Grab your swimwear, it's time to meet GiGi the Giraffe - the latest animal resident that can be found on board a Royal Caribbean ship! Like the vibrant, Felicia bear on board Quantum of the Seas, GiGi the Giraffe will call deck 15 of Anthem of the Seas her home.
We all know kids can be very fussy eaters, especially when it comes to trying new things. With Easter fast approaching, and the pile of chocolate eggs quickly building up, you'll be glad to know that Jamie Oliver is on hand to give parents some top tips on how you can make food more interesting for kids and to encourage them to eat new, healthier food this Easter.
Johnny Rockets Serving delicious and authentic American food, in a traditional American diner setting, this global restaurant chain can be found on over ten Royal Caribbean International cruise ships. No experience at Johnny Rockets is complete without trying one of their mouth-watering burgers and delicious milkshakes! What's more, while eating your meal, the staff may suddenly start dancing! Eataly With locations around the world, this traditional and authentic Italian food brand, uses fresh ingredients to prepare quality Italian cuisine. Thanks to an exclusive partnership, the only place you'll find an Eataly on the high seas will be on board MSC Cruises' MSC Preziosa and MSC Divina. Starbucks Coffee Whether its a Frappuccino or Macchiato, if you're a Starbucks lover, then you'll be glad to know a Starbucks Coffee shop can be found on board Royal Caribbean's Oasis, Allure and soon to be Harmony of the Seas. Jamie's Italian
Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant brand can be found on Royal Caribbean's Quantum and Anthem of the Seas. This popular UK restaurant chain is famed for their sharing planks, which are filled with a variety of meats and cheeses. Top 10 news stories from the month of February, based on Cruise Capital's website pageviews.
1. ROYAL CARIBBEAN ANNOUNCES HARMONY OF THE SEAS (23rd Feb) Royal Caribbean International officially announced that their third Oasis-class ship, currently being built in France, will be called Harmony of the Seas. Debuting in April 2016, Harmony of the Seas will weigh in at 227,000 GT. She'll be 6 feet longer, 32 feet wider and 2,000 tons larger than her sisters. 2. CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON NEW OASIS CLASS SHIP (3rd Feb) Construction for Royal Caribbean International's latest ship, officially commenced today. Steel cutting for the cruise line's fourth Oasis class vessel took place at the shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France. The ship, which is still yet to be named will enter service in 2018 and will be slightly larger than her equally huge sisters, Oasis and Allure of the Seas. 3. TRAVEL AGENT GODMOTHER FOR ANTHEM OF THE SEAS (19th Feb) Royal Caribbean is searching for travel agents to become the godmother for Anthem of the Seas. The new campaign called 'A Godmother Like No Other. Could It Be You?' is in partnership with Travel Weekly and aimed at UK travel agents. 4. TAMPA FOG DELAYS BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS ARRIVAL (23rd Feb) Thick fog delayed the arrival of Royal Caribbean International's Brilliance of the Seas into the port of Tampa. The Radiance class vessel was scheduled to arrive into the Florida port during Monday morning, however the dense fog in the Gulf of Mexico, meant that it was unsafe to manoeuvre the 962ft ship through the twisting channel. 5. HOLLAND AMERICA UNVEILS KONINGSDAM CULINARY OPTIONS (11th Feb) Holland America Line's new Koningsdam, due to launch in February 2016, will feature new, innovative and re-imagined culinary experiences. Holland America Line is known for their magnificent cuisine, but the cruise line's newest and largest ship will give guests the opportunity to embark on a culinary adventure, featuring food from around the world. 6. VIKING STAR COMPLETES SEA TRIALS (5th Feb) Viking Cruises brand new ocean cruise ship, Viking Star, has successfully completed its sea trials. On board the 745ft Viking Star, engineers tested everything from the speed and maneuverability of the ship, to the noise and vibrations found in passenger areas. 7. HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN TO NAME P&O'S BRITANNIA (27th Feb) P&O Cruises announced that Her Majesty The Queen will name their newest cruise ship, Britannia. The Queen will be accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke Of Edinburgh for the official naming ceremony taking place on 10th March 2015 at Southampton's Ocean Terminal. 8. MSC CRUISES RELEASES SNEAK PREVIEW OF NEW REVOLUTIONARY SHIPS (25th Feb) MSC Cruises has released a new video, giving a sneak preview of what to expect from their upcoming revolutionary ships. The Vista and Seaside projects will see seven groundbreaking vessels, launching between 2017 and 2022. The ships will be MSC Cruises most ambitious newbuilds to date, and are set to be some of the largest ships afloat. 9. COSTA CONCORDIA CAPTAIN GETS 16 YEARS IN PRISON (11th Feb) Francesco Schettino, the captain of the Costa Concordia, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after he was found guilty of manslaughter. He has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for multiple manslaughter, five years for causing a shipwreck, and one year for abandoning the vessel with people still on board. 10. CRUISE & MARITIME VOYAGES TO OFFER A CRUISE OF A LAUGH-TIME (2nd Feb) Cruise & Maritime Voyages, 750-guest ship Marco Polo, will host a special cruise featuring stars from some of the best comedy series in British television history, including John Challis and Sue Holderness from ’Only Fools And Horses', 'Hi-De-Hi' and 'You Rang M'Lord' star, Jeffrey Holland and Sue Hodge from 'Allo, Allo.' At 141,000gt, Britannia is the largest cruise ship ever built for P&O Cruises and specifically for the British cruise market. Emblazoned with a 94 metre Union flag on her bow, Britannia is both impressive and breathtaking. Britannia is inspired by P&O's past, and designed for the future, offering a contemporary approach to the cruising experience. While Britannia still offers familiar venues for guests, such as Atul Kochhar's Sindhu and The Glass House by Olly Smith, P&O's latest ship has stunning new venues on board, designed by world-leading interior design experts, Richmond International.
We've all heard people talk about holidays from hell, but it's very rare that something will actually go wrong on your holiday. We researched three of the most bizarre laws, from some of the most popular travel destinations, so that your next cruise vacation doesn't end in jail!
When Carnival Cruise Line announced the details of their newest and largest cruise ship, Carnival Vista, back in January, it quickly became one of the most anticipated new ships of 2016. There were many new and exciting features unveiled at the New York and London events, such as the Havana Cabana suites, new dining options, on board brewery and the return of some of the lines favourite venues, including Guy's Burger Joint and the Dr Seuss partnership.
With all the excitement surrounding the new 133,500 ton vessel, we've compiled four reasons why you should consider booking a fun-filled cruise on board Carnival Vista! Top 10 news stories from the month of January, based on Cruise Capital's website pageviews.
1. FLOOD ON BOARD SERENADE OF THE SEAS CAUSES ELECTRICAL OUTAGES (24th Jan) A flood on board Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas caused electrical outages, affecting over 400 passenger cabins, the theatre, gym and medical center. Royal Caribbean International are offering guests who have been forced to cancel, a full refund in addition to a future cruise certificate for 100 percent of the cruise fare paid. 2. CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES UNVEILS CARNIVAL VISTA (22nd Jan) Carnival Cruise Line have revealed their much anticipated new ship, Carnival Vista, due to enter service in spring 2016. On board the 133,500 ton ship will be the first ever SkyRide, a 455ft waterslide called Kaleid-O-Slide, and the first IMAX cinema at sea. The ship will sail the Mediterranean and Caribbean. 3. REGENT SEVEN SEAS UNVEILS SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER (13th Jan) Regent Seven Seas have unveiled their new Seven Seas Explorer. A giant 3,875 square foot suite, complete with its own private spa, the ship will be the most luxurious passenger vessel ever built. Debuting in summer 2016, carrying just 750-guests, the all-suite, all-balcony ship will boast the highest space ratio in the cruise industry. 4. KONINGSDAM TO HOMEPORT IN AMSTERDAM (20th Jan) Holland America's msKoningsdam will homeport in Amsterdam, following its preview season in the Mediterranean. The ship will sail on itineraries to Norway, the Baltic UK and Iceland. On October 24 2016, the ship repositions to Fort Lauderdale, on a 14-day voyage that crosses the Atlantic. 5. CRUISE SHIP RESCUES AIRCRAFT PILOT (26th Jan) An aircraft pilot had a lucky escape after his Cirrus SR-22 plane began to run out of fuel, 250 miles off the coast of Hawaii. The solo pilot contacted the Coast Guard, who directed him to land close to Holland America Line's Veendam, which was in the area at the time. The Veendam, then rescued the pilot and brought him back on board. 6. IS THE QUEEN SET TO BECOME GODMOTHER FOR P&O'S BRITANNIA? (25th Jan) Scouring the internet, many rumours appear of who the mystery person could be. The one that comes up more often than the rest is Her Majesty The Queen. Looking at the British Monarchy website, the Queen is set to visit Hampshire on March 10th, around the time of the naming ceremony, so it is highly possible for a Royal naming. 7. CRUISE & MARITIME VOYAGES TAKE DELIVERY OF MAGELLAN (19th Jan) Cruise & Maritime Voyages has successfully taken delivery of their new flagship, Magellan, in Genoa, due to enter service in March 2015. The ship will now undergo a small refurbishment, including the addition of its new livery, before sailing to Tilbury for a series of launch events, finally embarking guests on its maiden CMV cruise on 15th March. 8. NORWEGIAN GETAWAY TO BE BASED IN RIO FOR 2016 OLYMPICS (19th Jan) Brazil is about to get a lot more colourful...146,000 tons more colourful, in fact! Norwegian Getaway will be used as a floating hotel for the 2016 Summer Olympics, taking place in Rio De Janerio. The ship will be berthed near the Maracana Stadium, enabling guests to easily take part in the Olympic atmosphere. 9. DISNEY MAGIC RESCUES 5 CUBAN SAILORS (24th Jan) Disney Magic rescued five Cuban nationals, around noon on 23rd January, as the vessel sailed en-route to Castaway Cay, Disney's private island near Cuba. Five sailors were rescued from a handmade raft approximately 23 miles off the coast of Cuba. They were later picked up by the local Coast Guard around 2pm. 10. FIRE BREAKS OUT ON BOUDICCA (25th Jan) A fire briefly broke out on board Fred Olsen Cruise Lines' Boudicca. The blaze started in the engine room, shortly before 4am, as the ship was sailing to the Canary Islands from Cadiz. The ship was left briefly without power, and developed a list. A cruise voyage is a photographers dream. Unlike taking photos on land, on a ship, the scenery is always changing. This means you can never really take the same photo twice. Not only do you have the wonderful scenery ashore to capture, but the magnificent ship you are travelling on.
I've received multiple compliments regarding my cruise photography, and I wanted to share with you some of my top tips. I wouldn't say I have amazing photographic skills and knowledge, so if I can capture these beautiful shots, then so can you on your next cruise! The important thing to remember, is to always carry your camera everywhere you go. Treat your camera like your room key - you never leave without it. The fact is, you never know what amazing things you might capture, and having your camera handy, will give you the perfect opportunity to snap those unexpected moments. As we approach the end of 2014, I wanted to share with you our cruise highlights from the past year. I've been fortunate enough to embark on 8 cruises this year, as well as 3 ship visits. I've said bon voyage to Royal Caribbean Fans and East Yorkshire and said welcome aboard to Cruise Capital and Southampton.
January On 14th January, I welcomed Norwegian Getaway into the freezing, but sunny Southampton. Later that day, I would embark on her maiden voyage from Southampton on a 1-night cruise to nowhere. VIEW MORE PICTURES HERE. Here is a recap of the top 10 cruise news stories featured on Cruise Capital from the month of December.
1. CELEBRITY CRUISES ORDERS TWO NEW SHIPS (4th Dec) Celebrity Cruises announced that it plans to build two new 117,000GT ships, with the first vessel launching towards the end of 2018 and the second in early 2020. Project EDGE as it has been dubbed, will incorporate much loved features found aboard its Millennium and Solstice class ships. 2. MSC CRUISES NEW PARTNERSHIP TAKES OFF (12th Dec) The first charter flight under a partnership between Air France KLM and MSC Cruises took off from Paris, carrying 432 MSC guests to the Dominican Republic for a week-long Caribbean cruise. As is traditional when an airline inaugurates a new flight, the Air France Boeing 747–400 received a ceremonial water salute before take-off, passing under plumes of water expelled by airport fire fighting vehicles. 3. HAS DORMANT GEMINI SHIP FOUND A NEW HOME? (14th Dec) The cruise ship, Gemini, a sister ship to Fred Olsen Cruise Line's Braemar, will finally re-enter passenger service after being berthed at London's Tilbury port since 2011, awaiting a buyer. Sterling Cruise Lines plan on operating the Gemini on 3-, 4- and 7-night cruises from Aruba in the Caribbean, year round. 4. REGENT SEVEN SEAS UNVEILS NEW SHIP SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER (4th Dec) Regent Seven Seas unveiled the first visuals of their new ship, due to launch in summer 2016. Seven Seas Explorer will carry 750-guests in all-suite, all-balcony staterooms. She will sail on cruises around the Mediterranean when she launches in summer 2016, however specific itineraries are still to be announced. 5. FIRE ONBOARD COSTA CLASSICA (24th Dec) A fire broke out onboard Costa Cruises' recently refurbished Costa neoClassica. The fire started in the funnel of the ship as the vessel was sailing in the Red Sea on December 23rd. The ship was on a 25-day Indian Ocean voyage and all passengers and crew were unharmed. 6. 3 DEAD AFTER FIRE ONBOARD OCEANIA'S INSIGNIA (11th Dec) Three crew members tragically died, after an engine room fire started on board the luxury Insignia, operated by Oceania Cruises. The fire resulted in the current cruise being cancelled. It was later reported that the ship will remain out of service until at least 22nd March 2015. 7. VIRGIN CRUISES GETS THE GREEN LIGHT (4th Dec) Virgin Cruises was officially announced and its head office will be based in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area. After securing vital financial funding by Bain Capital, the new cruise line will construct two brand new cruise ships, with an estimated launch date of 2019. 8. BODY OF MISSING HAL CREW MEMBER WASHES ASHORE (26th Dec) The body of a missing Holland America Line crew member was found washed up ashore near Pinellas County, Florida. 27-year-old, Cliford B. Minej, from India, disappeared from the Ryndam, as the ship was sailing to Tampa, on 21st December. The body was discovered by a person walking along the beach, who alerted local authorities. 9. NORWEGIAN ESCAPE TO FEATURE MARGARITAVILLE RESTAURANT (5th Dec) The famous Caribbean restaurant chain, started by American singer and songwriter Jimmy Buffett, will be one of Norwegian Escape’s many complimentary dining venues. In addition to the restaurant, the ship will feature the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar, a music venue and outdoor bar on The Waterfront. 10. COOL FUN ONBOARD AIDAPRIMA (23rd Dec) AIDAprima will offer seasonal activities, as part of their year-round vacation concept. A 200m ice rink, during the Winter season, complete with traditional Gluhwein (mulled wine) and culinary delights, will bring the famous traditional German Christmas Market experience onto the high seas for the first time. FOR ALL CRUISE NEWS STORIES PUBLISHED IN DECEMBER, CLICK HERE. In this blog post, I wanted to share my top 5 travel gadgets and accessories that I always take with me on my cruises.
For our short 3-night cruise on Queen Elizabeth, we have a balcony stateroom, located on Deck 5, cabin 5135 to be precise.
The room is large and spacious, well lit and modern, yet luxury at the same time. We arrived at the Ocean Terminal shortly after 1pm. We were greeted by the baggage handlers who took our cases from us. The next time we would see them would be in our Balcony cabin, 5134.
Tomorrow (Tuesday 16th December) Cruise Capital will be boarding Cunard's luxury Queen Elizabeth, in Southampton, for a short 3-night Christmas getaway to Zeebrugge.
VIKING STAR
(VIKING CRUISES)
168,000
There are a lot of new cruise ships currently planned, and at times it can be easy to forget what exactly has been ordered. Therefore, we've compiled this handy list, detailing all the current planned ships due to be built over the next few years, right up until 2022! Best of all, we'll continue to update the list, when a cruise line announces a new ship, so make sure you keep checking the list for updates.
LAST UPDATED: 18th April 2015 We all love a good bargain and there are always some great cheap cruise deals available. While the price may seem tempting at first, there are a variety of extra charges, which you may not think about when budgeting for your cruise, especially if it is your first time on board a ship.
Cruise Capital have compiled a list of five extra costs you may not think about when planning your cruise. |
About Our BlogWritten by the site's editor, this blog provides top tips, and resources related to cruise travel, including destinations.
Looking for cruise news? click here Meet The AuthorJordan Bailey is 19 and loves to travel! He has been on over 20 cruises around the world, with many different cruise lines, making him a source of knowledge.
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