ST.-NAZAIRE, France -- A rock-climbing wall, a dedicated business
center, Internet access in every cabin and additional balcony
suites are among the features that distinguish First European
Cruises' next ship from its predecessor.
European Vision, under construction at the Chantiers de
l'Atlantique shipyard here and scheduled for a June 2001 launch, is
22% larger than First European's Mistral, which was launched in
1999, and will carry 300 more passengers for a total of 1,500.
The ship's 783 cabins include 132 minisuites with balconies, up
from Mistral's 80.
"European Vision is an expression of our company's soul. It's
modeled on Mistral but with refinements," said George Poulides,
chairman of the Festival Group, First European's Greece-based
parent company, during a traditional keel-laying ceremony here last
month.
Together with Chantiers chairman Patrick Boissier, Poulides
slipped good-luck coins into the keel of the 58,600-ton ship as a
Greek Orthodox priest officiated and sprinkled holy water with a
sprig of basil.
Festival's current $1.2 billion order book introduces four new
ships from 2001 through 2004.
The first is European Vision, followed by European Dream and two
larger, as-yet-unnamed 2,000-passenger, 80,000-ton vessels.
Like Mistral, European Vision is contemporary but warm in style,
yet innovations bring it squarely into competition with current
U.S.-based ships.
The ship will be completely Internet-connected, with an Internet
cafe offering 20 terminals, accessibility from all cabins via the
interactive television system and via plug-ins from the 132
minisuites.
The
dedicated business center will feature five personal computer
stations also with Internet access plus the latest audiovisual
equipment.
Also planned are a 110-seat main conference room and two
adjacent breakout rooms of 50 and 15 seats, which can be combined
into one large meeting space.
The Piccadilly Square reception area will be twice as large as
Mistral's reception space, with expanded shopping facilities down
the hall.
Casino Lido is also twice as big as Mistral's casino and will
offer 60 slots, four blackjack tables and two roulette tables.
Deck 11 features two swimming pools, an enlarged spa and a pair
of specialty bars serving beer and ice cream as well as a dining
venue, the Chez Claude cafeteria.
A 23-foot climbing wall rises between Decks 12 and 13.
Minigolf, a golf simulator, tennis, volleyball and basketball
round out the enhanced sports facilities.
First European draws a pan-European clientele of mainly
Italians, French and Germans.
U.S. travelers represent a small but solid core of the line's
passengers; most are in search of a European-flavored vacation
experience.
"We are looking to have more Americans," said Festival's vice
chairman Theodore Kontes.
"The only thing we have in mind is to give [it] the European
touch," he added.
European Vision's summer 2001 inaugural season features
seven-day cruises from Genoa to Naples, Italy; the Greek ports of
Katakolon, Heraklion and Mykonos, and Kusadasi in Turkey.
In December, the ship starts its Caribbean season, for which
itineraries are being finalized.