Mega-ships dominated the cruise line announcements last week. All three major cruise lines revealed new details, pictures, and updates on their latest ships debuting this year. There is also plenty of other “hot” news over the past seven days. To help you get caught up from this busy week in cruising, we have our latest edition of Cruise News February 25, 2018.
Cruise News February 25, 2018
Countdown to Symphony of the Seas
We are less than a month away from the next record-breaking ship. Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas will be hitting the ocean next month. With the ship’s upcoming debut in just a few weeks, the cruise line released a brand new video counting down this massive new mega-ship. The vessel is ready to wow cruisers with its modern amenities, restaurants, and onboard entertainment. Are you cruising on Symphony of the Seas? Let us know your reactions to this ship in the comments below.
Bahamas Paradise Adds Second Ship
Travelers looking to test out cruising will now have more options from Palm Beach. The small cruise line, Bahamas Paradise, will be adding a second ship to its fleet this April. The new Grand Classica is a 52K gross ton ship that was recently refurbished to join the emerging cruise line. Formerly the Costa Classica, this new ship will be offering two-night cruises to Freeport, Bahamas. With the cruise line’s current Grand Celebration also offering two-night cruises, the brand will now be offering daily departures to the Bahamas. Bahamas Paradise cruise line is currently offering a buy one, get one promotion. Cruisers who book a trip on one ship will get a cruise on the other ship (of equal or lesser value) for free. Hurry as the sale ends tomorrow, Monday, February 26th.
3 New Shows Coming to Carnival Horizon
Carnival Cruise Line also made news this week regarding its latest ship, Carnival Horizon. The cruise line provided a peek at some of the new entertainment offerings coming to the ship. As part of the line’s Playlist Productions, three brand new shows will debut on Carnival Horizon when it sets sail this spring. Among the new theater productions is Soulbound billed as a “high-energy” show set in New Orleans with a steam-punk inspired vibe. There is also the immersive Celestial Strings mixing classical music and pop with high tech 3D imagery and the new Vintage Pop which will transform modern hits into classic, soulful jazz interpretations set in the heyday of flappers and speakeasies. In addition, the ship will also feature the production show of Amor Cubano: A Caribbean Dance Romance which debuted on Horizon’s sister ship, Carnival Vista.
Celebrity Introduces Hollywood Hot Glass Shows
Celebrity Cruises is expanding its hot glass offerings on select ships. The new Hollywood Hot Glass show will feature glassblowing demonstrations on the Lawn Club. Following these demonstrations, cruisers can register for a Hot Glass class. During these classes, cruisers will have the opportunity to create a unique glass blown masterpiece while working with an expert hot glass instructor. There are eight different sculptures to choose from with the sculptures starting at $40.
Norwegian Bliss Float Out
In other mega-ship news, Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest ship to date also made headlines this week. The Norwegian Bliss had its first float out just a few days ago. This construction milestone marked the first time the ship officially touched the water. Executives from both Norwegian Cruise Line and Meyer Werft shipyard were on hand to attend the ceremony. This float out also marked the first official debut of the ship’s livery. The Alaskan inspired hull art is the creation of artist Wyland and is titled “Cruising with the Whales.” After a series of preview sailings, Norwegian Bliss will set sail on June 2nd for a full season of Alaskan cruises from Seattle, WA. The Princess and I will be there for the ship’s inaugural ceremony on May 30th. Stay tuned for the latest updates on this new ship.
Windstar Extends Partnership
Windstar Cruises announced that it would continue its relationship with the James Beard Foundation. This culinary partnership began in 2016 and expanded in 2017. Now, the cruise line will be the official cruise line of the Foundation through 2021. This year, the cruise line will host six culinary-focused cruises in which the Foundation’s chefs will showcase their culinary talents and knowledge with cooking demonstrations and onboard events. The extended partnership will also allow Windstar to add new recipes to its menus.
Comments
Did we miss any significant headlines in our Cruise News February 25, 2018 edition? Do you have any news you want to share? Drop us an anchor below with your updates from the past week in cruising.
What about the new Richard Branson venture Virgin voyages with his ship under construction due to sail sometime 2020, we have secured ourselves a prebooking
Hi Anne, thanks for the comment. We are closely watching the development of the new Virgin Voyages. We have some brand new updates from Seatrade this week. Glad to hear you got a prebooking secured for one of the first cruises.