NCL’s Epic To Feature Expansive Aqua Park, Repelling Wall
Fri Apr 03 2009, by Travel Trade Staff

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) unveiled another aspect of its next generation of ship, the Norwegian Epic. The Epic will include an expansive Aqua Park with The Epic Plunge, the only tube slide and the largest bowl slide at sea, according to NCL.

The line also unveiled seven decks of Freestyle Family Fun. Among the highlights are a 33-foot high extreme rock climbing wall and the first ever repelling wall at sea. According to NCL, the Epic will also have the most bowling lanes at sea and the first ever squash court at sea.

The ship will also feature a mixed-use sports deck with the ability for guest to engage in eight different athletic activities, as well as three separate kids’ and teen activity areas. The multi-use sports deck will include a full size basketball court, volleyball, soccer, dodge ball, batting cage, bungee trampoline, rope adventure course and a 24-foot tall enclosed climbing cage called the spider web.

In addition, NCL revealed the next generation of Freestyle Dining with 14 restaurant choices, as well as 18 bars and lounges. Shanghai’s, one of the restaurants to be offered on the Epic, is new to the line and will serve a mix of Chinese dishes and noodle bar specialties.

“From the Aqua Park to the expanded sports deck and largest Kid’s Crew facility to the most dining outlets at sea, Norwegian Epic is truly taking Freestyle Cruising to the next level by offering our guests so many choices in dining and onboard activities,” said Kevin Sheehan, NCL’s CEO.

Homeport Cruises Co. offers Military discount rates about NCL ships.  Visit us on-line.

Carnival launches self-service check-in at Port of Miami
By: Johanna Jainchill July 07, 2009 – Travel Weekly – The National Newspaper of the Travel Industry

As part of an effort to streamline the embarkation process, Carnival Cruise Lines installed self-service check-in kiosks at the Port of Miami.

Carnival said that if passengers respond positively to the kiosks, they will be installed in other year-round homeports.

Citizens of the U.S., Canada or a Visa Waiver Program country embarking on a Carnival ship from Miami can use the kiosks if they have pre-registered online.

As in an airport, passengers enter their booking information and swipe their passport or credit card to check in. Then they pick up their cabin key at a nearby desk.

The kiosks also accept cash deposits for passengers’ shipboard accounts.

Oasis of the Seas will have 24 dining options

By: Johanna Jainchill – June 25, 2009

Royal Caribbean Unveils “Oasis of the Seas” Dining Venues
Wed Jun 24 2009, by Travel Trade Staff

Going by neighborhood, dining venues aboard Oasis of the Seas will include:

The Boardwalk will offer family favorite Johnny Rockets, as well as a new alternative the 50s style diner, the surf-themed Seafood Shack. Also, on the Boardwalk will be the Donut Shop, which will offer a rotating selection of 10 to 15 varieties of free donuts every day, as well as complimentary coffee. Also in the Boardwalk will be the Boardwalk Bar, a full-scale bar that will also offer salads and sandwiches, and the 50s-styled Ice-Cream Parlour, which will offer up to 15 different flavors.

Five dining options will be offered in Central Park, including the semi-formal 150 Central Park, the Oasis of the Seas’ most exclusive dining venue. Also in Central Park will be the line’s signature steakhouse Chops Grill and a new Tuscan eatery, Giovanni’s Table, which will offer family style Italian dining. Park Café will be a quick service concept offering sandwiches, made to order salads, soups, full meals and crepes on certain days. Central Park also will feature the familiar Vintages wine bar, but new to the Oasis, Vintages will offer a tapas menu, perfect for wine pairings.

On the Royal Promenade, guests will find Café Promenade, which offers coffees, pastries and sandwiches, as well as Sorrento’s, which offers pizza on most Royal Caribbean ships. However, on Oasis, Sorrentos will offer made to order pizzas so cruisers can choose from a selection of toppings and watch as a chef makes the pizza on the spot.

For those seeking healthy dining options, the Solarium Bistro will be offered in the Pool & Sports Zone. Here, guests will find healthy buffet selections for breakfast and lunch, and health food menu for dinner. All items served in the Solarium Bistro will be 500 calories or less. Also in the Pool & Sports Zone, will be Wipeout Café, which will offer all-day soft serve ice-cream, as well as hamburgers, hot dogs and other quick service sandwiches.

Vitality Café will be found in the Vitality Zone and will offer healthy snack items such as wraps, fruits, juices, smoothies, energy drinks and more.

Other dining venues found onboard, which will not be linked to a specific neighborhood, will be Windjammer Marketplace and Izumi Asian Cuisine. While Windjammer is an old favorite for RCI guests, Izumi is a new concept that will offer Japanese cuisine, as well as a sushi bar.

While reservations are not required for any of the specialty restaurants, Goldstein does recommend them. In doing so, he announced that as of July 9, guests will be able to go online before their cruise and make reservations for any of the specialty dining venues available on the Oasis.

“We are trying to make it resemble how you would dine out at home,” Goldstein said.

My Time Dining

With all the attention put on the specialty restaurants, “we have not forgotten about the Main Dining Room,” said Kenneth Taylor, director of fleet restaurant operations. Taylor added that RCI expects the Main Dining Room to continue to be very popular, especially with the cruise line’s new My Time Dining option in place.

With My Time Dining, “we’ve designed entertainment and dining to be on your schedule, which is why we think My Time Dining will be successful,” Taylor added.

As part of My Time Dining guests can choose when they want to dine, as well as request a specific waiter or table. One entire deck of the Main Dining Room will be dedicated to guests who choose My Time Dining. As of May 1, guests can choose My Time Dining at the time of booking.

Mike – Homeport Cruises Co.

1-800-473-6170

Mike/Homeport Cruises Co.

1-800-473-6170

www.homeportcruises.com

THE RISING PRICE OF A BARREL OF OIL

The price of oil is nearing $70 per barrel.  When the cruise lines removed fuel surcharges last year they did so with the caveat that IF the price goes to $70 a barrel they can re-impose fuel surcharges of $10 per person/per day or more.  What will happen?  Who knows?  It’s simply one more intangible cost of travel as we cruise through the current worldwide recession.

Mike/Homeport Cruises Co.

1-800-473-6170

www.homeportcruises.com

Carnival Dream’s 2 Level Serenity
Our new 130,000 ton Carnival Dream will offer a host of innovations including the largest adults-only retreat in our fleet! Created as an ocean going oasis for relaxation, the Carnival Dream’s 11,250 square foot Serenity area will encompass levels, a first for CCL , and it will accommodate up to 200! Clients can select from 7 different styles of seating from plush chaise lounges and chairs to shaded sun loungers and even hammocks. Carnival Dream’s Serenity area will also feature a full bar on the lower level in a shaded area while the upper level will offer whirlpools providing magnificent sea views. Design-wise, Serenity will offer a decidedly understated décor with decorative latticework, teak-style decking and other contemporary features creating an atmosphere of tranquility and comfort. The Serenity experience will be enhanced by a series of custom windscreens specially created for this area. Spanning the forward section of Sun Deck 14 and Sky Deck 15, Serenity is accessible via a glass elevator within Carnival Dream’s expansive 23,750 square foot Cloud 9 Spa as well as by 2 staircases.

Mike/Homeport Cruises Co.

1-800-473-6170

www.homeportcruises.com

Princess introduces Leonard Maltin Movie Club

By: Jerry LimoneMay 28, 2009 – Travel Weekly

Youth Program Pre-Registration
Parents can now enjoy the convenience of pre-registering their kids on line before cruising which will allow children and teens to join the various activities immediately upon boarding. A link to pre-register for the youth program will appear after Fun Pass is completed. Currently only Camp Carnival and Circle C are active and Club O2 will go live shortly; we will keep you posted. Guests must register at least 72 hours prior to departure. If this window has passed, a message will appear indicating that pre-registration is not available but registration may take place onboard. Children under 2 years old and under are not eligible for pre-registration.

Mike – Homeport Cruises Co.

1-800-473-6170

MY TIME DINING
Royal Caribbean International® has taken dining to a whole other level with My Time Dining SM, a new dining option available, fleet–wide*, which allows you to eat dinner when you want* and with whom you want. And, because we know kids are always on the go and how difficult it is to get them to stop and eat, much less sit down for a formal dinner, we’ve created My Family Time DiningSM. This one–of–a–kind program allows families to have a quality dinner together for 40 minutes. After that, the children will go off to Adventure Ocean® for activity time, while the parents enjoy dessert and coffee at their own leisure. Learn More
*Available to reserve precruise in mid-May, but already available fleet–wide; check onboard. My Time Dining is available from 6:00 pm — 9:30 pm (times vary by ship) in the main dining room.

Visits us on-line for more cruise news and Military Discount Cruise deals…

Mike/Homeport Cruises Co.