News from Buy The Sea for Feb. '11
WOW! So much has happened in the cruise and resort industries and it’s time for an update!
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Paradisus
In the Fall of 2011 two new Paradisus Resorts will open in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. One designed for exclusively for adults and one specifically with families in mind.
The Adults Only Paradisus Playa del Carmen will include 534 suites, 122 of which are Royal Service and two Presidential; six restaurants, five bars and a signature Gabi Beach Club. While the Family Paradisus Resort will feature 325 suites including two Presidential suites-most notably 120 Family Concierge suites which allow for two & three bedroom suite configurations, unique in catering to the luxury family segment. The hotel will feature five restaurants and four bars in addition to a Gabi Beach Club and a Kid's Zone.
Both resorts will share a 20,000-square-foot YHI Spa and Health Club and more than 12,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. Each resort will also feature dramatic free form pools and artful landscapes.Seabourn
If you have not seen the Seabourn Legend, Pride and Spirit in a long time – now is your opportunity to revisit them. Their multi-million dollar overhaul is truly spectacular. Not a detail was spared. These 208-passenger boutique ships are fresh and beautiful. All public spaces have been redone with rich and elegant colors – both in the carpet and the furnishings. This is an example of a true refit and not just a “sprucing up”. If you have a group that is the right size to charter one of these vessels….RUN..don’t walk and have a look. You will be pleasantly surprised to see what can be done to update ships that are 20 years old and look as good as the day they were delivered.
Disney Dream
Yes, she has finally arrived…the beautiful Disney Dream. Yes – she is the PERFECT ship for families. The children’s programming and facilities are in line with what you would find onboard RCCL’s Oasis and Allure – making all of these products the best in the business for “child play.” The Disney Dream takes kids to the highest level – in all age categories up to seventeen! Going into the teen lounge made me want to go back to high school. The technology is unmatched with every imaginable “toy” and diversion – from movies to computers to i-pod stations and much more. Tweens have their own space too. The younger kids will never want to go home – as the largest investment has been made for the three to ten set with a science lab, Andy’s Room (from Toy Story), a Karaoke Theater and endless possibilities. Several rooms to live out their wildest dreams – complete with special rotating hand washing machines when they get dirty! Even I had to try it out.
That said…this is definitely a ship where adults (with or without kids) can have a blast! The Aqua Duck water coaster is a fantastic diversion. Similar to the Crush and Gusher at one of Disney’s water parks, this ride is a fast wet fun time. One or two passenger rafts take you around (and over the side) of the ship through see-through tubes. Internal “escalators” push you up the hills, while you sit back and enjoy yourself! Fun for “kids” of all ages.
Although guests dine in each of three main restaurants for dinner, you can choose the adult-only alternatives for an additional cost. For $20, Palos provides an intimate setting and delicious Italian cuisine. For $75, enjoy the meal of a lifetime in Remy’s – for outrageous French fare. An additional $99 gets you wine courses to go with your dinner. If you are a fan of chef’s like Daniel Bouloud, Thomas Keller and the like…this is your kind of place.
For very casual dining, head up to Cabanas for a well-stocked and very fresh buffet, or visit several “windows” on the deck for pizza, burgers, salads, sandwiches, Ice cream and other usual “Boardwalk” foods to keep you happy between meals.
Looking for an adult-time at night – then head to “The District” where you can “lounge-hop” – from an 80’s disco to an upscale champagne bar to a sports pub to a piano bar and more. Something for everyone and every taste. During the day, adults can enjoy their own coffee lounge which is adjacent to the spa and an exclusive pool and Jacuzzi area. And of course on Castaway Cay – you can head to the adult-only Serenity beach!
Keeping in mind that Disney is, after all, an entertainment company – the shows are fun, clean and packed with talented performers. There are various singers and bands throughout the ship for different tastes. This is the ONLY ship afloat that shoots off a full fireworks show one evening during a special Pirate Night event out on deck – complete with Jack Sparrow!
The cabins are spacious and well-equipped. I want to make special note of the portable phones (two in every cabin) that help you connect with your guests while onboard. Additionally it is important to know that the cabins feature FIXED “kween” beds….which fall someone in size between a king and a queen. Additional passengers are berthed in pull out and pull down twins. Interior cabins feature television screens in the shape of a porthole window. On this screen you can see real time outdoor views. No more wondering if it’s sunny or not! Ingenious!
The Disney Dream sails out of Port Canaveral on three and four night cruises in the winter and four and five night cruises in the summer.
Celebrity Cruises
First, Celebrity has named the fifth ship in their Solstice-class, the Celebrity Reflection. We await the arrival of this new ship in 2012 and this year we welcome the Celebrity Silhouette!
Onboard Reflection, Celebrity will introduce the line’s first AquaClass Suites, each offering 251 square feet of luxurious interior space and spacious 57-square-foot verandas, and all the amenities associated with Celebrity’s AquaClass accommodations, including exclusive and complimentary access to the highly-rated specialty restaurant, “Blu,”. The new suites also will offer the luxurious 24/7 butler service that is a hallmark of every suite across the Celebrity fleet.
In addition to the 34 new AquaClass Suites, Celebrity Reflection will have an additional eight luxurious new Sky Suites, 19 additional plush ConciergeClass staterooms, and 11 additional inside staterooms, bringing the stateroom/suite total to 1,515.
We have found that Celebrity offers extremely competitive pricing in the “big ship” market – yet offers so many more creature comforts, delicious food in all venues – including the buffet and exceptional service. This is a terrific option for incentive groups who want an upscale experience on a modest budget.
NCL
Norwegian Cruise Line announced the completion of their first phase of enhancements at Great Stirrup Cay, the line’s 250-acre private island in the Bahamas. On Thursday, February 3, the company opened the new marina and dining facility on the island, representing a significant milestone in the more than $20 million enhancement project currently underway. Norwegian Sky’s 2,000 guests were the first to experience the opening of the marina basin with four docks for the island’s tenders and the new 8,500 square foot dining facility, complete with two bars and four picnic pavilions.
The marina is home to the island’s four tenders. The dining facility includes a central pizza making station, two grills, hot and cold food stations, as well as fresh fruits and breads. There are two full bars on either side of the facility for added convenience. The four pavilions offer picnic tables with a total seating capacity for more than 500 guests.
Enhancements to Great Stirrup Cay will continue through the end of this year. Several new island activities have been added since the project began including more than 16 wave runners, kayak rentals and an eco-adventure boat tour around the island. These are in addition to the existing snorkeling; floats; inflatable hippo slide; and parasailing.
The second phase of enhancements includes an arrival/departure pavilion, additional bar facilities; several comfort stations; a band stand; cruise program activity area; private beachfront cabanas; a kid's play area; straw market; and beach volleyball courts. The beachfront will continue to be expanded on the island’s west end.
Additonally, NCL will build two new next generation Freestyle Cruising ships for delivery in spring 2013 and spring 2014, respectively. Each of the 143,500 gross ton vessels, will have approximately 4,000 passenger berths and a rich cabin mix. Additional details about each ship’s new and exciting features will be released as construction progresses.
The Company took Freestyle Cruising to the next level with the introduction of Norwegian Epic in June 2010. The 4,100 passenger vessel has been called the “entertainment ship” with a variety of shows and venues that trump land-based resorts like those found in Las Vegas. Headliners include Blue Man Group, Cirque Dreams™ & Dinner, Legends in Concert, The Second City® Comedy Troupe, Howl at the Moon Dueling Pianos and Slam Allen Blues Band. In addition, the ship features Nickelodeon™ at Sea as part of its wide-range of family offerings. Further innovations include the largest spa at sea, the first true ice bar at sea and The Studios, which are staterooms designed and priced for solo travelers, along with The Villas, the largest suite complex at sea.
AmaWaterways
A new ship, the AmaCerto is arriving in 2012! The ship will begin sailing on seven night Danube itineraries from April through November 2012. AmaCerto will carry 164 passengers in 82 staterooms. Many cabins have twin balconies (a French balcony, plus a walk-out balcony) which is unique in river cruising. If you are looking for an upscale product on which to sail the inland waterways of Europe – take a moment to look at AmaWaterways. Fine cuisine, excellent service, spacious staterooms, wine with dinner, and all tours included – make this product an excellent choice for incentive travel.
The Team at Buy The Sea
Shari Wallack, President
shari@buy-the-sea.com
Caryn Rosenthal, Vice President, Corporate Sales
caryn@buy-the-sea.com
Sandy Cohen, Vice President, Incentive Sales
sandy@buy-the-sea.com
