make-up and mannerisms.

Howl at the Moon

Performing four times per cruise in Headliners, Epic’s comedy club, Howl at the Moon is a total entertainment experience where the talented piano players not only entertain the guests; the guests become part of the show. The fun is centred around two baby grand pianos and a full out rock show with Howl’s entertainers playing the best music from 70’s rock to hip-hop for four hours per show.

Norwegian Epic arrives in the UK on 22 June, 2010, for a two-night invitation-only inaugural cruise from Southampton . The ship will then cross to the USA where she will sail alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami from July 2010.

The most amazing thing, though? All of this dazzling entertainment line-up (with the exception of the Cirque Dreams dinner show, for which there will be a $15/person surcharge) is absolutely FREE.

So take some time to check out the links and view their webcast. Then get ready to book for an Epic experience in 2010! I know I'm ready .......!

TOO Good for Kids?

Royal Caribbean have gone to a lot of trouble and effort (not to mention money) in putting some of the most elaborate kids facilities ever seen into their forthcoming Oasis of the Seas.

Carnival have made a signature feature of their water-slides and Camp Carnival programmes. P&O seemingly have kids' clubs coming out of their ears, and NCL's new Norwegian Epic will also boast some of the most extensive children's facilities at sea.

With the exception of the truly deluxe, six-star operators, virtually everyone figures that the family market is key, and that therefore they have to have the biggest, brightest and downright fanciest gadgets and gizmos to keep the youngest cruisers happy.

It is an old adage in holiday circles that happy children equals happy parents, and that is certainly true in cruise terms.

But are the cruise lines doing TOO MUCH for kids?

Part of the attraction of cruising is in the places you visit, the different experiences on offer and the variety of cultures you can appreciate along the way. There is not much of that to be found in the kids clubs, where the junior landlubbers remain locked into their Wiis, Playstations and Nintendos.

While ships get smarters and more high-tech, the level of sophistication devoted to children is practically off the charts. Gone are the days when a couple of counsellors and a good game of football on the sports deck was about as organised as it got.

At the risk of sounding like the crustiest of curmudgeons, back in my day, we had just as much fun playing shuffleboard and doing scavenger hunts as all the clever, themed environments provide for today's kiddie cruisers.

And we also took an active interest in our ports of call, marvelling at each new harbour and the downright 'foreign' nature of the immediate vista. I can vividly remember my first visit to Gran Canaria and Madeira (back in 1969!), when the islands loomed out of the sea like some lunar landscape, full of mysterious possibilities and unimaginable delights.

Nowadays, if the average 9-year-old gives a new port even a passing glance, it is probably only because they are wondering if their Gameboy will work if they have to go ashore.

There seems to be no sense of awe and wonder, perhaps because children are fortunate to travel more often, but most likely because they don't have to use their imagination when it comes to cruising. The kids club provides that all for them.

So, perhaps the next big, mass-market cruise line that is considering the next generation of children's facilities might like to stop and ponder that, rather than build in another amazing, all-singing, all-dancing high-tech wonderland, they should perhaps realise that less can be more, simple can be good, and challenging can be rewarding.

And then some children might at least disembark at the end of the cruise knowing that Lisbon was the place that launched a generation of explorers and adventurers, and not just "some place in Portugal."

Farewell Black Prince, Hello Marco Polo!

Cruising from UK ports has been on a steady upward curve for the past 10 years and looked to be heading for record levels in 2010, until Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines announced that their beloved Black Prince would be leaving them after this season.

The loss of this small-but-popular vessel - only 11,209 tons but with the history and passenger appreciation level of a megaliner - had threatened to leave quite a gap in the ex-UK cruise portofolio, especially with the departure of other small, traditional vessels like Saga Cruises' Saga Rose.

But, in a move that was both surprising and smart, there will be not one but TWO new choices for fans of cruising from a variety of British ports.

Cruise and Maritime Services have been a player in the ex-UK charter market for quite a few years now, but they had noted the loss of Black Prince and Co and determined that something needed to be done to fill the void. And how.

Forming their own British cruise 'brand,' Cruise & Maritime Voyages, they have extended their charter relationship with the ship's owners and turned it into a year-round proposition sailing from British shores.

Her itineraries (from January 2, 2010) will take her on winter voyages to the Amazon, Orinoco and West Indies, all from the little-used Essex port of Tilbury. In the summer, she will sail for Scandinavia, the Baltic and Russia, again all from Tilbury.

More senior cruisers will also be keen to know Marco Polo will operate as an 'adults only' vessel, meaning passengers will be 16 and up only. So no children's facilities at all, and none of the shenanigans that some of the bigger, family-intensive ships have reported in recent years.

However, not content with adding this long-popular gem (she sailed for many years for the old Orient Lines before NCL unceremoniously ditched that brand in 2007), C&M have also decided to bring another traditional ship into their fold by adding the 17,000-ton Ocean Countess to their stable.

The former Cunard Countess, launched in 1975, she will add more classic British cruise style and a host of options for ex-UK voyaging, including Hull, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Greenock.

Starting in April, she will operate a wide-ranging series of cruises to the Baltic, Scandinavia, Mediterranean and the Canaries, all with that 'no-fly' option which appeals to many. She will also undergo a major renovation (costing some $5million) before becoming a Cruise & Maritime vessel.

So, just when you thought it was time to bemoan the dwindling band of 'old faithfuls' operating to that sector of the market who appreciate that smaller and older can, actually, be quite a pleasant contrast to large and modern, along comes not one but two new options.

All aboard now............!

From Shining Century to Admirable Equinox

Southampton has played host all week to the new Celebrity Equinox, the second of the cruise line's Solstice-class ships and the first to be named in the UK.

And the initial review, feedback and gossip all suggest one thing - this is a HUGE success for Celebrity that brings them firmly back into the front rank of cruise ship hierarchy once again. Back in the limelight, and loving it!

I vividly remember all the hype and hoopla around their Century class ships back in 1995/96, when then Celebrity chief John Chandris led various press trips to the superb Meyer Werft shipyard at Papenburg, Germany.

The Century itself, quickly followed by the slightly larger Mercury and Galaxy (the latter of which is now sailing for TUI Cruises as Mein Schiff), proved to be something of a revolutionary vessel, breaking the existing mould of other new-builds at that time which were either horribly traditional and dull (P&O, NCL) or outrageously garish (Carnival).

For the first time, here was a new, European-styled cruise ship which was completely modern and stylish but also kept things in perspective, maintaining a solid cruise tradition with some revolutionary touches like their AquaSpa, expansive Sky Suites and a grand, two-level main Dining Room that offered a truly classic touch.

The Century was a beautiful ship to sail on, big enough to provide a choice in almost evertything you did but small enough to be comfortable and highly quality-conscious. You never felt you were on a vessel of 70,000-plus tons, and her two sisters were equally impressive.

The follow-up Millennium-class quartet slightly lost the plot, however. They weren't massively bigger at 91,000 tons compared to 71,000/77,000 but there was something horribly bulky and blockish about their design. The smooth, refined service which was a notable feature of the Century-class vessels wasn't quite so smooth and the standout feature of their main dining and alternative dining didn't measure up the line's Chandris-era standards.

Celebrity needed a game-changer to put them back at the forefront of the current welter of new-builds (greater quality from Carnival; more glitz from Costa; huge diversity from NCL; extra glamour from Holland America; and more of everything from Princess) and they opted to go for the bigger-still policy.

November 2008 saw the advent of the 122,000-ton Celebrity Solstice, a kind of combination of the original Century series and Royal Caribbean's massive Voyager-class. But this time, instead of just enlarging the blueprint and losing the focus, Celebrity kept things sharply in line, adding new features like their AquaClass staterooms and manicured Lawn Club (a surprisingly attractive novelty) and a truly indulgent alternative dining line-up.

Now, without allowing any grass (ho, ho) to grow under their feet, the line has made sure their new series is showcased firmly for the UK audience, hence the 7-day Southampton prelude to her first full inaugural sailing.

And it really looks like they have a massive hit on their hands. The travel trade has been suitably wowed, the grand Southampton naming ceremony was a complete headline-grabber and a 'taster' cruise for an assemblage of cruise and travel writers also seems to have been wamly received.

There is a good reason for this, of course. In April 2010 the third of these glamorous new-builds, Celebrity Eclipse, will hove into view and take up semi-permanent residence in Southampton for a seven-month season, becoming a 'British' ship in all but name (Equinox is off for a summer season in the Med shortly).

Celebrity badly needed Equinox to blaze an impressive trail for Solstice to follow. And, by the look of the past 7 days, they have achieved all that, and more besides.

An admirable Equinox indeed.