Norwegian Cruises

Have you heard about the Norwegian Epic yet?  It’s NCL’s newest ship that will debut in May 2010.

        

 

It is 150,000-ton, 4,200-passenger, the largest and most innovative ship ever built by Norwegian Cruise Line.

 

Included are some fabulous activities for the kids and the “kids young at heart”. There will be a sprawling Aqua Park consisting of three waterslides, including one that utilizes an inner tube; a twisty slide, and one just for kids that actually goes right through the rock-climbing wall. The most unusual is "Epic Plunge," the slide that uses inner tubes -- passengers will zip down a 200-ft. channel into a bowl where centrifugal forces will spin them for a bit before they splash down.

There will be two pools with lighting effects produced at night, five whirlpools and a kids' splash pool with water spouting sculptures

 

Sports & other fun-filled activities…..

Epic's rock climbing wall is 33 feet high, 64 feet wide. There will also be a rappelling wall, the first at sea. This is a wall where you work your way down a cliff by rappelling off of it.

There’s a multi-use sports deck which includes a full size basketball court, volleyball, soccer, dodge ball, batting cage, bungee trampoline, rope adventure course and a 24-foot tall enclosed climbing cage called the spider web. Norwegian Epic will also feature the first squash court at sea, located in the fitness center.

The Norwegian Epic will feature six bowling lanes split between two venues.

The kids' area includes a space-themed play area, air hockey table, pinball, foosball, a video jukebox, flat-screen TV's, dance floor, multiple Wii and PlayStation areas, computer games, movie time, private karaoke. These are all age-related activities.

Let’s not forget the arcade!

Dining Options…….

Taste. NCL says "traditional and contemporary cuisine" will be served in this atrium eatery decorated with velvet curtains, white walls and brick accents.

The Manhattan Room. This will be an two-story Art Deco supper club with a dance floor and live evening music.

Cafe Jardin & The Great Outdoors. Wonderful traditional cruise ship buffet

Cagney's Steakhouse & Churrascaria. Cagney's is NCL's signature steakhouse, This time, an Argentinean churrasco will be added - skewered meats presented by tableside passadors. (Surcharge required)

La Cucina. An olive tree and hanging lanterns; a Tuscan-style Italian eatery. (Surcharge required)

Le Bistro. NCL's French bistro, Le Bistro, will feature contemporary and traditional paintings and sculptures. (Surcharge required)

Shanghai's. will serve a mix of Chinese dishes in a noodle bar setting -- noodles, wok fried dishes and dim sum will be prepared in an open kitchen. (Surcharge required)

Wasabi. Located outside the Teppanyaki restaurant, Wasabi is an expansive sushi and sake bar. (Surcharge required)

 

Teppanyaki. This will be NCL's largest Teppanyaki yet, and the largest at sea, seating 115 guests. Up to 24 chefs will cook nightly. (Surcharge required)

 

O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill. This 24-hour sports bar, will have three lanes of bowling, dart boards, pool tables, foosball and arcade games.

The Epic Club and Courtyard Grill. Reserved exclusively for Norwegian Epic's suite and villa guests. The Epic Club will feature a large wine display, glass sculptures and pearl drapes. The Courtyard Grill is a casual, outdoor area which serves suite and villa guests breakfast and lunch.

Yes…..the sand is really pink!   

Summer is prime time for Bermuda cruises. There are ships that depart for Bermuda from a number of East Coast ports. They include Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk, as well as from Florida. For such a small island, Bermuda has two cruise ship ports - one at Hamilton, the island's capital, and the other at Kings Wharf.

Motor scooters and bicycles are available for rental to the visitors. Tourists are not allowed to drive cars in Bermuda. Upscale shops with fine products from around the world and especially Britain can be found. Bermuda also has an abundance of restaurants featuring the island's distinctively spicy cuisine.

    

HISTORY

Bermuda is a cluster of 150 small islands, arranged in the shape of a fish hook.  It is located 650 miles off the coast of North Carolina.  Bermuda has a semi-tropical climate, offering temperate summers and mild winters.

It was first inhabited in 1609. Bermuda has a population of 56,000 people with cultural backgrounds from United Kingdom, Africa, the West Indies and Portugal. It is one of Britain’s oldest, self-governing colonies

First inhabited in 1609, Bermuda is a cluster of 150 small islands, arranged in the shape of a fish hook and located 650 miles off the coast of North Carolina.  Comprising an area of a mere 21 square miles, it is blessed with a semi-tropical climate, offering temperate summers and mild winters.

 

·        Meeting and Breakout Space

·        Staging

·        Audio Visual Equipment

·        Deluxe accommodations and every amenity of a deluxe hotel.

·        Confirmed dining room seating if desired

·        24-hour complimentary room service - extended menu

·        Higher staff-to-guest ratio

·        All-inclusive; all costs are upfront

·        Far less expensive than a comparable land-based program

·        No menus to plan - all food is included

·        Can be upgraded by the traveler

·        3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or more night cruises allow more possibilities

·        Airport Meet, Greet & Transfers

·        Baggage Handling

                -    Something for everyone

·        Great mix of meeting and leisure time activities to accommodate your guests

·        Captive Audience - participants can't be off-site

·        Multiple destinations while unpacking only once

·        Shore excursions, full casinos, Island golf, live entertainment, spa facilities, duty free shopping....

·        Great spouse programs, themed events, and team building opportunities 
 
What's In It For The Meeting Planner? A More Successful Program with Far Less Work!

Organizing a group meeting at sea is extremely easy in the cruise environment.  Due to their all-inclusive nature, cruises offer one stop shopping. There are no menus to plan, no airfare to arrange, no transfers to coordinate, no special activities to plan, no entertainment to locate; it's all included.  Each ship has an on-board coordinator with whom we schedule meetings, audiovisual equipment and special events in advance of the sailing.  Dining room schedules and seating can be pre-selected.

A cruise is the easiest, most cost effective meeting or incentive program to prepare

Gourmet Dining
Cruises offer multiple destinations, rather than one, relaxation for sunbathers, and good weather most of the time due to their ability to move and avoid storms. Cruises offer, guest lecturers, and lessons in gambling, wine tasting, painting, and photography. Seminars at sea in various fields and themed sailings are also available. Cruises can offer access to parts of the world which would otherwise be inaccessible other than by water. With a staff/guest ratio of one staff for every two guests, the service is unparalleled.

Best of all, there are so many itineraries to choose from….. Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. There’s Alaska the Mediterranean, the Greek Isle, the Baltic's, the Rhine, the Danube, and the Scandinavian Fiords.  Winter months offer the coast of South or Central America and the Panama Canal. Let’s not forget Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Asia.

What makes Meetings at Sea the planner’s dream? 
The answer: The combination of a private, complimentary meeting space and the desire for something different, with the ease of planning and taking budget considerations.

                                     

A cruise ship is a fun and exciting location for your memorable 
wedding ceremony & marriage renewals.  

Five years ago, there were practically no weddings performed on cruise ships; now there are thousands.   According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), cruise weddings have grown at a phenomenal rate the last few years.  

    

This growth rate is not surprising. Wedding cruise packages are available through almost every major cruise line. What better way to say your vows; have your wedding and then sail off on your honeymoon!  No travel time wasted.  This is such a wonderful way to celebrate the big day and enjoy a vacation with your closest friends and family.

Putting together a cruise wedding can actually be a fairly simple process.  With packages available in over 100 beautiful ports of call, you can choose a destination perfect for you and your guests. 

Most packages vary from cruise line to cruise line. They have their own wedding planners who are very familiar with the special needs of a wedding cruise. Packages may include priority check-in for the bridal couple and their sailing guests, Wedding Coordinator, ceremony, officiant, recorded music, bridal bouquet, boutonniere with a matching bloom, keepsake marriage certificate, wedding cake, champagne, photography and one 8" x 10" wedding photograph. These amenities are flexible to the needs of the wedding couple, but just about everything relevant to a wedding can be included in wedding cruise package.

After the ceremony there is no cleanup for the wedding party. Everyone can all simply enjoy the company of one another and continue cruising. For adventurous couples and guests, a number of cruise ship activities can also booked as a group.  Booking as a group can be a good way to get a discounted price on the activities.  

Exclusive wedding service can be provided Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Windstar and HollandAmerica (Europe), as well as select ports for Carnival Cruise Line.

 

Cruisin' with the Kidz

Royal Caribbean
has announced Nickelodeon-themed cruises starting “summer 2008” on Freedom of the Seas. In addition to the Nickelodeon, kids will enjoy the FlowRider surf simulator and H20 Zone water playground.

Carnival
is working on a $250 million "Evolution of Fun." They are adding WaterWorks aqua parks, complete with 300-foot-long corkscrew waterslides, water spray park, and double-lane racing slides. This will be introduced first on the Carnival Inspiration and Imagination "fun ships," while a new "Circle C" program is unveiled on the line for 12- to 14-year-olds. 

 

Norwegian Cruise Line
has more connecting stateroomsthan any other cruise line; penthouses to small cabins.  Families also enjoy the "Freestyle Dining" which is  offered on every NCL onboard restaurant.  There's no need to get dressed up or eat with others if you don't want to. 

Disney
provides day care for infants and toddlers too young for the organized kids' clubs for an extra fee. Disney will debut a stage adaptation of Toy Story aboard the Disney Wonder this spring, complete with a new eight-song score. Disney Wonder will have a nearly nine-foot-tall Rex the dinosaur as the she sails from the West Coast to Mexican ports-of-call. 

Regent Seven Seas
offers an "Ambassadors of the Environment" youth program. The program is designed to provide environmental awareness and skills on certain Alaska and Tahiti voyages. This was created by Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of Jacques Cousteau. 

Princess Cruises and Holland America
will each have six ships sailing Europe & the Mediteranean this summer. More families are realizing, despite the weak U.S. dollar that there is no easier, economical and fun way to show their children the great sights than from the decks of a cruise ship. As an added attraction, there is a pool, plenty of organized kids' activities, all the food you can eat, lodging, casino and dancing for the adults.   and all costs are all paid for in U.S. dollars