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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

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Fast-Growing Viking Cruises Eyes Mississippi, Amazon Rivers

9/16/2014

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Viking Longship Mai tied up on the Rhine River in Germany.
By John Roberts

Hi all!


We've just returned from a trip on Viking Longship Mani.

How about a quick recap of some numbers I learned during my week onboard with Viking Cruises? (Read about how Viking River Cruises keep you moving.)

The fast-growing river line has 54 boats on waterways all over the world, with plans for 13 more vessels arriving next year -- 12 more river boats and Viking's first ocean ship.

That ship, 930-passenger Viking Star, the first in the fleet for Viking Ocean Cruises, will be joined by three others, Viking Sky, Viking Sea and an unnamed ship (probably Viking Sun, if the pattern continues; Viking CEO Torstein Hagen once served as CEO of Royal Viking Line. While there, ships were named -- in order of year built -- Royal Viking Star, Royal Viking Sky, Royal Viking Sea, Royal Viking Sun and Royal Viking Queen), by 2017.

Crew onboard Mani also spoke openly about the impending arrival of Viking's boats on the Mississippi River. No official timeframes have been announced by Viking, but get ready for the line to make a big splash with its first U.S. river vessel soon.

Wait there's more: The Amazon River is on the horizon for Viking, perhaps by 2016, according to considerable buzz aboard Viking Mani that I noticed as I chatted with several crewmembers.

We had a blast onboard and found the journey a great way to explore historic charming European city centers and towns alongside friendly fellow passengers who share a spirit for exploration. All in a much more intimate and relaxing surrounding that you find on the typical ocean cruise voyage.


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Elsewhere . . .

Princess Cruises launched a new Seawitch craft brew to recognize the line's 50th anniversary. Cheers to that! The Seawitch West Coast IPA was developed by startup Strike Brewing Co. of San Jose, Calif. 

The Seawitch West Coast IPA goes for $6.25 in bars and lounges on the line's brand new Regal Princess. The craft brew is expected to be available fleetwide by early 2015. Princess will roll out additional Seawitch craft beers in partnerships with regional breweries that specialize in local flavors and represent some of the cruise destinations Princess ships visit.


Holland America Line revealed the name of its new ship set to debut in February 2016. The first Pinnacle Class 2,650-passenger vessel will be called Koningsdam and will be the Dutch line's 16 ship in the fleet. 

Un-Cruise Adventures is offering a new adventure cruise in Mexico's Sea of Cortes. Beginning in January 2015, the 84-passenger Safari Endeavour sails a weeklong "Baja's Bounty" itinerary roundtrip from San Jose del Cabo, Baja, Mexico. The voyage combines active adventures with seasonal sea life encounters. When gray whales arrive to calve in Bahia Magdalena, an overland tour to board panga boats to see whales and calves up close is included (usually January-March). At other times of the year, a snorkeling excursion in Bahia de La Paz may bring guests up close to the largest known fish in the sea -- gentle whale sharks.

Exploration cruising allows for a flexible itinerary with time to seek out wildlife. Desert hiking, a mule ride into the arroyo, whale watching, snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, skiff excursions and snorkeling with sea lions are included on all cruises. 

The inclusive Mexico cruise includes all activities; exquisite meals; fine wine, premium spirits and microbrews; hot tub, sauna, exercise equipment, yoga on deck and a massage for wellness; transfers; and all port charges, taxes and fees. Rates begin at $2,995 per person, double occupancy. For details, check out www.un-cruise.com/mexico-cruises-bajas-bounty


JR

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