When it comes to new ships, the cruise industry keeps outdoing itself. Cruise lines often update existing ships to make them more stylish, comfortable and entertaining than before. They also invest in brand-new ships with truly innovative features.
For example, the grass will be greener on Celebrity Cruises’ new Solstice. This 2,850-passenger ship, now under construction, will feature the cruise industry’s first shipboard lawn. The half-acre of lush, green grass will be the centerpiece of the Lawn Club on the top deck. Guests can play bocce ball or croquet at the Lawn Club, practice their putting or even enjoy a picnic under the open sky. “We want our guests to experience the unexpected, like the thrill of sinking a putt on a freshly manicured lawn in the middle of the ocean,” said Dan Hanrahan, president and chief executive officer of Celebrity Cruises.
The Solstice, the first of four new Celebrity ships of its type, will also feature staterooms enhanced by a woman’s touch. To help make the new ship’s staterooms both stylish and functional, Celebrity gathered insights and opinions from a panel of five women: a frequent cruiser, a travel agent, a travel writer, a hotelier and potential cruiser. “Women are not only the primary cruise planners, they are the most discerning guests when it comes to the stateroom,” said Ellen Taaffe, Celebrity’s senior vice president of marketing. The panel of women helped Celebrity create staterooms with efficient floor plans, clear sightlines to sea views and an elegantly neutral color palette, among other features. The Solstice is scheduled to take its maiden voyage on December 14, 2008.
Royal Caribbean is also finding unique ways to involve potential cruisers in the development of its new ships. Together with USA Today, the cruise line is holding a naming contest for two ships now under construction. The ships, code named Genesis I and Genesis II, will each accommodate 5,400 guests. The new ships will launch in 2009 and 2010.
To find out more about the features and amenities of the newest cruise ships, talk with me Judy Butts — your personal cruise expert at 661-251-7248. You may also visit www.judybutts.com or email jbutts@seamastercruises.com. SOT#: 2082551-50.