By Anita Dunham-Potter (editor@www.expertcruiser.com)

Last December, Royal Caribbean International introduced Oasis of the Seas, at the time the world’s largest cruise ship spanning 16 decks, encompassing 220,000 gross registered tons and, with all berths filled holds 6,200 passengers. Back then the massive size of the ship was the focus of every media story. Will it float? Will it fit into ports? Will it take half a day to get on and off?

Last month with the launch of Oasis’ slightly larger sister ship, Allure of the Seas, the size factor isn’t even a consideration. The skeptics have been proven wrong and the big story is how these mammoth vessels are attracting a wide-ranging group of passengers. “There are no more questions that the Oasis-class ships are working,” says Royal Caribbean president Adam Goldstein.

Indeed, both Allure and Oasis are expected to carry 600,000 passengers in 2011 with some 30 percent of those customers coming from non-North American markets. The clear attraction is that there are no ships at sea remotely like them and with the launch of Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean upped the ante and added more unique offerings earning it the nickname “the entertainment ship”.

Parks, pools and more

Like her sister ship, Allure has the wow amenities such as a zip-line and a carousel. It features the Rising Tide bar that ascends and descends from the ship’s Promenade area—with indoor stores and cafés—to its Central Park, an open-air “park” with pathways, flower gardens and canopy trees that spans the length of a football field.

The Aqua Theater situated at the very back of the ship of has the deepest pool at sea (18 feet) is by night an outdoor amphitheater, hosting synchronized swimming and diving shows featuring athletes jumping from as high as 72 feet up, and like the famed Bellagio in Las Vegas’ a fountain show set to music, laser lights, and videos. During the day guests can watch movies, football games or choose to relax on chairs located on the surrounding tiered platforms.

Allure has four pools: Two are made to feel like a beach, with sloped entries you can walk into just as if you were walking into the ocean. Staterooms come in all shapes and sizes with revolutionary cruise ship accommodations in 37 different categories and unique offerings such as duplex “loft suites” that have 18-foot windows looking out to the ocean. Other staterooms have views of the line’s seven “neighborhoods,” such as Central Park, the Boardwalk, home to the Carousel, and other venues.

The Youth Zone features 28,700 square feet just for kids and teens, with Kids Avenue, a central boulevard connecting various themed play areas; a nursery for infants and toddlers; and a theater for children. This gives parents time to enjoy the adults-only retreat, the open air Solarium. Adults have their own swimming pool and six whirlpools—four of them cantilevered 136 feet above the ocean. At night, the Solarium transitions into an adults-only setting for specialty dining and outdoor dancing.

New fairy tales

Eight distinct features give the Allure a personality different than its sister ship. Allure boasts a number of new venues including the first Starbucks at Sea; new restaurants such as Brazilian steakhouse Samba Grill and Mexican eatery Rita’s Cantina; a 3-D movie theater and more.

Allure also is the first cruise ship with DreamWorks characters onboard including Shrek and Fiona, which is due to a new partnership between Royal Caribbean and DreamWorks Animation. Dubbed “The DreamWorks Experience” the onboard offerings will include a “How To Train Your Dragon” ice show; “Madagascar” aqua show; character breakfasts, character meet-and-greets and other movie-themed events will take place on each sailing.

Big production shows are different on Allure as well. While Oasis has “Hairspray,” Allure brings another Tony Award-winning musical to the seas, “Chicago”. Additionally, the “Blue Planet” show on the Allure is a whirling acrobatic wonder set to Beatle tunes.

And more ‘fare-y’ tales
Last year with the launch of Oasis of the Seas fares were at a premium since there was no other ship at sea like it. What a difference a year makes as Allure enters the market.

Stewart Chiron, a cruise industry expert who is nationally recognized as The Cruise Guy, notes the fares during Oasis’ launch late last year and into the first quarter this year averaged $1,471 per person based on double occupancy for an inside stateroom – at the time double the fare for similar digs on other top notch cruise ships. With Allure’s entrance into the Caribbean scene thus doubling capacity fares have gone down – a lot. Chiron notes that Allure’s fares are 31 percent less than Oasis’ fares a year ago averaging $1069 per person. Fares for both vessels going into 2011 are very similar with Oasis averaging a slightly higher premium at $1104 per person. This of course is good news for families wanting to try out Oasis and Allure, but were turned off by last year’s higher price tag.

Allure of the Seas like Oasis sails from Port Everglades and the world’s largest cruise ship terminal. Amazingly with this state-of-the-art facility Royal Caribbean is able to get passengers from curbside to the vessel in just 15 minutes – a feat other large ship cruise operators are envious of.

Royal Caribbean’s “Nation of Why Not?” campaign defines its fleet as the ideal destination to declare independence from ordinary cruise vacations. Clearly, Allure and Oasis are anything but ordinary and the growing number of passengers flocking to these ships has other cruise lines wondering what they can do to top it.

© www.expertcruiser.com – Your online consumer guide for cruise travel and information.

By Anita Dunham-Potter (editor@www.expertcruiser.com)

Lawn Club offerings, new relaxation areas, and changes to Michael’s Club. “We have focused on continuing to break the rules from the hardware and software standpoint for cruise ships,” said Celebrity Cruises President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. By continuing to tweak an already successful class of cruise ship, Celebrity is staying well-ahead in the premium cruise market. Hanrahan added, “We recognize that consumers’ vacation time is precious, and that’s what drives us to continually create new and unique experiences that enhance their rare time away.”

Celebrity Cruises announced today some big changes and upgrades to their popular Solstice-class vessels. The changes will debut on the new Celebrity Silhouette (sailing in August 2011) and Celebrity Reflection (sailing in November 2012). The line announced new AquaClass suites, expanded Here’s what Celebrity customers can look forward to:

NEW AQUACLASS SKY SUITES HIGHLIGHT EXPANDED ACCOMMODATIONS
Driven by high demand for Celebrity’s industry-first AquaClass category of spa-inspired accommodations, and by way of an additional deck being added to Celebrity Reflection, Celebrity will introduce on that ship the line’s first AquaClass Suites, each offering 251 square feet of luxurious interior space and spacious 57-square-foot verandas, and all the amenities associated with Celebrity’s AquaClass accommodations, including exclusive and complimentary access to the highly-rated specialty restaurant, “Blu,” noted for inviting, modern design and flavorful, healthy, clean cuisine. The new suites also will offer the luxurious 24/7 butler service that is a hallmark of every suite across the Celebrity fleet.

In addition to the 34 new AquaClass Suites, Celebrity Reflection also will present an additional eight luxurious new Sky Suites, 19 additional plush ConciergeClass staterooms, and 11 additional inside staterooms, bringing the stateroom/suite total to 1,515.
“We gave a great deal of thought about how to ideally accommodate everything we’re adding,” said Hanrahan. “We’re widening the ship slightly, enabling us to introduce each of these exceptional new venues without compromising the Celebrity’s premium space ratio and lauded traffic flow.
Additionally, Celebrity Reflection will offer 245 more loungers on its expanded pool deck to suit the increased overall guest capacity, as well as 45 additional seats in the Celebrity Theater, 118 in Oceanview Cafe, 24 additional seats each in Blu and in Tuscan Grille, four more in Qsine, and 40 additional seats in the main dining room, where Celebrity also offers Celebrity Select Dining, the industry’s first flexible dining option allowing guests to choose when they wish to dine on a flexible, day-by-day basis.

THE LAWN CLUB
Inspired by the popularity of its iconic, industry-first Lawn Club, Celebrity will leverage its brand pillars of outstanding dining experiences, enriching activities, relaxation and pampering, and modern design to offer vacationers on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection significantly expanded opportunities to eat and drink, relax and lounge, and participate and socialize within the inviting space.

The Lawn Club Grill
Both Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection will present “The Lawn Club Grill,” the industry’s first outdoor, interactive grill venue. A new, exceptionally social specialty dining option overlooking the lush lawn and soothing sea, The Lawn Club Grill will boast a design likely to be the envy of novice and experienced chefs alike, with gleaming stainless steel grills and other appliances, custom pizza-making tables and large ovens. By day, in addition to a casual lunch menu highlighted by a variety of high-end burgers, the venue will present interactive demonstrations and classes focused on pizza-making – including the art of dough-tossing – grilling secrets, mouth-watering marinades and more, led by Celebrity’s own chefs, as well as guest chefs participating in Celebrity’s “Savor Your Destination” program. By night, in a particularly unique twist, guests will have their choice from an array of top-quality meats to either grill themselves, side-by-side with Celebrity’s chefs, or have grilled to order. A nominal surcharge will apply. Complementing the dinner experience will be libations ranging from wines, beer and sangria, all consistent with the casual nature of the 56-seat restaurant.

The Porch
With its chic, Hamptons-style design, modern furnishings, and creative use of natural light, all complemented by the enticing aroma of fresh-baked breads and pastries, The Porch will be the idyllic spot for quick, simple, casual and complimentary breakfasts and lunches. Offering breathtaking views of the lawn and sea courtesy of its prime location on the starboard side of the ship at the entrance to Lawn Club, the intimate, 48-seat venue will be the perfect place to enjoy complimentary fresh pastries, salads, paninis and other sandwiches, in addition to specialty coffees, beer and wine.

The Art Studio
With one of the world’s largest corporate collections of contemporary art exhibited across its fleet, and given the enthusiasm guests expressed when the line introduced the industry’s first art tours to be offered on an iPad®, Celebrity will further appeal to its guests’ love of art in “The Art Studio” within the area of The Lawn Club. There, experienced and novice artists alike can participate in intimate, hands-on instruction from experts in drawing, painting and beading, as well as the art of food, with plating, tastings, mixology and other culinary-themed classes. The Art Studio also will present exclusive, intimate pairing dinners hosted by guest chefs participating in Celebrity’s Savor Your Destination program.

The Alcoves
For a private retreat overlooking the lawn, ocean and coastlines, Celebrity also will present within The Lawn Club “The Alcoves,” eight exclusive, cabana-style settings, each designed for two to four guests. Each of The Alcoves on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection will offer WiFi for guests who want to stay connected while relaxing, themed picnic baskets and an a la carte beverage menu. The Alcoves will be available as partial or all-day rentals. Adjacent to The Alcoves, guests will find eight inviting hammocks and two whimsical, oversized Adirondack chairs, each offering complimentary, additional opportunities to relax amidst the atmosphere of the lawn and sea.

MICHAEL’S CLUB
Celebrity’s history and future will converge in Michael’s Club – a venue found on every Celebrity ship – where the line will present on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection a restyled, casually elegant bar where vacationers can sit back and enjoy the comfortably sophisticated atmosphere while watching the World Cup games and sipping a Chimay Blue. Across the Celebrity fleet, Michael’s Club offers an impressive selection of rare malts, whiskies and scotches. Building on that tradition, the “new” Michael’s Club on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection will add an equally impressive selection of more than 50 beers, including flavorful craft beers, and will allow guests to participate in engaging experiences such as ideal food and beer pairings, how to pour the perfect draft, or how to select the proper beer glass, all while snacking on homemade, gourmet potato chips and bread sticks, and fresh, lightly-spiced caramel popcorn, amidst a vibe of live music and cool playlists, or major international sporting events airing on the venue’s large, 46″ TV screens.

THE HIDEAWAY
Guests seeking a particularly quiet spot to get away from it all can do so in a new venue inspired precisely by that interest. “The Hideaway” on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection will provide a high-tech escape for vacationers relaxing with their iPads or perhaps trying out a new Apple product from the Celebrity iLounge, or a low-tech retreat for reading a good book. Inspired by the live trees suspended within the Grand Foyer of every Solstice Class ship, the design of The Hideaway reflects that of an upscale, avant-garde tree house, with cozy, intimate lounging “nests,” or niches.

© www.expertcruiser.com – Your online consumer guide for cruise travel and information.

It’s nearly the size of the Empire State Building if you tipped it on its side, longer than four football fields – Allure of the Seas surpasses its sister ship Oasis Of The Seas by two feet to become the world’s largest cruise ship.

The vessel is now in Port Everglades preparing for her maiden voyage on Tuesday, but before then Royal Caribbean is unveiling the ship to the press and travel agents. Allure of the Seas has every imaginable activity, from surfing to ice skating, not to mention a zip-line, and Shrek! Follow ExpertCruiser onboard Sunday through Tuesday with first-hand live ‘tweets’ on what it is like onboard this amazing ship.

Have questions? Just ‘tweet’ @ExpertCruiser on Twitter or post a note below.

Silver Spirit’s christening ceremony on Thursday morning at Port Everglades will be webcast live at www.silverspiritblog.com. The event is set to start at 10 a.m. EST.

Godmother Silvia Lefebvre D’Ovidio, the sister of Silversea chairman Manfredi Lefebvre D’Ovidio, will name the ship with a balthazar of Moët & Chandon.

Silversea says a smaller replica of the Champagne bottle will be auctioned as a memento during Silver Spirit’s ‘Grand Inaugural Voyage’ to benefit the Maruzza Lefebvre D’Ovidio Foundation, a non-profit organization spearheaded by Silvia Lefebvre D’Ovidio.

It’s nearly the size of the Empire State Building if you tipped it on its side, longer than four football fields – the Oasis Of The Seas, now in Port Everglades preparing for her maiden voyage, is the world’s largest and most expensive cruise ship. It has every imaginable activity, from surfing to ice skating, not to mention a zip-line – the first on any cruise ship. It’s clear – Oasis of the Seas has it all. Follow ExpertCruiser onboard this weekend with first-hand live ‘tweets’ on what it is like onboard this amazing ship.

Have questions? Just ‘tweet’ @ExpertCruiser on Twitter or post a note below.

She’s 1,184 feet long and weighs 225,000 gross tons and was delivered this morning in Turku, Finland to Royal Caribbean International. Not only is Oasis of the Seas the world’s biggest cruise ship, but it’s the most expensive costing around $1.9 billion.

Even with the handover work continues on Oasis as hundreds of builders and cleaners are still putting the final touches on the ship, installing carpets along with cleaning and painting.

Oasis is scheduled to leave Finland on Friday when it will set sail for its home port of Fort Lauderdale. The 6,360-passenger, 2,100 crew member ship will make its maiden voyage on December 1.