The Crystal Symphony is one of the cruise ships in the Crystal Cruises company. The Crystal Cruises was founded in 1988 and has two medium sized high end cruise ships. The Crystal Symphony began service in 1995 and is 51,044 tons. It can carry 922 guests. The length is 781 feet.

Crystal Symphony Cruise Ship

The Penthouses are large and the staterooms are quite adequate and start at 202 square feet and the staterooms have a large picture window. The other staterooms are 246 square feet and include a veranda as do most of the staterooms. If there is no veranda then they do have the large picture window so no one is left without at least a window. The beds have down comforters and cotton or Italian linens, Frette robes and pillow menus. Of course the penthouses come with more amenities such as afternoon tea and a Jacuzzi tub and 24 hour personal butler service. Guidebooks generally score this company’s cruise ships among the top twenty of all of the cruise ships plying the waters today.

Crystal Symphony Cruise Ship

On board deck 12 you will find a forward observations deck and two gold nets so you can practice golf while you are onboard. There is also a paddle tennis area and a golf putting green. One area of the deck has a sliding glass roof over the Trident area. There is also located the Crystal Spa, salon and fitness area.

Crystal Symphony Pool Deck

On deck 11 you will find the children’s areas such as Waves for teens, or Fantasia for children, the sea horse pool and an ice cream bar and the Lido café and Trident Bar and Grill. On deck 6 you will find the Galaxy Lounge and dance floor, a casino, Hollywood Theater, a night club, The Bistro, The Sushi Bar, The Starlite Club and dance floor, plus the two high end restaurants Silk Road and Prego.

Celebrity Equinox was completed in 2009. It is a cruise ship in the Celebrity Cruise line owned by Royal Caribbean International. Celebrity Equinox is in the solstice class of this cruise lines ships. This refers to that they offer more to their passengers. The Celebrity Equinox can cater to 2,850 guests. It is 122,000 tons and is 1041 feet in length. This cruise ship sails to the Caribbean and Europe.

Celebrity Equinox

A key feature of this cruise ship is the lawn club which has real green grass growing so if you grow tired of the pools just come to the lawn club and wiggle your toes. It also has 10 varied dining places. The staterooms include the Penthouse Suite which is 1,291 square feet. It has floor to ceiling glass door and a baby grand piano included in the décor. It also includes a 52 inch LCD TV.

Celebrity Equinox

The Royal Suite is 590 square feet with a veranda of 158 square feet. The amenities of this cabin are a wet bar on the veranda along with a whirlpool and a 52” LCD TV in the suite also.

Celebrity Equinox Royal Suite

Other than suites there are several other options such as the AquaClass® which is 194 square feet with a 54 square foot veranda. This is a new class on the cruise ship. This cabin allows access to the AquaSpa amenities such as being on Deck 11 which is close to the AquaSpa. A reservation in one of these cabins allows priority seating in Blu a special restaurant for the Aqua class.

Celebrity Equinox

There are many other classes of cabins including the smallest which are the inside stateroom at 183 to 200 square feet but no ocean view but includes a sitting area and sofa. The ocean view stateroom is 177 square feet and includes a sitting area with sofa.

Outdoor Pool Deck – Celebrity Equinox

Italian Restaurant – Celebrity Equinox

Celebrity Equinox – Casino Bar

Celebrity Equinox Theatre

The Seven Seas Mariner is one of the luxury cruise ships of the RSSC chain or in full Regent Seven Seas Cruises which is owned in turn by Carlson Travel. The Seven Seas Mariner was put in service in 2001 and is the first; along with its sister ship the Seven Seas Voyager, all suites, all balcony ships in service. It is 48,075 tons and is 709 feet long. It can carry 700 passengers. It has 8 passenger decks. This cruise line has four ships plying the waters from all over the world.

Seven Seas Mariner

This is considered an upscale cruise ship and it is not the most expensive of the upscale aka luxury cruise ships but among seasoned cruisers the Seven Seas Mariner is considered one of the best values. Tips are included in the all inclusive fares and also included is the wine during dinner. Passengers on this cruise ship are generally fairly well off and over 55. One of its claims to fame is the open seating restaurants. One of the workshops that it touts is the Le Cordon of Paris Class Culinaire on some voyages.

Seven Seas Mariner

It offers many cruises ranging from seven to thirty two days. This cruise is one that sails in December and is called Scenic Sojourn and disembarks at Ft Lauderdale, FL and starts at Cape Town, South Africa. Some of the stops along the way are Namibia, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Barbados and St. Bart’s before docking at Ft. Lauderdale, FL. A 25 day cruise is entitled Around the Horn to Antarctica, starting in Lima, Peru, with exciting stops in Chili and the Chilean Fjord, the Drake Passage and Deception Islands in Antarctica.

Seven Seas Mariner

A shorter cruise is the 15 Day Transatlantic Passage starting in Ft Lauderdale and stopping in Barcelona, Spain, Bermuda, Portugal, Morocco and Spain ending in Barcelona Spain.

The Coral Princess is one of the Princess Line Cruise ships. On this cruise ship 90 percent of the staterooms have ocean views and 700 of them have a balcony. The ship has a lot of under 18 programs so the adults can enjoy themselves too. On board the Coral Princess are a pool and hot tubs and a spa. There is a lap pool and a golf putting course.

Coral Princess

There are several more formal dining choices, plus many casual choices, bars, a Martini Bar and a theatre. There is a London themed casino plus live theatre and dance clubs plus boutiques and a wedding chapel too. And on offer are many enrichment courses also such as ScholarShip@Sea® and also an internet café.

Coral Princess

There are many choices of cruise destinations such as Alaska or the Panama Canal and Caribbean. The Coral Princess Glaciers cruise is a seven day journey from Vancouver BC to Whittier. This journey has a new feature whereby each direction whether north or south you are ensured that you will view two glaciers. On the northbound trip you will view Glacier Bay and College Fjord and on the southbound trip you will view Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier. While in Whittier which is Anchorage, you can take several shore excursions which include a nature walk or a motor coach tour of the city of Anchorage.

Coral Princess

When you view the glaciers this is considered a scenic cruise. When in Anchorage you can take an excursion called the Portage Glacier Cruise where you are taken to Portage Glacier and you transfer to a sightseeing vessel made so it can navigate the icebergs to within 300 yards of Portage Glacier and you will see some beautiful sights. On this excursion you also visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center where you can see large mammals up front and almost personal.

Coral Princess Theatre

Coral Princess Room Cabin

Coral Princess Pool Deck

Coral Princess Restaurant

Celebrity Eclipse was completed in 2010. It is a cruise ship in the Celebrity Cruise line owned by Royal Caribbean International. Celebrity Eclipse is in the solstice class of this cruise lines ships. There are four classes in all. The Celebrity Eclipse can cater to 2,850 guests. It is 122,000 tons and is 1041 feet in length. This cruise ship sails to the Caribbean and Europe.

Celebrity Eclipse in Rotterdam

A key feature of this cruise ship is the top deck Lawn Club which has real green grass growing. It also has 10 varied dining places including Qsine which features dishes from around the world. It also has the Celebrity iLounge which an upper class internet café with gadgets and classes and internet access. 85 percent of the staterooms have veranda views.

Celebrity Eclipse in Southampton

Some of the features on this cruise ship are an aft glass cover, formal foyer areas, and large pools and varied dining. Some of the dining areas are the Moonlight Sonata Restaurant with a two story wine tower and it serves world and continental cuisine. There is the Martini Bar with a frosted bar or Crush off the Martini Bar that has an ice filled table center where you can try caviar and vodka pairs.

Celebrity Eclipse Cruise Ship

Fancier dining choices include Blu which is the specialty dining area for AquaClass guests and offers an intimate and relaxing atmosphere. Also on offer is Murano with floor to ceiling windows and fine glass ware and china serving classic and modern continental cuisine. There are many others also.

Celebrity Eclipse

Other areas that offer entertainment are the Quasar which is a modern night club. Then there is the Fortunes Casino with 16 tables. There is also the Eclipse Theater for shows or comedy. And of course there is Michael’s Club a Celebrity signature cozy jazz club.
There are plenty of other amenities as well.

Disney Magic is all around and not all of it is at the Disneyland theme parks because you can also take a Disney cruise on one of the two cruise ships such as the Disney Magic owned by the Disney Cruise Line operating out of Port Carnival, FL at its own Disney Cruise Line Terminal.

Disney Magic

Disney Magic has 10 passenger decks and is 964 feet long and weights 83,000 tons. It can carry 2,400 guests. It began operating in 1998. It was created, designed and fully intended to operate as a family oriented cruise ship and has family friendly features such as split baths with separate sinks so that mom, dad and children don’t have to fight so much over who gets to wash first. The split baths is very unusual on cruise ships. Also Disney cruise ships do not contain a casino also making it unique and family oriented. And just so children aren’t expected to study onboard there is also no library. If you want to read then bring your books with you.

Disney Magic

Disney Magic has created age specific children’s play areas to keep the interest of even small children. The ships colors are distinctive with dark blue hulls, matching red funnels and yellow, that is Mickey yellow, insignias. There are three main areas on the cruise ship. One of them is called Diversions which is in the entertainment district and is styled after an English sports pub.

Disney Magic

The next is Cove Café which is an adult’s only coffee bar which is located next to the Quiet Cove Pool of which the name says it all. It is meant as a place for adults to relax away from their children.

Kiddy Pool – Disney Magic

The entertainment includes a theater that shows Disney movies called the Buena Vista Cinema and a Broadway style house. There is also the Disney Digital 3-D with lasers and fog.

Disney Magic Theater

Disney Magic – Pool for Adults – Quiet Cove Pool

Disney Magic Cabin

Disney Magic is the Best Family Cruise Ship

MSC Splendida Cruise Ship

This cruise ship visits the Mediterranean and a sample cruise for 11 days visits Italy, Greece, Egypt, Israel and Tunisia. In Egypt for example when the MSC Splendida stops at the port in Alexandria, which is the second largest city in Egypt there are a number of excursions you can take An excursion is recommended in Alexandria because the cruise terminal is a ways from the city itself. Alexandria is called the ‘pearl of the Mediterranean’ and here you can think Cleopatra. One trip is to Cairo which takes 12 hours which includes a 3 hour each way bus ride. But at the destination which also includes lunch you will drive the Desert road to Gizah and see the outside of the pyramids of Cheops and even see the Sphinx plus bargain at a bazaar. There is also a visit to the Egyptian Museum. This particular excursion has some rough walking and not intended for someone who has problems walking.

MSC Splendida in Grand Harbour, Malta

On board MSC Splendida there is a MSC Aurea spa with Balinese massages available and saunas, whirlpool and a Turkish bath, also 4 pools and a squash court. The cruise ship has an Italian influence. There are several Italian restaurants, ones that offer Mediterranean meals, also a TexMex, pizza and coffee type restaurants. There is a casino and theatre. Suites have wardrobes and a tub and bath. There is AC and internet for a fee. There is one handicap suite. There are outside and inside cabins plus outside cabins with a balcony.

MSC Splendida

MSC Splendida Tennis Court

MSC Splendida Theatre

MSC Splendida Cabin

MSC Splendida Suite

MSC Splendida Pool Deck

MSC Splendida Friendly Staff

Bowling at the Sports Bar,  MSC Splendida

Disco Club 33 – MSC Splendida

MSC Splendida Casino

Costa Pacifica is another cruise ship in the Costa cruise line and was completed in 2009. It has 1,504 cabins and 91 of these have direct access to the Samsara Spa. 521 cabins have a balcony and 58 of the cabins have a private balcony.

Costa Pacifica is Amazing Cruise Ship

There are also 12 suites with direct access to the spa. On board are five restaurants including two will be available with reservations only. There are 13 bars also. The cruise ship can carry 3000 guests in the 1,504 cabins of which 28 of the cabins are handicapped accessible.

Costa Pacifica Cruise Ship

If you were going to book this cruise ship, Costa Pacifica, in May 2011, you would be looking at tours departing from Savona to Spain, Portugal and the UK for a 10 day cruise. Another trip departing from Kiel is an eleven day cruise to Sweden, Finland, RUSSIA, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland to name a few countries where they dock at various ports.

Costa Pacifica in Palma de Mallorca

The theme of the Costa Pacifica is music. In all areas of Costa Pacifica you will hear music. The music tract was composed and rearranged by Mauro Pagani and there is a different rhythm in every part of the ship. There are 29 tracts in all that you will hear.

Costa Pacifica by Night

On board the cruise ship there are 4 Jacuzzis and four pools that include one for children. There is also a multi-purpose sports pitch. The Samsara Spa specializes in oriental treatments and it is contained in 6000 square feet of space and is located on two levels. Of course there are treatment rooms, gyms, therapy spas, and sauna. The cruise ship has a disco, casino and theatres. It also has free WiFi. It also has a Grand Prix simulator and the external deck has a glass roof. The cabins have a flat TV and 24 hour room service.

Costa Pacifica Pool Deck

Costa Pacifica Restaurant

Costa Pacifica Cabin Suite

Costa Pacifica Mini Suite

Costa Pacifica Cabin

Costa Pacifica Samsara Mini Suite

Costa Pacifica Internet Point

Costa Pacifica Stardust Theater

Costa Pacifica Casino

Costa Pacifica Kids Zone

Costa Luminosa is a cruise ship within the Costa cruise line but it is also a holding of the Carnival Group. This particular cruise ship was completed in 2009. It can book 2,260 guests and it has 1,130 cabins located on twelve guest decks. The cruise ship is 965 feet in length and weighs 92,600 tones gross. The catch to the name is that it is a cruise ship full of light and charm.

Costa Luminosa

The Costa lines cruise world wide. This particular cruise ship, Costa Liminosa if you were going to book it in May 2011, would have three cruises on offer. One would be a 10 day cruise departing from Savona and going to Spain, Portugal and France. One departing from Copenhagen for a 7 night cruise would visit Estonia, Russia, Finland and Sweden. There is also a 7 day cruise to the Fjords of Norway, this also departs from Copenhagen.

Costa Luminosa

If you have never visited the fjords of Norway they were created during the various ice ages and Norway has the highest concentration of fjords in the world. When the glaciers retreated the sea water flooded the areas that were dug out by ice, stone and rock. You can see seals, porpoises and many other fish. The fjords are salt water.

Costa Luminosa

On board Costa Luminosa you will find a golf simulator plus a 4 D cinema, a theatre and a spa located on two levels, plus a beauty center. There are four restaurants and eleven bars and a cigar lounge. There is also a coffee and chocolate bar.

Costa Luminosa Cabin

There is also a casino and a disco. Of course there are fitness programs for jogging and track plus others. It is described as cruising Italian style and all cabins have a flat screened TV and room service available. There is also a PlayStation World area.

Costa Luminosa Pool Deck

Costa Luminosa Casino

Azamara Quest

A major focus of this revamping will be on the destinations where it leads the guests to, with the motto being “You’ll love where we take you”. To accomplish their goal of making Azamara a leader in deluxe cruises, fares will be raised.

Azamara Quest Cabin

However many new features will be introduced like complimentary wines and beverages for lunch and dinner, offering European Butler Services in their suites, introducing a new & fresh loyalty program, and designing a more elaborate itinerary that will make the guests feel at home being around the cultures of the various ports that come during a voyage. Also more free overnight stays in exciting port cities of Hong Kong, Sydney and Rome are being planned.

Azamara Quest Deck Party

Azamara Quest is an R-class cruise ship that started services for Azamara Cruises in 2007. She was built in 2000 for Renaissance Cruises but after the collapse of Renaissance, she was laid off for two years and later in 2007 it was transferred to Azamara Cruises.

Azamara Quest Discoveries Dining Room

The Azamara Quest carries about 700 passengers and 350 crew members. Her first season will be in the Caribbean. The main competitor for Azamara Club Cruises is Oceania Cruises, managed by Apollo Management. Azamara Quest is equipped with Plasma TV’s in every stateroom, new furnishings and bed linens, new pool side furniture as well as an expansion of onboard eateries and boutique shops.

Azamara Quest in Yalta, Ukraine

Pool Grill Menu – Azamara Quest

For extra $175, customers are able to gain access to the special Astral Spa Private Deck. Spa includes “fancy”chairs and lounges & Thalassotherapy pool.

Azamara Quest Pool Deck