Caribbean Princess

Gone are the days when the legendary Nat King Cole hummed, “Take my way; hit the highway”. Today, people are more prone to leave their automobiles back home and explore the pleasures of the sea voyage aboard a cruise ship. Princess cruise liners appear to satisfy that craze to the fullest extent and something more. Among some of the Princess class of vessels that include Emerald, Crown, Ruby and a few others, the Caribbean Princess surely ranks apart in all respects. With astounding Atriums and spellbounding Skywalker’s Disco, the luxury liner is nothing but a super-size version of the earlier Grand-class of ships that sailed the seven seas decades ago.

Having an astounding onboard carrying capacity of more than 3000 passengers in its fabulous staterooms (881) and numerous full deck mini-suits, the Caribbean Princess can be compared to an island city that provides all forms of comforts right within its enormous bulk. On a dark night, she is a glittering jewel cruising through the phosphorescent sea.

Here a few of the special features of the ship that may prompt many to book a voyage today. Her destinations include Eastern Caribbean & Bermuda, Southern Caribbean, Canada & New England.

And here are the hot spots.

• Traditional Dining is provided at several dining rooms aboard the ship in true cruise tradition with caring entourage paying special attention to each passenger. The Island Dining Room is where you get the best of service in an oceanic ambience.
• Anytime Dining spares the hassle of reaching the dinner table at the sound of the gong. While aboard the Caribbean Princess, it’s the passenger’s choice of the dining hour and not otherwise. At the Cora Dining Room or the Da Vinci Dining Room you can walk in anytime in the day or night and ask for food, and it will be served with a smile.
• Specialty Restaurants on board the ship serve exquisite local (whichever water the ship passes by) dishes and gourmet favorites, if ordered earlier. This includes the famed Trattoria Sabatini Restaurant and the Sterling Steakhouse.
• The Hearts and Minds Wedding Chapel housed within the ship is the first of its kind that provides the industry’s singular Wedding-at-Sea program where the passengers can be married by the ship’s captain. A truly innovative approach towards an otherwise conventional social procedure.

Grandeur Of The Seas

Even though there are many cruise ships that sail the Pacific, or cruise the calm waters of the Caribbean, this ship is so grand that its owners simply called it - The Grandeur of the Seas. In fact, everything on board the ship is grand and glittering. Right from the Grandeur Centrum to the Grandeur Solarium, all the fascinating features of this grand ship that blissfully accommodates 2446 guests spell class. With a full-service Spa, half a dozen whirlpools, an all-weather jogging track and a seemingly endless chain of well appointed bars and restaurants, the Grandeur of the Seas is a seven-star hotel afloat the deep. The Grandeur’s current destination covers the Southern and Western Caribbean.

Here are some of the countless amenities that you will find on board.

• Boutiques of Centrum comprises of storefronts offering a wide range of fineries that include perfumes, jewelry, liquor and novelty cruise wear.
• Grandeur Solarium consists of indoor/outdoor pool that is provided with a massive sliding glass canopy.
• Great Gatsby Dining Room personifies the elegance and carefree lifestyle. A very impressive ambience for the current generation.
• Palladium Theater is a two-tier amphitheater featuring nightly entertainment that often includes musicals.
• Casino Royale is the gambler’s real haven featuring video poker, Caribbean Stud poker, electronic slot machines and more.
• Singing-in-the-rain Lounge is a glass-walled 100-seat lounge offering magnificent sea views.
• Schooner Bar is a nautically themed bar that makes a drink all the more enjoyable as if one is sitting in a wheelhouse.
• South Pacific Lounge is for live music and dancing.
• Champagne Bar is the right place to enjoy your bubbly drink poured into Tulip glass provided by the barman.
• Windjammer Café is the seaside buffet-style booth for breakfasts and lunches. However, it changes color as the sun goes down the horizon, giving it the shape of a full fledged restaurant.
• Observatory is for the stargazers. The star-studded sky, especially on new moon nights look amazingly beautiful when viewed on board a ship.
• Adventure Ocean is a large playroom for the little ones who often become engrossed in pictorial books and miniature ship models that are provided here, usually guided by a member of the entourage.

Costa Classica

Befitting its classy tagging, The Costa Classica is indeed classic in terms of comfort, style and elegance, not to speak of the delectable dishes like the Grilled lobster with drawn butter that is served in the Tivoli Restaurant. Exquisite murals in the celebrated restaurant transform its bay windows into scenic episodes from the Renaissance and the Roman era, and the tabletops in its Puccini Ballroom mirror sentiments from famed Puccini Operas.

In fact, every aspect of this magnificent cruise ship turns the head of passengers lounging its marvelous decks looking for something that is out of the ordinary. Take for instance, the Costa’s Galileo Disco and Observatory perched high atop the ship that serves as an observatory by the day and turning into a fabulous Disco as the night falls over the high seas.

In short, this luxury liner is a masterpiece of Italian cruise design where nothing was spared to give it the best of everything. Passengers strolling through its Tavernetta can browse through the chick boutiques, dine in its gourmet restaurant, unwind in jacuzzies (4 in number) or spend time in superbly equipped spa and fitness center located in one of its many decks.

While Costa Classica had served as an inspiration for creating its sister ship Costa Romantica, people fondly go for the Classica because of it inherent beauty and classical lines that makes this quite an unique ship.

The 52,926 ton, 723 feet liner with 13 decks can accommodate 1,302 Double Occupancy passengers in its 654 cabins that are served by a retinue of 590 skilled hands. Even though the ship’s maximum speed is rated at 20 knots, she normally cruises at 18.5 knots on calm seas.

Explorer of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International’s MS Explorer of the Seas happens to be one of their largest cruise ships that can accommodate more than 3000 passengers, boasting the highest space-per-guest ratio in the cruise business line. The 142,000-ton Voyager-class cruise ship Explorer has a built-in Atmospheric & Oceanographic Laboratory that is used by scientists researching for the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. In shape, size and dimensions it is only second to Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2.

As a matter of fact, there has never been a ship like this, featuring so many fabulous things of interest. Imagine a rock-climbing precipice aboard a floating vessel, a skating rink and a street fair going in full swing right above the rolling seas. Fascinating, isn’t it? The mighty ship’s destination includes the Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada and New England. The Explorer is also often chartered for holiday cruises.

It is therefore no wonder that world-class food is served aboard this world-class ship amidst world-class ambience. However, here is a listing of the Explorer’s fascinating features that are soon going to lure you to book your voyage. Talk to your nearest agent; he may offer you a discounted price too.

• Main dining room in the ship serves world-class food only. From out of the world appetizers and starters to delectable desserts, every food item in the Main Dining Room is simply superb.
• The Portofino restaurant aboard the Explorer is the gourmet’s best refuge. Chefs at the Portofino are ever busy tackling international cuisine.
• The Johnny Rockets restaurant sporting the authentic fifty’s décor is known for all-American eatables with shipside sauces.
• The Champagne Bar is the ideal spot to celebrate your opening night aboard the Explorer. The beauty of this quiet cozy bar lies in the fact that it offers a wide variety of sparkling wines with an assortment of canapés for your pleasure.
• Windjammer Café is ideally suited for a casual dinner for the family after a day of adventure, scaling the virtual rock.
• Sport Deck aboard the ship features a full-size basketball court. Play the game whenever you can form a team but don’t let the ball go out of bounds.

Do whatever you like but do not forget to visit the Virtual Submarine Room, the Casino, and the Arcade Room before the cruise is over.