Jamaica's Falmouth Port Officially Opens

Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas pulled into Falmouth yesterday marking the official opening of the much anticipated and much delayed port of call on the north coast of Jamaica.  Still unfinished, the $213 million undertaking by Royal Caribbean and the government of Jamaica, has had it's share of ups and downs but now it finally is welcoming cruise travelers to Jamaica.  The construction should be wrapped up and all the shops open and fully operational by May.

You can check out an article on the opening of the port on Cruise Critic -
Next Stop, Falmouth: Unfinished, Caribbean's Newest Cruise Port Officially Opens

Royal Caribbean Places An Order For A New Ship

On Friday, Royal Caribbean signed a letter of intent with Meyer Werft to build what may be the first of a new generation of ships for the cruise line.  The order is currently for one ship to be delivered in the fall of 2014 with an option for a second ship in the spring of 2015.  Project Sunshine, as it is being referred to by Royal Caribbean, will have a displacement of 158,000 tons and will be able to carry 4,100 passengers.

I know it's a ways off but I can't wait to see what new innovations they come up with for this ship.  You know Royal Caribbean will continue to push the envelope when it comes to ship design.

Grand Princess to get major facelift

Princess Cruises Grand Princess debuted in 1998 as the prototype for their Grand Class ships which have evolved in design over the years into a somewhat different design philosophy from the original.  In order to make the Grand Princess more like her younger sisters and improve her efficiency, Princess is sending her in for 24 days of serious surgery.

The work will take place from April 11 to May 4 at the Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport.  During that time not only will the usual new venues, restaurants, and furnishings be installed but the ship will loose its signature high mounted Skywalker Nightclub that rises above the aft of the ship.  That will be completely removed and a new nightclub will be created.

This will be the biggest makeover that the line has ever undertaken with one of their ships.  It should be quite a transformation.

Here is the full press release from Princess:




Grand Princess to Undergo Dramatic Transformation During Spring Drydock
Makeover Will Include Piazza Atrium, Tea Lounge, Pizzeria and Nightclub

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (February 10, 2011) -- The most significant transformation ever of aPrincess Cruises ship will occur this spring aboard Grand Princess. During a 24-day makeover the ship, which was the prototype for the line's "Grand Class" vessels, will undergo a remarkable renovation to receive many of Princess' trademark features introduced since the ship's 1998 debut including the signature Piazza atrium. Several new features will be also be added including a unique tea lounge and library called "Leaves"; and "Alfredo's," a full-service pizzeria showcasing this renowned Princess dish.

A brand new nightclub called One5, inspired by its deck location, will be created on the top deck of the ship, replacing its iconic Skywalker Nightclub, which has given the ship its distinctive profile. Skywalkers will be removed from its 18th deck perch, with its replacement located on deck 15. This change will significantly improve the operational performance of the ship, including greater fuel efficiency.

"This is the largest makeover we've ever undertaken for any of our ships," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. "When Grand Princess was launched she was the most innovative ship at sea, and now we're adding some of the later innovations we introduced on subsequent ships."

Artist renderings of the Grand Princess changes are available in a Flickr gallery at:http://bit.ly/g0JA8I.

The changes will be made during a drydock from April 11 to May 4 at the Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport, Bahamas. Highlights of the dramatic makeover include:

• New Piazza atrium -- The atrium space of Grand Princess will be completely rebuilt to include this signature Princess feature -- a multi-faceted social hub of the ship combining always-changing quick bites and light meals, beverages, entertainment, shopping and guest services. The Piazza will feature the International Café for pastries, grilled panini sandwiches, salads, fresh-baked cookies and a variety of coffee drinks. Passengers will also enjoy a new Vines wine bar offering a selection of more than 30 wines by the glass, plus a selection of tapas and sushi, and a wine shop where passengers can purchase their favorite bottle.

• Leaves Tea Lounge and Library -- A fusion of tea lounge and library, the new Leaves offers a distinctive opportunity for passengers to custom-blend a variety of base teas with herbs, fruits and spices to create a personalized tea blend. Created in partnership with Mighty Leaf Tea Company, one of the world's premier maker of artisan teas, Leaves will give passengers an impressive choice of up to 500 different tea blends to suit their palates. A trained tea sommelier will assist passengers in blending a personalized tea creation, which they can enjoy in the midst of the library and a good book.

• Alfredo's Pizzeria -- Known for serving the best pizza at sea, Princess will introduce Alfredo's, a new sit-down pizzeria with an enticing menu of freshly prepared individual-size pizzas. Named for the line's master executive chef, Alfredo Marzi, the pizzeria will feature an open kitchen where passengers can watch chefs create the pizzas they'll enjoy with a glass of wine or other beverage.

• One5 Lounge -- The new One5 lounge will replace Skywalkers as the place to be for nighttime dancing and relaxing. The new lounge on deck 15 (hence its name) takes its inspiration from the chicest urban nightclubs, and will offer a cool vibe, contemporary seating and lighting, and a dramatic back-lit bar.

• Crown Grill -- A classic steakhouse with rich wood surroundings, this specialty restaurant features an open, theater-style kitchen where chefs custom-prepare premium aged beef and fresh seafood items, including lobster.

Also part of the renovation will be 10 new suites; remodeled casino, boutiques and art gallery; enhancements to the Horizon Court, Lotus Spa, and wedding chapel; and the addition of Crooner's Martini Lounge.

The newly renovated Grand Princess will debut on May 5 in Ft. Lauderdale where the ship will depart on a transatlantic crossing for her summer and fall homeport of Southampton, from which she will cruise a variety of European itineraries.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com.

Liberty of the Seas emerges from drydock

Just read the latest blog post from Royal Caribbean's CEO, Adam Goldstein, about the changes made to Liberty  of the Seas during her recent drydock.  The post is from guest blogger Lisa Bauer and it details all the work that was done in just one week.

Several features from Royal Caribbean's latest ship Allure of the Seas are being rolled out to some of the rest of the fleet and Liberty was the first to go under the knife.  Added to the ship were the Cupcake Cupbord, a poolside movie screen, 3D movie capabilities in the main theatre, and new interactive digital deckplans and signage.  Enhancements were also made to the nursery, Vintages wine bar, and to the shipboard WIFI system.

There are also some details of the upcoming changes to Radiance of the Seas during her next scheduled drydock.

Check out the post here - “Lady Liberty” is back at Sea and Showing off her New Enhancements!

Royal Caribbean Changes Loyalty Program

Rumors had been swirling for a while that Royal Caribbean was set to make some changes to their popular loyalty program, the Crown & Anchor Society.  Today they are making an announcement to confirm the changes and they have already outlined them on their website.

The main change is that the program goes from per cruise based credits to per day based points.  In other words, instead of getting 1 cruise credit for a 7 night cruise you would now get 7 points.  If you book a suite, you get double points so that 7 night cruise nets you 14 points.  They've also added some additional tiers to the program and new benefits.

Here are some more details from the Royal Caribbean Website.


RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH NEW ENHANCEMENTS

We are very pleased to celebrate the New Year with exciting new ways for you to be recognized as a member of the Crown & Anchor® Society. We listened to your feedback and have made many of the changes you asked for. We are proud to introduce to you a better way to reward your loyalty, new levels of recognition and more…

New Cruise Points - We've Made it Easier

Cruise Points is the new way to earn your membership status in the Crown & Anchor® Society.

Earn one Cruise Point for every cruise night you sail with us and DOUBLE the points when you purchase a suite.

For Example: When you take a 7-night cruise, you'll earn 7 Cruise Points, and when you purchase a suite, you'll earn 14 Cruise Points.

Please note: On January 21, 2011 your cruise credits will be converted to Cruise Points. To see your new Cruise Points go to our online calculator. (Any cruises taken after January 21, 2011 may take up to the normal 14 days to be applied to your account.)

Introducing Two New Membership Tiers

1. Emerald Tier
In recognition of our members journey from Platinum to Diamond, we have created a new Emerald tier. Emerald members will enjoy some new benefits including higher balcony and suite discounts and a personalized welcome gift/amenity onboard.

2. The Pinnacle Club
Pinnacle Club members are truly a unique group who have reach our highest status. Honored for their incredible loyalty, we recognize this prestigious group with special benefits. Those Diamond Plus members who are being invited to join Pinnacle Club, as of the date of this announcement, will have completed a minimum of 100 cruise credits.*

*Moving forward, achieving Pinnacle Club status will require 700 points.

Upgrade Preferences
As you know, we always sail full, so there are very few upgrade opportunities, but when we can, we want to give you, our valued Crown & Anchor® Society members, first priority on stateroom upgrades if they become available. Please make sure to choose your Upgrade Preferences and Update your Profile online.


New Personalized Website

Welcome to a Whole New World of Choice!

• Enjoy easy access to secure, member-only Exclusive News, Offers and Promotions
• Choose your own Upgrade Preferences, Update your Profile anytime and sign up for Member-Only Email Offers
• Take advantage of your exclusive, personalized Cruise Meter, which automatically keeps track of your Cruise Points
• Review your Cruise History and more...

Start enjoying all the Exclusive Benefits and Privileges of Crown & Anchor® Society Membership!

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Two Passenger Overboard Incidents Start Off The Year On A Bad Note

Bad news for the cruise industry last week as there were two separate incidents of passengers going overboard with unfortunate results.

First, on MSC Orchestra, a 19 year old man fell overboard after attempting to balance on the ship's railing on deck 14 while the ship was anchored off the coast of Sao Paulo, Barzil.  As expected, he lost his balance and fell backwards into the water.  The ship's crew was able to retrieve him from the sea but he later died from injuries sustained in the fall.

In a separate incident, a 50 year old woman was reported overboard by her husband on Princess' Sea Princess while the ship was sailing between Curacao and Grand Turk.  Review of security footage showed that the woman went overboard from her cabin's balcony.  An immediate search and rescue effort was conducted but the woman was not located and is feared drowned.

Brilliance of the Seas captain placed on leave

Royal Caribbean has announced that Captain Erik Tengelsen has been placed on leave following the incident that took place last week onboard Brilliance of the Seas when she encountered a strong storm in the Mediterranean resulting in damage and injuries.  The ship is now in the hands of Captain Henrik Sorensen, who was already scheduled to take over the ship in January.

The cruise line has pointed out that Captain Tengelsen has not been fired but instead was placed on leave to participate in the investigation and review of the incident by the Bahamian authorities.  Royal Caribbean further noted that he will return to service and assume the position of Captain once again aboard a Royal Caribbean ship after the investigation is completed.

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