On January 12, the keel of the 130,000 gt CARNIVAL MAGIC, second in the CARNIVAL DREAM platform of ships, was laid at the Monfalcone (near Trieste) shipyard of Fincantieri.  The ship is due for completion in June of 2011.  The event was attended by key shipyard personnel overseeing the building of the latest “Fun Ship”. [...]

Cruise Report: BAHAMAS CELEBRATION by Michael Bennett, July 2009 Port Everglades, FL – Nassau Paradise Island, Bahamas BAHAMAS CELEBRATION departing Port Everglades Let’s say you’re a woman of a “certain age”. You’ve spent your entire life selflessly looking after others, carrying their considerable burdens, trekking back and forth across a northern sea. After almost three [...]

Exploring The Aida “Difference” By Allan E. Jordan Exclusive to MaritimeMatters – posted May, 2009 With so much of the cruise industry today appearing to be mega ship clones only distinguished by the more and more amenities added, it is hard to find a truly unique and different approach to cruising. So when the opportunity [...]

CELEBRITY SOLSTICE in Peter Knego’s blog DECKED! Not Just Another Mega Ship Celebrity Cruises. Most mainstream cruise lines and marine architects have honorably achieved their goals in providing a high level of comfort and functionality in their basic Panamax and Post Panamax cruise ship blueprints while at the same time, economy of scale and updated technology have made these new goliaths more efficient and environmentally friendly.