Fencing and glass blowing among new cruise amenities in 2008
The cruise lines remain steady on expansion with ten new ships are set to sail this year — five of them the largest ever built — adding another 26,000 berths to the fast-growing cruise industry.
“Innovative designs and unexpected shipboard activities demonstrate how the cruise lines will continue to entice passengers,” said CruiseMates.com.
The cruise industry has experienced unprecedented growth in the last decade.
Six of the new ships are too large to sail through the Panama Canal, a size the industry refers to as “post-Panamax.”
US-based cruise lines bringing out respective “bigger than ever” ships in 2008 include Carnival, Holland America and Celebrity.
“Celebrity Cruises’ 122,000-ton Celebrity Solstice is arguably the most exciting ship set to debut this year since it has the only completely new design, from bow to stern, introduced by any cruise line in 2008,” said CruiseMates.
At least three of the new ships will have spa-category staterooms with access to private deck areas for swimming and sunning.
Other new concepts on the 2008 ships include Cirque Ventura, a circus school aboard the P&O ship Tamarind. Celebrity Solstice will feature a glass-blowing studio at sea in cooperation with the Corning Glass Museum of New York State. But Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria will offer another new amenity: fencing.
Report by David Wilkening
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