The time period from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s was a time of both consolidations of cruiselines along with a burst of new cruise lines enteringthe marketplace. Larger cruise lines started to buyout other operators to achieve even greatereconomy of scale, but at the same time others sawan opportunity to create new cruise products toappeal to a more specific type of passenger. Themost interesting of the new cruise lines were thosewho chose to build smaller ships and target themore upscale, wealthier clientele. Often these smalllines built ships that accommodated fewer than 400passengers and, in a number of instances less than200 passengers.

For the most part, each of these new linesenjoyed early success, however, as time passed andother small operators began to appear, the earlyprofits quickly disappeared. The small operatorswere at a distinct disadvantage from the large cruiselines in that they enjoy no “economies of scale”meaning there were far fewer passengers to absorbmany of ongoing fixed costs of day to dayoperations. Almost as soon as some of the linesentered the market they found themselves being puton the block for sale to one of the larger cruise lines,while others simply folded. Windstar was sold toHolland America, Sea Goddess to Cunard, andsome such as Exploration Cruise Line went out ofbusiness altogether.

One of the small cruise lines that was able tomeet the challenges was Diamond Cruises whichbegan operations in 1992 with the radicallydifferent Radisson Diamond a twin-hull shipdesigned primary for the convention market. Thecruise line was under the direction of the large,privately owned Carlson Group.

They were many challenges for DiamondCruises when it began operations with the Radisson

Diamond. Besides the oddity of it being a twin-hullcruise ship of approx 30,000-tons in size, the shipwas designed for a very specialized segment of thecruise market - Meetings and Conventions. Whenthis market never really developed the line wasforced to quickly shift gears and sell the cruises totraditional cruisers. The drawbacks of the ship werenumerous. It’s twin hull designed meant it was avery slow ship, cruising at a top speed of approx 13knots, thus limiting its range and variety ofitineraries. As designed for a business market theship had no large showroom, or many publicspaces. What is did have going for it were nicestaterooms. Not fancy and not overly large, but stillnice. The main dining room was very stylish andoutstanding in its décor and layout. The service wasalways at a very high level with a mostly allEuropean hotel staff. Diamond was also creative inovercoming its know shortfalls. We recall on onecruise that an Italian alternative dinner was offeredin the upper deck lido restaurant. This was not justa typical alternative Italian venue, but rather it wasturned into combination dinner and show. The waitstaff not only presented the meals, but also sang andentertained. It proved to be a unique andmemorable dining experience.

As Diamond learned the tricks to win over thetraditional cruisers it looked to expand. A few yearlater another small cruise line Seven Seas Cruiseswhich operated the Song of Flower, merged withDiamond Cruises and the line was re-namedRadisson Seven Seas Cruises.

In 1995 an agreement was made with theFrench owners of the new Paul Gauguin forRadisson Seven Seas to market and operate the shipon a year-round basis from Papeete, Tahiti forcruises among the French Polynesian Islands.

REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES –20 YEARS OF EVOLUTIONby George C. Devol

Vol. 32, Issue 2 - December 15, 2012 “Our 32th Year of Continuous Publication” Single issue price $2.50

PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE WORLD OCEAN & CRUISE LINER SOCIETY

(Continued on page 14)

EDITORIALIn August of this year, without fanfare,

Holland America Line’s Veendam quietly slippedout of Hamilton, Bermuda for New York City thusending Holland America Line’s Bermuda servicefor the foreseeable future. Along with the famousFurness Line and Home Lines, Holland Americawas once synonymous with Bermuda.

Bermuda will not be without cruising in theyears to come, although cruising to Bermuda willbe a different experience. Norwegian Cruise Lineand Royal Caribbean have announced two newbuilds each. NCL’s “Project Breakaway’ shipswill be approximately 144,000 tons and carry 4,000passengers while RCI’s ‘Sunshine’ ships will belarger at 154,000 tons and will accommodate4,100 passengers. NCL’s new Breakaway willbe offering a New York- Bermuda itinerarybeginning in April 2013 and there is speculationthat the new RCI ‘Project Sunshine’ ship could alsobe put in New York – Bermuda service in 2014. If

true, this would mean two of the newest andbiggest ships with a combined passenger capacityof over 8,000 passengers would be regularlyvisiting Bermuda. Poor Bermuda!

Both ships will be docking at the Dockyardleaving the traditional Bermuda docking spot ofFront Street in Hamilton empty but for the rareship calling at Bermuda that can navigate betweenTwo Rock Passage. Currently Princess, Oceaniaand Azamara Club Cruises all have the perfecttraditional Bermuda ships in their fleet with theirex- Renaissance ships. At approximately 30,000tons, and all being under 600 foot in length withan 84 foot beam and a passenger capacity ofapproximately 800, these ships are perfect for theclassic Bermuda run to Hamilton.

Azamara, then a subsidiary of CelebrityCruises another old favorite on the Bermuda run,first started with a New York (Cape Liberty NJ)to Hamilton, Bermuda run with the AzamaraJourney back in 2007. That did not even last afull year when the Azamara product wasrebranded but Azamara was on the right trackback then with choosing that ship for Bermuda.This class of ship can visit both Hamilton andquaint St. George’s as Furness Line use to do.

Today, with cruise lines constantly lookingfor new and popular itineraries we hope that oneof the itinerary planners at Princess or Oceania orAzamara would take a good look at Bermuda.The traditional “old standard” Bermuda cruise ofFront Street, Hamilton and St. George’s.

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The American Queen Steamboat Companytoday announced it will raise fares beginningJanuary 1, 2013, as a result of unprecedenteddemand for the upcoming second season of theAmerican Queen. According to the operator ofthe 436-passenger riverboat, many of next year’ssailings are selling out, particularly voyagesbetween the paddlewheeler’s homeport ofMemphis and New Orleans. Overall bookings areup 300% compared to 2012 and the fare increasewill be an average of $200 per guest per voyage.

Offering the most inclusive river cruiseexperience in North America, fares will begin at$1,345 per guest based on double occupancybeginning January 1, 2013, and include a one-night pre-voyage hotel stay, shore tours in everyport onboard deluxe SteamcoachesSM, theacclaimed cuisine of legendary chef ReginaCharboneau and complimentary wine and beerwith dinner. A variety of holiday lengths rangingfrom five days to fourteen offer exceptional valueand convenience, with little or no flying required.

For additional information and reservations,contact the American Queen Steamboat Companyat 888-749-5280, visit us online atwww.AQSC.com or call a professional travel agent.

The grandest ocean liner at sea, Queen Mary2, will sail a total of 17 Transatlantic Crossingsbetween New York and Southampton from April2013 to January 2014. In addition to theflagship’s popular seven-day Transatlanticvoyages, Cunard introduces two eight-dayCrossings, providing guests the most of QueenMary 2’s exceptional travel experience and moretime to enjoy the unique sense of timelessnessthat only a Transatlantic voyage can provide.Extended nine- and ten-day Crossings betweenNew York and Hamburg are also available, with

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LOOKING BACKA look at what was making news in Ocean &

Cruise News, Five, Ten, Fifteen and Twentyyears ago.

Five Years Ago – December 2007…Cunards new Queen Victoria is christenedby Camilla, Princes of Cornwall and wife ofthe Prince of Wales… Work is begun on RoyalCaribbean International’s Project Genesis.The ship, due to be completed in 2009, willbe the world’s largest cruise ship carrying5,400 passengers and weighing 220,000-tons… Apollo Management, the same firmthat has recently invested heavily in NCL andOceania Cruises acquires 100% of RegentSeven Seas Cruises.

Ten Years Ago – December 2002… PrincessCruises Tahitian Princess sets sail fromPapeete, Tahiti on her maiden voyage… HAL’sStatendam is the first cruise ship to visit theHawaiian island of Molokai… Tours areavailable of the Queen Mary 2’s constructionsite in France… Radisson Seven Seas Cruises’announces that the Seven Seas Navigator willmake 16 cruises to Bermuda in 2003.

Fifteen Years Ago – December 1997…Royal Olympic Cruises announces theconstruction of two new, high-speed 25,000-ton ships carrying 800 passengers each…Construction delays at Fincantieri’s MargheraYard cause delay with the completion ofHolland America’s new Rotterdam and DisneyCruise Lines’ Disney Magic… Carnivalinaugurates new 4 and 5 day cruises fromTampa aboard the Tropicale.

Twenty Years Ago – December 1992…Princess Cruises announces that the DawnPrincess and the Fair Princess will return toMexico in the fall of 1993… Star Clipper willhave both the Star Clipper and the Star Flyer inthe Caribbean for the upcoming winterseason… Seven Seas Cruises is offering aspecial savings of $1,000 per person for guestswho book two or more consecutive Europeancruise on the Song of Flower.

fares starting at $999 per person, based ondouble occupancy.

Cunard’s Transatlantic Crossings offer time toexplore the ship’s extensive on board amenities,leisurely pursuits, cultural affairs, fine dining andentertainment. Offerings include lectures throughthe award-winning Cunard Insights enrichmentprogramme; stargazing in the only planetarium atsea; white-gloved afternoon tea service or a spinaround the dance floor during a Royal Nightsthemed ball in the Queens Room; taking in aperformance or acting workshop by members ofthe Royal Academy of Dramatic Art; or perusingthe 8,000 volumes in the largest library at sea.

The on board experience may be extendedwith Queen Mary 2’s “Grand Voyages,” wherebyguests can sandwich any one of six applicableEurope itineraries between two TransatlanticCrossings, allowing them to travel to and fromthe region in grand style.

For more information and to book aTransatlantic Crossing or Grand Voyage aboardCunard Line’s Queen Mary 2, consult yourTravel Agent, call Cunard toll-free at 1-800-728-6273, or go to www.cunard.com.

Holland America Line announced today thatan exciting new “Dancing with the Stars”experience will be featured on board thepremium cruise ships of Holland America Linenext year. Whether you like to Tango, Quickstep,Paso Doble, or sit back and enjoy watching thesizzling performances, the new program offersguests an entirely unique experience on the seas.

Six theme cruises in 2013 and early 2014 willfeature “Dancing with the Stars” eventsincluding dance lessons; a chance to meet thedancers, ask questions and take photos; and adazzling production starring celebrities and thefamed dance pros, complete with glamorouscostumes and routines from the TV show.Currently scheduled to appear on select sailings

are two-time champion pro dancers Mark Ballasand Kym Johnson; pros Tristan MacManus andLacey Schwimmer; and some of your favoritecelebrity competitors. More dance pros andcelebrities to be announced.

In addition to the theme cruises, every sailingon all 15 ships in the Holland America fleet willfeature an exclusive “Dancing with the Stars”program including dance lessons and anopportunity for some lucky guests to dance centerstage in an exciting dance-off performance. Theseactivities will feature the ships’ professionaldancers and will be developed in collaborationwith the show’s dancers and choreographers.

For more information and cruise fares,contact a professional travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visitwww.hollandamerica.com.

Oceania Cruises has made changes to its 2013Alaska sailings on Regatta including the addition ofa new 14-day Pacific Exploration voyage roundtripfrom Seattle on June 4, 2013. The new itineraryfeatures calls into Kodiak, Hoonah and Seward aswell as cruising Alaska’s Inside and OutsidePassages and the awe-inspiring Hubbard Glacier.

The new Pacific Exploration voyage combinestwo originally scheduled seven-day sailings onJune 4 and June 11, 2013. The company alsoamended its June 28 and July 5, 2013 CoastalAlaska sailings to now begin and end in Seattle.The changes were made based on feedback fromthe line’s guests and travel partners.

Oceania Cruises always features two-for-onecruise fares and free air delivering additional valueto guests especially at a time when air costs arerising. The line is also offering bonus savings of upto $3,000 per stateroom, two-for-one deposits andan Unlimited Passport Collection shore excursionpromotion valued at up to $999 per stateroom onselect sailings that are booked by December 31,2012.For more information, contact a travelprofessional, visit www.OceaniaCruises.com orcall 800-531-5658.

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Big, bold and impossibly beautiful, Alaskastretches beyond the imagination, particularly inher southeastern seas where Seven SeasNavigator sails in the summer of 2013. Ancientglaciers glint majestically, as snow-mantledmountains soar into the cerulean sky. The deepharbors and frontier towns welcome visitors withopen arms, eager to reveal their riches. Thepossibilities are endless, inviting excursions ofuntold discovery and delight.

To enhance your Alaskan experience, eachcruise features guest lecturer Terry Breen,published Alaska specialist who has been sailingthe Inside Passage for over 20 years. Visitwww.terryslog.com for more information onRegent Seven Seas Cruises’ Alaska.

Seven Seas Navigator has few equals, as allaccommodations are suites with ocean views, themajority with private balconies. Her 490 guestsenjoy an unusual level of luxury and some of thehighest space and service ratios at sea.

To receive a brochure or for moreinformation, see a travel professional, visitwww.RSSC.com or call 800-285-1835.

QUEEN VICTORIATURNS 5

Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria celebrated herfifth anniversary, as five years ago this month shedeparted on her Maiden Voyage from herhomeport of Southampton, day after being namedby HRH The Duchess of Cornwall with HRH ThePrince of Wales in attendance. Since then she hassailed over half a million nautical miles, called at196 ports in 63 countries and carried almost250,000 guests, many of whom enjoyed theexperience so much that they have travelled manytimes with the ship already. In all, 20,300 bottlesof champagne, enough to fill six Olympic-sizeswimming pools, have been drunk and 9,125,000

cups of tea and 1,460,000 scones have beenserved since 11 December 2007! To mark thisspecial birthday, HRH The Duchess of Cornwallmade a return visit (her third in five years) to hership on December 13th in Southampton andspend time meeting crew before unveiling aspecially-commissioned portrait of herself andcutting a special birthday cake.

Queen Victoria also made Cunard historywhen in December 2010 the company’s first-everfemale Captain, Inger Olsen, took command.

CRYSTALSSHORTER NORTHERN

EUROPE CRUISES

Shorter summer voyages with more overnightcalls highlight Crystal Cruises Baltic,Scandinavian, and British Isles cruises, accordingto the cruise line. Beginning June 8 aboard theCrystal Serenity, three new seven-day itinerariesand five 10-day will take guests to Norway,Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands,Estonia, Germany, Belgium, Finland, Russia andthe UK, including Ireland. Crystal’s NorthernEurope cruises also offer a more than 25 percentincrease in local overnights, with double thenights in Copenhagen alone.

Crystal still offers 11- and 12-day Balticitineraries; the new voyages offer abundantport time to delve into each destination.Several overnight stays allow travelers toimmerse themselves in the sights, smells andsounds of each locale, with nearly all thevoyages offering overnights at the cruise’s startand end, and/or mid-cruise, including twonights in storied St. Petersburg.

Expanded destination options also add morechoice for travelers in Scandinavia and Britain.Two new seven-day UK cruises sail to and fromDublin for the first time, and a new seven-dayLondon-Copenhagen sailing marks the line’sreturn to Amsterdam, Netherlands; Zeebrugge,Belgium; and Helsingborg, Sweden for the firsttime in several years.

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We had now completed half of ourMediterranean holiday and we were back inCivitavecchia to board one of MSC Cruises’newest ships, the MSC Splendida. It would be ourthird cruise with this company, our first being in2004, an 11-day Panama Canal cruise originatingfrom Port Everglades, Florida on the MSC Lirica.We had enjoyed ourselves immensely on that tripand based on that, in 2008 we selected the MSCPoesia for a 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise whichwe found somewhat disappointing.

So taking into consideration MSC’s strongpresence in Europe and its recent introduction of anew class of large cruise liners plus we found theiritinerary very attractive, allowing 5 port calls in 7days it was time to try MSC again. With all thisfirmly in mind, we boarded the MSC Splendida.

THE LINE – Mediterranean ShippingCompany’s origins are in worldwide ocean and

intermodal transportation and are currently thesecond largest container carrier in the world, withthe fleet numbering over 380 ships. In 1990, itsowner and Chairman, Gianluigi Aponte decidedto enter the lucrative cruise market. The companycurrently operates 12 vessels, with one newbuilding, the MSC Preziosa coming on line in2013. This ship had originally been ordered bythe Libyan government but when the Khadafiregime collapsed the unfinished ship was inlimbo. Negotiations between the STX Franceshipyard and MSC were soon finalized and as theship’s layout is virtually identical to MSC’s latestnewbuilds only minor interior modifications wereneeded for the vessel to be fully integrated intothe fleet.

The ships comprising the MSC fleet rangefrom the now-classic 30,000grt MSC Melody(built in 1982 as the Atlantic for the HomeLine), the mid-sized 50,000grt sisterships

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SHIP OF THE MONTH - MSC SPLENDIDAby Andy Hernandez

MSC Splendida Photo Courtesy of MSC

MSC Lirica (2003) and MSC Opera (2004),along with two similar-sized near-sisters MSCArmonia (ex-European Vision} and MSCSinfonia (ex-European Star) which wereoriginally built for the now-defunct FestivalCruises. In the spring of 2006, the lead ship ina larger class of liners entered service, theMSC Musica, followed by MSC Orchestra in2007, MSC Poesia in 2008 and MSCMagnifica in 2010. Simultaneously, the linealso embarked on a much larger, post-Panamaxdesign, with MSC Fantasia (2008) and MSCSplendida (2009), the MSC Divinia in May2012 plus the aforementioned MSC Preziosacurrently under construction.

THE SHIP – The Panamanian-registeredMSC Splendida’s specs are indeed impressive.Her tonnage is 137,936grt and the vesselspans 1,094 feet in length, a beam of 124 feetand her draft is 28 feet. Her 13 passengerdecks can accommodate 3,274 guests (doubleoccupancy - 3,952 maximum) and her crewnumber 1,370 members.

For propulsion, the ship is equipped withdiesel-electric machinery consisting of two 16-cylinder Wartsila engines producing 16,800kilowatts each and three 12-cylinder engines of12,600 kilowatts each. Two five-bladed, fixed-pitch propellers, each weighing 17.4 tons enablethe vessel to reach a top speed of slightly over23 knots.

THE CRUISE – We set off from Civitavecchiaat sunset, passing the docked Holland Americaliners Eurodam and Amsterdam along the way.Our first port of call would be at Genoa thefollowing morning, with the ship arrivingpromptly at 9AM. MSC offers a total of fivetours at this stop, including a walking tour of thehistorical center of the city, a visit to the world-famous Aquarium and Portofino. We chose thelatter, priced at 56.00 Euros for adults and 39.00Euros for children (under 12) approximately $73and $50 US. We enjoyed this lush section of theItalian Riviera, with a narrated 45-minute busride to Santa Margherita before boarding a motorboat in glorious weather to Portofino, all withplenty of time to explore this picturesque seasidetown and take plenty of photos.

The following day was our port call atBarcelona, Spain. We had just visited thisbeautiful city on our previous cruise just a weekbefore (Ocean & Cruise News, June 2012) andhad ventured out on our own. This time we optedfor one of the six tours that MSC offered. Weselected Gaudi’s Experience (aprox. 4 hours,48.00 Euros/$62 US adults, 34.00 Euros/$44 USfor children), a tour of the works of Barcelona’sgreatest architect, Antoni Gaudi. By coach wesaw Casa Batlló and Casa Milá (both externalvisits only) followed by a leisurely walking tourof Parc Grüell, his famed garden complex andone of Barcelona’s top tourist attractions. Lastly,we visited Gaudi’s neo-gothic masterpiece, theSagrada Familia (‘Sacred Family’) Cathedral,with its stunning, soaring interiors. It is stillunfinished to this day, though now tentativelyscheduled for completion in 2023. It was here,with throngs of tourists everywhere thatpickpockets ply their trade. Even with ourvigilance, one of these characters managed toopen the back pocket of my wife’s pants.Fortunately for us, he was unsuccessful,although another member of our group was notso lucky, losing a pocket camera. Sadly,Barcelona’s reputation of being the pickpocketcapital of Europe lived up to the hype.

Our next destination was the North Africancoast and exotic Tunis, the capital of Tunisia.Arriving at the port city of La Goulette at 7AMsharp, we soon boarded our tour bus and headedto the ancient Roman ruins of Carthage, a citydating from the 6th Century B.C. that was oncethe base of a powerful trading empire. It’s mostfamous resident was Hannibal, who’s armiescrossed the Alps to do battle with the Romans. Atthe Carthage site we explored the baths ofAntonius and later visited a small museum. Ournext stop on our tour was Sidi Bou Said, a quaintand typical fishing village with its characteristicwhite and blue houses and originally founded byAndalusian Arabs. We found the locals to begenuinely warm and friendly and our initialmisgivings about safety soon evaporated and thisport call was easily one of the highlights of ourentire cruise.

A beautiful day greeted us the next morningas we arrived at Malta, entering Grand Harbour

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in glorious sunshine. As a military history buff, Iwas in awe of the ancient fortificationssurrounding the harbor and of the island’s roleduring the Second World War. Malta is only 60nautical miles from Sicily, hence it occupied avital strategic position in the Mediterranean andwas a major base for British naval forcesinterdicting Axis convoys to North Africa. Itspopulation endured terrible hardships during theconflict as Italian and German air and sea forcestried unsuccessfully to starve it into submission.The seas around the island chain are littered withhundreds of shipwrecks.

A total of 8 excursions are offered and weselected “Valetta and Mdina”, the four-hour tour(47.00 Euros adults/$60 US and 33.00Euros/$43 US children) allowing us a walkingtour of Barrakka Gardens which offer panoramicviews of the harbor. We later moved on to St.John’s Cathedral, which dates back to theancient Knights of Malta and is rich in treasures,including masterpieces by Caravaggio. Then itwas on to Mdina which is dominated by theBaroque-style St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Our final port of call was Messina, located tothe northeast on the island of Sicily. Only 4 toursare featured at this stop and our choice wasTaormina, considered one of the jewels of Sicily(50.00 Euros/$65 US adults and 35.00Euros/$45 US children). We explored theancient Greco-Roman theatre, first built by theGreeks and later re-built by the Romans andlater toured the St. Nicholas Cathedral andCorvaia Palace, an historic 15th Centurybuilding that formerly housed the SicilianParliament. In the distance, we could see a thinwhite plume of smoke emitting from MountEtna, at nearly 11,000 feet the tallest activevolcano in Europe. Its most recent, substantialeruptions were in February and April, 2012.

PUBLIC ROOMS & ACTIVITIES – Guestson board the MSC Splendida have access to 13passenger decks, all named after famous Italianartists. We’ll begin our tour forward on Deck 5(Canaletto) at the bottom level of the 3-deckhigh Strand Theatre. The room has a capacityof 1,603 guests, and performances are alwaysscheduled twice, for early and late seating

guests. We found this space one of the mostattractive theatres afloat, futuristic-looking indesign and with great seating and sight lines,backed up by excellent acoustics and soundsystem. The headliner acts featured several fineperformances by the ship’s attractive troupe,with imaginative choreography and sets. Otheracts did not fare as well, with a mime and anacrobat rating rather ordinary. While ourmainly European audience seemed pleasedwith the shows, they are a notch below NorthAmerican standards.

Continuing aft are staterooms andamidships finds the ship’s three-level atrium,with the Reception Desk, Business Center,Splendida Bar and the Cyber Library. Furtheraft is the lower level entrance to the 1,555-seatLa Reggia Restaurant.

Deck 6 (Modigliani) starts with the mid-level of the Strand Theatre, with the traffic flowleading directly into the 323-seat Royal PalmCasino, spanning the width of the ship andoffering a separate poker room as well as thecomplete range of games of chance. Nearby isthe intimate 31-guest Cigar Lounge with its richleather furnishings and excellent sea vistas.Continuing aft is the 108-seat La Plazzetta (theship’s “Italian Square”) and piano bar servinglight fare and drinks, this space being flanked byseveral boutiques and a duty free shop. The mid-level area of the atrium is the L’Apertivo MainFoyer, with a small bar, the shore excursion deskand two small boutiques. The upper level of LaReggia Restaurant follows, and the stern area isoccupied by the ship’s other main restaurant, thesmaller Villa Verde Restaurant, seating a total of766 guests and offering guests panoramic seaviews of the ship’s wake.

We start our review of Deck 7 (Tiziano) atthe uppermost level of the Strand Theatre andthen enter the nautically-themed La Prua (‘TheProw’) Bar, with this charming piano bar/puboffering seating for 108 guests. Further aft is theArt gallery, showcasing several attractivemodern artworks commissioned by the linespecifically for the ship. This is followed by oneof the most colorful rooms aboard the ship, thePurple Jazz Bar. This lively after-hours hangout

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offered live music during evening hours andproved popular during our cruise. The nightlyduo was energetic and game, though a bit offkey with their singing. However, we found itquite amusing that their musical repertoire wasstrictly 80’s themed tunes. It was if they werestuck in some sort of time warp! To port is the105-seat Sports Bar, a nice spot for a casual biteand offering two mini bowling lanes forentertainment. Amidships finds the elegant 80-seat L’Espresso Coffee Bar, flanked by twoboutiques, one of these being a logo shopfeaturing a complete range of MSC’s cruise fleetin attractive pewter ship models. Deck 7 is alsoprovided with a superb wrap-around promenadedeck, one of the widest we’ve ever encountered.While sea views are mostly obstructed due to thedeck-mounted lifeboats, it was still ratherbaffling to note the complete absence of anydeck chairs in this spacious area as it wouldalleviate crowding by the pool area on sea days.

Our next stop is L’Enoteca Wine Bar, seating108 guests and serving light fare (a la cartepricing) as well as offering a substantial listing ofwines. Off to the starboard side is the ship’sphoto gallery, which, during evening hoursproves to be a rather congested area with verypoor traffic flow. On the port side is the ship’sother main alternative restaurant, the Santa FeTex Mex. We noted with some puzzlement thatthis 108-guest venue with a la carte pricing wassparsely patronized throughout our trip. Locatedat the stern is the Aft Lounge, seating 268 guestsand offering dancing to live music as well ascomedy shows.

Decks 8 through 13 are assigned forpassenger accommodations. Forward on Deck14 (Raffaello) finds the expansive MSC AureaSpa & Fitness Center with comprehensiveofferings for sauna, steam rooms,Thalassotherapy, Yoga, aerobics, gym andbeauty salon. Continuing aft is L’Equatore, alovely tropically-themed family pool areaprotected from inclement weather by a fullyretractable magrodome. Further aft finds theMSC Splendida’s sprawling main pool area (andseveral hot tubs), the aptly named Aqua Park,flanked by two bars. The final third portion ofthis deck is dedicated to the ship’s two casual

eateries, the Polynesian-themed Bora BoraBuffet ( seating 412 guests) and Pago PagoBuffet (at the stern, with 404 seats). Withoutquestion one of the most attractive diningoptions on board the ship, it was a popular stopwhen on the go for a quick, casual bite atbreakfast before shore tours and when returningto the ship. Bora Bora is also available nightly(it becomes a pizzeria) if choosing to forgo themain restaurants. There are numerous servingstations strategically placed throughout thisexpansive space to ensure good flow, yetbeverage stations were awkwardly located, thepoor layout resulting in frequent log jams. Alsomaking matters worse was the irritatingpenchant of many Europeans for cutting in lines.It made for short fuses at times, especiallyduring peak meal hours.

Deck 15 (Leonardo da Vinci) forwardcontain the first of two decks featuring the MSCSplendida’s finest accommodations for the MSCYacht Club, the line’s concept for 5-star, white-glove service on board a 4-star, mass-marketcruise ship. We were graciously allowed aprivate tour to visit and photograph theConcierge area and the Topsail Lounge as wellas several other Yacht Club member-only areas(described later). Without question, the variousstateroom categories offered here are veryelegant and the service is refined andunobtrusive. Additionally, privacy is ensured asthese two decks can only be accessed viaseparate, members-only elevators.

Amidships on this deck finds the powerwalking track, followed by the teen clubs Il PoloNord (“North Pole”) and I Graffitti. Further aftfinds a small children’s pool set off to port whilethe stern area houses L’Olivo, a 136-seatalternative restaurant for Yacht Club guests. Atthe very stern is the adults-only Playa Del Solpool area, complemented with a pair of hot tubs.

Deck 16 (Michelangelo) forward containsthe second deck of MSC Yacht Clubaccommodations. Situated aft to port and housedon the upper level of the two-deck structurelocated forward of the funnel casing is Club 33,the lively 120-seat disco and the heart of theship’s nightlife set. Adjoining this room on the

9

port side is Le Club and to starboard is VirtualWorld, the video arcade area. The uniqueFormula One race car simulator is in theadjacent room and for 8.00 Euros (roughly$10.00) you can board this rocket on wheels fora thrilling ‘run’ on a high speed track. To port isthe intimate 4D Cinema, with 10 seats. All theway aft is the shuffleboard court, plus areas forsquash, tennis and basketball.

Finally, we come to Deck 18 (Sun Deck),where the forward area containing swimmingpool, a bar and deck chairs are reservedexclusively for Yacht Club guests. Aft, and locatedon the upper level just ahead of the funnel casingis the Solarium, set aside for sun worshippers.

STATEROOMS – The MSC Splendida isequipped with a total of 1,637 staterooms,ranging from two lavish 561-square foot RoyalSuites on Deck 16, 1,179 balcony staterooms, 93ocean view cabins and 23 interior staterooms

(measuring a generous 181 square feet). A totalof 43 cabins in various categories are set asidefor the physically challenged. Our stateroomwas a Standard Balcony category measuring avery comfortable 208 square feet plus a 42square foot balcony. The bathroom was compactyet extremely functional and well-equipped withthe usual toiletries. The cabin featured a mini-fridge, safe, blow-dryer, flat screen television(limited availability of channels) and desk withlighted vanity. Additionally, there was adequatedrawer pace for our family of three on thisweek-long cruise. Mattresses were firm andoffered a pleasant night’s sleep.

SERVICE & CREW – Italian officers lead theMSC Splendida’s 1,370 crew members whorepresent over 50 nationalities. We found themto be for the most part helpful and friendly,particularly our cabin attendants (fromMauritius and the Ukraine) as well as the staff atthe reception desk. We did note, however, thatthere was some difficulty when communicatingin English with several members of the crew.

FOOD & DINING – This is the one category inour assessment of the ship where improvementis needed. We were assigned to the Villa VerdeRestaurant (late seating at 9:15PM). While themenu selections read attractively, passengersmay choose from as many as six courses – salad,soup, appetizers, pasta, entree and dessert,execution left much to be desired during severalevenings. Several courses were very blandtasting and one night’s beef selection provedcompletely inedible. Our conclusions weremirrored by two couples seated next to our table.Another thing that will irk North Americanpassengers is that items such as drinking waterand coffee during and after meals are not free ofcharge and a beverage card must be purchased.Coffee is not even offered after dinner -even ifyou wish to pay for it- and must be purchased atone of the bars. While MSC does not institutethis policy when their ships ply North Americanwaters, it is standard policy in Europe.

MSC Spendida also offers four alternatives,which, in European style, are priced a la carte.Passengers are charged per item. L’Olivio,

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Circa 1954 United States Lines

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Passenger Capacity: 3,274 Builder: STX FranceNumber of Crew: 1,370 Registry: PanamaTonnage: 137,936 Entered Service: 2009Length: 1,094 feet Cruising Speed: 23 knotsBeam: 124 feet Propulsion: Diesel-ElectricDraft: 28 feet Passenger Decks: 13

Ocean & Cruise News Classification: STANDARD FOUR-STAR

Passenger Cabins:Royal Suites.......................................................2 Executive, Family and Deluxe Suites ............69Aurea Suites.....................................................28 Balcony Suites..................................................8Superior Balcony Staterooms ........................563 Standard Balcony Staterooms ......................580Oceanview Staterooms ....................................93 Interior Staterooms .......................................294

Passenger Services: The Strand Theatre, Splendida Bar, Cyber Library, Business Center, Royal PalmCasino, Cigar Lounge, L'Apertivo Bar, The Aft Lounge, Photo Gallery, L'Expresso Coffee Bar, PurpleJazz Bar, La Prua Piano Bar, MSC Aurea Spa & Beauty Salon,Bar del Riccio, Tartaruga Bar, Il PoloNord, I Graffiti, Movida Bar,Club 33, Virtual World, 4D Cinema, F-1 Simulator, Solarium, 4swimming pools,. For Yacht Club guests: Concierge area, Top Sail Lounge

Restaurants: L’Olivo (Yacht Club guests only), La Reggia, Villa Verde, Santa Fe Tex Mex, Bora BoraBuffett, Pago Pago Buffett, La Piazzetta, L’Enoteca Wine Bar & Tapas.

Grading System: A basic score of 2 indicates the ship being graded is performing to the generalstandards of the classification. A score of 3 indicates it is performing above what is normally expectedfor the classification. A score of 1 indicates it is performing below what is normally expected for theclassification. A + or – is used to indicate minor differences, but not enough to warrant a higher orlower whole number.

Level of Activity...............................................2 Quality of Ports ................................................3Air/Sea Program ...............................................N/A Passenger Conveniences...................................2Alternate Dining ...............................................N/A Quality of Food ................................................1+Menu Selection .................................................2 Food Preparation ..............................................2Food Presentation .............................................1+ Stateroom Comfort ...........................................2Overall ..............................................................2

Suggested Tipping: 7 Euros per person, per day. A service charge of 15% is added for restaurant andbar tabs.

Strong Points: Well-appointed, attractive ship, with bold, elegant interiors. Large, comfortablestaterooms, with adequate storage. Itinerary is excellent, allowing for five ports of call on a 7-daycruise. Tours are fairly priced and well-organized.

Weak Points: The dining experience was a disappointment, with quality and taste of cuisine duringseveral evenings well below acceptable standards. Enforcement of non-smoking areas was weak.

CRUISE FACTS — MSC SPLENDIDA

REFLECTION CHRISTENEDCelebrity Cruises has formally named the fifth

in its five-ship Solstice Class fleet, CelebrityReflection. Presiding over the ceremonyDecember 1 were the ship s four Godmothers, allemployees of the company whose lives have beentouched by breast cancer: Celebrity ReflectionAquaSpa Manager Jovanka Goronjic; SolsticeClass Hot Glass Show Artist Megan Mathie;shoreside Community Relations Manager HelenO’Connell; and shoreside Special EventsManager Rosey Rodriguez. Each took the stagewith Chairman & CEO Richard D. Fain,Celebrity’s President & CEO Michael Bayley,and Celebrity Reflection Captain NicholasPagonis, together with three of the Godmothers ofCelebrity Reflection’s sister ships, in a namingceremony tradition unique to Celebrity.

Among the ship’s multiple new, guest-inspiredattributes are five 441-square-foot “SignatureSuites” with 118-square-foot verandas; the brand’sfirst “AquaClass Suites,” building on thepopularity of Celebrity’s spa-inspired AquaClassstaterooms, by adding additional space and 24/7butler service to the host of amenities alreadyassociated with AquaClass; the jaw-dropping“Reflection Suite,” a two-bedroom suite with atotal of 1,636 square feet and 194-square-footveranda, and a distinctive, all-glass showerextending out over the edge of the ship.

Celebrity Reflection will embark on herinaugural Caribbean season with roundtrip 7-night sailings from Miami beginning December 8.

AMERICAN CRUISELINES PURCHASES

HISTORIC CALLIOPE

American Cruise Lines announced it hasacquired a 132-year-old Nichol steam calliope to beplaced aboard its brand new 150-guestpaddlewheeler, Queen of the Mississippi. Thehistoric instrument, which originated from theWashington, a paddlewheel steamboat which

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serves lunch (noon to 2:30 p.m.) and dinner(6:30 to 11 p.m.). It is fine dining with Italianand Mediterranean food served in an intimatespace. L’Enoteca offers a light dinner of winesby the glass or bottle and a selection of meat,vegetable and cheese tapas. It’s open on selectafternoons (noon to 3 p.m.) and every evening(5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.). The Sports Bar is opennoon to 2 a.m with a limited snack type menuand Santa Fe, the Tex-Mex option, is openoccasionally at lunch (noon to 2:30 p.m.) andalways for dinner (6:30 to 11 p.m).

The ship’s casual eatery, Bora Bora becomesa pizzeria and kebab restaurant at night andcharges a few Euros for each item of food andPago Pago is closed at night.

Also on cruises in Europe, room servicecarries a charge. Items from the simple menu,available 24 hours a day, are about 3 Euros eachand are more for snacking than for meals.Options include sandwiches, salads, and acheese and fruit tray.

CONCLUSION – As a product, MSC Cruisescan best be described as a jewel in the rough. Itoffers a thoroughly European cruise experience,something that many North American guestsmay have some getting used to. In its favor, theMSC Splendida is a new ship, attractivelypriced, beautifully decorated and well-maintained. The crew is friendly and the frontdesk and our cabin attendants were very helpfuland polite. The itinerary is excellent, with fiveports of call in seven days and tours that arewell-organized, informative and fairly priced.That being said, our dining experiences didleave much to be desired and in spite of beingsuch a large ship, it does not offer many optionsin the way of alternative dining.

Perhaps a future review on this line whenthe new MSC Divina arrives in Miami mightreveal whether these issues have been lookedinto and resolved.

The author would like to thank MSC’sCheryl Fenske and on-board Guest RelationsManager Laura Brangale for their assistancewith this article.

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operated on the Mississippi and Ohio River from1880 to 1938, is being meticulously and beautifullyrestored to full operation, and will then be installedaboard the Queen of the Mississippi. The calliopewill not only serve as a delightful reminder of thegolden era of steamboating and the grandeur of thehistoric steamboats of the late 1880s, but also as afully-functioning steam-powered instrument,which will play familiar melodies and sounds asQueen of the Mississippi makes her way up anddown the Mississippi River. Once owned by St.Louis-based Streekfus Line, the Washington wasbuilt in Wheeling, W. Virginia, in 1880. Originallynamed Sidney, the historic steamboat was renamedthe Washington, the name it operated under until itwas dismantled in 1938. The purchase of itscalliope includes all its original brass whistles andvalves, keyboard, recordings and books, whichhave all been preserved, and will soon be aboardQueen of the Mississippi.Unique to this steamcalliope only, is one elevated whistle which sitsabove the rest, an uncommon feature not known tobe on any other existing calliope.

CARNIVAL BREEZEOFFICIALLY NAMING

The official naming ceremony for CarnivalCruise Lines’ new Carnival Breeze took placeSaturday, December 8, at PortMiami. Serving asthe ship’s godmother was Tracy WilsonMourning, founder of the Miami-based HoneyShine mentoring program, who initiated thebreaking of the traditional bottle of champagneon the ship’s hull during the invitation-only event.

Following its inaugural season in Europe, the130,000-ton Carnival Breeze began sailing year-round six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises fromMiami November 24, becoming the largest CarnivalCruise Lines ship ever based in South Florida.

During the naming ceremony, Carnivalpresented a $25,000 donation to Honey Shine,which pairs young girls with female role modelsto empower young women and create futureleaders in our communities through acombination of classroom training, spiritualeducation and collaborative experiences.

Carnival Breeze features a variety ofexciting innovations including the ThrillTheater, an immersive multidimensionalexperience that makes viewers feel like part ofthe movie, as well as spectacular exciting top-deck attractions like the WaterWorks waterpark and SportSquare, an open-air recreationarea with a suspended ropes course, a two-level miniature golf course, and more.Delicious dining choices include BonsaiSushi, the line’s first full-service sushirestaurant, a new outdoor barbecue venuecalled Fat Jimmy’s C-Side BBQ, and Guy’sBurger Joint developed with Food Networkpersonality Guy Fieri.

The ship operates year-round six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises from Miami, visitingsome of the region’s most popular and beautifulports of call. Six-day sailings feature GrandTurk, Ocho Rios, and Nassau. Three differenteight-day itineraries are offered – an exoticsouthern Caribbean schedule visiting GrandTurk, La Romana (Dominican Republic),Curacao, and Aruba; an eastern Caribbean routefeaturing St. Thomas/St. John, Antigua, Tortolaand Nassau; and an exotic eastern Caribbeanprogram calling at Grand Turk, San Juan, St.Thomas, and St. Maarten or Tortola.

DISNEY 2014The white sand beaches and azure waters of

Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island, takecenter stage in the early half of 2014 voyagesfor Disney Cruise Line. With all four Disneyships sailing from Florida ports, not only willguests have more options to visit Castaway Cay,but they may combine their cruise with a visit toWalt Disney World Resort and experience theexpanded Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom.

In the early part of 2014, the Disney Magicwill return to Port Canaveral joining the DisneyDream and Disney Fantasy, while the DisneyWonder will homeport in Miami. During this time,guests will have more opportunities than ever toenjoy a Disney cruise that visits Disney’s privateisland in the Bahamas reserved exclusively forDisney Cruise Line guests, Castaway Cay.

It was around this time that the owners realizedit needed to become a much larger cruise operatorin order to spread out expenses and make a betterreturn on their investment. To accomplish this itordered some new and larger ships. These shipswere larger than the small ships they operated atthe time, but still far smaller than the mega-shipsthat were being ordered and built by the largecruise lines.

The first to enter service was the 490-passenger Seven Seas Navigator in 1999, followedby the 700-passenger Seven Seas Mariner in 2001,and finally by the 700-passenger Seven SeasVoyager in 2003. By building larger ships, the linecould not only offer its guests larger stateroomsand suites, but also a greater range of onboardamenities such as specialty restaurants, and morepublic rooms then they could on the smaller ships.The one key ingredient that remained commonfrom the small to the larger ships was the highlytrained and skilled hotel staff.

In 2006, the line was renamed Regent SevenSeas Cruises and in 2007 Carlson sold the line toApollo Management. The one key element that tiedthe early days of Diamond Cruises right up to thepresent time is its President, Mark Conroy. In fact,Conroy currently has the longest tenure of beingpresident in the entire cruise industry. For a shortperiod of time, Conroy shared the top spot of theline with Stein Kruse who, at the time, wasPresident of Seven Seas Cruise when the twocompanies merged. Kruse left after a short time anda few years later went to Holland America Line,where he remains the President and CEO.

The reason Regent Seven Seas Cruises was ableto survive can no doubt be attributed to MarkConroy who was able to guide the line through arapidly changing cruise environment, by makingthe necessary changes to keep up with the changingtastes of its passenger base. As part of thosechanges, Regent now includes alcoholic beveragesand a variety of selected shore excursions in thecruise fares. Although Conroy will be steppingdown as President in January he will continue to

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Regent Fleet Photo Courtesy of RSSC

(Evolution… continued from page 1)

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work with the line, helping to advise on keyplanning for the future years of Regent Seven Seas.

The past twenty years have seen many changesfor Regent Seven Seas Cruises both in the size andtype of ships it operates and in the upscale onboardfeatures it presents to all its guests. Throughout thatperiod of time it continued to offer its guests thehighest level of accommodations, service, cuisine,and all the small amenities that upscale clienteleexpect to receive.

CARNIVAL WESTCOAST EXPANSION

Carnival Cruise Lines will expand capacityon the West Coast with the introduction of year-round three and four-day cruises on the 2,052-passenger Carnival Imagination from LongBeach, Calif., beginning January 26, 2014. Themove will bring the total number of Carnivalships operating from Long Beach to three andfurther solidify the line’s position as SouthernCalifornia’s largest cruise operator.

Carnival Imagination will offer three-daycruises to Ensenada, Mexico, departing onThursdays and four-day voyages to CatalinaIsland and Ensenada departing on Sundays. Thevessel’s sister ship, Carnival Inspiration, willcontinue to offer a similar program from LongBeach with three-day cruises departing on Fridaysand four-day cruises on Mondays. Additionally,the seven-day Mexican Riviera and 15-dayHawaii programs from Long Beach currentlyoperated by the Carnival Splendor throughFebruary 3, 2013 will continue on the CarnivalMiracle seasonally from October 2013 throughApril 2014. Together, these ships will carryapproximately 550,000 guests annually fromLong Beach, more than any other cruise operator.

Prior to the start-up of its new West Coastschedule, Carnival Imagination will offer a 16-day Panama Canal cruise departing MiamiJanuary 10, 2014, and arriving Long BeachJanuary 26, 2014. In addition to a spectacularfull transit of the Panama Canal, ports of call onthis voyage include Grand Cayman, MontegoBay, Cartagena, Punta Arenas, Puerto Vallarta and

Cabo San Lucas. Carnival Imagination hasundergone an extensive renovation and includesan expansive WaterWorks aqua park, a Serenityadults-only retreat, and a tropical-themed resort-style main pool area, renovated spa and children’sfacilities, and more.

TEN NEWVIKING LONGSHIPS

Viking River Cruises has announced that it hasplaced an order for 10 additional VikingLongships, bringing the total number of new shipslaunching next year to 10 and the numberlaunching in 2014 to eight. The launch plan willeasily surpass the industry record Viking set in2012 with the introduction of six new ships in asingle season. By the end of 2014 the companywill have introduced a total of 24 new ships in athree-year period, a fleet expansion unprecedentedin the cruise industry.

Viking plans to inaugurate the first eightViking Longships of 2013 in a first-of-its-kindsimultaneous christening ceremony in late Marchin Amsterdam. The two newest ships, VikingBaldur and Viking Magni, will join the fleet in lateAugust and September, respectively. Both vesselswill sail Viking s 15-day Grand European Tour(Amsterdam-Budapest), with Viking Baldur alsosailing the 8-day Rhine Getaway (Amsterdam-Basel) and Viking Magni also sailing the 8-dayDanube Waltz (Passau-Budapest). The eight newships in 2014 will also sail Viking s most popularitineraries in Europe. Accommodating 190passengers in 95 staterooms, Viking Longshipsfeature two Explorer Suites, the largest rivercruise suites in Europeas well as seven two-roomVeranda Suites with a full-size veranda in theliving room and a French balcony in the bedroom,39 Veranda Staterooms with full-size verandasand 22 French Balcony Staterooms.

Additionally, Viking Longships havesustainability upgrades, such as onboard solarpanels and organic herb gardens, as well asenergy-efficient hybrid engines that reducevibrations for a remarkably smooth ride. Vikinghas applied for a number of patents for variousaspects of the Longship design.

The American Queen Steamboat Companytoday announced it will raise fares beginningJanuary 1, 2013, as a result of unprecedenteddemand for the upcoming second season of theAmerican Queen. According to the operator ofthe 436-passenger riverboat, many of nextyear’s sailings are selling out, particularlyvoyages between the paddlewheeler’shomeport of Memphis and New Orleans.Overall bookings are up 300% compared to2012 and the fare increase will be an average of$200 per guest per voyage.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced theirreceiving the 2012 Quality Ship ManagementAward from American Maritime Safety (AMS).This honor, which was bestowed during themaritime trade association’s annual safetyawards in New York City, recognizesNorwegian’s extensive safety standards andpervasive safety culture.

Princess Cruises has announced two specialnew Asia cruise opportunities, offering uniqueitineraries that explore the region. Departing inOctober and November 2013 aboard DiamondPrincess, these 10- and 11-day Asia cruises sailroundtrip from Singapore, taking in some ofthe best of Southeast Asia’s ports of call,including Bangkok, Bali, Nha Trang andPhuket, as well as two ports not usually visitedon Diamond Princess itineraries – Penang,Malaysia and Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

The Carnival Glory returned to servicefollowing an extensive, multi-million dollarrenovation that added an array of on-boardspaces, from a new burger venue developed byFood Network personality Guy Fieri and a pairof tropics-inspired poolside watering holes to a“cocktail pharmacy”-themed lounge called theAlchemy Bar. Carnival Glory’s new dining, barand entertainment options are part of Fun Ship2.0, a $500 million product enhancementinitiative that is being rolled out across theCarnival fleet.

Norwegian Cruise Line and the Port ofHouston Authority announced that they have

reached an agreement for NCL to sailseasonally from Houston for three years,totaling 75 calls, with an option to extend forup to two years. Beginning in the fall of 2014,Norwegian will bring the 2,374-passengerNorwegian Jewel to Houston to sail seven-dayWestern Caribbean cruises.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced that itwill raise fares an average of 10 percent onPride of America for new bookings beginningJanuary 1, 2013. The cruise company cited“strong demand” as the reason for the increase.The only large US-flagged cruise ship, Pride ofAmerica sails year-round from Honolulu onseven-day inter-island Hawai`i cruises.

MSC Cruises is introducing an adult-onlySanctuary, the Top 18 Exclusive Solarium, onthe top decks of the MSC Splendida, Fantasia,Divina and Preziosa. Included are dedicatedspa services, bar menu and complimentary fruitskewers. Designed exclusively for the Fantasiaclass ships, the Top 18 Exclusive Solarium willbe available from the beginning of the 2013summer season.

Royal Caribbean International’s Serenadeof the Seas has reemerged from its three week$29 million drydock at Navantia Ship Yard inCadiz, Spain, with a host of new diningconcepts, entertainment options andtechnology advancements originallyintroduced to industry-wide acclaim aboardOasis-class ships. Serenade of the Seas, aRadiance-class ship, is the eighth ship overallto undergo revitalization since the lineannounced an extensive revitalization programin 2011.

Work has begun today at Fincantieri’sMarghera shipyard on the construction in thedry-dock of the Costa Diadema, the futureflagship of Costa Cruises and of the Italian-flagged passenger fleet. She will be thebiggest cruise ship flying the Italian flag:132,500 gross tons, 306 meters in length, 37.2meters in breadth, 4,947 total guests, 1,253crew members and 1,854 passenger cabins.

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MONTHLY NOTES AND COMMENTS