The three largest cruise ships in the world have ‘met’ for the first time in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.Royal Caribbean International's Oasis-class ships, Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and the new Harmony of the Seas appeared together to mark the latter’s arrival at her new permanent home at Port Everglades.All three feature seven themed ‘neighborhoods’, a Central Park with nearly 12,000 plants and trees, FlowRider surf simulators, an 82-foot zip wire, luxurious multi-level loft suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, an outdoor ‘aqua theatre’ that hosts high-diving, aquatic and acrobatic performances, and a Boardwalk with a hand-carved carousel. Until recently Oasis of the Seas, which sailed in 2009, and Allure of the Seas, which followed in 2010, had held the record as the largest cruise ships in the world.

Fresh off Viking Ocean Cruises’ inaugural cruise to the Caribbean, it can be said that the company is well on its way to making a bigger splash in the industry. Up until now, Viking Cruises, with its Viking River Cruises brand, has predominantly covered the European continent, but as its ocean fleet expands, so too does its international itineraries.

The 2015-launched Viking Star and 2016-launched Viking Sea initially started out with sailings in the Baltic and Mediterranean with farther jaunts west to the British Isles and north to Norway. The Viking Star has now left from Bergen, Norway to cross the Atlantic and visit Canada and New England before calling on the United States In New York City (where we boarded) for the first time on the way down to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Currently, it is embarking on a season of roundtrip 11-day West Indies Explorer itineraries.

Most remarkably on the first run, the Viking Star was almost always the only ship in port, only encountering two other Carnival Cruise Line ships and a Royal Caribbean International one in San Juan. Even in those cases, one of the greatest benefits to sailing on Viking was apparent in seeing ample lines for guests returning to the larger ships as we swiftly boarded the intimate 930-guest Star with no wait.

We all love our pool time when on a cruise. Some of us even enjoy getting in a daily workout while sailing -- all the better to warrant my massive increase in calorie consumption when I'm on vacation, I rationalize.

 How about being able to do both at the same time? I'm talking about starting your day with a challenging workout while in the pool. On a cruise ship!

 I know, it sounds crazy. Well, you do a get a few odd looks of interest when taking part in the AquaCycle class on MSC Divina. MSC Cruises' signature U.S.-based ship sails out of Miami on weeklong cruises to the Caribbean and offers AquaCycle classes, which are fun 45-minute sessions that replicate the shore side spin classes that you know from your health club back home. 

Except on MSC Divina, the spin studio is the aft adults-only Garden Pool. Special spin bikes are dropped into the pool by the instructor, who must artfully negotiate the sensitive and potentially explosive task of telling morning swimmers that they must leave the pool because a AquaCycle class will soon be starting.

Following on the heels of a similar lunch Cruiseable put together in May, yesterday we hosted the second Angel Investors-Startup Founders Social Lunch in San Francisco, given our role as technology innovators in the travel space.

The idea was to connect angel investors with startup founders — in this case, mobile and travel startups — in a more thoughtful way than the typical big-stage event or the "speed dating" feel of too many events where founders get to pitch their idea in as little as 2 minutes. 

Here, founders gave a 4-minute summary followed by 5 to 10 minutes of Q&A by investors, all during a free 5-star Burmese lunch prepared by SF chef Ma in the Garage venue in SoMa arranged by social dining startup Feastly for the occasion. 

JD Lasica / Special to CruiseableChef Ma explains the fresh ingredients in her Burmese dishes.

Here's a quick recap of the event. I kicked things off with my view that, when 98 percent of startup pitch applicants don't make it onto the event stage at big conferences like Launch or TechCrunch Disrupt, the likelihood is that many (perhaps most) of the most successful, innovative  startups are in the audience — let's call it the Startup Long Tail Effect. Pillsbury Law agreed to underwrite the event and sort through all the applicants with Kristen Gorts as the point person, and they surfaced four startups with particularly promising business decks.

John Ricci, founder and president of US Angel Investors, said all four pitches were impressive and worthy of attention. He and Henry Soo, president of Gold Ocean Capital Corp. in Vancouver, both found the social lunch idea to be a winning idea and one they thought could be a valuable addition to the angel investor ecosystem. (Inexplicably, angels from DreamFunded, Bay Angels, Ahead Innovation and a few others confirmed that they would attend but didn't show, without explanation.)

Croissant: A new way to be productive in your city

Co-founder Dave Idell (bottom left in the photo at top) of New York-based Croissant gave the first pitch, outlining the New York startup's goal of solving multiple pain points in the co-working space. Croissant has a subscription-based service that lets you access the best co-working spaces in New York City, Boston, and Washington DC with one membership, giving you access to reliable Wi-Fi and a space where you can be productive. (They're pitching at the 500 Startups Demo Day today.) 

JD Lasica / Special to CruiseableElisabeth Mouchy of Daylighted during her pitch.

Daylighted: Bringing art to hotels, digitally

French-born co-founder Elisabeth Mouchy explained how SF-based Daylighted provides a contemporary portfolio of thousands of contemporary art as well as digital displays to a number of hotels. Its "smart gallery" is a digital canvas that can rotate photos at will and in real time, enabling curators to change exhibits on the fly. While many startups are focued on achieving one utilitarian thing, Daylighted strikes me as a much-needed breath of fresh air, bringing a soulful visual poetry into spaces that could surely use it.

JD Lasica / Special to CruiseableMauricio Madrigal of Getabed during his talk.

Getabed: Score a last-minute hotel deal

The next startup, Getabed, currently operates only in Mexico but hopes to make its U.S. debut in 2017. Founder Mauricio Madrigal described the startup as solving the problem of finding a room in slightly different ways than Hotel Tonight (also a mobile app that lets you find rooms at the last minute, but Getabed offers travelers more flexibility) or Airbnb (while Getabed works only with established hotels with unsold inventory). This looks to be chiefly aimed at millennial travelers looking to score a lower hotel rate with amenities that can be ordered on demand. 

JD Lasica / Special to CruiseableKristen McClellan, co-founder of Snappy Screen, during her pitch.

SnappyScreen: Make sunburns a thing of the past

Two-thirds of people get a sunburn while vacationing in a sunny spot. Three Cornell University students, including CEO Kristen McClellan, took on that problem head on by founding SnappyScreen, a sunscreen application system. Based in Locust Valley, NY, the startup sells pretty little kiosks to hotel chains like the Four Seasons and Hyatt for placement near their outdoor pools. Through the use of a special camera in the kiosk that only shows UV light, they're able to demonstrate that a SnappyScreen user receives full coverage.

A final word

Thanks to Kristen and everyone who contributed to the success of our second Social Lunch. We'll likely do the next one in late January. Email me if you'd like to know about it as plans firm up.  

Related

• Outtakes from the first Social Sharing Angels Lunch

Look for three new spiffy and most likely definitely different ships coming out starting in 2020 when flamboyant billionaire-entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson launches his much-anticipated cruise line, Virgin Voyages.

Apparently the mogul likes alliteration since he just announced he changed the company name from Virgin Cruises. Virgin first ship is scheduled to launch and home port in Miami in 2020 for a series of Caribbean cruises; the second ship will sail in 2021 and the third in 2022.

Three ships, currently under construction at the famed Fincantieri Shipyard, will each carry about 2,700 passengers. As Cruiseable's Ship Discovery Tool will tell you, that's roughly the same size (in terms of passengers) as Golden Princess, Holland America's Koningsdam, Carnival Victory, Celebrity Solstice or MSC Magnifica.

Branson recently did a telephone press conference where he said Virgin Voyages would create boutique experiences that are as "magical" as those offered by his other enterprises, which include Virgin Atlantic airline, a Chicago hotel and a game reserve and lodge in South Africa. The company is also developing spaceship tourism through the Virgin Galactic venture.

He also said his fleet will be the first major cruise line to adopt a new clean energy technology called Climeon Ocean that transforms waste heat from ship engines into electricity for onboard use. A Virgin spokesman said the green tech will save up to 5,400 tons of carbon dioxide per year per ship and it would take 180,000 trees 30 years to absorb that amount of carbon dioxide, providing a large positive impact for the environment. 

Branson suggested that the ships might also sail into Cuba.

Silversea's upcoming flagship Silver Muse sounds like a knockout. The company released new yummy details today about the eight dining choices that will include an ultra-exquisite Relais & Chateaux restaurant called La Dame, Asian eateries named Kabuki and Indochine and an innovative eatery called Silver Note that will provide entertainment and tapas.

The small luxury cruise line has always excelled in its culinary efforts and these new entries should put  them at the top of any cruiser's must-dine list.

Silver Muse, which will make her debut in April 2017 in Monaco, will eventually call at 34 countries and 130 ports in 2017 alone. The ship will redefine  luxury with her all-suite accomodations that are butler-manned and signature Silversea ambiance and amenities.

Silver Muse dining

All wines and beverages are complimentary (included in your fare).

• La Dame will offer French fare in an elegant setting with bespoke menus created by top chefs from the Relais & Châteaux team. The menu will be underpinned and enhanced with locally sourced ingredients and guests can enjoy carefully paired wines to enrich the dining experience.
• Kabuki and Indochine. Kabuki, inspired by the ancient art of Kabuki theatre, honors traditional Japanese culture with a chorus  of flavors. Indochine delivers a journey for each and every one of the senses. From the spice markets of Mumbai to the fragrant aromas of Thailand, guests are encouraged to explore the diverse flavors for which this fascinating region is renowned.
• Silver Note allows passengers to  snack on tapas while enjoying Manhattan-style live jazz from top musicians. 
• Hot Rocks, a staple on the nine ship fleet, will offer one of the most creative restaurant concepts on board Silver Muse. I happen to love this outdoor venue where your veal chop or steak cooks on a 400-degree lava stone at your table.
• La Terrazza draws inspiration from Silversea’s distinctive Italian heritage, this traditional restaurant uses the freshest ingredients to recreate the finest Italian cuisine. Whether enjoyed al fresco or in the ocean-view restaurant, guests can make the most of the interactive food stations, an olive oil cellar, mozzarella bar, seafood station and salumeria.
•  Regina Margherita will be open throughout the day  serving relaxed Italian favorites, including its signature home-made Italian Pizzas from the pool-side.
•  Atlantide will feature the best of the ocean’s yield. Bespoke dishes such as royal crab, blue lobster and Verbena infused red snapper will be showcased alongside the best steaks sourced from offshore.

“Fine dining has always been at the heart of the ultra-luxury Silversea service. We are proud to develop this further with our new flagship, Silver Muse, where our eight restaurants offer an unprecedented dining experience at sea,” Roberto Martinoli, CEO of Silversea Cruises, said in a statement.

Silversea offers fares that include  shipboard gratuities, all beverages from Champagne and beyond, butlers in all suites and special perks such as free WiFi and more.

Interested in a cruise on Silver Muse?

Early sailings on Silver Muse have already sold out. Interested in booking a stateroom? Contact Cruiseable's Business Department at 1-877-322-3773 to speak to a travel advocate, or send an email query.

Here's more info about Silver Muse. And see Cruiseable's listing of Silversea itineraries.

As the curtains close on 2016, the lights will come up on the all-suite, all-balcony Seabourn Encore when she emerges from the shipyard in December. Seabourn’s new 40,350-gross-ton flagship, with interiors designed by Adam D. Tihany, strikes a balance between modern design and traditional yacht stylings. This small-ship cruise line has built upon the success of its Odyssey class with a larger vessel that will accommodate 600, but will still maintain the same personalized service that’s delivered by approximately one staff member per onboard guest. This all-inclusive ship pampers guests with open bars throughout and a deep selection of wines available at both lunch and dinner. Gratuities are included, as is one special shore experience per itinerary. Seabourn Encore will sail several routes in December before her official inaugural voyage on January 7, 2017. While that sailing is sold out, there are plenty of other itineraries to choose from. seabourn.com.

On my last cruise, I met a couple who said they didn’t really want to sail with Royal Caribbean because the company’s ships were “too big.” And while Royal Caribbean certainly has some of the largest ships around, four of their smaller vessels are among my absolute favorites to cruise aboard.

Launched between 2001 and 2004, Royal Caribbean’s four Radiance-class cruise ships (Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas), carry just over 2,000 guests apiece. At 90,090 GRT (gross register tonnage), they’re almost mid-size by modern cruise-ship standards, yet they’re still plenty big, with a length of 293 meters and 12 passenger decks, most of which, are adorned with wall-to-wall glass windows.

These ships are so roomy and uncrowded that, for the most part, you’ll wonder where everyone is. You’ll still find that same amazing sense of grandeur that Royal Caribbean is known for when you walk into the multi-story atrium that soars all the way up to the pool deck, but throughout the ship, public spaces take on a more clubby, intimate tone.

The Northern Lights are one of the most spectacular sights in the world and it pretty much goes without saying that, when people see them, they will want to capture the image with their cameras. (See Cruiseable's Visual List, In search of the Northern Lights.)

Travel + Leisure’s Jamie Carter has provided a list of tips for those heading out to capture the aurora borealis will not be disappointed with their pictures when they return. 

The first suggestion: ditch your smartphone. 

Another Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship is about to experience a luxurious  transformation with Seven Seas Voyager scheduled to undergo renovations later this month as part of the luxury line’s $125 million fleet-wide refurbishment program.  Following the refurbishment effort, Seven Seas Voyager will feature the same elegant style and indisputable attention to detail famously featured on Seven Seas Explorer, providing guests with a consistent look-and-feel, no matter which Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship they choose to sail. 

Seven Seas Voyager joins Seven Seas Navigator as the second ship to receive this stylish new update to the public spaces and suites onboard, with Seven Seas Mariner scheduled to receive a similar makeover in April 2017. Seven Seas Voyager will emerge from this refurbishment with a sophisticated new look reflective of the pinnacle of luxury. 

Celebrity Cruises will be rolling out its Go Big, Go Better and Go Best program on Monday, July 6, making its cruises more inclusive for passengers who opt into the program when booking and making the...

When a luxury cruise line decides to team up with the best American chef, something special is bound to happen, and Seabourn’s partnership with Thomas Keller has proved a treat for the senses.

The Seabourn Quest does not have a plethora of dining options like some larger mainstream cruise ships, but what it does have in the form of a main dining room, singular specialty restaurant, buffet, pool grill and room service is exceptional. While I cannot speak to what the cuisine was like before Thomas Keller, the offerings onboard are now certainly some of the best at sea if not anywhere in the world thanks to the multiple Michelin-starred chef’s contributions.

My cousin is a culinary instructor and swears by Keller’s creations, and now I know why. I first became acquainted with his stylings, thanks to Blu-Ray special features, from his serving as a consultant on the hit Pixar film “Ratatouille,” where his modern rendition of the vegetable stew was animated to perfection.