Conference abbott::cruise_travel

334.0. "1992 New Ships" by CGVAX2::FRANKLIN () Wed Nov 13 1991 19:04

I wanted to pass on some information about the new ships scheduled for
1992. Below is a list of the new ship's and the dates they are scheduled 
to sail - I will only post information on a few of the ships because there 
is too much to type in. If you would like the article on any of the others, 
please feel free to send me mail. (Reprinted from Travel Agent Magazine 
without permission)

Cruise line			Ship			Scheduled

American Canadian Caribbean	Mayan Prince		May 31, 1992
Celebrity Cruises		Zenith			April 4, 1992
Club Med			Club Med 2		Late 1992
Costa Cruise Lines		CostaAllegra		Dec 1992		
Costa Cruise Lines		CostaClassica		Jan 25, 1992
Crown Cruise Lines (Commodore)	Crown Jewel		TBD
Holland America Line		Statendam		Late 1992
Majesty Cruise Line (Dolphin)	Royal Majesty		Sept 18, 1992
Norwegian Cruise Line		Dreamward		Dec 6, 1992
Radisson Diamond		Radisson Diamond	May 17,1992
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line	Monarch of the Seas	Nov 17, 1991
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line	Majesty of the Seas	April 26,1992
Royal Cruise Line		Royal Odyssey		Dec 10, 1991
Royal Viking Line		Royal Viking Queen	March 25,1992
Star Clippers			Star Clipper		March 1992
Starlite Cruises		Rainbow			June 1992



CELEBRITY CRUISE LINES - ZENITH

The 1374 passenger close twin to the highly successful Horizon begins
service April 4, 1992 from Ft. Lauderdale, giving the new upscale line a
year-round Caribbean presence.  The ship's Saturday sailings will 
alternate between eastern and western Caribbean itineraries, which may be
combined for a 14-day cruise.

At 47,500 gross tons, Zenith is slightly larger than Horizon but carries
only 14 additional passengers.  (Zenith's space ratio, 34.57 is slightly
better than Horizon's 34.42).  The space has been added to the four upper
decks, which have been stretched to allow a much bigger observation lounge
(Fleet Bar, Marina Deck) and additional cabins on Atlantic and Bahamas
decks.  Among the added cabins are two additional suites (20 total) and a
pair of Royal Suites, about 1/3rd larger than the Horizon's Presidential 
Suites.

More than half the twin-bedded outside cabins on the Zenith can now be
converted to king size beds.

The children's playroom has been moved up from Florida Deck (Horizon) to
Europa Deck, replacing two of the rear-facing cabins.

The disco has been redesigned to be used as a lounge or meeting room by day -
the disco lighting effects are concealed behind a mirrored wall.  What was
the Plaza Bar on Horizon is now a larger piano bar, dubbed Harry's Tavern.

Zenith's eastern Caribbean itinerary calls at San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten
and Nassau, with two full and two partial days at sea.  The western Caribbean
route brings the ship to Playa delCarmen/Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Montego Bay
and Nassua, with two full days at sea.  


NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES - DREAMWARD

The 1246 passenger Dreamward (and twin ship, Windward) raise NCL's accomodations
standard considerably: even standard outside cabins are 160 square feet and 
have a windowside sitting area with a couch (converts to a third bed) and chair.

Suites start at 175 square feet, and 78 of the category 2 and 3 suites can be
paired to create a 350-square foot two room suite - a concept used more
sparingly on the Royal Viking Queen.  An ingenious design in these double
suites is a foldaway desk/dining table built into a Murphy bed.

Dreamward's space ratio is 32.9 compared to Seaward's 27.  Unlike NCL's
earlier vessels-even the recent Seaward-Dreamward concentrates public rooms on
upper decks.  This strategy, the line says, gives passengers easy access to all
entertainment, sports and dining facilities.

Dining has been split into three restaurants: Four Season, seating 256 
passengers; Sun Terrace, accommodating 190 passengers; and The Terraces, 
serving 282 guests.  Split this way, the largest restaurant is smaller than the
average cruise dining room, which makes for a more pleasant atmosphere.  The
Terraces and Sun Terrace restaurants overlook the stern pool and sea through
a glass wall three decks high.

The main showroom, the 632 seat Stardust Lounge, spans two decks and has a
proscenium stage (the area of a theatre located between the curtain and the
orchestra)- pretty rare on cruise ships.  What makes the lounge more
unusual is that it doubles as a nightclub/disco - a sensible idea, since discos
don't get much use until after the main show.

Dreamward continues NCL's emphasis on sports and fitness with a spa and fitness
center, including a gym with exercise equipment, a basketball court and 
excercise course.

Dreamward starts seven-day cruises December 6, 1992 from Ft. Lauderdale-the
first NCL ship to use that port-and will alternate eastern and western
Caribbean itineraries.  The eastern route is to Nassua, San Juan, St.John
and St. Thomas; the western route is to Grand Cayman, Playa del Carmen,
Cozumel, Cancun and NCL's Pleasure Island in the Bahamas.  The eastern route
includes three days at sea; the western route, two days at sea.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE LINES - THE MONARCH OF THE SEAS

The second of Royal Caribbean's megaships is more mega than the first - nearly
75,000 tons compared to Sovereign's 73,192 and carrying 2,354 passengers
compared to Sovereign's 2,280.

Monarch begins cruises Nov. 17 from San Juan to Martinique, Barbadoes, 
Antigua, St. Maarten and St. Thomas.  The seven day southern Caribbean
itinerary has just one day at sea, so will appeal to first timers looking for
a lot of ports.  

On Monarch, the top three decks have been lengthened and slightly widened.
Windjammer Cafe's two levels have been pushed forward, creating a longer stretch
of uninterrupted deck space.  Children's and teen's facilities (Sun Deck) have
been greatly expanded.

But perhaps the biggest difference between Monarch and Sovereign is the
addition of verandahs to all Bridge Deck accomodations (Cat. A-C and the Royal
Suite).

Monarch's focal point is the Centrum, a five-deck-high atrium patterned after
(but slightly different from) the atrium that started it all, Sovereign of
the Seas' Centrum.

In other changes, the Ain't Misbehavin' disco (Commodore Deck) is smaller than
the Sovereign's disco.  Monarch has one cinema, larger than either of 
Sovereign's twin cinemas.  Monarch also has a larger Main Deck dining room.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE LINES - THE MAJESTY OF THE SEAS

Majesty of the Seas, third (and so far, final) vessel in the Royal Caribbean
mega-ship series, is a carbon copy of Monarch except for the names of public
rooms.

Majesty starts service April 26, less than six months after Monarch's debut.
The ship will sail out of Miami on seven-day cruises to Playa del Carmen/
Cozumel, Grand Caymen, Ocho Rios and Labadee, with two days at sea.

I should have included the passenger capacity for each ship...

Cruise line			Ship		 Passengers	Scheduled

American Canadian Caribbean	Mayan Prince	      90	May 31, 1992
Celebrity Cruises		Zenith		    1374	April 4, 1992
Club Med			Club Med 2	     386	Late 1992
Costa Cruise Lines		CostaAllegra	     810	Dec 1992	
Costa Cruise Lines		CostaClassica	    1350	Jan 25, 1992
Crown Cruise Lines (Commodore)	Crown Jewel	     820	TBD
Holland America Line		Statendam	    1266	Late 1992
Majesty Cruise Line (Dolphin)	Royal Majesty	    1056	Sept 18, 1992
Norwegian Cruise Line		Dreamward	    1246	Dec 6, 1992
Radisson Diamond		Radisson Diamond     354	May 17,1992
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line	Monarch of the Seas 2354	Nov 17, 1991
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line	Majesty of the Seas 2354	April 26,1992
Royal Cruise Line		Royal Odyssey	     765	Dec 10, 1991
Royal Viking Line		Royal Viking Queen   212	March 25,1992
Star Clippers			Star Clipper	     180	March 1992
Starlite Cruises		Rainbow		     960	June 1992