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Big, Shiny New Cruise Ships Coming in 2015

11/25/2014

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The new Breakaway Plus class Norwegian Escape (coming in 2015) will be in the same mold as its Breakaway-class cousin Norwegian Getaway, also sailing from Miami and featuring neat water activities, right.
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Courtesy Royal Caribbean
By John Roberts

As the year winds down, we can look ahead to 2015, when a new batch of exciting cruise ships will be hitting the oceans.

That means more choices for you to consider for your next great adventure.

Let's check out what's coming from the major cruise lines.

Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas is due to launch in spring 2015. This is the sister ship to the world's first smartship, Quantum of the Seas, which debuted in November 2014 and is sailing its initial voyages out of Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey. Anthem of the Seas (rendering at top) essentially will be an identical version to 4,180-passenger Quantum. You'll get a FlowRider surf simulator, RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator, SeaPlex sports court (bumper cars, roller skating, basketball, soccer), Dynamic Dining, climbing wall, 1/3-mile jogging track and a fantastic fitness center. The ship will come to the U.S. market in fall 2015 after a season in the Med. 

Viking Cruises, the fast-growing and best-known river cruise company, will debut its first ocean vessel, Viking Star, in May 2015. Viking, which operates more than 50 river ships, has plans for at least four ocean ship, including the 930-passenger Star, which will cruise in Northern Europe, in the Baltics and fjords, as well as the Mediterranean. It will feature a walkaround promenade that encircles the ship and a pool with a retractable glass roof. Star also will have the line's popular Aquavit Terrace indoor/outdoor restaurant area.

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Escape will become the first ship in the Breakaway Plus class. It debuts weeklong sailings from Miami to the Caribbean in November 2015. So far, Norwegian hasn't revealed what will distinguish Escape from the two ships in the Breakaway class: Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway. Expect the 4,200-passenger ship to have many of the same features as the Breakaway ships, such as a ropes course (with walk-the-plank attraction), waterslides, waterfront outdoor promenade filled with bars and restaurants and a wide range of entertainment options. Escape will have a Tobacco Road bar, named for the iconic Miami establishment that was in existence for 102 years and owned the city's first liquor license.

Elsewhere in cruise news . . .

Crystal Cruises announced a unique journey it is taking through the Northwest Passage. Crystal Serenity is scheduled to become the first luxury ship to venture a route that takes passengers from Anchorage, Alaska, to New York, sailing a series of waterways north of the Arctic Circle that link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, from Greenland through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The 32-day voyage begins August 16, 2016, and prices start around $20,000 per person. A 14-person expedition team will lead you on an adventure during which you can spot musk ox, seals, walruses, whales and much more wildlife -- all while enjoying the all-inclusive onboard experience with Crystal. The expedition team will conduct workshops and lectures about the region and special topics such as landscape photography.

Scenic Cruises, a river line, gave plans for its latest luxury river cruise ship, Scenic Spirit, which will launch on the Mekong River in January 2016. The 68-guest ship will sail itineraries that range from eight days between Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Siem Reap, Cambodia, to a 27-day journey that combines land adventures with your cruise traveling from Hanoi, Vietnam, to Luang Prabang, Laos.

I hope you find a fantastic voyage. Travel happy!

JR

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Viking River Cruises Hosts Social Media Experts for #VikingSocial

11/18/2014

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Viking Longship Mani, In The Loop Travel's cruise on the Rhine river
My first Viking River Cruise was on Viking Mani this year on the Rhine.
By John Roberts

I'm excited to announce that I will be cruising on Viking Longship Delling as part of Viking Cruises' second social media cruise. We'll be sailing along the Danube River from December 6 to 13 from Nuremberg, Germany, to Budapest, Hungary.

The #VikingSocial initiative aims to increase interest and awareness of just what it's like to go on a river cruise with Viking. So, follow the hashtag #VikingSocial on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all sorts of pictures and updates from some of the most knowledgeable and interactive bloggers in the cruise industry to find out where we are and what we're up to during our voyage.

I'll also be posting photo albums and stories from the trip right here on the blog.

Here is a primer on Viking Cruises to provide a little background for you . . .

  • Viking is the fastest-growing river cruise line, having added more than 30 ships in recent years, with 13 more coming in 2015, including the line's first ocean cruise ship. That means it will have 67 ships on the world's waterways. Viking started in 1997 with four ships.
  • Our #VikingSocial cruise will be on the Viking Longship Delling. Viking Longships feature 95 cabins, for a capacity of 190 passengers based on double occupancy. The longships are 443 feet long. Like most river ships, they contain four decks (including a top sun deck with the captain's wheelhouse). Unlike many river ships, they do not have a fitness center or small pool.
  • The river ships travel in Europe, Russia, Asia and Egypt, with plans in the works for putting ships on the Amazon and Mississippi rivers.
  • Viking also has three more ocean ships scheduled. They will join 930-passenger Viking Star, which is due to debut in May 2015. 

I have been on one other Viking River Cruise, and I thoroughly enjoyed the intimate atmosphere, delicious food and high level of service from the crew. I can't wait to share this experience with you.

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I'll soon be making Viking Longship Delling my home away from home. Follow along with #VikingSocial

Elsewhere . . .

I was honored to be part of a roundtable discussion this week on the fantastic Royal Caribbean Blog podcast along with RC Blog creator and podcast host Matt Hochberg, From The Deck Chair Blog's Aaron Saunders and Cruise Critic Managing Editor Colleen McDaniel.

We all were on pre-inaugural cruises on the brand-new Quantum of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's revolutionary ship. Check out the podcast for our impressions of Quantum.

Norwegian Cruise Line says it is bringing a host of new entertainment to Norwegian Epic in 2015, including "Priscilla Queen of the Desert -- the Musical" and "Burn the Floor -- Ballroom Blitz." Also, the ship will add a new Beatles-inspired venue called The Cavern Club, which will offer British pop experience. The entertainment additions will all be in place by October 2015. Epic will move to its new homeport in Barcelona at the end of April 2015.

Cruise Critic unveiled its 2014 editors' picks this week. The cruise review website's awards "are chosen by Cruise Critic's international team of editors, based on the lines and ships they feel best represent excellence in each of the designated categories." Check out the list here.

Thanks for reading.

Travel happy!

JR

Subscribe today to get the latest reviews, tips and tricks to help you have your best adventure ever.

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Seven Things You'll Enjoy on Quantum of the Seas

11/14/2014

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The sights are spectacular as Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas sails past the NYC skyline.
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By John Roberts

Quantum of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's innovative smartship arrived at Cape Liberty in Bayonne, N.J., to much fanfare this week. Quantum is loaded with all sorts of goodies and gadgets, including "Dynamic Dining," robot bartenders, hi-tech Two270 entertainment space, virtual balconies, hi-speed Internet and more.  

But I'm going to focus on what this 4,180-passenger ship has to offer the active traveler who likes to combine keeping fit and having fun while on vacation.

I've identified seven things you'll really like about Quantum of the Seas . . .

7. SeaPlex -- This play space offer sessions for bumper cars, basketball, circus school trapeze lessons and more! Adults and kids alike have a ball here. 


5. FlowRider -- Another favorite for loyal Royal Caribbean cruisers. The surf simulator is awesome fun and very challenging -- with surfing and boogie board sessions. 

6. Rock-climbing wall -- This staple of Royal Caribbean ships is available on Quantum, too. But on Quantum of the Seas, your climb offers views off the side of the ship while the gigantic magenta bear (it's named From Afar) serves as your spotter. 
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4. Swimming pools -- Of course, all big cruise ships have pools for you to enjoy. Quantum's Solarium adults-only pool area is especially gorgeous with wonderful views of the front of the ship. You also can cool off or swim a few laps in the main outdoor pool or the indoor pool, which features a retractable roof. 
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The tranquil adults-only Solarium pool area.

3. Devinly Decadence -- We can't forget the food, can we? I love my tasty meals on cruises, and I've been known to overindulge. (Read how I gained 25 pounds on a weeklong cruise.) But this restaurant on Quantum of the Seas offers healthful, delicious meals in 500-calories-or-fewer portions designed by celebrity chef Devin Alexander of TV's "The Biggest Loser" fame. And the foods taste fantastic. I enjoyed a delish salad with Thai beef and papaya and samples of barbecue chicken flatbread (on whole wheat lavash), chicken satay and free range beef meatballs. The desserts are incredible, too.
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Healthy is delicious at this fantastic restaurant on Quantum of the Seas.
 
2. The gym -- The fitness center on Quantum is massive and the best I've seen at sea. It offers plenty of space, large range of free weights and cardio machines and a group-class pit area at the front of the ship that gives participants great views through tall glass windows. The set-up includes TRX suspension training.
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You can have a morning workout with a view of the Manhattan skyline.
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1. RipCord by iFly -- The skydiving simulator is another first-at-sea activity for Royal Caribbean. This is popular. Groups of 10 at a time go through an orientation before heading into the wind tube for blast off. Wait till you see what your expert instructors can do in this ride! 
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All of the above are included in your cruise fare. Not too bad at all. 

Thanks for reading. Remember: Travel fit! Travel happy! Travel often!
JR
Subscribe today to get the latest reviews, tips and tricks to help you have your best adventure ever.

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