Cruise Vacation Planning Blog

SeaDream Caribbean Yachting Adventures

2013-10-28T02:30:00.000-05:00

56 Couples - 95 Crew - 5-Star Service Inclusive

"It's yachting, not cruising" - Enjoy the difference

Enjoy SeaDream's Caribbean yacht voyages with all its natural beauty - miles of white sand beaches, hidden coves, famous yacht harbors, brilliant turquoise waters - all in casual luxury aboard your SeaDream yacht.

Each voyage is designed to highlight the very best of the Caribbean. More Marina days and late evening or overnight stays in St Barts to enjoy the nightlife!

Check out all the Caribbean voyages for 2014 & 2015

4 Extraordinary Offers from Holland America

2013-10-26T02:30:00.000-05:00

Cruise the world with four extraordinary offers

Make your next voyage an incredible value with the new Explore 4 Offers.

When you book select 2014 sailings - and Dec 2013 Holiday cruises - you will receive all four offers listed below:

1. Free Signature Beverage or Beverage Card
2. Free Specialty Restaurant Dinner
3. Free or Reduced Cruise Fares for 3rd/4th Guests
4. 50% Reduced Deposit

Get all the details
http://www.hollandamerica.com/explore4

Luxury Small Ship Specials from Paul Gauguin Cruises

2013-10-25T02:30:00.000-05:00

Save 50% on all 2013 and 2014 m/v Tere Moana sailings - Take advantage of these great savings on all of our Europe, Caribbean, and Latin America voyages

m/v Tere Moana - newest ship in the Paul Gauguin Cruises fleet

Save 50% plus Included Airfare from Los Angeles on all 2013 and 2014 sailings of the m/s Paul Gauguin - 50% off standard cruise fares plus included roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles!
FREE Overnight Hotel Stay in Singapore - free hotel overnight at the Shangri-La Hotel Singapore for guests who book a 14-night “Australia & Southeast Asia” voyage by Dec. 31.
FREE Ambassadors of the Environment Youth Program - Youth Program is now FREE on select 2013 sailings of the m/s Paul Gauguin—a $299 value per child. Note: Program will not be offered in summer 2014
Tahiti Special Hotel-And-Cruise Package - Enjoy special pricing on a hotel-and-cruise package

More details at http://www.pgcruises.com/offers

Costa Cruises Introduces “Slow Cruising” Experience

2013-10-24T16:17:00.003-05:00

First there was “slow” food and then “slow travel” - Now Costa Cruises is introducing “slow cruising”

The "slow cruising" experience includes longer, leisurely itineraries and extended time, including many overnights in port.

Costa neoRomantica

The Italian line’s two smaller ships, Costa neoRiviera and neoRomantica, will focus on local foods and wines while offering small-group shore excursions.

The ships offering these experiences are smaller - Costa neoRiviera has 624 cabins and Costa neoRomantica 789 cabins - so they can visit smaller ports and offer more personalized service.

Before sailing on these two ships, guests can consult a team of experts to book shore side tours that match their interests. Once on-board, a concierge can assist in choosing shipboard and shore side amenities, such as the new candle-lit gourmet “Dinner Under the Stars.”

The Costa neoCollection kicks off with a 62-day voyage departing Dubai on Feb. 9. The “Grand Africa Tour” will visit India, islands in the Indian Ocean - including the Seychelles, Maldives, Mauritius and Reunion - Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia, St. Helena, Senegal, Cape Verde, the Canary Islands and Morocco, ending at Savona, Italy. Segments are available.

Next spring and summer, the neoRiviera will sail a 12-day “Mediterranean Heart” itinerary departing Savona on April 11, April 22, May 3, May 25, Sept. 12 and Oct. 4. The cruises call at Toulon, France; Salerno and Livorno, Italy; Valletta, Malta; Porto Empedocle, Sicily; and an overnight call at Barcelona, Spain.

The May 3 Costa neoRiviera departure also includes Genoa, Italy. The “Mediterranean Spirit” itinerary from June 5 through Sept. 1 departs from Savona and calls at Toulon; Propriano, Corsica; Olbia, Sardinia; Trapani, Sicily; Valletta; Capri and Salerno, Italy, and Portoferraio, Elba.

The Costa neoRomantica also will offer 13- to 15-day summer Northern Europe cruises in the Baltic and Norway. Among them are the 13-day “Kingdom of Light” cruises departing Amsterdam on June 1, June 13, July 21 and Aug. 14.

http://www.costacruise.com/

Source: TravelPulse

Astronaut Headlines Luxury Caribbean Cruise

2013-10-23T21:12:00.003-05:00

Former U.S. astronaut Thomas David Jones, a veteran of four space shuttle flights, will headline the Dec. 5 voyage of the Silver Spirit out of Ft Lauderdale

The 540-passenger Silver Spirit is the newest and largest of Silversea's luxury vessels

The eight-night trip includes calls in Key West; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; Santo Thomas de Castilla, Guatemala; and Belize City, Belize. Fares start at $2,750 per person.

An astronaut from 1990 through 2001, Jones spent a total of 53 days in space on his four space shuttle missions. He holds a Ph.D in planetary science and also has worked as a planetary scientist and space operations consultant. He also is the author of four non-fiction books.

Unveiled in 2009, the 540-passenger Silver Spirit is the newest and largest of Silversea's vessels. Click through our photo tour of the ship in the carousel below for a glimpse of its public areas and cabins.

Silversea Silver Spirit

Source: USA Today Cruise Log

HAL Cancels Entire Western Mediterranean Cruise Season

2013-10-20T02:30:00.000-05:00

Holland America Lines has canceled an entire cruise season next year as a result of ongoing unrest in Egypt

The line has redeployed ms Noordam to the central and western Mediterranean for spring and summer 2014 rather than the Eastern Mediterranean.

In July, HAL cancelled all port calls to Egypt throughout the rest of the season, prompting the line to alter all the ship's itineraries. HAL is notifying passengers and travel agents of the changes.

Passengers can select any 2014 Europe 11- to 14-day itinerary and receive the same stateroom category for the original cruise fare paid, plus a shipboard credit based on the stateroom category previously booked.

Passengers booked on longer voyages will also be offered comparable sailings and a shipboard credit.

A statement from HAL said: “We sincerely regret impacting the travel plans of those guests already booked and are committed to making the process of re-booking to another sailing as smooth as possible. All guests may choose to receive a full refund if they elect not to re-book.”

Source: Cruise Critic

American Cruise Lines New Riverboat Itinerary

2013-10-16T02:30:00.000-05:00

American Cruise Lines is now offering new one-way itineraries between St. Louis and New Orleans

Beginning August 2014, the Queen of the Mississippi will offer 7 night sailings with stops in Memphis; Vicksburg and Natchez, Mississippi; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The new 7-night sailings will cover a longer stretch of the Mississippi River than before, and will pass through six states.

The 150 passenger Queen of the Mississippi is the first new paddle wheeler designed for overnight travel on America's rivers in nearly two decades. The exterior has an authentic, 28-foot-wide paddle wheel, combined with a modern interior, and spacious cabins with balconies.

Fares start at $4,195 and include all meals; complimentary cocktail hour; and wine and beer with lunch and dinner.

There are actually 7 Mississippi River Itineraries to Choose From:

New Orleans, LA to Memphis, TN
New Orleans, LA to New Orleans, LA
St. Louis, MO to St. Paul, MN
St. Louis, MO to Cincinnati, OH
Memphis, TN to St. Louis, MO
Memphis, TN to Nashville, TN
Nashville, TN to St. Louis, MO

More details at the site

Salvaging Costa Concordia - 60 Minutes Inside Report

2013-09-03T10:09:00.000-05:00

By all accounts, the Costa Concordia — the half-sunken passenger liner marooned off the coast of Tuscany is a surreal sight

“

"You’ve got this giant thing that’s three football fields long sitting on a slanted mountainside underwater,” says 60 Minutes producer Rich Bonin, whose story on the Costa Concordia salvage project aired on the broadcast this week.

“It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before.” Twice the size of the Titanic, the ship remains in the spot where it sank about a year and half ago, and for the 60 Minutes crew, the challenge was to get our cameras as close to the hulking wreck as possible.

Article Source - Skift.com

Disney Prohibits Smoking on Balconies

2013-08-23T02:30:00.000-05:00

Disney Cruise Line will prohibit smoking on stateroom balconies effective November 15, 2013.

Portions of open-air decks on each ship will continue to be designated as smoking areas.

Guests found smoking in their staterooms or on their verandahs will be charged $250 for air filter replacement, carpet extraction, verandah cleaning and cleaning and replacement of drapes, comforters, blankets and pillows.

Guests and travel agents with verandah stateroom booked will be contacted by email about the change, and guests will be reminded of the policy when onboard.

Source: TravelPulse

Quark Expeditions - The Leader in Polar Adventure

2013-08-22T02:30:00.000-05:00

Quark’s new Antarctic season includes two extended voyages . . .

Unlike any other cruise you will take in your lifetime!

The voyages will offer passengers Southern Ocean and Antarctica once-in-a-lifetime adventures in and around the 7th continent. With 33 departures starting November 5, 2014, Quark offers more Antarctic voyages than any other Polar operator.

In addition, Quark returns to the Canadian Arctic. The usual stellar line-up of Arctic voyages to Spitsbergen and the North Pole, the 2014 season features three new Canadian Arctic expedition itineraries. Make your reservation by July 31, 2013 and receive up to 20% off as an early booking incentive.

Quark Expeditions has been specializing in polar expeditions since 1991, and the base camps are ships purpose-built for high latitude cruising.

Nuclear-powered icebreaker crush the way to the North Pole. Quark's Polar Adventure Ships explore Spitsbergen, Svalbard, with kayaking options to experience channels and bays through which icebreakers cannot sail.

Many of Quark's Expedition Team members have decades of experience in the Arctic and Antarctica. They understand ice conditions and the impact of weather on ships and helicopters. They are experts in polar history, marine biology and glaciology.

http://www.quarkexpeditions.com/ - http://www.quarkexpeditions.com/blog/

Scenic Cruises 19 Day Budapest-Amsterdam Cruise

2013-08-20T02:30:00.000-05:00

Based on guest requests, Scenic Cruises announced a 19-day version of the “Jewels of Europe” river cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam for the 2014 season

The longer “Treasures of Europe’s Waterways” itinerary adds Hoorn, Edam and Volendam in the Netherlands. Scenic Cruises is also offering free flights with standard staterooms or $2,000 in savings per couple for balcony cabins on select departures booked by October 31, 2013.

Prices on the 19-day cruise start at $8,670 per person, double and include unlimited beverages, meals, butler service, all excursions, Wi-Fi throughout the ship, daily mini-bar replenishment, airport transfers and tipping and gratuities.

http://us.scenictours.com/scenic-cruises/

Source: TravelPulse

Celebrity Cruise Mobile Apps

2013-08-18T02:30:00.000-05:00

Celebrity Cruises has introduced a suite of easy-to-use mobile apps

After downloading Celebrity's free mobile vacation apps for iPads or Android tablets, you will find the next best thing to actually being on the cruise . . .

In addition to the Celebrity Xplorer application, the company has also rolled out a mobile-optimized site.

Celebrity Cruises sails to Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Bermuda,California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal, South America, and year-round in the Galapagos Islands.

Get the free apps

MSC Divina Coming to Miami

2013-08-17T02:30:00.000-05:00

MSC Divina due to arrive in Miami in less than 100 days . . .

Here's the Divina's Caribbean lineup for 2013 and 2014

11-Night Caribbean from Miami
Fares start at $899 p/p
Miami, Falmouth, Oranjestad, Willemstad, Cristobal, Cozumel
Departing December 10, 2013

6-Night Caribbean from Miami
Fares start from $499 p/p
Miami, Georgetown, Cozumel, Great Stirrup Cay
Departing January 12, 2013

7-Night Caribbean from Miami
Fares start from $609 p/p
Miami, St Maarten, San Juan, Great Stirrup Cay, Miami
Departing November 23, 2013 and January 18, 2014

7-Night Caribbean from Miami
Fares from $609 p/p
Miami, Falmouth, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Great Stirrup Cay, Miami
Departing January 25, 2014

Get details at MSC site

Royal Caribbean Celebrates 50 Million Guests

2013-08-16T02:16:00.000-05:00

Royal Caribbean International recognizes an important milestone in its 45-year company history as it welcomes its 50 millionth guest on board its fleet of 21 ships.

The momentous occasion kicks off a year-long celebration honoring the cruise line’s guests, business partners, employees and crew.

“For more than 45 years, Royal Caribbean’s guiding principle has been to deliver the WOW to our guests, providing them with experiences, services and amenities that can only be found on Royal Caribbean,” said Adam Goldstein, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “The men and women on our ships who deliver these WOW moments are what inspire our loyal guests to return to sail with us again and again.”

Read more

Carnival Chefs Plus Fall/Winter Cruise Deals

2013-08-15T02:30:00.000-05:00

Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines

What's for Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner & Midnight Snacks?

Check out all dining options!

AND

Fall & Winter Cruises Up to $400 Off

Fred Olsen Cruises Return to the Caribbean

2013-08-14T15:24:00.004-05:00

Back by popular demand, guests can now take a Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ Caribbean fly-cruise in January 2015!

Olsen 14-night Caribbean sunshine cruise will be aboard the 929-guest cruise ship Braemar.

Flying from London Gatwick or Manchester and departing from Barbados on 12th January 2015, this exotic cruise is predicted to be one of Fred Olsen’s most popular voyages, with a general on sale date of Saturday 17th August 2013.

One unusual feature of Fred Olsen’s most modern ship, Braemar, is the promenade deck – a complete wrap-around deck ideal for a gentle stroll in the evening sun, making it an excellent choice for warmer cruising. Visit the site for more info

Silversea Cruises First Female Captain

2013-08-13T02:30:00.000-05:00

For the first time in its nearly 20-year history, a female captain is at the helm of a Silversea ship.

Capt. Margrith Ettlin assumed control of the 132-guest expedition ship Silver Explorer on August 7 in Reykjavik.

Ettlin is a Swiss national with extensive maritime experience in remote regions, including the Arctic and Antarctica, the company said.

Photo Credit - Travel & Leisure

“We’re very pleased and proud to extend this promotion to Captain Ettlin,” said Christian Sauleau, Silversea’s executive vice president of fleet operations. “Although we’re not the first cruise company to have a female captain, we hope Captain Ettlin’s achievement will inspire other women to pursue careers at sea.”

Prior to joining Silversea as a staff captain in March 2010, Ettlin worked for Germany’s F. Laeisz shipping group. Her maritime career also includes nearly nine years as a staff captain with the German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd.

Source: Travel and Tour World

Holland America Canada/New England 2014 Sailings

2013-08-12T02:30:00.000-05:00

Cruise fares for 2014 Canada and New England itineraries begin at $799 per person, double occupancy for a seven-day sailing.

Photo Credit - Mommy Musings

Holland America announces 48 Canada and New England cruises on three ships in the spring, summer and fall of 2014

Scheduled May through October, the Eurodam, Maasdam and Veendam will operate nine seven- to 15-day itineraries from Boston, Montréal, Québec City, Fort Lauderdale and New York City.

The cruises range from seven to 15 days and include family-friendly summer cruises and visits during the height of the fall foliage season as summer turns to autumn and the jewel-toned leaves offer one of nature’s most impressive showings.

The Veendam will operate 17 seven-day cruises between Québec City and Boston from May 10 through the Oct. 11 departure. Ports of call include Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax and Bar Harbor, with scenic cruising on the St. Lawrence River. These sailings include an overnight at Québec City, Holland America Line’s number-one rated port of call.

Maasdam will sail seven-day cruises from May 24 through the Oct. 11 departure between Montréal and Boston, with calls at Québec City, Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax and Bar Harbor.

In September and October, Eurodam will sail three 10-day fall foliage cruises between New York and Québec City.

Holland America is offering the Explore4 early booking promotion that features a free Signature Beverage Package or beverage card, a free specialty restaurant dinner, free or reduced fares for third and fourth guests in the same stateroom and 50% reduced deposits for bookings on select 2014 cruises made before Oct. 15, 2013. Guests can receive all four offers when booking a qualified itinerary. Visit Holland America for details

Source: TravelPulse

Crystal Brazil Wine & Food Cruise

2013-08-11T16:17:00.001-05:00

Crystal Cooks Up Special Features on Brazil Wine & Food Cruise

Crystal Cruises is offering a Wine & Food-themed voyage from Miami to Rio departing November 23, 2013.

The cruise will feature guest lecturers, including Hans Neuner, who has earned two Michelin stars and was named Portugal’s 2012 Chef of the Year - and was a Crystal chef more than a decade ago.

Other guest lecturers are Rob Wilson, master/executive chef at the Montage Laguna Beach; Master Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim; and wine historian Nina Wemyss.

The cruise includes seven-course Vintage Room Dinners, prepared by each of the guest chefs, with wine pairings and edification from the guest wine expert. Two Guest Chef Dinners for all guests will be held in the Crystal Dining Room, with all-inclusive wine pairings.

Cooking demonstrations will be held outdoors on Crystal’s pool deck (weather permitting). Neuner will showcase his approach to the Portuguese flavors that have influenced traditional Brazilian cuisine, like bacalhau. Cooking classes also will be held in the ship’s galley.

Abou-Ganim will lead hands-on lessons on how to make local cocktails like the batida and caipirinha, using cachaça and local spices, with guests receiving a souvenir muddler to take with them.

All-inclusive, “Book Now” fares for the 16-day cruise begin at $3,990 per person, with $1,700-per-person in savings if booked by August 30, 2013. A 12-day version of the voyage is available from Barbados to Rio, starting at $2,995 per person - also needs to be booked by August 30.

Get more details on this themed cruise, along with other Crystal Cruise sailings

Source: TravelPulse

The "Love Boat" Makes final Voyage to Turkey Scrap Yard

2013-08-07T17:35:00.002-05:00

The MS Pacific, a cruise ship made famous by its appearance in the popular U.S. 1970s television show "The Love Boat," has sailed its final voyage to a ship-breaking yard on Turkey's Aegean Sea coast.

Called the Pacific Princess when it was on the long-running comedy, the iconic 13,500-tonne, 171-m-long (561-foot-) vessel will be stripped for its metal and parts.

Aaron Spelling's "The Love Boat," starring Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain, ran on the U.S. television network ABC from 1977 to 1986.

The show was set on board the Pacific Princess, which mainly sailed from California to the Mexican Riveria.

Called the Pacific Princess when it was on the long-running comedy show - each week passengers and crew members, caught under the Pacific Princess' romantic spell, engaged in love affairs or humorous encounters during the one-hour show.

Turkey's Izmir Ship Recycling Co. acquired the 42-year-old Pacific for 2.5 million euros ($3.3 million).

The vintage cruiseliner arrived from Genoa, Italy, at the breakers in the seaside town of Aliaga in Turkey late on Tuesday after a difficult trip in a violent storm. The former "Love Boat" began taking on water, and required the help of additional tugboats to make it to Aliaga. It was now listing on its starboard side at Aliaga.

Source: Chicago Tribune

Four Extraordinary Cruise Offers from Holland America

2013-08-06T02:30:00.000-05:00

Make your next voyage an incredible value with Holland America's new Explore 4 offers

When you book select 2014 sailings (and December 2013 Holiday cruises) you will receive all four offers below:

1. FREE Signature Beverage Package or a Beverage Card (depending on cruise selected)

Signature Beverage Package Signature Beverage Package:
A value of $100 per day, per stateroom ($50 per person)
Includes wine, beer, spirits, cocktails (including non-alcoholic), sodas and coffee (a daily limit applies)
Applies to beverages priced up to $7 (menu price)
Beverage service charge covered by Holland America Line
Excludes Caribbean and Mexico sailings, and the land portion of Alaska Land+Sea Journeys (other exclusions apply)

Beverage Card:
Guests sailing on select Caribbean and Mexico sailings will receive a Beverage Card

A value of $100 per stateroom ($50 Beverage Card per person)
The Beverage Card applies to alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages

2. FREE specialty restaurant dinner in Pinnacle Grill or Canaletto

Guests booking an Ocean-view Stateroom or above will receive one free dinner (per person**) in the elegant and sophisticated Pinnacle Grill.
Guests booking an Interior Stateroom will receive one free dinner (per person**) at Canaletto restaurant, home to classic Italian fare.

3. FREE or reduced cruise fares for 3rd/4th guests

Special FREE or reduced pricing for 3rd and 4th guests make it easier to share your cruise with the entire family.

4. 50% reduced deposit

Your cruise deposit (the first payment due) will be reduced by 50%, giving you more flexibility and more time before paying the full amount for your cruise.

http://www.hollandamerica.com/explore4

Princess Cruises Fall Spectacular Savings

2013-08-03T02:30:00.000-05:00

Save up to 55%* on over 100 Fall cruises to destinations around the world!

Limited time to getaway from it all with short Getaway cruises roundtrip from Los Angeles and Ft. Lauderdale are also on sale!

Plus, for a limited time only, get up to $100 FREE onboard spending money per stateroom!

Time is running out, and space is limited!

Cruise Lines Posting Alleged Crime Data on Their Websites

2013-08-02T15:28:00.001-05:00

As promised in a Senate hearing July 24, major cruise lines on August 1st began posting data on their websites about all crimes alleged to have occurred on their ships since the third quarter of 2010.

The companies voluntarily agreed to post the data. The Cruise Lines International Association also released data that shows shipboard crime is far lower than crime rates on land.

Before the disclosure was announced by Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Adam Goldstein, the only crime statistics available to consumers were a list on a U.S. Coast Guard site of just the cases that have been closed by the FBI. Critics contend that system under-reported incidents and did not accurately reflect the problem. However, the lines will continue to link to that site.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s list of reported crimes showed just one report between Jan. 1 and June 30 this year, a sexual assault allegation reported by a passenger. Norwegian’s report notes that it carried 745,000 passengers and 27,500 crew members during that period.

Royal Caribbean’s statistics for the April 1-June 30 period show three thefts of over $10,000 reported by crew members and one by an “unidentified” person. Also in that period, there were rape allegations by one passenger and one crew member. For the period from Jan. 1 through March 31, there were two reports of assault with serious bodily injury reported by a passenger and a crew member, three thefts of over $10,000 reported by crew members, two rapes reported by a passenger and a crew member, and three sexual assaults alleged by a passenger and two crew members. In that period, the line carried 1.75 million passengers and a crew of 47,500.

Carnival Cruise Lines had not posted the crime information by midday Aug. 1, but a spokeswoman said it planned to by day’s end.

CLIA compared shipboard crimes to crime rates on land published annually by the FBI in the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR).
The UCR’s rates nationwide for alleged violent crimes per 100,000 persons during 2010 through 2012 in the following categories were: Rape, 27.1; Aggravated Assault, 248.9; and Homicide, 4.8. The rates per 100,000 in these categories in the cruise industry, as reported by CLIA for 2010 through 2012, were: Rape, 5.9; Assault with Serious Bodily Injury, 3.8; and Homicide, 0.

Article Source: By Theresa Norton Masek via TravelPulse

$1,500 Savings on Southeast Asia River Cruise

2013-08-02T02:30:00.000-05:00

More details - http://www.amawaterways.com/

Source: TravelPulse

Free Stateroom Upgrades on Royal Caribbean Through August

2013-08-01T02:30:00.000-05:00

Sail the Caribbean, Bahamas or Bermuda between September 1, 2013 – April 30, 2014 and enjoy a free upgrade!

Book an ocean view stateroom for the price of an inside stateroom, or book a balcony for the price of an ocean view stateroom.

Hurry – this offer ends August 31, 2013!