9 New Ships for 2010
Cruise lines want to wow you with their latest seagoing amenities
By Alexis Hilts
Cunard Line
If you want to be among the first guests to sail one of these vessels, book your passage soon, because inaugurals tend to sell out quickly. If you're not in such a hurry, though, consider a cruise that departs a few weeks after the ship's scheduled debut; this gives the new onboard staff a chance to work out any hiccups in service.
To reserve a cabin on one of this year's nine brand-new vessels, call (800) 338-4962 or visit Vacations To Go.
Costa Deliziosa
Costa Cruises
2,260 passengers
Devised as an ode to the senses, the Costa Deliziosa will be the flagship of the Costa Cruises fleet, along with its sister ship, the Costa Luminosa.
Dana Dominici, Costa's North American director of public relations, says the decor is her favorite element of the 92,600-ton Deliziosa. "The design is really something incredible because of all the different luxurious materials featured on board." It's these decadent materials -- various types of marble, granite, mother-of-pearl, Murano glass, refined zebrano wood -- that set the ship apart, she says.
Passengers can satisfy their taste buds with Italian cuisine created by Michelin-starred restaurateur Ettore Bocchia. A 4-D theater gives vacationers the ultimate sensory experience with 3-D visuals, seats that roll in tandem with on-screen action and sounds and smells that add further dimension to a show.
Other entertainment highlights include a golf simulator featuring 37 world-famous courses, a Grand Prix racing simulator and a PlayStation gaming area. For cultivated tastes, there's a cigar lounge and piano bar.
The Deliziosa sets sail on Feb. 5 from Savona, Italy, for its sold-out, 20-night maiden voyage, stopping at ports in Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Guests on this trip get the added bonus of attending an inaugural ceremony and celebration gala dinner at their final destination, Dubai.
The ship travels in the Middle East through late May. It then spends the summer in Scandinavia and Russia and fall in the Mediterranean.
MSC Magnifica
MSC Cruises
2,550 passengers
Adding another layer of harmony to the Musica class, MSC debuts its newest sophisticated ship, the 93,330-ton Magnifica.
Luxury and wellness combine in one of the ship's standout features, the Aurea Spa. Guests can unwind with a Balinese massage or in the solarium and Turkish steam baths. Three pools are available, one with a retractable sunroof for all-weather swimming.
Elegant Italian selections in the ship's trattoria and Chinese dishes in the Shanghai restaurant (found only here and on one other MSC ship, the Opera) are highlights of Magnifica's gourmet dining options. Several bars and lounges offer spots to sip and relax, including a coffee bar, an Internet cafe and a new themed sports bar, L'Olimpiade.
The vessel debuts on March 7 with a 13-night cruise from the German port of Bremen to the water-laced Italian city of Venice. Stops include Amsterdam, Lisbon, Barcelona, Naples and Dubrovnik. The Magnifica then will sail seven-night Mediterranean trips.
Azura
P&O Cruises
3,100 passengers
This spring, British cruise operator P&O introduces its latest state-of-the-art liner, the Azura. Unique elements on board include the Planet Bar, where a large plasma screen displays man-made and natural wonders from around the globe.
Here, guests can try specialty cocktails like the Asian-inspired "Fruit of the Sun," which combines vodka, coconut, mango and passion fruit, or the "African Sky," a mix of orange juice, honey and gin infused with the fruit of the baobab tree and Cape gooseberries. Another special touch is The Retreat, where vacationers are pampered while lounging on an open-air spa terrace.
You can sample Indian and British fusion cuisine designed by award-winning chef Atul Kochhar in a restaurant called Sindhu, and enjoy courses paired with wine selected by expert sommelier Olly Smith in the Glass House. Both Kochhar and Smith are scheduled to be aboard for part of Azura's inaugural sailing.
Adding appeal both for singles and families, the 115,000-ton ship boasts the fleet's first single staterooms as well as activities for children and a night nursery, allowing parents to set aside an evening for themselves.
Azura makes its maiden voyage on April 12, sailing round trip for 16 nights from Southampton, England, and visiting Spain, Greece, Croatia, Italy and Gibraltar. After a season in Europe, it cruises 14-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Barbados, starting in mid-November.
Celebrity Eclipse
Celebrity Cruises
2,850 passengers
Celebrity Cruises will shine the spotlight on its newest star and the third ship in its Solstice class: the Eclipse. Like its celestial sisters before it -- the Solstice and the Equinox -- this brand-new vessel will offer the industry's latest design innovations, including a series of onboard solar panels.
Another novelty offered on the 122,000-ton Eclipse is the half-acre Lawn Club on the top deck, where passengers can play croquet or enjoy the feel of real grass as they stretch out under the sky. And creative types might relish the opportunity to watch professional artists in the onboard glassblowing studio.
Looking to enhance its accommodations, Celebrity asked five women, dubbed "Celebrity's Leading Ladies," to make suggestions. Comprised of an experienced cruiser, a hotelier, a travel agent, a travel writer and a potential cruiser, the group gave input that influenced the design of staterooms aboard the Solstice-class ships. Among improvements are subdued color palettes, smarter storage and larger bathrooms.
Ten restaurants will offer a variety of cuisine, ranging from savory European fare at Murano to lighter options offered at the Mediterranean-themed Blu and the AquaSpa cafe.
Be among the first to experience the Eclipse on April 29 as the ship makes a four-night round trip from Southampton to Cork, Ireland. First-year itineraries include cruises to European ports from London, followed by trips to the Caribbean, Honduras and Mexico from Miami.
Seabourn Sojourn
The Yachts of Seabourn
450 passengers
Intimacy is not usually the first word that comes to mind when thinking of a cruise ship. But Seabourn has perfected the art of luxury small-ship cruising, and its newest ship, the 32,000-ton Sojourn, is set to grace the open seas in June.
The Sojourn's 225 suites come with ocean views (most have verandas), customized treats in the bar and refrigerator and a personal steward ready to draw a scented bath or sprinkle the bed with rose petals on request.
A two-deck spa offers a range of treatments such as aromatherapy, seaweed wraps and Thai massage. The Spa Villas add an element of extravagance. Each of the 750-square-foot private treatment areas has a double bed lounger, dining area, two massage beds, terrace, separate shower and bathtub big enough for two. Guests can book a Spa Villa for half a day.
Onboard diversions include movies screened under the stars, cards in the casino or cabaret in the Grand Salon. A built-in marine platform lets guests swim, snorkel, kayak and water ski right from the ship.
The Sojourn debuts with a 14-night voyage on June 6 from London to Scotland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Holland. It sails in Europe through October, then moves to Fort Lauderdale, FL, for a series of Caribbean cruises. In January 2011, the ship embarks on a 99-night world cruise.
Norwegian Epic
Norwegian Cruise Line
4,200 passengers
Living up to a name like Epic is a challenge that Norwegian Cruise Line seems willing to accept. With unprecedented entertainment options and flexible dining, this cutting-edge, 153,000-ton liner gives guests an experience centered around choice, and plenty of it.
Epic's entertainment lineup is impressive. Celebrity tribute artists impersonate the talents of Elvis, Rod Stewart, Madonna and other big names for "Legends in Concert," while acrobats add theatrics to the evening meal at "Cirque Dreams and Dinner." The Blue Man Group will also be on board, performing at sea for the first time.
The only thing rivaling the ship's bill of eclectic shows is its list of culinary selections. A steak house, a French bistro, a New York-inspired supper club, a Hibachi restaurant and a sushi place are some of the vessel's 20 dining venues. Unusual attractions abound for kids and adults alike -- there's a bar made of ice, a 200-foot-long tube slide, two bowling alleys and a sake bar, to name a few.
The Epic launches with a weeklong trans-Atlantic trip from Southampton to New York City, departing June 24. The ship will be homeported in Miami for seven- and 14-night cruises to the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America.
Nieuw Amsterdam
Holland America Line
2,106 passengers
Holland America's newest ship sports a venerable old name: Nieuw Amsterdam. "This name has a rich heritage in our company, with this ship being our fourth in 137 years. We are proud to extend this illustrious ship name to our current fleet," says Stein Kruse, president and CEO of the cruise line.
The first vessel bearing the namesake launched in 1906, with sails and steam engines. The 2010 ship will be powered by six diesel generators and use the latest propulsion technology.
Aboard the 86,000-ton Nieuw Amsterdam, passengers can learn cooking techniques from chefs in the Culinary Arts Center; keep up with the news, check e-mail or select a book from the library in the coffeehouse-style Explorations Cafe; or create a vacation scrapbook in the digital workshop.
Glass elevators with outside views transport cruisers among 11 decks featuring a spa, salon, a kids' club, a hangout for teens, private cabanas and various lounges and restaurants.
The Nieuw Amsterdam will start its 10-night maiden voyage on July 4 in Venice, heading to ports in Croatia, Greece, Montenegro and Italy. Following an inaugural season in the Mediterranean, the ship sails weeklong itineraries from Fort Lauderdale to Caribbean islands like Grand Turk, Grand Cayman and St. Maarten, starting in November.
Queen Elizabeth
Cunard Line
2,092 passengers
Cunard's ships have been setting sail for almost 170 years. The operation that began with a contract in 1839 to deliver the mail from Britain to North America has expanded to a cruise fleet claiming the "most famous ocean liners in the world." The latest addition will be the Queen Elizabeth, which looks to blend traditional and modern elements for its guests.
Many features on the 90,400-ton ship reflect its British heritage. The Garden Lounge is inspired by Kew Gardens, while the ornate ballroom is the site of tea and cucumber sandwiches in the afternoon and dancing at night. The Games Deck offers croquet and table tennis in an atmosphere reminiscent of an English country garden.
Guests may even get a glimpse of a famous face. Previous Cunard ships have transported members of the royal family, politicians, diplomats and renowned artists of all kinds. Princess Diana, Nelson Mandela, Elton John, Dean Martin, Tom Clancy, Ginger Rogers and Elizabeth Taylor have all been passengers.
The Queen Elizabeth's inaugural Oct. 12 Mediterranean journey is sold out, but there's still availability on subsequent Med sailings from Southampton. On Jan. 5, 2011, the Queen Elizabeth begins a 103-night world cruise.
Allure of the Seas
Royal Caribbean International
5,400 passengers
Arriving on the heels of its sister ship, Oasis of the Seas, the Allure of the Seas is the largest of 2010's newest cruise options, weighing in at an impressive 220,000 tons. Royal Caribbean's latest seafaring marvel is this year's heavyweight to beat, with 16 decks and seven distinct neighborhoods: Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone.
Exceptional attractions include a park containing more than 12,000 plants and trees, a hand-carved carousel, an 82-foot zip line, a full production of Broadway's "Hairspray" and a cocktail lounge called Rising Tide that moves vertically between decks. Guests can enjoy an acrobatic high-dive performance, record a music video or watch ice-skaters act out popular fairy tales. There are 24 dining venues, from a cupcake shop and ice cream parlor to a Tuscan trattoria and upscale grill.
Another perk of traveling on the Allure of the Seas? The ship has the closest thing to an apartment on the ocean -- a two-story loft suite with floor-to-ceiling windows.
The Allure of the Seas kicks off its inaugural season on Dec. 12 with a weeklong cruise from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. It will remain homeported in the Florida city, alternating this itinerary with another that visits Jamaica, the Mexican island of Cozumel and Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private beach retreat.
The information in this story was accurate at the time it was published in January/February 2010.
Please visit Vacations To Go or call (800) 338-4962 for current rates and details.