A Brand New "Escape" is Awaiting You This Winter

Fast-growing Norwegian Cruise Line is creating another major mega-resort at sea -- its third in three years.  An expanded version of the company's recently unveiled Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Breakaway, the brand new Norwegian Escape will be the line's largest ship to date and feature a sprawling, deck-top fun zone with four major water slides; a restaurant-lined boardwalk; large production shows; and a giant, two-deck spa with a flurries-filled Snow Room.

Able to entertain over 4200 passengers on each cruise; the Norwegian Escape is set to become the largest cruise ship ever based year-round in Miami when she starts her 7 night Eastern Caribbean sailings this November.  Escape also will offer Norwegian's first dedicated nursery for young cruisers two and under; the first Margaritaville at sea; the largest ropes course at sea, a miniature golf course, a full-sized basketball court and a bocce ball court -- another first for the line.

As with past Norwegian ships, Escape also will feature the line's signature "ship-within-a-ship" luxury suite area, The Haven, which has its own private pool, restaurant, butler service and concierge.

For even more information Norwegian Escape

Princess Cruises Adding a New Ship

       Led by Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean; the cruise industry has seen an explosion of new state of the art ships entering service over the last several years.   Even thou Princess Cruises has added two new ships since 2013, the Royal and Regal Princess, the parent company of Princess, Carnival Corporation,  has been late to the game adding new ships to its other North American based lines.  This is being addressed as both Holland American and Carnival Cruises will be adding a new ship into service over the next several years.  The new Carnival ship, the Carnival Breeze, is expected to offer both a revolutionary design and features.  It was thought that Princess would be left out of getting any new ships for the the next decade as Carnival Corporation was expected to focus new ship building on Holland America and Carnival.

       So it came as a surprise to the cruise industry when Princess announced this week, it will add a third ship of the Royal class.  The ship will be delivered in 2017, and will be slightly larger than her sister ships, a 143,000 ton vessel with a capacity to carry 3560 passengers.  It assumed she will have more enhancements than either the Royal or Regal, and their are rumours that the design changes may be more radical, in line with new Carnival Vista; in order to better compete with the cutting edge designs of Royal Caribbean's Quantum and Anthem of the Seas.