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October13, 2003 - 7 Seas Cruise News >> |
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Greetings, Cruise Fans, Welcome to another edition of the 7 Seas Cruise News, brought to you by Pat Crane, owner/operator of 7 Seas Cruises. Pat and I would really like to apologize to all of you for the difficulties we've had over the past four weeks. First, in the Baltic, when Holland America's Internet services proved to be less than reliable, and since our return to U.S. shores, with all the problems we've experienced with our cell phone and laptop connection as we whizzed down to Florida. You have been wonderful and patient! Let me assure you that the situation is corrected now. We are back home again with a real computer and real telephones! Pat is back in business and awaiting your call at 1-866-424-1090 toll-free in the U.S.. Or you can write him at cruiseplanners7seascruises@msn.com or visit the Website at www.7seascruises.com So, about this Florida thing. Pat and I drove down to have a look around the Boca Raton area and for me to have a final interview with Bluegreen Corporation. And, as of this morning, I accepted the position of Associate Creative Director for Bluegreen-effective October 6. Therefore, 7 Seas Cruises will be relocating to Boca Raton next month! Watch for more information here in the 7 Seas Cruise News about where, when and any changes in phone numbers, etc. We already have a mailing address: 1211 Royal Palm Road, Boca Raton, FL 33486. A special thank you to all of you who wished me well. All your good thoughts and good wishes worked! And now, some cruise news??¦ Carnival Miracle to Home Port in New York Carnival Cruise Lines will offer its first- ever program of seven-day cruises from New York to Port Canaveral/Orlando and The Bahamas in summer 2004 aboard the new 88,500-ton Carnival Miracle, currently under construction in Helsinki, Finland. On this new program, the 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle will depart the New York City Passenger Ship Terminal each Saturday from June 12 - Aug. 28, 2004, on week-long cruises to Port Canaveral/ Orlando, and Nassau and Freeport. Carnival Miracle will be the newest addition to the line's highly acclaimed Spirit-class which boasts the latest in technology and ship design providing the ultimate level of choice in dining, entertainment and accommodations. On June 12, 2004, Carnival Miracle will operate the first of 12 week-long cruises to Port Canaveral/Orlando and The Bahamas from New York. The seven-day voyages will include an extra-long, 14-hour call at Port Canaveral, Fla., offering guests ample time to visit the nearby Kennedy Space Center or enjoy an excursion to Orlando's popular theme parks and attractions. Also included are visits to Nassau and Freeport, both of which are home to gorgeous white-sand beaches and excellent shopping and watersports opportunities. Eighty percent of the ship's staterooms will offer an ocean view or ocean view with balcony. The vessel's interiors are inspired by famous fictional icons and include 16 lounges and bars. The ship will also feature four swimming pools, a jogging track, Internet café, wedding chapel, video arcade, and a multitude of fine and casual dining options, including a reservations-only supper club located at the uppermost level of a soaring 11-deck-high atrium. Also featured will be a 14,500-square- foot health club and a comprehensive golf program with professional instruction both aboard ship and during excursions. An 1,800- square-foot play area, part of the line's top- rated "Camp Carnival" program, will be included, as well. Prior to the start-up of its seven-day program from New York, Carnival Miracle will operate a special five-day Canada cruise June 7-12, 2004. Ports of call on this one-time voyage include Saint John, New Brunswick and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Princess Appoints Security Chief Commander Mark J. Gaouette has joined Princess Cruises as the line's director of security. In this position, he will oversee the security operations for Princess' fleet of 11 ships, which call at more than 260 ports around the world. Gaouette brings to Princess more than 20 years of active duty and reserve experience in the U.S. Navy as well as considerable background as a criminal investigator and force protection officer with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in San Diego. In addition, Gaouette has served as a special agent with the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security, with assignments as a Regional Security Officer at the U.S. Embassies in Bolivia, Nicaragua, Moscow, Beirut and Yemen. As Big As Some European Countries??¦ Building on the popularity and success of its Voyager-class ships, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today ordered an even larger model -- the Ultra Voyager -- for delivery in May 2006. Destined for the Royal Caribbean International fleet, the new ship will be built at Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Finland, continuing a shipbuilding tradition that produced five Voyager-class ships, two Vision-class vessels and four earlier ships. Roughly 15 percent larger than Voyager, the Ultra Voyager will be 126 feet by 1,112 feet, and will stand 18 stories high while cruising at approximately 22 knots. At 100 percent occupancy, it will carry 3,600 guests and 1,400 crew. The yard and cruise line signed a preliminary agreement last June, outlining the design and specifications of the new ship. This contract formalizes that agreement and results in a capacity growth of about 3% in each of 2006 and 2007. The company estimates total all-in costs to be just over $200,000 per guest berth. The yard also granted the company an option for a second Ultra Voyager, with a 2007 delivery date. As promised, I want to talk a little about each port that Pat and I visited when we cruised the Baltic on the Holland America Oosterdam, August 27 through September 12. Our first port of call was Oslo, Norway. From the time we tied up alongside a fascinating old castle called Akershus Slott, we knew Oslo was going to be some place special. The Slott dates from the 13th century, although Hakon Magnussen added a Renaissance-style palace as his residence a few hundred years later. The Slott invites exploration. From its battlements, you get a nice view of the harbor. Inside, you'll find the stirring Resistance Museum that chronicles the bravery and cunning of members of the Norwegian Resistance during the period of Nazi occupation during WWII. We were fortunate to be touring the museum at the same time as the British Foreign Secretary, so we were able to listen to the descriptions he was provided as he toured with body guards and security personnel. Besides the Resistance Museum, the other "must see" for Pat and I was the world-famous Viking Museum. The Vikingskipshuset features three 1100-year old Viking long boats used as tombs for Viking warriors and queens and found at the end of the 19th century buried in the clay bottom of the Oslofjord. Restored and explained in detail, the boats and the other objects found aboard are an amazing glimpse of a way of life lost in history. One of the nicest things about Oslo is how easy it is to explore on foot. Pat and I probably logged 2 or 3 miles in Oslo, to and from the easy-to-figure-out ferry to Bygdoy Island, climbing around the Slott and investigating downtown where we stopped for a Norwegian beer (quite tasty) at one of the city's many sidewalk cafes. Other recommended sights include the Norsk Folkemuseet (Norwegian Folk Museum), the Kon- Tiki Museum, and museums honoring the painter Munch-famous for "The Scream," and the playwright Henrik Ibsen. Sculpture fans won't want to miss Frogner Park, and Gustav Vigeland' s life work. Ship tours also visit a ski jump. We couldn't figure out why exactly, but the view from the mountainside must have been great. Overall, Oslo was expensive but friendly and easy to explore. This made it the ideal jumping off place for Scandinavia and the Baltic. English is widely spoken and ATM machines are easy to find in every 7-Eleven store. They dispense the Norwegian krone. You' ll want to get $30 to $50 in krone for museum entrances, souvenirs, a beer, soft drink or meal, and for ferry fare. Then, relax and say, "Bra!" (which is Norwegian for "good.") Until next week and more cruise news and a capsule visit to Arhus, Denmark, smooth sailing for one and all! Teri |
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