From The Deck Chair

Unique Cruise of the Week: Antarctica with Lindblad Expeditions

Aaron Saunders — Thu, 23 May 2013 07:00:01 +0000

If you’ve read this blog before, you’ll know that my ultimate, be-all-end-all, every-dream-has-come-true destination is Antarctica. But before you send me emails about how cold it is there, or question my sanity, let me explain: Antarctica has been the object of desire of countless rulers, leaders and explorers for longer than you or I have been on this earth.

Antarctica thrills the senses with its stunning scenery and abundant wildlife. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia / Creative Commons

It has born witness to both triumphant success and cruel failure. Consider the amazing fortunes of Ernest Shackleton, who defied the odds to lead his ill-fated Endurance expedition to safety after being beset by pack ice and driven from their ship. Now, contrast that with the horrifying demise of Robert Falcon Scott who, along with Henry Robertson “Birdie” Bowers, Doctor Edward Wilson and Lawrence Oates, froze to death in March of 1912 on his return from the pole.

Famously, Oates didn’t actually perish with Scott – he wandered into a raging blizzard in the middle of the polar darkness, hoping to not weigh his companions down with his declining health.

Who sails to Antarctica? More lines than you think! Have a peek here.

None of that is supposed to scare you off. For me, it is this diverse history – played out hundreds of years ago at the edge of the world – that makes Antarctica such a desirable cruise destination.

Perhaps one of the most enriching ways to explore Antarctica is aboard the ships of Lindblad Expeditions. Made up of hybrid cruise and research vessels, their intimate fleet of ships routinely host some of the most respected scientists, researchers, photographers and biologists in the industry, who are there to work and interact with passengers about their findings.

National Geographic Explorer “on the ice” in Antarctica; just one of the amazing adventures that await with Lindblad Expeditions. Photo courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions.

The Lindblad cachet doesn’t stop there, though: they are the only line that can boast a unique partnership with National Geographic. This one-of-a-kind arrangement allows Lindblad to offer some truly unique perks to guests looking for an Antarctic experience like no other.

Their 11-night Journey to Antarctica itineraries are tough to beat.

Embarking in Ushuaia, Argentina, it is here that you will meet your oceangoing home for your journey south: the comfortable and well-appointed National Geographic Explorer.

Lindblad Expeditions’ National Geographic Explorer is a true working ship that doesn’t skimp on comfort. Photo courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions.

Following your crossing of the notorious Drake Passage, the real fun begins. For six solid days, guests will have the opportunity to cruise and explore some of Antarctica’s most impressive sights. With almost 24 hours of solid daylight, the possibilities are endless, and Lindblad makes sure the schedule here is developed on a per-sailing basis to take advantage of every available opportunity.

You might set out on one of the onboard Zodiac rafts to cruise past enormous icebergs or to make a shore landing on a remote island, hike to the summit for some incredible photo opportunities or kayak alongside growlers and crystal-blue ice floes.

Itineraries are kept loose to take advantage of every possible opportunity while in Antarctica. Photo courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions.

But perhaps the most amazing part of this journey is standing aboard the National Geographic Explorer as she plows her way through the Antarctic pack ice – creating a cacophony of crunching, crashing noises and causing your ship to vibrate ever so slightly.

Of course, being aboard a National Geographic ship offers its own unique privileges: the ship’s resident Undersea Specialist might present some video shot from the Remote Operated Vehicle, or ROV, allowing guests a rare glimpse at footage shot from a depth of almost 1,000 feet below the surface of your vessel.

Staterooms aboard National Geographic Explorer offer every comfort. Photo courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions.

Being onboard a “working ship” doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort. With its navy blue hull, yellow pinstripe and white superstructure, National Geographic Explorer is arguably one of the most comfortable expedition ships you can sail aboard. Capable of carrying just 148 guests in 81 outside staterooms, some of which include private balconies, there’s certain to be a stateroom or suite to suit ever taste. This 356-foot vessel also includes many big-ship amenities like a fitness centre, a sauna, spa treatment rooms, an observation lounge, and a cozy cart room that serves up tea and coffee around the clock.

Maritime buffs will relish the Open-Bridge policy, allowing guests to visit the navigation bridge and chat with the Captain and Officers when conditions permit; an increasingly rare opportunity these days.

Lowering National Geographic Explorer’s ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle) into the Antarctic waters. Photo courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions.

If that wasn’t enough, the hull of National Geographic Explorer is strengthened to the point where her Captain can safely “park” her on the Antarctic pack ice when conditions permit, allowing guests to disembark the ship directly and go for a wander.

Guest speakers round out the astonishing variety of experts and specialists onboard this one-of-a-kind itinerary.

If only all learning could be this fun!

Click here for Lindblad’s 2013 voyages to Antarctica!

Buyer Beware: the ‘Free’ Cruise Scam

Aaron Saunders — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:31 +0000

My local evening newscast recently ran a story about a woman from Abbotsford, British Columbia who found herself ensnared in a free cruise scam. Not surprisingly, the scam had a familiar ring – it is the same one that has been making the rounds here and in the United States for years now.

It goes like this: someone typically cold-calls you and says you’ve won a free cruise. What you’ve actually won, though, is a taxes-only, two-night cruise to the Bahamas that involves high-pressure timeshare sales presentations.

The Bahamas Celebration, in her former incarnation as Color Line’s Prinsesse Ragnhild baltic ferry. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia / Creative Commons

I even had my own brush with this scam back in 2005, before I had ever started writing about cruising. I had – stupidly – entered one of those “Win a Free Cruise!” draws at a home and garden convention held in the Vancouver area, which I then promptly forgot about. Four weeks later, I was talking to a man purporting to be from Pensacola, Florida who claimed I had, indeed, one a free cruise to the Bahamas.

But there were some snags: I’d have to spend some time in Floridian cities I’d never heard of. I’d have to rent a car to drive in-between these cities, staying in hotels with vague-sounding names. I’d have to pay airfare and port charges and “incurred costs” along the way. I was assured there would be no timeshare pitches, though he couldn’t answer my question as to why I had to visit all these cities and hotels. The whole thing smelled, so I shut him down.

“But sir,” I remember the man from Pensacola saying, “you’re turning down a free cruise?”

No – I was turning down a scam.

I should point out that major cruise lines sometimes run “Win a Free Cruise” sweepstakes, and those are entirely different. But if someone calls you out of the blue, claiming you’ve won a free cruise – or even if you’ve entered a generic “Win a Cruise!” draw – you haven’t.

In the case of the woman from Abbotsford, her “free” cruise likely cost her as much as a real cruise would have. The cruise line she supposedly won the cruise on – Caribbean Cruise Line – is not an actual cruise line. In fact, Cruise Critic’s Dan Askin wrote extensively about this scam three years ago, following through with it as though he was a prospective traveller.

Caribbean Cruise Line holds an “F” rating with the Better Business Bureau, and has received 1,345 filed complaints with the Bureau in the past three years.

Since Caribbean Cruise Line isn’t an actual cruise operator, the company puts passengers – if they ever get there – aboard Celebration Cruise Line’s Bahamas Celebration, a former Baltic ferry that has been converted and pressed into operating short turnaround cruises from West Palm Beach, Florida to the Bahamas.

Celebration Cruise Line isn’t involved with this particular scam, but as Askin pointed out in his 2010 article, they do rely on timeshare pitches to help fill the first-timer, budget-oriented ship.

Interestingly, however, Celebration Cruise Line does offer its own “Win a Cruise!” link on their website – and it comes with some very severe-sounding legalese:

“Entrant agrees to binding arbitration as sole method to resolve any challenges to entry, contest or drawing, and waives and right to seek judicial relief except to enforce an arbitration award. Complete set of entry terms, winner’s list and rules may be obtained by sending a written request to Sponsor. Entrant agrees to be contacted by telephone, mail and/or e-mail and agrees that this consent will supersede any do not call list that entrant or the telephone number Entrant’s provides may be on. Entrant expressly requests and understands that CCL may call entrant to offer additional travel services and vacation packages for purchase or any other purposes, and waives all prior and existing no call registrations.”

Notice the part about your entry into said contest allows them to contact you by mail, email or telephone. Repeatedly. Also note the paragraph about binding arbitration to resolve any unforeseen difficulties you may have along the way.

Years ago, Celebration Cruise Line’s predecessor was Imperial Majesty Cruise Line, which was worth a go just to experience the classic (and now sadly-scrapped) Regal Empress. But the Florida area offers a plethora of short two-and-three-night sailings out of places like Tampa, Port Everglades, Miami and Port Canaveral aboard much newer and more feature-laden ships than the Bahamas Celebration.

If you really want a two-night cruise to the Bahamas – or any voyage, for that matter – my advice is always the same: book it yourself, on the line and the ship that you want. Because you’re always, always, going to get what you pay for.

From the Deck Chair will return tomorrow.

Silver Explorer: A Memorable Expedition Cruise, One Year On

Aaron Saunders — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:44 +0000

One year ago this week, I set sail on a ten-day expedition voyage around the British Isles aboard Silversea’s adventurous Silver Explorer. In the 365 days that have passed, those ten days have crossed my mind over and over again.

The 132-guest Silver Explorer is probably best known as the lead ship for Silversea’s Silversea Expeditions arm that routinely offers enriching and active voyages to some of the most remote destinations in the world, including Antarctica, Arctic Svalbard, and even Canada’s Hudson Bay and Northwest Passage.

Click here to see all voyages aboard Silver Explorer!

But Silversea also offers so-called “repositioning voyages” aboard the Silver Explorer, and my ten-day journey from Portsmouth, England to Greenock, Scotland was one such voyage.

These are proper expeditions in their own right, and are every bit as adventurous as the line’s polar offerings. There aren’t any shore excursions per se; instead, guests all disembark together for a day of touring by zodiac raft, motorcoach, hiking, walking – you name it. Even better, all of these overland adventures are included in the price of your cruise, which – in some cases – can be less than the line’s mainline ultra-luxury fleet.

Now that we’ve gotten the technical stuff out of the way, let me try – however inadequately – to paint a picture of why some guests return again and again to the Silver Explorer. A full recap of our voyage:

May 19 – Embarkation in Portsmouth, England

May 20 – Fossil Hunting in Lyme Regis, England

May 21 – Dartmouth, England and the Royal Naval College

May 22 – Tresco & the Isles of Scilly

May 23 – Crystal & Class in Waterford, Ireland

May 24 – Glengarriff and the Ring of Kerry

May 25 – Galway City, Kylemore Abbey, and an Impressive Maneuver

May 26 – Scenic Cruising and Killybegs, Ireland

May 27 – Rathlin Island, Portrush, Northern Ireland and the Giant’s Causeway

May 28 – The Ultimate Adventure: Staffa and Iona, Scotland

May 29 – Brodick, Scotland

In ten very short days, I zipped around on the ship’s Zodiac rafts in blazing sun, pouring rain, and thick fog. I discovered the amazing sanctuary that is Tresco in the Isles of Scilly, toured the Dartmouth Naval Academy, hiked The Giant’s Causeway, zipped around the Ring of Kerry, visited Kylemore Abbey and the Irish Connemara Countryside, and even spent a memorable morning walking around the entirely deserted island of Staffa, in Scotland’s Hebridean Islands.

Under the direction of Silver Explorer’s fantastic Expeditions Team – led on my sailing by Robin West and Jarda Versloot – I saw, experienced, and did more in those ten days than I ever thought possible. Sailing aboard Silver Explorer is like having your own local in-depth land tour, but from the comfort of an ultra-luxury cruise ship.

It blended everything I loved about Silversea’s ultra-luxury cruise product with the thrill of expedition cruising. I also learned more than I ever would have dreamed from the expedition staff, from the wonders of botany to being more excited than I could have imagined when we drifted by dozens of Puffins basking in the warm waters off the coast of Staffa.

Perhaps more importantly, I’ve taken the lessons and knowledge I learned aboard Silver Explorer and applied it to the next 365 days of my life. I can identify flowers that I never could before, and I now pay close attention to the birds and wildlife that I encounter on each trip.

I have always been fascinated by exploration, but as I said last year in my Live Voyage Recap, I would have made a terrible Ernest Shackleton. I ordered room service more than once aboard the Silver Explorer which, just like on Silversea’s larger luxury vessels, came with a tablecloth, covered dishes, and a full setting of cutlery all delivered by my Butler.

I developed a nagging cold after our rainy day in Waterford, Ireland that I was able to cure with the kind assistance of the bar staff, who kept me plied with hot lemon-and-rum toddies well into the night.

I also got to know the diverse, interesting and wonderful passengers and crew who were sailing with me. A Silversea ship is a social ship, and nowhere is that more accurate than aboard the Silver Explorer. I chatted with passengers about their third trip through South Africa, their two journeys to Antarctica, and other exotic destinations. I officially won the “bland travel story” award with my tales of an Eastern Caribbean cruise I’d taken two months before, but held my own with my memorably stormy voyage in the Aegean twelve years prior.

You would be hard-pressed to meet more kind, generous and fascinating people anywhere else.

If you chose to set out aboard the Silver Explorer like I did, there are a few important things you should know.

The journey – no matter which itinerary you pick – will forever spoil “normal” cruising for you. Once you’ve explored an uninhabited island, drank Guinness at the Giant’s Causeway, or have had a private tour at the most prestigious naval academy in the United Kingdom, a day call on St. Thomas starts to look about as entertaining as the colour grey.

But that’s the brilliant part about travel, and the exciting thing about the Silver Explorer: it is almost guaranteed to wake up the adventurer in all of us.

Life is short, and the world around us is so large. It would be impossible to see and do everything on this planet, but an expedition voyage aboard the Silver Explorer will take you closer than most.

And you’ll remember it for the next year of your life – and beyond.

Click here to see all sailings aboard Silversea’s Silver Explorer, and be sure to read our complete Live Voyage Report from last year as we sailed around the British Isles.

Five Things to Like about Viking Oceans

Aaron Saunders — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:21 +0000

Last Thursday, I was present at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California to witness a little slice of cruising history: the formation of Viking Oceans and the unveiling of their first ship, the 928-pax Viking Star. Not only will Viking Oceans be the first cruise line to enter service with purpose-built newbuilds since the formation of Disney Cruise Line in the mid-1990s, it will also mark the first time a river cruise line has expanded their product offerings to include deep-ocean cruises.

Today, we take an in-depth look at some of the most exciting aspects of Viking’s announcement:

Bergen Departures

Aside from the Viking Star herself, one of the most exciting aspects of the announcement last Thursday was that Viking would begin offering 15-day sailings from Bergen to Norway. Bergen is one of my absolute favorite cities in the world, and Viking will become the only line outside of Tromso-based Hurtigruten to offer it as an embarkation or disembarkation port.

Bergen is renowned for its stunning Hanseatic waterfront known as Bryggen, along with the stunning vistas provided from the lookout on Mt. Floyen. It is, in my opinion, one of Norway’s most beautiful cities, and sailing into or out of Bergen can be as scenic as a trip down the famous Geirangerfjord.

One potential snag with this could revolve around Bergen’s Flesland Airport. Located about 30 minutes outside the city itself, Flesland is a relatively small airport with no direct service from North America. There are, however, numerous connection options for the North American travellers that Viking is targeting with their new Viking Oceans product, including flights through Frankfurt on Lufthansa; KLM via Amsterdam; British Airways via London Heathrow; and SAS via Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm.

Innovative Features

Viking Star will feature the industry’s first Infinity Pool. Rendering courtesy of Viking Cruises

One of the most surprising aspects of Viking Star is just how many new features and innovations the line has come up with to help distinguish her from the competition. These include the jaw-dropping Infinity Pool that has to be making other premium lines more than a little envious, along with the Nordic-themed Spa that even features a room with snowflakes quietly descending on patrons.

The one that’s keeping workers at Fincantieri up at night, though, is The Restaurant. Located aft on same deck as the ship’s Promenade Deck, The Restaurant will feature floor-to-ceiling windows that actually open, allowing the warmth of the Mediterranean or the fresh air of Norway’s fjords waft through the room.

Uncommon Amenities

During a press conference last week at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Viking chairman and CEO Torstein Hagen stated that Viking Oceans wouldn’t be focused on “nickel-and-diming” their guests. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders

How does free Wi-Fi internet access sound? Or complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner? They’re just a few of the amenities that Viking is planning on including gratis aboard Viking Star and her as-yet-unnamed sister ship.

Additional features include specialty restaurants that don’t carry additional charges; 24-hour room service at no charge; and specialty coffees, teas and soft drinks served up at any time on board – all free of charge.

At the event last Thursday, Viking’s chairman and CEO Torstein Hagen said what a shame it was that guests on other lines paid “through the nose” to get to Europe, only to be charged again to see it on shore excursions. To that end, the line is also offering guests one complimentary excursion in each and every port of call.

That last feature has the potential to be a real game-changer for the industry, and it will be interesting to see how other lines respond.

Norwegian Influence

The Spa aboard Viking Star, located all the way forward on Deck 1, features a Nordic hot-and-cold experience. Photo courtesy of Viking Cruises

Though both interior design firms are based in Los Angeles and London, Viking Star will feature heavily Nordic and Scandinavian-influenced design and features. They will also draw heavily upon the success of the line’s Viking Longships, with their own seagoing version of the popular Aquavit Terrace for al fresco dining and a two-story Explorer’s Lounge that seems to have been inspired by Norwegian line Hurtigruten’s popular observation venues.

Distinct Itineraries

Viking Star won’t just sail Northern Europe; she’ll also bask in the sun of Mediterranean ports like Monte Carlo. Photo © Aaron Saunders

What impressed me about Viking’s first foray into ocean cruising is just how well thought-through it is. The line could have taken the easy route and simply tried to emulate the product offered by lines like Azamara or Oceania, both of which currently dominate the premium cruise category that Viking hopes to move into.

Instead, they opted to build a ship crafted around itineraries and features that buck the established trends in the industry. It’s a move that may very well inspire those who would normally sail in mid-to-upper category staterooms aboard Holland America and Princess to think twice about where their cruising dollars are going, and what they’re getting for them. Both of the aforementioned lines offer a great product, but Viking wants to offer those passengers more.

Viking’s new Viking Star could set the stage for the next battleground in the cruise industry. Photo courtesy of Viking Cruises.

Perhaps the best by-product of Viking’s announcement will be the renewed focus it puts on the premium cruising category, which could very well be the next battleground for the industry as a whole.

More information on Viking’s new Viking Oceans product can be found by visiting their website.

Live Report: Viking Cruises Announces their Viking Star

Aaron Saunders — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:16:48 +0000

Move over, premium lines – Viking Star is here

Viking Cruises’ Viking Ocean is due to launch in 2015. Interestingly, the first Royal Viking Line ship was called Royal Viking Star. A wonderful Nordic tribute? Photo courtesy of Viking Cruises.

Anyone in Hollywood will tell you a sequel to a successful movie is a tough gig. Rarely do films manage to duplicate the magic and chemistry that inherently made the initial movie popular in the first place. Sometimes, though, studios get it right, and the sequel is even better than the original.

Here in Beverly Hills, California tonight, Viking River Cruises announced a star-studded sequel of their own when they took the wraps off their Viking Oceans product, and the forthcoming Viking Star that will debut in 2015. And like any great sequel, this one has the potential to even eclipse the line’s astonishing achievements with their Viking Longship river cruise vessels.

For maritime buffs, the name alone has some historic lineage: Royal Viking Star was the first newbuild ship created for the renowned Royal Viking Line, which Viking River Cruises president and CEO Torstein Hagen helmed in the early 1980’s. Indeed, her exterior design speaks heavily to some of that now-defunct cruise line’s most popular vessels. Witness the funnel design that looks remarkably like that found aboard Holland America’s Prinsendam, formerly known as Royal Viking Sun.

But the similarities end there. This new Viking Star represents an enormous shift in the premium cruise landscape, and rather than merely trying to match their future competitors, Viking has some astonishing features lined up for their very first oceangoing cruise ship.

Viking Star will carry just 928 guests, all of which will travel in all-balcony staterooms measuring no smaller than 270 square feet. Each room will feature a true king-sized bed that can be separated into two large twins. There will be no inside staterooms, no Oceanview staterooms. All staterooms will be double-occupancy; no third or fourth berths will be included on this ship.

There’s also an entire list of perks to sailing with the line. Guests will be able to choose one complimentary excursion in each port of call. They will be treated to complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks during lunch and dinner; complimentary 24-hour room service; and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access.

The Spa aboard Viking Star, located all the way forward on Deck 1, features a Nordic hot-and-cold experience. Photo courtesy of Viking Cruises

The line’s credo, which Hagen repeated numerous times, was that there would be “no nickel-and-diming.” To that end, Viking Star will lack a casino. She’ll also lack some of the other mainstay revenue generators found aboard competitor’s ships, like specialty restaurant surcharges.

At first, that may sound like unconventional thinking – and it is. But this is the magic formula that has allowed Viking to be so successful along the waterways of Europe: do one thing, and do it well.

The Winter Garden aboard Viking Star. Photo courtesy of Viking Cruises.

“You can’t meet everyone’s demand, and I don’t think we should meet everyone’s demands,” said Torstein Hagen, Viking River Cruises’ chairman and chief executive officer. “All staterooms are designed for two passengers only. We [won’t] cater to multi-generational families.”

Instead, Viking is actively pursuing active, well-educated couples eager to see the world from the comfort of a cruise. Viking Star will spend, on average, 12 hours in port, with overnights at both the start and end of each voyage.

The line polled its past guests about their cruising habits and found that an astonishing 84 percent of them would sail with Viking if the line were to offer ocean cruises. They also discovered that their guests tended to chiefly spend their cruising dollars among a handful of lines: Holland America, Celebrity, Princess, and Oceania.

The new Viking Star is aimed squarely at those guests.

But the ship is also poised to be a striking innovator in its own right. Rather than being hidden deep in the bowels of the ship, the Viking Star’s main Restaurant will be located all the way aft on Promenade Deck 2 – with floor-to-ceiling windows that can be slid open to let in the fresh sea air.

Viking Star’s Spa will be extensive, but located much lower down on the ship than aboard other cruise vessels. But she’ll feature special heated sauna rooms alongside a snow grotto for a true Norwegian spa experience.

Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about Viking Star’s aft pool deck. In addition to a seagoing version of the popular Aquavit Lounge, Viking Star will feature the industry’s first oceangoing infinity pool with a glass aft wall that cantilevers out over the stern of the ship.

Viking Star is also set to have a gorgeous Winter Garden that recalls the classic spaces aboard Cunard’s famous ocean liners, as well as a two-story glass-walled observation lounge situated high atop the navigation bridge. Known as the Explorer’s Lounge, this beautiful space located on Decks 7 and 8 may have been inspired by similar areas aboard Norwegian-based Hurtigruten’s Midnatsol and Trollfjord cruise-ferry vessels.

During her maiden 2015 season, Viking Star will sail three distinct itineraries:

Viking Homelands: 15 days Stockholm to Bergen
Mediterranean Odyssey: 13 days Barcelona to Venice
Empires of the Mediterranean: 10 days Venice to Istanbul

While all the itineraries are spectacular, it is the 15-day Viking Homelands itinerary that made me drool. Viking will become the only line to embark cruises in the beautiful city of Bergen, Norway outside of Hurtigruten, and they will visit some amazing ports of call along the way, including Flam, Stavanger, Aalborg, Copenhagen, Warnemunde, Gdansk, Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Helsinki and Stockholm.

The call in St. Petersburg is particularly noteworthy, as Viking Star will sail past the other cruise ships docked at the main passenger terminal and continue up-river, docking within walking distance of the famous Hermitage.

Personally, I could barely contain my excitement tonight. It reminded me of the first time I ever saw a rendering of the first Viking Longships years ago and thought, “wow – this will change everything.”

The more I learned tonight about Viking Star, the more I realized how well thought-out this endeavour is. In fact, this project has been three years in the making now, involving two different shipyards and two totally different designs.

All we saw today were some renderings and a gorgeous builder’s model of the ship. Yet there was this electricity in the air. You could feel it. Everyone in the audience expected, I think, to be impressed here tonight; but the audible gasps of delight that emanated from the crowd when the Infinity Pool was revealed, followed by thunderous applause for the open-air dining concept erased any doubts in the project.

We’ve got an amazing amount of information to share with you about Viking Oceans and the new Viking Star, which is why we’re going to continue our coverage on Monday with a full overview of this exciting ship.

In the meantime, I want to leave you all with this: you should be excited about Viking Star. Really, really excited. For the first time, small ship cruising will be affordable to an entire segment of the population that has, until now, been largely regulated to mainstream cruising. Price points for this new product are very encouraging, running as low as $2,999 per person for the line’s 10-night Mediterranean voyages.

Viking’s new oceangoing product also takes a refreshing step back from surcharges and add-on fees that are becoming so commonplace in nearly every facet of the travel industry. They’re taking the very features that have made river cruising – not to mention their Viking Longships – so popular and applying them to ocean cruising.

Best of all, bookings for the new Viking Star opened today!

I came here expecting Viking to announce they were building an Azamara-lite. Instead, what they are poised to deliver in just two years could very well go down as Torstein Hagen’s greatest achievement in his long, storied, and always-eventful life.

Stay tuned – more information on the upcoming Viking Star will be coming on Monday here on From the Deck Chair as we recap this exciting day!

Viking Ocean Cruises Live Report Preview

Aaron Saunders — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:00:13 +0000

The invitation was deceptively simple: “Join us for an evening of cocktails and dinner celebrating the new era of Viking Cruises.”

Notice that the word “river” was conspicuously missing from the invitation, and it becomes easy to see that this will be anything but your average dinner, as Viking River Cruises takes the wraps off their new ocean cruises tomorrow night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

The iconic Beverly HIlton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California will host Viking’s exciting dinner announcement. Photo courtesy of the Beverly Hilton

The popular river cruise line is coming off of a record-breaking event that occurred less than two months ago, when they christened 10 brand-new river cruise ships in a single go in the Dutch city of Amsterdam. Not only did Viking earn a Guinness World Record, but it brought the total number of their new Viking Longships to 16 – in just over a year.

Today, all we know about Viking’s new oceangoing product (which was formerly called Viking Ocean, but which may now just be known as Viking Cruises) is that the line has placed an order for two 47,000 GRT ships to be constructed at Italy’s Fincantieri shipyards. Both vessels are slated for delivery in January 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Viking also has options for two additional vessels with Fincantieri that could be ready to enter service in 2017 and 2018.

As of yet, none of the ships have been named, nor have any details about their physical appearance, general arrangement plans, or itineraries been released.

Until tomorrow night.

What will Viking’s new oceangoing cruise ships look like? Tune in tomorrow as we report Live from Los Angeles! Photo © Aaron Saunders

So join us here on From the Deck Chair tomorrow as we bring you the first details about Viking River Cruises and their new exciting foray into the world of ocean cruising!

Stay tuned – our Live Report from the Viking Ocean announcement in Los Angeles will begin tomorrow!

Silversea Unveils New Galapagos Options

Aaron Saunders — Tue, 14 May 2013 07:00:22 +0000

If you haven’t heard yet, ultra-luxury line Silversea is expanding their Silversea Expeditions offerings this year by offering their first-ever voyages to the Galapagos aboard the newly-acquired Silver Galapagos which will enter service in September.

Silversea’s Silver Galapagos will enter service this September, becoming the second vessel to operate under their Silversea Expeditions banner. Photo courtesy of Silversea.

Now, the line is giving guests the opportunity to take advantage of special three and four day voyages that can be combined with pre-and-post cruise land adventures in South America to create packages of eight, 10, or 11 days in length.

Click here for sailings aboard Silver Galapagos!

“These new cruise and land packages are convenient options for the luxury traveler who wants to experience a Galápagos cruise adventure and also explore some of the most intriguing regions of South America — but who may not have time for a lengthy vacation,” said Ellen Bettridge, Silversea’s president of the Americas.

If you follow Silversea regularly, you’ll already know that the line has started offering shorter voyage segments on many of their Europe and North American voyages for the 2013 cruise season. By offering shorter voyages on their Galapagos Expeditions, they’re giving guests greater control over the sea and land aspects of their vacation and allowing them to better tailor a combination cruise and land package to suit their tastes and needs.

The Galapagos Islands are as diverse as they are ethereal. Photo courtesy of Silversea Cruises

The new four-day Baltra to San Cristobal voyages that sail to the islands of Santa Cruz, Genovesa and Seymour Norte are offered on the following departures for this year:

8301A: September 28 – October 2

8307A: November 9 – 13

8309A: November 23 – 27

8311A: December 7 – 11

Likewise, the new three-day San Cristobal to Baltra voyages are offered on a variety of departure dates and will weave their way through the islands of Espanola, Santa Cruz and Plazas Sur:

8303B: October 16 – 19

8307B: November 13 – 16

8309B: November 27 – 30

8311B: December 11 – 14

All of these voyages will take place aboard the line’s newly-acquired and refitted Silver Galapagos. Capable of carrying just 100 guests, Silver Galapagos is intended to complement the Silver Explorer, the line’s first globetrotting expedition vessel that places emphasis on providing the same onboard luxuries and amenities the line’s past guests have come to expect, coupled with adventurous land programs that seek to enrich and stimulate the senses.

It’s more than just lip service: Silversea has acquired a dedicated team of expedition team leaders and guest lecturers who accompany guests both onboard and ashore. Like Silver Explorer, Silver Galapagos will be equipped with a fleet of motorized Zodiac rafts to access some of the most remote places in the Galapagos.

All of these excursions are offered complimentary on the line’s Expedition sailings, and in the Galapagos, the experienced expedition team will be certified by the Galapagos National Park Service. Because of this, they’ll have the knowledge to showcase the region’s diverse wildlife, from blue iguanas to Darwin’s famous finches.

Here’s a quick peek at the three new packages Silversea has created in the Galapagos:

8-Day Machu Picchu & Galápagos Package

Guests will enjoy 2 days surrounded by the history and culture of Ecuador’s vibrant capital on the “Quito Discovery” land extension before embarking on their 3-day Galápagos expedition cruise. After witnessing the natural treasures of the Galápagos Islands from their base of luxury aboard Silver Galapagos, guests will then journey to Peru to spend 3 days exploring the glorious Lost City of the Incas on an exciting “Machu Picchu Explorer” land adventure, highlighted by a scenic journey in Peru’s Vistadome train. This 8-day package is priced from $6,713.

10-Day Puno, Lake Titicaca & Galápagos Package

The magnificent Andes and Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, are the setting for an exciting 4-day “Puno & Lake Titicaca” pre-cruise adventure. Highlights include a visit to the Sillustani tombs, a cruise to the floating reed islands of the Uros people with their centuries-old way of life, and a visit to Taquile Island to admire ancient weaving traditions. Guests then embark Silver Galapagos for an unforgettable 4-day expedition voyage through the Galápagos Islands, followed by 2 days absorbing the fascinating sights and attractions of Ecuador’s capital on the “Quito Discovery” post-cruise land extension.

11-Day Amazon Explorer & Galápagos Package

Guests enjoy 2 days taking in the artistic, cultural and historic attractions of Ecuador’s capital on the “Quito Discovery” land extension before embarking on their 3-day expedition voyage aboard the elegant Silver Galapagos. Following the Galápagos program is a unique 6-day journey to Peru’s Amazon basin where it’s possible to witness pygmy marmosets, howler monkeys, colorful toucans and other exotic wildlife that inhabit the region’s lowland forests. Participants will cruise the Amazon in all-suite luxury aboard m/v Aqua, dining on perhaps the finest Amazonian-Peruvian gourmet cuisine on the river. Expert naturalists will be on hand to share insights about this amazing and fragile ecosystem

Join us in the Galapagos in Novembe for a very special Live Voyage Report! Photo courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Curious about the Galapagos? So are we – which is why we’ll be sailing aboard Silver Galapagos this November with day-by-day coverage on a very special Live Voyage Report! Full details and itinerary will be coming soon here on From the Deck Chair!

More information on Silversea’s new Galapagos expedition itineraries can be found by visiting their website.

Norwegian Breakaway Live Voyage Recap

Aaron Saunders — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:00:39 +0000

After spending two days aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Norwegian Breakaway, I was searching for a way to describe the transformation the line has undergone since Kevin Sheehan took charge of the company a few years ago.

Norwegian Breakaway on her sea trials earlier this year. Photo courtesy of Meyer-Werft.

I decided that, in many ways, Norwegian Cruise Line is a lot like Apple.

After years of horrifying management decisions and a lack of product focus, Apple nearly went bankrupt between 1996 and 1997. Their share price was a joke, and their turnaround expert – Gil Amelio – was struggling to make the old Apple limp along. So he brought Steve Jobs in as an advisor in 1997, and the late techno-genius quickly ousted Amelio and took charge of the company he had founded.

The rest, as they say, is history. Apple went from being mocked to having a product in the hands of the vast majority of people on this planet – the iPhone. In 1997, that idea was laughable.

The same could be said of Norwegian Cruise Line, or NCL as they used to be called. They had brilliant ideas, like internet cafes onboard ships and their revolutionary Freestyle Dining concept, that were often coupled with horrifying execution. Freestyle was immediately derided, and then implemented, on nearly all of their competitors. And no one implements bad ideas.

Once Kevin Sheehan took charge of NCL in 2008, change was swift. The name “NCL” was dropped in favor of Norwegian Cruise Line. Loads of little niceties started returning, like printed documentation and a streamlined website. Even the company’s logo changed ever so subtly, utilising a different font and opting for a single, wave-like accent adorning a modified version of the logo that has been in place on the ship’s navy-blue funnels for over a decade.

Norwegian Breakaway is the culmination of the efforts of Sheehan and his team – and it takes Norwegian Cruise Line in an entirely new direction.

Day 1 – Christening Ceremonies & Departure from New York City

Day 2 – At Sea aboard Norwegian Breakaway

She is the biggest ship ever constructed in Germany, at the Meyer Werft shipyards in Papenburg; the largest ship to homeport year-round in New York City; boasts the largest AquaPark at sea, the largest ropes course at sea, the largest number of Broadway shows at sea, and has the largest youth facilities in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet.

But that’s not why I loved this ship, which I truly think is the best ship the line has ever constructed. I loved Norwegian Breakaway for three things: it’s well-designed, surprisingly classy, and has features that redefine the way we think of mainstream cruising.

First and foremost, I loved The Waterfront. To be able to dine outside on the covered Promenade deck in nearly all weather conditions, in my opinion, is a gigantic home run.

Secondly, the line’s 678 Ocean Place, with its Norwegian Epic-inspired atriums and bars, lounges and restaurants all clustered together isn’t just a great idea, it also helps improve passenger flow, there aren’t as many guests tromping around from one end of the ship to the other, or having to go from Deck 6 to Deck 14 back to Deck 6 again.

Thirdly, the new look and feel aboard this ship takes Norwegian Cruise Line in a different direction. It’s rich and elegant, with plenty of vibrant colours that complement instead of contrast, and unique artwork and niceties at every turn. Even the elevator cars felt faster and more spacious than normal.

Another interesting aspect of Norwegian Breakaway is that I would recommend her to people who I might not normally recommend Norwegian Cruise Line to. Suites in The Haven rival those found on ultra-luxury lines but with the added benefit of having a 1,062-foot long ship to explore. This makes Norwegian Breakaway strikingly convenient for multi-generational family trips, because no one has to compromise regardless of budget constraints or personal taste.

Do you like good entertainment? If you cruise frequently, chances are you’ve seen “A Tribute to Motown!” or the like far too many times. But you can spend a week aboard Norwegian Breakaway and never take in all the professional-calibre entertainment options, from The Rockettes to Burn the Floor to Rock of Ages, which is fantastically edgy. Finally – a cruise ship show with some teeth!

What’s more, the entertainment options aboard Norwegian Epic are completely different, with the Blue Man Group taking centre stage. It’s still one of the best shows I’ve seen aboard a cruise ship.

The only real complaint I had about the ship was that accessing the far leaf of the closet in my stateroom was a bit of a challenge. But for the two or three times a day I went into the closet, I wasn’t bothered.

The forthcoming Norwegian Getaway will also offer a totally different entertainment experience onboard, with the Tony-nominated Broadway show Legally Blonde highlighting, along with a new comedy partnership and expanded offerings for Burn the Floor, which was just superb aboard Norwegian Breakaway.

Unlike other lines, where entertainment tends to be similar throughout the fleet, Norwegian is cultivating unique experiences aboard each of their ships, along with different themes. And that’s a refreshing change to the cookie-cutter approach many mainstream lines have opted to take as of late.

If you tried the old NCL and went away discouraged, the new Norwegian has a lot of good things going for it, and this new ship only enhances the brand the line has been working hard to cultivate over the past five years.

Now that she has officially entered service, Norwegian Breakaway will sail weeklong itineraries to Bermuda that feature three days docked in Kings Wharf. In October, she will begin operating weeklong voyages to the Bahamas and Florida before embarking on 12-day voyages to the Southern Caribbean in 2014.

Of course, I’m curious to see what changes have been made to the rest of the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet and how the product compares to the Norwegian Breakaway. So join us in two weeks’ time as we sail north, to Alaska aboard the fun Norwegian Pearl sailing roundtrip from Seattle, Washington!

Our Live Voyage Report aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Pearl kicks off on June 2, 2013. More Norwegian Cruise Line voyages can be found here!

Norwegian Breakaway Christening Live Voyage Report – Day 2

Aaron Saunders — Fri, 10 May 2013 06:53:19 +0000

A Day at Sea aboard the Norwegian Breakaway

This morning, I wanted to badly to sleep in – but I can’t. It’s not because the bed in my stateroom isn’t comfortable; it is because there’s a whole lot of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway left for me to document in just a day!

I started off with breakfast in the Garden Café, at a table for two overlooking the ship’s wake.

Rather than having large tables, Norwegian Breakaway’s Garden Café seating is mainly tables of two or four that can be pulled together to create larger seating arrangement. As someone who travels solo a lot, I can’t tell you how fantastic that is; a table for two to have a quick breakfast can be as rare as dinosaur sightings.

After, I set out to explore a few of the other stateroom types available here. I have to admit I couldn’t make it to as many as I would have liked to.

Out of all the ones I saw, my favorite were the Category S6 Haven Aft-Facing Penthouse With Balcony. These gorgeous rooms have a bedroom with a marble and glass-clad bathroom, a full-size soaker tub, a full-size shower that features a window overlooking your balcony, a bedroom with beautiful cyan blue accent lighting, and a living room that combines all the comforts of home.

Outside, a beautiful balcony curves with the stern on the port and starboard sides of the ship, providing great views of the room below.

Busiest place on the ship: Shakers is blazingly popular, along with the Atrium Café on Deck 6. My favorite lounging and writing spot – as it has been on several Norwegian Cruise Line ships going as far back as the Norwegian Pearl – is Maltings Beer and Whiskey Bar. With its dark woods, richly upholstered chairs and innovative chandeliers made of inverted wine and whiskey glasses, it hits all the right notes for me.

Another great area: the new Uptown Bar and Grill on Deck 16 starboard is awesome! Here, you can indulge in a variety of specialties, most of which include meatballs. I tried it – and it was phenomenal.

One thing I do miss: the Moulin Rouge-esque Bliss Ultra Lounge has been substantially scaled back aboard the Norwegian Breakaway, and now more closely resembles a modern European discothèque But it makes sense: aboard Norwegian Epic, it often sat empty when not in use.

A reader wrote in to ask if there were any choke points on the ship, and so far, there’s just one: Carlo’s Bakery and Dolce Gelato, which both share the same space all the way aft on Deck 8. To say they’re busy is like saying traffic in New York is busy: it’s an understatement. However, I’d expect this to ease on a proper weeklong voyage as the novelty wears off and guests don’t feel quite so pressured to cram everything into two days. Note to self: book the transatlantic crossing next year for Norwegian Getaway!

Speaking of, the launch of Norwegian Breakaway also means it’s time to start getting excited about her sister-ship, Norwegian Getaway, which will set sail from Miami beginning in February of next year.

Currently under construction at Meyer Werft shipyards in Papenburg, Germany, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Kevin Sheehan briefed the media – including yours truly – on some new and exciting features that will be coming to Miami’s ship.

Like Blue Man Group aboard Norwegian Epic and The Rockettes aboard Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway will have its own distinctive headlining act: the seven-time Tony Award nominated musical Legally Blonde.

In announcing this new entertainment, Sheehan noted that the success of the Blue Man Group aboard Norwegian Epic had been instrumental in securing legitimate Broadway performances, many of whom would have been unlikely to consider such a partnership with a cruise line prior for fear it might damage their brand. Now, he said, Broadway is coming to him and not the other way around.

Another noteworthy addition is the inclusion of Levity Entertainment Group, which will replace The Second City aboard Norwegian Getaway. With Levity, 12 comedy shows will be offered per week. While no details were given on exactly who would participate, the company’s client roster is loaded with notable performers like Daniel Tosh, Amy Schumer and puppeteer Jeff Dunham.

The line also revealed that Burn the Floor will have an expanded role aboard Norwegian Getaway, with a decidedly Latin American flair in a nod to the ship’s future homeport of Miami. We had the chance to see a bit of what Burn the Floor can do with their re-invented ballroom dancing, and it is quite spectacular. In fact, a couple in front of me remarked on how much it would have cost them to see something similar on Broadway in Manhattan.

What I like most about this announcement is that it is yet another example of how the line is looking to innovate. It would have been simple to just sign the same sort of entertainment on to each ship – which is how nearly every cruise line operates – but instead, Norwegian took the step (and the potential hassles) of negotiating for new shows and partnerships that further differentiate these two sister-ships.

Incidentally, that’s one of the key reasons I was so enthusiastic about my time aboard Norwegian Epic: for the first time in all of my cruises, I didn’t have to sit through another boring tribute to Motown or Abba or the like! Incidentally, Norwegian Epic may finally be receiving the accolades she’s rightly due: Travel Weekly readers have named her the “Best Overall Cruise Ship” two years in the running.

When she enters service in February 2014, Norwegian Getaway will offer voyages to the Eastern Caribbean sailing roundtrip from Miami. But if you want to be the first to get in on the action – like me – you may want to consider the 10-day Transatlantic Crossing from Southampton to Miami that departs in January 2014!

The biggest surprise of the press conference: Kevin Sheehan wants to make Norwegian Cruise Line one of the world’s best Premium cruise lines. They can do it, too: the exclusive enclave known as The Haven is stunning; a luxury ship within a mainstream ship. And you know what: there’s a market for that. The well-off traveller who wants and loves the variety that big ships have to offer, but with the exclusivity and service of an upscale line.

Even more revealing: nobody else is doing it. The current players in the Premium category (which has some astounding elasticity as it is) all target older couples, or those looking for a non-family vacation. Only time will tell if Norwegian’s plan is successful, of course, but I can foresee a head-smacking-moment of realization coming up from Norwegian’s competitors.

Tonight, we ended the evening with an 80’s-themed party at Spice H₂0 all the way aft on Deck 15. I have to admit that I liked this space better aboard Norwegian Epic, with its crossover bridge and raised seating partitions. But it’s still plenty good here, and tonight, we got a peek at one of Norwegian Breakaway’s key attractions: Fireworks

Unlike the fireworks yesterday – which were launched from a barge – Norwegian Breakaway has the ability to put on her own fireworks spectacular, and she’ll do so once on every voyage to Bermuda. Now, fireworks at sea aren’t new – Disney Cruise Line has been doing them for years – but Norwegian is the first mainstream line to adopt them as part of a regular entertainment program.

It’s also worth noting that during the daytime, there’s an honest-to-God hot dog car here!

Afterwards, I had to stroll one last time around The Waterfront. I am convinced that this is Norwegian Breakaway’s greatest feature; it’s certainly the one I enjoy the most, and an amazing new lease on life for the classic promenade deck. It’s frankly amazing no one has ever thought about doing this before, and I will miss it on every ship that doesn’t have one.

Finally, as our time aboard Norwegian Breakaway comes to a close, I want to impart this on all of you: the old NCL is dead, gone and buried. But like a great fighter emerging from a knockdown, the new Norwegian Cruise Line is as bright and optimistic as I have ever seen it after 15 years of sailing with the line.

Two days aren’t enough to do and see it all. Heck, a week wouldn’t be enough. But the past 48 hours have been a tantalising glimpse into a ship that really hits all the right notes for me.

Norwegian Breakaway? Decidedly accurate!

Our Live Voyage Report from onboard Norwegian Breakaway has sadly come to a close, but stay tuned next week: we’ll have a complete recap and deck-by-deck photo tour of this exciting new ship!

Norwegian Breakaway Christening Live Voyage Report – Day 1

Aaron Saunders — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:46:58 +0000

Christening Norwegian Breakaway in New York City

Note: please bear with us as we try to file these reports. Onboard internet access is very spotty as everyone vies for a reliable connection!

My Air Canada flight touched down at New York’s LaGuardia airport just before 10am this morning, in an unusual lull in between the heavy rain that lashed the Big Apple for the better part of the day. But I wouldn’t be staying in the city that never sleeps for long; instead, I was headed for the christening and maiden United States voyage of the ship that never sleeps: Norwegian Cruise Line’s brand-new Norwegian Breakaway.

I had planned to write an entire paragraph about all of the different dining, lounge, and entertainment venues onboard. But after a few hours spent wandering around Norwegian’s latest and greatest, I realized it does no good for me to just rattle off facts that can easily be found in the brochure because while she may have over 20 different bars and 28 dining options, the real story here is all about the experience.

First and foremost, Norwegian Breakaway is clearly a winner. There’s hardly a trace of Norwegian Epic’s clumsiness or awkward features; instead, the very best and brightest ideas that Norwegian pioneered aboard the Epic have made it onboard. What’s more, they have taken those ideas and built upon them, creating what I feel is quite possibly the best ship Norwegian Cruise Line has ever built.

My favorite feature, hands-down, is The Waterfront. In an age where so many cruise lines are killing off the traditional promenade deck, Norwegian’s has not only returned it (there was no Promenade Deck, as such, aboard Norwegian Epic), but they have made it a sexy and desirable feature again.

Tonight, guests lined the rails of the Waterfront, eager to get a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty and the fireworks spectacular put on at 8:45pm. It brought a tear to my eye to see all these people enjoying dinner, drinks, or friendly conversation on The Waterfront. I had nearly accepted that the Promenade Deck – always my favorite feature – was doomed to extinction in the never-ending quest to maximize revenues. With Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Cruise Line has redefined this traditional space in a way that, I think, will make passengers on other ships very jealous indeed when they see her pull into port.

The second thing worth mentioning is just how well my stateroom – a Category MB Mini-Suite with Balcony – has been designed.

The first thing you might notice is that stateroom doors open outward from the hallway, and not inward as is typical aboard most cruise ships.

The second thing worth noting is the bathroom: it’s gargantuan for a stateroom of this size. The shower in my suite has a rainforest shower head, supplemented by six adjustable jet nozzles that can be activated by choosing one of the four water modes indicated on the shower.

There’s no cylindrical tube showers here; this has a full glass door that slides open and shut, and there’s plenty of room to move around. Ditto for the bathroom itself, which starts approaching a spaciousness that’s typically found aboard ultra-luxury lines. Did I mention the sink is dual-vanity?

The room itself has been cleverly designed, with multiple light source options and switches that are conveniently placed. The desk is big enough to comfortably hold my laptop, and the flat-panel television is recessed into its own section.

The closet is very adequately sized for a weeklong voyage to the Caribbean, but the positioning could be better, as it’s tough to squeeze in between the couch to access the door closest to the wall.

I had read comments on some message boards reflecting discontent over the size of Norwegian Breakaway’s balconies; for sitting and enjoying the view – which I did last night – they’re just fine. No, you can’t stretch out and no, you’d never fit a lounger on them, but for time spent reading a book and relaxing with a drink, they fit the bill.

Also worth noting is that my Mini Suite is very much a middle-of-the-road category; there’s several cabin grades that are lower, and many that are higher. Yet the line has chosen to add some of these luxurious touches to these rooms.

Yesterday, I had the chance to tour one of the Category O1 Family Oceanview staterooms on Deck 5. Their bathroom has been designed slightly differently, but these rooms still offer an unusual amount of space inside; a theme that also applies to the stateroom corridor, which is the most spacious I’ve ever seen on a ship.

All around the ship, I have been thoroughly impressed by the beautiful design of the Norwegian Breakaway’s public rooms. Nothing is enormous or gargantuan; instead, intimate spaces that seat 50 or 60 guests have been created in a way that spreads everyone out – though Shaker’s Martini Bar was smoking busy well into the wee hours last night.

What’s really great about these rooms is that they build on the distinctive style that Norwegian Epic pioneered. It’s given Norwegian a real voice aboard Norwegian Breakaway; there’s absolutely no chance the ship will ever be confused with Carnival or Royal Caribbean, and I think that’s a good thing, particularly these days when the lines between, well, lines, seem to be blurring at an alarming rate.

The other thing that made an enormous impression on me today was Norwegian Cruise Line president and CEO Kevin Sheehan’s remarks during the christening ceremonies that were held around the vessel.

Sheehan himself is a former New York resident. He grew up here. He went to school here. He even drove a cab here. But he took the time on such a busy day to thank – by name – his team at Norwegian Cruise Line who were instrumental in bringing Norwegian Breakaway to life. He had them stand up in the Breakaway Theatre to be recognized. Suddenly, people all around me were standing up, their pride in this ship – and in their efforts being recognized – palpable.

Sheehan also paid tribute to the officers and crew, not just here but throughout the entire Norwegian fleet. And I’ve never seen that done before, ever. I have seen CEO’s put out a “shout-out” to “all the people who helped”, but to watch Kevin Sheehan personally take the time to recognize each of these groups of people was very moving.

Norwegian Cruise Line has a rich and storied history. They’ve flirted with brilliance and danced along the thin red line of disaster. Yet they have always been willing to try something new. They’ve always innovated in ways that other cruise lines couldn’t conceive of. Witness how Freestyle Cruising was mocked – then immediately implemented – by their competitors upon its introduction over a decade ago. Ditto for multiple dining venues. Let’s be honest; had anyone ever thought of having sushi aboard a ship until Norwegian made it cool? Or accessing the internet before the Norwegian Sky popularized the internet café concept back in 1999?

My first cruise was with Norwegian back in 1998 aboard the newly-stretched Norwegian Wind. I have sailed with Norwegian numerous times since then, each time with a different iteration of the line. But I’d still fondly look back and secretly wish for the “old” Norwegian. Until today.

With Norwegian Breakaway, I feel like Norwegian is finally on the right track. The old “NCL” that I sailed with in 1998 is long gone, and that’s okay.

The new Norwegian Cruise Line is better than I could have ever hoped for.

The fantastic Thermal Suite Spa aboard Norwegian Epic, located all the way forward on Deck 15

Our Live Voyage Report from onboard Norwegian Breakaway continues tomorrow, as we spend an entire day at sea trying to take in all this feature-laden vessel has to offer!