Cruise Diary page 10 of 29
9th November: A new ship is launched while two others are retired from the fleet; book your excursions on the 'net; Elvis is alive and well on the Epic.
Monday 9th November, 2009
By Steve Read
The Nieuw Amsterdam touched water for the first time last week, after the floating out ceremony in Venice.
The ship, a sister to Holland America Line’s Eurodam, has about nine months to go before she sails with passengers for the first time.
At the ceremony two commemorative coins were sealed in a compartment under the mast – a tradition believed to bring good fortune to a vessel.
HAL president Stein Kruse said: “It is always a meaningful moment to bring a new ship along to this point in the building process.”
She will be the fourth ship in Holland America’s 136-year history to carry the name Nieuw Amsterdam.
Coins used in the ceremony were minted to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's discovery of the river in New York that bears his name.
In 1609, Hudson, an English explorer employed by the Dutch East India Company, sailed his ship Half Moon up that river. His explorations eventually led to the first permanent Dutch settlement in North America – a village on the southern tip of Manhattan Island, which was named Nieuw Amsterdam.
Several rooms on Nieuw Amsterdam will have New York City themes. The main restaurant is the Manhattan Dining Room, the atrium art is inspired by the city’s skyscrapers and the youth area will feature an authentic 1981 New York Checker cab.
After the blessing of the ship and the ceremonies, floodgates on the dry dock were opened.
As the dock began to fill, a bucket was lowered into the water and some of the first water to touch the ship's hull was captured and preserved in a crystal bottle that is presented to the captain during the ship’s official dedication.
→ Book a Norwegian Cruise Lines holiday
Excursions from Cyberspace
I HATE having to spend the first hour after boarding a ship trying to book excursions, specialty restaurants and – though not lately – spa treatments and hair appointments.
Oceania Cruises are removing that hassle by making it possible to book all that stuff online before you sail.
The line’s three 684-passenger ships – Nautica, Regatta and Insignia which I sailed on earlier this year – each have four restaurants, The Grand Dining Room, Polo Grill, Toscana and Tapas on the Terrace.
Dining and shorex reservations can be made 90 days in advance of sailing... as long as you’ve paid your fare in full.
Oceania’s fourth ship, Marina, which will carry 1,258 passengers, will have ten dining venues. She will be launched next winter.
Sunset sailings
IT’S farewell to two more ships this week – the Carnival Holiday, which has been in the fleet for 24 years
The Carnival Holiday is being transferred to the Spanish line IberoCruises.
Carnival Holiday
She will be replaced in her homeport of Mobile, Alabama, by the bigger Carnival Fantasy.
Norwegian Majesty has left NCL’s fleet, but at present there are no plans to put a replacement ship into her homeport of Charleston, South Carolina.
Norwegian Majesty
The ship has been sold to Louis Cruises, who will sail her in the Med as the Louis Majesty.
Smashing Cowgirl
OSCAR winner Marcia Gay Harden has been chosen as godmother of the Carnival Dream, which will be christened on Thursday.
Marcia – who I remember most as the medic in Space Cowboys, for which she didn’t win anything – will do the honours in her home city New York.
→ Book a Carnival Cruises Holiday
Epic stageshow
CRUISERS on the Norwegian Epic will feel like they're in Las Vegas.
Tribute entertainers including Elvis Presley, Madonna, Tina Turner, Cher, Tom Jones, Dolly Parton and the Blues Brothers will be among the acts making regular appearances.
As well as appearing on stage, they will perform cabaret shows in the Manhattan Room, the Epic's New York-inspired supper club.
In the comedy club, the show Howl at the Moon features duelling pianists who invite the audience to join in.
The ship will be launched next year.
→ Book a Norwegian Cruise Lines holiday
Barcelona bound
I’M aboard the Costa Europa today – sailing into Barcelona after a very quick visit to have a look around the ship that will become the Thomson Dream next year.
Watch out for my video from the ship, tomorrow.
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