New York knocks Venice off the top

Posted on 21 September, 2011 by Spacejunkie2

New York knocks Venice off the top

According to the PSA (Passenger Shipping Association) New York has knocked Venice off the cruising top spot!

Yep, Brits have voted the Big Apple as their favourite port destination.

Nearly one-fifth of those who took part in the YouGov survey voted it number one, with Venice receiving 13 per cent, dropping to second place.

Barcelona, Rome and Singapore shared third position glory with 7 per cent of cruisers saying they were their favourite stop-offs.

The survey which marks the start of National Cruise Week, shows that a whopping 1.7 million Britons will go on a cruise holiday this year.

The cruise sector has been growing in recent years, bucking the downward trend experienced by the rest of the travel market.

In 2010, cruising accounted for 4.5 per cent of the foreign travel market for Britain and 11.5 per cent of the package holiday market.

So why do us Brits love cruising so much? Over half of us relish the chance of sightseeing in so many different places in one holiday, while 36 per cent are attracted by the all-inclusive deals.

Director of the PSA Bill Gibbons said: ‘The survey highlights why more cruise holidays are being taken by Brits than ever before – it’s an effortlessly way to visit many great destinations across the world while only unpacking once.’

NCL unveils more ‘Breakaway’ cabin designs

Posted on 14 September, 2011 by Spacejunkie2

NCL unveils more ‘Breakaway’ cabin designs

By Jerry Limone

Norwegian Cruise Line has unveiled more cabin designs for two ships scheduled for delivery in April 2013 and April 2014.The ships don’t have names yet, and Norwegian is calling the venture “Project Breakaway.”

Similar to the balcony and mini-suite cabins revealed this summer, other cabins “combine the form and function of the line’s Jewel-class ships’ staterooms with the modern and contemporary design touches of the Norwegian Epic,” Norwegian said.

The 59 studio cabins on each ship will have a separate sink and shower to provide more personal space. Guests in studios will have private keycard access to an exclusive two-story lounge with a bar.

Twenty-eight spa balcony cabins and 20 spa mini-suite cabins will feature “tranquil spa decor” and will be adjacent to the spa and fitness center, plus offer complimentary access to the Thermal Spa Suite during operating hours, said the cruise line.
Breakaway studio
Oceanview cabins will have large windows. Of the 158 oceanview staterooms on each ship, there will be approximately 42 family cabins that sleep up to five guests.

Each oceanview family cabin will have a bathroom similar to the mini-suite: modern double sink, bathtub and second wardrobe for added storage.

The family mini-suites located on Deck 12 and 13 will feature all the attributes of the mini-suites and will be located near the children’s facilities. Some of these cabins will have bathtubs.

Each of the 449 inside cabins will have two lower beds that can be converted to a queen-size bed. Many cabins will be connecting and sleep up to four guests each, Norwegian said.

Each of the ships will have 4,000 passenger berths.

Norwegian Cruise Line ships to be named Breakaway and Getaway

Posted on 14 September, 2011 by Spacejunkie2

Norwegian Cruise Line ships to be named Breakaway and Getaway

By Donna Tunney

Norwegian Cruise Line has selected the names for its two new ships: Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway.

The Breakaway is scheduled to launch in April 2013, and the Getaway in April 2014.

The names were selected following a naming contest held in conjunction with USA Today.

Norwegian said it felt the selected names “best reflected the innovation of the brand along with the freedom and flexibility of the line’s signature Freestyle Cruising, and invoked the feeling that these ships will provide a ‘break’ at sea from the stress of everyday life.”

The contest winners are Kimberly Powell of Lafayette, La., who first submitted Norwegian Breakaway, and Dennis Hultman of Vienna, Va., who first submitted Norwegian Getaway.

Powell and Hultman each will receive a trip for two to Norwegian Breakaway’s inaugural festivities, including the christening ceremony (date and location to be determined).