Going Green: Celebrity Solstice is going green, and not just environmentally. The ship, Celebrity Cruises newest debuting in December, is adding real grass to its top deck, calling the area “The Lawn Club.” The Lawn Club is promised to be a country club environment replete with putting greens, croquet, bocce ball and other patches of grass for picnicking or just relaxing. In total, the area will be just over a half-acre in size. Additionally, the area will also comprise the Sunset Bar and the glassblowing studio presented in collaboration with the Corning Museum of Glass. That partnership was announced in November as part of another Solstice reveal.
Name That Ship Contest: Royal Caribbean has enlisted USA Today to help choose the names of their next two cruise ships, currently codenamed “Genesis I” and “Genesis II.” Everyone is encouraged to now visit (www.namethatship.usatoday.com) to submit a name. The winner will attend the naming ceremony and be awarded with a weeklong, first-class, expense-paid cruise on the ship he or she named. At 220,000 tons apiece, the 5,400-passenger ships will be the largest at sea when they debut in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The contest begins on Friday, January 25 and will last six weeks (February 29 is the last day for entries). (DE)
New Boarding Policy-Royal Caribbean/Celebrity: We want to make you aware of a new boarding policy. Due to new government regulations, all guests must board 90 minutes prior to sailing or will not be permitted to sail. This has been added to all our guest documents as well as updated on the Royal Caribbean website. In addition, guests are requested to complete On-line Check-in no later than 3 days prior to their cruise. If they do not complete On-line Check-in 3 days prior, they will be required to complete this process at the pier at least two hours prior to the published sailing time.
DISNEY: Changes! Disney is adding two new 7-night Caribbean itineraries for 2009.
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES: Ongoing problems in Hawaiian cruising, which include staffing and reduced revenue, is going under the financial microscope. The Pride of Aloha and the Pride of America might be moved, so we hear, to other, more profitable markets by the end of this year.
CALIFORNIA: The 72-year-old Queen Mary, permanently moored at Long Beach, California, has changed hands - going to property-developer Save the Queen Inc. An initial $6 million will be invested in upgrading the former Cunard liner.
Check our website every week for Just Cruises Plus News and Hot Deals!