Celebrity Solstice Sets Sail for First Time

Celebrity Solstice

The most widely heralded ship to enter the cruise market this year, Celebrity Solstice, departed Meyer Werft shipyard yesterday in Papenburg, Germany, as the largest ship ever built by the longtime shipbuilder.

In a milestone event known as “The Conveyance,” the 2,850-guest Celebrity Solstice made its way down the River Eems, as tens of thousands of area residents lining the river banks cheered and photographed the historic event.

“This is a very momentous occasion for Celebrity Cruises,” said the brand’s President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. “Celebrity Solstice is the perfect manifestation of what the Celebrity brand is all about: extraordinary service, spectacular dining, and fabulous style and design.

 And as the first in a series of five Solstice-class ships, it’s a vivid example of the growth and momentum of the Celebrity brand, and our commitment to meet our guests’ and travel agent partners’ demands for more vacation options with Celebrity.”

Among the wealth of attributes guests will find only on Celebrity Solstice are:

The industry’s first Lawn Club, a lush, half-acre recreation area with real, growing grass.

The industry’s first Hot Glass Show, with live glassblowing demonstrations presented in association with The Corning Museum of Glass.

Larger staterooms, with design inspirations offered by a panel of five women, hand-picked for their unique travel and hospitality insights.

10 varied restaurants, ranging from the dramatic, two-level “Grand Epernay” main dining room with a sweeping wine tower, to four exquisite specialty restaurants, to several stylish, casual venues.

An entirely new category of accommodations, “AquaClass,” designed to offer a spa vacation experience at sea rivaling the best of those on land.

A state-of-the-art theater and stage design, with three new leading-edge shows custom-designed for Celebrity with Poet Theatricals, in their first cruise line partnership.

“There also is the intangible attribute which is consistent across the Celebrity fleet, and that’s the extraordinary, anticipatory service our phenomenal staff offer our guests every day,” said Hanrahan.

Celebrity Solstice will be berthed in Eemshaven, Netherlands, from September 29 to October 24, with two separate sea trials planned during that period, in addition to crew arrivals, training, provisioning and finishing work onboard. The ship will depart Eemshaven October 24 on a transatlantic voyage, with arrival in Fort Lauderdale planned for early November, followed by a series of promotional cruises for invited travel agents, press and other dignitaries.

The ship will be named in formal ceremonies on November 14, and will begin its maiden season November 23, with a series of alternating 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, calling on San Juan, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, and Tortola during this Fall and Winter. Celebrity Solstice presents a series of romantic 10- and 11-night Mediterranean cruises from Rome beginning in Spring 2009.

 

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Horror stories about online booking send customers back to travel agents

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We have been hearing more stories than usual about the frustrations of online travel engines’ customers lately.

In addition to horror stories we have read about, two people we know faced dropped bookings when they arrived at the airport.

One had booked a flight and the other a whole vacation package and both were told that there was no record of payment (even with a confirmation number) and they would have to pay for their trips again.

So we were not especially surprised when we saw the report by eMarketer (they sell market research and trend analysis about Internet commerce) about the decline in the number of people booking online and the increase of people booking through travel agents.

Booking through a travel agent is some of the best insurance you can buy. When problems arise, you have someone to call. You can go and have a coffee while they sort out the problem. If they can’t fix it right then, you’ll at least know that when you return from your holiday, your travel agent will probably have fixed the snafu.

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The Fine Print of a Cruise Detour

ONE of the advantages of a cruise vacation — especially during hurricane season — is a ship’s ability to change course quickly should Mother Nature present a problem. But there’s a flip side: instead of sailing the azure waters of the Caribbean, you could end up in Rhode Island.

That’s precisely what happened to the Carnival Miracle, which was scheduled to sail Aug. 29 from New York on an eight-day Caribbean trip to San Juan, P.R., and the islands of St. Thomas and Grand Turk. When Tropical Storm Hanna threatened its route, the cruise had to scrap its original itinerary, and ended up going to Port Canaveral, Fla., Freeport in the Bahamas, and Newport, R.I.

That is just one example of how the barrage of hurricanes that swept through the Caribbean and pummeled parts of Texas over the last few weeks wreaked havoc with Caribbean cruises. At least seven other Carnival ships had to change course because of storms, including the Conquest and Ecstasy, which were rerouted to New Orleans, and then Houston, when their final stop in Galveston was canceled because of Hurricane Ike. Royal Caribbean was forced to modify about half a dozen cruises to avoid storms. And Norwegian Cruise Line had to alter some sailings, including sending the Norwegian Spirit to Bermuda instead of the Bahamas for one trip, to avoid Hanna.

The early part of September was “literally a three-ring circus with Ike, Hanna and the remnants of Gustav,” said Carolyn Spencer Brown, the editor in chief of CruiseCritic.com, which tracks which ships are affected by storms in its Hurricane Zone section. Since hurricane season doesn’t officially end until Nov. 30, cruise passengers should be prepared for more diversions.

So what options do you have if your cruise takes a detour? Not many.

Cruise lines reserve the right to alter itineraries by changing or eliminating ports altogether. If a change is made before sailing, many cruise companies will offer customers an opportunity to cancel and receive a refund or to rebook on a future sailing. But when the ship is forced to change course midcruise, passengers are rarely offered or entitled to any compensation, according to the fine print in the ticket contract.

“When it’s a weather-caused deviation, we do not typically offer compensation,” said Jennifer de la Cruz, a spokeswoman for Carnival. If the company is unable to substitute a port of call, passengers are offered a $20 missed-port credit, to make up for the “head taxes” charged by governments to maintain and improve their ports.

Cruise lines say they go to great lengths to try to give guests the same or a comparable itinerary when weather dictates a change.

“The objective is to try to give our guests the exact itinerary,” said Michael J. Sheehan, a spokesman for Royal Caribbean Cruises, which has a team of about 20 executives that meets in response to major storms. “We look at the storm, and where its projected path is, and how it will possibly interfere with any of our itineraries. Then the question is, how can we alter that itinerary to ensure the ship is a safe distance away and everyone is comfortable onboard that sailing?”

Earlier this month, Hanna threatened the course of a Royal Caribbean ship, Liberty of the Seas, that was scheduled to leave Miami on Sept. 6 for a seven-day cruise to Labadee, Haiti; Jamaica; the Cayman Islands; and Cozumel, Mexico. Instead of canceling the trip, the company was able to hit all the scheduled ports of call simply by reversing the itinerary.

But it isn’t always that easy. Complications arise when a storm hits a port on a so-called turnaround day, when passengers are debarking and others are boarding for a new trip.

“You have to deal with those on a case-by-case basis,” Mr. Sheehan said. “We might, depending on the circumstances, bring the ship back early.”

In that case, he said, guests would have the choice to get off and have a shortened cruise, or stay aboard for a few days at sea and return to port a day or two late — if their travel plans were flexible.

While passengers can certainly appreciate the need to move out of harm’s way, it is also hard not to be disappointed when you can’t go on that kayaking excursion through the bioluminescent bay you’ve been boasting about to co-workers for months.

To reduce such letdowns, experts suggest a few steps:

Besides avoiding the Caribbean altogether during the hurricane season, booking a multiple-stop cruise rather than a one-stop cruise increases the chances that the entire trip won’t be ruined. Also, be prepared for the possibility that you might arrive home a day or two late. In other words — alert the babysitter.

CONSIDER travel insurance, but read the fine print. “A cruise ship’s change in itinerary is not generally a covered reason,” said Chris Harvey, chief executive of an online travel insurance agency.

Insurance providers vary on how they treat cruise diversions, he added. For example, if the cruise must return to port early, one company, CSA Travel Protection, covers the unused portion of the cruise and any additional expenses on land, like hotels and meals. But a cruise detour that results in an extension is treated as a travel delay

Booking your airfare through the cruise line itself, rather than on your own, may also pay off. Royal Caribbean pays for rebooking air travel, including any flight change fees, if it was reserved through the cruise line. Guests who book flights independently would need to find their own way home.

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Celebrity Cruises to begin winter cruises from Baltimore in 2009.

Celebrity Solstice

Governor Martin O’Malley welcomed the decision today from Celebrity Cruises to begin sailing from the Port of Baltimore in November 2009.  The Celebrity Mercury, a  1,898-guest ship, will call Baltimore a homeport from November 2009 through February 2010. 

Celebrity will offer five 12-night Eastern Caribbean cruises that will visit St. Thomas; St. Kitts; Antigua;  St. Maarten, and Tortola.  They will also offer five 9-night cruises visiting Charleston, SC; Key West, FL; and Cococay and Nassau, Bahamas.  The first cruise scheduled from Baltimore is a 12-night excursion beginning November 9, 2009.

“Celebrity’s decision to offer cruises from Maryland confirms once again that the international cruise industry recognizes Maryland as a viable departure location,”  said Governor O’Malley. “Our hospitality industry, attractions and diversity provide another exciting element to one’s vacation at the beginning or end of their cruise.  Equally important is the location of the Port of Baltimore and the easy access to our quality cruise terminal and parking that sits right off of I-95.”  

The Celebrity Mercury began sailing in 1997.  It is a 77,713-ton vessel with 949 staterooms,
two-thirds of which have ocean views.  The 10-deck ship also offers many dining and entertainment options and age-appropriate programs and activities for children of all ages. 

The Port of Baltimore is the closest East Coast drive-to port from Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Indianapolis and Chicago.  Baltimore is also within a four-hour drive from the New York City metro area. 

The Cruise Maryland cruise terminal is only 2.5 miles from Baltimore’s world famous Inner Harbor, 10 miles from BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, and little more than an hour from three other major airports.   In total, about 40 million people live within a six-hour drive of Baltimore. 
           

Maryland’s median household income of $68,040 is the highest in the nation.  Baltimore is also located within a four-hour drive of ten of the wealthiest counties in the U.S.   The Baltimore-Washington DC-Northern Virginia region is recognized as one of the most affluent in the nation and ranks fourth nationally in retail sales and effective-buying income.   The region is also the fourth most populated area in the U.S.  

In June, it was announced that Carnival Cruise Lines would begin year-round cruises from Baltimore starting September 2009.  That will be the first time in the Port’s 30-plus year cruise history that it will offer year-round cruising.  In addition to Celebrity and Carnival, the Port of Baltimore will also be served by Royal Caribbean and Norwegian cruise lines in 2009.   

 In 2008, the economic impact of cruising from Maryland was approximately $63 million.  Combining embarks and debarks, about 100,000 passengers cruised to or from the Port of Baltimore in 2008.

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Singles Travel International Offers Jazz Cruise!

MSC Cruise Line

Single Travel International is offering passage on the Smooth Jazz Charter Cruise, which will feature jazz musicians such as Norman Brown, Nick Colionne, Boney James, Acoustic Alchemy and more.

 The Caribbean cruise is on the Celebrity Century. Included are exclusive singles events and access to jazz performers. The cruise departs Miami and visits Key West, Nassau and Coco Cay for a private beach party. There will be afternoon and evening performances every sailing day.

Fares start at $1,849, including gratuities, all taxes, government fees and fuel charges. The Smooth Jazz Cruise host, Norman Brown, will introduce live jazz performances by Nick Colionne, Boney James, Mindi Abair, Larry Carlton, Heather Headley, Acoustic Alchemy, Greg Adams, Marlon Meadows, Steve Cole, Shilts, Steve Oliver, Chieli Minnuci, Michael Lington, Alan Hewitt and Althea Rene. All musicians will perform their show at least twice during the cruise.

 Also planned are autograph and interview sessions, as well as late-night jam sessions. Exclusive Singles Travel International amenities include a $50 shipboard credit, welcome aboard party with open bar, breakfast and happy hour each day, singles seating for dinner, and farewell party. Singles Travel International invites single guests to a Super Bowl party on Feb. 1.

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Azamara Cruises offers Anniversary booking incentives.

Celebrity Cruise Lines

Azamara Cruises is offering customers an incentive to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Azamara Quest. The booking promotion is called the “Quest for Europe” sale. Guests who book 2009 Europe cruises in October will receive onboard credit of $600 per suite, $400 per veranda, and $200 per ocean-view stateroom. Deposits are also reduced by 50 percent when booking between Sept. 22 and Oct. 19.

Azamara’s 2009 Europe season will include seven- to 15-night itineraries that visit 91 ports in 36 countries, and depart from five homeports: Athens, Greece; Barcelona, Spain; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Rome and Venice, Italy. Overnight stays will be offered in Barcelona; Edinburgh, Scotland; Florence and Ravenna, Italy; Istanbul, Turkey; St. Petersburg, Russia; and Stockholm, Sweden. Late-night (10 p.m. or after) departures are offered in 10 ports of call. The company is also adding new, harder-to-access ports, such as docking in Zadar, Croatia, where larger ships have to anchor, and Rouen, France, one hour from Paris as opposed to Le Havre, where larger ships dock, which is two-and-a-half hours from the city.

Also on the schedule are Volos, Greece, for excursions to the Meteora Monasteries; Amalfi, Italy, near Sorrento, Positano and Capri; a docking in La Spezia, Italy, where larger ships have to anchor; and Dartmouth, U.K., inaccessible to larger ships. A series of consecutive seven-night Mediterranean cruises can be combined with no repeat ports of call. A new “Iceland and Norwegian Fjords” voyage roundtrip from Copenhagen, Denmark, features three Icelandic ports, Scotland’s Shetland Islands and Denmark’s Faroe Islands. An enhanced “Best of Italy” itinerary includes overnight stays in Venice and Sorrento. Azamara’s “Quest for Europe” booking promotion is not combinable with any other offer. The offer is not available for U.K. bookings. The onboard credit in this offer is per stateroom. The $99 bonus commission per booking will be paid upon completion of sailing.

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Holland America Cruise Line Enhances Onboard Entertainment

 
Holland America Line’s latest Signature of Excellence program will enhance entertainment offerings on five ships. In the works are a new music program, the new Showroom at Sea, expanded entertainment and enrichment activities, and a video game room.

The enhancements are part of a $200 million program that will occur during nearly month-long dry-docks on Statendam, Maasdam, Ryndam, Veendam and Rotterdam beginning in the spring. Joining the resident shipboard entertainment staff are three new musical groups: The HALCats, The Neptunes and Adaggio.

Each ship in the fleet will now feature an ensemble of these signature musical groups. An eight-piece party band, The HALCats play the music of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s throughout the ship. The Neptunes, a three-piece combo, feature music from the Great American Songbook. Adaggio, a string quartet comprised of a viola, cello and two violins, perform light classics in the Explorer’s Lounge.

Guests can dance to the tunes of Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra and Harry Connick Jr. in the newly refurbished Ocean Bar.

Holland America Line has redesigned its main show space to combine stage technology and décor with the ambience of an old-Hollywood nightclub. Called Showroom at Sea, this venue will feature new show concepts along with production-style shows.

Remodeled seating and a larger parquet dance floor will also feature movable tables and chairs complete with white-linen tablecloths and café lamps. Interactive games and other high-tech entertainment, complete with large flat-screen televisions, are being installed in a new space called the Sky Room.

This high-tech game room features several “rooms within a room” and will include plenty of lounging chairs and couches. A new Explorations Team employs cruise staff, each specializing in a particular area, to educate and entertain guests with an expanded menu of activities including flower arranging, hands-on cooking, dancing, and working with digital photos, blogs and movies.

Each team consists of a cruise director, a party planner, a travel guide, dance directors and a “techspert.” On longer cruises, a book club leader joins the team to lead lively group discussions.

The first of the dry-dock periods begins with the Veendam in the spring and the last will be completed on the Maasdam in late 2010. While in dry-dock, the aft deck will be expanded to create a new resort pool concept, The Retreat, and create a new bar concept called Mix that features separate areas — Martinis, Champagne and Spirits & Ales.

Enhancements will be made to all existing staterooms and additional staterooms will be added to the five ships. The ships also will introduce 46 lanai staterooms with direct access to the Lower Promenade Deck. New spa staterooms near the Greenhouse Spa and Salon will offer in-room spa amenities.  

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Celebrity Cruise Line announces new deployment for Cruise Ship Millennium and Mercury.

Celebrity Cruise Lines

 

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Celebrity Cruises today announced new itineraries for Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Mercury, presenting guests with new cruise vacation options from the historic coastal cities of Baltimore, Maryland, and Charleston, South Carolina, along with the brand’s popular Caribbean cruises from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Correspondingly, the line announced plans to discontinue its Australia and New Zealand cruises previously scheduled for late-2009 and 2010 on Celebrity Millennium.

“Australia and New Zealand are charming and beautiful destinations, and we’re confident we’ll return again as our brand and fleet grows,” said Celebrity’s President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. “Currently, though, our travel agent partners and guests have repeatedly said they want more options to sail with Celebrity from the Eastern seaboard, where our brand was founded, and still has a very large and loyal base of cruisers. So, we’re pleased to present some very attractive new cruise vacations from that region.”

CELEBRITY’S CRUISE SHIP MILLENNIUM TAKES ON CELEBRITY MERCURY’S TERRITORY
The 2,038-guest Celebrity Millennium will cap its 2009 season in Alaska with cruises previously scheduled for the 1,898-guest Celebrity Mercury, offering more capacity on the popular sailings. The itineraries will reflect those previously announced for Celebrity Mercury, with the addition of a 12-night wine-themed cruise departing from Vancouver on September 28, 2009, followed by an eastbound, 16-night Panama Canal cruise on October 10, 2009, from San Diego to San Juan, where Celebrity Millennium will offer a series of 10- and 11-night Southern Caribbean cruises roundtrip from San Juan, beginning October 26, 2009. Ports of call on the Southern Caribbean itineraries include Tortola, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, Curacao, Aruba, St. Croix, St. Kitts and Dominica, with slight variations between the 10- and 11-night sailings.

Guests with reservations on the sailings previously scheduled for Celebrity Mercury will be contacted and re-accommodated on the same sailing dates on Celebrity Millennium, at the rates paid.

CELEBRITY’S CRUISE SHIP MERCURY OFFERS NEW OPTIONS ON THE EASTERN SEABOARD
Celebrity Mercury will sail a 17-night Panama Canal cruise from San Diego on October 23, 2009, ending in Baltimore. There, from November 2009 to February 2010, the ship will present a series of new 12-night Eastern Caribbean cruises visiting St. Thomas; St. Kitts; Antigua; St. Maarten, and Tortola, as well as four 9-night cruises visiting Charleston; Key West, Fla., and Cococay and Nassau, Bahamas.

Celebrity Mercury then will present a series of 10- and 11-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages from Charleston from February through April 2010, with visits to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Kitts and Tortola on the eastern series, and Key West; Costa Maya, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; Cozumel, Mexico, and Nassau on the western lineup.

The new itineraries on Celebrity Mercury replace the Southern Caribbean cruises from San Juan previously scheduled from November 2009 to April 2010. Guests with affected bookings will be contacted and offered the option to be reaccommodated in like accommodations on identical Southern Caribbean itineraries on Celebrity Millennium at the rate paid.

Guests holding either individual or group reservations on Celebrity Millennium’s previously scheduled Australia and New Zealand cruises between October 9, 2009 and March 22, 2010, will be offered the option to either re-book on Celebrity Millennium’s Australia and New Zealand cruises between October 17, 2008 and April 12, 2009, subject to availability, at the prevailing rate, and will receive a $600 per-stateroom or $800 per-suite onboard credit. Alternatively, these guests may re-book Celebrity Millennium’s new Panama Canal or Southern Caribbean sailings between October 10, 2009 and April 16, 2010, and receive a $200 per stateroom and $400 per suite onboard credit.

All guests and travel agent partners with affected bookings will be contacted by Celebrity Cruises. A special toll-free line also has been established to answer questions: 1-888-281-9343. The number is the same for both individual and group bookings.

Any reservations on the late-2009 and early-2010 Celebrity Millennium sailings in Australia and New Zealand that have not been moved or cancelled by Friday, October 3, 2008, will be cancelled automatically.

 

 

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Cruise News – Passport Update – Details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

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The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is a result of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), requiring all travelers to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the U.S.

The goal of the initiative is to strengthen U.S. border security while facilitating entry for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized documentation that enables the Department of Homeland Security to quickly and reliably identify a traveler.

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AIR TRAVEL

ALL PERSONS traveling by air outside of the United States are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States.

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LAND AND SEA TRAVEL

The following summarizes information available on the Department of Homeland Security’s website.

CURRENTLY: U.S. citizens need to present either (a) a passport, passport card (scheduled to be in full production beginning in July 2008), or WHTI-compliant document; or (b) a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.

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LATER: On June 1, 2009, the U.S. government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of

WHTI.  The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or WHTI-compliant document.
Note: The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory.

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U.S. PASSPORT AND WHTI COMPLIANT DOCUMENTS:

U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport when traveling via air, land or sea between the U.S. and the aforementioned Western Hemisphere countries.

The Passport Card: Passport card applications are currently being accepted in anticipation of land border travel document requirements.  Based on current projections, we expect the passport card to be in full production beginning in July 2008. We will provide additional updates as available. Once in production, the passport card it will only be valid for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean region, and Bermuda.

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WHTI-Compliant Travel Documents for U.S. citizen travel via land or sea, as of January 31, 2008:

Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST)
State Issued Enhanced Driver’s License (when available)
Enhanced Tribal Cards (when available)
U.S. Military Identification with Military Travel Orders
U.S. Merchant Mariner Document when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business
Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card
Form I-872 American Indian Card
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Cruise Zanza Blue presents nearly 20 cruise lines in simple view form, no bells and whistles, just an overview of info of what each line offers. If you are looking for a website where you can compare cruise lines in a simple “No frills” viewing – checkout the cruise line section at www.zanza.com/CLmain.aspx

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Carnival Cruise Ship Elation to launch new schedule out of San Diego.

 

Carnival Cruise Lines

 

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Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Elation begins a new schedule of three- and four-day cruises from San Diego to Catalina Island and Ensenada starting on Feb. 12, 2009. The 2,052-passenger ship currently operates four- and five-day cruises and will continue that program until the new service begins.

 On its new route, Carnival Elation will depart Thursdays on three-day cruises to Ensenada. Four-day cruises will depart on Sundays and visit Ensenada and Catalina Island. This will be the first time passengers can depart from San Diego and voyage to Catalina Island aboard a large, luxury cruise ship. “We’re pleased to have this new itinerary available,” said Michael Bixler, chairman of the board of port commissioners.

“It’s a perfect fit for local residents who want a pleasant way to travel to Catalina Island as well as for visitors attending a convention here who would like to include a pre- or post-cruise.” The three- and four-day cruises are expected to attract 226,000 passengers annually, a boost of 33 percent over the 169,000 annual passengers that have embarked on the five-day cruises.

 

With the shorter cruises, Carnival Elation will complete 100 ship calls annually, up from 75 for the longer cruises. Carnival will continue to offer seasonal eight-day cruises from San Diego to the Mexican Riviera aboard Carnival Spirit.

 
Each homeport cruise ship call at the Port of San Diego has an economic impact of about $2 million. This figure is derived from the average amount that a cruise ship passenger spends while in the San Diego region, along with the employment associated with serving the cruise ship and the many businesses and services that support it, including food companies, linen services, trucking companies, fuel companies, landside tour companies and florists.

In 2007, the Port of San Diego had 238 cruise calls with more than 700,000 passengers. By the end of 2008, the port anticipates that number to jump to 252 cruises and more than 800,000 passengers. The port currently has nine cruise lines making calls in San Diego.

 

To accommodate the growing cruise business, the port will build a cruise ship terminal on Broadway Pier and update the B Street Cruise Ship Terminal. The design for the new terminal at the Broadway Pier features a two-story structure with a modern design. It will include areas for passenger check-in, baggage processing and Customs and Border Protection. Construction for the approximately 50,000-square-foot structure is planned to begin around late spring 2009.

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Carnival’s Puerto Maya pier in Cozumel to re-open at last.

For those of you with a short attention span!

Carnival Corp. will reopen its Puerto Maya cruise pier in Cozumel in October. It was damaged by Hurricane Wilma in 2005. The announcement was made during Carnival Corp.’s conference call on third-quarter earnings.

Queen Mary 2 Embarks on 100th Transatlantic Crossing.

Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 will depart on its 100th transatlantic crossing on Sept. 21 from Southampton, England, arriving in New York on Sept. 27. On arrival, it will have logged 711,288 nautical miles since its 2004 debut, with 316,729 nautical miles on transatlantic voyages alone. “Perhaps more than any other voyage, a transatlantic crossing captures the imagination of the most intrepid travelers,” said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. “A transatlantic voyage recalls a bygone era of glamour and sophistication. For many, it is on par with the world’s most storied travel experiences.” Queen Mary 2 will mark other milestones on the 100th transatlantic voyage, including carrying more than 229,000 guests and 450 pets across the North Atlantic. The ship’s passengers consumed 97,000 pounds of lobster, 2,700 pounds of caviar, 206,200 bottles of champagne and enough tea to fill nearly five Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Queen Mary 2 has welcomed many notable guests, including Barbara Walters, Katie Couric, Uma Thurman, John Cleese, Richard Dreyfuss, Carly Simon, Rod Stewart, Tina Brown and Harold Evans, Terrance Howard, Donald Trump and Dame Shirley Bassey. Eminent visitors have included Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Noor of Jordan, former President George Bush, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Sen. Hillary Clinton. In 2009, Queen Mary 2 marks its fifth year of service with an extended transatlantic season of six-, eight- and nine-day crossings. In total, it will sail 25 transatlantic crossings, including classic six-day voyages between Southampton and New York, two eight-day voyages between Hamburg and New York, one eight-day voyage from Boston via New York to Southampton and one nine-day crossing from Southampton via New York to Halifax and Boston.

New Orleans’ LaGrange Looks to Increase Cruise Capacity

Port of New Orleans President and CEO Gary LaGrange made his 22nd Annual State of the Port Address, which included plans for additional cruising capacity. LaGrange began his address by taking a look back at what the port was more than 20 years ago and where it will be beyond the next decade. LaGrange cited the city’s geographical advantage and natural resources as a prime force in moving Louisiana forward. “We’ve realized firsthand in the last three years why our founding fathers broke ground here some 90 miles from the Gulf of Mexico,” he said. “While Hurricane Katrina dealt the city a massive blow, the port began working cargo just 12 days later. And just this month the port was able to restart operations only 48 hours after Hurricane Gustav stormed ashore.” In the coming years, LaGrange said he foresees additional home-ported vessels to spur riverfront development and the tourism industry. But LaGrange cited the need for cooperation and commitment from elected officials and private industry to see the plan to fruition. “To successfully reach these goals, we must cooperatively work to build upon our economic foundation,” he said.

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 makes final visit to Boston after more than 40 years of service.

Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 will make its final visit to Cruiseport Boston on Sept. 18. In more than 40 years of service, QE2 has made 50 calls to Boston, including 21 overnight calls. The maiden call to the city was on Oct. 1, 1979, and the most recent visit was Oct. 3, 2007. QE2 visited Boston approximately once per year in the fall as part of its annual Autumn Colors voyage. Afternoon viewing festivities will commence at 5 p.m. at DCR’s Castle Island in South Boston with fireboat water displays by Massport Fire-Rescue and the Boston Fire Department. As QE2 sails away for the last time, British Deputy Consul-General Chris Henderson will be present for an 11-round Howitzer salute by the Massachusetts Army National Guard 1st Battalion 101st Field Artillery to be fired from the Lt. John McCorkle Pier.
The QE2 will become visible in the harbor at approximately 7 a.m. from DCR’s Castle Island in South Boston. Viewing is prohibited from the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal Pier, so the best opportunity to see the ship while docked will be from the Summer Street Bridge over the Reserved Channel in South Boston. QE2 comes to Boston on a 20-day, final voyage to Canada and New England. It will complete service in November and relocate to Dubai as a floating hotel and museum at The Palm Jumeirah, the world’s largest man-made island. QE2 was launched by the queen on Sept. 20, 1967, and is the longest-serving ship in Cunard’s 168-year history. It has logged more than 5.6 million nautical miles (equivalent to traveling to the moon and back 13 times), carried more than 2.5 million passengers, undertaken 25 world cruises, and crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times.

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Disney Cruise Line – Cruise Ship Magic to Receive Enhancements During Dry-Dock

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The 2,700-passenger Disney Magic will get various enhancements during a dry-dock Sept. 6 to 24, Disney Cruise Line officials said.

Quiet Cove, the adults-only pool retreat, will undergo a makeover including upgrades to Cove Café, the pool and the deck area. Cove Café, the ship’s coffee lounge, will incorporate a new seating area, and the adult pool will be outfitted with waterfalls from the two hot tubs.

Teak deck and lounge chairs with cushions will surround the pool. The Oceaneer Club, a Neverland-themed play space for 3- to 7-year-olds, and the Oceaneer Lab, an interactive laboratory for 8- to 12-year-olds, will be enhanced with new registration areas that make the check-in process more efficient.

 
This sets the stage for incorporating Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology in the youth areas later this year, which will further streamline the check-in process. The technology uses RFID tags embedded on wristbands, allowing children to simply tap a sensor to check in and out of the clubs. 

“Mickey’s Splash Zone,” a new toddler water playground inspired by Fantasia’s Sorcerer’s Apprentice, will be added to the Mickey Pool on Deck 9. It will feature star- and moon-shaped interactive fountains and soft play surface and splash zones for children not yet toilet-trained and in swim diapers.

The staterooms are receiving 22-inch, flat-screen LCD television sets, which will be mounted on a swivel arm to allow viewing from multiple locations within the stateroom.

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Cruise Vacation 101 – Five Basic Things to know before you book your first cruise

 Article by Cruise Line Association:

“More than half of those who’ve never taken a cruise would like to do so, according to a 2006 survey by the Cruise Lines International Association.

But if you’ve never cruised before, the concept might sound intimidating. How do you book? How do you dress for dinner? How much do you tip?

Here are five things first-time cruisers need to know.

1. Must I use a travel agent to book a cruise?

Every cruise line has a Web site. You can easily book your own trip. But which cruise is right for you? Do you like partying in discos and bars, or would you prefer Tommy Dorsey-style music in the cocktail lounge? For shore excursions, are you up for kayaking, or do you want the trolley tour? Do your kids need a babysitter, organized arts and sports activities, or a teen lounge?

You can research and compare what each ship offers, or get advice from Web sites like CruiseCritic.com, or TripAdvisor.com.

But it costs nothing extra to consult a travel agent, “and you’ve got a professional who may actually have seen or been on the ship doing the work for you,” said Bob Sharak, CLIA’s vice president for marketing.

 

2. Do I have to eat in the formal dining room with strangers and dress for dinner?

Most ships have various dining options: buffets, cafes, specialty restaurants and formal dining rooms. Many ships offer “dress casual” nights in the formal dining rooms. But even formal dress nights don’t necessarily mean tuxedos and gowns; a suit or dress will do. (Some folks dress casually even on formal nights.)

Some cruise lines let you sit where you want in the dining room. If not, chances are you’ll have fun meeting other people at your table. The dining room can also help you avoid loading your plate repeatedly at the buffet. Portions are controlled (al-though you can always request more than one entree or dessert); and some menus highlight lowfat or low-calorie options.

 

3. What should I pack?

Bring flip-flops or other slip-on shoes, and a robe or cover-up for walking from the pool to your cabin. Pack for the weather. A New York-Caribbean trip in winter means a few cold days at sea. Alaska in August? Bring rain gear. Some ships have self-serve washing machines and dryers, some don’t. Sending dirty clothes out to the ship’s laun-dry can be costly. So bring enough clothing for your trip, or find a coin-op laundry in port. Your stateroom bathroom may have a pullout clothesline for drying swimsuits or handwashed items.

If you want a clock by your bedside, bring one. Not all staterooms have them (though you can always arrange a wake-up call). The stateroom bathroom will have shampoo and soap, but not necessarily free moisturizer and conditioner, like you’d expect from a hotel.

 

4. Does the price include everything?

Cruise prices include the room, food and some beverages. Free drinks might include coffee, tea, iced tea, lemonade, and with breakfast, juice. Luxury cruise lines don’t charge extra for wine or liquor. On many other lines, you can’t even get soda for free, but you can buy beverage packages with unlimited soda ($6 a day is typical). You could spend a lot on alcohol, casinos, spas, Internet access, video games and shopping.

If you’re on a budget, stick to free activities – pool, gym, shows, and in port, a stroll through town or the beach in-stead of that pricey helicopter tour. If you want shore excursions, you’ll find vendors offering tours in each port. They may charge less than the cruise line charges for similar outings.

But if you have your heart set on a certain activity, book in advance through the cruise line and consider it money well-spent. Popular tours will sell out. “If you’re dying to do a glacier sightseeing trip in Alaska, you’ve booked it in advance and it’s taken care of,” said Sharak. “Or if your tour bus gets a flat tire and is tardy coming back to the ship, if you’ve booked it through the cruise line, that ship is not going to leave without you.”

 

5. How much and whom do I tip?

Some luxury lines forbid tipping. Other cruise lines recommend certain amounts. Some offer prepaid gratuity options or levy a service charge for dining room staff and the person who cleans your room. A typical tip for stateroom attendants is $3.50 a day; dining room staff tips run $5-$10 per day, with that amount shared by your waiter, wine steward and maitre d’.

With prepayments, you’re charged a gratuity for each person in your party, for each day of the cruise. So even if your kids never eat in the formal dining room, prepaid tips will go to the servers on their behalf. You might be better off deciding on tips near the end of your cruise, in case it makes more sense to tip a buffet worker who delighted your children each night at dinner with a magic trick.”

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Orient Cruise Lines Opens Reservations for Summer 2009

Orient Lines said it has been “flooded with calls” since its 2009 Europe schedule and new vessel Marco Polo II were announced last week by Wayne Heller, the line’s president and CEO. Orient Lines will officially begin accepting reservations Sept. 8. The line started taking bookings Sept. 3 in a soft opening to ensure computer and phone systems are functioning properly. The line’s website — www.orientlines.com — is also up and running. “It is very gratifying that there is so much excitement for our 2009 Europe itineraries,” Heller said. “Our loyal past guests, former employees and travel agents and tour operators from around the world have contacted us anxious to learn more aboard our new Marco Polo II.”

 

Europe itineraries of 11 to 37 days are priced from $2,399 per person, double occupancy. New for 2009 is free air from 20 North American gateway cities, two-for-one fares and a free shore excursion in selected ports. Itinerary highlights for 2009 include Baltic cruise-tours that include a hotel stay in Berlin, plus visits to such lesser-known destinations as Villagarcia and Bilbao, Spain; Bordeaux and Hornfleur, France; Murmansk, Russia; Sarande, Albania; and Barrow-in-Furness, England. Orient Lines reservations office is open seven days a week.

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Luxury World Cruise – Cunard Line Announces Two World Cruises for 2010

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria will both depart on World Cruises in January 2010. Queen Mary 2’s “Royal Route of Exploration” will operate a 101-day itinerary featuring 19 maiden calls, three overnight stays (in Hong Kong, Sydney and Cape Town) and an inaugural visit to South Africa.

Queen Victoria’s 99-day “Voyage of Discovery” circumnavigation includes 11 maiden ports of call, three overnights (in Sydney, Hong Kong and Dubai) and three U.S. embarkation gateways: New York, Fort Lauderdale and San Francisco.

Guests who book by Feb. 28 will receive an additional 10 percent off early-booking fares. “On this pair of epic voyages, Cunard continues a storied tradition that began nearly 90 years ago,” said Cunard President Carol Marlow.

“In 2010, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria will visit a combined 31 countries, 57 ports and 30 maiden calls, continuing our legacy of impeccable White Star Service, fine dining and unrivaled accommodations.” In addition to full World Cruises, the ships offer a range of shorter segments, which are now open for booking.

The QM2 will sail a new itinerary, departing New York on Jan. 4, 2010, and heading east through the Mediterranean to India, the Far East, and Australia and New Zealand before returning to New York westbound via South Africa, South America and North America.

Queen Mary 2 will visit 35 ports, more than ever before on a single voyage, including Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo (Yokohama), Auckland, Sydney and Perth (Fremantle).

In addition, it will make 19 maiden calls, including Durban and Cape Town, South Africa; Phuket, Thailand; Vung Tau, Vietnam; Guam; Rabaul, the Whitsundays Islands; and Mauritius. Fares start at $21,666 per person for the 101-day full World Cruise.

In addition, Queen Mary 2 will offer 12 Liner Voyages of 35 to 80 days, including the 63-day New York-to-Sydney voyage, priced from $13,716, and the 57-day Dubai-to-Cape Town voyage, priced from $12,379. Five shorter Segment Voyages of 17 to 23 days include the 23-day New York-to-Dubai voyage, priced from $5,276, and the 17-day Dubai-to-Hong Kong voyage, priced from $4,000 per person.

 
The Queen Victoria will operate a traditional 99-day westbound circumnavigation of the globe from New York to Southampton. The ship sails from New York on Jan. 12, 2010, embarking guests in Fort Lauderdale on Jan.

15 and San Francisco on Jan. 27. The ship will traverse the Panama and Suez canals, visiting 41 ports including Acapulco, Melbourne, Shanghai, San Francisco, Cartagena, Phuket and Sharm El Sheikh. Guests can add on a seven-day transatlantic extension from Southampton to New York aboard Queen Mary 2, for a full 106-day circumnavigation.

Fares start at $21,276 per person for the 99-day full World Cruise. In addition, the ship will offer 11 Liner Voyages of 32 to 82 days, including the 52-day San Francisco-to-Bangkok voyage, priced from $11,026, and the 67-day New York-to-Bangkok voyage, priced from $14,250. Five shorter Segment Voyages of 15 to 29 days include the 23-day San Francisco-to-Sydney voyage, priced from $5,192. Segment Voyage fares start as low as $3,451 per person.

 
Cunard’s early-booking fares represent a per-person savings of up to 10 percent when booked by Feb. 28, 2009. In addition, onboard credits of up to $2,000 per stateroom are available when booked by this date.

Full World Cruise guests who book by Feb. 28 receive benefits including complimentary hotel and dining charges, commemorative gifts, welcome aboard reception, senior officer dinner and three World Cruise cocktail parties. All guests who book the full World Cruise can attend a gala World Cruise dinner.

Grill accommodation guests also enjoy up to five exclusive, complimentary events ashore. Both ships feature three Overland Tours, which allow guests to leave the ship in one port for a multi-day tour (including all transfers and accommodations) and rejoin the voyage later. Aboard Queen Mary 2, Overland Tours explores Egypt, India and Africa, while Queen Victoria’s Overland Tours highlight Indochina, China and Australia.

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Cruise Ship Port of San Diego Offers Naming Rights for New Terminal

The Port of San Diego is offering naming rights to help fund the new cruise ship terminal that will be built on Broadway Pier. Port staff will move forward with a nationwide Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit firms that may be interested. The RFP would offer a sponsorship opportunity with brand name recognition focused on the new terminal building. The board of port commissioners also approved capital development funds for the project’s construction. Originally the cost was estimated at $23.65 million, but the increasing costs of construction materials combined with the terminal’s refined concept have pushed the estimate to nearly $28 million.

 
The public art element of the project was also approved. New York artist Leni Schwendinger of Leni Schwendinger Light Projects Ltd. was selected to incorporate art into the project. She will also work on the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan, a joint project between the port, Centre City Development Corp. and the City of San Diego. The materials for the Broadway Pier Cruise Ship Terminal artwork include acrylic and glass panels in a sea foam green color. Artistic lighting will enhance the building’s architecture by casting reflections of dancing water on the concrete. Carnival Corp. has provided the port with a $12 million loan to help with construction costs.

 

The port’s Capital Development Program (CDP) budget will also help pay for construction. This will be accomplished by using about $10 million from the Carnival loan and allocated funds from the CDP budget.
The port also will implement shore power for use at either the B Street or Broadway piers. This type of power, termed “cold ironing,” allows a cruise ship to turn off its diesel engines and plug into clean power on the shore. The port was awarded $2.4 million in grant funding to assist with paying for the shore power equipment. To comply with the grant funding, it must be implemented by 2011. Over the past 12 months, the port worked with various city, state and federal agencies as well as the cruise lines and other stakeholders to refine the design concept. The terminal building was streamlined to incorporate energy-conserving components and additional public access. The sawtooth roof design will be the foundation for solar panels. The port intends to make this project a silver-level LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) project and will be seeking grant funding through the Port’s Environmental Grants Program. For more information, visit www.portofsandiego.org.

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Cruise Vacation – Windstar Cruises Offers Costa Rica and Panama Canal Voyages

Windstar Small Ship Cruising

Windstar Cruises is offering 13 seven-day roundtrips from Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, aboard Wind Star during December through March. The seven-day roundtrips from Puerto Caldera visit Playas del Coco, Quepos, Bahía Drake, Curu and Tortuga Island in Costa Rica.  The cruise also stops at San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. Of note is the 14-day sailing departing Barbados on Nov. 29 that transits the Panama Canal on its way to Puerto Caldera. The cruise visits Bequia, Tobago, Isla Margarita, Bonaire, Aruba and Panama’s San Blas Islands. Two new shore excursions are now available on the Panama Canal cruise.

 
In Isla de Margarita, a “Four-Wheel Drive Highlights and Beach Tour” includes travel to the village of El Valle. Also included is a short hike through a cloud forest, a drive to the capital city of Las Asunción to see Bolívar Square and the cathedral and a stop at a beach. In Bonaire, an “ATV Off-Road Adventure” explores the Washikemba Reservoir area’s rugged terrain that is home to wild donkeys, goats and iguanas. Guests also visit Spelonk Lighthouse, take a dip in a natural lava rock Jacuzzi and stop at Suplado Blowhole. Cruise rates begin at $2,049 per person, double occupancy, for the seven-day cruises and $3,799 for the 14-day sailing.

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NCL’s Norwegian Pearl Cancels Cruise – Oct. 26 Sailing for Repairs

 

NCL Cruise Line

 
Norwegian Pearl’s Oct. 26 seven-day Western Caribbean sailing has been canceled because the ship must enter dry-dock to repair a thrust bearing in the Azipod propulsion system, Norwegian Cruise Line said. During routine inspections, Norwegian Pearl’s engineers identified localized wear in the thrust bearing. Therefore, Norwegian Pearl has been and will continue to travel at a reduced speed until it enters dry-dock. The Azipod issues do not impact the safe operation of the vessel.

The following itineraries for Norwegian Pearl have been modified as a result of the reduced speed capabilities: On the seven-day Alaska sailings departing Sept. 1, Sept. 7 and Sept. 14, the ship’s call in Victoria, B.C., has been shortened and guests cannot disembark. On the 19-day Sept. 21 Panama Canal cruise from Seattle to Miami, calls in San Francisco and Los Angeles have been canceled and a stop in Huatulco, Mexico, has been added. Timing of stops in Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco and Cartagena, Colombia, has been altered slightly.

 
As a result of this itinerary change, NCL is offering an onboard credit of $50 per person for a maximum of $100 per stateroom. On the Oct. 12 and Oct. 19 seven-day Western Caribbean cruises from Miami, the stop in Roatan, Honduras, is now from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. instead of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For guests booked on the Oct. 26 sailing, NCL is offering a full refund and a 25 percent future cruise credit based on the cruise fare paid on this sailing. The future cruise credit is valid on any NCL ship through Oct. 26, 2009.

NCL is encouraging guests who booked their reservation with a travel agent to contact the agent directly to rebook the cruise. For guests who booked directly with NCL, the company has representatives available to assist at 866-234-5613 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday. All reservations for the Oct. 26 sailing will be automatically canceled and deposits will be refunded after Sept. 16.

 

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Crystal Luxury Cruises – Join Master Chef Heinz Beck and Winemaker Christian Moueix for the Ultimate Cruise

Crystal Luxury Cruises
Join Master Chef Heinz Beck and Winemaker Christian Moueix for the Ultimate Vintage Room Dinner on voyage 8320

Cruise Crystal Luxury

Ultimate Vintage Room Dinner on Voyage 8320
Join Master Chef Heinz Beck and Winemaker Christian Moueix for the Ultimate Vintage Room Dinner on voyage 8320. You will have the unique opportunity to indulge in a special menu prepared by Three Michelin Star Master Chef Heinz Beck of La Pergola. Another highlight of the evening will be the opportunity to have Christian Moueix, winemaker of Chateau Petrus and owner of the Dominus Estate in Napa Valley, pour rare wines from his private collection to accompany the meal.

 
To request a reservation for this exclusive occasion, contact Zanza Blue, Crurrent Price is $1,300 per person plus accomodstions. Availability for this event is extremely limited.

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Crystal Luxury Cruises Recent Discount / Deal – 2009 Asia cruise and receive a free two-category upgrade

 

Cruise Crystal Luxury

2009 Asia Value on Crystal Luxury Cruise

Embark on a memorable 2009 Asia cruise and receive a free two-category upgrade on voyages 9207-9209 or save up to $4,000 per Suite on voyages 9207-9208. Explore China and Japan and enjoy an inclusive three-night pre- or post-cruise Extended Land Program on voyages 9207 and 9208 in Beijing with visits to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall and the Summer Palace. In addition to visiting these famous sites you will also enjoy a rickshaw tour of the historic hutong districts and savor a spectacular dinner and performance at the Great Hall of the People.

This exclusive package includes all meals and transfers to and from the exquisite Shangri-La Hotel Beijing and Crystal Symphony. On board luxurious Crystal Symphony, each of these three voyages includes enriching Experiences of Discovery featuring a Mind, Body and Spirit Theme Cruise (V9207), Fashion & Style Theme Cruise (V9208) and Golf Theme Cruise (V9209). Plus, when you travel with your friends and family you will receive 1 free berth for every 10 full-fare guests.  Contact Zanza Blue for details!

 
China & Japan:
March 27 – V9207 – Hong Kong to Beijing – 15 days – fares from $5,995
April 5– V9208 – Beijing to Hong Kong – 15 days – fares from $5,995

Includes: Three-night Beijing Land Program -Two-category upgrade for categories E, D and C – $4,000 savings per suite for categories PH, PS and CP – Crystal Family Memories (1 free berth for every 10 full-fare, full-payment guests)
 

South East Asia:
April 20– V9209 – Hong Kong to Singapore – 11 days – fares from $4,805

Includes:  Two-category upgrade for categories E, D and Crystal Family Memories (1 free berth for every 10 full-fare, full-payment guests)

 

Promotional offer is valid for a limited time only, subject to availability. Free two-category upgrade applies if booked in categories E, D and C for voyages 9207, 9208 and 9209. Additional $4,000 per suite maximum ($2,000 per guest, only applies to first two guests in suite) savings applies if booked in categories PH, PS and CP on voyage 9207 and 9208. Crystal Memories offer is a minimum group size of 10 full-fare double occupancy guests. Bookings must be made at the same time for the entire family group. All itineraries, fares, programs and policies are subject to change.

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Cruise Art Auction Company Park West Sets Refund Policy

 

Park West Gallery, which operates art auctions on 85 cruise ships, has announced a new refund and exchange program to replace its “All Sales are Final” policy. The move comes six weeks after a negative New York Times article that included comments from unhappy customers who felt they overpaid for overvalued art works.

The company, which is celebrating 40 years in business, announced the new “40-40-40 customer satisfaction guarantee” that will give a full refund when works are returned within 40 days of receipt.

Or customers can exchange the work for another similarly valued piece in the Park West collection for up to 40 months. The policy went into effect Sept. 1. Park West operates the onboard art auctions for Carnival Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Royal Caribbean International. For more information, call 877-440-0630

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Cruise Vacation – MSC Cruises Ready for Caribbean Season with MSC Orchestra, MSC Lirica

 

MSC Cruise Line

MSC Cruises is preparing for its 2008-09 Caribbean season that includes the arrival of MSC Orchestra in North American waters, several theme cruises and new itineraries, including the line’s first visits to Bermuda and New York. The Italian-owned line is bringing MSC Orchestra and MSC Lirica to Fort Lauderdale for a season featuring seven itineraries and 16 ports. MSC Orchestra is the largest of the line’s ships to sail in North American waters.

MSC Orchestra has five restaurants (including the Shanghai Restaurant, an alternative Chinese restaurant), 10 bars, a 21-by-12-foot outdoor LED screen, and the 16,146-square-foot Body and Mind Spa. MSC Cruises’ itineraries include the Deep Caribbean, the Western Caribbean, the Eastern Caribbean, Exotic Caribbean featuring Panama and Bermuda.

A highlight of both the Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries is a call at Cayo Levantado, the line’s private paradise experience in the Dominican Republic.

 
MSC Orchestra will arrive in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 2, beginning its inaugural season with a two-night sailing. Then, on Jan. 10, it will begin sailing alternating seven-night roundtrips through April 25. The Eastern Caribbean itinerary calls at Cayo Levantado, St. Maarten, Antigua and Nassau. The Western Caribbean route calls at Key West, Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Cayo Levantado.

A seven-night Bermuda roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale departs April 25 and includes three days in King’s Wharf and a day in Nassau as well as two sea days.

MSC Orchestra is then scheduled to depart Fort Lauderdale May 2 on an 18-night voyage that will include two days in New York before heading eastbound to Copenhagen. The itinerary includes Ponta Delgado, Azores; Lisbon, Portugal; Vigo and La Coruna, Spain; and Dover, England.

 
MSC Lirica will arrive in Fort Lauderdale Dec. 3, 2008. Its itineraries include the 10-night Deep Caribbean, which will call at San Juan, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Antigua, Tortola, and Cayo Levantado.

The 10-night Exotic Caribbean features Costa Maya, Mexico; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Cristobal, Panama; Cartagena, Colombia; and Cayo Levantado. The seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary will call at Key West, Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Cayo Levantado.

One of the Western Caribbean sailings is the New Year’s cruise. The seven-night Eastern Caribbean route calls at Cayo Levantado, Tortola, St. Maarten and Nassau. This is the line’s Christmas cruise.

MSC Lirica begins its eastbound transatlantic crossing on April 23. The 16-night cruise calls at San Juan, Martinique, Funchal, Lisbon, Vigo, and Le Havre, France, before arriving in Dover. MSC Cruises’ 2008-09 Caribbean season offers theme cruises.

Passengers can mingle with some of the greats of Major League Baseball on MSC Lirica’s Dec. 13 sailing and MSC Orchestra’s Jan. 24, Feb. 28, March 28 and April 11 departures.

 Activities include a player-hosted trivia game, question-and-answer and story-telling sessions, passenger pitching contest, player-hosted clinics and a free autograph session. MSC Lirica’s Dec. 3 Deep Caribbean sailing presents the 15-piece Les DeMerle Big Band with vocalist Bonnie Eisele.

The band features the sounds of Ellington, Basie, James and Miller, plus Broadway hits, rock ‘n’ roll classics, Latin grooves and show-stoppers from the ‘40s through today. The band will perform a Big Band Jazz Concert and lecture on the Big Band era.

Cruise-only prices for MSC Cruises’ 2008-09 Caribbean sailings begin at $449 per person, double occupancy and, on all sailings, kids 17 or younger sail free when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults. Government fees and taxes and a fuel surcharge are additional.

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Oasis of the Seas New Part 2 Video called Two Neighborhoods – Cruise Vacation News

Royal Caribbean Newset Ship Oasis of the Seas

Published by Shawn Kaufmann

UPDATE – NEW VIDEO OF THE ROYAL CARIBBEAN OASIS OF THE SEAS RELEASED – SEE THE SHIP FIRST HAND – All Four Podcast Videos available at www.zanza.com

Royal Caribbean unveiled another portion of the Oasis of the Seas video showing what will be offered onboard. This portion named “Two Neighborhoods” shows an in-depth look at life onboard the largest cruise ship in the world. The first video showcased an overview of what the ship will offer including the revolutionary Aqua Theater. We look forward to the release of the videos in the near future.

Here at Zanza Blue, being ex-crew members we are overwhelmed when considering this new ship and very grateful to Royal Caribbean for producing this revolutionary cruise ship. RCI has finally made the cruise ship an undisputed destination instead of where a ship brings you. Considering the small segment of the travel industry that the cruise industry captures this ship alone should greatly help in changing that position. The risks are high considering RCI is paying 1 billion dollars for this ship. After viewing the videos one can quickly realize this is not just a cruise ship but truly a floating resort giving passenger’s unlimited choices onboard. The days of Shuffleboard and Buffets as being a highlight are long gone.

The Oasis of the Seas is leaving the competing cruise lines scratching their heads, RCI did a great job of keeping the ships details a closely guarded secret. Sailing on the Oasis of the Seas in the first six months will cost a pretty penny; no one is questioning that prospect. RCI has earned the right to charge a premium since no other Cruise Ship has ever been launched on this scale. Initial reservations are forecasted to break records in the industry. If you are looking to cruise on the Oasis of the Seas be forewarned snagging a reservation in the first few months is estimated to be similar to grabbing a good seat at a popular rock concert. If you are a budget minded traveler it simply comes down to waiting your turn. With four of these ships being built the prices will settle. The question now is how long will that take?

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Princess Ruby – Debuts New Ship Tour of Cruise Ship Ruby Princess

 

Princess Cruise Lines

 

Princess Cruises in November will debut of The Ultimate Ship Tour, an opportunity to tour back-of-house areas on the new Ruby Princess. This tour will give passengers the chance to visit the ship’s engine control room, medical center, print shop, laundry, photo lab, bridge and other areas.

 

Participants will also receive a variety of themed mementos at many of the stops along the route. “This tour is really the ultimate opportunity for some of our passengers to get a very unique view of the new Ruby Princess and meet some of the ship’s senior officers in their working environment,” said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president. “I’m sure people will be amazed at what goes into running a city at sea, particularly since our onboard staff makes it appear so easy.” The Ultimate Ship Tour lasts approximately three hours, and will be offered once or twice per cruise on a sea day.

 

Space is limited for the tour, which will be available for $150 per person, and can be reserved onboard at the Passenger Services Desk. Following its debut aboard Ruby Princess, the program will be introduced aboard all Princess ships. The tour will feature the backstage area, galley and food production areas (where each guest will also be presented with an official chef’s jacket), engine control room, print shop (where they’ll receive a set of personalized stationery), the photo laboratory, the medical center, main laundry (where participants will receive a bath robe usually reserved for suite passengers), the funnel and the bridge.

 

Ruby Princess, a sister ship to Emerald Princess and Crown Princess, will debut on Nov. 8. Ship features include a piazza-style atrium, the adults-only retreat called The Sanctuary, an Italian restaurant, a seafood and steak house, and a giant outdoor movie screen. The 113,000-ton vessel will feature an inaugural season of Western Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, followed by a program of Mediterranean voyages in summer 2009.

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Cruise Vacation – Holland America Line Sets New Bermuda Cruises in 2010

 

Holland America Line

 

Beginning in 2010, Holland America Line will once again operate regularly scheduled cruises between New York City and Bermuda. Holland America is the only major cruise line that calls on both Hamilton and St. George’s, Bermuda’s cultural and shopping hubs. When the 1,350-guest Veendam sails in late August 2010 on the first of 10 roundtrips to the island, it will mark Holland America Line’s return to New York City as a homeport and to Bermuda as a destination.

 

Holland America worked closely with Bermuda’s government to form the partnership that takes the line back to the island that it first visited more than 70 years ago. In 1926, Veendam II, with a guest capacity of approximately 500, left New York on the company’s first Caribbean cruise. During the summers of 1930 and 1931, Veendam II sailed on five-day roundtrip cruises between New York and Bermuda.

 
“We are thrilled to homeport a ship in New York City again and especially to be returning to Bermuda,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president-marketing, sales and guest programs. “It’s particularly relevant to be doing so on a ship with the same name as the one that sailed to Bermuda so many years ago. Veendam is ideal for this itinerary. She is a premium mid-size ship, the perfect size to navigate the narrow entrances to the harbors in Hamilton and St. George’s.

 

Veendam’s guests are able to step off the ship right in the center of each town. Ships larger than Veendam must tie up at the Dockyard facility a considerable distance from both towns.” In addition to the 10 sailings between late August and October 2010, Holland America will visit the island for a full season beginning in May the following year, with 20 or more sailings anticipated.

New to Cruising? Checkout these informative podcasts (Video’s) about cruising. click here www.zanza.com/podcast.aspx

 

 

 

Cruise Zanza Blue presents nearly 20 cruise lines in simple view form, no bells and whistles, just an overview of info of what each line offers. If you are looking for a website where you can compare cruise lines in a simple “No frills” viewing checkout the cruise line section at www.zanza.com/CLmain.aspx

 

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Holland America Line to Spend $525 Million in Ship Upgrades

 

Holland America Line

 
Holland America Line is doubling the amount to be spent in upgrades, enhancements and new features on five of the line’s most popular ships. As part of its ongoing Signature of Excellence program, over the next two years the Statendam, Ryndam, Maasdam, Veendam and Rotterdam will undergo extensive dry-docks to create new venues, new staterooms, new décor and more.

The 18-month, $200 million program will begin when Veendam enters an extended dry-dock in spring 2009, and the last ship is slated for completion in late 2010. The investment in this new series of enhancements will include a new resort pool concept, lanai staterooms, new entertainment and enrichment options, new stateroom décor and more.

 

Holland America Line’s commitment to enhancing its premium fleet now exceeds $525 million. Signature of Excellence features and amenities are designed to offer guests more luxurious accommodations, more enticing destinations, enhanced dining experiences, more creative activities and even higher levels of service.

Previously, during the first phase of Signature of Excellence, these five ships were enhanced with the addition of an Explorations Café, Culinary Arts Center, expanded Club HAL youth facilities and more. This next installment will add more verandah staterooms, introduce a new category of stateroom, expand the Lido Deck’s pool feature with The Retreat, create a showroom at sea and upgrade staterooms, bathrooms and fixtures. 

“Holland America Line has long been the leader in the premium cruise segment,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president of sales, marketing and guest services. “This significant and continued investment reaffirms our commitment to our fleet of mid-sized ships and our ongoing leadership in the premium category by continually raising the bar in terms of products and services.

In an era where cruise lines are building ships to carry more than 5,000 passengers, Holland America Line remains focused on mid-sized vessels. These enhancements will blend the latest innovations for premium travel into our ships, creating a deluxe experience that is unparalleled.”

The most dramatic alteration will be to the aft portion of the ships, allowing for a new resort-style pool area on Lido Deck called The Retreat, which will have a shallow area where guests can lounge in chairs and dip their fingers and toes in the water or relax on a bench and dangle their legs in the water. A new pool bar and an upscale pizzeria called Slice will be installed, as well as a canopy and wind screens to provide additional covered seating for the Lido Restaurant. 

All staterooms will receive new décor, carpeting and soft goods. Each ship also will have an additional 44 to 46 staterooms, 32 with verandahs and the remaining inside. On the four S-class ships, 12 staterooms near the spa on Deck 9 also will have verandahs added, and along with three inside staterooms, become spa staterooms featuring enhanced spa amenities.

On the Rotterdam, 23 staterooms on Verandah Deck will become spa staterooms. On the five ships, 46 new lanai staterooms will be created by replacing existing windows of 42 staterooms (on Lower Promenade Deck 6) with lanai doors that open directly onto the walk-around promenade, and adding four additional staterooms.

The program also involves enhancements to several public rooms. A Merabella luxury jewelry shop will be added. The casino and piano bars will be reconfigured into a multi-themed area called Mix with three separate bars Martinis, Champagne and Spirits & Ales.

Next door, the casino will be redesigned. The main show space will be transformed into the Showroom at Sea with the ambience of a glamorous nightclub.

The Ocean Bar will be refurbished and carpets will be replaced in most public areas. The new Sky Room on Sports Deck will feature the latest in multi-generational video games and high-tech entertainment. Entertainment and enrichment, or “edutainment,” is taking on a new, contemporary look and feel across the fleet.

A new Explorations Team employs cruise staff, each specializing in a particular area, to educate and entertain guests with an expanded menu of activities including flower-arranging, hands-on cooking, dancing, and working with digital photos, blogs and movies. Each team consists of a party planner, a travel guide, dance directors and a “techspert.” On longer cruises, a book club leader joins the team to lead lively group discussions. 

Renowned for service levels provided by its award-winning staff, the program will also include significant crew area enhancements including a new fitness facility, Internet centers, staterooms and recreational areas. The Signature of Excellence initiative announced in November 2003 has evolved into an ongoing and comprehensive review of every aspect of the Holland America Line experience.

Signature of Excellence is Holland America Line’s brand promise and continues to bring innovation and relevance to guests.

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Cruise Vacation – Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas Pricing – Cruise Price

Published by Shawn Kaufmann

Royal Caribbean Newset Ship Oasis of the Seas

VIEW THE NEW VIDEOS/PODCASTS of the Oasis of the Seas at  www.zanza.com

 This blog is about the cruise price not the price of the ship. But if that’s why you visited this blog, the answer to your question is over one billion dollars.

Welcome to the second part of “Oasis of the Seas” If you did not catch the first, check it out “Back Office Buzz”. Anyways, welcome back campers, this blog focuses on a very big question everyone has “How Much will it cost to sail on the Oasis of the Seas.

If you are looking to sail on the Oasis over the first few months the information and general buzz shows you will pay a pretty penny in relation to cruise ships on  a similar itinerary. This really should not come as a surprise considering anything new in this world costs more. Luckily Royal Caribbean picked up the billion dollar tab, we’ll only have to shell out a few thousand for a cruise vacation onboard the Oasis.

Of course the reason to sail on the Oasis of the Sea’s really has nothing to do with the itinerary. The Oasis ports of call are going to be industry standard ports of call. In fact if you sail on the Oasis you will note none of the ports of call will have tendering service. She will dock in every port she calls on.

The recent gossip is that cruising on the Oasis of the Seas in the first six months will be considerably higher than what you would normally pay. Another interesting observation is that the inside cabins with balconies will be considerably higher than traditional ocean view cabins (a few thousand more).

The Oasis is truly changing traditional cruise vacations. The days of old everyone wanted an ocean-view cabin, considering one of the inside cabins with a balcony will overlook all of the action onboard including central park the demand for these cabins will be much higher.  

 

Big Budget
If you’re looking to book a cruise on the Oasis of the Sea’s and you have a large travel budget then the sky is the limit. Prepare for 2 level loft style balcony suites with unparallel views and great service to boot. Personal Butler service, (yes we said “Butler”) your own onboard Concierge, VIP access and seating for the shows and restaurants onboard. Plus -  many other perks never before seen on a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation.

Medium Budget
Lets face it, Many of us want to drive a Bentley but were stuck with our Lexus of Mercedes. For a few hundred a day (Per person) cruising on the Oasis will be pretty easy to achieve.

Small Budget
The Best option is to wait until “Wave Season” which is in Jan, Feb and March, this is when nearly 50% of cruises are booked on all cruise lines. Let’s keep a few things in mind. This ship takes triple the amount of passengers that the standard mega cruise liner sails with. If you have cruised for many years you may remember Cunard had difficulty filling the Queen Mary2  long term. That difficulty was overcome with the assistance of Carnivals sales team reworking Cunard’s techniques. (Remember Carnival does own Cunard). We do not forecast Royal Caribbean will have any difficulty filling this ship long term. However it depends on the demand. Something we will know in the weeks to come.

Ultra Small Budget.
Does the word “Dreamer” come to mind? We’re just kidding. If you have a very strict budget then the Oasis may not be for you right now. In time sailing on the Oasis and her sister ships will be very affordable (it looks like RCI is planning to build four of these ships with an option for a fifth). Don’t break the bank to keep up with the Jones. You may want to look into sailing on an Eagle Class Royal Caribbean ship as the price point is terrific on many of the sailings.

Overall keep in mind that the Oasis of the Seas is not only the biggest Ship but is a revolutionary design.  You will have twice the amount of amenities, shows and options in general. If you find the price is 50% higher then a cruise on a comparable line your still getting a big bang fro your buck.

 

 

Zanza Blue was started by crew members for cruise travelers – For more information go to www.zanza.com

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Zanza Blue presents several concierge profiles; you can choose your own concierge by cruise line, itinerary or even personality, checkout the Concierge Section. www.zanza.com

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