Costa Cruise Lines embodies a distinct Italian personality, combining the sophisticated elegance of a European vacation with the fun and spirit of Italian heritage. You’re certain to experience a lively cruise, whether via the adventurous shore excursions or joining in the onboard festivities. You are also welcome to relax, of course. Costa also offers fabulous programs for children. From day-time activities to special dinner menus it’s no wonder more and more families are cruising Costa style. Costa welcomes passengers of all ages and is up to the challenge of providing exceptional service and a wonderful experience.

MSC Cruises delivers a Premium Class cruise experience with a True Italian Signature. The legendary warmth and friendliness of classic Italian service shines through every detail of MSC Cruises. Guests enjoy gracious Italian service with authentic cuisine, refined décor, and superior entertainment on board modern elegant ships.

Board Seabourn cruise where you’re more than just a passenger… you’re an honored guest. Seabourn provides the ultimate in small-ship, ultra-luxury cruise vacations to many desirable destinations. You’ll be treated to unexpected pleasures in intimate and luxurious surroundings. Indulge yourself with luxuriously spacious suites, Seabourn’s Signature Delights such as Caviar in the Surf, and complimentary wine, spirits and fine French champagne. Seabourn delivers a world of experiences for a vacation that is truly out of this world.

“Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe.”
~ Anatole France

“I should like to spend the whole of my in life traveling abroad, if I could anywhere borrow another life to spend afterwards at home.”
~ William Hazlitt

“Today’s Carnival” is committed to total guest satisfaction and continues to redefine contemporary cruising. The emphasis on Carnival’s ships is round-the-clock fun! Guests will find dozens of activities, Vegas-style revues, and a variety of nightspots from high-energy discos to cozy piano bars. For children, Carnival offers an excellent children’s program, Camp Carnival. Every Carnival guest is assured of spacious, comfortable accommodations and fantastic service.

“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.”
~ Lao Tzu

Oceania Cruises partnered with Royal Theatrical Productions to feature the music of Andrew Lloyd Weber aboard the line’s Riviera, which will debut in May of 2012. The production, titled “Now and Forever — The Music of Andrew Lloyd Weber,” will feature music from Webers famous shows such as CATS, The Phantom of the Opera and its sequel Love Never Dies, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Apart from the music of Weber, Riviera will also feature three other performances: Up in Flames, showcasing the music of Elton John and Billy Joel; The Dawning of Aquarius, a 60s revue; and Rock On, a love story with a rock-and-roll vibe.

By Robert Jenkins

PAPENBURG, Germany — New features on the Disney Fantasy were on display during a preview walk through of the partially-finished ship this week at the Meyer Werft shipyard. The ship makes its first revenue sailing on March 31. (View a slideshow of some of the new spaces here or by clicking on the photo.) 

Planners were motivated by traffic-flow and usage studies done on the Disney Dream, a sister ship that entered service a year ago. Among the major changes:

• A pool deck bar has been replaced by the AquaLab, an interactive splash park that squirts or drenches kids. There are two, 10-foot-long “leaky walls”; as a kid covers the water squirting from one hole, another gushes.

• The bars in the adults-only lounge area, Europa, will be set up in a hub-and-spoke fashion. At the center will be a circular entry bar whose lighting will evoke a carousel’s motion. The four themed bars will be slightly larger than the bars in the District, the adults’ entertainment area on the Dream.

• In the Animator’s Palate dining room, diners will be given place mats bearing the outline of a human figure. Each diner creates a sketch within this outline. The place mats are collected and scanned, and a computer places three of the figures in a clever animation that matches them to Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pinocchio and others. In unison, they march and dance on the dining room monitors. Each of the nine dining room areas sees only the amateur sketches created by its diners.

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.”
~ Douglas Adams

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