PRINCESS TO DEBUT NIGHT SKY LOUNGE

The Night Sky Lounge (Credit: Princess)

South Beach club vibe at sea? That's what will await guests on the Regal Princess later this year. The Night Sky Lounge -- a "chic and contemporary outdoor nightclub" -- will debut on Regal Princess in November, when the ship begins her inaugural Caribbean season. The top-deck Retreat Pool will transform into the new Night Sky Lounge one night during each cruise. The experience includes atmospheric pool and furniture lighting, glowing drinks and a DJ. "Guests will sip sophisticated cocktails, even in the two Jacuzzis, enjoy a flair bartending demonstration, dance the night away, and can even reserve a cabana with hosted bottle service." They note guests will pay a nominal entrance charge. -- Gerry

'QUANTUM' TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASED

When your company's mission statement is "WOW," the pressure is always on to deliver, right? This week in Papenburg, Germany, Royal Caribbean's CEO and chairman, Richard Fain, did just that at an event showcasing the technology in their newest ship, Quantum of the Seas.

Speaking to travel agents, media representatives and staffers at the shipyard where Quantum is being constructed, Fain revealed new details about what will be the most technologically advanced cruise experience at sea, including robot bartenders, virtual balconies, automated check-in and a room reminiscent of the Star Trek holodeck.

As dazzling as all the gadgetry is, the one feature most passengers will drool over is having a DSL-comparable connection on the ocean, made possible by Royal's partnership with O3b, whose satellites are positioned to deliver high bandwidth service on a constant basis. Read our prior interview will Bill Martin to learn more about how this works.

No one will object to faster boarding, either, made possible by a new array of "Smart" apps and systems. Want to skip the line for getting your boarding picture made? No problem -- snap a "selfie" and get scanned right in.

Christmas came early for the staffers in attendance. Fain announced Royal is giving every one of its 40,000 employees a Windows tablet. That's putting your technology where your mouth is.

And did we say "robot bartenders"? Who else would man the Bionic Bar, where the talented mechanical arms squeeze lemons, shake martinis and mix ingredients. Robotic arms also power the "holodeck"-like experience in Two70, where massive screens can mimic everything from a primeval forest to a giant aquarium. Here is an earlier post on that feature.

Entertainment options abound, including a skydiving simulator, the much-touted "North Star" observation pod and even that throwback classic, bumper cars. Read the complete press release here.

Will it all work as advertised? Fain and Royal are betting it will. They, and the rest of us, won't have long to wait. Quantum makes it debut in a few short months. -- Gerry

THE LEGACY OF THE PRETTY SISTERS

Credit: Cunard

The Pretty Sisters and Their Lasting Legacy

By Michael Gallagher
Cunard Historian

This article, written by Michael Gallagher, public relations executive and historian for Cunard Line, is part of an ongoing series of key moments in Cunard Line's history. Read our interview with Michael here.
As the 20th Century dawned, Cunard Line began to draw up initial plans for what would become the first-ever “superliners,” Lusitania and Mauretania, which would enter service in 1907. But how would the future superliners, the largest and fastest ships in the world, be powered?

There were two options for Cunard to consider: the standard quadruple-expansion system or the new-fangled Parsons steam turbine system. Engineer Charles Parsons had caused controversy at the 1897 Spithead Naval Review by demonstrating his revolutionary turbine-powered Turbinia.

SCHWARTZ CRAFT BEER: BEHIND THE SCENES

We've had the pleasure of meeting famed Miami chef and restaurateur Michael Schwartz and learning first-hand about his farm-to-ship approach as part of his association with Royal Caribbean. Already a winning combination, Schwartz and Royal have expanded the relationship for its newest ship, Quantum of the Seas. As Quantum Experience Advisor for Culinary, Schwartz will be showcasing his Michael's Genuine Home Brew craft beer and other taste delights from his farm fresh playbook. Here is a new video that goes into more detail. Bon appetit! -- Gerry

CONCERTS WILL MARK CUNARD'S 175TH YEAR

Britannia and the Queen Mary 2 (Cunard)

Passengers aboard the Queen Mary 2's July 175th Anniversary Crossing are in for a special treat. (175 years -- that's amazing for any business, yet alone the cruise business!) On July 4, 2015, that voyage will be celebrated with special concerts at the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool, attended by all Queen Mary 2 passengers. The “Triumph of a Great Tradition” concerts will celebrate Cunard's long heritage.

"Queen Mary 2 will be berthed in Liverpool on the exact day 175 years earlier that Cunard’s first ship, Britannia, left Liverpool. Later that day Queen Mary 2 will follow in Britannia’s wake and recreate that epic first voyage, calling at Halifax and Boston (just as Britannia did) before arriving in New York." The departure from Liverpool will be marked by fireworks and the voyage will feature special events, including gala dinners and a 175 Ball in the Queens Room.

HOLLAND 'DISCOVER CANADA' ON PINTEREST

Holland America Line has launched a “Discover Canada & New England Sweepstakes” that will award five of the line’s Pinterest followers a $500 American Express gift card. The sweepstakes runs through Sept. 20, 2014, and the winners will be selected in a random drawing at the end of September. More details on how to enter from their press release:


"Participants can visit the Discover Canada & New England tab on Holland America Line’s Facebook page and choose their favorite Canada & New England highlight photo from a selection of six colorful and captivating images. Entrants then provide the required information and click submit, which will pin the image to one of their personal Pinterest boards. In order to be eligible to win, entrants must also follow Holland America Line’s Pinterest Page (www.pinterest.com/halcruises).

"Participants can enter once through Sept. 20 for a chance to win a gift card. (The sweepstakes is limited to persons 18 years of age or older who are legal residents of the United States, District of Columbia or Canada — except Quebec). For more information about the sweepstakes and official rules, visit: https://www.facebook.com/HALCruises/app_363845683737502?ref=ts."

CARNIVAL TAKES THE ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE

Maybe you've heard of the Ice Bucket Challenge? Participants are encouraged to dump a bucket of ice water over their heads and challenge others to do the same within 24 hours. It's all about creating awareness and generate research funding for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Carnival certainly has. They enlisted all of their 24 ships, as well as their corporate CEO, to take the challenge. Ice water fun aside, Carnival also made is making a $100,000 donation to the ALS Association.

Catch the highlights in the video above. And kudos to Carnival for stepping up big-time for a great cause. -- Gerry

DISCOVER 'INDISCREETLY US'

As you know, when Pam and I are wearing our "cruise" hats, this is where you'll find us. But my talented co-author wears lots of other hats as well -- real and otherwise. Besides her novels (Panama Palmer, The Bainbridges), she hosts her own blog over at Indiscreetly Us. Over there she tackles any topic that strikes her fancy, and that covers a lot of territory! For example, today it's about humans held hostage by a cat. Always entertaining and informative, give it a read and share it with your friends. I know she would love to have you join her little online dinner party. -- Gerry

'QUANTUM' TO FEATURE GIANT PINK POLAR BEAR

Among its many other innovative features, guests aboard Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas will get to enjoy almost 3,000 works of art, valued at $5.2 million. One of those pieces you can't miss: A 30-foot pink polar bear weighing eight tons. Named "From Afar," it's the work of Australian artist Lawrence Argent. Argent talks about the backstory of his creation in this video. (Place a giant bottle of Coke in his hand and he would suddenly be worth more than the whole collection ... just saying). Can you imagine how many times Argent's bear will appear on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram? He will be a social media sensation.

AMTRAK EXTENDS PET TRIAL

Pet travel on Amtrak has taken another step forward.

Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation have announced they are adding another route (Chicago-Champaign-Carbondale) to a pilot project that allows travelers to "bring their pets along on trips to and from Chicago and Downstate Illinois. Small pets have been carried between Chicago and Quincy on Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg trains since April, with almost 20 small animals safely transported."

Although the test was scheduled to end in November, Amtrak and Illinois jointly decided to give the idea an extended trial, through April 26, 2015.

Other details from Amtrak:

CUNARD SETS 'LUSITANIA' EXHIBIT

Pam on our Queen Victoria voyage
to the Panama Canal (Photo: Gerry)

News from Cunard:

"Cunard has commissioned historian Eric Sauder to produce a temporary exhibition of Lusitania memorabilia that will be displayed on board Queen Victoria during her May 3, 2015 voyage commemorating the loss of Lusitania 100 years earlier. Eric Sauder has been interested in ocean liners, particularly Lusitania, for more than 30 years, with his first job being a tour guide on Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. He has dived on the wreck of Lusitania and has authored two books on the subject: RMS Lusitania: The Ship and Her Record and The Unseen Lusitania: The Ship in Rare Illustrations, the latter to be released for the 100th anniversary of the sinking.

"Lusitania was the first of 22 Cunard ships lost in the First World War. On May 7, 2015 it will be exactly 100 years since the Cunard flagship was torpedoed while en route from New York to Liverpool. The ship sank approximately 11 miles off the old Head of Kinsale in Ireland.

"This special seven-night Lusitania Remembered cruise by Queen Victoria will commemorate the loss of Lusitania and the other Cunard ships in World War One. Queen Victoria will call at Cobh (formerly Queenstown) on May 7, 2015. Cobh will forever be associated with the tragedy. The sinking was a human catastrophe on a scale that this small town had not experienced before or since. People there witnessed first-hand the trauma, tragedy and heartbreak that ensued. The dead, the injured and the bereaved were brought among a community that mobilised itself and responded with courage and compassion to their needs.

"All passengers aboard Queen Victoria will be invited to attend a special service ashore as well as witness a number of other tributes occurring that day, and a Commemorative Dinner will be held for them that night on board the ship.

"Sailing from and back to Southampton, the Lusitania Remembered voyage will call at St. Peter Port (Guernsey), Le Havre, Cobh and Dublin. The Lusitania exhibit will feature china, silver, brochures, postcards, memorabilia and souvenirs that will bring to life the story of Cunard's flagship.

"Lusitania and her sister Mauretania were the first of the floating palaces and today still conjure up images of power, speed, Palm Courts, Smoking Rooms, afternoon tea and grand staircases."

GETTING INTO SHAPE AT SEA

Dhani Jones, fitness guru for Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas, gives us another peek at what to expect fitness-wise onboard that much-anticipated ship, debuting later this year. Here's the video: