Category: News
Here is where you can find the latest updates on news in the cruise & travel world.
CRUISE SHIP WATER…WHERE DOES IT COME & GO???
UPDATES FOR HALF MOON CAY!!!
DISNEY SKYLINER OPENS SEPT. 29, 2019
On September 29, Disney Skyliner gondolas will officially begin transporting guests around Walt Disney World Resort. This state of the art transportation system offers a new way to experience the resort with amazing views only available from the sky. Disney Skyliner connects Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot to four resort hotels. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and the new Disney’s Riviera Resort scheduled to open in December 2019.
Some Disney Skyliner cabins feature graphics based on Disney films, attractions and characters, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Chip & Dale, Coco, Goofy, Finding Dory, Haunted Mansion, Monsters Inc, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Ratatouille.
STAR WARS: RISE OF THE RESISTANCE SCHEDULES OPENING
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will be opening December 5, 2019 at Walt Disney World Resort. If this date sounds familiar, that’s because it is Walt Disney’s birthday. What better way to honor the ultimate storyteller than by introducing the most immersive and advanced attraction ever imagined in a Disney Park.
When it opens, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will blur the lines between fantasy and reality and will put Guests in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance. Guests will be recruited to join Rey and General Organa at a secret base. Along the way, they will be captured by a First Order Star Destroyer. With the help of some heroes of the Resistance, they break out and must escape the Star Destroyer, protect the secret base, and stay one step ahead of Kylo Ren.
As soon as work is completed at Walt Disney World, they will be heading back to California and completing the same attraction at Disneyland Resort where Stars Wars: Rise of the Resistance is scheduled to open on January 17, 2020.
LYFT BECOMES OFFICIAL RIDESHARE AT DISNEY PARKS!!!
It was just announced that Lyft is now the official rideshare of Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort and new enhancements will be added to the Walt Disney World Resort service as early as this fall to include easy access to request Minnie Van ride, find the most convenient pickup locations, and even select a wheelchair accessible vehicle. Since 2017, the Minnie Van fleet has been taking guests everywhere they want to go at the Walt Disney World Resort in a magical way that only Disney can do.
DISNEY RESORT BENEFITS OFFERED BY NEARBY ORLANDO HOTELS
Hotels included in this benefit are the Disney springs resort area hotels, which are designated official Walt Disney World hotels: The Four Seasons Orlando Resort, The Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, and The Waldorf Astoria Orlando. The Disney Springs Resort area hotels include: Best Western Lake Buena Vista, B Resort & Spa Lake Buena Vista, DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando, Hilton Orlando Bueno Vista Palace, Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, Holiday Inn Orlando Disney Springs area. Wyndham Lake Buena Vista and Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista.
Each day one of the Walt Disney World Theme Parks opens early or extends later for guests to enjoy select attractions and during select dates, the Extra Magic Hours benefit may also be offered at a Disney Water park. Guests can view the Extra Magic Hours calendar at Disneyworld.com/parkhours, or request a copy of the printed Times Guide available in the hotel lobby.
In addition guests at these hotels who have a valid theme park ticket or confirmation number and hotel reservation number will be able to link their hotel reservation on MyDisneyExperience.com and, with a linked, valid theme park ticket, these guests can reserve select FastPass+ experiences up to 60 days in advance. Guests should connect with their travel provider to ensure the provider can give the guest the necessary ticket confirmation and hotel reservation number needed to utilize this benefit. These hotel benefits are available now for travel dates in 2020, and are subject to change without notice. Guests without the Park Hopper Option or Park Hopper Plus Option must use their ticket for admission to the same theme park where they would like to enjoy the Extra Magic Hours benefit.
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES ANNOUNCES MARDI GRAS’ CRUISE DIRECTOR & ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR
Carnival cruise lines has announced that long time entertainment members Matt Mitcham and Hugo Hidalgo will serve as cruise director and entertainment director of the highly anticipated ship which is set to debut in August 2020. The dynamic duo will take fun to the next level aboard the Mardi Gras as they lead the wide range of entertainment offerings such as first seagoing version of the popular game show Family Feud, new high-tech Playlist Productions shows, the hilarious Punchliner Comedy Club, live music throughout the ship and a number of soon to be announced entertainment options.
Matt Mitcham a native of Birmingham, England, and a 10-year Carnival veteran, joined the company as an entertainment host and quickly moved through the ranks becoming a cruise director in 2012. He has become one of the most popular cruise directors in the industry.
Hugo Hidalgo joined Carnival in 2012 as a Fun Squad member and has since held many entertainment positions allowing him to fully understand what it takes to keep the guests excited and wanting more. He is known for his hands on leadership approach and attention to detail, Hidalgo has earned several accolades, including Entertainment Director Rookie of the Year and Team Leader of the Month, as well as recognition for his team’s efforts in raising funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The duo will be a great addition to the new mega ship and bring all the fun Carnival has to offer.
NEW TRAVEL BAN OFFICIALLY CANCELS CRUISES TO CUBA!!!
OASIS OF THE SEA’S GETS $165 MILLION IN UPDATES!!!
The Oasis of the Seas will be heading to Cadiz, Spain in September 2019 for a 63 day, $165 million massive drydock where she will be the first Oasis class ship to undergo a Royal Amplification. The Oasis will be adding many new venues and some new to the fleet.
Here are a few changes to look forward to once her new amplification is complete. Some new entertainment features to be added are Spotlight Karaoke on the Royal Promenade. There will be a main stage as well as two private rooms for small parties to sing. The Music Hall will be added which is a favorite on the Quantum class ships. It has live bands, a dance floor, pool table and loungers covering two levels. They will also be adding the Bionic Bar, Boleros, Schooner Bar, Blaze Nightclub & Comedy and English pub Atlas & Globe.
The pool deck will take on many changes as the pool deck receives a complete makeover. The Caribbean theme area will include Splashaway Bay kids aquapark which will even include a Splash Pad for toddlers, The Perfect Storm waterslide trio, the 10 story Ultimate Abyss, and The Lime and Coconut signature bar where you can get poolside cocktails, DJ’s and live music, larger variety of seating with casitas, daybeds, and hammocks, new whirlpools and a newly refreshed Solarium for adults.
Now let’s talk food…Oasis will introduce Royal Caribbean’s first-ever barbecue restaurant, Portside BBQ, which serves an authentic, meat lovers menu. You will find things like smoked marbled brisket, pulled pork and chicken, to beef ribs accompanied by classic side dishes, like mac and cheese, baked beans, coleslaw and homemade cornbread as well as tasty desserts. A few other venues to be added are El Loco Fresh where you can get made-to-order tacos and burritos, quesadillas, mini salads and salsas. Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade which will be added to the Boardwalk neighborhood. You will find 80 big-screen TVs, tabletop games, arcade classics, tournaments, and an Owner’s Box VIP room. Sugar Beach will have more than 220 types of candy and a walkup ice cream window. They will also still offer Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table and Izumi.
What is in store for the kids??? All of the kid areas is being amplified with new technology to offer interactive and personalized experiences. Adventure Ocean will receive a total makeover, with newly designed areas organized by activity type and created to fully immerse kids and their families in the adventures they choose based on their interests.
A new glow-in-the-dark laser tag game, Clash for the Crystal City, will be offered onboard that will pit two clans, the Yetis and Snowshifters, to battle for claim of the crystal city and defeat impending extinction. A new Royal Escape Room will be added, Mission Control: Apollo 18. The year is 1973 and travelers must come together to launch Apollo 18 to the moon by solving every mind-bending puzzle before time runs out.
If you love cruising on the newer mega ships, you will love all the new additions to the Oasis of the Seas. On Nov. 24, 2019 the new amplified Oasis of the Seas will begin 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Royal Caribbean’s new, state-of-the-art Terminal A in Miami. Then in May 2020, the Oasis will move to New York and make Cape Liberty her new homeport as she sails 7-night itineraries to the Bahamas with “The Perfect Day at Coco Cay” being a main focus for port visits.
