Cruise Ships' Quest for Innovation

As more and more vacationers take to the high seas, cruise lines are building more ships to meet up with demand. To be more competitive, the cruise lines have turned to innovation to draw cruisers to their ships. Let’s take a look at their innovative ideas.

Newer ships are coming out with state of the art spas and spa staterooms. These are rooms adjacent or connected to the spa and come with spa amenities. These rooms are limited so if you are one to enjoy the relaxation and luxury of a spa atmosphere, book early to guarantee your room. The Spa staterooms are decorated like spas themselves with soothing color schemes to massage your mind throughout your stay on the ship.

Amenities found in spa staterooms differ from ship to ship. Holland America’s Eurodam has amongst other amenities, organic bathrobes and slippers, yoga mat and a pedometer to use onboard its ship. Costa’s Serena and Concordia ships greet their guests with a welcome ritual consisting of a selection of regenerating treatments. Spa guest also have unlimited access to the spa and the thalassotheraphy pool.

Not into spas? Experience the latest in entertainment on board – bars. New ships are presenting themed bars for their guests. Carnival Cruise’s Splendor has 9 bars including a sushi, pool and jazz bar. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) takes bar to a whole new level with its F3 fleets scheduled to sail in 2009. The ice bar! The theme was inspired by ice bars and ice hotels in Scandinavia. Everything in the ship’s ice bar is made of course, of ice; the stools, floors, walls, everything. The bar will hold 25 people and guests will be handed fur coats, gloves and hats before going in. The temperature in the bar will not increase above 17 degrees Fahrenheit. The ice bar is just one of NCL’s four innovative bars.

Also in entertainment are Broadway style productions and theatrical performances. Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas’ synchronized fountain shows, water ballet and synchronized swimming in its Aqua Theatre is a first on a cruise ship. Cruise lines are bringing more upscale entertainment to their guests from production plays to comedians and bands.

Do you like shopping? Promenades on ships mimic up scale malls. Guests can stroll through the promenade to shop in a wide variety of stores, relax at the café or bar, or dine quietly in one of the restaurants. Cruise ships have truly earned the phrase of ‘a floating paradise’.

Families with kids are not excluded in this new age cruising. Check out Freedom of the Sea’s flowrider surf park, rock climbing and family suites. They also have the H20 zone which is a mini water park for kids. Children’s activities are being planned according to age and each age group is supervised by trained youth coordinators. Depending on the cruise ship, you will find activities ranging from storytelling, movies and group activities for younger kids, to high tech games, virtual reality centers, X-box games and dancing for teens.

No doubt the Cruise Lines are not yet finished with surprising us with new ideas. Cruise vacation has entered a new era and it looks spectacular. Have you been on a cruise lately? Come tell us about it.