Celebrity Eclipse - A ship visit

Way back at the beginning of July I had the opportunity to visit Celebrity Eclipse in Southampton for a day, you can read my thoughts if you follow this link to 'Has my favourite ship been Eclipsed!'

So over the last few days I have been going through my old photo's and found these of my day away, so I though I'd put together a little slide show of my pictures from the ship.




As we are heading into winter, it give me the opportunity to dream of warmer times, so enjoy, and come back with any comments.

iPad Technology for Royal Caribbean Guests on Splendour of the Seas

Royal Caribbean's Splendour of the Seas is the next ship in its fleet to receive a "Revitalization" upgrade, Splendour is now nearing the end of a five-week upgrade process at the Navantia ship yard in Cadiz, Spain where $35 million in changes will occur.

So what new feature will she have when she returns?

OK, I might as well just list the new features:-

• New dining venues
  • Chops Grille
  • Izumi
  • the Boardwalk Dog House
  • Chef's Table
  • Park Café
• Royal Babies and Tots Nursery
• Diamond lounge for Crown and Anchor guests
• Concierge lounge for suite guests
• Technology upgrades throughout the ship
• 123 new balconies
• Stateroom flat panel television upgrades
• Ship-wide WiFi access
• Digital wayfinder system
• Electronic mustering
• Outdoor movie screen

But it's not just these features that appeal to me, as we start to become more new technology savvy, even I am looking at getting an Apple iPad!  Now, the announcement that when Splendour comes out of dry dock, she will be offering all of her passengers soon an iPad in every cabin, did make make think that the world is moving on.

Additionally, Royal Caribbean is planning on rolling out iPads to every Vision class ship (Vision, Grandeur, Rhapsody, Enchantment and Legend of the Seas) by 2014.
With the iPads, passengers will be able to

• Access the daily Cruise Compass of events and activities
• Access personal daily itineraries, including shore excursions
• Monitor their onboard account
• Order room service
• View restaurant menus
• Access the internet
• Watch movies

All of the features of the iPad will be complimentary, except for the Internet access.

Royal Caribbean senior vice president of Hotel Operations, Lisa Bauer, commented on the news, "Based on consumer research, we added the iPads to greatly enhance guest communication, interactivity and to continue to offer industry leading technology that helps enhance the guest experience. This is just one of the many exciting ways that Royal Caribbean continues to provide our guests with the ultimate cruise experience."

Royal Caribbean expects every cabin onboard Splendour to have an iPad by February 2012.

Now I know that Celebrity use an iPad for the menu on Qusine on Eclispe, so is this the next step and who else is going to follow?

I think I've found the perfect cruise

If you have regularly read my blog you will know I-
 1. Enjoy my holidays
 2. Am always looking for that something different

and yes I do have a copy of '1000 Places to see before you Die'

So you will not be surprised if I tell you that I think I have found the perfect cruise for us, but its for next year!

The furthest East I have ever been is actually Cyprus, surprisingly Istanbul is slightly West of Cyprus, so I am always looking to spread my boundaries and I have found for me the perfect cruise that goes to those Far East destinations I want to experience.

So here is the itinerary:
  
Sun 05 Feb    SINGAPORE    
Mon 06 Feb   AT SEA    
Tue 07 Feb    KOH SAMUI, THAILAND  
Wed 08 Feb   LAEM CHABANG (BANGKOK),THAILAND     
Thu 09 Feb    LAEM CHABANG (BANGKOK),THAILAND   
Fri 10 Feb     SIHANOUKVILLE, CAMBODIA   
Sat 11 Feb     AT SEA     
Sun 12 Feb    PHU MY, VIETNAM   
Mon 13 Feb   NHA TRANG, VIETNAM   
Tue 14 Feb    AT SEA    
Wed 15 Feb   DA NANG, VIETNAM
Thu 16 Feb   SANYA (HAINAN), CHINA 
Fri 17 Feb     HALONG BAY, VIETNAM 
Sat 18 Feb    AT SEA 
Sun 19 Feb   HONG KONG, CHINA

The cruise is on Holland America's Zaandam, a Luxury Cruise line on a midsized ship, not a cruise line I have sailed with before but all the reports I have tell me it excellent.

So what appeal? Well the itinerary, it covers some amazing places - well my research tells me that and too be honest I want to try. The joy of a cruise, is you are in the same hotel for the 2 weeks and get to experience some wonderful places and cultures.

Added to which you can add a couple of nights or so before and/or after in Singapore or Hong Kong.

It is perfect, except I am already on a Caribbean cruise then so can't go! But roll on 2013, it with be the Volendam and in Feb - so perfect timing for the weather in that area.

Hope I can wait, and that my boss does not read all the way down here as he will not be happy at nearly 3 weeks holiday for this!!

Autumn Wine Cruises from Celebrity

Now as you may be aware from reading my previous reports there are 2 or 3 things that interest me, one being Photography, another being holidays and thirdly but not lastly a nice glass of Red wine. So how about this with Celebrity Cruises, I can indulge in all 3 on a choice of cruises!

Okay, on most holidays you can do all 3 but Celebrity have recently announced a change to their itineraries for 2012 with Celebrity Constellation being based in Southampton from September 2012 for a series of wine and food themed cruises.

Constellation will be joining Celebrity Eclipse for the first time with seven food and wine themed sailings from Southampton and will take takes Celebrity Cruises UK fleet deployment to two ships. In 2010 Constellation had a $40m refit to 'Solsticize' her, and although she is an older ship she now has some of the features that we love about the Eclipse. Why not read my blog about the refit.

Constellation in Barbados

So throughout the 2012 harvest season, 7 September – 18 November 2012, Celebrity Constellation will sail from the UK to some of the top-producing wine regions in France, Spain and Portugal. The new itineraries feature overnight stays in Le Havre (for Paris/Normandy) and Le Verdon (for Bordeaux), France, as well as Bilbao, Spain.

Guests also have the opportunity to enjoy tours and tastings at some of the region’s most renowned wineries, experience grape harvesting for themselves and learn how Port is blended and aged.


Celebrity’s onboard experience will reflect the flair and flavour of the region too with partnerships with local wineries, including Rioja tastings, Champagne brunches, Bordeaux samplings, Port and food pairing dinners and more, including special events in the ship’s Cellar Masters bar. A seasonal wine package featuring special selections from the region also will be added to the onboard drinks packages available.


After cruising from Southampton, Celebrity Constellation’s new wine-themed itineraries begin with three consecutive overnight stays: one each in Paris (Le Havre) and Bordeaux (Le Verdon), France, and Bilbao, Spain, and also feature visits to Vigo, Spain and Porto, Portugal. The sailings from Southampton depart on 7 and 19 September; 1, 13 and 25 October; and 6 and 18 November 2012.

The ship’s 15-night transatlantic voyage from Europe to the U.S. will depart Southampton on 30 November 2012, with visits to Paris/Normandy (LeHavre), France; Lisbon, Portugal, and Tenerife, Canary Islands, ending in Miami, Florida.

I'm looking for a cruise at tha time of year, 30th wedding anniversary, could I get away with this and have a Red every night?