The Cruise Report With Cruise Specialists Cruise Reporter Ralph Grizzle

Princess Cruises, which introduced the first of its eight top-deck Movies Under the Stars screens five years ago, is partnering with film critic Leonard Maltin to create discussion groups based on the movies that are shown during its cruises. Princess will showcase a Maltin-selected movie each month on all ships, and guests who want to participate can join the Leonard Maltin Movie Club to discuss the film. The movie club provides passengers the opportunity to join fellow film buffs to discuss specially selected motion pictures during their cruise. Also, the relationship with Maltin extends further. The new Leonard Maltin Movie Channel will show popular and classic movies in staterooms.

When Viking River Cruises christens its new ship early in July in Cologne, Germany, it will also be pulling back the curtain on an extraordinarily efficient and quiet river cruiser that will save fuel and provide an uncommonly quiet ride.  Read more... (289 words, 1 image, estimated 1:09 mins reading time)

With the ships all spruced up and traveling to destinations that are famous for romance, Holland America Line has sent out the wedding invitations. Holland wants to leverage its obvious assets — beautiful destinations and luxury accommodations at sea — as well as a surprising price advantage, to attract more wedding parties to its ships. The premium line has introduced a Wedding Package to its Group Advantage Program, allowing couples to create their own ceremonies and parties that can be shared with as large a group of family and friends as they like.  Read more... (274 words, estimated 1:06 mins reading time)

Life Aquatic: Splishing, Splashing, Sliding & More On The Top Decks

Big ships bring theme-park-like features to the upper decks as they vie for title of world’s largest cruise ship.

In the battle to boast the biggest and best, Royal Caribbean International will debut in December Oasis of the Seas, which will hold the title as the world’s largest cruise ship.  Read more... (511 words, 2 images, estimated 2:03 mins reading time)

Always striving to create special attractions for its cultured audience, Crystal Cruises is partnering with the Music Center – Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County to showcase emerging musical stars during select European itineraries this summer and fall. Beginning this summer, Crystal’s new Emerging Artists Experiences of Discovery cruises will boast performances by Grand Prize Finalists of the center’s coveted Spotlight Awards.  Read more... (291 words, estimated 1:10 mins reading time)

Even if your demographic profile is not a perfect match with the hip-hop generation, Royal Caribbean International wants to help you learn how to bust a few moves this summer. Fleetwide starting in July, Royal Caribbean ships will be showing the Gotta Dance documentary that tells the story of a senior hip-hop troupe that performs at New Jersey Nets basketball games, as the NETsational Seniors, and the cruise line is inviting guests to use that inspirational movie as a springboard toward learning some new dance moves, including the kinetic, high-energy hip-hop style.  Read more... (175 words, estimated 42 secs reading time)

Is bigger better? It depends. Whereas big ships can be tiring for some just to keep pace with the activities offered, small ships can be boring for those who require lots of stimulation.

So if you’re someone who enjoys lots of activity, you’re likely better suited for a large ship than someone who enjoys the sea-induced inertia inherit to smaller ships.  Read more... (258 words, 1 image, estimated 1:02 mins reading time)

It’s last-call for Crystal Cruises in Antarctica. With new restrictions on certain fuel oils in this environmentally sensitive region, Crystal, and most other passenger-carrying vessels, will be making its last stops in the Antarctic during the upcoming holiday season.

Departing Buenos Aires on Dec. 20, Crystal’s Crystal Symphony will be the lines last scheduled trip to Antarctica. The 19-day journey, which will be marked by summer weather in South America as well as the ice and snow of Antarctica, also includes visits to several ports in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, including the breathtaking Chilean Fjords and Cape Horn.  Read more... (222 words, 1 image, estimated 53 secs reading time)

The standard measure of a cruise ship, “gross ton,” dates back to the 14th century, when a tun was a large wine cask with a capacity of 252 old wine gallons. Today, a gross ton is equal to 100 cubic feet of enclosed space, thus ships measure, not weigh, gross tons.

How big will ships be a decade from now? No telling.  Read more... (489 words, 1 image, estimated 1:57 mins reading time)

What do you want to do today? Where do you want to eat? On a big ship, these are legitimate questions that need to be answered because the choices are not limited to either/or.

The major cruise lines that have been unveiling and sailing larger and larger cruise ships for the past decade take pride in offering so many choices that, for instance, it takes a week to visit every restaurant or dining room for dinner.  Read more... (240 words, 1 image, estimated 58 secs reading time)