SilverSea News
Silversea Cruises made some minor changes to the Silver Endeavor, but more extensive alterations are on the way.
The ship’s hull has been repainted from blue and white to a warm gray and cream to stay in cinq with the rest of the Silversea fleet. The overall look of the ship is not likely to change. The design works. New restaurant concepts have been added. The Restaurant has replaced Waterside as the main dining room. The small Italian Restaurant was rebranded II Terrazzino. The pool/casual restaurant combo at the aft is now The Grill. The midship quick bites area is now Arts Cafe. La Dame, serving French food, is waiting for etched-glass panels, which will take some time to arrive. The Endeavour is the first ship in Silversea’s fleet to use the Starlink satellite network for WiFI, and reception is good even in Antarctic latitudes.
After the Antarctic season, the large casino will be turned into crew cabins and an infirmary. The current infirmary will become four balcony suites. In addition, the helicopter bay on Deck 8 will be remodeled into six suites.
Royal Caribbean News
The makeover of Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas includes new play places for kids and adults alike, with new toys, food and places to unwind. Some projects were small, like the bright palm-themed paint job in the pool area and new furniture, such as the colorful reservable huts called casitas on the top deck overlooking the pool.
Other changes were more involved, like the addition of Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade. The space glows with dozens of TV screens and arcade favorites like Skee-Ball and a basketball-shooting game.
Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen was introduced, and many water-based additions were added. The pool outside the Lime and Coconut Bar was expanded with in-water lounge chairs and the kids’ pool area was reimagined. Splashaway Bay has tube slides and features a water-dumping bucket. El Loco Fresh restaurant serves takeaway Mexican food, replacing Johnny Rockets. A pair of three-story racing waterslides called the Perfect Storm is another amplification. Studio B ice rink now transitions into a laser tag arena or nightclub.
MSC
The new MSC Seascape glows from within. Miniature skyscrapers featuring Times Square-like screens light the stage inside the ship’s casino; while tens of thousands of crystals gleam within the staircase. The shiny, 5877-passenger ship is a direct attempt to impress New Yorkers. The ship docked at Pier 88 in Manhattan for its christening ceremony. Several specific nods to the “Big Apple” is the Loft Cafe, a New York City-inspired stand-up comedy club. The Statue of Liberty mini stands atop a bar in the casino. The Sports Bar will make Americans feel at home with boxing gloves, baseball bats, hockey helmets and other sports equipment adorning the windows, walls and ceilings. The four-deck atrium is awash in light reflecting off silver surfaces. Connecting the floors are dual Swarovski-glass staircases. Other spaces on the ship up the wow factor. Sushi Bar delivers rolls using an Instagrammable take on a sushi train in which magnetic discs glide over smooth metal. By day, the colors are those of natural daylight, but the night brings the color of fire, with red, yellow and white.
The Seascape will reposition in Miami, sailing Eastern and Western itineraries, while the Meraviglia will homeport at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, sailing to Canada, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Ocean Cay Marine reserve.
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