INNOVATION
--In case you missed it, ice skating rinks,
giant trampolines and rock-climbing walls on board cruise ships are
old news, along with wine cellars and menus from celebrity chefs.
The latest innovations for having fun in the middle of the ocean include
a bowling alley aboard the Norwegian Pearl, and a Flowrider, which
lets you ride an artificial wave, on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of
the Seas. "They're trying to outdo each other in terms of innovation,"
said Celebrity Cruises President Dan Hanrahan. "We're betting
that a roller coaster is going to be next," say some jokingly
in the business. In addition to an industry-wide emphasis on gee-whiz
features, other trends in the cruise industry include the continued
popularity of family cruising and European ports of call, along with
overall growth, with a record number of guests last year and 30 new
cruise ships under construction.
