Spike in River Cruising Popularity

River cruising continues to rise in popularity across both the United States and abroad, especially among travelers seeking more intimate experiences to more exotic locales. Despite the myth that river cruising is only for the retired set (and it is a myth), river cruising is emerging as a popular vacation for younger travelers who want to immerse themselves in the culture of a region while enjoying the creature comforts of home.

With a variety of innovations - from excursions to onboard amenities river cruising is a segment of the travel and tourism industry that can now offer something for everyone.  Here are our three reasons why a river cruise should be a must on every traveler's bucket list:

1. Exotic Destinations. Getting up close and personal with the wildlife of the Galapagos or taking in the charm of the Mississippi are all possible on todays' river cruises. AmaWaterways has added more interesting locations with cruises in Namibia, Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is also even offering travelers a unique journey through Italy's Po River. These destinations open up access to places unreachable by large ships and create an intimate connection with the cities they visit.  The best part about river cruising is the views - most ships are 100% balcony staterooms, including those aboard Uniworld's Douro Spirit or Avalon's Victoria Jenna.

2. Experiential Cruises. River guests can enjoy trips tailored to their tastes with programs just for them. Food and wine aficionados should consider the `Culinary Delights' itinerary from AmaWaterways. Once aboard, guests can work with a local chef to plan menus for their entire voyage, shop in local markets for ingredients and prepare their own meals! Guests seeking more adventure can sign-up for bike tours that let you travel alongside the ship from port to port, taking in the scenery as you go. Tech-savvy travelers who need to stay connected will now have access to onboard Wi-Fi and those looking to stay fit will love the fact that most river vessels now have onboard gyms.


3. More Choices. As river cruising demand continues to boom, more ships and destinations are being added for cruisers to experience. Avalon and Viking, for example, are both expecting significant capacity increases in their fleets for the 2013 season. Viking will add six new longships in 2013 and Avalon will introduce two additional ships. Cruisers are also finding more choices while aboard from customized dining experiences on and off the ship, to specialized excursions.

River cruising continues to highlight the destinations it serves by immersing cruisers in the culture. Whether it is because of the out-of-the-box destinations, local flair or intimate venues, more travelers are opting for river cruises to truly escape. As innovation shapes the industry and more people see the value in river cruising, finding the right ship - and itinerary - can be tricky. A professional travel agent can step in and help navigate the options, offering the right choice for your personality, interests and budget.

For more information, click on the following image / link.

 

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Two Sisters Under Construction

Quantum of the Seas Keel Laying
Photo courtesy Meyer Werft

Royal Caribbean

New Sister-Ships

Construction Milestones

On August 2, 2013, in the German village of Papenburg, the traditional "laying of the keel" took place at the Meyer Werft shipyard for Royal Caribbean's new ship Quantum of the Seas.

The maritime industry is one that is filled with traditions that live on today.   One of those traditions is the laying of the keel ceremony, which is marked by a celebration that includes the placement of a ceremonial coin under the new ship's keel for good luck.   In modern times,  laying down of the keel is when the first block, or section of the ship, is lowered into the building dock.  This marks the initial step in construction of a ship, so by shipbuilding tradition, the construction is dated from this event.  

A 430-ts block was put in place in the yard's covered building dock. Harri Kulovaara, Executive Vice President Maritime of Royal Caribbean International, put down the lucky penny in the dock before the block of the new ship was lowered by the 800-ts crane. 

The first of a total of 74 blocks of the new cruise liner weighs 430 tons. This keel-laying marks the official start of construction of the Quantum of the Seas. For the time being the 167,800-gt Quantum of the Seas is the biggest ship the shipyard has built so far.

Anthem of the Seas Steel Cutting - Courtesy Meyer Werft

Prior to this the first steel-cutting for her sister ship Anthem of the Seas took place at MEYER WERFT 's laser centre. Delivery of the Anthem of the Seas is scheduled in the spring 2015, that of the Quantum of the Seas as early as in the autumn of 2014.

The Oasis and Allure of the Seas will remain the largest ships in the industry, at 220,000 gt, when these two new ships join the Royal Caribbean fleet. 

The ship will include many of the features from the Oasis-class along with some new innovations such as  a parachuting simulator, bumper cars, virtual balconies and many more.  Studio staterooms will allow solo travelers to enjoy their space, inside and out, with 12 of the 28 cabins including balconies.
   

Visit our Quantum of the Seas Microsite

Related Blog Articles:

Quantum Changes for Cruisers
Prepare to be WOWED – The Quantum Class
Royal Caribbean Has a New Star

Spike in River Cruising Popularity

River cruising continues to rise in popularity across both the United States and abroad, especially among travelers seeking more intimate experiences to more exotic locales. Despite the myth that river cruising is only for the retired set (and it is a myth), river cruising is emerging as a popular vacation for younger travelers who want to immerse themselves in the culture of a region while enjoying the creature comforts of home.

With a variety of innovations - from excursions to onboard amenities river cruising is a segment of the travel and tourism industry that can now offer something for everyone.  Here are our three reasons why a river cruise should be a must on every traveler's bucket list:

1. Exotic Destinations. Getting up close and personal with the wildlife of the Galapagos or taking in the charm of the Mississippi are all possible on todays' river cruises. AmaWaterways has added more interesting locations with cruises in Namibia, Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia. Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is also even offering travelers a unique journey through Italy's Po River, beginning in 2013. These destinations open up access to places unreachable by large ships and create an intimate connection with the cities they visit.  The best part about river cruising is the views - most ships are 100% balcony staterooms, including those aboard Uniworld's Douro Spirit or Avalon's Victoria Jenna.

2. Experiential Cruises. River guests can enjoy trips tailored to their tastes with programs just for them. Food and wine aficionados should consider the `Culinary Delights' itinerary from AmaWaterways. Once aboard, guests can work with a local chef to plan menus for their entire voyage, shop in local markets for ingredients and prepare their own meals! Guests seeking more adventure can sign-up for bike tours that let you travel alongside the ship from port to port, taking in the scenery as you go. Tech-savvy travelers who need to stay connected will now have access to onboard Wi-Fi and those looking to stay fit will love the fact that most river vessels now have onboard gyms.

3. More Choices. As river cruising demand continues to boom, more ships and destinations are being added for cruisers to experience. Avalon and Viking, for example, are both expecting significant capacity increases in their fleets for the 2013 season. Viking will add six new longships in 2013 and Avalon will introduce two additional ships. Cruisers are also finding more choices while aboard from customized dining experiences on and off the ship, to specialized excursions.

River cruising continues to highlight the destinations it serves by immersing cruisers in the culture. Whether it is because of the out-of-the-box destinations, local flair or intimate venues, more travelers are opting for river cruises to truly escape. As innovation shapes the industry and more people see the value in river cruising, finding the right ship - and itinerary - can be tricky. A professional travel agent can step in and help navigate the options, offering the right choice for your personality, interests and budget.

For more information, click on the following image / link.