It was a long show with a lot of news so enjoy – and don’t catch whatever we’ve come down with!

New Yorker and mother of three, Harden will officially name the new ship when it makes its North American debut in New York on November 12, 2009. In honor of Carnival Dream’s much-anticipated arrival, the Tony Award-winning actress will unveil Carnival’s Big Book of Dreams – measuring 15.5 feet high by 20 feet wide – in New York City’s Rockefeller Center today and will conduct a special reading of the larger-than-life story to dozens of schoolchildren. Inspired by the imaginative dreams of children who sailed on Carnival Cruise Lines this spring, “The Dream Plucker of Perrysport” tells the tale of a group of young friends who find themselves on a unique adventure after they encounter a furry orange monster in a quest to remember their dreams. The book will remain on display at Rockefeller Center November 6 and 7 as part of a series of free, activity-filled Carnival “Dream Big” events for the whole family.

During the three-year partnership with St. Jude, Carnival Cruise Lines’ goal is to raise $3 million to help achieve the hospital’s mission of finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic illnesses. To support the hospital, under the theme “Care to Play,” Carnival is creating a number of fun, interactive on-board fundraising activities that will involve guest participation. Carnival will also donate hundreds of kid-sized copies of “The Dream Plucker of Perrysport” to the hospital.

Built for world cruising, Amsterdam will sail a 110-day Grand World Voyage in January and a 70-day Grand Asia & Australia Voyage in the fall. Simultaneously, ms Prinsendam will sail a 66-day Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage followed by a 62-day Grand Africa & Mediterranean Voyage.

Grand World Voyage Departing Jan. 5 and sailing roundtrip Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Amsterdam rings in 2011 with its sixth Grand World Voyage. The 110-day journey is a port collector’s dream that includes 10 overnight calls, visits to an impressive collection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and three maiden ports of call — Alofi, Niue; Oban, Stewart Island, New Zealand; and Koror, Palau. Several exciting segments ranging from 16 to 48 days also are available.

Sailing westbound, Amsterdam will call on Puerto Limón, Costa Rica, before continuing on its way to a daylight transit of the Panama Canal, one of the most remarkable man-made wonders in the world. Also in store for guests are unforgettable calls at Callao, Peru — the gateway to Machu Picchu — and Easter Island, Chile, known for its famous giant stone statues. As Amsterdam continues its voyage, the ship will journey throughout Australia and Asia, transit the Suez Canal and cruise the Mediterranean before crossing the Atlantic and heading back to the States.

Grand South America and Antarctica Voyage Also departing Jan. 5 on a Grand Voyage is Holland America Line’s most intimate ship, ms Prinsendam, which is designed to explore the most remote corners of the world in elegance and style. Prinsendam returns to South America, Antarctica and the Amazon on a 66-day Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage that sails roundtrip Fort Lauderdale. The itinerary emphasizes in-depth exploration by offering eight overnight calls, including an overnight at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and a maiden call at Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. Other memorable moments include eight full days of cruising the Amazon River, navigating around Cape Horn and through the Straits of Magellan, a daylight passage through the Panama Canal and scenic cruising in Antarctica. An option for those with less time is a 33-day segment to or from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Grand Africa and Mediterranean Voyage Following its Grand Voyage down south, Prinsendam returns to Ft. Lauderdale March 12 and embarks on a 62-day Grand Africa & Mediterranean Voyage. The roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale sailing takes guests on a journey to West Africa, the Mediterranean and the Holy Lands. Guests will enjoy a call at Haifa (Tel Aviv), Israel, where they may travel to Nazareth and visit the land of miracles: Galilee, the Jordan River, the Mount of the Beatitudes and Tabgha. This exceptional itinerary will especially appeal to guests who have traveled or cruised this region before, as the ship is set to call at many unique ports including Banjul, Gambia; Dakar, Senegal, and Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands. Four maiden ports of call are scheduled for the Grand Africa and Mediterranean Voyage as well: Havre de Robert, Martinique; Lipari, Italy; Syracusa, Sicily, Italy and Motril, Spain.

Grand Asia and Australia Voyage Amsterdam will wrap up the year with a 70-day Grand Asia and Australia Voyage sailing from Seattle, Wash., to Los Angeles, Calif., departing Sept. 26. Following calls throughout Asia to Indonesia, the itinerary will continue to Western Australia and the South Pacific. This voyage offers extensive time in port to allow guests to take in the wide-ranging history and culture of the region and includes overnights at Beijing and Hong Kong, China, and Sydney, Australia. Guests on board also can enjoy some tropical sunshine with calls at the exotic islands of New Caledonia, Samoa, Fiji and Hawaii.

2011 Grand Voyages open for reservations Reservations are now available for all four Holland America Line 2011 Grand Voyages, and early-booking bonus amenities for full-cruise guests may include prepaid hotel service charges, a shipboard credit, luggage delivery service and an exclusive shore event when booking select stateroom categories; amenities vary by cruise and category booked.

The four Grand Voyages are available to book for the full cruise or in segments as short as 16 days. Cruise fares are per person, double occupancy, and rates start at $16,999 for Amsterdam’s 110-day Grand World Voyage departing Jan. 5, 2011; $10,999 for Prinsendam’s 66-day Grand South America and Antarctica Voyage departing Jan. 5, 2011; $9,599 for Prinsendam’s 62-day Grand Africa and Mediterranean Voyage departing March 26, 2011; and $9,499 for Amsterdam’s 70-day Grand Asia and Australia Voyage departing Sept. 26, 2011.

Oceania Cruises’ three 684-guest vessels – Regatta, Insignia and Nautica – offer a choice of four different dining venues, all of which come under the watchful eye of renowned master chef, Jacques Pépin, who serves as executive culinary director for the cruise line. Guests can choose from The Grand Dining Room, Polo Grill, Toscana and Tapas on the Terrace.

The new online “Dining Reservations Calendar” conveniently includes the times the ship is in port, as well as any pre-reserved shore excursions to assist guests in selecting the ideal dining times. Reservations can be made 90 days in advance of sailing, once final payment has been received, and will remain available until 10 days prior to departure.

Guests may now access the Dining Reservations Calendar beginning with the 2009-2010 Winter Collection voyages of Regatta, Insignia and Nautica to Asia and Australia, South America and the Caribbean. To access the calendar, guests must register in the “Already Booked” section of OceaniaCruises.com.

Legends In Concert

Legends in Concert is a live musical celebration featuring the world’s greatest celebrity tribute artists such as Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Tom Jones, Tina Turner, Madonna, Garth Brooks, Rod Stewart, Cher, Barry White, Tim McGraw and Shania Twain, among many others. Legends in Concert on Norwegian Epic will feature three celebrity tribute performers taking the stage in the Epic Theater for six 45-minute shows over three days during a seven-day cruise. In addition, a cabaret-style show will be performed on three additional nights in the Manhattan Room, the ship’s New York-inspired supper club, providing an unprecedented dining and entertainment experience on Norwegian Epic. The celebrity performers will change every four months, keeping the show fresh and exciting.

Each universally-renowned Legends in Concert performer not only looks and sounds like the star they portray, they transform themselves through hours of practice at their craft. This is accomplished by using their own natural voices and every detail is taken into consideration from choreography, to hair, make-up and mannerisms.

Howl at the Moon

Performing four times per cruise in Headliners, Norwegian Epic’s comedy club, Howl at the Moon is a total entertainment experience where the talented piano players not only entertain the guests; the guests become part of the show. The fun is centered around two baby grand pianos and a full out rock show with Howl’s entertainers playing the best music from 70’s rock to hip-hop for four hours per show. Howl at the Moon, with multiple locations across the United States, encourages people to live out their inner rock star, so guests should be ready to clap, sing, dance and howl.

Carnival is putting a chairlift in Roatan, and Holland America is hosting Windows 7 launch parties.  Holland America’s newest Nieuw Amsterdam was floated out too.

Book a Royal Caribbean cruise with us next week and help support the Fisher House Foundation.

Royal Caribbean took deliver of Oasis of The Seas and check out the daily video we’re getting from the ship too…

Finally, Disney announced a lot of the details about Disney Dream and we’re excited about them.

The timely digital documents include a brand-new email series filled with personalized pre-cruise information, a downloadable Princess Countdown ConnectionTM widget that delivers useful and entertaining information to a passenger’s computer, personalized online luggage tags, and customizable shore excursion eBooks. The change from printed information to fully digital documents applies to all North American passengers on voyages departing on or after January 21, 2010.

Princess’ new digital documents include:

Personalized Pre-Cruise Emails

As soon as passengers book their cruise, they will begin to receive a new series of four emails that are timed to deliver just the right information needed for each stage of the cruise planning process. Replacing a printed Cruise Answer Book, the emails include the passenger booking details and interactive content that gives passengers a fun, engaging way to learn more about the signature amenities and activities they will experience on their ship.

The information will be customized to the itinerary and the ship the passenger is sailing, and greetings are featured from some of the senior officers who will be sailing on their cruise. An array of links are also provided to such things as ship videos and virtual tours, bridge cams, dining options, entertainment choices, shipboard features and amenities, travel logistics, weather information, packing tips, frequently asked questions, Captain’s Circle benefits, important notices and reminders, and how to stay connected to family and friends while onboard.

Princess Countdown ConnectionTM

To help passengers anticipate and prepare for their upcoming sailing, the innovative Princess Countdown ConnectionTM widget is an eye-catching online clock that ticks down the days, hours and minutes until their cruise departs. The new application, which can be downloaded from the pre-cruise emails, can live right on a passenger’s computer desktop, and will automatically deliver an array of personalized information to them about their upcoming sailing such as dining, onboard activities, shore excursions and notices.

Personalized Online Luggage Tags

Passengers will also be able to print their own personalized luggage tags from their home or office computer. These new tags not only include the passenger’s name, but also feature their Captain’s Circle membership status, cabin number and embarkation information. Passengers will be able to print as many tags as needed to ensure all their luggage is properly marked prior to boarding the ship.

The printable luggage tags debut for all voyages departing after December 1, 2009, and are accessible through the Cruise Personalizer. They can be printed up to 75 days prior to the sailing date. Generic luggage tags will continue to be available at the pier for passengers who may need them.

Shore Excursion eBooks

Beginning in December, passengers will be able to print their own personalized shore excursion eBook for their cruise. Using this innovative tool, passengers will be able to select their favorite excursions from the wide array offered in each port, and create their own customized eBook of shoreside experiences. Further details will be available next month.

The Costa Favolosa and Costa Fascinosa, (114,500 gross tons with a double occupancy of 3,000 each) will be delivered in summer 2011 and spring 2012 respectively. The two new sister ships, built by Fincantieri at its Marghera shipyard, are part of a major fleet expansion plan for Costa with five new ships due for delivery between 2009 and 2012. This plan includes the launch of the Costa Luminosa the Costa Pacifica (June 2009) and the Costa Deliziosa (set to debut in January 2010) for a total investment worth 2.4 billion Euros. The Costa Favolosa will be the first of the two new vessels to enter service. The laying of the first “building block” is set to take place on Thursday, November 5 at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard.

Many options in Jerusalem explore the Jewish Quarter; the Western Wall, the holiest of Jewish sites; Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes Remembrance Authority, dedicated to the history of Jews during the Holocaust period; and other significant locations.  Additionally, Jewish tours throughout the world include:

Berlin

• Sachsenhausen Concentration camp, a prototype for all the camps that followed.
• Jewish Old Quarter and the New Synagogue, laid in 1988, exactly 50 years after the “Night of Broken Glass.”

Dublin

• The Irish Jewish Museum, formerly a synagogue, opened by President Chaim Herzog, Israel’s Irish former leader, plus a visit to his childhood home.

Montevideo

• The Uruguay city’s historic Sephardic and Ashkenazi synagogues, as well as the Holocaust memorial and a glimpse into modern-day Jewish life.

Mumbai

• An array of Indian synagogues and other important Judaic cultural sites.

Odessa

• Shomrei Shabbos synagogue; the Jewish Cemetery and memorial to Shalom Aleyhem, famed Ukrainian writer of Fiddler on the Roof.

Rome

• The Jewish Ghetto, issued by anti-Semitic Pope Paul IV in 1555, isolated by walls until 1870.

St. Petersburg

• Special concert by the cantor of the Great Choral Synagogue, the second largest in Europe.

Stockholm

• The Great Synagogue, and its memorial to 8,500 Swedish Holocaust victims, plus one of the few Jewish museums in Scandinavia.

The tours are available on itineraries throughout 2010.  For more information and Crystal reservations, contact a travel agent, call 888-799-4625, or visit crystalcruises.com.

The program benefits Fisher House Foundation, a charity that provides no-cost housing near Veterans Administration medical centers for families of veterans undergoing extended medical treatment.

Through Voyages for Veterans, Royal Caribbean will donate $50 to the Fisher House Foundation for every cabin booked through us on one of 12 sailings throughout 2010. To launch the program, travelers who book any Voyages for Veterans sailing during the week of Veterans Day, Nov. 9-15, will receive free travel-related items like a clock, currency converter or tote bag.

The sailings, which include Mediterranean, Alaska and Caribbean itineraries, are open to the public.

A silver dollar was used for the traditional coin ceremony.  Alice Tinorua, the wife of Pieter Rijkaart, director of newbuildings for Holland America was the godmother for the launch.

Today’s launch represents the fourteenth ship built by Fincantieri for Holland America.

Marghera’s orderbook, besides the Nieuw Amsterdam, includes Costa Deliziosa, due in January, and a further two 114,500gt vessels for Costa Crociere due in spring 2011 and 2012.

Classes and launch parties are led by the workshop “techsperts,” or instructors, who are Microsoft-trained and are officially approved Windows 7 launch hosts. All ships have Party Packs from Microsoft and will be giving away Windows 7 theme posters, luggage tags and special discounts and offers in addition to Holland America Line prizes.

Workshops are complimentary and limited to 15 participants per session so that instructors can provide personalized assistance. In addition, instructors maintain “techspert time,” where guests can get their individual questions answered and work on personal program-related projects. Each ship has a dedicated space for the classes, complete with computers, printers and other necessary equipment.

A first-of-its kind water coaster that sends guests racing above the upper decks of the ship.  An animated turtle that engages children in conversation about life in the ocean.  A sophisticated lounge where the sun sets over the skyline of a different world-famous city each night.  When the Disney Dreams debuts in early 2011, the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet will bring to life these innovations and more.

The Disney Dream will take family cruising to all-new heights, embracing the spirit of innovation, magical family entertainment and immersive experiences that have made Disney Cruise Line the preeminent cruise of choice for families since 1998.

Disney Cruise Line revolutionized the cruise industry with purpose-built ships designed just for families.  With the Disney Dream setting sail on Jan. 26, 2011, preparations are underway to expand the one-of-a-kind family experience, utilizing technology to enhance the world-class entertainment and legendary guest services onboard.  From stem to stern, the Disney Dream will offer a cruise experience that caters to the preferences of the whole family.

The Disney Dream features a remarkable interior design which provides guests with a warm and welcoming feel throughout.  The ship’s design offers guests a perfect blend of elegant Art Deco style and fun-filled Disney whimsy to create one of the most spectacular ships afloat.  Distinctly Disney guest features aboard the Disney Dream include:

AquaDuck Water Coaster. . .

Disney Cruise Line debuts a cruise-industry first: a shipboard water coaster … AquaDuck!  Guests aboard the Disney Dream will get swept away on an exhilarating high-speed flume ride featuring twists, turns, drops, uphill acceleration and river rapids – all while traversing the upper decks of the ship.

• AquaDuck stretches 765 feet in length – more than two and a half times the length of a football field – and spans four decks in height.
• Guests slide 13 feet over the side of the ship in a translucent “swing out” loop allowing them to look down on the ocean 150 feet below.
• Guests experience coaster-like thrills as high-powered water jets push them upwards and forwards at 20 feet per second.
• AquaDuck continues through the forward funnel, encounters a 335 foot stretch of river rapids and splashes down to an end on Deck 12.

A Virtual Porthole for Inside Staterooms. . .

At Disney’s Oceaneer Club, children can:

• Play among larger-than-life characters from Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story” in Andy’s Room
• Explore the Laugh Floor with loveable monsters Mike and Sully from “Monsters, Inc.”
• Dive under the sea with Nemo and friends or visit Tinker Bell’s fairy forest

At Disney’s Oceaneer Lab, children feel as though they are embarking on a great seafaring adventure in a room filled with maps, maritime instruments and swashbuckling artifacts.  Here, children can try their hand at animation, become a pop star or navigate ships through digital seas.

Both venues offer magical interactions with the animated characters such as Crush, the sea turtle from the Disney•Pixar motion picture “Finding Nemo” and Stitch, the mischievous alien from “Lilo and Stitch.”  The characters chat, play and joke with children in live, unrehearsed conversations from their digital undersea and intergalactic environments via 103-inch plasma screens.

Located inside the forward funnel is Edge – the lounge just for tweens (ages 11 to 13).  This tween pad is filled with a multitude of hi-tech entertainment including the ability to create and star in photo postcards and video karaoke using green-screen technology.

Teens have their own exclusive club aboard the Disney Dream with Vibe – a trendy and inviting indoor/outdoor space created especially for guests ages 14 to 17.  A “teen-only” swipe card provides access to the nearly 9,000-square-foot club.

Teens can create and edit videos, play computer games, access the onboard social media application or try their hand at spinning and mixing dance tracks.  Teens have their own private outdoor deck area with chaise lounges for sunbathing, two wading pools, misters and pop jets for cooling off, and deck games such as ping-pong and foosball.

• Animator’s Palate, a signature Disney Cruise Line restaurant that brings the magic of Disney animation into the dining room for a unique experience that will captivate the entire family.
• Royal Palace, an elegant restaurant inspired by the classic Disney films “Cinderella,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” ” Beauty and the Beast” and “Sleeping Beauty.”
• Enchanged Garden, a whimsical casual restaurant inspired by the gardens of Versailles and featuring a dining environment that magically transforms from day to night.

Just for Adults. . .

On the Disney Dream, while children are having the time of their lives in the elaborately themed youth areas, adults can look forward to incomparable indulgences and relaxation with exclusive areas and offerings designed exclusively for them.

• Adults can escape in to The District, a nighttime entertainment area on the Disney Dream with five unique venues.  This playground for grownups features sophisticated lounges, each with its own unique design, look, feel and palate-pleaseing delights.
• Senses Spa & Salon offers adult tranquility with 17 private treatment rooms, lavish spa villas with indoor treatment rooms and private outdoor verandahs, and Rainforest, a special section of the spa offering the benefits of steam, heat and hydrotherapy to relax the mind and body.
• At Palo, adult guests find epicurean excellence and an unforgettable dinner experience at sea.  Every seat offers beautiful ocean vistas while a pianist softly serenades guests in an intimate restaurant setting.

The Disney Dream is scheduled to depart on its maiden voyage Jan. 26, 2011, and will sail alternating three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.  During summer months, the ship will alternate four- and five-night itineraries with two stops at Castaway Cay.  Guests can book their Disney Dream cruise beginning Nov. 9, 2009.

When Disney entered the cruise business almost 12 years ago with Disney Magic they literally changed the entire industry.

Tonight Disney reveals the details on their newest ship Disney Dream and based on what’s leaked out so far – the ship will be another game changer for the cruise industry.

We’ll have full details soon – but some of the things that we’re hearing that Disney Dream will feature include:

• Inside Cabins with ocean views
• A roller coaster like water slide
• An adult’s only lounge that feels likes it’s a penthouse in the middle of a major city
• “Enchanted Art” placed throughout the ship

The official release is shortly and we hope to have drawings and more of what Disney has in store for their newest ship soon!

Carnival calls the 6 minute lift ride Magical Flying Beach Chair and it starts right at the cruise terminal and take passengers to Mahogany Beach. This is quite possibly the first chair lift in the Caribbean.

The four-passenger chairs travel on nearly 1,200 feet of cables suspended 67 feet above the ground and trees and bay and countryside views. Carnival will charge a $5 fee for unlimited rides (chair lift passes will also be included in pre-sold beach activities).  The lift should be able to accommodate 1,500 passengers per hour.

The lift is part of Carnival’s new $62 million cruise center which debuts with a visit of the 2,124-passenger Carnival Legend on Nov. 20. The cruise center and its two-berth cruise terminal is a joint project between the cruise line and Roatan businessman Jerry Hynds.

Mahogany Beach is a 10-acre private island featuring an 825-foot-long white-sand beach replete with  lounge chairs, floats. a beach volleyball court, private cabanas available for rent and a whole bunch of watersports opportunities. There’s also a restaurant and two themed bars.

Not a whole lot going on this week so we talked about some of the stories that you didn’t get to hear last week…

Check the Coral Princess drydock photos there’s some neat stuff in there…

Regent has tweaked it’s dress codes – but best of all they’ve actually defined the new dress codes!

Then it’s all Royal Caribbean and Oasis of The Seas news.  Royal had to tweak a few things as they come down the final stretch towards the delivery.  We’ve also got a peak at just what the delivery entails, and finally where does the line go from here – we’ve got some insight on the topic from Adam Goldstein.

Don’t forget to weigh in on The Question of The Week – we want to know what you think about Mr. Goldstein’s comments…

The 4,200 passenger Norwegian Epic will enter service next June under the command of Captain Trygve Vorren, a 29-year seafaring veteran who is currently captain of Norwegian Jade, and Captain Hakan Svedung, at sea for 35 years and currently captain of Norwegian Dawn. Vorren, a native of Norway, joined Norwegian in 1980 as first officer on the SS Norway, then the world’s largest cruise ship. He has also served aboard Skyward, Southward, Sunward II, Dreamward, Leeward, Starward, Royal Odyssey, Norwegian Sea, Norwegian Crown, Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Majesty. Svedung, who lives in Sweden, has served on Norwegian Dawn since 2006; prior to that he worked for Star Cruises, one of Norwegian’s shareholders, for 12 years. Both captains are looking forward to this exciting and challenging new role.

Klaus Lugmaier and Sean Wurmhoeringer will serve as Norwegian Epic’s hotel directors. Lugmaier, currently director of shipboard operations at the company’s Miami headquarters, began his career at Norwegian 21 years ago aboard Seaward and held a variety of positions before becoming one of the youngest hotel directors in the cruise industry at the age of 26. As hotel director, he has launched seven of the company’s new ships, including Leeward, Norwegian Sky, Norwegian Star, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Gem. He was also part of the team that launched Norwegian Dream and Norwegian Wind. Wurmhoeringer, with Norwegian since 2002, is currently serving as hotel director on Norwegian Spirit and has also served on Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Sky.