Cruising into the new decade
Most in the cruise industry believe that 2010 should be a better year.
Nine new ships are slated to go into service including a new Queen Elizabeth from Cunard. The QE is slated for its first voyage on October 12 and the ship is already sold out.
Other cruise ships slated for their inaugural cruises are:
Costa Deliziosa – Costa – Feb 28 (2828 passengers)
MSC Magnifica – MSC – March 7th (3013 passengers)
Azura – P&O Cruises – April 12 (3100 passengers)
Celebrity Eclipse – Celebrity – April 29 (2850 passengers)
Seabourn Sojourn – Seabourn – June 6 (450 passengers)
Norwegian Epic – Norwegian – June 24 (4200 passengers)
Nieuw Amsterdam – Holland America – July 4 (2104 passengers)
Queen Elizabeth, Cunard – Oct 12, (2092 passengers)
Allure of the Seas – Royal Caribbean – Dec 12 (5400 passengers)
The Allure will be the sister ship to the very popular “Oasis of the Seas.” the world’s largest cruise ship at 220,000 tons. By comparison the Queen Mary is around 150,000 tons and the Titanic was a mere 46,000 tons. The Oasis which set sail in November and its new sister ship are capable of carrying over 6,000 passengers and 2,000 crew.
If you’re planning to cruise this year, be aware that prices will likely be somewhat higher than what you would have paid last year. And it’s largely due to the economy. While not out of the woods yet, there is a growing level of optimism amongst consumers and as a result people are starting to spend again, although not at levels seen prior to the downturn.
We’re also seeing a move by some cruise lines to include more with your cruise fair. For instance Azamara is starting to include tipping again. Other cruise lines are also re-evaluating how they handle tips. It’s not unusual to see a charge of $12 to $14 per person per day, so this can really add up.
The cruise industry is always looking to try something new. Theme cruises have been very popular. Royal Caribbean is hosting a Beatles tribute cruise in March. Not to be outdone Carnival says it’ll host an Elvis theme in November. Elvis would have been 75 on January 8, 2010.
Anyone who has ever gone to a show know that most of the entertainment aboard the ships is pretty standard fare – oh, not another New York or Hollywood production. Don’t be surprised to see bigger stars performing on more ships this year. Last year the likes of James Taylor and John Mayer performed on some.
In other cruise news
British Ballerina Darcey Bussell will name the new P&O ship Azura at a ceremony in Southampton England on April 10.
The U.S. Coast guard has ended its search for a woman who fell to her death from the 12th deck of the Monarch of the Seas on December 31. The woman apparently sent an e-mail to her brother an hour before she went over board complaining of being tortured by her husband. There are reports circulating in India media that the husband beat his wife for not providing enough dowry. Other reports also say that the woman’s husband is a crewmember aboard the ship.
And a fitness worker aboard a Norwegian cruise ship has been awarded $9.5-million after slipping on the floor of the ships spa in 2006. The man claims the fall injured his back and left him impotent.
Remember if you have any cruise news you’d like to share, please send it to me at
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