The new megaships: wavy, crazy — and a little pricey
It’s a tale of two cruise lines, both with very different visions for their customers. Last week, Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line unveiled the latest onboard amenities for their new ships. What can customers expect? Would you believe a zip-line, ice bar, neighborhoods, curved staterooms, carousel and outdoor amphitheaters? And that’s just for starters.
Banned from Royal Caribbean for complaining too much
Somewhere between the plumbing problem, the locked balcony door, multiple complaint letters, and posting their cruise horror stories on the Internet, Royal Caribbean decided it could never do right by these passengers. So it told them to get out there — and to stay out! Think you can’t get banned from a cruise line? Meet the Morans.
Bigger is better: Britons get their Independence
Will the world’s largest cruise ship that spans four football fields, rises 15 stories high, and carries 4,328 people play in the UK? Royal Caribbean is betting big that the brand new Independence of the Seas will woo Britons with a jolly good cruise.
Judge upholds ruling in widow’s deal with cruise line
Judge upholds ruling in favor of widow’s out-of-court settlement with Royal Caribbean for $1 million.
Ship of fools
Crazy about Elvis? Looking for a Star Trek fix? Want to shimmy bare-naked under the stars? Believe it or not, you can indulge these passions — and a host of others — on a cruise vacation. In honor of April Fools’ Day, Anita Dunham-Potter gives you four of the craziest theme cruises to hit the high seas.
Recession? Not for the cruise industry
Cruise line executives speaking at the annual Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention in Miami last week presented a surprisingly rosy outlook despite record oil prices and the U.S. economy’s bleak outlook. Still, with 36 new ships to be delivered within the next four years they can’t afford to feel any other way.