Two New Cruise Ships Set Sail From Florida Ports

Wow! Two new cruise ships set sail from Florida ports, and we're talking about BIG ships.

Have you heard of the Norwegian Viva? It's one of the ships in the Norwegian Cruise Line. It sets sail out of the Port of Miami. And it was christened last week.

David J. Herrera is president of the Norwegian Cruise Line. He described the launch of the ship. “Launching a ship is no solo endeavor. I am overwhelmed with gratitude towards the entire NCL team, our partners, and especially our amazing crew who have contributed to bringing Norwegian Viva to life and who care for and deliver exceptional vacation experiences for our guests.”

Celebrity Cruises has a new ship, the Celebrity Ascent. It is a big beauty! It's 140,600 tons and will hold over 3,200 guests. It leaves departs out of Fort Lauderdale and heads to ports including St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and the Dominican Republic.

Jason Liberty is president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. He said, “With each new ship, our ambition is to debut the ultimate vacation experience and Celebrity Ascent achieves this by raising the bar for premium travel. Her elevated design and new onboard experiences set her apart from competitors and serve as a new benchmark for the travel industry.”

There are so many cool features on the Celebrity Ascent. Enjoy their Rooftop Garden and the Resort Deck with floating pools. They have amazing food on this ship, as well. And they have a crazy Magic Carpet feature where you can soar above the ocean.

For more on this story, click here.

Travel and Leisure recently published a report that details 10 of the most stunning bodies of water in country. From sunny ocean spots, to lakes, to waterfalls these locations are simply breathtaking. Included in the list were two Florida locations that have the bluest water in America.

This is one of the most unique spots in the country. Dry Tortugas National Park lies west of Key West, Florida in the Gulf of Mexico. It is made up of seven small islands and that are surrounded by coral reef. The park enclosed is roughly 47,000 acres. To arrive here, you must either take a boat or a seaplane. Therefore, it is not accessible by car.

Describing its blue waters, Travel and Leisure says, "Most of it is placid, turquoise, and filled with colorful marine life, making for some of the best snorkeling in the Sunshine State."

Another destination recognized in the report was Devil's Den. This spring is situated in Willston, about 20 miles south of Gainesville. It is a natural cave that is privately owned. The water has been known to consistently register around 72 degrees regardless of season. One of its main attractions is scuba diving. In fact, it is also a scuba training center where diving is available seven days a week. However, you must have proper certification as it the water has a maximum depth of 54 feet. Their are four lodging cabins at Devil's Den. The property contains 120 feet of surface diameter.

Also mentioned on Travel and Leisure's list was Crater Lake in Oregon, Jenny Lake in Wyoming, and Tenaya Lake and Lake Tahoe in California. Havasu Falls in Arizona was the spotlighted waterfall. Finally, as for beaches with the brightest blues, Flamenco Beach in Puerto Rico and Lanikai Beach in Hawaii were among the best.

These two Florida locations that have the bluest water in America were the only east coast spots to make this feature.

This home of Fort Jefferson offers swimming, fishing, and camping. Furthermore, it also has a wide array of bird life. You can bring your own boat up to the park, which offers various tours throughout the day. Or perhaps you'd prefer to hop in a kayak or on a paddleboard and simply explore the turquoise blue waters, that's an option as well.

Devil's Den has a dive platform in the middle due to its high level of Scuba and snorkel attraction. In addition, you must be 18 years of age or accompanied by an adult to visit. Their website explains the history by detailing, "On cold winter mornings you can see steam, like smoke, rising from the chimney opening. Thus, the early settlers gave the name Devil's Den."