In collecting my final thoughts on sailing the Oceania Marina, part of me will miss the ship — along with my four cruises in five weeks. The other part of me is just ecstatic to be back home.

Time for those reflections…

When you first see this ship, it’s impressive, because it looks like a ship should look. Good lines, from the bow to the stern.

All over the ship there are small areas that allow you to get away whenever you feel like it. One that’s certain to be a hit is the culinary centre — the kitchen. The general feeling of people I knew who attended was there’s work to be done to make it more interesting, but keep in mind this is a christening cruise.

The food would have to rate good to excellent. One of may favourite spots to spend time was outside the Terrace buffet. Lots of tables right to the railing, where you could read, contemplate and — yes — enjoy writing Blogs in the sunshine or just sit back and relax. It’s not the sexiest part of the ship, just one that I enjoyed.

There is now a WOW factor with the Marina and that’s the way the owners wanted it. She’s a classy ship with muted excellence. One of the women writers didn’t want to get out of bed because she felt she could write her Blogs from there and order meals in, a testament to the comfort of her bed.

Staterooms, at 242 square feet, are large and comfortable, with the exception of a desk that I felt was a bit small, given the size of the room. Oh yes, one more…the shower is small but then you also have a shower in the bath tub so there should be no complaint.

All the restaurants are unique, and they make for a good rotation on a cruise, especially if it’s a longer one.

The casino is usually one of my night-time haunts but I didn’t feel the same urge on the Marina. After a long dinner and some not-bad entertainment, I was ready for that comfortable bed. Yes, mine.

The pool area is a winner and so is the library. In the shape of four boxed-in areas, the library is an extremely comfortable surrounding in which to sit and read. The pool had enough loungers, including the mattress type, for everyone on the ship.

Staffs are friendly and good at their job.

While they have their own designation for this ship, I’ve always thought of Oceania as deluxe, right behind luxury. After spending this time on Marina, she  deserves to be deluxe plus.

All for now.

As you can see by the number of Mary Hart pictures in this Blog I was all over her, so to speak. when I arrived early in the morning to board the new Oceania Marina that she would christen in the afternoon to become the ship’s Godmother.

Prior to that, only wives from the Oceania family had christened all three company ships.

When I caught up with her, she was taping clips for Entertainment Tonight and, although I don’t know, I would assume it’s on the tube this week — possibly today although she was heading to the Super Bowl right after the christening. As the person who gets to christen a ship, you are also named its Godmother and as a result a picture of Mary is hung on board to recognize her role.

Then, around the corner came another icon — chef Jacques Pepin, who has a restaurant named in his honour and who is entitled “Executive Chef” for the cruise line.

I was lucky enough to be next to him when he first saw his restaurant and his first impression was that because it was on a ship it would be bigger.

He said: “I am happy that it is not. I like the intimacy of this smaller room.”

All these people are part of the Marina’s inaugural cruise. At 1,260 passengers, it’s almost double the size of each of the current fleet’s ships: Insignia, Regatta and Nautica. These older ships were part of the R ships that went on to cruise lines like this one, Azamara and others.

From my balcony, I could hear the musicians as they warmed up for the opening ceremonies held late in the day. It was peppered with speeches by Oceania executives and financial backers. One of them, Chairman and CEO Frank Del Rio, took a few shots at the big guys and compared his cruise line to a David and Goliath scenario. It lightened up when the priest and the rabbi took to the stage, followed by Mary Hart, for the christening ceremony.

If it makes Entertainment Tonight, a group known as the Violin Divas should come into some fame. Sometimes that’s all it takes…just a few seconds and you’re off and running.

Lots of smoke, a 15-litre bottle of champagne, a few fireworks and lots of confetti prepared Marina for this pre-inaugural cruise, followed tomorrow by a cruise through the Panama Canal to San Francisco.

More tomorrow.

All for now.

In what is now a tradition, Royal Caribbean Chairman of the Board Richard Fain challenges passengers to compete against him as a Flowrider on inaugural sailings, like Allure of the Seas, on its maiden cruise this week.

Richard Fain explains it all in his blog, which is accompanied by a video of the Chairman in action that shows you all you need to know about the Flowrider. I think it’s worth the look…click here and see what you think.

All for now.

Part of the fun in cruising — although if you’re making four connections to get from the West Coast to Florida as I did last month it’s not exactly fun — is the air trip. Maybe I should say it “can” be fun.

If you’re cruising out of Sydney or other major port cities in the world where ships and the latest, greatest aircraft meet, it’s an opportunity to combine the ship with a chance to ride a new generation of flying machine.

Well, it turns out some of those new generation aircraft are having some problems. Remember the delays (for years) of the launch of the Airbus 380, the largest passenger jet ever built.

Recently, a major failure on one of the Rolls Royce engines on Qantas’s jumbo grounded its fleet for checking. That prompted other airlines, like Singapore, to examine their versions of the same engines.

When these things happen, there is always a fix but when that fix takes time and you have to make modifications on each engine — well, it spoils the fun seeing an older model plane pulls up to the gate for your dream cruise connection.

Who knows when we’re going to get to see the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, described as soon-to-be of the most passenger-comfortable aircraft in the sky? The aircraft recently had smoke in the cockpit a test flight. You can be certain that will further delay the much-delayed inaugural passenger service.

The model has been to build major components of these jets in factories all over the world. Maybe the concept of building each plane from scratch in one place was an idea that still works.

All for now.

REPORTERS AT SEA WINNERS: Check out the work done by Canada’s Knol family from Burnaby, BC, during four days of “reporting” on the Allure of the Seas. Click here to view their videos.

This is my final blog on Allure of the Seas. It’s time to get caught up on cruise news so I’ll get at it tomorrow, when my weekly cruise newsletter will be emailed. Make sure to sign up for it if you’re looking for some outstanding prices. Details for receiving the newsletter are on the right side of this page.

Here are some final random thoughts on the Allure…

Royal Caribbean’s mega ship takes a while to get around, just as it does on Oasis of the Seas — that’s the picture of the two of them the first time they met! However, I discovered you can find pockets of peaceful space, like the Solarium at the bow of the ship. If you’re early enough, you can get a cabana right up front. Even the large hot tubs are located off the wings of the Solarium — they hang over the side of the ship. There are a few other tranquil spots so, when touring the ship, watch for them here and there, then mark them on your map for future reference.

Don’t let this ship intimidate you. Take it one step at a time and you will find that neat place to have a coffee or a drink. If you like things big, well, the Allure is for you.

The DreamWorks How to Train Your Dragon ice show was good — and short, about 20 minutes. What we didn’t get to see was the skill of the skaters and if you didn’t see the movie, the show might not mean muchto you, but it will mean a lot to the kids. The Olympics has turned Canada into a winter sports nation (if it wasn’t already) and the show needs a little more athleticism.

Dazzles caught my eye. If you like to dance, this is the spot. A big band, with all kinds of music from as far back as the ’40s. It has two levels, just like the old-fashioned nightclubs and a fair-sized dance floor.

For the major pay restaurants like Park 150 and Chops, make sure you book in advance. The same goes for Sambas, the Brazilian Steak House that is transformed into the Solarium restaurant during the day.

Babies six months or older are welcome on the Allure. You can also order nanny services online and add more time, if available, on board.

This is a very small thing, but in this day and age of hauling around lots of electronic gear, the placing of a round ball of plug-ins on top of the vanity was a perfect and necessary move. Funny how the little things sometime mean a lot.

I haven’t figured out why they charge $2.50 for cupcakes when a hot dog loaded with your favourite condiments is free. Possibly because a specific baker is needed to create cupcakes and if Royal Caribbean didn’t charge it wouldn’t have been able to keep up with the demand.

The new Starbucks has street-level pricing. That means what they charge elsewhere is what they charge on Allure.

The Broadway show Chicago is a winner. The show moves smoothly throughout and most passengers would rate it as Broadway or West End quality.

The Allure has the Jazz Club. What it’s missing is all that jazz. Why not get jazz groups to board for a week at a time; different groups so the fee wouldn’t be too hefty — and good jazz musicians could use the cruise as a holiday? You’d probably find they would jam on other parts of the ship. Jazz Club needs some real jazz players.

The deal with DreamWorks by Royal Caribbean was brilliant. All the characters from DreamWorks movies come to life, with a parade on thePromenade every day and 3D movies in the Amber Theatre, plus breakfasts with the characters. It works.

Adagio dining room: Although it holds over 3,000 diners at each sitting, there are small areas blocked off with panelling that creates the feeling of a smaller room. It’s convention centre size with a feeling of intimacy, depending where you sit.

Most of the cafes along the Boardwalk are free, including the Promenade Café, which serves small sandwiches and desserts. They use Seattle’s Best Coffee.

You can walk or jog around the entire ship but the track is on Deck 5. Most of the view is lifeboats. The gym and the spa are also on Deck 5, and it’s the top level of the Adagio Dining Room, too.

Now some news about getting to the ship…

I am a big fan of the Fort Lauderdale Airport, even when I’m taking cruises out of Miami. It’s much more convenient to get around. So if you’re coming into that airport to catch Allure at nearby Port Everglades and plan to take a taxi, make sure it takes the short route to the port and not the long one. Having said that, if there are lots of ships there could be a huge back-up, and the commercial gate might make more sense. The short route opens at 6 a.m. so don’t let them fool you…as my driver tried to until I told him I wanted to take the short route. Fort Lauderdale’s airport should ensure taxis are always taking that route. Every time I have been there, I have to ask them to turn at the first entrance to Port Everglades.

There’s an even better option, one that takes a little more time. There is a free — yes, FREE — bus that operates from the car rental building. It’s not far from the terminal (you can see all the ships from the car rental building). It’s a good thing to keep in mind, especially if you’re going to Fort Lauderdale a day or two earlier and renting a car at the airport.

Finally, Allure of the Seas and its older sibling Oasis are not for everyone.

If you’re looking for a more adult ship, consider Celebrity or Holland America. If it’s a floating resort you want, and one that will entertain your entire family, then both these ships will meet your needs.

Like everything that’s big, you have to wait from time to time. That’s part of the deal. But if you use the technology on the ship, that helps.

Finally, it’s possible Royal Caribbean could be ordering a new ship for 2014. Some hints were dropped during the inaugural Allure cruise although nothing is definite. One thing for sure: It will not be in the mega Oasis Class.

My guess is a ship that would fit into the new Panama Canal when it opens in 2014.

All for now.

REPORTERS AT SEA WINNERS: Check out the work done by Canada’s Knol family from Burnaby, BC, during four days of “reporting” on the Allure of the Seas. Click here to view their videos.

All the DreamWorks characters are here. Kathie Lee Gifford (right) is here. So is Hoda Kotb (left).That can only mean the Today Show is here!

That’s how the inaugural cruise of Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas began. Lots of stars, lots of pizzaz, all of it before the ship sets sail.

While most passengers were getting on later in the day, a large crowd showed up for the “live” show that had the stars running from one area of the ship to another.

All this was taking place on the Boardwalk, where you can look into the pool that later in the day will feature high divers and synchronized swimmers, doing their thing once the winds subside. The Boardwalk is in
the aft part of the ship, on deck 5. Here you can eat hot dogs, hamburgers at Johnny Rockets, and take a ride on a real merry-go-round on hand-carved wooden horses.

Here you can also look either left or right and see the giant five-story walls you can climb…well, maybe YOU can. It’s not easy. Or you can ride
from one side of the top deck to the other on a zip line. I did say you, right?

For those passengers with inside cabins in this part of the ship, you can look down on all this activity. Many of the suites are located here with large balconies facing the ocean from the stern.

Our Canadian winners in the Reporters At Sea contest are on board and you’ll find out what they’re up to over the next few days.

All for now.

With a day at sea aboard the Celebrity Summit on our New England-to-Canada journey out of New Jersey, it’s time to catch up on some cruise news. Tomorrow, I will review our visit to Charlottetown.

This a few days old but the fact that In Australia, P&O Cruises – owned by Carnival Corporation — is doing away with mandatory tipping.

In recent memory, I can’t remember any cruise line doing that.

Many countries are accustomed to mandatory tipping and apparently the Aussies have spoken and P&O has listened. It’s the biggest cruise line serving that market so it has the most to lose.

Now passengers can reward specific crew members individually, or choose an amount to add to their account.

According to a Carnival spokesperson, the pay structure on the Aussie ships is not tied to tips so there will be no change in the pricing.

How do you feel about P&O’s move?
——–
Regent’s Seven Seas Voyager is out of action for most of this month. The Voyageur has prop problems and it’s going to take that long to fix them.

The next cruise had been scheduled for October 17. Now, Regent is expecting the ship to be operational for its Athens-to-Barcelona trip on October 27.

Passengers affected can select any one of nine upcoming cruises at the same price as a replacement, or get a full refund and a $1,000 credit on a future 2011 or 2012 cruise.

Until the ship arrives in Genoa by the end of this week and goes into dry dock, Regent won’t know the full extent of the problem.
——–
MSC Cruises is planning to expand its Middle East offerings. In 2011-12, MSC will be offering sailings from both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The MSC Lirica will be offering 19 eight-day cruises from both ports. Among the stops are Muscat, Al Fujairah and Bahrain.
——–
Oceania Cruises’ new ship completed its sea trials at the end of September. Now the Marina is having the finishing touches added at the Fincantieri’s shipyard and is due for delivery on January 17.

The ship’s inaugural schedule includes a 13-day maiden voyage January 22 from Barcelona to Miami. On February 8, it departs on the first of two 18-day Panama Canal transits that visit San Francisco or San Diego.

The Marina then operates a 12-day Caribbean cruise round-trip from Miami on March 16 before sailing to Europe to begin her inaugural Mediterranean season.
——–
In 2008, Royal Caribbean introduced steak-for-a-price in main dining rooms, and cruisers apparently complained in loud voices. Now Carnival is trying it (as a trial) on three ships that don’t offer the quality of beef

that’s accessible on other Carnival ships at steakhouses where diners pay a surcharge.

The three ships — Inspiration, Paradise, Triumph — don’t have the upscale restaurants. However, prime rib and lobster tails are served at least once per voyage on all three ships.

It”s a three-month trial. The passengers will speak, and whether it makes fiscal sense will be analyzed. With Royal Caribbean, it must have made sense because the practice continues today.
——–
All for now.

Most of us in the business have referred to Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas as the sister to Oasis of the Seas, and for the most part it is. However, these sister ships born a year apart do have some differences, but not many.

As an example, Hairspray is the big Broadway Show on Oasis, and Chicago will be the signature show on Allure when it embarks on its inaugural cruise on December 5.

Some of the smaller food areas that didn’t work out (Oasis) will get name changes (Allure) and the menu will have some different food. Some of the kiosk-type places will also change.

Dreamworks, as we told you several weeks ago, will introduce characters such as Shrek and Donkey onboard the Allure before they surface on other Royal Caribbean ships.

Pop culture icon Romero Britto will be a big part of Allure. Royal used him to design the pool deck on Mariner of the Seas, and now he is opening the Britto Store on Allure in what is referred to as the Central Park neighbourhood. That area will display artwork, along with smaller collectible pieces, and sculptures.

In the end, it’s still a mega ship with room for 5,600 passengers that can sail with over 6,000 on board.

All for now.

Costa Deliziosa - Sexy Time Disco

Costa Deliziosa - Chocolate at the Sugar Cafeteria

Costa Deliziosa - Delicious Scallop Appetizer

Costa Deliziosa - Retractable-Roof Pool

Costa Deliziosa in Lights

Skorpian RollerSkates on Costa Deliziosa

See all our Costa Deliziosa Photos.

Full Disclosure: I write CruiseSource.us because I find cruising to be infectious … My full-time gig is as CruiseDeals.com’s Business Development Specialist and we sell the Costa Deliziosa at the best prices on the Internets. Search all of Costa Deliziosa’s 2010 Dubai, Northern Europe, and Mediterranean Voyages.

Back to bed for me, hopefully I can get an hour more of sleep before we disembark in Livorno.

Jess & Rich with Joe & Jean Farcus on the Costa Deliziosa

Sax Player in the Multi-Level Disco Bar

Charlotte Airport after Snow Storm 2010

Sitting at the Charlotte-Douglas Airport, we are very fortunate that our flight is not cancelled. Most flights out of Charlotte have been cancelled, but our Lufthansa flight to Munich then on to Venice is on schedule. I can’t stress the importance of Travel Insurance for protecting your Cruise Vacation from the unkown. You can search the web and find that 99% of anyone who writes about travel recommends travel insurance. We were stressed about our flights, so I called Lufthansa multiple times in the last 24 hours and their service has been amazing!

I will be posting pictures, videos, and writing about our trip here at CruiseSource.us so stay tuned by subscribing in the top right hand corner of the blog! Happy Sailing ~ Rich Tucker

I’ll feel much better once I’m seated on our 10 hour flight to Europe tomorrow.  We’ll be among the first passengers as the Costa Deliziosa takes her Inaugural Tour around Italy!  We have tours of Venice, Naples, Livorno, and Savona. 

Naples, Italy here we come!!

Make sure you don’t miss out on our pictures and video from the Costa Deliziosa, subscribe to CruiseSource.us in the top right hand corner of this page.  Go ahead and Checkout our exclusive rates on the Costa Deliziosa 2010 Dubai departures and Northern Europe sailings.

Full Disclosure. This inaugural event is not a revenue generating sailing for the Cruise Line, therefore no one attending the event has to pay to go on the cruise.

COSTA DELIZIOSA

92,600 gross tons

2,260 Double Occupancy Capacity

Along with her sister ship, the Costa Luminosa, she will be the fleet’s “flagship,” offering the most exclusive and innovative elements in the fleet, designed for Costa’s most discerning clientele.

• These innovations include the ship’s avant-garde design and the use of premium materials, such as various type of marbles, granite, mother-of-pearl and Murano glass, stucco applied by spatula using the technique known as “spatolato veneziano” and other decorative interior finishes including “parchment scroll” lamé, refined Zebrano wood and Wenge timber.
• The stunning atrium features fine works of art, including “Sphere” by Arnaldo Pomodoro and a piece by Mario Donizetti.
• A 4-D cinema, where sight, sound, touch and scent come together to form a multisensory experience for guests. It also features seats that roll in tandem with action as it unfolds onscreen.
• A rollerskating track will allow guests to try roller skating with strap-and-go “Skorpion” skates that attach to one’s shoes.
• The golf simulator, where guests will be able to play golf in one of the world’s top 37 most famous golf courses while at sea.
• A Grand Prix race car driving simulator, one of the most accurate representations of Formula One racing available.
• PlayStation World areas, exclusive dedicated areas equipped with PS3 consoles and the latest-generation videogames. Themed evenings and challenges on a mega-screen overlooking the pool deck will also be planned with PlayStation and guests may enjoy PS3 games from the comfort of their cabin with on-demand games for rent.
• The exclusive “Samsara Spa” wellness center, complete with cabins featuring direct access to the spa and Technogym Kinesis rooms.
• The à la carte restaurant Club Deliziosa will feature the very best traditional Italian cuisine and quality ingredients with menus created by Ettore Bocchia, Executive Chef at the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio and a Michelin-Star restaurateur.
• An exclusive wine selection includes Amarone Stella Aneri Special Reserve 2004, a limited edition wine produced and matured in 15 barrels set aside for Costa’s ships.
• Entertainment options include the lounge acts in the Excite Piano Bar, dancing in the Sharãzãd disco, a chocolate bar in the Sugar Cafeteria, the Tabac Blonde Cigar Lounge, and Broadway-style revues in the Duse Theatre.

This is a brand new class of ship for Carnival. She will 130,000 Gross Tons.

The Carnival Dream will be introducing The Piazza, an indoor/outdoor cafe with a live music venue. The most elaborate childrens facility at sea.
I think the most impressive enhancements on the Dream are going to be the innovative designs and additions they are making to the staterooms. They will have the Deluxe Ocean View Staterooms. These will have an additional bathroom featuring a Junior tub and Sink. 20 of these cabins will be able to hold 5 passengers. These will be the perfect offering for family of 5 with young children.
The Cove Balconies will be an affordable offering on main Deck 2. It will have Solid Steel Verandah as opposed to the Plexiglas Railings on the higher decks.

So for those of us who love to sail on brand new ships. The Carnival Dream is going to be full of new amenities, but will be priced lower than the much hyped Oasis of the Seas. I am looking forward to going on both ships, but if my pesky budget gets in the way, I will most likely find myself going on the Carnival Dream in Early December 2009.

Click here to check out pricing and availability on the Carnival Dream in Dec. 2009.

Eric M., one of our AllStar agents completed a Total Fact Sheet on the Oasis of the Seas.  Email him @ Eric.Muhlitner@cruisedeals.com and he will send over the free total fact sheet.  I would have posted it on the blog but other agencies might steal Eric’s work.

Released on October 29th, 2009: Related Post – Oasis of the Seas Promo with On Board Credits.

So if you were curious about the pricing structure of the Oasis of the Seas, I have found it.  With RCCL, they start the prices low and they will continue to go up.  In most cases, We will honor the rate if the price drops.  So it makes sense to book this early, because the deposit is fully refundable up to the final payment date.  And we do not charge booking fees or cancellation fees…call 800-668-6414 for more details.

Related post: Oasis of the Seas, TOTAL Fact Sheet

Related Post October 29th, 2009: Exclusive Offer for the 2009 Oasis of the Seas Sailings

Here is the pricing:

   Crown Loft / Junior Suite / Balcony D8 / Outside / Inside - 3rd/4th

December 12, 2009   $5,559 / $2,779 / $1,699 / $1,549 / $1,299 – $619
December 19, 2009   $7,729 / $3,799 / $2,279 / $2,029 / $1,649 -$1,049
December 26, 2009   $7,929 / $3,999 / $2,479 / $2,229 / $1,799 -$1,299
January 2, 2010        $4,209 / $2,079 / $1,229 / $1,079 / $879  - $659
January 9, 2010        $4,209 / $2,079 / $1,229 / $1,079 / $879  -$659
January 16, 2010      $4,209 / $2,079 / $1,229 / $1,079 / $879 – $659
January 23, 2010      $4,209 / $2,079 / $1,229 / $1,079 / $879  -$649
January 30, 2010      $4,229 / $2,099 / $1,249 / $1,099 / $899  -$699
February 6, 2010      $4,229 / $2,099 / $1,249 / $1,099 / $899 – $699
February 13, 2010     $5,389 / $2,609 / $1,529 / $1,379 / $1,149 – $999
February 20, 2010     $4,229 / $2,179 / $1,329 / $1,209 / $999 – $749
February 27, 2010     $4,279 / $2,229 / $1,379 / $1,259 / $1,049 – $799
March 6, 2010          $4,279 / $2,229 / $1,379 / $1,259 / $1,049 – $799
March 13, 2010        $4,329 / $2,279 / $1,429 / $1,309 / $1,099 – $799
March 20, 2010        $4,309 / $2,259 / $1,409 / $1,289 / $1,099 – $799
March 27, 2010        $5,259 / $2,649 / $1,679 / $1,529 / $1,299 – $849
April 3, 2010            $5,209 / $2,599 / $1,629 / $1,479 / $1,249 – $899
April 10, 2010           $4,329 / $2,299 / $1,419 / $1,299 / $1,099 – $849
April 17, 2010           $4,309 / $2,279 / $1,399 / $1,279 / $1,079 – $769
April 24, 2010           $4,309 / $2,279 / $1,399 / $1,279 / $1,079 – $769
May1, 2010             $4,429 / $2,399 / $1,519 / $1,399 / $1,199 – $769
May 8, 2010            $4,409 / $2,299 / $1,419 / $1,299 / $1,099 – $769
May 15, 2010           $4,539 / $2,429 / $1,549 / $1,429 / $1,229 – $799
May22, 2010            $4,479 / $2,369 / $1,489 / $1,369 / $1,169 – $799
May 29, 2010           $5,499 / $2,719 / $1,699 / $1,549 / $1,319 – $899
June 5, 2010            $5,429 / $2,649 / $1,629 / $1,479 / $1,249 – $999
June 12, 2010          $5,479 / $2,699 / $1,679 / $1,529 / $1,299 – $989
June 19, 2010          $5,529 / $2,749 / $1,729 / $1,579 / $1,349 – $999
June 26, 2010          $5,579 / $2,799 / $1,779 / $1,629 / $1,399 – $1,049
July 3, 2010             $5,579 / $2,799 / $1,779 / $1,629 / $1,399 – $1,099
July 10, 2010           $5,579 / $2,799 / $1,779 / $1,629 / $1,399 – $1,049
July 17, 2010           $5,529 / $2,749 / $1,729 / $1,579 / $1,349 – $1,049
July 24, 2010           $5,579 / $2,799 / $1,779 / $1,629 / $1,399 – $1,049
July 31, 2010           $5,529 / $2,749 / $1,729 / $1,579 / $1,349 – $999
August 7, 2010         $5,429 / $2,649 / $1,629 / $1,479 / $1,249 – $949
August 14, 2010       $5,329 / $2,549 / $1,529 / $1,379 / $1,149 – $899
August 21, 2010       $4,169 / $2,109 / $1,269 / $1,169 / $999 – $899
August 28, 2010       $4,119 / $2,059 / $1,219 / $1,119 / $949 – $649
September 4, 2010    $3,729 / $1,799 / $999 / $899 / $739 – $499

Below are the rates I have found as of tonight (rates do not include taxes), if the rates start to go up we will still have the ship board credits. :
Click here to see Real time Rates and Availability:

Dec. 13th, 2008 Starting at $568 per person + $100 Ship board credit per cabin

Jan 24th, 2009 Starting at $587 per person + bottle of wine

Feb 21st, 2009 Starting at $713 per person + $50 Ship Board Credit per cabin

Feb. 28th, 2009 Starting at $680 per person + $50 ship Board Credit per cabin

Agencies are being asked to prepare ahead of time for this date due to the overwhelming number of bookings they are anticipating.  If you would like to pre-register start today by leaving a comment.  I will get back with you immediately.  Soon we will have a link to an Oasis of the Seas pre-registration online form.

 
“We would encourage trade partners to get advance registrations for Oasis of the Seas,” associate vice-president and general manager of Royal Caribbean Cruise Jo Rzymowska told Travel Weekly.

Sailing out of Florida, it will embark upon its inaugural cruise season which includes a series of seven-night cruises to the eastern Caribbean from December 2009.

To watch a video and learn more about the Oasis of Seas Click here.  Leave a comment if you are interested preregistering.  We will have an online form soon.

RELATED POST on 11/02/09 : Exclusive Oasis of the Seas Deal for 2009 Sailings

Ruby Princess, Princess — November 8, 2008 — 3,080 passengers
Sister ship to the Emerald Princess and Crown Princess, the Ruby Princess greets guests with a dramatic piazza-style atrium, featuring a variety of cafes and eateries along with a host of street performers. In addition to three main dining rooms, the 5-star ship will offer two specialty restaurants — Sabatini’s Italian trattoria and Crown Grill, serving steak and seafood. Onboard amenities include the Lotus Spa, the poolside Movies Under the Stars, an adults-only retreat called The Sanctuary, an extensive children’s and teens’ center and a wedding chapel.

Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity — November 23, 2008 — 2,852 passengers
The 5-star Celebrity Solstice is the first of the line’s new Solstice class, and 85% of the staterooms will include private balconies. The Solstice’s roomy cabins will feature flat-screen televisions, plenty of storage space and spacious bathrooms. Celebrity will debut an all-new class of veranda staterooms on the Solstice, called “AquaClass.” Passengers traveling in these accommodations will have unlimited access to the AquaSpa relaxation room and the Persian Garden, a unique aromatherapy steam room. Additionally, AquaClass guests will receive complimentary dining in Blu, an exclusive and intimate specialty restaurant. Availability on the inaugural cruise of the Celebrity Solstice is extremely limited.

MSC Fantasia, MSC Cruises — December 20, 2008 — 4,100 passengers
Eighty percent of the staterooms on this 4.5-star ship will feature ocean views, and 99 of the 107 suites will make up the exclusive MSC Yacht Club, a private, V.I.P. area that will include its own bar, pool, solarium and a concierge. Suites in the MSC Yacht Club area will also offer butler service. The MSC Fantasia will feature five restaurants, four pools, a children’s area and the Aurea Spa well-being center.

Costa Luminosa, Costa — May 5, 2009 — 2,828 passengers
As her name implies, the 4.5-star Costa Luminosa is dedicated to light. Keeping with that theme, the ship will feature special lighting effects during evening performances in the main show lounge and an innovative 4-D cinema. Other Costa firsts on the Costa Luminosa include a roller-skating rink, an 18-hole golf course simulator and the Club Restaurant, where guests can see right into the large kitchen. Sixty-eight percent of the ship’s cabins feature private balconies.

Costa Pacifica, Costa — June 6, 2009 — 3,780 passengers
Like her sister ships, Costa Serena and Costa Concordia, the 4.5-star Costa Pacifica boasts the state-of-the-art Samsara Spa. This 20,500-square-foot space houses a wellness center, spa, salon and fitness center. Elsewhere on the ship, guests will find a Formula 1 racecar driving simulator, pools with retractable roofs and 13 bars and lounges. Each public area is inspired by a different genre of music, and throughout the ship passengers will have opportunities to enjoy arrangements composed especially for Costa.

Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn — June 24, 2009 — 450 passengers
Boasting one of the highest space-per-passenger ratios at sea, the 6-star Seabourn Odyssey will have 225 suites, 90% featuring full-size balconies. All accommodations offer a granite bathroom with a separate tub and shower and twin sinks. Public spaces include four dining venues, offering options from casual, grilled food to gourmet tasting menus; six bars and lounges, where complimentary fine wines and spirits flow freely; and the spa, which features a thalassotherapy whirlpool, Finnish saunas, aromatic steam rooms, a gym and an aerobics area.

Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity — August 8, 2009 — 2,852 passengers
The second in Celebrity’s new Solstice class, the 5-star Celebrity Equinox will feature the innovative Lawn Club, a half-acre-sized area with real, growing grass and a country club atmosphere. The Patio on the Lawn offers a spot where passengers can relax and mingle or take in glassblowing demonstrations and lectures at the Hot Glass Show. Staterooms on the Celebrity Equinox and other Solstice-class ships will be 15% larger than those on other Celebrity ships and boast flat-screen televisions and wireless Internet access.
Carnival Dream, Carnival — September 21, 2009 — 3,646 passengers
When it launches, the 130,000-ton Carnival Dream will be the largest vessel in Carnival’s “Fun Ship” fleet. Featured among the 4.5-star Dream’s services and amenities are a two-level miniature golf course, the WaterWorks aqua park, the Piazza — an indoor/outdoor cafe and live music venue — and extensive children’s and teens’ areas with program activities for three age groups. Adults will enjoy the 23,750-square-foot Cloud 9 spa, Carnival’s largest health and wellness center to date, as well as the scenic whirlpools extending beyond the ship’s beam. The Carnival Dream will offer several new categories of staterooms including “cove” balcony staterooms located close to the water line, deluxe oceanview staterooms featuring two bathrooms and spa staterooms and suites with exclusive amenities and spa privileges.

I have a fast growing group taking advantage of the fact that not many people are aware of the Ruby Princess.   Only the most faithful of the Princess cruisers know that the Ruby will be introduced in the fall of 2008 and that you are able to book cabins now.  Due to not many people knowing about the upcoming ship, the rates are low.  As soon as Princess starts to market the Ruby Princess, rates will most likely go up rapidly.   Cruising on a new ship is special and the price people are willing to pay is higher than an older ship.  Today, the rates on the Ruby Princess are very close to its older sister ships.    

I have recently booked 9 Balcony cabins  on the 11.29.08 sailing of the Ruby Princess doing a Western Caribbean Itinerary.   The Rate for the Balconies was  $847 per person and each cabin is getting $50 on board credits.  Currently, there is very little info on the Ruby Princess out on the internet.  After booking my group, I thought it would be good to get a post on the blog to let you know now is a good time to book the Ruby.  

UPDATED July 30th, 2008: Click Here to see latest Deals on the Ruby Princess.

Click Here to read more details and recent press releases on the Ruby Princess.