They’re going to be big. They’re going to be grand. They’re going be fun. Here is the South Florida line-up:
Royal Caribbean International: 6,780 passengers Harmony of the Seas
Carnival Cruise Line: 3,934 passengers Carnival Vista
Holland America Line: 2,650 passengers Koningsdam
Regent Seven Seas Cruises: 750 passengers Seven Seas Explorer
These magnificent vessels debuted in Europe earlier this year. This month and next month, they arrive in South Florida to offer their luxurious outings and experiences. The ships are the first for each line for the last several years. Each cruise line has invested into the things they do best to enhance their profiles of fun. The reach for excellence is evident in each of these special ships.
South Florida is chosen to host these newest and grandest additions to feed the still-dominant Caribbean market. They will complete a year in South Florida that has seen more new ships than any year in recent memory. The locals continue to be ardent supporters of the cruise industry and will not hesitate to try the latest offerings.
Harmony of the Seas
The Harmony of the Seas, the world’s biggest ship, offers its neighborhood concept that divides the ship into seven distinct areas. Ready to serve you is the Bionic Bar, manned by robot bartenders. For fun, try the 10-story Ultimate Abyss slide, the tallest at sea.
Carnival Vista
Most of the Vista’s new amenities are geared toward families. Included are the SkyRide, a bicycling experience on a track suspended above the sports complex. Vista also boasts the first IMAX theater at sea, a beer brewery in partnership with Miami’s Concrete Beach Brewery, and Family Harbor staterooms, an industry first that includes a family lounge area, concierge and breakfast buffet.
Holland America has been around for 144 years. Traditionally known for catering to an older demographic, they are now addressing multi-generational travel by adding family cabins, with space for up to five guests. New offerings pump up the pace of the line’s music roots. Presented are string quartets and chamber music with a Music Walk that features three stages of live music: Lincoln Center Stage in partnership with New York City’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, B.B. King’s Blues Club and Billboard Onboard, a sing-along piano and guitar venue.
The Seven Seas Explorer is still considered a small ship, but it’s the largest for Regent and part of an effort to include more options and draw more potential cruisers to the luxury market. The Explorer has added more culinary experiences to satisfy luxury passengers’ cravings. She has two main restaurants and three included (Regent is all-inclusive) specialty restaurants, a departure in a luxury market usually known for smaller ships and, consequently, less options. The ship’s main restaurant, Compass Rose, offers a customizable menu with more than a dozen protein options and a varied list of side items, all cooked to guests’ preference.
Your choices await you from the beautiful ports of South Florida. It is yet another opportunity of LivinLux Miami style.