As the world's most popular cruise areas become congested, cruise lines are anxiously on the lookout for new destinations. Asia, Australia and South America are all on the rise, but the most publicized new homeport is without doubt Dubai. One of the first ships that called the Arabian peninsula home this past winter was AIDAcara, one of the German 'club ships' that cater to a more youthful, active crowd.
Forty years ago NCL successfully initiated 7-day Caribbean cruises from Miami and grew into one of the most popular cruise lines in the world. After a rough spot in the nineties the cruise line was purchased by the Genting Group in 2000. Under new Malaysian ownership, NCL was completely restructured and a vast number of product innovations were introduced which have lead to a rebirth of Norwegian Cruise Line as one of the world's leading cruise lines. 
In 1966, Norwegian ship owner Knut Kloster and Miami-based Arison family formed NCL and changed the face of the cruise industry by offering the first fly-cruises out of Miami. Now, 40 years later, Norwegian Cruise Line is back - stronger than ever. The line's new owners (Star Cruises of Malaysia) have invested heavily to once again make NCL one of the front runners in today's demanding cruise industry. And from what I have seen, they will certainly succeed. |
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Built in France at a cost of € 270 million, the 59,058 ton MSC Lirica was delivered to her owners Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) on March 24, 2003 and has proven to be an instant hit during her first summer season on the popular weekly Western Mediterranean run. It was in Barcelona, Spain on a sunny September morning that I was given the opportunity to visit MSC Lirica and see for myself how MSC is doing things differently. MSC Cruises started operations in 16 years ago and has grown to a fleet of four very different ships, ranging from the vintage 1952-built MSC Monterey to the very popular MSC Melody. Crowning the MSC fleet will be MSC Opera, a near-sister of MSC Lirica, entering service in the Mediterranean very soon.
The success story of MSC Cruises reads like a novel. In a world where cruise lines are multinational companies run by invisible boards of directors that have no apparent links to shipping, it is quite refreshing to see that MSC Cruises is very much a family affair. As Italian as Ferrari and cappuccino, the whole Aponte family turned up for the naming ceremony of their latest musical masterpiece MSC Orchestra at St. Nazaire on May 3, 2007. 
The second-ever cruise ship I visited back in 1980 was Royal Viking Sky, one of three ultra-deluxe sisters of Norwegian Royal Viking Line. Now, 28 years later, Royal Viking Sky has found a good new Norwegian home at family-owned Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. After a complete renovation, Fred. Olsen renamed her Boudicca. I visited the ship during an unexpected call at IJmuiden, Netherlands on May 31, 2008. 
The year 2005 will be marked in the history of Norwegian Cruise Lines as a year with no less then two new ship introductions. Earlier this year Pride of America left Bremerhaven, Germany for a long positioning voyage to Honolulu, her year-round home. Being built specifically for the Hawaiian inter-island service, American-flagged and American-staffed Pride of America is the first newly built vessel to enter service from Honolulu in decades. But only weeks after the introduction of Pride of America, NCL officials had to rush back to Germany to take delivery of the 93,502 ton Norwegian Jewel, built by well-respected Meyer Werft in Papenburg. 
The leading lady in this cruise review is Radiance of the Seas - a 90,090 ton beauty that first entered service in March of 2001 for Royal Caribbean International (RCI). With a length of 293.2 m (961.9 ft) and a beam of 32.2 m (105.6 ft), she is (just!) able to transit the Panama Canal, which comes in handy as Radiance divides her time between Alaska and the sunny waters of the Caribbean and Hawaii. For many years now, German television broadcasts their own version of "The Love Boat". This very popular show is called "Das Traumschiff" (The Dream Ship) and has for the last couple of years starred the 22,496-ton Deutschland, pride and joy of family-owned Peter Deilmann Reederei. The feeling of belonging to a seagoing family is exactly what attracts most guests to Deutschland over and over again, accounting for a formidable repeat percentage. This ship feels like home away from home, accentuated by unique classical interiors and a wonderful personable young crew. Delivered just a few years ago at a cost of $ 120 million by respectable Howaltswerke Deutsche Werft in Kiel, Deutschland dares to be different in many respects.
After giving all their cruise ships names that are steeped in the company's 135 year history, Holland America Line broke with tradition by naming their latest ship Eurodam. In a sun-drenched ceremony in the vessels's homeport of Rotterdam, Holland America Line proudly showed off their largest passenger ship to date. A ship that pushes the cruise line into the future without compromising its unique heritage.
SuperStar Libra is a cruise ship owned and operated by Star Cruises. She was built in 1988 by Wärtsilä Turku New Shipyard in Turku, Finland as Seaward for Norwegian Cruise Line. In 1997 she was renamed Norwegian Sea, remaining in NCL fleet. In 2005 she was transferred to the fleet of Star Cruises.The vessel entered operation with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) in 1988 as Seaward. The vessel was renamed Norwegian Sea in 1997. In 2005, the vessel was transferred to the Star Cruises fleet and renamed SuperStar Libra.
With Star Cruises, SuperStar Libra sailed a variety of cruises in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, and Aegean seas in the summer of 2006. The vessel deployed back to Mumbai in late September 2006. SuperStar Libra was based in Taiwan in 2007 and 2008 and sailed from Keelung; for part of the year and also from Singapore for November 2008 till January 2009. Since then, she has been laid up.8 bars and restaurants
2 pools, 2 jacuzzis, golf driving range, basketball court and jogging track
Karaoke lounge, disco, nightclub, theater
With Star Cruises, SuperStar Libra sailed a variety of cruises in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, and Aegean seas in the summer of 2006. The vessel deployed back to Mumbai in late September 2006. SuperStar Libra was based in Taiwan in 2007 and 2008 and sailed from Keelung; for part of the year and also from Singapore for November 2008 till January 2009. Since then, she has been laid up.8 bars and restaurants
2 pools, 2 jacuzzis, golf driving range, basketball court and jogging track
Karaoke lounge, disco, nightclub, theater
The SuperStar Virgo was ordered by Star Cruises on 22 November 1995 from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany as the second ship of the Leo class, and the second newbuilding for Star Cruises.[2][7] Like her sister ship SuperStar Leo, she was designed specifically for the Asian cruise market.[3] The keel of the SuperStar Virgo was laid on 18 November 1996, and she was floated out of drydock on 23 December 1998.[2] She was delivered to Star Cruises on 2 August 1999.[4In 2004 the SuperStar Virgo became the sole "mega-ship", and the only purpose-built ship, in Star Cruises' fleet, when her sister SuperStar Leo was transferred to the fleet of Star Cruises' subsidiary Norwegian Cruise Line (newbuildings planned or ordered by Star Cruises after the SuperStar Virgo had either been cancelled or moved to the NCL fleet prior to delivery).[7] On 2 April 2008 the SuperStar Virgo relocated from Singapore to Hong Kong as her port of departure until 26 October 2008,[10][11] the redeployment coinciding with the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
This is the story of a cruise that was nine years in the making. Back in 1997, my friends and I booked passage on Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas on a cruise from Vancouver to Honolulu. Alas, this cruise was cancelled at the last minute because Rhapsody of the Seas had developed engine problems. We had to completely reschedule our vacation and ended up in Iceland having a great time. But our wish to set foot onEnter Celebrity Cruises' Infinity!. My friends and I sailed on sister ship Millennium in her first season in the Mediterranean and liked the ship, so when we noticed a roundtrip cruise from Los Angeles to Hawaii we checked our savings accounts, called the cruise line and booked passage right away; more than a year before the departure date. Hawaiian soil still lingered.Realizing that Infinity has had her fair share of propulsion trouble, this choice was a bit of a gamble. Still, with no less than 8 sea days to look forward to,Finally, a two-night stay on board the classic ocean liner Queen Mary put us in the right mood for our long-awaited voyage to Hawaii. And back!
Choosing the right cruise vacation can be a little problematic. After all, what are you looking for? Is it the floating high rise hotel with its soaring atrium, ice skating rink or bowling alley? Or the cozy seagoing inn where you feel among family and where all these modern creature comforts suddenly seem less important?Personally, I think both ways of cruising can be fun, but when discussing the possibility of going on a cruise to Norway with my good friend Lucy and my 81-year old father, choosing Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines seemed obvious. After all, the typical mix of Norwegian officers, Philippine service staff and a mature British clientele proved to be a winning combination on my
previous Fred. Olsen cruises. Cruising with older Brits is really a treat; in times where many people seem completely preoccupied with getting their money's worth, it is rather refreshing to see people relax and really enjoy the art of traveling.
