Friday, September 6, 2013

Bermuda See Tourism Drop


Picturesque Bermuda
Picturesque Bermuda

Over the past year, Bermuda has seen a reduction in the number of cruise passengers arriving.

The reduction has was mainly due to:

  • Holland America choosing to deploy the Veendam in Boston instead of New York choosing to go to New England Canada instead of Bermuda.
  • Royal Caribbean has also reduced the number of Bermuda sailings both out of New York and Baltimore in favor of Florida and Bahamas cruises.

In addition to these planned changes,

  • Bermuda lost 4 calls at the island by the Emerald Princess. The change was due to repairs to the Heritage Wharf which meant the the ship would need to tender in passengers instead of docking.
  • Three sailings were cancelled due to the fire onboard the Grandeur of the Seas.

The losses were partially offset by the new and larger Norwegian Breakaway calling at the island and bringing more passengers than the previous Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Star.

The second quarter ended with 133,676 cruise passengers arriving. A 17% decrease over last year.

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Thursday, September 5, 2013

Date Set for the 2014 New York Times Travel Show.




The New York Times Travel Show will take place Feb. 28-March 2, 2014, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.  In its 11th year, the Travel Show invites travel professionals and consumers to experience the latest opportunities in travel. 

The 2014 Travel Show will open with a Trade Day for travel industry professionals on Friday, Feb. 28.  The Travel Show will be open to the general public Saturday, March 1, and Sunday, March 2, with on-site travel experts and special offers exclusive to The New York Times Travel Show. 

This year’s Travel Show will highlight unique opportunities and experiences in family travel, adventure and cruising, and will feature interactive exhibitor spaces for attendees of all ages, including Q. and A. with on-site travel experts and the Travel Show’s Taste of the World, a culinary stage with flavors from around the world.       

Travel experts will include renowned travel writers Arthur and Pauline Frommer, travel journalist and host of “World Travels” on National Geographic Adventure Julia Dimon, travel author Patricia Schultz, and “The Points Guy” founder and travel tip expert Brian Kelly.


American Express is a founding sponsor of The New York Times Travel Show.

To learn more about the Travel Show, visit www.NYTimes.com/TravelShow.

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Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Norwegian Getaway Charter Brings Ship to New York in January 2014

 
Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Getaway - Comes to New York in January 2014
Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Getaway - Comes to New York in January 2014


Norwegian Cruise Line has announce Inaugural changes for the maiden voyage of the Norwegian Getaway. The new sister ship to the Norwegian Breakaway is currently under construction in Papenburg Germany. The Maiden Transatlantic voyage was to sail from Rotterdam directly to Miami. The Transatlantic crossing has now been modified to sail from Southampton to New York (where the cruise ends). After completing her voyage in January, the Norwegian Getaway has been chartered to provide accommodation for Super Bowl 48. 

Her schedule is now as follows:




January 16, 2014 - Maiden Transatlantic Voyage from Rotterdam
January 29th -> Feb 5th Charter for the Superbowl. 

February 1, 2014 - Cancelled Maiden Voyage from Miami.
February 8, 2014 - New Maiden Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Miami.





Norwegian Getaway



Being developed as “Miami’s ship,” Norwegian Getaway will embody the essence of her



tropical hometown with hull artwork by Miami’s own David “LEBO” LeBatard, which features a whimsical mermaid holding the sun above the waves. Featuring groundbreaking entertainment, the ship is the first to feature the GRAMMY®



Experience at sea, which will include artifacts chosen and curated by the GRAMMY Museum® along with live performances by past GRAMMY winners and nominees, among others. Another first of its kind at sea, The Illusionarium is an all-new dining and entertainment experience that will envelop guests in the fascinating world of magic, inviting them to experience the astonishing illusions of world-class magicians and supernatural special effects. In addition, Norwegian Getaway boasts sizzling Latin-inspired dance productions by Broadway sensation, Burn the Floor; performances of the seven-time Tony Award nominated musical LEGALLY BLONDE; hilarious comedy headliners produced by Levity Entertainment Group; and the sing along fun of the dueling pianos of Howl at the Moon. To cap off a spectacular cruise experience, every sailing will feature



a dazzling fireworks show at sea, set to music, as part of a dance party in the ship’s outdoor club, Spice H20.




Similar to sister ship Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway will dazzle guests with



the excitement of 678 Ocean Place and The Waterfront, a variety of interconnected indoor and outdoor venues on three dynamic decks that creates a multiplex of dining, activities and more and enhances guests’ connection with the ocean.




Foodies setting sail from Miami on Norwegian Getaway can feast in their choice of 26



incredible dining options, including one of Celebrity Chef and Food Network star Geoffrey



Zakarian’s three dining concepts: Ocean Blue by Geoffrey Zakarian; Ocean Blue on the



Waterfront and The Raw Bar.




For families, Nickelodeon®, the number-one entertainment brand for kids, is on board and



includes a variety of exciting interactive experiences, along with the opportunity to meet



SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star, Dora the Explorer and Diego, among other favorites.



Norwegian Getaway will offer the all-new “Name that Game,” an exciting combination of trivia, speed, skill and slime, where participants will hit the buzzer, race the clock and get extreme as they experience the best of Nickelodeon’s famous game shows live on one stage. Norwegian




Getaway will also include an all new pirate-themed Nickelodeon Kids’ Aqua Park where children can cool off with colorful, whimsical and larger than life Nickelodeon characters from Bikini Bottom. The three-story Sports Complex will feature the Aqua Park with five thrilling water slides, two swimming pools and one of the largest multi-level elevated ropes course that will challenge guests to more than 40 different elements, including a zip track. 

For a thrill like no other, guests will confront The Plank, a platform that extends eight feet over the side of the ship. A nine-hole miniature golf course is located beneath the ropes course, offering family fun with friendly competition. A rock climbing wall, bungee trampoline and spider web, a 24-foot enclosed climbing cage complete with a spiral slide, round out the activities.




Norwegian Getaway offers a variety of flexible accommodations ranging from Studio



staterooms specially designed for solo travelers, to balcony and family staterooms and opulent suites in The Haven, the ultimate in luxury accommodations.



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Monday, September 2, 2013

Royal Caribbean to Build New Cruise Terminal in Bayonne (Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal).



Cape Liberty Cruise Port - Courtesy of Cape Liberty

The Port Authority Board of Commissioners approved plans by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines to build a new cruise terminal building at the Port Authority-owned Bayonne Military Ocean Terminal in Bayonne, New Jersey.

As part of its expansion plans, Royal Caribbean plans to base its new Quantum of the Seas vessel—one of the largest cruise ship serving the New York-New Jersey region—at Bayonne beginning in 2014. The new vessel, which can accommodate up to 4,180 passengers, will sail to the Caribbean, Bahamas and Florida.

As part of the agreement allowing construction of the cruise terminal building, the Port Authority agreed to extend Royal Caribbean’s operating agreement for the terminal for an additional five years through 2043.

“The new Royal Caribbean Cruise Terminal will provide the people of New Jersey and New York with the world-class travel experience they deserve,” said Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Bill Baroni. “We welcome the significant investment Royal Caribbean is making in our region and look forward to welcoming the Quantum of the Seas to her new home in our port.”

The new $70 million cruise terminal building—which will be paid for by Royal Caribbean—includes a 36,000-square-foot check-in terminal, 60,000-square-foot luggage area, parking deck, additional parking, and berth improvements. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer and be completed by October 2014.

Passenger volumes at the Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal have grown steadily in the past three years—from 393,000 passengers in 2010 to 476,000 in 2012. Passenger volumes at the facility are expected to increase to approximately 600,000 after the new terminal building opens.

This recent announcement has also revived a discussions about building a hotel and other tourist related venues near the facility.

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