PORT NEWS
Keep up with all the World of Cruising News, Views & Special Offers on our online blog:
www.timespentatsea.blogspot.com
gentlemen,” Staggs said: “Welcome home.” It was a brilliant moment that pulled at the heartstrings, connecting us to the Dream and those who would be looking to make every voyage magical. None other than Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother arrived to conjure up Jennifer Hudson, godmother to the Dream, who sang Who Knows Where A Dream Might Lead, while the cast of dancers and characters joined her on stage. Reverend Warren Langer delivered the traditional maritime blessing, then it was time to christen the ship.
VoD GO FOOTLOOSE
VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY are delighted to introduce their new Footloose programme on the ‘Norwegian Explorer’ sailing of their unique MV Discovery this summer. ‘Footloose’ is a designated tour in each port of call specially designed to give small groups of keen hikers and seasoned walkers the opportunity to get off the beaten track, explore untamed landscapes and discover the area’s most magnificent scenery, which is often inaccessible by road. The Norwegian Explorer sailing, which departs Portsmouth on July 30,
BAHAMAS BONUS
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE has completed the first phase of enhancements at its private Bahamian island of Great Stirrup Cay, with a new marina and dining facility as part of an ongoing $20million improvement scheme. Norwegian Sky’s 2,000 guests were the first to experience the opening of the marina basin with four docks for the island’s tenders and the new 8,500sq ft dining facility, complete with two bars and four picnic pavilions. The latter includes a central pizza
LOUIS CHANGES
LOUIS CRUISES have announced a number of changes for their voyages out of Piraeus and Genoa this year. Old-timer Aquamarine has been sold to Mexican buyers and will be replaced in the interim (from April 1) by the chic Louis Majesty for the short three and four-day runs out of the Athens port this spring. The Majesty’s longer itineraries, from Genoa and Marseilles, will in turn be picked up by the Orient Queen. Our sources also believe Louis are looking to replace the Aquamarine with another, more modern ship with their fleet renewal policy in mind.
A helicopter picked up the gigantic
‘champagne bottle’, breaking it against the bow with a spray of sparks and a burst of fireworks, and we were invited to come aboard for a journey that promised to make our Disney Dreams come true... and delivered in spectacular style. The 128,000-ton vessel will now be
operating 3, 4 and 5-day cruises out of Port Canaveral year-round, with twin sister Disney Fantasy due to join the fleet in April 2012. Now turn to Page 62 for a full review of the new Disney Dream.
is ideal for hiking as it calls at Bergen, Hellesylt, Geiranger, Kristiansund, Leknes, Narvik and Andalsnes in Norway as well as Lerwick in the Shetland Islands before returning to the ship’s south coast port home. The cruise is also on sale this month,
from just £1,199 per person (based on two sharing an inside cabin), and includes the 12-night voyage with all meals, entertainment and gratuities on board and all relevant cruise taxes/fees. There are no hidden extras and the sailing will be accompanied by Voyage of Discovery’s usual expert guest speakers. More info: call 0844 822 0802 or visit
www.voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk.
making station, two grills, hot and cold food stations, as well as fresh fruits and breads. The four pavilions have a total seating capacity for more than 500 guests.
Enhancements will continue until the end of the year to include an arrival/ departure pavilion, additional bar facilities, several comfort stations, a band stand, activity area, private beachfront cabanas, kids’ play area, straw market, beach volleyball courts and a beachfront expansion. More info: call 0845 201 8900 or
www.ncl.co.uk.
SUPER SHETLANDS
LERWICK in the Shetland Islands expects a record-breaking cruise season in 2011, with 54 ships due to arrive from May to September. The summer will see the arrival of the port’s biggest ships to date, the 113,651-ton Crown Princess and 114,500-ton Costa Pacifica, plus a debut call from Oceania Cruises’ new Marina and the deluxe Crystal Serenity of Crystal Cruises. Passengers from the larger vessels will arrive by tender at a new welcome ashore pavilion. Victor Sandison, the port’s deputy chief executive, said: “A recent study highlighted the tremendous potential to further develop our cruise market. Shetland’s many attractions and
Lerwick’s modern facilities make us a prime destination.”
Estimated passenger spending in Shetland in 2011 will exceed £1m.
FAB FALKLANDS
The Falkland Islands are celebrat- ing record-breaking cruise arriv- als for their 2010/11 season when a new highest-visitor mark was reached in February. Some 5,409 visitors arrived on cruise ships in one day, making it the busiest day in STANLEY’S cruise history, beating the previous record of 4,053 on February 6, 2009. Passengers enjoyed local tours and walks, with the Museum and Gypsy Cove – home to a colony of gentoo penguins – proving popular. Other sought-after trips in- cluded Bluff Cove Lagoon and Vol- unteer Point, home to the islands’ largest colony of king penguins. Tourist Board general manager
Paul Trowell said: “We were de- lighted to welcome so many cruise passengers ashore to discover the world-class wildlife and beauti- ful landscapes we have to offer. Overall visitor arrivals are expected to total over 67,000 this season, an increase of almost 32 per cent on 2010, spending £5.3million, which is extremely encouraging.”
Spring 2011 I WORLD OF CRUISING 11
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