The Cruise Industry Forecast To Stay Afloat As Cruises Becoming Increasingly Popular

Great news for the cruise industry predicted by Mickey Arison, Chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation, Carnival Cruises, as the UK cruise market has double over the last decade, he is forecasting that the numbers will double again over the next decade bringing the cruise passenger figure to three million annually.

He said; 'it will be partly stimulated by a much-increased range of cruises coming onto the market, including more short duration cruises from UK ports'.

The results of an online survey by one of the the leading cruise retailers received approximately 5,000 responses from frequent cruise passengers. The survey also revealed that more than a quarter of the people who took part were prepared to reduce other outgoings to ensure they have enough money to go on their main cruise holiday. Furthermore, one in three passengers said they would rather pay less than they would normally budget for a cruise and take the opportunity of cruise deals than not book one at all.

The survey highlighted some other interesting results which included that eight out of ten cruisers preferred smaller ships, carrying less than 1,000 passengers and half voting for cruise ships which carried between 1,000 and 2,000 passengers. Only one in every hundred people voted for cruising on a ship which carries more than 4,000 guests. A high percentage of people also indicated that they prefer cruises which were shared with predominately UK passengers.

Image: Carnival Triumph

Feeling Terra-Firma Under Your Feet

Passengers on board cruise ships who like to feel terra-firma under their feet, long to glimpse green grass or simply love the smell of a freshly mown lawn can have the best of both worlds on Celebrity Solstice cruise ship.

Celebrity Cruises are renowned for innovative design features to keep their guests content whilst on board and have managed to incorporate real grass, we're not talking synthetic astro-turf, on board Celebrity Solstice. The Lawn Club covers approximately half an acre and is sited under huge canvas shades.

The original concept was to use synthetic grass, however after different real grasses where tested for strength, durability, wind and sea exposure and a series of growing mediums, filters and irrigation systems they managed to have a 'live' lawn growing on deck!

The Lawn Club is much like a country club on a reduced scale, the lawn is mowed every two or three days and kept to a height of approximately 10-15 millimetres. The gentle pass times of croquet and putting are actively encouraged, however, high heels, deck furniture and towels are strictly forbidden in order to preserve and managed the lawn appropriately, as neither Celebrity Solstice crew or cruise passengers would hardly likely to see it looking like a ploughed field!

Legendary Sophia Loren Godmother To MSC Magnificia

The 11th in the MSC Cruise fleet MSC Magnificia was christened by actress Sophia Loren to a backdrop of spectacular fireworks and of course champagne.

The ceremony was enjoyed by invited on board guests as well as being viewed by thousands via two giant floating screens and full MSC TV coverage.

MSC Magnificia weighs 90,000 gross tonnes and has capacity for over 3,000 passengers. The ship boasts state of the art facilities with it's innovative design concepts being found on the company's flagships MSC Fantasia and MSC Spendida.

MSC Magnificia's features include the Magrodome, the 1st within the Musica class series of ships. It's retractable roof, the largest of its kind, offer the opportunity for passengers to swim in all weathers, which is ideal for the Mediterranean sailings.

The ship also has world class double star Michelin chef Mauro Uliassi who will be at the forefront of the L'Oasi Restaurant. What more would one expect from MSC Cruises?

Passengers who like to keep fit, but also like to relax are also superbly catered for with a myriad of Olympic themed articles displayed in the L'Olimpiade sports bar.


MSC Magnifica will cruise the Mediterranean starting on the 20th March 2010. The 7 night itineraries take in Bari and Venice- Italy, Katakalon/Olympia -Greece, Izmir and Istanbul -Turkey and Dubrovnik - Croatia. Further MSC cruise deals and sailings are scheduled throughout the year.

Princess Cruises New 'A la Carte' Excursion Opportunities

This summer Princess Cruises have four new 'A la Carte' cruise tour options which focuses on those who wish to 'do their own thing' during their cruise holiday.

The new concept enables flexibility by spending an extra three nights at one of the Denali area Princess lodges without excursions, allowing passengers to make their own individualised schedules. Departing from Vancouver the 'A la Carte' cruises feature northbound 'Voyage of the Glaciers – Gulf of Alaska cruise sailing on either Coral Princess or Island Princess. Both cruises visit top attractions in the Denali National Park and Glacier Bay National Park.

President of Princess Tour, Charlie Ball, has said 'These new A la Carte cruise-tours are designed specifically with the value-conscious, independent traveller in mind. With fewer ‘extras' included, we can offer a more affordable tour option with greater flexibility for travellers who prefer to discover the wonders of Alaska at their own pace. Passengers can truly customize their vacation to suit their own interests, whether they want to spend extra time viewing Denali's fascinating wildlife, hike through the spectacular wilderness or try an exhilarating pursuit such as river rafting."

These new cruises are available from May to September Alaska season. Princess Cruises also offer a wide variety of Alaska land/sea experiences within their itineraries to accommodate the most discerning of cruisers.

The new concept will be a welcome change for many passengers who prefer to have a more relaxed cruise holiday which includes experiences they wish to participate in rather than tag along with a group of others on organised tours.

2 New Mega-Ships For Princess Cruises

Latest news within the world of cruise ships is the announcement that parent company to Princess Cruises, Carnival Corporation, has signed a memorandum of agreement with Fincantari, an Italian shipbuilder, for two new Princess cruise ships which will début in 2013 and 2014.

Each of the two new ships will be the largest in the princess Fleet at 139,000 tons. They will hold 3,600 passengers making them approximately 20% larger than any other ship in the fleet. At a cost estimated at around $768 million the ships will be competing in size with other mega cruise ships; being slightly larger than the new Carnival Dream, the ships will dwarf the Ruby Princess which made its début in 2008. Neither of the ships have been named as yet and no indication as to the potential 'godmothers' has been mentioned to date.

With more and more people taking full advantage of cruise deals and the latest innovation in cruising luxury it looks as if the cruise industry is set to keep ahead of consumer trends with regards to both passenger needs and value for money.
Carnival Cruises have an existing fleet of over 20 cruise ships, sailing from twenty different ports to destinations around the world, including Europe.

The company focuses on providing passengers a fun packed cruise holiday with activities and entertainment itineraries to suit all ages. Offer 3-8 day cruises Carnival have built their reputation on providing excellence in an exciting an innovative way.

Image: Ruby Princess - Princess Cruises (Examiner)

Cunard Caters For Jazz Enthusiasts During 2010

Jazz enthusiasts are being given a spectacular itinerary on board Queen Mary 2 this year. Select Cunard Cruies eastbound Transatlantic Crossings will present classical and contemporary jazz performances from one of the world's top music schools, The Juiliard School.

The concerts will feature many well known and popular jazz performers, including Eddie Henderson on trumpet, who had his fiirst trumpet lesson from the legendary Louis Armstrong and Ben Wolfe on bass. Students from The Juiliard School will accompany professors to bring a wealth and expertise to the performances.
The new partnership between Cunard and The Juiliard School commences this April and continues through until October with concerts being performed in the ship's Royal Court Theatre.

One of the grandest ocean liners ever built, Queen Mary 2 provides passengers with the timeless elegance of cruising in spectacular style. Although the ship retains the sophistication of cruising in sumptuous surroundings, Cunard remain focused on the needs of passengers, including the most modern luxuries along with entertainment catered to the tastes of the most discerning passengers needs.

The partnership with The Juiiard School clearly demonstrates their commitment to include diversity as well as retaining the Golden Age of Ocean Travel at its very best for their cruise passengers

'Disney Dream' Offers Fun Packed Family Cruises

Disney Cruises continues to provide a wide range of unique water-sports facilities on board their newest ship Disney Dream. An interactive sports deck, water themed play area along with poolside haven of rest and relaxation for adults, the first on board water coaster, AquaDuck, will be just one of the many different sports themes for cruise passengers to choose from.

* Nemo's Reef continues the water theme where children can experience a world of water fun with pop jets, bubblers along with underwater favourite friends including Nemo, Dory and other characters from the film 'Finding Nemo'. The 1,500 square feet Nemo's Reef has shaded areas to provide protection from the sun as well as a soft wet-deck area.

* A miniature golf course Goofy's Golf offers 'lessons' as Goofy and his son Max show passengers a nine hole course filled with whacky fun. Each hole has its own 'special' golf instructions to guide passengers round the course which advises players to avoid fire hydrants and use Pluto's dog bone to help them get to the hole.

* Goofy's Sports Deck also includes 2 digital sports simulators to provide a range of virtual game experiences including tennis, basketball, soccer and golf, furthermore there is a full sized basketball court which can double up as a mini soccer pitch or volleyball court. Children can also enjoy a range of sports on two mini-sized courts.

* Passengers aged 18 years and over can turn to the 'child free' Quiet Cove Pool and Cove bar to sunbathe and swim in peace, enjoy a drink or relax in the hot tub overlooking the ocean whilst cruising on board the Disney Dream.

Image: Quiet Cove Pool on board Disney Magic

'Weather Cruise Ship Of The Year' – Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises has been named 'Weather Cruise Ship Of The Year'. Unbeknown to passengers sailing aboard Princess Cruises ships that their cruise holiday is also helping the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, to track global weather patterns.

Last year the Princess Cruise's fleet made in excess of 20,000 weather observations, more than any other cruise line, which has won them this prestigious award. The 4 star luxurious Coral Princess, which carries over 2,500 passengers, led the fleet with over 5,000 weather observations.

The weather reporting system is voluntary and assists NOAA to track weather patterns in parts of the world where the organisation has no direct contact to local weather information. The ships measure, humidity, air pressure, wind speeds and directions, sea waves and swells. The information is sent a minimum of every six hours during their voyages to a database which is subsequently forwarded to NOAA.

Executive Vice President of Princess Cruises Jan Swartz said 'As long-time participants in this important program, we’re happy that our fleet was able to provide so much data this year to help with worldwide weather forecasting. With Princess ships sailing around the globe to all seven continents, we’re in the unique position to be able to take weather readings in a multitude of destinations where NOAA might not otherwise be able to get information.'

Weather data is also gathered from all types of ships worldwide to help NOAA to track and forecast weather patterns globally.

Diverse Choices Of On Board Amenities And Entertainment For Today's Discerning Cruisers

Today's discerning cruise passengers are looking for more than just sailing to exotic and exciting countries! On board they are looking for a wider variety of entertainment and amenities than ever before.

No longer are passengers quite happy just a stroll around the promenade decks, swim or simply bask in the sunshine, they are now looking and expecting to be entertained throughout the day and night. With the wide range of cruise deals which are available, the discerning cruiser can now select from the finest ranges of entertainment and amenities which pertain to their particular interests and hobbies to ensure they have the best of both worlds whilst on board.

Princess Cruises offer an extensive range of bespoke entertainment for their passengers, with their Scolarship at Sea programme it is possible for passengers to attend lectures in culinary arts, photography and computer technology, not forgetting their ever popular courses and lectures on maritime history, health and fitness, nutrition, politics along with a whole host of other events to keep their passengers fully occupied throughout their voyage! These options are above the usual port of call excursions, and high-class nightly entertainment which has come to be expected by experienced and novice cruisers alike.

Offering more destinations than any other cruise company there are wide and very varied itineraries which not only have been introduced to keep returning cruisers happy. but also Princess Cruises have taken on board, quite literally, the need to extend their facilities in order to meet consumer demands. Their cruises cater for all age ranges with special facilities for young children as well as teenagers, making these ideal cruises for families.

As cruises are becoming one of the most popular ways to spend holiday time the cruise companies are keeping ahead of current and emerging trends on the consumer market by continually updating and rethinking their entertainment schedules. Princess Cruises offer 24-hour dining facilities as well as the more conventional styled restaurants, to suit all pallets and taste buds!

New Spa Menu For Passengers On Board The Queen Mary 2

Passengers on board Cunard Cruises Queen Mary 2 will be able to experience a whole host of different spa treatments in their Canyon Ranch, the spa-fitness provider. The extensive range of spa treatments include Detoxifying and Revitalising Rituals, Voya Seaweed Treatments, along with Performance Orthotics.

Covering 20,000 square feet of the Queen Mary 2, Canyon Ranch has a staff of thirty looking after passengers indulging in a choice of twenty-four treatment rooms and fifty pieces of equipment. As well as the new menu of treatments the spa has a Thalasso-therapy pool, neck fountains, body massage jet benches, herbal and Finish saunas and an aromatic steam room. The new itineraries are to be included on Cunard's two 2011 World Cruises.

The Queen Mary 2 will start its fourth world voyage from New York returning to New York after 103 days cruising around the world calling at numerous ports including China, Japan, Sydney, Thailand, Dubai and the UK. The ship will also make 21 transatlantic crossings in 2010 along with additional round-trip New York voyages.

Cunard Cruises new 2092 passenger Queen Elizabeth leaves Southampton in January to begin its 103 days global circuit heading westward to New York and then onto Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Sydney, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Dubai, Egypt, Greece, Italy along with other ports of call around the world. The ship will start its voyages in October 2010 in Spain and Portugal.

Cunard Cruises 3rd ship the Queen Victoria will spend the summer in Europe and then spend the winter of 2011 on the U.S. West Coast and Panama Canal, calling at Los Angeles and Hawaii.

Passengers looking for the ultimate in cruise holidays can rest assured that Cunard Cruises will live up to its reputation of being one of the most sought after and luxurious cruises with its opulence and grandeur being seen on all three of its magnificent fleet.

P&O Cruises 'January Sail'!

We are all aware the high street and online retailers have their January Sales for savvy consumers to grab themselves a bargain! This year P&O Cruises are offering their own January sale or should that be 'sail'!

Once the festive season is over historically people turn their attention to their summer holidays, as such P&O Cruises are offering a whole host of incentives to encourage people to book their cruise holidays from today, 28^th December, until 31^st January 2010 by offering generous discounts of up to one thousand pounds per couple along with free on board shopping along with other enticing promotions and discounts.

P&O Cruises will have seven cruise ships sailing from the UK in 2010 with the addition of their super-liner Azura in April. P&O Cruises also offer the largest choice of departures from Southampton with a wide variation of cruise deals to suit novice cruise passengers to the more experienced cruisers.

P&O Cruises 'January Sail' incentives include:

• Double discounts on the Ventura and Azura superior deluxe balcony staterooms, which means potential savings of up to £1,000 per couple.

• On board spending money sees increases of up to £150 per person on selected departures during April and June.

• Passengers booking online for cruise deals between April and June on selected departures can also save a further 2.5%.

• P&O Cruises also have a 'Cruise Ahead' promotion which offers an additional 5% discount to passengers who pay in full for their cruise at the time of booking.

Those looking for great cruise deals will be spoilt for choice with P&O Cruises visiting more than 200 destinations around the world. The savings being offered makes cruising more affordable at a time when everyone is looking to snap up a bargain and make their money stretch further.

New Cruise Itinerary Announced For Royal Caribbean's 'Brilliance Of The Seas'

The cruise line Royal Caribbean International have announced a joint product to further boost Royal Caribbean's cruise itinerary from Dubai by using a joint venture with Dubailand, a member of Dubai Properties Group. Packages for on-shore excursions with Dubailand will be available to passengers sailing Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas From January until April 2010.

The cruise will enthral passengers with a seven-night sailing around the Arabian Gulf commencing and end in Dubai, with stops in the Untied Arab Emirates at Fujairah and Abu Dhabi, Mina Sulman in Bahrain as well as the capital of Muscat in Oman. Passengers who adore all things associated with sports will be able to experience Dubailand, which includes Dubai's main tourist attractions including Dubai Autodrome, the Ernie Els Golf Club, the Cricket Stadium and the Butch Harmon School of Golf, which sit very nicely with Royal Caribbean's signature of providing active holidays for their passengers. 18th January 2010 through to April 2010.

Considered one of the most refined and elegant cruise ships, Brilliance of the Seas already have their iconic rock wall, nine hole mini-golf, the Adventure Beach water-slide and self-levelling pool tables to keep all ages fully occupied during their cruise holiday.

'Two strong brands have come together to deliver a compelling series of attractions that will add value to the emirate’s economy and increase visitor numbers to the region. Combining some of DUBAILAND’s exciting destinations with the excellent Royal Caribbean product will provide a wealth of entertainment options that will attract repeat visits from tourists and residents alike. We look forward to welcoming this world-class vessel to the shores of the UAE and we are confident that this exciting development will contribute to the growth of regional and international tourism' has been said by Khalid Al Malik, CEO, Dubai Properties Group.

Smellology - By Default Or Design?

People are becoming more enlightened into the science related smells and the affects they can have on well-being. 'Scratch and sniff' has been around for many years, along with the associations that specific smells can induce hunger or in the extreme some smells can make them feel physically sick!

Mediterranean Shipping Company, MSC, have plans to infuse their ships with a variety of different fragrances, which include figs and almonds, to make up a signature fragrance for their cruise ships.

The signature fragrance is being used to enhance passenger's well-being by having fragranced air which reminds them of the Mediterranean, using the same methodology and in-trend ideas of fragranced hotels which are being seen in many major cities to enhance guests senses and memories of pleasurable experiences.

It has been reported that the fragrance will be dispersed via the air conditioning as well as being infused into toiletries, table linen, bedding and towels. This announcement by MSC Cruises arrives just two months after the luxury line Silversea have reported that their next ship, the Silver Spirit, would have a 'menu of scents' which can be diffused through passenger's cabin on request.

The Italian perfumer Laura Tonatto has designed three different fragrances for Silversea's passengers; Oltre which has been designed to evoke the boundless seas; Albi made for de-stressing with the familiar scent of lavender and Fiori d'Arancio an orange-infused fragrance which is claimed to have a calming affect.

Passenger's may find these scents more pleasurable than the usual overpowering smell of suntan lotion or the ship's engine rooms, however maybe it's these smells which people have come to recognise which evoke memories of their cruising holidays?

Disney Cruise Line To Double Their Fleet By 2012

Disney Cruise Line have their newest ship in 12 years scheduled to be shown in 2011. The Disney Dream is being built as a pre-fabricated unit. With the hull sections being joined together in units and then bought together to form the ship, the Disney Dream will comprise of 80 units or blocks and carry 2500 passengers.

Disney Cruise Line's second ship the 2,500 passenger Disney Fantasy is scheduled to be built in 2012, doubling Disney Cruise Line's current capacity.

The Disney cruise liners will be based at Port Canaveral and will sail the Mediterranean and Northern Europe next summer, while the Disney Magic will also be sailing to Russia, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean next summer.

Disney Cruise Lines has scheduled two month mid-summer, 12 day sailings to European Capitals calling at Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Berlin's port as well as St. Petersburg as a round trip from London.

A long with these schedules there will also be a series of 11 day round trip Mediterranean cruises in April, May, August and September departing from Barcelona. So there is still time to book a place on one of the existing Disney cruises for those who love all things Disney!

There are numerous short duration cruises which have proven extremely popular over the last few years which are the ideal solution for 'tasters' for those who have never experienced cruising before! Visiting destinations including Alaska, departing from America.

Departures from Dover are also included with the transatlantic Eastbound continuing to be extremely popular for both novice and experienced cruisers alike.

The magic of Disney Cruise Lines emulates the whole ethos of Disney with fun packed entertainment for all the family, offering excellent value for money. Of course Disney is not only for children, adults without children make up a high percentage of the passenger lists, those who are young at heart can enjoy the relaxing, yet exhilarating experience of Disney combined with the creature comforts of crusing!

Cruising Dreams Can Come True!

Carnival Cruise Lines newest and largest cruise liner the Carnival Dream is a haven of fun and excitement with the emphasis being placed on families and those young at heart!

The Carnival Dream has 19,000 square feet of space dedicated to children's activities including Carnival Cruise Lines signature programs Camp Carnival 2 to 11-year-olds; Circles C caters for young teens and Club 02 is solely for 15 to 17-year-olds.

Outside, Water Works boasts the longest at sea 303 foot water-slide, a 104 foot water-slide which ends with the riders whooshing around a bowl, as well as a side-by-side racing lanes for the young and those who wish to relive their childhood!

For adults who want to relax and be child-free will be spoilt for choice on the two level Serenity area, where time can be spent doing absolutely nothing but soaking up the calm atmosphere, whilst for those who can't sit still the Carnival Dream includes two whirlpools and full bar facilities.

The Carnival Dream has the Cruise Line's largest Cloud 9 Spa, which includes full gym facilities, a thalassotherapy pool and thermal suite.

As with all their cruise liners the Carnival Dream has a host of the evening activities which caters for all passenger needs, from family friendly shows to casinos, bars, discos and dancing.

Carnival Dream's designers have also included three firsts:

* Ocean Plaza is a glass enclosed hourglass shaped Plaza with ice cream stands, sushi bar, drinks bar, music and dancing. The outside area boasts four elevated whirlpools which hang over the edge of the ship for those who dare to be different!

* Fun Hub includes 36 computer access points throughout the ship, with a network which not only enables Internet access but also a social networking option for each cruise.

* The Carnival Dream has new stateroom categories, with rooms which can sleep five with two bathrooms, along with a wide variety of other staterooms to cater for families of all sizes.

The Carnival Dream sails seven-night cruises to the eastern and western Caribbean, calling at the famous ports for those who wish to tear themselves away from the on-board facilities and spend time discovering the delights of the Caribbean.

Britain's Latest Superliner Has A New Godmother

Darcey Bushell one of the world's leading ballerinas is to be Godmother to the latest superliner to join P&O Cruises fleet, Azura.

Darcey, a former Royal Ballet principal ballerina now lives in Australia with her family. During the early part of next year she and her family are flying back to the UK for the prestigious naming ceremony of the Azura. P&O Cruises are holding the cards close to their chest with regards to the exact details of when the naming ceremony is to take place, all that is know is that the ceremony will be prior to Azuras maiden voyage on April 10^th.

P&O have chosen Darcey as they believe she epitomises the qualities which have been used throughout the Azura. Sophisticated style, grace and elegance are befitting to both Darcey and the Azura. Carol Marlow, managing director of P&O Cruises has said "Azura will offer the service, quality and entertainment associated with cruising at its very best and as dance will play a key part in this, it is entirely fitting for Darcey to give Azura the best possible start in life."

This newest edition to P&O's Cruise fleet will comfortably carry over 3,000 passengers, looked after by over 1,000 crew members. This luxury cruise liner boasts far more than other cruise ships in its class, with a dance floor in the middle of the spectacular atrium, 10 restaurants along with state of the art health and beauty spa which has its own open air terrace. A SeaScreen cinema will show film classics - British of course! Live show theatre, nightclubs and an extensive range of daytime activities and entertainment make Azura a non-stop superliner which caters for all passenger needs effortlessly.

With over 1,200 guests invited to witness the namely ceremony by Darcey Bussell on Saturday 10^th April in Southampton, the prestigious occasion will also benefit 3 international charities, chosen by Darcey – The Royal Ballet School, the Prince's Rainforest Project and Sydney Dance Company.

Image: Cruise Critic: http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/

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