A 'TITANIC' UNDERTAKING

The original Titanic

Did you see the story today about the Australian billionaire who announced he would build a replica of the Titanic?


Clive Palmer has entered into an agreement with a Chinese shipyard to build "Titanic II." It will have the same number of rooms (840), same number of decks (9) and be the same size, with a passenger capacity of 1,680. Of course, inside will be the latest and greatest hi-tech equipment, as well as the luxury touches the original Titanic made famous. Like the first one, it will have four smokestacks, but they'll be strictly decorative. This ship will be powered by diesel, not coal.


If all goes as planned, Titanic II will debut in 2016, following the same route from England to New York.


Question: Would you like to be a passenger on her maiden voyage? Respond here.


--Gerry, for Cruising Squared.

CELEBRITY'S ULTIMATE SLEEP EXPERIENCE

Celebrity knows the value of a good night's sleep, and passengers who book a suite can rest assure that fact (pun intended).


Upcoming guests on Celebrity Reflection, launching this October, will enjoy luxury bedding systems from Reverie, complete with an option to remotely control various features using Apple devices, such as iPhones and iPads. Here is what the press release from Celebrity had to say:

'OUR BEST SHIP IS EVERY SHIP'

FT. LAUDERDALE -- As you might expect, Royal Caribbean was out in full force for over 1,200 travel agents at the just-concluded cruise3sixty trade show here.


The two largest cruise ships afloat call this port home -- Royal's Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. While you can't expect a big new ship announcement on that scale every year, they are taking the best of the Oasis-class ships and applying that to the rest of their 22-ship fleet.


Using the theme, "Now our best ship is every ship," Royal Caribbean is spending hundreds of millions to upgrade older vessels with Oasis features, including new restaurants, DreamWorks entertainment and refurbished staterooms.

The R Bar
(Credit: Royal Caribbean)

Passengers can also enjoy aerialists performing in the multi-story Centrum atrium, or a relaxing retro cocktail in the R Bar, featuring 60s-style sophistication and signature drinks. "Two martinis please -- shaken, stirred, doesn't matter!"


Ships that have already been upgraded include Radiance of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas. Four more ships are due to be completed this year: Mariner, Grandeur, Serenade and Enchantment of the Seas. Work on all ships will conclude in 2016.


One area of focus for the cruise line is those guests 3 and under, which totaled 55,000 in 2011. The "Royal Babies and Tots" program is custom-designed for their comfort and enjoyment, in partnership with Fisher-Price.


Kids and adults both can catch the debut of Madagascar 3-D aboard select ships this summer.


-- Gerry, for Cruising Squared

THE 'SUITE' LIFE ABOARD REFLECTION

The new Signature Suite (Credit: Celebrity)

FT. LAUDERDALE -- Travel agents got more details about the newest and last of the Solstice-class Celebrity ships, Celebrity Reflection, launching in October.


Among the "firsts" coming for Reflection are the addition of "Aqua Class Suites," which feature the same amenities as the current Aqua Class staterooms. Joining those will be five new Signature Suites and the creme de la creme of all the suites, the Reflection Suite.


Each of the five Signature Suites are 441 square feet and located in a private area on deck 14. They feature a 118 square-foot veranda, 10-foot floor-to-ceiling windows and 24/7 butler service. Each suite accommodates four guests.


Adjacent to the Signature Suites is the Reflection Suite -- 1,636 square feet, two bedrooms, and boasting a sea-view bath with a transparent glass shower perched over the ocean. It sleeps six. That means a group of up to 26 guests can book all six suites and enjoy their own private accommodations.

The Reflection Suite (Credit: Celebrity)

Suites also feature a "new, breakthrough bedding experience." Who knew you could adjust your bed using your Apple device? More on that later ...


-- Gerry, for Cruising Squared

SEE-THROUGH SHOWER ALL THE BUZZ AT SHOW

The Reflection Suite Shower (Credit: Celebrity)

FT LAUDERDALE -- Celebrity Cruises is well established for their cruising innovations. But their latest announcement may well have generated the most buzz among travel agents attending the cruise3sixty trade show here.


Their newest ship, Celebrity Reflection, now under construction in Germany, will boast a transparent glass shower perched on the outside of the ship.


It's part of the sea-view bathroom in the 1,636-square-foot, top-of-the-line Reflection Suite. It comes with two bedrooms, a wraparound veranda and 24/7 butler service. And the aforementioned shower with a bird's eye view of the ocean.


But you might say, doesn't the ocean have a bird's eye view of the shower? Occupants need not worry, cruise officials said. It's made out of reflective glass. Inside the shower you can see out but the world can't see you.


What about at night?


They have thought of that, too. The shower is equipped with a fogger that obscures the glass and the view for any passing vessel or other passengers.


The cantilevered shower also features a heated seat and plenty of room to relax.


I can just imagine the guest who is afraid of heights and uncomfortable standing in "mid-air" as if were over the ocean. Let me just say showering with a life preserver on won't give you the full effect.


But kudos to Celebrity and CEO Dan Hanrahan for continuing to innovate. If you need anyone to try it out, I'll furnish the Irish Spring. And just one more thing, Mr. Hanrahan: Add a martini bar and we'll call your creation perfection.


-- Gerry, for Cruising Squared

NORWEGIAN BREAKAWAY -- MORE DETAILS

FT LAUDERDALE -- Each year hundreds of travel agents converge in one of the cruise industry's premier trade events, cruise3sixty. At the just-concluded 2012 edition, travel agents previewed ships, met with vendors and got the latest news from the cruise lines.


Among those on hand to meet the press was Norwegian CEO Kevin Sheehan, who provided a sneak peak at the two newest additions to the Norwegian fleet, Norwegian Breakaway, launching April, 2013, and Norwegian Getaway, set to make its debut in 2014.

Norwegian Breakaway features a complete Aqua Park
(Credit: NCL)

Water and sports enthusiasts will be especially thrilled by the options on Breakaway, which include:

FAVORITE TRAVEL THINGS...SABRINA BARNES

Ahoy!

Pamela here with Sabrina Barnes (via this photo of SB and her husband, Trapper), who graciously answered ten travel questions for us.

Before we get to those, you kids need to help me help those two discover  the greatness of cruising.

Sabrina and Trapper you guys need to schedule a cruise, we'll offer suggestions, and then get back to us. You will find it has a little something for everyone, depending on the ship and destinations.

Now, let's get on with her favorites!

_________________

TEN TRAVEL FAVORITES

By: Sabrina Banres

Never cruised...I know, I know...blasphemy! Neither Trapper nor I think we are cruise people...but I guess how can we think that when we don't know? That being said, I'll have to go with destination vaca's to answer your questions

1. Favorite Resort...Palace Hotels

2. Palace Hotels because...they are far superior to any other all inclusive place we've been to, both with customer service, FABULOUS food (not to mention they will make anything, regardless of if it's on the menu or not) and all around quality.


3. Faaborite destination...Cancun, pre-drug lord craziness particularly...depending on what you are looking for in a vaca.

NEW NORWEGIAN SHIP WILL CALL MIAMI HOME

Norwegian Getaway

The port of Miami got some big news last week with the announcement Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ship, Getaway, will call Miami home year-round.  The 4,000-passenger ship is scheduled to make her maiden voyage in the spring of 2014. The full press release follows:

QUEEN VICTORIA, VENICE TO ROME

Reader Note: We met Brian and Mo, a lovely couple from Bath, England, on board the Queen Victoria on a voyage to the Panama Canal and the four of us became fast friends. Brian has graciously consented to share their cruising adventures here in Cruising Squared. Here is his account of a voyage they took last year from Venice to Rome. Enjoy!

Venice – La Serenissima

By Brian Wilson

My wife, Mo and I wanted a late summer break – we have had a very hectic summer – we wanted to revisit Venice and Istanbul – we wanted lots of things to do, rather than time at sea.

We remembered our marvellous voyage around the Caribbean (where we met some very nice American couples from Florida) – well, we wanted to go with Cunard again.

So, trawling through the Internet I found a 12 day trip, with The Queen Victoria covering Venice, Split (Croatia) Corfu, Athens, Istanbul, Rhodes, Santorini and back to Rome – and flights out and back home were included!

Venice - the Grand Canal winds its way
between these group of islands.

I tracked the prices and found some very “interesting” offers. So, we thought we would jump at this chance to find out what the Princess Grill “experience” was really like.

We knew that the “Grills Experience” meant that our stateroom would be larger and situated amidships – that we could dine at any time in the evening (well up to 9.30 start anyhow) – that we would have priority check in – that we had a welcome meeting with the Captain – and that we could have afternoon tea – and lots more.

Where we about to be disappointed? – let’s find out!!

LET ME SPEAK TO THE MANAGER

From time to time, all of us have something we would like to ask the manager. I don't mean the assistant boss, or the assistant to the assistant. We want the big boss.

So here's a shout out to Adam Goldstein, the president and CEO of Royal Caribbean, who fields questions from cruisers in his blog, Sea Views. Knowing what a big job it is to oversee a company the size of Royal Caribbean, I asked Adam where he finds the time. Goldstein said often it's when he's on an airplane.

As blogs and social media become more ingrained into our everyday lives, giving your customers a direct conduit to the man in charge is a great addition to all the other ways companies provide customer service. Especially when, like Adam, executives don't duck the hard questions.

Kudos, Adam.


Do you know other cruise line execs who author their own blogs?
What do you think? Good idea?
Email us.


-- Gerry, for Cruising Squared

ALLURING BUFFETS

Ahoy!


Pamela here.


Sometimes a buffet is more than a buffet and aboard, The Allure, demonstrates that fact.


Do you prefer buffet lines or sit-down dinners when cruising?


Perhaps it's a combination of both!

CRUISE CRAZIES!

For many, cruising is all about the people.


Single, married, retired, gay or lesbian, when thousands of people spend a week in relatively close quarters, there's a better than even chance to form new friendships. Since it is such a social activity, there are more and more websites devoted to bringing cruisers together.

One right in our area is called Cruise Crazies, founded by Ft. Lauderdale native Jason Taub. Go here and you'll find thousands of "Cruise Crazies" who participate in forums, post future cruise travel plans, pass along tips and write ship reviews. Jason is always adding new features. Among his latest, new forums on cruising with children and single cruising.


Definitely check it out. Also, find out more here:


http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/travelsmart/2011/02/15/cruisecrazies-aims-to-be-one-stop-shop-for-cruisers/


-- Gerry, for Cruising Squared

FROM THE TERRACE

Ahoy! Pamela checking in to pose a question or maybe an observation. How important is a terrace on your cruise? Do you spend enough time in your stateroom to justify the extra expense? Do short cruises vs. long cruises have an impact for your desire for the extra space a terrace provides? Is an enclosed stateroom your preference? These are the questions I am curious about today!

CRUISE OVER TO FACEBOOK AND FRIEND US

Ahoy! Strolling around the Queen Victoria is a grand way to meet new people! But, friending us on Facebook is a lot faster. Friend us there; Cruising Squared. See you there! Pamela

SHIP MEDITATION CAN BE FUN

Ahoy! Who says you have to be crazy-busy when cruising?

Meditation in the Viking Lounge on the Majesty of the Seas brings peace and harmony!

SQUARED, BUT NOT SO SQUARE

Ahoy, We're glad you jumped aboard, Cruising Squared, and we hope you will stay with us sharing travel highlights and those occasional not-so-bright lights.


Some highlights are, of course, terrific travel bargains to spectacular locales.


Personally, meeting new people and making new friends is a nice bonus.


This past weekend we hopped aboard Royal Caribbean's, Majesty of the Seas, just to hop over to the Bahamas to kick-back and relax.


It was a steal-of-a-deal with Travel Zoo, so we had tiny expectations of the entire escapade.


Guess what happened?


Four young people sharing our dining table (don't you hate it when the table-sharing thing is a big miss?) were delightful.

From Miami, it was Nina and Arturo and representing the Netherlands were Francie and Martin.

You match the names with the photos!


Coco Cay and Nassau were splendid, but chatting the dinner-hour away with this foursome was a true highlight.


Yes, we may be Cruising Squared, but we are only slightly square!

MAJESTY OF THE SEAS

Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas is anchored off their private island in the Bahamas, Coco Cay, April 14, 2012.


(Photo: Gerry Barker.)