NEW CRUISE SHIPS IN 2012
We love that new ship smell -- and the cruise ship class of 2012 is giving off
quite an intriguing perfume.
Among the mega-ship new-builds debuting in
2012 are several familiar faces: Oceania's second O-class ship, Riviera;
Carnival's third Dream-class vessel, Carnival Breeze; and Celebrity Cruises'
fifth and final Solstice-class offering, Celebrity Reflection.
But not
all sisters look or act alike.
Carnival Breeze has a new toned-down
design and a slew of new attractions offering burgers, burritos, booze and
George Lopez. The changes come by way of the line's $500 million FunShip 2.0
initiative, a program that also calls for the retrofitting of older ships with
the aforementioned amenities. Tweaks are also in store for Celebrity Reflection,
which will feature a suite complex not found on its four older sisters. Disney
Fantasy, the Mouse's second Dream-class vessel, has more for kids (new watery
deck spaces) and adults (themed lounges, pool area).
Beyond the giants,
the surprising star of the 17-ship class is American Cruise Lines' (ACL) Queen
of the Mississippi, a 150-passenger vintage-style "steamboat," propelled by a
26-ton, 28-foot-wide paddlewheel. ACL's owners hope the new ship -- done up with
gingerbread trim, glass chandeliers and rocking chairs -- can get the
Mississippi River cruise industry back on track, starting in August.
Switch continents, and you'll see Europe-based river cruise lines
continuing their torrid expansion. More than half of the year's new-builds --
including six from Viking River Cruises -- will be based on European
tributaries.
The Mega-Ships:
US
Ship
& Launch: Disney Fantasy, March 31
The Low-Down: Disney Fantasy shares much in
common with its good-looking older sister, Disney Dream, including the AquaDuck
watercoaster and "virtual portholes" in inside cabins. But Fantasy also has its
own robust personality, shaped by a slew of new production shows, adult-only
themed spaces and cool top-deck attractions.
The most photogenic addition
has to be the AquaLab (pictured, before the kids took over), a play area
featuring pop jets, geysers, bubblers and all manner of watery apparatuses (like
Uncle Donald's leaky rowboat). Another distinction: The Muppets have made their
at-sea debut starring in a mystery game that will take passengers around the
ship in search of clues.
Deployment: Eastern and Western
Caribbean
Ship & Launch: Oceania's Riviera, May
The
Low-Down: Ain't broke? Don't fix it. "Luxe lite" line Oceania might not use
those words to describe Riviera, its second 1,250-passenger O-class ship, but it
certainly could. There are some tweaks -- a thalassotherapy pool replaces a hot
tub, for instance -- but everything found on the first-in-class Marina is back.
Food -- eating it, cooking it, learning about it -- is again the focus. Riviera
will feature a culinary arts center and 10 restaurants serving everything from
Asian fusion to French. If all that eating makes you sleepy, you can retreat to
one of the ship's palatial, 2,000-plus-square-foot Owner's Suites or Canyon
Ranch Spa.
Deployment: Caribbean, Mediterranean, South
America
Ship & Launch: Carnival Breeze, June 3
The
Low-Down: Big design and amenity changes are afoot for the 3,690-passenger
Carnival Breeze, the third Dream-class ship. First, Carnival has dispensed with
the longtime surrealistic designer Joe Farcus; this time, Hamburg-based firm
Partner Ship Design is leading the way with a toned-down vibe and tropical theme
throughout.
Feature-wise, Breeze will have a burger joint created by
celebrity chef Guy Fieri, rum and tequila bars and a 5D theater (these eating
and drinking options will be retrofitted onto about a dozen of Breeze's
fleetmates by 2015). But never fear: The RedFrog Pub, the Caribbean-themed bar
that debuted on Magic, is back. And so are the 100-ounce tubes of Carnival's
custom brew, Thirsty Frog Red.
Deployment: Mediterranean,
Caribbean
Ship & Launch: Celebrity Reflection, October
12
The Low-Down: Celebrity Reflection is the fifth -- and final --
ship in Celebrity's game-changing Solstice class. (Execs like the ships so much
they're retrofitting the line's older Millennium-class vessels with popular
Solstice-class restaurants and bars.) The series has evolved quite a bit since
Solstice launched in 2007, and the 126,000-ton, 3,030-passenger Celebrity
Reflection is both larger and more amenity-laden than its
predecessors.
The main difference between Reflection and its youngest
sister, Silhouette (2011), is that Reflection features an additional deck
housing the line's first "suite complex." Otherwise, expect classy, light-loving
spaces; the newest version of the class' now-iconic Lawn Club (grill restaurant,
for-fee cabanas); and double-digit dining options.
Deployment:
Caribbean, Western Europe, Mediterranean
The Mega-Ships: Europe
Ship & Launch: Costa Fascinosa, May 2
The
Low-Down: Leave it to Joe Farcus, Carnival Corp.'s neon-loving designer and
sole adherent of "Farchitecture," to breathe some zany life into Costa's fifth
Concordia-class ship. The 3,000-passenger Costa Fascinosa will sport all the
signature Concordia-class elements -- Asian-themed spa, poolside movie screen,
Grand Prix simulator -- but the ship will be themed around "things that
fascinate," like movies and exotic places.
If that doesn't narrow it
down, try this: a "Gone With the Wind"-themed lido area. Specific design touches
(the burnt-out shell of Tara?) haven't been revealed, but the space will feature
raised whirlpool tubs and waterfalls. The homage to the historical melodrama
will be offset with a dose of modernity: A new mobile platform will allow
smart-device users to access the ship's interactive TV system and book
excursions, check their bill, etc.
Deployment: Eastern
Mediterranean
Ship & Launch: MSC Divina, May 2012
The
Low-Down: MSC Divina will become the 12th ship in the Italian line's fleet.
The Fantasia-class ship on steroids will have roughly 100 more cabins and a
touch more room than its two half-sisters, MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida, as
well as a handful of new features, including a wake-facing infinity pool (so you
can gaze off into the distance during a dip). MSC has also opted to use the
extra volume to expand its Yacht Club, a ship-within-a-ship complex featuring
suites, a private sun deck and a concierge lounge.
Deployment:
Mediterranean
Ship & Launch: AIDAmar, May 12
The
Low-Down: The 71,100-ton, 2,184-passenger AIDAmar is the sixth ship in
Germany-based AIDA Cruises popular Sphinx class. The series is known for its
sprawling wellness areas, flamboyant interiors and breezy, "club casual" vibe.
Like its most recent sister, AIDAmar will sport a 4D cinema, complete with
moving chairs and water- and air-jets; a steakhouse; sushi bar; and a
microbrewery, where beer is brewed from purified sea water.
Deployment: Northern Europe, Mediterranean, Red
Sea
The Riverboats: U.S. 
Ship & Launch: Great American Steamboat
Company's American Queen, April 26
The Low-Down: While not technically a
new-build, the 436-passenger American Queen has been out of service since 2008
when it's previous owner, Majestic America Line, went belly up. Now it's got a
new owner, Great American Steamboat Company, that paid big bucks to resurrect
the world's largest steam-powered paddlewheeler. Before (re-)launching, AQ will
undergo a $6 million refurb to make the Victorian decor -- chandeliers,
upholstery, polished wood -- pop.
Onboard, dining will play first fiddle.
Menus created by Natchez-based chef Regina Charboneau will include regionally
sourced ingredients like wild honey from Mississippi and artisan cheeses from
the river towns along the routes. Expect beignets with breakfast, gourmet hot
dogs for lunch and Charboneau's peppered beef brisket for dinner. Entertainment
will come by way of music (think jazz on ex-Nola sailings) and an onboard
"riverlaurian," who will provide the necessary historical and cultural
color.
Deployment: Mississippi and connecting rivers
Ship & Launch: American Cruise Lines' Queen of the Mississippi,
August 11
The Low-Down: The year's freshest -- and most nostalgic
-- new-build has to be American Cruise Lines' 150-passenger Queen of the
Mississippi, the first Big Muddy-based new-build to launch in some 15 years. Old
Man River's been nearly dead to overnight cruisers since 2008, when the two
biggest players in the leisure steamboatin' game collapsed. ACL hopes to help
resurrect the niche industry in 2012.
Its modern sternwheeler with
Victorian aspirations will feature crystal chandeliers, dark wood paneling and
enormous standard cabins (like 268 square feet of enormity). Execs think the
Paddlewheel Lounge will be the showstopper; the space will be decked out in rich
woods and offer panoramic views of passing scenery and the red sternwheel.
Deployment: Mississippi and connecting rivers
The Riverboats: Europe 
Ships & Launch: Viking's "Longship" Horde; two in March,
one in April, one in May, one in July, one in August
The Low-Down:
Six Viking "Longships" will descend on Europe's rivers in 2012. The
190-passenger boats are designed by maritime architects Yran & Storbraaten
(Seabourn's designer) and named after imposing Norse gods like Idun, Odin and
Njord. The boats will introduce a number of concepts for Viking, including
suites with full-size balconies and the Aquavit Terrace, an indoor-outdoor
lounge featuring retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors.
Viking is also
continuing its "green cruising" tradition, so the Longships have
energy-efficient hybrid engines, solar panels and organic herb gardens.
Deployment: Rhine, Danube
Ship & Launch: AmaCerto, April
The
Low-Down:The 164-passenger AmaCerto, the third in a series, continues
AMAWATERWAYS' ambitious expansion program; the company has launched Europe-based
riverboats every year since 2006. Like its sisters, AmaCerto will feature AMA's
"twin balcony" setup, a unique offering consisting of a French (glorified window
with railing) and traditional balcony (with room to sit). And, in an effort to
shrug the stodgy reputation that haunts river lines, the ship will feature
bow-to-stern wi-fi and "infotainment" systems (combo TV/music/Web) in every
cabin.
Another sign that AMA is hip to the modern cruise landscape: The
line is borrowing from a big-ship culinary trend and offering a Chef's Table
event, where a private chef prepares a special tasting menu for passengers.
Deployment: Rhine, Danube
Ship & Launch: Avalon Vista and Visionary, May
11
The Low-Down: A pair of new Avalon Waterways riverboats, Vista
and Visionary, will expand the line's burgeoning fleet to 13. The 166-passenger
Avalon Vista is a sister to 2011's Avalon Panorama and will feature the same
novel cabin setup. Sixty-four suites -- or two decks' worth of cabins -- will
have wall-to-wall panoramic windows, which open seven feet to create an open-air
balcony of sorts. Vista will be similar but come in a slightly smaller package;
the 128-passenger riverboat was specifically designed to cruise the Rhine. The
pair will be jointly christened May 11.
Deployment: Rhine,
Danube
The Riverboats: Asia 
Ship & Launch: Uniworld's River Saigon
The
Low-Down: Uniworld launched the Southeast Asia-based River Saigon in January
2012. The 60-passenger boat sails week-long itineraries along the Mekong River
through Vietnam and Cambodia as part of longer trips combining land-based
travel. Three-week itineraries begin in Beijing with tours of cities in China
before sailing the Mekong to its delta in the south of Vietnam. Hotel
accommodations are luxurious, with private check-in, buffet breakfast and
various extras.
Fares also include service charges and transfers.
Excursions are led by professionally trained local experts who guide groups no
larger than 20 to better allow insight into the local culture, people and
history.
(Credit: CruiseCritic)
