Norwegian Cruise Line, an innovator in the cruising industry, will be launching a new class of ship this July, the Norwegian EPIC.  Families especially are going to love  all the family friendly innovations aboard this new ship. The exhilarating Aqua Park features multiple slides with multiple thrills. Play Wii™ on a two-story screen or bowl on one of the ship’s six alleys. Meet your favorite Nickelodeon™ characters like SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer with Nickelodeon™ at Sea. Or take on a challenge at the sports complex and rock-climbing wall. Plus, there’s supervised fun for the kids at Recess and teen activities at Entourage, when adults need a little grown-up time.

NCL has also introduced more family-friendly accommodations then ever on the EPIC.  She has more choices of connecting staterooms than any other cruise line as well as family-style suites for families of 5 or more.  These are located in close proximity to the Kids Crew Zones! 

This ship is sure to be a hit with families.

Always an industry trendsetter, Royal Caribbean is the first cruise line to offer a Tracking Program for parents to track their children onboard a cruise ship.

When Royal Caribbean's new Oasis of the Seas begins regular cruises next month, the muster station wristbands that all young children on cruise ships must wear will be enhanced with a passive electronic device that will allow their parents to track them in real time as they wander the ship -- an industry first.

The wristbands are being rolled out in conjunction with the debut of an onboard smart phone system called Royal Connect that's designed to make it easier for passengers to keep in touch with eachother.

Passengers will be able to rent Royal Connect phones for $17.50 a voyage that they can use to track their children, call and text other passengers who have Royal Connect phones and call cabins.

The phones also can be used to call onboard areas such as the spa and restaurants to make reservations, and they also display the latest shipboard activities.  The phones are Apple iPhones configured to only work on the ship.  They plan to offer 800 phones on the Oasis of the Seas on a  first-come, first-serve basis to passengers.

Parents who don't want to spend the $17.50 to rent a phone but still want to track down their child's location on Oasis will be able to go the guest services desk to do it. 

Read along on my Crystal Serenity Cruise blog as I sail through the Mediterranean on a fantastic, luxury cruise ship, the Crystal Serenity.

Royal Caribbean International unveiled the seventh and final neighborhood onboard Oasis of the Seas, debuting in Nov. 2009. The Youth Zone introduces a wealth of kid- and teen-friendly adventures including Kids Avenue, a central boulevard connecting children with dedicated Adventure Ocean spaces and various themed play areas; the cruise line's first nursery for infants and toddlers (six months or older); and state-of-the-art teen areas.

The Norwegian Epic is set to debut in the Summer of 2010 and she represents an entire new class of ship for Norwegian Cruise Line.  With over 17 Dining Venues, the first true Ice Bar at sea, the Bliss Bowling Alley, an Amazing Aqua Park and unique stateroom categories that can accommodate up to 6 people, this is going to be a ship to experience. 

 The Aqua Park

Also a first at sea, The Blue Man Group will provide exclusive entertainment to a whole new audience! Blue Man Group