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LOCALTuesday 23 February 2016

Sail Away!

Cruises 2016: Big new ships, submarine trips, ‘voluntourism’

BETH J. HARPAZ plane business with charter New from Celebrity Cruises: Stephen Schwartz of “Wick- onboard brewery and a
455-foot-long tube slide.
AP Travel Editor flights on four jets connect- Passengers on certain sail- ed” and “Godspell” fame. Holland America Line de-
buts the Koningsdam in
NEW YORK (AP) — Under- ing to trips by ship and on ings in the Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line features April, with staterooms for
families and for singles; a
a “Star Wars” day on each theater with two-story-high,
270-degree LED screens,
of eight Disney Fantasy and music options ranging
from B.B. King’s Blues Club
ship sailings in the Western to nightly chamber music.
HAL is also collaborating
Caribbean beginning this with a travel planning ser-
vice called Utrip so guests
month, with “Star Wars” can go online and create
customized shore itinerar-
characters, activities and ies.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s
themed celebrations. In newest ship, Escape, de-
buted in the fall of 2015
June, the Disney Magic with an urban craft beer
hall, Mondavi wine bar, a
ship will sail its first British Isles Margaritaville and a tapas
bar.
itinerary, to Scotland, Eng- Norwegian is also introduc-
ing a new “Free at Sea”
land and Ireland. promotion inviting guests
to pick a free amenity from
In June, Royal Caribbean four options: a beverage
package, specialty dining
launches what will be the package, excursion credits
or WiFi package.
world’s largest ship, Harmo- Regent Seven Seas Explor-
er launches in July with the
ny of the Seas, with a ca- $10,000-a-night super-lux-
urious Regent Suite, com-
pacity of 5,479 passengers. plete with private spa and
grand piano. Despite the
Harmony will feature the price tag, the suite is al-
ready sold out for its entire
“neighborhood” areas al- first season.
Viking, once known just for
ready found on other Royal river cruises, is launching
the second of its ocean-
Caribbean ships, including going ships, Viking Sea, in
April, a sister ship to Viking
Central Park and Board- Star, launched last year.
Seabourn expects its first
walk. Harmony will also new ship in five years, Sea-
bourn Encore, to be de-
The Royal Caribbean International’s Explorer of the Seas is docked at Charlotte Amalie Harbor in have robot bartenders, a livered in December for a
St. Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands. Underwater sightseeing in a glass submarine, shopping with a chef mini-golf course, surfing January 2017 launch. The
for dinner ingredients and volunteering with locals: These are some of the new options this season on a FlowRider machine, ship will have all-suite state-
for cruise passengers. waterslides, a zip line and, rooms and a Thomas Keller
for guests who need their restaurant.
(AP Photo/Thomas Layer) every whim catered to, And Cunard is renovating
the Queen Mary 2, adding
water sightseeing in a glass land. And later this year Europe are participating round-the-clock personal staterooms for solo travelers
and expanding the num-
submarine, shopping with a Crystal launches residenc- in the Chef Market Discov- assistants called Royal Ge- ber of onboard kennels
where guests are permit-
chef for dinner ingredients es at sea, with long-term eries program, in which nies. ted to keep their dogs. The
QM2 will be out of service
and volunteering with lo- leases for staterooms on they shop with chefs in lo- Another new Royal Carib- for the redo from May 27
to June 21. Looking ahead
cals: These are some of the three new ocean vessels, cal markets for ingredients bean ship, Ovation of the to 2017, the Queen Victo-
ria will become the largest
new options this season for prices to be determined. used in the meals they’ll Seas, debuts in April, de- ship to ever navigate the
Amazon, on Cunard’s first
cruise passengers. Fathom, a new brand from eat onboard that night. signed primarily for service voyage to that part of the
world.q
Also in 2016 from the cruise Carnival Corp., offers “vol- New from Princess Cruises: in China.

industry, Royal Caribbean untourism” trips to the Do- Chocolate Journeys with Carnival Cruise Line launch-

launches the world’s larg-

est ship, and a new ship

from Carnival features a

biking track suspended

high above the water. And

for cruisers with deep pock-

ets, luxuries range from

round-the-clock personal

assistants to long-term leas-

es for residences at sea.

Here are some details and

other cruise news.

Crystal Cruises has just

launched Crystal Esprit, a

62-guest yacht that offers

among its excursions a ride

in a submersible vessel. The

underwater excursions take This photo released by Carnival Cruise Lines shows the Carnival Magic.
place near the Seychelles (AP Photo/Carnival Cruise Lines, Andy Newman)
islands in winter and on the

Adriatic Coast in spring and minican Republic in April chocolate-infused menus es its largest ship in May,

summer. The glass capsule and to Cuba in May. Car- and other treats designed Carnival Vista, which can

holds two people and a nival is still negotiating de- by chocolatier Norman carry 3,954 people based

captain. Thirty-minute rides tails on the Cuba trips with Love, plus menus by ce- on two per cabin. Vista’s

are $599 per person. the Cuban government lebrity chef Curtis Stone, showcase attraction, Sky-

Later this year, Crystal but tickets are on sale. Pas- on-deck stargazing in a Ride, lets guests cycle on

launches a yacht for river sengers will work with locals partnership with Discov- bikes suspended from an

cruising in Europe, Crys- on everything from learn- ery Channel, and a magic 800-foot long track, 20 feet

tal Mozart, with four more ing English to reforestation, show and musical revue, above the top deck and

river yachts in 2017. Crystal while immersing themselves “Magic to Do,” with music 150 feet above the wa-

is also getting into the air- in the culture. by Broadway composer ter. Vista will also have an