Drink packages now available on 13 Royal Caribbean ships

Posted on 20 December, 2012 by Spacejunkie2

Drink packages now available on 13 Royal Caribbean ships

By Tom Stieghorst

Royal Caribbean has begun offering all-inclusive drink packages on 13 ships and plans to make them available on all of its vessels sailing voyages of at least seven nights by early next year.

Passengers can now purchase “Classic” or “Premium” packages. Royal Caribbean has been testing the idea on several ships this year.

The Classic package includes beer and house wines, plus non-alcoholic beverages, for $45 a day. Premium, for $55 a day, adds frozen drinks and cocktails, including premium brands, to the Classic lineup.

Packages must be bought on or before the first day of the cruise and cover every day of the cruise. Also, if one passenger in a cabin buys the package, everyone over 21 in the same cabin must also buy one.

Carnival Cruise Lines began testing a similar package this summer and has it available on a half-dozen ships, while Norwegian Cruise Line has said it is evaluating such a package.

Fans of the idea say it helps them manage their bar bills; opponents say it facilitates excessive drinking.

Norwegian unveils Caribbean lineup for winter 2014

Posted on 19 December, 2012 by Spacejunkie2

Norwegian unveils Caribbean lineup for winter 2014

By Tom Stieghorst

Norwegian Cruise Line will shuffle its lineup in the Caribbean in the winter of 2014 after the arrival of Norwegian Getaway in Miami.

Norwegian Sun, currently sailing to the southern Caribbean from Miami, will shift to Tampa, while Norwegian’s current Tampa vessel, Norwegian Dawn, will debut in New Orleans.

In addition, Norwegian Jewel will sail from Houston, giving Norwegian passengers five homeports (including New York) to choose from when going to the Caribbean.

Norwegian’s itineraries for 2014-15 also include an increased schedule of Mexican Riviera cruises. Norwegian Star will offer seven-day cruises from Los Angeles to Mexico in December 2014 and March of 2015.

Norwegian Getaway to have tropical hull art

Posted on 4 December, 2012 by Spacejunkie2

Norwegian Getaway to have tropical hull art

By Tom Stieghorst

Hull art for the Norwegian Getaway will depict a mermaid holding the sun, along with pelicans and palm trees, Norwegian Cruise Line disclosed Monday.

Miami artist and muralist David Le Betard will execute the whimsical tropical ocean theme, which was unveiled at Le Batard’s studio in the city’s Wynwood area.

The Getaway is scheduled to launch in early 2014 and will sail year-round from Miami.

“Norwegian Getaway will be Miami’s ship and, therefore, we wanted to ensure that her hull was designed by artist with strong ties to Miami and the Latin community,” Norwegian CEO Kevin Sheehan said.

Le Batard paints in a style called “post-modern cartoon expressionism,” which according to Norwegian “combines cartoon imagery with bold color and unique linear composition.”

He has previously worked with Gibson Guitars, Ferrari and Harley-Davidson.