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All that aside, I hope she is a success but what a terrible time to bring a new ship on line!

[ 02-26-2009: Message edited by: lasuvidaboy ]

Ernie

Pictures of BAHAMAS CELEBRATION can be found here:

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South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

High seas, low prices: New cruise line at Port Everglades offers inexpensive weekend trips to Nassau, Bahamas

New cruise line updates older ship for weekend trips from Port Everglades to Nassau, Bahamas

By Jaclyn Giovis

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

March 14, 2009

Celebration Cruise Line, a new South Florida cruise line, will begin operations out of Port Everglades on Monday with a ship that got a $10 million makeover so it could compete for passengers in the world's cruising capital.

The line is a successor of sorts to Imperial Majesty Cruise Line, which used its old Regal Empress to sail the same two- and three-night Nassau, Bahamas, itineraries until this month.

Celebration is run by former Imperial Majesty executives President Martin Salzedo and Chief Financial Officer Edward Levitan. Many office and ship employees will cross over as well. About half of the new line's 475 employees worked at Imperial, said Glenn Ryerson, who is vice president of marketing, and also was hired from Imperial.

Ryerson declined to give names of the cruise line's owners, but said they are not the same as those who own the Regal Empress, whose fate is undetermined.

Its replacement, the 1,500-passenger MS Bahamas Celebration, was purchased last year for $50 million.

The line spent $10 million to convert an aging ferry into a cruise ship with a pool deck. It features 500 cabins, four restaurants, a two-story, 630-seat nightclub, multiple lounges, a casino, a new spa and fitness room, and a pirate-themed pool with a 180-foot slide for children. It will carry passengers previously booked on the Regal Empress, Ryerson said.

The company thinks the ship — built in 1981 as the cruise ferry MS Prinsesse Ragnhild — will compete with industry giants Carnival and Royal Caribbean, which offer short-length cruises on ships that are 15 to 20 years newer.

"We think we have a nice ship, and we're the price leader in the market," Ryerson said.

Standard prices will be $199 per person for a three-night weekend cruise, but for passengers on a really tight budget there will be options as low as $119. Cruises are sold directly at 800-520-2410, through travel agents and through about 20 wholesale companies.

Some of the wholesalers, which purchase blocks of cabin space from cruise lines, package the cruise with a vacation that includes a timeshare pitch, a practice that has sometimes drawn complaints from passengers.

The return of a short cruise helps Port Everglades, which will gain at least $3 million annually in passenger and other fees, port spokeswoman Ellen Kennedy said.

Kennedy said the major lines only offer longer itineraries from Fort Lauderdale, but have short trips from Port Canaveral or the Port of Miami. The starting price of a three-night cruise from Miami to Nassau on theCarnival Imagination next month was listed at $249 per person on Carnival's Web site.

Celebration Cruise Line officials aren't worried about launching their new venture amid a recession, when major cruise lines are slashing fares and throwing in other onboard incentives to woo passengers. "It's the perfect opportunity for us, because people still need to get away," Ryerson said.

Company officials faced a dilemma with the Regal Empress, which was 56 years old. As the recession crimped sales last summer, the ship was temporarily pulled from Port Everglades to provide hurricane relief housing in Galveston, Texas. Government mandated fire-safety requirements would have forced owners to retire the ship in 2010, or make costly upgrades.

The Regal Empress is currently scheduled to bid final adieu to its berth at Port Everglades tonight.

Jaclyn Giovis can be reached at 954-356-4668 or jmgiovis@SunSentinel.com.

1,500

Number of passengers the new cruise liner will hold

$10 million

Cost of ship's makeover

$119-$199

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Originally posted by steeplechase:
We need to get someone on this ship it's killing me not knowing anything about her.Pictures we need interior pictures!

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See my previous post. I posted a link to some interior photos. It's not many but it's a start.

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Originally posted by steeplechase:
We need to get someone on this ship it's killing me not knowing anything about her.Pictures we need interior pictures!

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OK - this statement piqued my interest! Why oh why the interest in this particular ship given that she is a modern, and might I add rather bland, converted car ferry?

Curious, just north of Port Everglades,

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Originally posted by steeplechase:
We need to get someone on this ship it's killing me not knowing anything about her.Pictures we need interior pictures!

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Originally posted by Tim in 'Lauderdale:
Why oh why the interest in this particular ship given that she is a modern, and might I add rather bland, converted car ferry?

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Originally posted by Rex:
What are those bulges on her port and starboard flanks? Sponsons?

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I want to post a full report but the ship and Celebration Cruise Line are not listed in the Readers' Reviews section.

Malcolm and Joe, I sent you both messages earlier this week, but no response--can someone please add this operation to the list, and I'll be happy to post my review. Thanks!

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Originally posted by Linerrich:
OK, I just sailed on BAHAMAS CELEBRATION this week--definitely a budget operation and not for everyone (think Imperial Majesty without the charm of a classic liner.) However, there are some good points, for the right clientele.

I want to post a full report but the ship and Celebration Cruise Line are not listed in the Readers' Reviews section.

Malcolm and Joe, I sent you both messages earlier this week, but no response--can someone please add this operation to the list, and I'll be happy to post my review. Thanks!

Rich

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Rich,

Sorry about the delay in responding. You can use this form to submit the review. Once I get it, I will add the cruise line and review to the list.

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Originally posted by Linerrich:
OK, I just sailed on BAHAMAS CELEBRATION this week--definitely a budget operation and not for everyone (think Imperial Majesty without the charm of a classic liner.) However, there are some good points, for the right clientele...

Rich

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Here's a link to Rich's review. Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences.