Preview: RCI Genesis Class

The announcement of Royal Caribbean’s new Genesis class of ships has caused many to speculate “what will they come up with this time?” Rock climbing walls, an ice skating rink, surfing and a boxing ring were all cutting edge features of their Freedom class ship. So what’s in store? Royal Caribbean gives us a preview!
In its latest evolution in cruise ship design, Royal Caribbean International's Project Genesis will bring the best of the land to sea with Central Park, a revolutionary design in which the center of the ship opens to the sky and features lush, tropical grounds spanning the length of a football field. An exquisite public gathering place featuring serene pathways, seasonal flower gardens and canopy trees, Central Park will provide cruisers with more choices in a unique outdoor space. The area will be lined with balcony staterooms and restaurants. Dining options will include elegant dinner at the new 150 Central Park or a picnic lunch from the more casual Central Park Café, where they can sit outdoors and people-watch. Other dining choices will include: Giovanni's Table, an Italian restaurant; Vintages wine bar; and Royal Caribbean's signature Chops Grille steakhouse. Several bars will be scattered throughout the Park, including the Canopy Bar, located at one of two impressive glass-domed canopies, and the unique Rising Tide bar - the first moving bar at sea. Truly an engineering feat, Rising Tide will span three decks and allow cruisers to enjoy a cocktail as they slowly ascend into Central Park and then descend back into the public spaces below. Central Park also will have stylish boutique shops, showcasing a selection of upscale merchandise.

Spring Preview

Hey cruisers! Coming soon is a brand new destinations section on all your favorite caribbean ports! Here's a preview of what you can expect. Enjoy!

Ocho Rios once relied on fishing and banana boats to fuel its economy. But now it is the daily arrival of cruise ship passengers and the all-inclusive hotels that keep the coffers full all along the northeast coast of Jamaica. Although Kingston is the capital and the largest city in Jamaica, cruise ships no longer call there and hence it doesn't attract the visitors that Ocho Rios does. There is plenty to see and do in between bathing and sun-worshipping on the magnificent beaches. Climbing up waterfalls, horseback riding through sugar cane plantations, or taking afternoon tea at the former home of British playwright/songwriter, Noel Coward are just a few diversions that await.
Ocho Rios is home to many exciting attractions. Reggae lovers can visit the Bob Marley Mausoleum, the famed singer/songwriters grave site. Adventure seekers can climb the world famous Dunn’s River Falls. The waterfall cascades down 600ft (183m) forming cool pools among slippery rocks, and a favorite tourist pursuit is to clamber to the top of the falls with a guide, and enjoying being splashed by cold, clear mountain water en route. There’s a restaurant on the beach below to rejuvenate weary climbers.

Another big draw is Jamaica’s most prominent natural attraction, the caves on the island’s north coast, between Ocho Rios and Montego Bay. Just a few kilometers from Discovery Bay and Runaway Bay, the huge labyrinthine limestone major cave located here is 5,003ft (1,525m) long and characterized by stalactites, stalagmites, overhead ceiling pockets, numerous chambers, light holes, and a deep subterranean lake.

Increased Security at Port Canaveral

Sailing out of Port Canaveral this year? Due to the higher security measures at this port, you may want to leave extra time for boarding. The Transportation Security Administration has announced that they plan to increase the screening at the port. As reported in the Orlando Sentinel, TSA has assembled a team of security specialists from federal and local agencies who will be randomly deployed at the port to more heavily screen passengers and their bags.
"One day we might have on-site an expert on fraudulent documents and another expert on behavior," a TSA official told the paper. "The next, we might have none or we might have 10 other experts. The idea is to keep things random and unpredictable."
Currently, Port Canaveral is the third busiest cruise port in the US. These security measures may translate into longer check-in lines at the port, so plan accordingly

A Worthy Cause

Our team at CruiseJungle is proud to announce our support for a very deserving charity. Now when you sign up for our CruiseFlash newsletter CruiseJungle makes a direct contribution to the Fisher House Foundation. The Fisher House is a well respected charitable foundation that provides free housing for families of veterans that are undergoing treatment at VA hospitals throughout the country. The organization builds, furnishes and equips multi-bedroom houses located adjacent to VA medical facilities where the families can reside, at no charge, while their loved ones receive extended treatments there. Each Fisher House is designed to allow its guest to remain together in a family-like environment. To date, the foundation, working through a private-public partnership, has constructed 38 houses across the country and since 1990 has saved veteran’s families an estimated $100 million in housing expenses.
How can you help? Visit www.VoyagesForVeterans.com and sign up for our newsletter! Once the ball is rolling we'll also be working with our cruise line partners on developing a series of cruise departures that trigger a direct contribution from the cruise lines for identified bookings as a well as specific cruise departures that raise funds on board. Helping your community has never been easier!

Exciting News from NCL

We've been hearing alot about NCL's new program, Freestyle 2.0 and we're happy to say that the details of the program have been released. Here's what you can look forward to on your upcoming NCL vacations

The rollout of Freestyle 2.0 will start on Norwegian Jade's first Mediterranean cruise on March 30, and go fleetwide by June 1.

The enhancements include:
* Freestyle Dining: a welcome aboard glass of bubbly; new menus with expanded choices in every restaurant; lobster in the main restaurant twice per cruise and in every specialty restaurant every night of the cruise; Steak & Eggs Breakfast Feast in Teppanyaki restaurant with unlimited Bloody Mary's and mimosas; Lavazza coffee in all Java Cafes and top suites; and a signature specialty dish in every restaurant.

The action station restaurants will include chocolate fountains and also receive plasma menu boards, a world-class salad bar, soft serve ice cream machines, and improved service and nighttime ambiance with tablecloths and candlelight.There will also be a new and expanded room service menu.

* Stateroom Experience: Elemis bathroom amenities; memory foam mattress toppers; pillow upgrade and addition of Euro pillows to all beds; upgraded linens; all beds will receive a top sheet; expanded mini-bar options and item customization option; and upgraded room service menus.

* Balcony and Mini Suites, all of the above plus: bathrobes; customized fruit menu; fresh-baked cookie at turndown on last night of cruise; escort to stateroom on embarkation day; special color keycard; priority restaurant reservation and reception hotlines.

* Suites and Villas, all of the above plus: NCL branded bedding collection; upgraded mattress, linens and feather pillows. upgraded sofa bed; MP3 Player connections; pillow menu; plush bathrobes; customized fruit menu; customized canapé menu; turndown cookie last night of cruise; personal escort to stateroom on embarkation; bottle (or half bottle depending on category of suite) of Moet Chandon White Star Champagne upon embarkation; priority restaurant reservation and reception hotlines; special color keycard for ship-wide recognition; VIP Breakfast & Lunch in Cagney's; private Breakfast & Lunch with action station set-up in Courtyard for Villa Guests; dedicated Butler in Courtyard.

* On-board activities: an enhanced educational, entertainment and lifestyle program - NCL "U" - offering a range of new classes in humor hosted by Second City; food, wine and spirits; destination education and digital technology. The library transformed into a coffee shop atmosphere with an honor system for book borrowing; complimentary coffee and tea; plasma screens (muted) broadcasting news. Enhanced nightlife with new party experiences, such as NCL's White Hot party and NCL's Monte Carlo night.

An enhanced Pool Deck experience with relaxing ambient music; drink flags on all deck chairs; pool of indulgence - Evian sprits, cold towels, etc.; quiet zones and times.

Freeestyle 2.0 will also incude X-box game consoles in video arcades; expanded and increased flexibility of Kids Crew hours; and enhanced Teen Centers.

New in Luxury

Here’s some news for those of you who enjoy sailing the seven seas on the smaller luxury cruise lines. Silversea’s has announced that it’s first all suite ship will be named the Silver Spirit. Currently under construction, the ship will hold 540 guests and is scheduled to make her appearance in 2009.
Silversea’s has also announced some enhancements to this ship that are not featured in the current fleet. There will now be a supper club, an Asian-themed restaurant and an extended spa. And let’s not forget all 260 ocean view suites as well as their popular Silver Suites, Verandas, Grand and Owner’s suites.
Looks like an exciting addition to Silversea’s already well known and praised fleet of luxury liners!

Europe All Year Long

Looks like NCL has found a place for their recently homeless Pride of Hawaii. In a press release they have anncounced the following:

NCL Corp. will, for the first time in the company's 41-year history, deploy a ship year-round in Europe. The 2,400-passenger Norwegian Jade (formerly the Pride of Hawaii) will sail a variety of itineraries in Europe year-round, extending its inaugural season in Europe that begins on March 30. The ship will now remain in Europe full time through to the spring of 2010 instead of the current seasonal deployment that was to end in November. As part of this year-round deployment, NCL is introducing three new itineraries all roundtrip from Barcelona -- 12-day Eastern Mediterranean sailings, nine-day Canary Islands and Morocco sailings, and a 14-day Eastern Mediterranean holiday cruise. "We've seen strong growth in Europe and Freestyle Cruising has been a big success with our European guests," said Colin Veitch, NCL's president and CEO. "Norwegian Jade has been very well received in her first season, and our full three-ship fleet in Europe is doing so well that we are now confident in committing a ship year-round to this strongly growing market."Norwegian Jade's new European sailings from November through April 2009 go on sale March 3. The balance of the new deployment through to spring 2010 will be opened for sale shortly thereafter. Norwegian Jade's new 12-day Eastern Mediterranean cruise includes stops in Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Ephesus (Izmir), Turkey; an overnight in Alexandria, Egypt; and Valletta, Malta. Highlights of the nine-day Canary Islands and Morocco itinerary include five ports of call: Casablanca and Agadir, Morocco; Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands; Funchal, Madeira; and Granada (Málaga), Spain.

Looks like they have a solid plan going. And it might be nice to travel to europe in the off-season and miss all the crowds that europe's summer is known for.