NCL Reveals Balance of Staterooms on Project Breakaway Ships

Norwegian Cruise Line released information and renderings of the balance of the cabin types that will be available on their two Project Breakaway ships, set to be delivered in April 2013 and April 2014. These are the types of staterooms most passengers will occupy. 

The popular Studio for single travelers which debuted on Norwegian Epic will be brought back on the Project Breakaway ships (above). The very small-sized inside staterooms feature a full size double bed and a compact bathroom. Passengers choosing the any of the 59 staterooms in this category will also have access to a private lounge which increased their living space and enables them to meet other passengers traveling solo.

The ships will also have larger inside staterooms (above) of a more conventional design which accommodate passengers traveling together.

There will also be 158 similar outside staterooms with a large picture window above the bed (above) but no balcony. For families needing more room, Project Breakaway will have 42 Family Oceanview staterooms that sleep up to five and have a larger bathroom and more closet space.

For those who are aboard to relax in the spa and want to bring that atmosphere into their stateroom, the Project Breakaway will have 28 Spa Balcony staterooms (above) with special amenities and decor located adjacent to the ship's spa.

For customers who need a little more space, the ships will also feature 20 Spa Mini-Suites (above). Passengers in the Spa accommodation type will also have complimentary access to the Thermal Spa Suite during regular spa hours throughout their cruise.

STX Floats out MSC Divina

The construction phase of the building of MSC Divina ended on Saturday (September 3, 2011) when it was floated out of the building dock at the STX France yard in Saint Nazaire.



The ship was towed to a finishing dock at the facility where interior work will continue until it is delivered in May 2012.



The ship is the third in the 140,000-ton Fantasia class, but contains 100 additional staterooms and some new design elements.

Video: Final Block of Disney Fantasy Being Placed

This short time lapse video shows the final block (the bow) of Disney Fantasy being put into place at the Meyer Werft yard in Papenburg, Germany on September 3, 2011.



Disney Fantasy is a sister to Disney Dream set to be delivered in March 2012.

Grand Turk Cruise Center in a Hurricane

Updated - August 24:



Hurricane Irene passed by Grand Turk this afternoon about 2pm. While the eye was still approximately 40 miles to the south, it’s estimated that the island was experiencing winds of about 90 mph. That closed the Grand Turk Cruise Center until further notice, but they left their webcam on. The photo above was snapped at 2:14pm when the storm should have been at its height. Amazingly the communication link remained up until 3:44pm.

Update - August 24 - 9pm



The back edge of the storm passed by early Wednesday afternoon, and the webcam came back up Wednesday evening. As you can see, in the photo above, taken at 7:05pm, there is no visible damage to the facility. Carnival says the Cruise Center should be open in time for the next scheduled operation, Carnival Miracle, which arrives on Monday morning.

Video of Cunard's Queen Mary 2 Departing Hamburg

Germany, with a gateway in Hamburg, has become a market with growing importance to Cunard, and the city always seems anxious to see the Cunarders when they are in port. These short clips show Queen Mary 2 departing from Hamburg earlier this month, its twentieth visit to the German port. In the clips, you can see some of the thousands lining the banks of the Elbe to see the ship. Just a moment of Zen.