This month the cruise industry is all abuzz with the naming of two large mega-ships, the Carnival Dream and Oasis of the Seas. However, Viking River Cruises will officially launch its newest river ship, Viking Legend, with a christening event to be held in Amsterdam on November 23, 2009, making three big celebrations this month.

Viking has selected Stevi M. Tracas as Viking Legend's godmother, whose responsibility will be to break the traditional bottle of champagne across the ship's hull in a ceremony that is thought to bring good luck to the ship, its guests and crew. Stevi, a travel industry veteran, is married to Steve Tracas, President and CEO of Vacation.com, one of Viking's marketing partners.

The newest ship in the Viking River Cruises fleet, Viking Legend carries 189 guests in 97 staterooms, including two suites, 90 deluxe doubles and five singles, most with a French balcony. The ship's propulsion system is a "green" diesel-electric hybrid engine, and has innovative noise- and vibration-reduction features. For the 2010 season, Viking Legend will feature four different itineraries. Beginning the season sailing the 10-day Tulips & Windmills program through Holland and Belgium, she will then spend the majority of the season cruising Viking's popular Grand European Tour itinerary, traveling from Amsterdam to Budapest along the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers.

Viking Legend to be Christened in Amsterdam

Viking Legend Photo Courtesy of Viking River Cruises

Costa Cruises and the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) announced today that the new Costa Deliziosa with be named in Dubai. Costa and DTCM will team up for the event, which marks the first time a cruise ship will be named in an Arabian city. The new flagship of the Costa fleet will be inaugurated in the international locale on February 23, 2010. Today's announcement was made at World Travel Market in London.

The naming ceremony will take place during the ship's Grand Inaugural cruise, departing from Savona, Italy on February 5, 2010 and calling in Dubai from February 23-26. Costa guests sailing on the first leg of the grand maiden cruise will be able to attend the exclusive inaugural ceremony.

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It's hard to pick up a newspaper or turn on the television without hearing about climate change or global warming. Hurtigruten, which features expedition cruising, has added a May 2010 cruise with an educational twist--the opportunity for its passengers to see climate change research first hand. Amateur meteorologists and would-be scientists will love this cruise.

Hurtigruten educates its guests on a host of subjects -- culture, geography, historical aspects, botany, wildlife - and most importantly these days, some of the reasons for and effects of climate change on these destinations and its wildlife. That topic is the primary focus on a new voyage -- "Climate Pilgrimage" -- to Northern Norway and the Arctic island of Spitsbergen. The 11-day voyage, aboard one of the world's newest, polar-ready cruise ships, MS Fram, offers guests the opportunity to visit research stations, track wildlife, participate in field studies and meet with some of the field's top research scientists - getting the story from those who are best informed. The May 29, 2010 departure is priced from $4,823 to $9,516 per person, double.

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Princess Cruises has debuted an array of digital documents designed to transform the way passengers plan for and learn about their upcoming cruise. The all-new electronic format will deliver more information about their cruise than ever before, arriving conveniently by email and right to their computer desktop from the time of booking and continuing through departure.

The digital documents include a brand-new email series filled with personalized pre-cruise information, a downloadable Princess Countdown Connection widget that delivers useful and entertaining information to a passenger's computer, personalized online luggage tags, and customizable shore excursion eBooks. The change from printed information to fully digital documents applies to all North American passengers on voyages departing on or after January 21, 2010.
Princess Debuts Fully Digital Travel Documents

Holland America Line's ms Nieuw Amsterdam, currently under construction at Fincantieri shipyard, was floated out of its dry dock at Marghera, Italy, Friday, Oct. 30, 2009. The floating out -- considered a significant milestone in the construction process -- was prefaced by several traditional ceremonies.

Following the ancient practice of shipbuilders, two commemorative coins were sealed in a compartment in the traditional Coin-Under-the-Mast ceremony, believed to bring good fortune to a vessel. The special coins used in the ceremony were minted to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's discovery of the river in New York that bears his name.

Nieuw Amsterdam was towed to the fitting-out dock where she will be finished and delivered in early July 2010. Second in the Signature Class and sister ship to the ms Eurodam, she will carry 2,106 guests and 929 crew.
Holland America Line Nieuw Amsterdam Floats Out at Italian Shipyard

ms Nieuw Amsterdam Photo Courtesy of Holland America Line

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that "Legends in Concert" will be featured on the Norwegian Epic when it debuts in June 2010. "Legends in Concert" is a live musical celebration featuring the world's greatest celebrity tribute artists such as Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Tom Jones, Tina Turner, Madonna, Garth Brooks, Rod Stewart, Cher, Barry White, Tim McGraw and Shania Twain, among many others. "Legends in Concert" on Norwegian Epic will feature three celebrity tribute performers taking the stage in the Epic Theater for six 45-minute shows over three days during a seven-day cruise.

Norwegian Epic also welcomed Howl at the Moon, a rock and roll dueling piano show that encourages audience participation. Performing four times per cruise in Headliners, Norwegian Epic's comedy club, the talented piano players of Howl at the Moon not only entertain the guests; they encourage guests to become part of the show.
Norwegian Epic to Feature "Legendary" Entertainment

Norwegian Epic Courtesy of NCL

Silversea Cruises has released some photos of its new cruise ship the Silver Spirit that will be launched next month. The new Silver Spirit photos were taken while she was sailing on the Adriatic during her sea trials. Isn't she a beautiful ship? Silversea's newest luxury ship will have her first cruise on December 23 from Barcelona, and be named in Fort Lauderdale in January. Larger than Silversea's other five ships, she will carry 540-passengers in luxurious suites and feature six dining options.
Photos and Images of the New Silversea Silver Spirit

Silver Spirit Blog from Silversea Cruises

Silver Spirit at Sea Trials Courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Carnival Cruise Lines has named actress Marcia Gay Harden as the godmother of its newest ship, the Carnival Dream. Ms. Harden will name the new ship in a gala event next Thursday in New York City.

In honor of Carnival Dream's arrival, the Tony Award-winning actress will unveil Carnival's Big Book of Dreams - measuring 15.5 feet high by 20 feet wide - in New York City's Rockefeller Center today and will conduct a special reading of the larger-than-life story to dozens of schoolchildren. Inspired by the imaginative dreams of children who sailed on Carnival Cruise Lines this spring, "The Dream Plucker of Perrysport" tells the tale of a group of young friends who find themselves on a unique adventure after they encounter a furry orange monster in a quest to remember their dreams. The book will remain on display at Rockefeller Center November 6 and 7 as part of a series of free, activity-filled Carnival "Dream Big" events for the whole family.
Marcia Gay Harden Named Carnival Dream Godmother

Carnival Dream Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines

Travelers sailing with Costa Cruises may select from 240 special eco-excursions, created to minimize their impact on ecosystems and generate economic opportunities for local communities. Excursions are available on all Costa sailings, throughout the regions Costa sails including the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, South America, Dubai, Indian Ocean and Far East.

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Cruising the Snake River in Washington on a small ship like the Cruise West Spirit of Discovery is a terrific cruise vacation.

More Snake River Photos

Snake River (c) Linda Garrison