Miami to Get Ships with Lips

AIDAvita, AIDAmar to Homeport in South Florida

An erroneous press report announced that the AIDAvita and the AIDAmar would home port in Tampa for several months each in the near future.

Here is the correct information:  Tampa will NOT be the home port for the two German cruise ships.  MIAMI WILL.

Cruise Ships in Miami, By Marc Averette, via Wikimedia Commons

Tampa will, however receive several port of call visits from the ships, as will Key West, New Orleans, and Port Canaveral.    Other destinations that will see the smiling ships sail into their harbors during the time they are in the Americas include San Juan, Cozumel, Tortola, and Nassau.

All in all, they sound like some pretty interesting itineraries.

The AIDAvita is due to arrive in Miami on December 4 of 2014, after a transatlantic crossing, and visits to New York City and Port Canaveral.  She'll stay on 'this side of the pond' through late February of 2015.

The following December, the smile of the AIDAmar will call Miami home for a short winter season.

Happy Halloween, Fellow Cruisers

Halloween is Everywhere, Including the High Seas

photo © CruiseReady, 2013

All Hallows Eve is one of the times during the year that bring out the special decorations on cruise ships.

Here's a look at some Halloween decorations on a ship.  It's the giant grim reaper and his ghost friend that have been haunting the centrum of the Enchantment of the Seas this month.

For a perspective of just how big he is, notice the chair at the lower right of the photo.  That's not a toy or prop, it's some of the regular person sized seating.

Last month, I wrote a little bit about what it's like to spend Halloween at sea, in a post called Spookiness on the Seas.  If you choose to go cruising during October, and especially on the 31st, you just may be treated to quite a few sights that you wouldn't see in April or June, and not all are courtesy of the cruise line.  Some of the passengers tend to get into the spirit of the holiday, as well.

Unusual Ship Sightings at Port Canaveral

 AIDAluna Calls on the Space Coast

It's not often we get to see a German based cruise ship here at Port Canaveral.  But, we were fortunate enough to  be at Jetty Park for one such sighting just a few days ago.

Aidaluna leaving Port Canaveral (photo © CruiseReady, 2013)

The colorful livery of AIDA Cruises was hard to miss as AIDAluna set sail from B Terminal 4, for points north.  Those trademark red lips, with the yellow and blue eyes close behind certainly make a colorful statement.   Built in 2009, she carries about 2100 passengers.


AIDA Cruises, based in Rostock, Germany is one of a number of brands operated by the Carnival Corporation.

There had been at least one previous visit, but we were unable to make it over to see her at that time.  So, we were happy to be able to arrange our schedule to allow us to see her on this visit, and snap a picture of her for you.

If you'd like to see her in person, she's scheduled to visit one more time, on Saturday, November 2, from 7 am until 6 pm.

Welcoming You to Port Canaveral

New Port Canaveral Welcome Center to Open Soon

Nearly Complete Welcome Center, seen from the North
(photo ©CruiseReady, 2013)

Port Canaveral's new Welcome Center is set to open soon - during the first week of November, to be more precise.

The seven story facility is envisioned as the centerpiece of a completely redeveloped area to welcome cruise ship passengers, and other visitors to the Space Coast.  There's already a small new lake to the east of the center. Additional plans are for an outdoor amphitheater, as well as new places to shop and eat.

It's seven stories high, and reports are that, from the indoor and outdoor observation decks, there's a great view of the port area, including the entire length of the channel, from the cruise ship berths all the way to the ocean.  That's something I'm anxious to see.  I'll bet you can see the vehicle assembly building at Kennedy Space Center, too.  Should make for some great picture taking.

It will house historic information, interactive exhibits, a cafe, gift ship, and auditorium.

One of those interactive exhibits is one I'm sure cruisers will be anxious to try.  It lets you pilot a cruise ship through the Canaveral Channel.  How cool is that?

More news after the actual opening.

Veendam, Quest, NCL Star, Heading to Mazatlan

Three Cruise Lines Recommence Mazatlan Visits

By Antonio peraza (Own work),
via Wikimedia Commons

It's been well over two years since the cruise ships stopped calling at the port of Mazatlan, Mexico.  The hiatus was precipitated by incidents in which bandits robbed cruise passengers tour groups at gunpoint.

The city, on Mexico's central western coast, just ESE of the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, went to work to clean itself up, and earn back the tourist dollars so vital to its economy.  There's been a crackdown on crime, and new safety measures, including the installation of numerous security cameras.

They've also built a new "tourism corridor" that runs from the port to historic Old Town Mazatlan, at a cost of three million dollars.

All this is beginning to convince a few cruise line executives, and three lines have already put Mazatlan on their itineraries:

• Holland America Line (HAL) will re-commence calling there in early November as part of their Hawaiian cruise round trip from San Diego, as well as a number of Mexican Riviera cruises and a couple of Panama Canal trips, all on the Veendam.
• NCL sends the  Norwegian Star there once again, beginning in December, for Mexican Riviera, Canal Transits, and even as part of a crossing.
• Azamara's Quest has a single visit scheduled for February, as part of a twelve night voyage that departs Los Angeles on January 29.

It will be interesting to see how long it takes Carnival, Princess, and Royal Caribbean to follow suit.

Meanwhile, those on the ships that will be visiting there can once again enjoy

Cliff Diver photo, Kfengler,
via Wikimedia Commons

touring the beautiful 1875 church in the center of town, and watching the cliff divers plunge into the sea from near the lighthouse that was once the highest in this hemisphere.  (Note:  The divers actually work for tips!)

The lighthouse, El Faro, has a beacon that can be seen for 30 nautical miles... watch for it as your ship approaches the harbor.  It's now only number five in height, as four others in the Caribbean sit on even higher ground, but it's still a point of interest, dating back to 1879.

There are also a number of area beaches, shopping, sport fishing, a tour of the Pacifico Beer Brewery, and opportunities for bird watching for those interested in other activities.

Cruise Ship Comes To Aid Of Tour Vessel At Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve | National Parks Traveler

 Statendam Photo by Saberwyn ,
 via Wikimedia Commons

Cruise Ship Comes To Aid Of Tour Vessel At Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve | National Parks Traveler

Love stories like this!

It's the story of an excursion boat, with about 100 aboard, stranded in a remote Alaskan waterway.  HAL's Statendam, which was in the area, dispatched lifeboats, and took on everyone from the smaller vessel, then delivered them safely to their originating location.

(to read more, follow the above link)

Bravo, Statendam!

Carnival Sunshine Christening Scheduled

Godmother Lin Arison to Christen Sunshine

Photo credit: Piergiuliano Chesi , via Wikimedia Commons

Formerly the Carnival Destiny, the refurbishment of this ship has been so extensive that the  Cruise Line has deemed it appropriate to rechristen the vessel with a new name.

Although the ship is currently sailing the Med under her new name, she will officially be christened at New Orleans, LA, on November 17.   The re-positioning cruise departs from Barcelona on November 1.

Doing the honors at the official ceremony, which is by invitation only, will be the ship's godmother, Lin Arison, wife of Carnival's founder, Ted Arison (1924-1999).  

After gracing the Big Easy with her presence for several months, Sunshine will then home port in Port Canaveral, effectively switching places with the Dream, which will move to New Orleans.

Jewel of the Seas - Fabulous!

Jewel of the Seas in Key West

We recently had the pleasure of spending a few days on Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas.  It was a long overdue respite from ... well, stuff.

And what a pleasure it was!  She's a beautiful ship, from bow to stern, with a fabulous crew.   (I couldn't say enough good things about the crew, even if I tried!)

It was our first time on the Jewel, but not our first cruise on a Radiance class ship.  We'd previously cruised on a couple of her sisters, Radiance and Serenade.  That particular class of ships is something special.

After our sailing, the Jewel left the Port of Tampa for a new home in San Juan, and I know she'll be missed.

Late this year, the Brilliance of the Seas will be moving to Tampa to take over the same itinerary.  Odds are, we'll be sailing on that ship, too.  Tampa's an easy port to sail out from.  Not quite as easy for us as Port Canaveral, but a LOT more stress free than either Ft. Lauderdale or Miami, both of which are quite crowded, resulting in a much longer boarding and disembarkation process.  And RCL's choices of itineraries from there include 5 night cruises, which are the perfect compromise between a weekender and a week long voyage.

So, if you're looking for a short, but not too terribly short, cruise out of a less crowded port that's easier to navigate, on a beautiful ship that's not a behemoth, you might want to consider the Brilliance when she begins sailing from the only cruise port on Florida's west coast, beginning in November of 2013.

Cruise Ships Board on Pinterest

Just a quick note to share my Cruise Ships pin board on Pinterest with my cruising friends.  Enjoy!

Do you have a cruise related pin board?  If so, please feel free to leave a comment so everyone can find you!

The RMS Queen Mary

RMS Queen Mary Vintage Passenger Ship

by evolveshop

The RMS Queen Mary left Southampton on her maiden transatlantic voyage 76 years ago today.  She was one of Cunard White Star's elegant Queens of the Ocean, and won the hearts of people around the world.  She also earned an honored place in history, serving the cause of freedom in World War II. Read more about the Queen Mary, and two other famous ships whose collective carreers spanned generations, in Queens of the Ocean Past.

Maiden voyage of the RMS Queen Mary:  May 27, 1936 - Southampton to New York.

Side by Side

Radiance of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas,

docked side by side

I am SO ready to cruise! 

It will be a while, though . . .

A Valentine's Day Treat for Cruisers

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Island Princess - one of the stars of
Love Boat

Especially for my cruising friends ... here's a nostalgic little treat for your Valentine's Day pleasure. 

Find it at Love Boat, Starring Pacific Princess, and Island Princess

It's a virtual visit back in time to TV's Love Boat.  Come with me and see what it was like aboard the Island Princess and Pacific Princess in their days as "The Love Boat," complete with pictures from a friend who honeymooned aboard during filming!  (Deck plans, too!)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

(Yes, I know this is a little early, but I wanted you to have it

 in time for you to share it with your special someone)

You might also enjoy:

Nautical Trinket Boxes and Nautical Jewelry Boxes

MV Freewinds

Here's a photo I took of the MV Freewinds several years ago in Barbados.

A little bit of her history:

She sailed the Caribbean, under charter to Commodore, as the Boheme from 1968 - 81, and was the first ship to sail a year-round seven night itinerary from Miami.

Between 1981 and 1985, she was under new ownership, but was again chartered out in 1982-83 for South American itineraries.

Following a refit, she again homported in Miami in 1984, and then in St. Petersburg until late 1986, when she was sold.

Today, she is owned and run by companies connected with the Church of Scientology, and is used as a floating platform for their educational programs.

Custom Cruise Themed Postage

Cruise lovers can spice up their routine mailings with cruise themed postage stamps like these from CruiseReady on Zazzle:



A Treat for Cruise History Lovers

I've been perusing a very interesting website this morning, and wanted to pass it along, in case there are others out there who might also enjoy. It's a real treat for anyone who enjoys maritime history.

It's Cruising the Past and has an amazing amount of information, including pictures and video about the great passenger ships that have sailed into history. The header of the site proclaims that it's an "Award Winning Cruise Ship, Ocean Liner, Travel, and social History Website."

Cruising the Past certainly has my vote, and if I had an award to give it, I would!

About Cruise Ship Swimming Pools

Here's a link to a little article I wote about Cruise Ship Swimming Pools that my readers might find interesting.

It includes a pretty amazing video showing acrual breakers in the pool as a ship sails through high seas.  This, alone, is really quite something!

I'd love your thoughts on the article linked above...  there's a place at the bottom for your comments, and your visit and comments would be greatly appreciated.

New in May: Pets at Sea from Royal Caribbean

If you're cruising Royal Caribbean, and your party includes a child or two, get ready for their new "Pets at Sea" program, which the youngsters are going to LOVE!

Pets at Sea

Your child will get to choose from a variety of different species of pets (not-yet-stuffed animals), stuff it in a special 'stuffing machine,' dress it, and name it.  And, here's really cool part - after attaching the animal to the stuffing machine to 'bring it to life,' they are given a small star.  They make a wish, then tuck the star INSIDE the newly stuffed toy. 

According to the cruise line, they'll be available fleetwide beginning this month.

Price?  You can pre-order a pet with one outfit for $29.95 on Royal Caribbean's website.  (with two outfits, the price is  $42.90.)  But, I'm sure there will be plenty available once you board. 

Actually, it looks and sounds like fun, and I'm willing to bet that there will be a lot of adults who will want one, too.

 

Ecstasy to Homeport at Port Canaveral

Sailing from Port Canaveral by CruiseReady

The Carnival Ecstasy will be added to Port Canaveral's fleet of homeported cruise ships on November 7, 2011. This will mean that Carnival will be sailing three ships year-round from Florida's Space Coast. She'll be joining her sister antasy class ship, the Carnival Sensation, and the much larger and newer Carnival Dream.

This is good news for our area, and we need it, because of the wind-down of America's manned space-flight program at the cape, and the accompanying reduction of the work force and Kennedy Space Cener.

NEW ITINERARIES!

The Carnival Ecstasy will offer some new short (four and five night) cruise itineraries that cruisers should find interesting.

FOUR NIGHT itineraries will call at the ports of Nassau and either Half Moon Cay or Freeport, departing each Thursdays.

FIVE NIGHT cruises will visit Nassau, Freeport and either Half Moon Cay or Key West, sailing on various Mondays and Saturdays.

The community here will be pleased to welcome this new addition to our home fleet, and smile as we wish Bon Voyage to cruisers experiencing this "new" ship and her new itineraries.

For more about Port Canaveral and some of  the cruise ships homeported there, see Two Dreams Come to Port Canaveral. 

Additional articles on cruise ships and cruising