Cruise Zanza Blue www.zanza.com

New to Carnival? Looking for Carnivals new look? you can check out the latest Carnival Video’s at www.zanza.com/CL-Carnival-Cruise-Line.aspx

Click Here for www.CruiseZanzaBlue.com

Carnival Cruise Lines said its 2,052-passenger Carnival Fantasy will get a new aqua park with a 300-foot-long water slide, an adults-only area, and a redesigned main pool in a multi-million-dollar dry dock this fall. The makeover represents phase two of “Evolutions of Fun,” Carnival’s $250 million ship refurbishment program for the line’s eight 70,000-ton Fantasy-class vessels. Carnival Fantasy, which operates year-round four- and five-day Western Caribbean cruises from New Orleans, will be the third ship to get the upgrades, with Carnival Inspiration and Carnival Imagination completed in recent months. Taking center stage on the Fantasy’s Verandah Deck will be Carnival WaterWorks, an aqua park featuring a four-deck-high, 300-foot-long corkscrew water slide along with an 82-foot-long, dual-lane racing slide, and various water spray apparatuses. Located aft will be Serenity, an adults-only outdoor retreat designed for relaxation, tranquility and comfort.

Serenity will feature plush chaise lounges and chairs, colorful oversized umbrellas, two whirlpools, and a separate area where guests can relax in shade. Bar service will be provided with waiters offering a selection of cocktails and frozen concoctions. The new resort-style main pool area, located mid-ship, will feature umbrellas providing shaded seating at pool’s edge along the tiled “beach” bordering the circumference of the pool. A thatched roof will cover one of the two whirlpools at either end of the swimming pool, while faux palm trees and more thatched roofing will hover over new, centrally positioned staircases. These new enhancements will complement the upgrades incorporated during earlier dry docks. These include renovated staterooms with flat-screen TVs, a nine-hole miniature golf course, a renovated 12,000-square-foot Spa Carnival, updated dining rooms, a New York-style deli, an atrium lobby bar, a new conference facility, a patisserie serving specialty coffees and sweets, and new photo and art galleries. A number of family-friendly amenities — including new facilities for children and teens — along with more than 50 interconnecting staterooms, have been added. High-tech sound and lighting systems for a host of live music and entertainment venues have also been incorporated.

Published by Shawn Kaufmann

Royal Caribbean Newset Ship

VIEW THE NEW VIDEO Oasis of the Seas at www.zanza.com/podcast.aspx

The buzz over the last year regarding Royal Caribbean International’s Geneses Class was very mixed. This included our own Travel Concierge’s (If you are unaware Zanza Travel Concierges are all ex-crew members). We all new someone would come along and build bigger and better. When you look at the cruise industry as a whole it really seems to be “Who has the newest toys” which is great for cruisers.

Many of us can remember the launch of the Carnival Fantasy Class and the RCI Sovereign Class, then came Carnival with the Destiny Class and we can even note Cunard’s Queen Mary. The one that topped everyone in the game was the RCI Eagle Class which latter would be called Explorer of the Seas. That was truly innovation in motion and created a big buzz. It was risky considering the money put into that project and all of the obstacles. Many of us held our breath during those sea trials. End result RCI pulled it off with flying colors.

Since that time pretty much every cruise line has spruced up every new ship similar to Automotive Manufacturers presenting new models, the concept is the same, four wheels, engine, doors, etc. with the new add-on’s being great but not a show stopper.

When many of our Travel Concierges (keep in mind less then 20 Concierges are listed on Zanza.com but there are well over 75 in total) started to talk about the Geneses the conversation bounced back and forth with all of us thinking roughly the same thing “Cattle Call” and “Packed Like Sardines”. We all figured she would have the RCI Standards, Rock Climbing Wall, Ice Rink, etc etc. But come on “Geneses Class” was a bit of a stretch (seemed like RCI wanted more paying Guests per voyage). This comes from a group of Concierges that remembers “The Next Level” presented to the crew of RCI by the office. It had a great ring to it but it really meant many cost cutting measures for the crew. To give you an example it included many of us crew only having cabin cleaning services and fresh towels every other day. In actuality that was a very good move by RCI in searching to cut costs without effecting clients.

After tracking and logging the information that was released the picture started to change, that’s when the “back office” buzz really stated to get heated. Then came the first video, not to impressive video wise “Big Ship Being Built”, many of us at Zanza has physically been in the yards with the builds, refurbishments and dry docks. To the general public these video’s show visions of grandeur. For many of us here at Zanza we get a slight chill remembering those times being on the ship with no air conditioning, no showers, temperamental toilets and the occasional black out “which always seemed to happen while in the shower soaped up”. Well that video left us with more questions then before. It pretty much confirmed what we already knew.

Like an unfinished house it was not until everything came together and it was spelled out did the “Wow” factor truly hit. The new video put it all together. Not only do our clients want in on the oasis action but so do many of the Concierges. Get in line! It appears RCI has done it again, just when Carnival and some of the other lines were getting close to the bar RCI set a few years back RCI bumped it way up. We feel this ship truly is a floating resort. The AuqaTheater is brilliant along with all of the other new innovations. The inside cabins having balconies is another great move. Once you see the layout we wonder what might be best for our Clients. Outside cabins have the sea, inside cabins with balconies now hover over all the action. Which view is better? Water? Action? Of course the cabins near the aft that overlook the AquaTheater and have views of the ocean and the action is the best option. Normally we never recommend aft cabins due to movement and the possibilities of storms but this ship changes the game.

Considering another one is on the build we can see RCI’s commitment. We will get into the cost consideration regarding booking the Oasis in a future blog so stay tuned campers!

In closing, it’s interesting to see how many changes have happened in only a decade. If you need a helping hand finding the right ship for your needs feel free to contact any of our Concierges. If you cannot decide shoot us an email at Travel@zanza.com and we’ll pick one for you.

Take Care, and stay tuned!

www.zanza.com

Royal Caribbean Newest, Biggest Cruise Ship

View FULL VIDEO at www.zanza.com/podcast.aspx

Aug 16 - Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Sea’s Video is released as a preview of whats to come aboard the Oasis. Truly a revolution in the cruise industry. View the video at www.zanza.com/podcast.aspx

Aug 13 - Reality show stars Trista and Ryan Sutter will become the godparents of Princess’ latest Love Boat, Ruby Princess,

Aug 11 - Celebrity Solstice was moved from the covered building to dock to a finishing pier at Meyer Werft in Papenburg

August 6 - Meyer Werft laid the first block of the Celebrity Equinox keel at their Papenburg yard today.

August 5 - Ruby Princess returns from its sea trials to the Fincantieri yard at Monfalcone (Italy). The ship will debut in Ft. Lauderdale on November 8.

July 21- MSC Splendida was floated out at the Aker France yard in St. Nazaire (France) on Sunday. MSC Splendida will be the line’s second of the 133,500-ton class.

Click Here www.CruiseZanzaBlue.com

Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess, now under construction in Italy, Princes Cruises Ruby Princess reached a significant construction milestone when water began to fill the building dock, signaling the start of its official float-out. A ceremony marking the occasion was held at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone. When the dock is fully filled, which typically takes two days, the ship will be floated to the nearby outfitting dock, where final construction and interior finishing will take place. The Ruby Princess, a sister ship to Emerald Princess and Crown Princess, will feature a piazza-style atrium featuring small-bite eateries and street entertainers, Princess’ signature adults-only retreat called The Sanctuary, an Italian trattoria, a seafood and steak house, a giant outdoor movie screen and 900 cabins with balconies. The 113,000-ton ship will begin inaugural sailings in November with a series of Western Caribbean cruises.

New to Cruising? Checkout these informative podcasts (Video’s) about cruising.
click here www.zanza.com/podcast.aspx