As promised, I will be compiling my list of Good News contributions.
Please feel free to add yours by adding a comment at the end!
GOOD NEWS ONLY PLEASE!
1. Got a call from my son today and we are going to have another grandchild due at Christmas!!!!!!!! Yipeeeee. That's number 6.
Valerie DeGray
2. My son, Ryan, just took his 1st driving lesson today and did a fantastic job! He’s a cautious kid and he will be a great driver.
I booked a wonderful trip to Spain recently for 3 family members traveling together at the end of June, 2008. I have an inquiry in a villa/vacation rental in Ireland for one of my past clients. I wrote an article for an adventure travel company that was sent out to their data base of hundreds. Hopefully, this will give me some business.
I returned from my Italy and Greece vacation about a month ago and had a fabulous time. I look forward to giving you all a short presentation at our next TPV meeting so I can share everything about it with you. In our industry – there’s nothing like first hand experience to then impart to your client’s….Just remember…don’t give away the farm – you are a consultant and you deserve to get paid for your time and knowledge of destinations.
I gave my 10 minute presentation to my business networking group yesterday and created interest from one member wanting to go to Australia and another member requesting help for his daughter’s honeymoon next year.
Every week I try to call at least 10 past clients just to ‘touch base’ and keep my name in front of them so they will remember me next time they are ready to go on vacation.
That’s my good news for now. More next time!
Jan Mauer
3. What a great idea to have something good to read instead of the usual depressing stuff.
I am continuing to recover nicely from my spinal fusion surgery (March 5) and have been back to my full time job at the high school for a month now. My son got married on May 17th!!! It was an absolutely beautiful garden ceremony and the reception was so much fun. Now my full attention is on my daughter's upcoming wedding which is planned for March 28, 2009.
Once again I was elected to be a NJ representative for the National Education Association. Each year our annual meeting is hosted by a different state, this year it is in Washington, DC. It lasts for a week and is always over the Fourth of July. I am going to go a day early so that I can try to sightsee a bit while there.
I have 2 small groups cruising on RCCL this month. I am working currently working on putting together some excursions for my annual November cruise group. I am planning the Pre-cruise party and transportation for this group as well. Although I escort this group each year, which is work, it is lots of fun, too.
Cathy Pietras
4. Good News from the business front:
a. Michael Jordan Travel is ceasing operations. Guess they couldn’t recruit enough minority franchisees to make it work
b.. Carnival is reducing their Personal Vacation Planner Program, therefore leaving more open for travel agent sales.
5. Good news........I only have to work one day at my other job next week because the doctor will be on vacation (normally I work Wed and Thurs).........tomorrow Tommy and I are going to the city to see "Young Frankenstein", matinee, and we will walk around, have dinner, probably find an Irish pub like Kennedy's or the Pig 'n Whistle (he can only handle one Guinness, maybe two, poor boy)...........we got a new washer and dryer, front loaders, hopefully we'll save on water and electric..........even though my usual clients are not booking now, it has given me time to devote to other things..........I am thankful for air conditioning and ceiling fans............Tommy and I are going to St Lucia the end of July because I won 6 nights there............these may seem trivial (maybe not the last one) to some, but they are important to me!
--
Mary McGrath
6. On a personal note: Praise God my stitches from the Carpal Tunnel Surgery came out Tuesday. The doc said if I keep exercising the way I have, I will not have to go to physical therapy. Yeah! Each day or two, I get a little more movement & strength in my hand. The really cool news is that the pain is gone from my right hand. That is truly amazing! (and I have not had to wash a dish in a few weeks.) I am scheduled for my left hand's surgery on the 26Th of June. Then I will really be out of commission. Oh no! Erin will really be in trouble. Anyone for the beach? Let me know. I will be ready by July 1 and don't have to return to work til August. Come on down! Erin graduated from Stockton College with her Bachelors in Social Work. She is off to Stony Brook University on Long Island in August to work on her Masters in Social Work.
On a business note: Since I have been home on disability I have booked 4 cabins on Carnival for August. They are past clients who enjoyed their cruise and are looking forward to going this year. Last time they cruised, one person in the group won the BINGO Jackpot. I also have been approached to do some meeting planning work. Who says people aren't traveling? I am looking forward to the October Sail Promotion TPV will be putting out. I am getting my client mailing list cleaned up and ready to go.
Karen Haber
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Review of the Fairmont Mayakoba, Riviera Maya
Tommy and I stayed at the Fairmont Mayakoba from May 12 - 17th. When we arrived we were given a beach bag filled with two large beach towels, sunscreen, and a one time use digital cameras. We were escorted to our casita suite which has large sliding doors which open to a corner balcony overlooking the swim-up pool bar. Room amenities include comfortable Fairmont beds and expansive bathrooms, each with a soaker tub, double sinks, and a separate glass-walled shower stall. There were robes and slippers for our use, and a refrigerator in the room.
There was a hospitality suite set up and if there was anything we needed, all we had to do was ask. The hospitality desk was set up each day for us and staffed by the members of Gray Consulting which is a travel agency located in Pennsylvania that specializes in meetings such as this. Their staff arrived about 3 days prior to our arrival and they had people who stayed until the last of us left. Many people had either arrived early or stayed a few days later. This was a top notch company and they worked hand in hand with "Destination Mexico" , a local company that helped coordinate our stay and excursions.
The property is beautiful with the buildings set amidst the lush greenery with winding pathways throughout. To get to the beach guests can take a ride in one of the golf carts that services the resort, ride a bike provided by the Fairmont, or walk, however, the walk was about 25 minutes from our room. There is also boat service on the resort property.
This trip was a company trip for Tommy, so we were with 100 other sales reps and their guests. The first night we had dinner on the open grounds, buffet style, with a band playing in the background. The next morning's breakfast was at the same place. Tommy's company always has something planned so they can give back to the local community. We received bandanas in our rooms Monday night with instructions to bring them to breakfast Tuesday morning. When we arrived to breakfast, we were told to find our tables by matching our bandanas with the one displayed on the tables. There were twenty tables in all, with ten people at each table. We had breakfast and enjoyed meeting other people whom we had never met. After breakfast we were given instructions that we would be having a scavenger hunt. Each couple had a particular mission and when we were finished we were to gather back at our tables. The point of this was that we were all finding parts to a bike which we then had to assemble and decorate. There would be a contest at the end to see which bikes would win for the decorations. We also had a time limit. It was early in the morning when we started, but around 10 am when we finished. Boy, did it get hot!! Our bike came in second place for the decorations. But here is the best part...the bikes were being donated to a local orphanage and they had brought all twenty orphans there to receive their bikes. It was very heartwarming to see how happy they were to get their brand new bikes.
Tuesday afternoon we each had a stone massage at the Willow Stream Spa. The spa is 37,000 square feet and features 20 treatment rooms including a unique couple's suite in the treetops, plus two mineral pools and steam rooms. There is also a full-service fitness center, complete with classes, and a beauty salon. The spa was beautiful, with a separate men's and women's area, as well as a co-ed area. Our massages were great, very relaxing, and afterwards we had some tea while relaxing by the large picture window overlooking the outdoor area to the spa. Remember to get your massage early in your stay before getting sunburned!
There is an 18 hole par 72 golf course on site as well. Our excursions were paid for - we had three that we could choose and there was quite a variety from which to choose.
Tuesday evening we all went to the awards dinner held in a cave at Xcaret Eco Park. When we arrived we were greeted with mango cosmos, beer, or soda, and hors d'oeuvres. We were treated to a Mayan ceremony complete with the Mayan costumes and body painting. Then we made our way down to the cave which is just above the underground river. Dinner and the awards were very nice, and there was also a band that played for the evening. We were bussed back to the resort afterwards,
Wednesday we spent most of the day at the beach after breakfast. There are four restaurants on the property as well as a lounge in the main building and a small cafe where you can get a sandwich or a snack. The property is not an all inclusive like most of the resorts in the Riviera Maya. Breakfast was wonderful each day. You had a choice of the breakfast buffet or ordering off the menu. The buffet included an omelet station, made to order waffles, and many Mexican specialties as well as the traditional breakfast fare Americans are used to eating. The wait staff are very eager to learn your name and very pleasant to get to know. The entire hotel staff couldn't have done more for us. One woman who ran one of the restaurants made reservations for us in Playa del Carmen.
The beach is very large; the Fairmont owns acres and acres of property and the beach is very private. The sand was soft and very white, not hot at all although it was about 93 degrees each day (avg temp in May is usually mid-80s). The staff comes around to you while you are on the beach and sets up chairs, brings you drinks and food. The water was a bit rough most of the week. We went in the water but not too far. There is an infinity pool right by the beach as well. Along the beach there are large villas with their own plunge pools. The villas are larger than our house!
Wednesday evening we took a catamaran sunset sail followed by dinner when we returned. The boat was nice, and it was a fun ride with the water as choppy as it was. We had drinks on the boat with some small snacks. Two mackerels were caught while we were out to sea. The crew cooked dinner on the grill when we returned.
Thursday we spent the day back at Xcaret Park. This was our second time there during the day and we still haven't seen it all. You can swim with the dolphins there as well as visit the butterfly farm, tour the graveyard, see a show during the day and at night, swim in the underground river, visit the aquarium, see the animals (tapirs, jaguars, deer), snorkel and snuba, or just relax and enjoy! There are several restaurants and entertainment while dining. In the evening, we all went to the beach dinner where we were served traditional Mexican cuisine.
Friday we went to the beach again and in the evening ten of us went in to Playa del Carmen for dinner and to just walk around. It was about a 15 minute ride from our hotel. This was our last night there and we were so sorry to see it end.
There was a photographer named Ken who spent the week with us taking pictures. Each night when we returned to our room we had some sort of treat: chocolate tower; margarita mix and chips with salsa and guacamole, and two souvenir margarita glasses; a shirt for Tommy and a pareo for me. The last night we came in to our room and there was, already set up, a digital picture frame showing all the pictures of us that had been taken during the week.
Good thing there was a scale in the bathroom because we weighed our luggage and had to rearrange a couple of times so we would not be over the 50 lb limit.
I would highly recommend this property. It is not for someone who wants an all inclusive. It is for someone who wants to get away from all the hustle and bustle of daily life, who wants to be treated like royalty. There were children there, but I would not really consider this a resort for children. Most children would probably be bored because there weren't many others to play with and there is no formal kids club. This is a great resort for couples, honeymooners, those who like privacy and luxurious accommodations.
(Pictures coming soon!)
There was a hospitality suite set up and if there was anything we needed, all we had to do was ask. The hospitality desk was set up each day for us and staffed by the members of Gray Consulting which is a travel agency located in Pennsylvania that specializes in meetings such as this. Their staff arrived about 3 days prior to our arrival and they had people who stayed until the last of us left. Many people had either arrived early or stayed a few days later. This was a top notch company and they worked hand in hand with "Destination Mexico" , a local company that helped coordinate our stay and excursions.
The property is beautiful with the buildings set amidst the lush greenery with winding pathways throughout. To get to the beach guests can take a ride in one of the golf carts that services the resort, ride a bike provided by the Fairmont, or walk, however, the walk was about 25 minutes from our room. There is also boat service on the resort property.
This trip was a company trip for Tommy, so we were with 100 other sales reps and their guests. The first night we had dinner on the open grounds, buffet style, with a band playing in the background. The next morning's breakfast was at the same place. Tommy's company always has something planned so they can give back to the local community. We received bandanas in our rooms Monday night with instructions to bring them to breakfast Tuesday morning. When we arrived to breakfast, we were told to find our tables by matching our bandanas with the one displayed on the tables. There were twenty tables in all, with ten people at each table. We had breakfast and enjoyed meeting other people whom we had never met. After breakfast we were given instructions that we would be having a scavenger hunt. Each couple had a particular mission and when we were finished we were to gather back at our tables. The point of this was that we were all finding parts to a bike which we then had to assemble and decorate. There would be a contest at the end to see which bikes would win for the decorations. We also had a time limit. It was early in the morning when we started, but around 10 am when we finished. Boy, did it get hot!! Our bike came in second place for the decorations. But here is the best part...the bikes were being donated to a local orphanage and they had brought all twenty orphans there to receive their bikes. It was very heartwarming to see how happy they were to get their brand new bikes.
Tuesday afternoon we each had a stone massage at the Willow Stream Spa. The spa is 37,000 square feet and features 20 treatment rooms including a unique couple's suite in the treetops, plus two mineral pools and steam rooms. There is also a full-service fitness center, complete with classes, and a beauty salon. The spa was beautiful, with a separate men's and women's area, as well as a co-ed area. Our massages were great, very relaxing, and afterwards we had some tea while relaxing by the large picture window overlooking the outdoor area to the spa. Remember to get your massage early in your stay before getting sunburned!
There is an 18 hole par 72 golf course on site as well. Our excursions were paid for - we had three that we could choose and there was quite a variety from which to choose.
Tuesday evening we all went to the awards dinner held in a cave at Xcaret Eco Park. When we arrived we were greeted with mango cosmos, beer, or soda, and hors d'oeuvres. We were treated to a Mayan ceremony complete with the Mayan costumes and body painting. Then we made our way down to the cave which is just above the underground river. Dinner and the awards were very nice, and there was also a band that played for the evening. We were bussed back to the resort afterwards,
Wednesday we spent most of the day at the beach after breakfast. There are four restaurants on the property as well as a lounge in the main building and a small cafe where you can get a sandwich or a snack. The property is not an all inclusive like most of the resorts in the Riviera Maya. Breakfast was wonderful each day. You had a choice of the breakfast buffet or ordering off the menu. The buffet included an omelet station, made to order waffles, and many Mexican specialties as well as the traditional breakfast fare Americans are used to eating. The wait staff are very eager to learn your name and very pleasant to get to know. The entire hotel staff couldn't have done more for us. One woman who ran one of the restaurants made reservations for us in Playa del Carmen.
The beach is very large; the Fairmont owns acres and acres of property and the beach is very private. The sand was soft and very white, not hot at all although it was about 93 degrees each day (avg temp in May is usually mid-80s). The staff comes around to you while you are on the beach and sets up chairs, brings you drinks and food. The water was a bit rough most of the week. We went in the water but not too far. There is an infinity pool right by the beach as well. Along the beach there are large villas with their own plunge pools. The villas are larger than our house!
Wednesday evening we took a catamaran sunset sail followed by dinner when we returned. The boat was nice, and it was a fun ride with the water as choppy as it was. We had drinks on the boat with some small snacks. Two mackerels were caught while we were out to sea. The crew cooked dinner on the grill when we returned.
Thursday we spent the day back at Xcaret Park. This was our second time there during the day and we still haven't seen it all. You can swim with the dolphins there as well as visit the butterfly farm, tour the graveyard, see a show during the day and at night, swim in the underground river, visit the aquarium, see the animals (tapirs, jaguars, deer), snorkel and snuba, or just relax and enjoy! There are several restaurants and entertainment while dining. In the evening, we all went to the beach dinner where we were served traditional Mexican cuisine.
Friday we went to the beach again and in the evening ten of us went in to Playa del Carmen for dinner and to just walk around. It was about a 15 minute ride from our hotel. This was our last night there and we were so sorry to see it end.
There was a photographer named Ken who spent the week with us taking pictures. Each night when we returned to our room we had some sort of treat: chocolate tower; margarita mix and chips with salsa and guacamole, and two souvenir margarita glasses; a shirt for Tommy and a pareo for me. The last night we came in to our room and there was, already set up, a digital picture frame showing all the pictures of us that had been taken during the week.
Good thing there was a scale in the bathroom because we weighed our luggage and had to rearrange a couple of times so we would not be over the 50 lb limit.
I would highly recommend this property. It is not for someone who wants an all inclusive. It is for someone who wants to get away from all the hustle and bustle of daily life, who wants to be treated like royalty. There were children there, but I would not really consider this a resort for children. Most children would probably be bored because there weren't many others to play with and there is no formal kids club. This is a great resort for couples, honeymooners, those who like privacy and luxurious accommodations.
(Pictures coming soon!)
US Airways Vacations Letter Regarding Commission Structure
Dear Travel Professional:
As the airline industry continues to face unprecedented increases in fuel expenses year over year, we find ourselves in a position where we must make changes to the commission structure at US Airways Vacations. Effective for all bookings beginning July 1, 2008 regardless of travel date, the new US Airways Commission Structure will be as follows:
Package Type
Domestic: International: Groups:
Call-in...4% 9% 10%
Electronic...7% 12% N/A
Commission-Choice Call-in...11% 16% 17%
Commission-Choice Electronic...14% 19% N/A
Please note that US Airways Vacations still offers full commission on all US Airways air components booked as part of a package and we treat all air segments as “bulk air” with no caps or specific classes of service needed to receive commission. Included with this change, we are realigning our product commissions. All domestic destinations including Hawaii are now part of the domestic product commission schedule and all international destinations will be paid on the international product schedule.
Along with the commission change, we will be extending the reach of our call center booking fee to include travel agents. This fee has been in effect for direct consumers for over a year now. As of July 1, 2008 any FIT booking that originates from our call center will be assessed a $25 per person commissionable fee for domestic bookings and a $35 per person commissionable fee for international bookings. Groups of 10 or more will not be charged a fee.
US Airways Vacations recognizes the travel agent community as a vital part of our business and we have resisted making these changes for as long as we possibly could. We continue to need your support and will continue to offer great Travel Agent oriented programs such as:
Exclusive All-Bulk Air – full commission on all US Airways air components booked in our packages, with bulk air terms and conditions all the time.
Commission Choice – the ability to build in a slight increase to your package price and reap the benefit of commissions up to 19%.
Exclusive WaiverPlus– our exclusive WaiverPlus protects your clients in the event of cancellation for any reason up until midnight prior to departure. Access America then takes over for issues on the day of travel and during travel. And, since we have all-bulk US Airways air, this waiver protects the US Airways air component all the time, every time!
Exclusive US Airways Vacations Certified program – Visit tauniv.com and take our exclusive training course so you are eligible for bonus commissions, product incentives and even our annual $25,000 Las Vegas Scavenger Hunt! All of our special incentives are only open to our certified agents.
Information on these and other US Airways Vacations travel agents programs are posted at usvtravelagents.com. Please check back regularly for the most up-to-the-minute news about USV specials and travel agent incentives.
Again thank you for your continued support, we look forward to more prosperous times ahead.
Cheers,
Chris AmesSenior ManagerUS Airways Vacations
Jackie MinchukNational Sales ManagerUS Airways Vacations
If you have any questions, call us at 800-455-0123.
As the airline industry continues to face unprecedented increases in fuel expenses year over year, we find ourselves in a position where we must make changes to the commission structure at US Airways Vacations. Effective for all bookings beginning July 1, 2008 regardless of travel date, the new US Airways Commission Structure will be as follows:
Package Type
Domestic: International: Groups:
Call-in...4% 9% 10%
Electronic...7% 12% N/A
Commission-Choice Call-in...11% 16% 17%
Commission-Choice Electronic...14% 19% N/A
Please note that US Airways Vacations still offers full commission on all US Airways air components booked as part of a package and we treat all air segments as “bulk air” with no caps or specific classes of service needed to receive commission. Included with this change, we are realigning our product commissions. All domestic destinations including Hawaii are now part of the domestic product commission schedule and all international destinations will be paid on the international product schedule.
Along with the commission change, we will be extending the reach of our call center booking fee to include travel agents. This fee has been in effect for direct consumers for over a year now. As of July 1, 2008 any FIT booking that originates from our call center will be assessed a $25 per person commissionable fee for domestic bookings and a $35 per person commissionable fee for international bookings. Groups of 10 or more will not be charged a fee.
US Airways Vacations recognizes the travel agent community as a vital part of our business and we have resisted making these changes for as long as we possibly could. We continue to need your support and will continue to offer great Travel Agent oriented programs such as:
Exclusive All-Bulk Air – full commission on all US Airways air components booked in our packages, with bulk air terms and conditions all the time.
Commission Choice – the ability to build in a slight increase to your package price and reap the benefit of commissions up to 19%.
Exclusive WaiverPlus– our exclusive WaiverPlus protects your clients in the event of cancellation for any reason up until midnight prior to departure. Access America then takes over for issues on the day of travel and during travel. And, since we have all-bulk US Airways air, this waiver protects the US Airways air component all the time, every time!
Exclusive US Airways Vacations Certified program – Visit tauniv.com and take our exclusive training course so you are eligible for bonus commissions, product incentives and even our annual $25,000 Las Vegas Scavenger Hunt! All of our special incentives are only open to our certified agents.
Information on these and other US Airways Vacations travel agents programs are posted at usvtravelagents.com. Please check back regularly for the most up-to-the-minute news about USV specials and travel agent incentives.
Again thank you for your continued support, we look forward to more prosperous times ahead.
Cheers,
Chris AmesSenior ManagerUS Airways Vacations
Jackie MinchukNational Sales ManagerUS Airways Vacations
If you have any questions, call us at 800-455-0123.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
RCI Oasis of the Seas- WOW
Royal Caribbean Debuts New "Neighborhoods" on Oasis
Published on: June 19, 2008 -- advertisement --
Royal Caribbean International introduced its latest amenities planned for its newest ship, Oasis of the Seas. Launching in late 2009, Oasis of the Seas will be the world's largest and most revolutionary ship, with a total capacity of roughly 6,300 passengers (third and fourth berths included). The company, which in April debuted a Central Park running down the center of the ship, yesterday unveiled the Boardwalk, a space for families inspired by the nostalgic seaside piers of yesteryear, plus the first amphitheater at sea, AquaTheater, which will celebrate water with the largest freshwater pool found on a ship offering a full spectrum of activities and performances for guests. Central Park, the Boardwalk and AquaTheater will all be located on one deck, with AquaTheater in the stern. In addition, a new version of the Royal Promenade will allow guests to have a physical connection with the neighborhood above, Central Park, as natural light cascades down from the sky through the Crystal Canopy sculptured glass domes.
Reminiscent of the piers that dot the coast of England and amusement parks such as Coney Island, the elements of Boardwalk will engage the entire family in classic fun with eateries, retail outlets and carnival games. An original, handcrafted carousel -- the first at sea -- will be the centerpiece of this neighborhood. Two rock-climbing walls and the first zip-line at sea will be suspended nine decks above the Boardwalk. AquaTheater, created to offer two unique experiences, will allow guests to swim in the theater's magnificent kidney-shaped pool, relax on sun loungers located on tiered platforms surrounding the pool, and even take Scuba lessons in the afternoon. At night, the venue will deliver a complete sensory experience playing on the element of surprise as audience members witness the area come alive with theatrical performances featuring dramatic acrobatics, synchronized swimming, water ballet, and professional high-diving, as well as elaborate fountain shows synchronized to music and lights.
Royal Caribbean also introduced a series of industry-first loft suites offering expansive ocean views and luxury amenities. The 28 contemporary two-level loft suites will feature vibrant, ocean-inspired colors in a sophisticated and spacious setting. The lofts will feature spectacular views of the ocean with floor-to-ceiling, double-height windows. The signature lofts will round out a new portfolio of 37 categories of accommodation options, many with views unique to Oasis of the Seas, such as Central Park and the Boardwalk. "We are particularly excited about the neighborhood concept, which gives guests compelling choices and the ability to flow seamlessly throughout the ship to meet their individual desires and preferences," said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Additions to Royal Promenade, the heart of the ship, will include a mezzanine level that overlooks the main promenade below. The Royal Promenade will be home to a vast array of shopping, dining and entertainment options including the Rising Tide bar, the first moving bar at sea, which will traverse three decks and allow cruisers to enjoy a cocktail as they slowly ascend into Central Park. A focal point will be a giant copper globe sculpture built into the facade above the Globe, and Atlas Pub, which will "crack open" to create a spectacular, surprise element for guests, as it unfurls on hinged hydraulics and becomes a bridge platform for performances. Other options include the Schooner Bar and Champagne Bar; the new Mondo Coffee Bar; Focus, a photo shop and gallery; and the Boleros Latin dance club.
"Royal Caribbean is proud to introduce a number of industry firsts on a level and scale that the world has never seen before," said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "Oasis of the Seas is the ultimate expression of the creativity and imagination found on all of our ships, providing guests with a collection of experiences that will offer an incredible cruise vacation.
When she launches in December 2009, Oasis of the Seas will be the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship in the world. She will span 16 decks, encompass 220,000 gross registered tons (GRT), carry 5,400 guests double occupancy, and feature 2,700 staterooms. Oasis of the Seas will be the first ship to tout the cruise line's new neighborhood concept of seven distinct themed areas, which includes Central Park, Boardwalk, and the Royal Promenade. The ship will sail from her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.
Published on: June 19, 2008 -- advertisement --
Royal Caribbean International introduced its latest amenities planned for its newest ship, Oasis of the Seas. Launching in late 2009, Oasis of the Seas will be the world's largest and most revolutionary ship, with a total capacity of roughly 6,300 passengers (third and fourth berths included). The company, which in April debuted a Central Park running down the center of the ship, yesterday unveiled the Boardwalk, a space for families inspired by the nostalgic seaside piers of yesteryear, plus the first amphitheater at sea, AquaTheater, which will celebrate water with the largest freshwater pool found on a ship offering a full spectrum of activities and performances for guests. Central Park, the Boardwalk and AquaTheater will all be located on one deck, with AquaTheater in the stern. In addition, a new version of the Royal Promenade will allow guests to have a physical connection with the neighborhood above, Central Park, as natural light cascades down from the sky through the Crystal Canopy sculptured glass domes.
Reminiscent of the piers that dot the coast of England and amusement parks such as Coney Island, the elements of Boardwalk will engage the entire family in classic fun with eateries, retail outlets and carnival games. An original, handcrafted carousel -- the first at sea -- will be the centerpiece of this neighborhood. Two rock-climbing walls and the first zip-line at sea will be suspended nine decks above the Boardwalk. AquaTheater, created to offer two unique experiences, will allow guests to swim in the theater's magnificent kidney-shaped pool, relax on sun loungers located on tiered platforms surrounding the pool, and even take Scuba lessons in the afternoon. At night, the venue will deliver a complete sensory experience playing on the element of surprise as audience members witness the area come alive with theatrical performances featuring dramatic acrobatics, synchronized swimming, water ballet, and professional high-diving, as well as elaborate fountain shows synchronized to music and lights.
Royal Caribbean also introduced a series of industry-first loft suites offering expansive ocean views and luxury amenities. The 28 contemporary two-level loft suites will feature vibrant, ocean-inspired colors in a sophisticated and spacious setting. The lofts will feature spectacular views of the ocean with floor-to-ceiling, double-height windows. The signature lofts will round out a new portfolio of 37 categories of accommodation options, many with views unique to Oasis of the Seas, such as Central Park and the Boardwalk. "We are particularly excited about the neighborhood concept, which gives guests compelling choices and the ability to flow seamlessly throughout the ship to meet their individual desires and preferences," said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Additions to Royal Promenade, the heart of the ship, will include a mezzanine level that overlooks the main promenade below. The Royal Promenade will be home to a vast array of shopping, dining and entertainment options including the Rising Tide bar, the first moving bar at sea, which will traverse three decks and allow cruisers to enjoy a cocktail as they slowly ascend into Central Park. A focal point will be a giant copper globe sculpture built into the facade above the Globe, and Atlas Pub, which will "crack open" to create a spectacular, surprise element for guests, as it unfurls on hinged hydraulics and becomes a bridge platform for performances. Other options include the Schooner Bar and Champagne Bar; the new Mondo Coffee Bar; Focus, a photo shop and gallery; and the Boleros Latin dance club.
"Royal Caribbean is proud to introduce a number of industry firsts on a level and scale that the world has never seen before," said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "Oasis of the Seas is the ultimate expression of the creativity and imagination found on all of our ships, providing guests with a collection of experiences that will offer an incredible cruise vacation.
When she launches in December 2009, Oasis of the Seas will be the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship in the world. She will span 16 decks, encompass 220,000 gross registered tons (GRT), carry 5,400 guests double occupancy, and feature 2,700 staterooms. Oasis of the Seas will be the first ship to tout the cruise line's new neighborhood concept of seven distinct themed areas, which includes Central Park, Boardwalk, and the Royal Promenade. The ship will sail from her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.
NCL's new nightlife on their F3 ships
From Miami chic and Ibiza style to Las Vegas flair and the luxury of the Rivera, the nightclubs on the new F3 ships will create never-before-experienced nightlife at sea.
There are five new nightlife venues on F3, including the industry’s first true Ice Bar, inspired by the original Ice Bars and Ice Hotels in Scandinavia, it’s the ultimate chill; POSH Beach Club, a first of its kind beach club at sea that offers an exclusive, adults-only setting on the ship’s highest deck; Halo, the Uber Bar, an exclusive private lounge with Mediterranean flare combined with the sizzle of South Beach and the luxury of the Rivera in the ship-within-a-ship villa complex; Bliss Ultra Lounge – hailing the return of the only bowling alley at sea, this hotspot is more than a lounge, it’s simply striking; and Spice H20, our adults-only complex, located at the back of the ship on decks 15 and 16, features a huge screen displaying vibrant video images combined with dynamic music to create a truly unique experience, day or night. With these signature outlets, NCL’s nightlife experience will rival even Vegas’ energy and passion for nighttime entertainment.
Every experience on board will be completely unique. What’s unconventionally extraordinary about these spaces is that they will have multiple uses – sunning, bowling, dining and of course, party playgrounds.
There are five new nightlife venues on F3, including the industry’s first true Ice Bar, inspired by the original Ice Bars and Ice Hotels in Scandinavia, it’s the ultimate chill; POSH Beach Club, a first of its kind beach club at sea that offers an exclusive, adults-only setting on the ship’s highest deck; Halo, the Uber Bar, an exclusive private lounge with Mediterranean flare combined with the sizzle of South Beach and the luxury of the Rivera in the ship-within-a-ship villa complex; Bliss Ultra Lounge – hailing the return of the only bowling alley at sea, this hotspot is more than a lounge, it’s simply striking; and Spice H20, our adults-only complex, located at the back of the ship on decks 15 and 16, features a huge screen displaying vibrant video images combined with dynamic music to create a truly unique experience, day or night. With these signature outlets, NCL’s nightlife experience will rival even Vegas’ energy and passion for nighttime entertainment.
Every experience on board will be completely unique. What’s unconventionally extraordinary about these spaces is that they will have multiple uses – sunning, bowling, dining and of course, party playgrounds.