The Cruise Outlet

Costa Allegra Gets More Ship Escorts, Generator, Bread

2012-02-28T14:11:00.000-08:00

Costa Cruises said the disabled Costa Allegra got three more ship escorts as it was being towed by the French shipping ship Trévignon at a speed of about 6 knots. At the current speed and with stable weather conditions, Costa Allegra is expected to arrive at Mahé, Seychelles, in the early morning of March 1. Two tug boats and a second ocean-going fishing vessel reached Costa Allegra to assist the ship if needed. Costa Allegra lost its propulsion system after a fire in the generator room on Feb. 27. It was drifting in the Indian Ocean until the Trévignon arrived to tow it to safety. On Feb. 29, Costa expects a helicopter to deliver about 400 flashlights and fresh bread. There is sufficient food and other "comfort items" on board. Also, a small generator was delivered by a local Navy ship that to help restore basic services. Costa’s Care Team arrived at Mahé on Feb. 28. The group of 14 people includes executives and managers as well as specialized technicians. The team is tasked with providing assistance to the ship, guests and crewmembers on their arrival at Mahé. Care Team members are meeting with local authorities to arrange operational details of guests’ arrival at the island. Top priority was given to securing necessary accommodations at hotels and organizing an efficient process for making guests’ travel arrangements. Costa said eight members of the Care Team will board Costa Allegra the morning of Feb. 29 via a local Navy ship to meet guests and discuss arrangements and to assist the ship’s staff in thorough technical inspections. Two officers from Seychelles Immigration will also arrive to facilitate customs procedures.

Norwegian to Add Brazilian Steakhouses to More Ships

2012-02-28T14:02:00.002-08:00

Norwegian Cruise Line is adding Brazilian-style steakhouses to more ships. Moderno Churrascaria first debuted on Norwegian Epic but soon it will be available on eight ships. The company also expanded its reservations system so passengers can make dining reservations in advance online for specialty restaurants fleet-wide.
Moderno Churrascaria is currently available on Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Pearl. Norwegian Gem will be outfitted with the restaurant in late February, followed by Norwegian Jewel in March and Norwegian Star in April.
In Moderno Churrascaria, guests are greeted by passadors who serve grilled beef, lamb, pork, chicken and Brazilian sausage tableside. The cover charge of $20 per person also includes an expansive salad bar.
With the introduction of a fleet-wide dining reservations system, guests cruising within 45 days on any Norwegian ship can plan and pre-pay for their specialty dining choices in advance.

Carnival Corp. Besieged by Bad News

2012-02-27T13:36:00.000-08:00

In more troublesome news for Carnival Corp., the Costa Allegra was adrift off the Seychelles Islands, following an engine room fire early on Monday. Costa issued a statement Monday afternoon saying that engine room inspections were in process, in an effort "to determine when the equipment can be restarted."
The ship was located more than 200 miles southwest of the Seychelles and approximately 20 miles from Alphonse Island. "Tugboats and other naval and aerial units have been dispatched to Costa Allegra," Costa said.
According to Seychelles officials, help was expected to reach the vessel by tonight. Although the fire was put out, and none of the 1,000 passengers was injured, there was a power blackout, and the crew was forced to make a mayday call for assistance. According to Costa, a general emergency alarm was sounded and passengers and crew reported to their muster stations.

Passengers robbed in Mexico
The latest Carnival troubles came on the heels of news that 22 passengers on the Carnival Splendor were robbed during a shore excursion in Puerto Vallarta last week. There were no injuries, but the armed assailant made off with cash, cameras, jewelry and other valuables. The specific tour was the City Tour & Tropical Jungle Escape. All the guests returned safely to the ship and disembarked Sunday in Long Beach, Calif., following the weeklong Mexican Riviera sailing. In the Mexico incident, Carnival issued a statement saying that "numerous authorities were notified and responded to investigate, as well as assist the affected guests. The tour in question has been suspended until further notice. "Carnival sincerely apologizes to its guests for this very unfortunate and disturbing event and is providing its full support and assistance."

Prior to this incident, cruise lines had already cut port calls in Mexico in the wake of U.S. State Department travel warnings over drug-related violence. Major lines including Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Norwegian and Disney last year dropped the port city of Mazatlan from itineraries and have not returned.
Princess Cruises also avoided Puerto Vallarta on several cruises, but had planned to return later this year. Holland America dropped Acapulco from wintertime sailings.
Travel advisories
Earlier this year, the U.S. State Department advised visitors to defer non-essential travel to some parts of Jalisco, the state where Puerto Vallarta is located. Specifically, the State Department warned of troubles in areas bordering the neighboring states of Michoacan and Zacatecas, due to reported gun battles between criminals and authorities.
There is no warning against traveling to Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, but travelers are advised to exercise caution when traveling at night outside of cities in Jalisco.

American Cruise Lines Plans Mark Twain Tribute Sailing

2012-02-24T13:53:00.002-08:00

American Cruise Lines, getting into the spirit of its new Mississippi product, is offering a special Mark Twain tribute cruise aboard the new Queen of the Mississippi on Sept. 15 roundtrip from St. Louis. Planned stops include an extended visit to Twain’s childhood hometown in Hannibal, Mo.
The cruise will feature a Mark Twain impersonator, a tour of Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, an onboard display of a first edition copy of "Life on the Mississippi," and a guided trolley ride through Hannibal. Guests will receive special edition copies of "Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn."
The Queen of the Mississippi, which will makes its debut in August, carries 150 guests in staterooms with private balconies. American Cruise Lines intends to operate the paddlewheeler over the entire Mississippi River system, including the Ohio and Cumberland rivers.

Norwegian Cruise Line Expands Nickelodeon Activities to Gem

2012-02-23T08:15:00.000-08:00

Norwegian Cruise Line expanded its Nickelodeon programming to the Norwegian Gem. Each cruise will feature Nickelodeon’s new Pajama Jam Character Breakfast, when guests, encouraged to wear pajamas, gather for the morning meal. Each child receives a complimentary photograph.
Additional elements include Dora’s Dance Party, where children ages 6 and younger have the chance to sing and dance with Dora the Explorer and Team Nick; Nickelodeon Character Meet-and-Greets; Nick Jr. Story Time; and Nickelodeon arts and crafts.
Norwegian Gem sails seven-day Bahamas and Florida voyages from New York City through Sept. 1. Ports of call include Orlando, Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau. From Sept. 8 through Oct. 10, Norwegian Gem will sail 10-day Eastern Canada and Quebec cruises, followed by a series of nine-day Eastern Caribbean voyages. Nickelodeon programming also is on board Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Epic.
For more information on family travel, visit TheCruiseOutlet.com at 203-288-1884

Crystal Cruises Bookends Sailings with More Stationary Overnights

2012-02-17T06:15:00.001-08:00

Crystal Cruises has added shipboard overnights at its embarkation ports at the beginning of cruises. For the upcoming European season, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony have doubled the number of voyages that begin with nights in port. The move eases the worry of late flight arrivals, lost luggage and relocating to or from hotels. Crystal has also added overnights to the middle and/or end of the majority of cruises this year. Overnights at the disembarkation ports of Venice, Barcelona or Istanbul, for example, let guests see significantly more of the final destination without having to move to a hotel or rush to the airport to fly home. Crystal’s new strategy will extend into 2014, with more than 85 percent of next year’s 64 itineraries offering two or more days in port, and a more than 50 percent increase in overnights on embarkation day. For more information or to book a Crystal Cruise, call 203-288-1884
　

Who to contact to Cruise

2012-02-10T09:22:00.000-08:00

Many of the Cruise Lines are beginning to announce 1^st Quarter Winter Promotions. Many years ago, there was a week in January / February when business was overwhelming for the forthcoming year. Like everything, that changed. The Cruise Industry "Claims" that this "wave Week" has transferred to Wave Month and / or Wave Season. Similar to the marketing that has grown over the years for the original day after Thanksgiving, I noticed this year that we have Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Yes, in the business world, anything that drives in business and makes a profit is a success and the Cruise Industry is no difference.
Many of the offers that will appear are good ones, but also carry some very strict enforcement and terms and conditions. I don’t have words of wisdom or advice to give, as our company policy is to look at any and all promotions, look at the terms and conditions and the restrictions, then see what is the best rate and promotion we can provide to OUR clients. Like any business, the Cruise Lines make these promotions and set up so it will be financially beneficial for them, not you.
One Cruise Lines offers a promotion which is "non refundable deposits and payments". The rate is lower then other promotions they have, but people who book online or directly with that line do not find out about what they are stuck with until it is too late. There is also the companies which have people book online directly and never talk to a human being. Often with many of these companies there is a "service fee" that is charged at the end or is hidden and most people do not even know they have just paid more then they needed to.

A couple of areas, we watch. When the cruise lines runs another promotion and that rate or deal is better, we change the original booking to the new reduced rate, otherwise the customer is stuck with it and spends more money. Many companies do not watch for new promotions and do not bother looking after the client. Over the years, we have saved hundreds of dollars for our clients because a better promotion came along.
For people who book directly with the cruise lines or completely online, remember, when booking directly with a cruise line, the person you are talking to is paid by the cruise line, so they do exactly what they are told. One of the funniest situations I hear about and see is that clients think the people working for the Cruise lines know more about the cruise. There are a number of Call Centers around the country (and even outside the US) that the cruise lines use. The majority of people working at them have never been on a cruise and have no clue what they are talking about. If it is not in the script, they can not handle it.
Part of the point I am trying to get across is The Smart Consumer will deal with a Cruise Specialist Company. Not a regular Travel Agency that deals with all kinds of things, not the person that works out of their home and makes money part time, not the Online agency that requires everything to be done online, but companies such as ours which:
1> Have a physical Office
2> Has gone through & Certified by the Cruise Lines to know their product
3> Has cruised on that cruise lines ships
4> Has cruised on the ship you are interested in
5> Does this full time and is updated with the industry
So as we here at The Cruise Outlet review and prepare for the January > Winter booking rush, we will maintain our style of booking for our clients and get them the best offer and rate available.
Visit our website at www.thecruiseoutlet.com which has all the ships and sailing dates as well as the current cruise line rates. Pick you ship and sailing, call or email us and let us give you the best price available. Almost every ship and sailing we are able to offer on board credits of as much as $500. Per cabin. This is money for you to spend on your cruise as you see fit.

Holland America Line to Host Food and Wine Experts

2012-02-03T10:08:00.000-08:00

Holland America Line’s Culinary Arts Center Program will host more than 60 celebrated chefs, cookbook authors and television personalities this year. Among them are "The Next Food Network Star" personality Serena Palumba, "Top Chef: Just Desserts" participant Zac Young, and Chef Tony Maws, winner of the 2011 James Beard Award for "Best Chef: Northeast." The Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine magazine, hosts demonstrations in a full show kitchen as well as tastings, question-and-answer sessions and hands-on classes. Palumba, scheduled to sail on Veendam’s seven-day Bermuda cruise April 29, is a teaching chef and finalist from season six of the "The Next Food Network Star." She also created a series of instructional videos on YouTube called "Cooking in Manhattan." Maws, scheduled to sail on Ryndam’s Norwegian fjords cruise May 6, is executive chef and owner of Craigie on Main in Cambridge, Mass. Young, executive pastry chef of Flex Mussels Restaurant in New York City, is scheduled to sail on Volendam’s 23-day South Pacific cruise April 10. Young finished in the final four of Bravo’s first season of "Top Chef: Just Desserts" and can be seen on The Cooking Channel’s new series "Unique Sweets

Silversea Cruises Announces Speakers for Perspectives Program

2012-02-03T10:02:00.000-08:00

Silversea Cruises has announced the lineup of speakers for its Silver Perspectives enrichment program. Among the speakers are news correspondents Bernard Kalb and Morton Dean, famed hostage negotiator Terry Waite, broadcaster and monarchy expert Brian Hoey, television producer/director Terry Hughes, and Sky News and BBC commentator Alastair Bruce. Waite will sail on the Silver Shadow’s on the Feb. 23 cruise from Freemantle to Singapore. As envoy to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Waite successfully negotiated the release of hostages in Iran and Libya during the 1980s. In 1987, while negotiating the release of hostages in Beirut, Waite was himself taken hostage and held in captivity for 1,763 days. Dean will sail on the Silver Spirit’s April 12 voyage from Barbados to Lisbon. As a correspondent for CBS News and ABC News, Dean covered the Vietnam War and the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen. Kalb, who covered world affairs for more than three decades for CBS News, NBC News and the New York Times, will sail on the Silver Shadow’s April 25 voyage from Tokyo to Shanghai and the May 6 departure from Shanghai to Tokyo
　
　

Holland America Evicts Passenger for Skipping Muster Drill

2012-02-03T09:50:00.000-08:00

Here’s a very strong sign that cruise lines are cracking down on participation in emergency drills after the Costa Concordia tragedy: A Holland America Line ship kicked off a passenger for failing to show up for the lifeboat drill. In a statement, the line said one guest scheduled to sail on Westerdam’s Jan. 29 cruise was "disembarked prior to sailing for non-compliance with the mandatory passenger emergency drill." The drill included alarm blasts and announcements throughout the ship, including instructions that failure to participate would result in disembarkation. The drills take place in the port of embarkation before the ship leaves the dock so that guests know where to go and what to do if an alarm is sounded. These drills are mandatory for all passengers, and non-compliance may result in disembarkation, the company said.
　

Oceania Presents the Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber

2012-01-31T15:25:00.000-08:00

Oceania Cruises has teamed with Royal Theatrical Productions to feature "Now and Forever — The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber" on board the upper premium line's new 1,250-guest Riviera, which debuts in May 2012. A 10-member cast of singers and dancers will perform music from many of Webber’s best-known shows, including CATS, The Phantom of the Opera and its sequel Love Never Dies, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Jesus Christ Superstar. Riviera will feature three additional production shows: Up in Flames, showcasing the music of Elton John and Billy Joel; The Dawning of Aquarius, a 60s revue; and Rock On, a love story with a rock-and-roll vibe. Royal Theater Productions, founded by Jean Ann Ryan, is an entertainment group that has produced musical revues for many of the world’s cruise ships and resorts. "We are thrilled that Riviera guests will enjoy the songbook of Andrew Lloyd Webber," said Michael Day, Oceania Cruises’ vice president of entertainment. "Working with Jean Ann Ryan and her team we are assured of the most talented performers and highest quality choreography, sound and lighting." The ship features a Lalique-designed grand lobby, 10 dining venues and numerous bars and lounges. Facilities will include a full-service Canyon Ranch SpaClub and innovative Bon Appétit Culinary Center. Following her May 16 maiden voyage, Riviera will spend the summer and fall cruising the Mediterranean and then cross the Atlantic to operate a series of winter Panama Canal and Caribbean cruises. For more information contact TheCruiseOutlet.com at 203-288-1884
　
　
　

Cruise Lines Imposing Stiffer Cancellation Penalties

2012-01-30T12:20:00.001-08:00

Revisions to Carnival Cruise Lines’ cancellation policies that take effect Jan. 30, 2012 are the latest in a gradual move by cruise lines to impose stiffer penalties further out in the sales cycle.
Cruise line cancellation policies have remained fairly consistent for several years, with the severest penalties applied to cancellations on long cruises, on itineraries to exotic destinations, and on bookings canceled close to departure date. But over the past two years some lines have quietly tweaked their policies. They’ve lengthened the number of days out from sailings when the strictest penalties apply and, in some cases, increased the size of the penalty, sometimes doubling it. To be fair, most lines have not made wholesale changes. Taken together, the changes to cancellation policies reflect cruise line efforts to boost revenues on all fronts. The stiffer penalties have a favorable effect on revenues in two ways. Longer penalty periods encourage cancellations earlier in the sales cycle, and that improves a cruise line’s chances of re-selling cancelled space. Of course higher penalties also allow cruise lines to retain a bigger share of the sale price on canceled bookings.

Disney Cruise Line Sets First Miami Departures, Returns to Europe

2012-01-25T09:40:00.001-08:00

Disney Cruise Line said that in 2013 it will offer Caribbean sailings from the Port of Miami for the first time, as well as new European cruises from Barcelona. The 2013 schedule can be booked starting Jan. 26.
The Disney Wonder will operate its first cruise from Miami on Dec. 23, 2012. One six- and one seven-night Caribbean sailing will set the stage for four- and five-night cruises to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean between Jan. 5, 2013, and May 2, 2013. The four- and five-night cruises have a variety of itineraries, with ports of call including Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Key West, Nassau and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. Beginning June 1, 2013, the Disney Magic returns to Europe to operate four-, seven- and 12-night sailings from Barcelona, Spain. The new 12-night sailings visit destinations such as Venice, Italy, and Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast on one itinerary and Ephesus, Turkey, and the Greek Isles, including Athens, on another. Each itinerary offers a departure in June and July. In 2012, Disney Magic is sailing itineraries out of U.S. ports, including New York City.
The Disney Magic, which will begin sailing from Texas in 2012, will continue to sail to the Western Caribbean from the Port of Galveston through May 2013. Six-night cruises visit Grand Cayman and Cozumel while the eight-night voyages call at Key West, Grand Cayman, Costa Maya and Cozumel. Beginning May 27, 2013, the Disney Wonder will sail seven-night cruises from Vancouver to Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska.
The Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream will continue to sail a variety of Caribbean and Bahamian itineraries departing from Port Canaveral. The Disney Fantasy will sail out of Port Canaveral on seven-night Caribbean itineraries, alternating eastern (St. Maarten and St. Thomas) and western (Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Cozumel). Special Eastern Caribbean sailings, January through April 2013, stop at San Juan, Puerto Rico. All Disney Fantasy itineraries include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. The Disney Dream will sail three-, four- and five-night cruises from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and Castaway Cay. Families can enhance seven- and 12-night Mediterranean sailings with Adventures by Disney Onboard Experience packages. These packages offer exclusive activities and concierge service from dedicated Adventure Guides, who will lead travelers at each port. Specific itinerary and pricing information for the 2013 Adventures by Disney will be available in March 2012. For more information, visit the The Cruise Outlet.com or call 203-288-1884.
　

Oceania Delays New Riviera Cruise Ship Due to Labor Strike at Shipyard

2012-01-25T09:19:00.000-08:00

The new maiden voyage is a 10-day "Pearls of the Aegean" cruise that includes an overnight aboard ship in Venice before visiting Dubrovnik, Kotor, Corfu, Monemvasia, Crete, Santorini, Kusadasi (gateway to Ephesus), Delos, Mykonos and Athens.
Guests booked on affected sailings can rebook another cruise and receive a future cruise credit, which ranges from $250 to $1,000 per guest, depending on category of accommodation. In the event guests do not wish to rebook, they will receive a full refund. Further information is available from The Cruise Outlet.com at 203-288-1884
　　Oceania Cruises rescheduled the maiden voyage of the new Riviera from April 24 to May 16 due to construction delays at the Fincantieri shipyard near Genoa, Italy. All guests affected by the delay will be contacted by their travel agents or by Oceania directly to discuss alternative cruise dates. "We sincerely regret any inconvenience that this may cause our guests," said Oceania President Kunal S. Kamlani. "We are working very closely with the shipyard to ensure Riviera is completed to meet Oceania’s high standards of quality and service." "We know that sophisticated international travelers are anxious to welcome Riviera and we regret that labor strikes have caused this delay," said Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri’s CEO.

Crystal Cruises Launches New Fast-Track Embarkation Process

2012-01-19T13:57:00.000-08:00

Crystal Cruises has launched a new check-in process designed to minimize embarkation procedures in every Crystal embarkation port. The Crystal Fast-Track Check-In eliminates check-in procedures in port terminal waiting areas, moving guests from dock security to the Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity lounges. By utilizing a new barcode on each guests cruise ticket and a new ticket scanning system, the cruise line says it can accelerate the check-in required on the first day of sailing. Instead of processing documentation in the terminal, guests are whisked through and ushered on board to complete registration and receive their room keys/boarding cards with photo identification.

STX France Receives Order for Two Cruise Ships from Viking

2012-01-11T13:32:00.000-08:00

Shipbuilder STX France SA announced today that it has received an order to build two luxury cruise ships for Viking Ocean Cruises, an apparent new affiliate of
　
　
　Viking River Cruises. The vessels will be delivered in spring 2014 and spring 2015. An option for a third ship is being considered. STX said the vessels will be operated primarily on the Mediterranean seas and be dedicated mainly to Viking’s U.S., British and Australian customers. Calls to Viking’s U.S. office for more information were not immediately returned. The vessels accommodate include 888 passengers in 444 cabins and 444 crew members. Construction is expected to start in mid-September for the first vessel and in mid-September 2013 for the second one. The contract is subject to financing. STX noted that Viking River Cruises currently operates a fleet of 23 river vessels, and has eight river ships under construction. STX said the two ocean-going vessels will be built with destination cruising in mind. For more information on this and booking any Viking River Cruise, contact The Cruise Outlet at 203-288-1884 or email at info@thecruiseoutlet.com

Norwegian Cruise Line to Introduce New Youth Program

2012-01-06T09:42:00.001-08:00

Norwegian Cruise Line plans to replace its current Kid’s Crew program, which has been in place since 1999, with a new program that will be introduced on Norwegian Gem in mid-February. The rebranded program will then roll out to the rest of the fleet. "We’ve already taken family programming to the next level by offering Nickelodeon experiences on some ships," said Norwegian CEO Kevin Sheehan. "In fact, close to 150,000 children sailed on our ships in 2010 and that number continues to rise." The revamped program will divide children among new age groups: 3 to 5 years old; 6 to 8 years; 9 to 12 years; 13 to 14 and 15 to 17 years. There will also be programming for babies and toddlers ages 6 months to 2 years. The new curriculum is being produced in conjunction with The King’s Foundation and Camps, a U.K.-based organization that provides sport and activity programs. More focus will be placed on sporting activities, arts and crafts, theater and technology. Activities will change every 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the age group, and will be set within blocks of programming time in the morning, afternoon and evening. Norwegian also has engaged Cirque Du Jour, a New York-based company that specializes in teaching children circus skills such as scarf juggling, ball juggling, plate spinning, clowning and acrobatics. Circus workshops and shows will also be offered for the entire family. The company also is increasing the ratio of staff to children and establishing new criteria for the hiring of counselors, including the requirement of a college degree in recreation or child care or the equivalent experience. The line currently offers Nickelodeon family events on three ships: Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Gem beginning mid-February.

Celebrity Cruises Offers Interactive, Behind-The-Scenes Tours

2011-12-21T05:17:00.000-08:00

　
　
　Celebrity Cruises is the latest line to offer a behind-the-scenes tour of areas not usually visited by cruise ship passengers. Celebrity Inside Access includes two activities, the "See How It’s Done Tour" and the "Bridge Sail Away Experience." The "See How It’s Done Tour" visits the bridge, mooring deck, crew gym, theater, engine control room, prep rooms and the main dining room galley. At each area of the tour, guests can interact with Celebrity crew members. Each tour is followed by a wine-paired lunch hosted by an officer in the main dining room. The "Bridge Sail Away Experience" lets guests join the navigational team on the bridge as the ship sails from port. Beginning 30 minutes before and concluding 30 minutes after departing, guests are given a tour and an overview of the bridge by a senior Celebrity bridge officer. Guests also can meet and take photos with the captain. The Celebrity Inside Access program is offered on all ships and available for purchase onboard

Several Cruise Lines Suspend Parasailing Excursions in Caribbean

2011-12-06T04:48:00.001-08:00

Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line have suspended all parasailing excursions throughout the Caribbean after a Celebrity passenger died in an accident on Nov. 15 in St. Thomas. Carnival Cruise Lines suspended parasailing excursions in St. Thomas until further notice. The 60-year-old woman from the U.S., who was sailing on Celebrity Eclipse, died after participating in a company-sponsored parasailing shore excursion. The guests 34-year-old daughter was also injured in the accident. The excursion crew provided initial care until both guests were transported by ambulance to the Roy L. Schneider Hospital in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, where the woman was pronounced dead. The daughter is still being treated at the hospital, Celebrity said in a statement. A member of the lines Care Team is providing support and assistance to the hospitalized guest and her family. An investigation is under way, and Royal Caribbean and Celebrity said the parasailing excursions will remain cancelled indefinitely, pending the outcome of the investigation

American Cruise Lines to Feature Lewis & Clark Theme Cruises

2011-11-30T04:44:00.001-08:00

American Cruise Lines is offering Lewis & Clark theme cruises next year on the 120-passenger Queen of the West paddlewheeler on the Columbia and Snake rivers in the Pacific Northwest. The cruises, which begin in April, operate between Portland, Ore., and Clarkston, Wash., following the footsteps of the legendary explorers. Guided tours explore Lewis & Clark National and State Historic Park, including Fort Clatsop, Salt Works and Netul Landing. Onboard lecturers and entertainers will share stories of Lewis & Clark’s Corps of Discovery. The featured guest speaker, Todd Weber, brings tales of the patriots, fur traders, Indians and explorers of America alive through his period clothing and colorful presentation. On one evening, Lewis & Clark impersonators will appear during an evening of dining, entertainment, trivia and more. Also scheduled is a screening of Ken Burns’ documentary "Lewis and Clark -- The Journey of the Corps of Discovery."
　
　
　
Queen of the West, an authentic paddlewheeler, was built in 1996 with a Victorian theme and recently underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation. For more information, call 800-775-1884 or visit www.thecruiseoutlet.com.

Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship Set to Debut Muppets Interactive Adventure

2011-11-30T04:38:00.000-08:00

Newly popular again after a hit movie ("The Muppets"), the Muppets will make their debut at sea on Disney Cruise Line’s new Disney Fantasy, due out in March. The Muppets will be featured in an "interactive adventure quest" around the ship in search of Kermit’s missing banjo and other items. "The Case of the Stolen Show" is a self-paced adventure game designed for guests age nine and older. Other new features on the Disney Fantasy include be more than 20 pieces of "Enchanted Art," which seem to come alive. The Animator’s Palate restaurant will have a new show called "Animation Magic," in which guests can draw a character using a template on their placemat. Then, just before dinner, house lights dim, black-and-white drawings appear and then turn into color. In Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab youth areas, Disney characters making appearances on a 103-inch plasma screen include Crush, the animated sea turtle from the "Finding Nemo," and Stitch, from "Lilo & Stitch." The Disney Fantasy also features real-time video views in monitors in the 150 inside staterooms. Sometimes an animated Disney character will fly by. High-definition cameras on the exterior of the ship feed the video to the monitors. Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab will feature a Magic PlayFloor, which has 16 light pads on the perimeter that detect motion and location and trigger actions. There are 28 monitors integrated with one another to create a grid display 15-by-15-feet. The games are thematically tied to Disney stories and characters. The adults-only area on Disney Fantasy, Europa, features bars and lounges inspired by European travel. Skyline provides birds’-eye views of city skylines. The venue’s nine windows are actually 65-inch LCD screens that will show views of cities such as Paris, London, Barcelona, Florence, Athens, Budapest and St. Petersburg.
　

Royal Caribbean International to get a new class of ship

2011-11-29T10:21:00.001-08:00

Royal Caribbean International's parent company has signed a letter of intent with German shipyard Meyer Werft to build at least one 4,100-passenger, 158,000-ton ship for the line, with scheduled delivery in fall 2014. The order would also include an option for a second ship, with a spring 2015 delivery. "This next generation will not disappoint," said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean's parent company Royal Caribbean' Cruises, Ltd., in a statement. Fain would not divulge any of the features that "Project Sunshine," as the class of ship is now code-named, might have, but he did say to expect "new activities and entertainment concepts." "It will offer features for everyone," Fain said. "From grand, spectacular spaces to small intimate settings; from active, invigorating activities to the serenity of more personal space; and from a plethora of dining alternatives to a cornucopia of opportunities for families." Fain also said the ships would take the leading-edge energy efficiencies and environmental technologies "one further step." The 158,000-ton ships are almost exactly the same size as Royal Caribbean's 160,000-ton, 3,600-passenger Freedom-class vessels, and significantly smaller than the line's last two new builds, the 5,400-passenger Oasis-class ships. Fain told Wall Street analysts in late January that "the time may be right" to order a new ship, and that the line had been working on a new design.

Passenger sentenced to 21 months for dealing drugs

2011-11-29T10:08:00.000-08:00

Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas arrives in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Nov. 11, 2010.
Patrick Farrell, APA judge in the U.S. Virgin Islands yesterday sentenced a California man to 21 months in prison for dealing drugs to fellow passengers on the 5,400-passenger Allure of the Seas. Steven Barry Krumholz pleaded guilty to the charges in July. The West Hollywood man had been arrested in February when the ship docked in St. Thomas. The Allure of the Seas was at the time chartered by Atlantis Events, the sailing on the world's largest ship billed as the world's largest gay cruise. U.S. District Court Judge Curtis Gomez said Krumholz used his cabin on the cruise ship "as if it was an apothecary for controlled substances," the Associated Press reports. Police at the time of his arrest said they found more than 142 ecstasy pills, methamphetamine, a small amount of ketamine, and about $51,000 in cash in Krumholz's cabin.
He had faced up to 20 years in prison. Royal Caribbean fully cooperated with authorities during the investigation.

isers left behind in St. Kitts after drug bust

2011-11-29T10:02:00.000-08:00

Two Americans vacationing this week on a Celebrity Cruises ship were left behind in St. Kitts after they allegedly were caught with marijuana in their cabin, a local news outlet on the island reports. The St. Kitts Observer says William Donovan and Shari Hoffman of Los Angeles were not allowed back on board the Celebrity Eclipse on Wednesday after Donovan admitted to the drug possession in a local St. Kitts court and paid a fine. Local police had taken the couple into custody earlier in the day after being called to the Eclipse by the ship's security department, which had found what it believed to be cannabis in the couple's cabin, the news outlet says.
The Observer says Donovan paid a fine of 5,000 East Caribbean dollars (about $1,850 U.S. dollars), and the couple spent Wednesday night in St. Kitts before flying out on Thursday.

Royal Caribbean to Install iPads in Splendour of the Seas Stateroom

2011-11-29T09:52:00.001-08:00

Royal Caribbean International will install iPad mobile digital devices in every stateroom onboard the newly revitalized Splendour of the Seas. The touch-screen tablet will let guests access the daily Cruise Compass of events and activities as well as personal daily itineraries, including shore excursions. They can also monitor their onboard account, order room service, view restaurant menus, access the Internet and watch movies. The iPads will be available beginning in mid-February on Splendour of the Seas before being extended to all Vision-class ships when each undergoes revitalization in the following two years. The iPads, which will feature English and Portuguese on Splendour of the Seas, can be used in staterooms but also through the pervasive Wi-Fi also being installed throughout the ship. When logging on for the first time, passengers will need to accept an agreement to pay for the unit in the event it goes missing or is damaged. In addition to the iPads, Splendour of the Seas, which emerges from dry dock on Nov. 25, also will have new stateroom amenities such as flat-screen televisions, refreshed bathrooms and completely remodeled interiors, including luxurious new linens and furniture, as well as an additional 124 balconies. The ship also will be outfitted with the digital way-finding technology found on the lines Oasis-class ships. The Splendour also will debut new dining options including the Asian Izumi restaurant, the steakhouse Chops Grille, the Boardwalk Dog House, the Park Café deli-style restaurant and the Chefs Table dining experience. Royal Caribbean also will introduce a new à la carte menu in the Viking Crown Lounge that will offer bite-sized portions of their favorite classics. Additional Royal Caribbean signature innovations debuting on the ship will be the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, a Diamond lounge, a Concierge Lounge, a Britto Gallery featuring works from Brazilian pop-artist Romero Britto, the new R-Bar as well as a reinvented Centrum experience. Upon completion of the refurbishments, Splendour of the Seas will sail a trans-Atlantic voyage on Nov. 25 from Lisbon, Portugal, to its seasonal homeport of Sao Paulo (Santos), Brazil. For more information, contact TheCruiseOutlet.com at 203-288-1884

Repairs Force Carnival Magic to Alter Cruise Itinerary

2011-11-17T04:56:00.000-08:00

It's not even a year old, and Carnival Magic is already experiencing technical problems that are forcing the ship to alter its itinerary. One of the ship's stern thrusters is in need of repair, says a Carnival company statement, and to complete the work, the ship must stay overnight in Progreso, Mexico, this Wednesday into Thursday, skipping a call on Costa Maya. The ship will visit Cozumel as scheduled on Friday. Passengers will receive a $25 per person onboard credit. Carnival apologizes for the itinerary change and states that "the technical problem does not compromise the ship's safety and all other systems and hotel services are functioning normally." The ship is currently sailing a six-night Mexico cruise out of Galveston, the first cruise from its new Texas homeport after an inaugural season in Europe.

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas Opens Starbucks Coffee Store

2011-11-15T05:03:00.001-08:00

Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas has opened a Starbucks coffee store, the second Starbucks at sea since sister ship Allure of the Seas launched with a Starbucks kiosk in December 2010. The stores offers Starbucks coffee drinks and seasonal beverages made by trained baristas, as well as food and a selection of Starbucks Via Ready Brew products. The Starbucks stores aboard both ships are open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. They are located at the forward end of the Royal Promenade. Pricing is a la carte. For more information, contact The Cruise Outlet at 800-775-1884

Holland America’s Oosterdam Delayed by Medical Evacuation

2011-11-03T04:33:00.000-07:00

The current cruise of Holland America Line’s Oosterdam will arrive in San Diego a day late due to a medical evacuation of three guests near Hilo, Hawaii. The company said the ship was cruising to San Diego but had to turn around and sail back toward Hilo to rendezvous with U.S. Coast Guard helicopters for the evacuation. As a result, Oosterdam will now arrive in San Diego on Nov. 6 instead of Nov. 5. Guests on the current sailing have been informed of the change. "We are working closely with them to alter travel plans as needed due to the late disembarkation," the company said. The Oosterdam departed San Diego on Oct. 22 on a 14-day Hawaii sailing. Oosterdam’s next sailing to Mexico is now scheduled to depart one day late on Nov. 6. The revised itinerary is day at sea on Monday, scenic cruising on Tuesday, Puerto Vallarta on Wednesday, Cabo San Lucas on Thursday, day at sea on Friday and return to San Diego on Nov. 12. Guests and travel agents impacted by this change are being notified. Embarkation on Nov. 6 will begin at 11:30 a.m. For local guests not flying into San Diego for the Nov. 6 cruise, Holland America is offering $150 onboard credit for the first and second guests in each stateroom, as well as a $75 credit for the third and fourth stateroom guests. For guests who are flying into San Diego and can change their flights to arrive on Sunday, Holland America will reimburse air change fees up to $100 per person and also will provide a $150-per-person onboard credit. For guests who cannot change their flights and are arriving on Saturday, Holland America has arranged for a limited number of complimentary hotel rooms in San Diego as well as complimentary shuttle service to the pier on Sunday morning from the hotel. They will also receive a $75-per-person onboard credit to help offset shoreside meal expenses on Saturday and Sunday morning. Each guest on the Nov. 6 sailing also will receive a future cruise credit equal to 25 percent of the base cruise fare paid for the sailing
　
　
　

Norwegian Gem Rescues Five from Sailboat in North Atlantic

2011-11-01T04:50:00.000-07:00

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Gem rescued five people from a sinking sailboat in the North Atlantic Ocean on Oct. 29. The cruise ship responded to a call from the U.S. Coast Guard, which had received a distress notification from Sanctuary, a 39-foot sailboat, stating that it had large breaking waves over the bow, had lost power and its life raft, and was taking on water. Sanctuary was located approximately 350 nautical miles from New York in the North Atlantic, two hours away from Norwegian Gem, the closest vessel in the area. Norwegian Gem Capt. Hakan Svedung immediately diverted course to rescue the four men and one woman aboard. Upon reaching the Sanctuary, Norwegian Gem encountered extreme weather conditions with wind force up to 40 knots and large swells, making it challenging to launch the ship’s rescue boat. Once in the water, the rescue boat made contact with the sailboat and quickly transferred the five occupants, who are Canadians. At approximately 2 p.m., the sailboat passengers and rescue team were all safely aboard Norwegian Gem. The ship, which was returning from Bermuda, continued on its route back to New York. "This rescue operation was conducted under extremely difficult circumstances," Svedung said. "I am proud of our crew who braved their lives to rescue the five people in distress." For more information contact TheCruiseOutlet.com

Norwegian Expands Nickelodeon Program to Third Ship

2011-10-28T04:38:00.000-07:00

Norwegian Cruise Line is extending the Nickelodeon family entertainment to a third ship, Norwegian Gem, beginning in February. Nickelodeon-themed shows and activities were first introduced in April 2010 on Norwegian Jewel and in July 2010 on Norwegian Epic.
Each Norwegian Gem cruise will feature a live Nickelodeon-themed show in the main theater, Nick Live Poolside! with games and activities by the pool, character breakfast with characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants, and Doras Dance Party. Other family activities include Nick Jr. Story Time, family trivia and arts and crafts sessions.
Norwegian Gem will begin offering Nickelodeon programming year-round beginning on the Feb. 19 cruise. The ship is sailing seven-day Bahamas and Florida voyages from New York City through Sept. 1. Ports of call include Port Canaveral, Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau. For more information, call The Cruise Outlet at 203-288-1884

Silversea Cruises Expands Number of Bridge Sailings for 2012

2011-10-25T04:36:00.000-07:00

In 2012, Silversea Cruises will offer 56 voyages with a special focus on bridge for card players. The bridge sailings will feature a formal program of contract and duplicate bridge, supervised by instructors who are certified Life Masters by the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL). All bridge sailing activities are complimentary, and guests can take part in daily bridge sessions (twice daily on sea days), bridge lectures for beginning and intermediate-level players, and opportunities to earn ACBL Master Points. Silversea supplies all bridge materials and hosts the program in a dedicated card room on board. Following is a selection of bridge sailings offered in 2012: Voyage 2203, Silver Wind, Jan. 24, 10 days roundtrip from Cape Town, starting at $5,558; Voyage 4208, Silver Whisper, departing Bangkok on March 26 on an 18-day sailing to Dubai, from $9,598; Voyage 4210, Silver Whisper, May 1, 12 days, Monte Carlo to Southampton, from $6,088; and Voyage 5204, Silver Spirit, Feb. 12, seven days, Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro. For more information, call 800-775-1884 or visit Thecruiseoutlet.com
　
　
　
　

Celebrity Free Two-Night Cruise

2011-10-18T04:49:00.000-07:00

Celebrity Cruises is offering a free two-night cruise on the Constellation on Sept. 5, 2012 from Amsterdam to Southampton. In order to participate, travelers must book either Celebrity's 12-night Scandinavia and Russia Cruise departing Aug. 24, 2012 or the 12-night Immersive Europe Wine Cruise departing Sept. 7, 2012. Travelers have the choice of sailing before or after the English Channel cruise. To take advantage of this offer, bookings must be made by Dec. 16, 2011. Call TheCruiseOutlet.com at 800-775-1884
　

FBI Investigating Dead Newborn Found on Carnival Cruise Ship

2011-10-18T04:39:00.000-07:00

Update, October 17, 3:30 p.m. EDT: According to an update provided by FBI Special Agent Dave Couvertier, Dutch authorities took custody of the infant's body on Wednesday and interviewed the 20-year-old mother. The mother, who was invited on the cruise to celebrate the birthday of a close girlfriend, has since returned to the United States. This is an ongoing investigation and the FBI is coordinating with Dutch authorities in St. Maarten.
(October 16, 9:45 a.m. EDT) -- The FBI is investigating the death of a newborn found Wednesday on Carnival Dream, which returned to its Port Canaveral homeport Saturday.
"Law enforcement authorities were advised and subsequently a 20-year-old female guest who was traveling onboard the ship was detained [in St. Maarten, where Dream called on Wednesday] pending further investigation," said the line in a statement. At this time, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is handling the matter. Carnival says an employee discovered the deceased newborn in a guest cabin. In an e-mail to the Associated Press, Special Agent Dave Couvertier wrote, "No one has been charged as we are still working on obtaining facts and gathering any available evidence. As a result, no information is being released regarding suspect(s) at this time." Couvertier added that the detained passenger is from the United States. Carnival's official policy states, "Pregnant women are not allowed to cruise if their estimated gestational age on the day of disembarkation is 25 weeks or more." Women with an estimated gestational age of 25 weeks or less, on the day of disembarkation, must submit, prior to departure, a letter from her attending physician certifying that her gestational status is in accordance with this policy, and that the expecting mother is fit to sail. According to an unnamed source, the child was born onboard. Carnival and the FBI have yet to respond to requests for more information.

New Disney Fantasy to Feature Water Park, Adult Pool

2011-10-14T03:54:00.000-07:00

Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Disney Fantasy, will introduce a new water park and an adults-only pool area when it debuts in March. AquaLab is the new water play area on Deck 12, near the entrance to the AquaDuck water coaster. The area will feature pop jets, geysers and bubblers in an 1,800-square-foot space. The area tells the story that AquaLab was created by Donald Duck’s nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie, and features a water experiments designed to drench the whole family. Children entering AquaLab will see that the nephews are away, leaving the young cruise guests in charge. Through hand-painted notes left by the nephews, kids are put in charge of the AquaDuck water coaster. By turning wheels and moving levers at three wacky aqua stations, kids "control" the speed and temperature of AquaDuck. The Disney Fantasy also will have a wading pool with a water fountain and lounge chairs under a canopy on deck 12 forward. In addition to Quiet Cove Pool and Cove Bar on the Disney Fantasy, a new area for guests 18 and older will be on Deck 13 forward. A new water feature called Satellite Falls is a circular splash pool with benches and a gently falling rain curtain. The area will have loungers under a canopy. Like its sister ship the Disney Dream, the Disney Fantasy offers many other pool and sunning options. Donald’s Pool is for families and has a giant screen that will show Disney films, television shows and live broadcast events. Mickey’s Pool for children features an oversized version of Mickey’s hand supporting a yellow winding slide. Nemo’s Reef, a water-play area, features colorful, interactive figures that move and spray water, including Nemo, Dory, Marlin and a pint-sized water slide shaped like Mr. Ray. Two digital sports simulators offer virtual game experiences in sports such as golf, hockey, soccer, basketball, rugby, baseball and football. For more information, call The Cruise Outlet at 800-775-1884

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway to Homeport in New York City

2011-10-07T07:21:00.000-07:00

Norwegian Cruise Line’s new 4,000-passenger Norwegian Breakaway will make New York City its year-round home port starting in May 2013. The Breakaway -- which will be the largest ship ever to homeport in the city -- will replace Norwegian Star and embark on a minimum of 88 cruises from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal through March 31, 2015. The ship will offer cruises to Bermuda. Norwegian also announced that pop icon and artist Peter Max has been commissioned to paint the signature hull artwork for Breakaway. This is the first time Norwegian has asked a well-known artist to paint the hull artwork on one of its ships. Norwegian Cruise Line was the first cruise line to homeport year-round in New York City beginning in 2003. Since then, the company has brought its newest and largest ships to the Big Apple, with two ships calling in New York City since 2005. In 2013 alone, Norwegian Breakaway is expected to make 34 calls at Manhattan Cruise Terminal (MCT). In addition, Norwegian Gem will continue to call year-round at MCT, with an expected 47 calls, and Norwegian Star will make 15 calls in 2013 before being replaced. Currently under construction at Meyer Werft in Germany, Norwegian Breakaway will be 144,017 gross tons and is scheduled for delivery in April 2013. Following inaugural events, the ship will sail 22 seven-day cruises from New York to Bermuda beginning May 12 through Oct. 6, 2013. Departing on Sundays, the ship will spend three days in Bermuda, along with three days at sea. Consumers who wish to be amount to the first to make reservations and receive the significant savings being offered should call 1-800-775-1884.

Great American Steamboat Company to Begin Mississippi River Cruises

2011-10-06T10:05:00.000-07:00

The Great American Steamboat Company is returning the 436-passenger American Queen steamboat to the Mississippi River. Resumption of the cruises on the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee Rivers begins April 13, 2012. The ship will depart from cities including Memphis, New Orleans, Vicksburg, St. Louis, Louisville, St. Paul, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Inspired by the steamboats of the 19th century, the American Queen offers a two-level Grand Saloon and a two-deck Grand Dining Room. Many staterooms have private verandas. Personal touches include freshly baked cinnamon rolls each morning, complimentary wine and beer with dinner, and evening turn-down service with a praline on the pillow. Voyages range from three to 14 nights, and fares start at $995 per person, double. The Steamboating Plus program offers a complimentary luxury hotel stay before or after the sailing, along with transfers, a welcome brunch and other perks. The line also offers the Total Financial Security Program, where 100 percent of fares paid are held in escrow accounts until the voyage is completed. For more information, call 800-775-1884.

Crystal Cruises Expands Big Band, Ballroom Dance Cruises

2011-10-05T14:30:00.000-07:00

Crystal Cruises has expanded its live Big Band and Ballroom Dance theme cruises for 2012. The Glenn Miller Orchestra will perform on the Crystal Symphony’s March 19 Miami-Madeira-Lisbon voyage, and the Artie Shaw Orchestra will perform on the Crystal Serenity’s Barcelona-Canary Islands-St. Maarten-Miami cruise on Dec. 9. The cruises will feature professional group dance lessons for all levels of experience, advanced dance workshops for more proficient dancers, twice the usual number of professional dance instructors, extra Ambassador Hosts to lead women without dance partners, and dancing in the afternoon and late into the evening. The line’s Book Now and Two-for-One promotions amount to more than $5,000 per person in savings on each voyage. If booked by Oct. 31, March’s 10-day, all-inclusive (Crystal’s first-ever) voyage starts at $1,360 per person, double, including complimentary fine wines and premium spirits throughout the ship, open bar service in all lounges, and pre-paid gratuities for housekeeping, bar and dining staff. The December 12-day sailing is also all-inclusive, with starting fares of $2,620 per person, double, if booked by Oct. 31. For more information, contact The Cruise Outlet at 800-775-1884

Norwegian Offers New a La Carte Sushi Menu Fleetwide

2011-09-19T04:20:00.000-07:00

September 18, 2011
Norwegian Cruise Line is rolling out its a la carte sushi menu fleetwide. Previously only available on Norwegian Epic, the menu is now or will soon be offered on all ships except for Norwegian Sky. The extensive menu, which features sushi, sashimi, light appetizers and desserts, will also be offered as a lunch option on embarkation and sea days. The pricing is per item with dishes averaging $4.
Sushi was previously served as a menu option in the Asian restaurants onboard the ships. Now, the sushi bar will be considered a separate restaurant and serve the new a la carte menu. Appetizers include edamame, miso soup and sesame seaweed salad. Sushi selections include the Godzilla Roll, a roll with sweet shrimp, mango, avocado, caramelized cashews and coconut, and the Dynamite Roll with yellowtail, salmon, green onion, and maki tempura style. Also offered are sushi and sashimi of yellow fin tuna, octopus and salmon.
The sushi a la carte menu is available on Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Star, Pride of America, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Spirit. It will be available on Norwegian Sun on Oct. 5. For more information, call the Cruise Outlet at 203-288-1884
　
　
　
　
　

Royal Caribbean Apologizes for Stranding Passengers in San Juan September 07, 2011

2011-09-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

By Theresa Norton Masek
Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Adam Goldstein, in his blog, apologized to passengers who missed their ship in San Juan after it was forced to depart early due to Hurricane Irene. As the storm approached, the Port Authority in San Juan ordered Serenade of the Seas to depart early and 150 people missed the ship. Royal Caribbean assisted those passengers that had booked the lines Choice Air, but others were on their own to find hotel accommodations and flights to the next port of call. A similar situation befell Carnival, which found hotels and flights for its 300 passengers, leaving Royal Caribbean open to widespread criticism. In his blog, Goldstein wrote: Although our standard position for weather-related disruptions is to encourage guests to work directly with their air carriers in reaching the ship, in the case of Serenade of the Seas in San Juan, we should have recognized immediately that the forced departure of the ship, albeit out of our control, created an out-of-the-norm situation. Although more than half of the 150 guests who missed the ship in San Juan were able to join Serenade in Aruba, earlier recognition would have resulted in us providing the best and fastest alternative travel arrangements to reach the ship and also providing more support in San Juan and/or over the phone for hotel and other arrangements. Goldstein said all guests who missed Serenade of the Seas in San Juan received compensation equivalent to the number of days they missed of that voyage. Although we have heard from very few of the affected guests, I apologize on behalf of Royal Caribbean that our situation awareness was not at its customary high level, he wrote. We have learned some valuable lessons for the future

Royal Caribbean Changes Course, Compensates Stranded Passengers

2011-09-02T15:35:00.000-07:00

Royal Caribbean International has changed course and now will compensate passengers who missed their ship in San Juan due to an early departure forced by Hurricane Irene. The company now says it will give each guest who missed the Serenade of the Seas, but boarded later, with a future cruise certificate for 30 percent of the cruise fare paid for their sailing "as a gesture of goodwill."
The company also said it was contacting guests who completely missed their cruise to offer an undisclosed compensation, saying it "would prefer that the impacted guests learn of the amount directly from the line before it is disclosed publicly. We are compensating these passengers because we understand that this was an unusual situation, and we want to provide our guests with another opportunity to sail with Royal Caribbean International in the near future."
The incident occurred Aug. 21 when Serenade of the Seas, which was scheduled to depart at 8:30 p.m. was ordered by the Port of San Juan to leave at 5:30 p.m. in advance of Hurricane Irene. Therefore, 145 guests who had not re-embarked were left behind. Royal Caribbean provided 15 of the passengers, who had booked their air travel via the line, with hotel accommodations in San Juan for Monday evening, as well as a flight to Aruba on Tuesday, where they re-joined the ship. The cruise line also notified the 130 passengers who paid cruise-only fares and booked their air separately of hotel availability in San Juan, but said the expense was their responsibility, since it was a weather-related event. They also were responsible for their own air to re-join the ship.
"Since this decision was made by the Port of San Juan on Sunday while the ship was docked alongside, there was no way to notify our guests of this change in departure time," Royal Caribbean said at the time in a statement.
Meanwhile, Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Victory was forced to depart San Juan about four hours ahead of schedule, stranding about 300 passengers at the port. However, about half were able to meet up with the ship at its next port call in Barbados. For those who were unable to board ship, Carnival provided a complimentary, two-night hotel stay in San Juan and complimentary air transportation to Barbados. Guests who did not have passports in their possession could not proceed to Barbados and missed the full voyage.

Hurricane Irene Sends Cruise Ships Scattering in the Caribbean

2011-08-25T07:51:00.001-07:00

(Updated 7:30 a.m. EDT) -- Irene, the ninth named storm of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season, strengthened to hurricane force overnight, prompting a number of Eastern Caribbean islands to issue storm watches and warnings and sparking itinerary changes by Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean.
According to the National Hurricane Center's 7 a.m. EDT advisory, Irene is some 40 miles west-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Maximum sustained winds from the storm have reached 75 mph, and the storm is expected to intensify.

Cruise Ship Itinerary Changes
Royal Caribbean has reversed the itinerary for Oasis of the Seas, which left Fort Lauderdale on Saturday for a week-long Western Caribbean cruise. The ship will now spend Sunday at sea; visit Cozumel on Monday; spend Tuesday at sea; call on Falmouth, Jamaica on Wednesday; and visit Labadee, the line's private peninsula, on Thursday. Oasis will spend Friday at sea before returning to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday as scheduled.

Freedom of the Seas, which left Sunday from Port Canaveral on a week-long Western Caribbean cruise, will also sail a reversed itinerary. The ship will now call on Cozumel (Tuesday), Grand Cayman (Wednesday), Falmouth, Jamaica (Thursday) and Labadee (Friday).

Oasis' sister ship, Allure of the Seas will visit all the ports originally scheduled on its week-long Caribbean cruise, but in a slightly different order. The ship will now call on Nassau, Bahamas on Saturday instead of Monday. Visits to St. Thomas (Wednesday) and St. Maarten (Thursday) will take place as planned.

Royal Caribbean has scrambled the order for Serenade of the Seas' seven-night Southern Caribbean cruise, which left from San Juan, Puerto Rico on Sunday. The ship will now visit Aruba (Tuesday), Curacao (Wednesday), St. Kitts (Friday) and St. Thomas (Saturday).
Carnival Miracle, which embarked from New York on an eight-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on Thursday, will be sailing an altered itinerary. Instead of visiting San Juan, St. Thomas and Grand Turk, the ship will call on Grand Turk (Monday) and Half Moon Cay (Tuesday).

Weather Outlook: Possible Affected Ships and Ports

The latest NHC projections show the storm passing through Puerto Rico early early Monday before reaching the east coast of the Dominican Republic midday Monday. A hurricane warning is in effect for Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, and tropical storm warnings are in place for the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, and Haiti.

Legislation aims to lure cruise industry to Brownsville and the coast

2011-08-25T07:49:00.000-07:00

by Steve Clark of the The Brownsville Herald
BROWNSVILLE -- It’s possible to board a cruise ship at any one of 11 ports in the United States and sail anywhere — except to another U.S. port, unless you stop in a foreign country first. That is, unless the cruise ship was built in the United States, is registered in the United States, is U.S.-owned, and is captained and crewed by U.S. citizens. In that case, a cruise ship can sail back and forth between U.S. ports until its propellers fall off. Trouble is, there aren’t any — U.S.-built cruise ships, that is. The last American-built cruise ship, SS The Emerald, built in the late 1950s, was pulled out of service in the past couple of years and is "laid up" in Greece. Who cares? Congressman Blake Farenthold, for one. He says a law enacted 90 years ago to support the U.S. maritime industry now impedes tourism-related economic development in U.S. port cities — including Brownsville and Corpus Christi, both within Farenthold’s congressional district — by making it illegal for foreign-flagged, built and crewed cargo and passenger ships to travel between U.S. ports without making a foreign stop along the way. The culprit is Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. Section 27 is known in nautical circles as the Jones Act. The Jones Act, whose passenger provision actually dates back to the Passenger Vessel Service Act of 1886, wasn’t specifically intended to keep cruise ships from calling at consecutive U.S. ports. But since the United States doesn’t build cruise ships anymore, that might as well have been the intention. So Farenthold introduced House Resolution 2460, the Creating and Restoring U.S. Investment and Stimulating Employment (CRUISE) Act, which would amend U.S. maritime law to allow foreign cruise ships to call at multiple U.S. ports consecutively. Farenthold noted that in 2009 alone, the cruise industry generated more than 15,000 jobs and $788 million in Texas, or rather Galveston. The Port of Galveston is a cruise line "home port" and the only Texas port currently servicing cruise ships. However, he believes Brownsville and Corpus Christi could benefit substantially, even as just ports-of-call. Farenthold said a 2,500-passenger cruise ship can potentially generate as much as $36,000 in onshore spending per U.S. port call. The Texas Legislature last session passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 5, or the Cruise Ship Industry Study Bill, which calls for the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the Texas House "to provide for a joint interim legislative study regarding the development of the cruise industry on the Texas coast between Calhoun and Cameron counties and its potential economic impact." The bill notes that Florida and California, in that order, benefit most from the North American cruise industry, with each state operating five ports for cruise ships. Besides Galveston, SCR 5 argues that three Texas major deepwater ports between Cameron and Calhoun counties are capable of serving as cruise line headquarters or ports of embarkation. One is Brownsville. The others are Port Lavaca, about 80 miles north of Corpus Christi, and Corpus Christi itself. Ralph Cowen, Port of Brownsville commissioner and vice chairman, said changing the law to allow foreign-flagged cruise ships to dock at consecutive U.S. ports would be a positive thing for the Gulf’s deepwater ports, including Brownsville, which has the added draw of South Padre Island. "There are a lot of interesting cruises that could happen if we could do that," he said. "It would be very helpful." However, any attempt to completely gut the Jones Act would likely be met with stiff opposition from U.S.-owned ferry companies and the union that represents crews, since the Jones Act shields them from foreign competition, Cowen said. He said that any changes would have to take ferries and the union into account "to have a chance of passage." The Port of Brownsville already has been studying the possibility of attracting cruise ships as a port-of-call. Officials from the port, Cameron County, Brownsville, Harlingen, Port Isabel and South Padre Island in 2009 formed the Cruise Line Committee, which commissioned a $25,000 feasibility study. The study, completed about a year ago, determined that attracting cruise ships to Brownsville is feasible. Since then, the committee has met with and corresponded with representatives from the cruise industry in order to "plant a seed" — also suggesting Brownsville as an alternate port in the event of hurricanes. It took the Port of Galveston 12 years to land its first cruise ship, beating out the Port of Houston, which built a $100 million cruise ship facility that sits unused. Now Galveston is hosting 12 cruise ships a week, which translates into enormous revenues. Disney Cruise Line announced last spring it would begin sailing its vessel the Disney Magic out of Galveston in 2012 for seven-night cruises to the Western Caribbean. "If we could get one ship a week that’s all we need," Cowen said. "That’s 16,000 people a month. That’s like having a major convention or two every week. Every time one of those ships come in, the amount of money it brings to a community is just a huge shot in the arm."　

Oceania Replaces Med with Canada/New England for Fall 2012

2011-08-25T07:45:00.000-07:00

Oceania Cruises will offer Canada and New England cruises for fall 2012 in place of previously scheduled Mediterranean voyages. In total, nine itineraries have been changed. Our 2011 Fall Foliage cruises have been so well received by our travel agent partners and their clients that we decided to redeploy Regatta from Europe to Canada and New England in fall 2012, stated Bruce J. Himelstein, Oceania Cruises president. These new voyages offer exceptional value with two-for-one fares and free roundtrip air."

Norwegian Updates Tobacco Policy, Bans Smoking in Staterooms

2011-08-11T07:14:00.000-07:00

Norwegian Cruise Line adjusted its smoking fleetwide, banning smoking in staterooms starting in January. Guests will still be able to smoke on outside stateroom balconies, but cigar and pipe smoking is prohibited in staterooms and on balconies. Ashtrays will be available for use upon request through housekeeping staff. In an effort to diminish the presence of smoke indoors, cigarette smoking will only be permitted in the casino, where ashtrays and appropriate signage will be displayed. Smoking will be prohibited in all other public interior venues including all bars, restaurants, conference rooms, corridors, restrooms, staircases and landings. Guests can smoke cigarettes, cigars and pipes in the enclosed cigar bars onboard Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Spirit. In addition, the policy allows guests to smoke cigarettes, cigars and pipes in outdoor public guest spaces and open decks, where designated by the appropriate signage. Smoking is not permitted near outdoor venues which serve food, in open spaces such as the jogging track, sport complex, children’s pool and in The Haven outdoor areas. For more information contact The Cruise Outlet - 203-288-1884

Tropical Storm Emily Forces Ships to Change Caribbean Itineraries

2011-08-04T14:50:00.001-07:00

Several cruise ships sailing in the Caribbean changed itineraries to avoid the path of Tropical Storm Emily, which gained strength on Aug. 2 when it was about 215 miles south-southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. A tropical storm warning was in effect for Vieques and Culebra in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Haiti, while a watch was issued for the U.S. Virgin Islands. The National Hurricane Center forecast that the center of Emily will be near the coast of Hispaniola on Aug. 3. A “slight strengthening” of the storm is expected in the next day or two. Maximum sustained winds have increased and are now near 45 mph with higher gusts. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles.

Royal Caribbean International has altered the itineraries of the Oasis of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas. Oasis was unable to make its scheduled port calls to St. Thomas on Aug. 2 and St. Maarten on Aug. 3. Instead, the ship spent Aug. 1 and 2 at sea, and will call on Costa Maya on Aug. 3 and Cozumel on Aug. 4. The ship will spend Aug. 5 at sea as it returns to Port Everglades on Aug. 6, as scheduled. Freedom of the Seas is also unable to make its scheduled port calls to St. Thomas on Aug. 3 and St. Maarten on Aug. 4. Instead, the ship will call on Grand Cayman on Aug. 3 and Cozumel on Aug. 4. The ship will spend Aug. 5 to 6 at sea as it returns to Port Canaveral on Aug. 7, as scheduled.

Carnival Cruise Lines changed the itineraries of the Carnival Dream and Carnival Liberty. The Dream cancelled a call at St. Thomas on Aug. 2 and instead went to Grand Turk. The Aug. 4 sea day will be replaced with a call at Freeport. The Liberty also went to Grand Turk instead of St. Thomas on Aug. 2, and will replace its scheduled Aug. 4 call on Grand Turk with a visit to Key West. The Aug. 5 sea day will be replaced with a call to Freeport.

Norwegian Offers Upgrades, Lower Deposits, $100 Onboard Credit

2011-07-22T10:50:00.001-07:00

Norwegian Cruise Line, in a major new offer across the fleet, is giving early-booking rewards to those who book 2012 or 2013 cruises between July 11 and Aug. 14. The offer is good on voyages at least three days long to Alaska, Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Europe and Hawaii. The offer includes same-category upgrades, up to $100 per stateroom in onboard credit and reduced cruise deposits fleet-wide. Norwegian’s deployment for 2012 and 2013 includes several firsts for the line. Norwegian Pearl will sail from New York beginning in October 2012, offering 21 seven-day Bahamas and Florida cruises, along with three 12-day Southern Caribbean voyages. In April, Norwegian Star will start weeklong cruises to Bermuda from New York. In the company’s largest European deployment ever, Norwegian Spirit will join Norwegian Jade sailing year-round in Europe beginning in April. Norwegian Spirit will operate 12-day “Grand Mediterranean” voyages in the summer and fall, along with nine-day Canary Islands cruises in the winter and spring. In Alaska, Norwegian Jewel will replace Norwegian Star in May and cruise from Seattle on a seven-day Sawyer Glacier itinerary. In another limited-time offer, those who book a Europe cruise on Norwegian Epic by July 31 receive up to $300 spending credit. The Western Mediterranean sailings depart Barcelona and visit Naples, Rome (Civitavecchia), Florence (Livorno), Nice (Villefranche) and Provence (Marseille).

For more information, call The Cruise Outlet at 203-288-1884.

Bill Cosby to Perform on Norwegian Pearl in Seattle

2011-07-20T11:37:00.000-07:00

Norwegian Cruise Lines Norwegian Pearl will host Bill Cosby for one night when he performs in the ships Stardust Theater on July 24. Cosby will perform two 70-minute comedy shows, complimentary to guests, while the ship is docked in Seattle.

Norwegian Pearl will overnight in Seattle on July 24 in order to undergo technical repairs to the ships propeller. The ship will depart at noon on July 25 on its seven-day Alaska Glacier Bay cruise. Because of the delayed departure, the ship will bypass its call in Juneau. Guests will be compensated with a $150 onboard credit per stateroom, as well as a future cruise credit of 10 percent of the cruise fare paid per guest. In addition to Cosby’s performance on Sunday night, guests will also enjoy complimentary house wine with dinner and 50 percent off on specialty restaurant cover charges.

We understand that missing Juneau will cause disappointment for some of our guests, so we wanted to do something very special to make the cruise memorable, said Norwegians CEO Kevin Sheehan. Bill Cosby is a huge name in entertainment and we felt that he would deliver an incredible show. We are very pleased to have Mr. Cosby performing on board Norwegian Pearl.

For more information, contact the Cruise Outlet at 203-288-1884!

Norwegian Cruise Line Rewards Those Who Plan Ahead

2011-07-18T10:06:00.000-07:00

Norwegian Cruise Line is rewarding those guests who plan their vacations in advance beginning on Monday, July 11, 2011. Vacationers who book their 2012 or 2013 cruise between July 11 and August 14, 2011, can take advantage of special offers on Norwegian’s Freestyle Cruising voyages* to Alaska; Bahamas & Florida; Bermuda; the Caribbean; Europe; and Hawai’i. Guests who book early will cruise happy with same-category upgrades, up to $100 per stateroom to spend on board (based on cruise length and category) and reduced cruise deposits fleet-wide.

Norwegian’s deployment for 2012 and 2013 includes many exciting firsts for the line. From the northeast, Norwegian Pearl will set sail from New York beginning in October 2012, offering a series of 21 seven-day Bahamas and Florida cruises, along with three 12-day Southern Caribbean voyages; and, in April 2012, Norwegian Star will embark on weeklong cruises to Bermuda from New York. In the company’s largest European deployment ever, Norwegian Spirit will join Norwegian Jade sailing year-round in Europe beginning in April 2012. This is also the first time Norwegian Spirit will sail in Europe offering 12-day Grand Mediterranean voyages in the summer and fall, along with nine-day Canary Islands in the winter and spring. In Alaska, Norwegian Jewel will replace Norwegian Star in May 2012 and cruise from Seattle on a seven-day Sawyer Glacier itinerary. Guests sailing on Norwegian’s fleet of 11 Freestyle Cruising ships can experience award-winning entertainment, accommodations to suit an array of needs from solo travelers to families; and enjoy dinner around the world with options ranging from Italian, French, Chinese and classic American to sushi, Teppanyaki and Brazilian churrasco.

For a limited-time, guests who are looking to set sail on a once-in-a-lifetime cruise vacation through Europe can receive up to $300 to spend on board (based on stateroom category) on new reservations made on Norwegian Epic by July 31, 2011.

Norwegian Cruise Line Adds Surcharge for Late-Night Room Service

2011-07-13T09:04:00.001-07:00

Thinking of ordering room service at 1 a.m. to quell those late-night hunger pangs?

Norwegian Cruise Line passengers will soon have to pay for the privilege. In coming months, the line will begin charging $3.95 per room service order delivered between midnight and 5 a.m. The new policy will be rolled out fleet-wide in July for the line's eight ships sailing from U.S. ports and in August for its two Europe-based vessels, Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Jade. NCL spokeswoman AnneMarie Mathews tells that the charge is being instituted in order to cut down on food waste, which she said was more of an issue during the early a.m. hours.

Passengers with late-night cravings will still be able to get their fix without any added fees provided they're alert enough to leave the cabin. The line's signature 24-hour diner-style restaurant (O'Sheehan's on Norwegian Epic, Blue Lagoon on NCL's other ships) will remain surcharge-free. If NCL's new late-night surcharge seems familiar, that's because Royal Caribbean instituted a nearly identical fee 2.5 years ago. At the time, RCI's fee sparked vigorous debate.

In other food-related news, NCL also announced that it would be rolling out 24-hour pizza delivery fleet-wide. The for-fee dining option -- $5 for a 16-inch pie (cheese, pepperoni, veggie) delivered anywhere on the ship -- debuted on NCL's Norwegian Epic. One note: Passengers who order pizza (or beverages) between midnight and 5 a.m. will not be charged the late-night service fee in addition to the $5.

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 Fails Sanitation Inspection - June 26, 2011

2011-07-08T08:56:00.001-07:00

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 failed a vessel sanitation inspection on June 10 with a score of 84, two points below the level of 86 that is considered satisfactory by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report cited improper storage of food, pests and dirty pool areas, among other infractions. The company acknowledged the failing grade and said the issues have been addressed. “Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 received an uncharacteristically low score of 84 following her voluntary Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) inspection in New York on June 10,” Cunard said in a statement. “On most previous inspections she has scored over 95, on three occasions achieving the maximum of 100. The poor assessment on June 10 resulted largely from one small area of the ship’s overall operation. All the issues raised in the report were immediately addressed and have now been corrected. “Ship and shore management have now redefined certain roles and responsibilities to clarify accountability, and the company’s already-rigorous training schedule has been stepped up. The company is confident that failings of this nature will not occur again, and that the ship’s VSP scores in future will return to the customary consistently high level.” According to the CDC’s VSP site, the Queen Mary 2 scored a 98 on July 19, 2010; a 97 on Jan. 4, 2010; a 98 on Aug. 23, 2009; and three perfect 100 scores on April 14, 2009; Aug. 7, 2008; and Jan. 20, 2008. For more information, contact The CruiseOutlet.com

Princess Cruises Cancels Three Calls to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan

2011-06-22T08:13:00.000-07:00

Princess Cruises canceled calls to Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan on three Sapphire Princess sailings departing Nov. 19, Dec. 10 and Dec. 31. “Our security department continues to monitor the actions taking place in specific areas of Mexico,” the company said. “As the safety and security of our passengers and crew is our highest priority and based on the continued violence in these areas, we’ve made the decision to cancel our calls to Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan.” The itinerary now includes a two-day call in Cabo San Lucas, one day in Ensenada and three days at sea. For more information, call The Cruise Outlet 203-288-1884.

British Immigration Officers

2011-06-17T08:12:00.001-07:00

IMMIGRATION officers are taking week-long cruises on the Queen Mary 2 so pampered passengers can avoid queues when they arrive in Southampton. Staff from the United Kingdom Border Agency, criticised last week by MPs for “losing” 74,500 asylum seekers in Britain, are working in the plush surroundings of the exclusive liner, flagship of the renowned Cunard fleet. The American authorities do not let their staff board the liner for voyages to New York from Britain but the UKBA is happy to man the ships so passengers can have their passports and documentation checked before they dock. Conservative MP Douglas Carswell said yesterday: “It is extraordinary that an agency that declares itself short-staffed and under-resourced can find the manpower to put people on a luxury cruise and not just process the paperwork when passengers arrive back in the UK. “They would be better off putting their efforts into deporting illegal immigrants rather than spending their time on luxury liners.”

Published, June 5, 2011, Express.co.uk by Roddy Ashworth

Disney - Kids Sail Free!

2011-06-13T09:27:00.000-07:00

The Disney Wonder offers seven-day cruises round-trip from Los Angeles!

Disney Cruise LineDisney Cruise Line this week unveiled a "Kids Sail Free" deal on most of its Mexican Riviera sailings from October 30 to December 18, 2011.

Children age 17 and under will sail free on the 1,754-passenger Disney Wonder when traveling with two full-fare passengers in the same balcony cabin (categories 4A – 6A). Disney said there is no expiration date on the deal, but that the number of cabins allocated for the offer is limited.

For more information call 203-288-1884!

Royal Caribbean to Base Voyager of the Seas in China in June 2012

2011-06-10T15:59:00.000-07:00

Royal Caribbean International, in a bid to capture more of the potentially lucrative Chinese cruise market, said it would base Voyager of the Seas in China during the month of June in 2012. The announcement was made at a press conference at the Shanghai International Conference Center in China before an audience of 300 travel agents and media partners. Michael Bayley, executive vice president-international for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and Dr. Zinan Liu, group managing director for China and Asia, unveiled plans for Royal Caribbean to have the 3,114-passenger Voyager of the Seas sail a series of cruises from Shanghai next year. The ship will feature a wide variety of itineraries, ranging from four nights to 10 nights. Royal Caribbean said the move is designed to offer exciting new cruise experiences to Chinese vacationers, as well as attract cruise guests from around the world to visit China and sail around Asia. “Customer demand for our brand has been very strong in China,” said Bayley, “We are excited to be able to bring such an innovative ship to the China market in 2012.”

“This is a major step forward for the cruise industry in China. We will continue working with the Chinese ports and our travel partners to further develop the country’s overall cruise economy,” said Zinan. “Along with Michael Bayley, we’ve been meeting with various agencies and officials on playing an active role in the development of home ports for international cruise ships. There’s also the need to build necessary support facilities, including bonded warehouses and distribution centers. Our aim is to support cities like Shanghai, Tianjin, Hong Kong and Xiamen, to grow into world class cruise tourist destinations.” Royal Caribbean said Voyager of the Seas will be double the size of any cruise ship operating in China or the rest of the Asia-Pacific region. The ship displaces 150,000 gross registered tons, spans 11 guest decks and has 1,556 staterooms. After Shanghai, Voyager of the Seas will offer a variety of sailings to ports in Japan and Korea until August, including Fukuoka and Kobe in Japan, and Busan and Jeju in Korea. The ship will depart for Sydney, Australia in October.

Royal Caribbean said because of the significance of the growing Chinese cruise market and desire to sail with Royal Caribbean International, Legend of the Seas also will return to Shanghai in March 2012 for its fourth season. For the two ships, work is underway to offer a wider variety of tailored onboard products to Chinese guests, including more Chinese language services, authentic Chinese food and culturally appropriate recreational activities and duty-free items. When Voyager of the Seas sails into Shanghai in June 2012, it will introduce several unique concepts never before seen at sea in Asia, including the Royal Promenade, an indoor “main street” stretching nearly the full length of the middle of the ship; “Studio B” Ice Rink, an ice skating rink for guests that doubles as a 700-seat venue for ice show productions; 11 dining venues, including specialty restaurant “Portofino” for classic Italian fine dining, ’50s inspired American diner “Johnny Rockets,” and the three-story, 1,919-seat main dining room. The ship also features an Inline skating track, Royal Caribbean’s signature rock-climbing wall, a nine-hole mini golf course, a golf simulator, a full size sports court with basketball court, three swimming pools and six whirlpools.

Royal Caribbean Special Military Rates!

2011-06-08T13:08:00.000-07:00

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line offers SAVINGS UP TO 20%

ON OVER 100 EUROPE AND CARIBBEAN SAILINGS offering special Military rates on select sailings. We value the valor of our brave service

men and women, and appreciate everything you do to keep us secure. You work hard, you deserve a break. Sailings between May 15 and Dec 31, 2011.

To qualify for a Military rate, at least one guest in the stateroom must be classified as one of the following, 1. Active personnel currently serving in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserves or Canadian National Defense. 2. Retired from any of the divisions listed directly above. 3. Veterans with an Honorable Discharge serving a minimum of 2 years, or 6-months in an active war zone, in any of the United States service divisions listed above. At least one guest per stateroom must be eligible to be considered in compliance with these rates. A guest’s inability to provide proof upon check-in at the pier will result in the reservation being re-priced to the lowest available fare for that particular day and the guest will be responsible to pay for any differences immediately or risking denial of boarding. Offer is subject to availability. Prices are per person, cruise only, based on double occupancy. All itineraries and prices are subject to change without notice. Certain restrictions apply. Government taxes and fees are additional.

Disney Fantasy - 2012

2011-06-01T08:44:00.000-07:00

The Disney Fantasy, the new Disney Cruise Line ship set to debut next spring, will bring to life many of the innovative features guests love on the recently launched Disney Dream including AquaDuck -- the world’s first shipboard water coaster. But new design elements and guest experiences will give the Fantasy an identity all its own. The Disney Fantasy is the second of two newly designed Disney Cruise Line ships that take the family cruise experience to new heights. Sister ship to the Disney Dream, which entered service in January 2011, the 4,000-passenger Disney Fantasy will sail week-long Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, Fla., with its maiden voyage scheduled for March 31, 2012.

Animator’s Palate on the Disney Fantasy brings the magic of Disney animation into the dining room with a new show called “Animation Magic.” The dinner show celebrates the magic of Disney animation and allows families to create and participate in a whole new way. Like Animator’s Palate on the Disney Dream, the venue is wall-to-wall whimsy inspired by a classic animation studio. Throughout the restaurant, pillars are fashioned like huge pencils and brushes. Character sketches, maquettes (three-dimensional character models), film strips and other tools of the animation trade adorn the room. As a special nod to Mickey Mouse, the dining room chairs feature red and yellow colors and a trademark design – Mickey Mouse pants with two bright yellow buttons. Upon entering Animator’s Palate, guests are surrounded by artwork featuring their favorite Disney characters. Guests get a sneak peek into the origins of these beloved characters through concept art, storyboards and character studies. As guests are seated at their tables, they are invited to draw a character of their own using a simple template on their placemat. Then, just before dinner, house lights dim and a sprinkling of pixie dust illuminates the room.

Imagery is revealed on several large monitors showing animated, black and white drawings of Mickey Mouse. Mickey then places the Sorcerer’s hat upon his head which transforms him, as well as all of the other pencil drawings shown throughout the room, from black and white to color. Mickey then invites guests to sit back, relax and enjoy a taste of animation as a montage of memorable food-themed moments from Disney and Pixar films set to “Be Our Guest” begins to delight guests. After the “Be Our Guest” number is complete, animated curtains are drawn on the monitors for a brief intermission. During this time, guests are encouraged to complete their own drawings, if they have not already done so, so they may be whisked off to Mickey Mouse who is conjuring a magical final act. While guests enjoy dinner, the restaurant’s walls fill with classic Disney and Pixar characters gathering food, eating and drinking together, and celebrating over meals. After dinner, the animated curtains are opened on the screens and Sorcerer Mickey returns for the exciting finale. With a flourish and musical crescendo, Mickey works magic as only Disney can do. Mickey conjures the guests’ drawings – now fully animated and brought to life – into the onscreen action. A parade starts as Mickey leads the guests’ drawings in a march across the screens around the dining room. The animation of the drawings becomes increasingly more elaborate, and then the drawings step into scenes from beloved Disney movies and skip, skate and dance side-by-side with characters such as Mickey Mouse, Jiminy Cricket, Cinderella and Snow White. At the conclusion of the show, Mickey returns to say “so long” to the guests and, as he does, credits roll on screen showing each guest’s name listed as a guest animator. To commemorate the experience, each guest will have their character drawing returned to them, with an added touch… a golden seal proclaiming them an Official Disney Animator.

Europa Nighttime Entertainment District

On the Disney Fantasy, adult guests step into a world that’s all their own at Europa – a nighttime entertainment district exclusively for guests 18 and older that features sophisticated bars and trendy lounges inspired by the very best in European travel.

La Piazza is a lounge that draws inspiration from Italian cities and their decorative outdoor plazas. The bar is modeled after a colorful vintage carousel. Venetian masks, romantic couples’ booths and a classic Vespa with a sidecar add Italian flair. Skyline is a chic bar that provides ever-changing birds-eye views of stunning European city skylines that transform from day to night. Skyline’s “windows to the world” give guests a glimpse of spectacular locales in panorama such as Paris, London, Barcelona, Athens and St. Petersburg. O’Gill’s Pub is a rollicking Irish bar with modern-day twists. Dark woods, brass accents and a selection of Irish beers create the perfect pub atmosphere where guests can sip a pint while watching live sporting events on one of several high-definition televisions. Ooh La La is inspired by an elegant French boudoir adorned with velvet tufted walls, Victorian furniture and Louis XIV-style chaise lounges. A sensuous color palette is accented with ornate framed mirrors, gold details and a “jewel box” feature bar backed with sparkling diamond-like facets. The Tube transports guests to a vibrant metropolitan club via the London Underground. Guests “mind the gap” as they walk across a Tube route map, lounge among mod furniture, pose by a red English phone booth, dance atop an illuminated Union Jack dance floor and enjoy cocktails at a bar inspired by Big Ben and London’s many train stations.

A new ship means new main stage entertainment at the 1,340-seat Walt Disney Theatre. New to Disney Cruise Line, “Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular” takes the stage on the Disney Fantasy. During this Broadway-style production, guests laugh along with the wise-cracking Genie and the cast from the classic animated Disney film, “Aladdin.”In this fast-paced musical comedy, Aladdin is back as the “street rat” of Agrabah meeting up with a Genie who grants him three wishes, battling the evil Jafar, and falling in love with Princess Jasmine. Many of the classic scenes and songs from the movie are re-created on stage and some of the action even spills out into the aisles, like Prince Ali's jubilant arrival in Agrabah on the back of a stallion. Magic lamps, wise-cracking genies, princesses and evil wizards are all part of this musical production. And of course, an Aladdin production would not be complete without a magic flying carpet scene, which combines mechanical wizardry with state-of-the-art projections, allowing Jasmine and Aladdin to soar as they perform a heartfelt duet of “Whole New World.” Many of the songs from the movie are featured in the 45-minute musical production, including “Friend Like Me,” which is performed as a lively, Las Vegas-style production number featuring special effects, illusions and more than a dozen dancing genies. Composer Alan Menken, who created the original soundtrack with songwriters Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, composed an original song for the stage production entitled "To Be Free."

At Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on the Disney Fantasy, aspiring young princesses and pirates receive the full fairy tale treatment with pixie-dusted and piratical makeovers at this very special salon. When young princesses-to-be make their royal entrance at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, they are greeted by their very own Fairy Godmother-in-training who transform them with magical makeovers such as the Disney Diva, the Pop Princess or the Fairy Tale Princess. A variety of royal treatment packages include combinations of hairstyle, shimmering makeup and nails. Princess costumes, complete with crown, wand and shoes also are available.

Exclusive to Disney Cruise Line, Captain Mickey Mouse, Princess Minnie Mouse and First Mate Minnie Mouse makeovers plus special Under the Sea packages will be offered. On pirate party nights aboard the Disney Fantasy, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique transforms into the Pirate’s League, where swashbuckling boys, girls and grownups can get ready for the pirate life.

Each guest checking in at the plunder-filled pirate’s lair gets an official pirate name. Then it’s off to Muster Station for applications of beards and bandanas, swords and scars, earrings and eye patches – all done with the savvy skill of a pirate master who shares his own tales of sea-sailing adventures. After the new buccaneers recite a sacred pirate oath, they are officially part of Captain Jack’s motley crew, leaving their old identities behind. The shipmates and scoundrels are then turned loose on their pirate vessel. Guests can choose from two pirate packages – First Mate (includes bandana, facial scars tattoos, fake teeth, earring, eye patch, sword and sheath) or Empress (includes bandana, shimmering makeup, face gem, tattoos, nail polish, earring, eye patch, sword and sheath).

The magnificent three-deck atrium lobby on the Disney Fantasy is reminiscent of grand ocean liners of the Golden Age. Art Nouveau-inspired details and patterns in hues of vibrant blue, green, pink and gold lend to the sophistication. Glamorous and graceful design elements include a sweeping grand staircase, towering fluted columns, grand piano and an exquisite marble and stone inlay floor. A focal point is a cascading chandelier of stained glass and crystal beads. The pièce de résistance of the magnificent space is the atrium lobby statue – Mademoiselle Minnie Mouse. Inspired by travel of the 1920s and 1930s, Minnie, cast in bronze and dressed in vintage fashion with a parasol and steamer luggage at her side, serves to welcome all guests who board the ship.

Royal Court Restaurant

At Royal Court restaurant, guests are immersed in the lavish surroundings of an elegant dining room fit for a grand palace. Royal Court takes design inspiration from the classic Disney films “Cinderella,” “Snow White,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Sleeping Beauty.” Décor features ornate details and custom furnishings and fixtures that incorporate iconic symbols from the films – glass slippers, apples, roses and tiaras. An Austrian glass chandelier is a focal point, while eight custom brass and glass lighting fixtures modeled after Cinderella’s coach adorn the room. Hand-crafted mosaic tile murals of the princesses – Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, Jasmine, Ariel and Sleeping Beauty (Aurora) – and their princes grace the walls. Inspired by the mosaic tile murals in Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom, the Disney Fantasy mosaics are being meticulously created by skilled Italian craftspeople using more than 200,000 individual tiles, with 23 mosaic panels depicting six different vignettes. With careful attention to detail, many of the restaurant’s features are modeled precisely from the inspirational films. The Royal Court’s chandeliers, chair backs and columns with marble bases and fluted tops are fashioned after those seen in “Beauty and the Beast.” Wall sconces, decorative patterns, throne-style chairs and the circular floor plan are recreated from “Cinderella.”

The Disney Fantasy will depart on her maiden voyage March 31, 2012, and will sail out of Port Canaveral on seven-night Caribbean itineraries – alternating eastern (St. Maarten and St. Thomas) and western (Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Cozumel). Special Eastern Caribbean sailings in November and December 2012 stop at St. Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico. All Disney Fantasy itineraries include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

Bar Harbor MCI Drill Successfully Completed - 18 May 2011 - Written by Monty Mathisen

2011-05-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

The United States Coast Guard, along with Royal Caribbean Cruises, and local, state and federal agencies, including the American Red Cross, successfully completed a Mass Casualty Incident Drill (MCI) in Bar Harbor, Maine, on May 18. Some 300 people participated, including a large number of local volunteers who willingly played victims. The cruise industry in Maine is a growing industry and we all have a responsibility to make sure we have plans in place, and that we know our partners and our partners know us,” commented Captain Jim McPherson, commander of Coast Guard Sector New England. The drill (without a cruise ship presence) simulated two cruise-ship tenders making contact on a foggy morning in Bar Harbor. The port will have seven days this season with three ships in town, and undoubtedly a high amount of tender traffic. We get everyone together in a realistic scenario to practice what could happen and see how all these agencies work together, said Rear Admiral Daniel A. Neptun, commander, United States Coast Guard. It’s about good communication and making it safer for groups to come here on ships, making sure the community is ready if something ever happened.”

With limited emergency response infrastructure in a rather rural area, the drill was designed to deal with triage, communication issues, agency cooperation, and patient care and transportation. Added Rob McAleer, director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency: “We are building up relationships between agencies. The bonding after two years of planning is taking place, and agencies know how to work together.”

Following a call for help at 10:00 am, local emergency responders rolled, along with the response of good Samaritans in local fishing boats, pleasure crafts and sightseeing vessels. Eight minutes later emergency responders learned that there were 29 injuries, and at that point made a decision to ask for additional help from the greater area. Ambulances staged on the town’s pier while the fire department set up its incident command post. As various boats brought patients to shore, EMTs has to assess the level of care needed (triage), separating them into various groups and transporting as necessary.

Neptun told Cruise Industry News that hospital staff came in on their day off to help with the drill. The local hospital was able to handle the surge of drill patients, even while running its own emergency room with seven patients. Additionally, despite radio traffic on Maine’s emergency frequencies saying it was a drill, a whale watching vessel actually responded to the incident location, that shows the maritime community’s Samaritan spirit, added Neptun. They will help out anyone in distress.”

Incident commanders had to determine care levels and put multiple patients in each ambulance, as well as deal with more patients being brought to the pier, sometimes in need of urgent attention. Over a few hours, patients were brought in on a simulated schedule, at times trying to overwhelm the shore-side response team. That team, which included the local fire department and various ambulance companies, also had to work on their feet, and at times were left with limited equipment with all the ambulances available on hospital transports and on their way back to the incident. Officials also noted that in some cases the hospital actually re-classified some patients as more injured than their original assessments by first responders on the pier. EMS personnel worked on a patient, stabilizing them, and then moved onto the next patient that needed the most urgent attention. Assets were brought in from surrounding areas, such as more ambulances, additional personnel and lifting assistance, with realistic response times.

Accountability is the big thing here, commented Richard Pruitt, Associate VP of Environmental Programs at Royal Caribbean Cruises. “We always want to cooperate with the Coast Guard. Obviously we want to see how our guests would be accounted for.” Pruitt added that the drill had been under design for more than a year, and that the cruise line went as far as making sure some of the victims did not have SeaPass cards on them to see how the response team would cope.

During the drill, Royal Caribbean’s situation room in Miami was stood up, helping the on-site team, which consisted of about 15 people, including Steve Williams, director of medical operations. During a real emergency, Pruitt pointed out, the cruise line would be responsible for arranging flights, hotels for family and more. He also noted an issue figuring out which passengers were on tenders headed back to the ship, since they don’t swipe in until they get onboard. We know who isn’t on the ship, but we don’t know (yet) who is on the tender going back to the ship, he commented.

NCL's FreeStyle Dash - May 24, 2011

2011-05-23T12:11:00.000-07:00

ON YOUR MARK. GET SET. CRUISE!

FREESTYLE DASH: May 24-27, 2011

This is it. Make a dash for Norwegian Cruise Line's action-packed sales event. Get 50% reduced deposits, PLUS up to $250 onboard credit on most sailings. But hurry, these great savings only last for four exciting days.

Speed Counts – Act fast for special savings

Starting line: May 24
Finish line: May 27

Sale’s On – Four days only!

Up to $250 onboard credit per stateroom
50% reduced deposit

Special: Norwegian Epic Europe Bonus Offer

$50 bonus commission per stateroom for you
Up to $300 onboard credit per stateroom
50% reduced deposit (only available from 5/24-5/27)
All Norwegian Epic summer sailings in Europe – 2011 & 2012

Anschutz Corp. Wins Bankruptcy Bid for Ambassadors International

2011-05-20T09:02:00.001-07:00

TAC Cruise LLC, a unit of Denver-based Anschutz Corp., was the high bidder in a bankruptcy auction for Seattle-based Ambassadors International Inc., which operates Windstar Cruises, according to news reports. The winning bid was approximately $39 million in cash. As part of the offer, TAC Cruise will take on certain liabilities. The deal must be approved by a U.S. bankruptcy court, which will make its decision following a hearing scheduled for Wednesday, May 18. The pending acquisition is a coup for billionaire Philip Anschutz, whose company also has ownership interest in the Los Angeles Lakers pro basketball team, the Los Angeles Kings pro hockey team and Regal Entertainment Group.

U.S. Issues Worldwide Travel Alert After Bin Laden Death

2011-05-02T07:16:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Department of State on May 1 issued an alert to U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad about the enhanced potential for anti-American violence after U.S. Special Forces killed Osama Bin Laden, the head of the Al-Qaida terrorist group, in Pakistan. The department said that given the uncertainty and volatility of the current situation, U.S. citizens in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence are strongly urged to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations. U.S. citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times. This travel alert expires Aug. 1, 2011.

The U.S. said embassy operations in affected areas will continue to the extent possible under the constraints of any evolving security situation. U.S. government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert. These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services to assess their security posture. In those instances, U.S. embassies and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. U.S. citizens abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

The State Department said media coverage of local events may cause family and friends to become concerned for their loved ones traveling and residing abroad. “We urge U.S. citizens to keep in regular contact with family and friends,” the State Department said. “U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad are encouraged to enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), to receive the latest travel updates and information and to obtain updated information on travel and security issues. U.S. citizens without Internet access may register directly with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the U.S. Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.” For more information, call 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444, or visit www.travel.state.gov.

Prepaid Hotel Rooms

2011-04-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

Pre and Post Cruise Hotel packages:

The following was written up on the national news media regarding how to waste money or how to save it without inconveniencing yourself.

When you book a hotel room through a travel site such as Expedia.com or Hotels.com, you're required to pay in advance. Instead, use the sites to compare prices, then call The Cruise Outlet to reserve a hotel room without paying in advance and to get a better rate! You can usually cancel without a one-night-rate penalty if you call one or two days in advance.

American Cruise Lines Names New Riverboat Queen of the Mississippi

2011-04-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

American Cruise Lines named its new 140-passenger sternwheeler Queen of the Mississippi. The vessel, slated to enter service on the Mississippi River in June 2012, is currently two months ahead of the construction schedule at Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp. in Salisbury, Md.

“Queen of the Mississippi is a natural addition to our fleet, the name perfectly befitting of the grandeur she will exemplify,” said Charles A. Robertson, president of American Cruise Lines. “We truly look forward to carrying on the historic legacy of Mississippi steam-boating, taking it to the next level, and offering a riverboat cruising experience like never before.”

The riverboat will have open seating between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the main dining salon, which will have crystal chandeliers and fine works of art. A complimentary cocktail party will precede dinner; wine is served with the meal.

The Paddlewheel Lounge, featuring rich wood and comfortable furnishings, will offer panoramic views of the scenery and the large red paddlewheel at the stern. The décor is designed to capture the tradition of the riverboats that operated on the Mississippi back to the 1800s.

The first brand-new overnight sternwheeler built for the Mississippi in nearly 20 years, Queen of the Mississippi will offer oversized staterooms and most will have private balconies. American Cruise Lines will operate the sternwheeler over the entire Mississippi River system, with the option of cruising at significantly higher speeds to make more itineraries possible with longer visits to the many river towns. A number of seven-night cruises are planned that take passengers as far as St. Paul, Minn., on the Mississippi River and Pittsburgh on the Ohio River.

The Queen of the Mississippi will have a bow ramp that will allow passengers to walk off the ship directly onto land. It will have elevator service to all decks.

Entertainment will include four- or five-piece jazz bands and entertainers who will come on from ports of call for the evening.

American also operates the 120-passenger Queen of the West on the Columbia and Snake rivers in the Pacific Northwest. The company about a year ago purchased the mailing lists of other defunct river operators such as Delta Queen Steamboat Company, Majestic America Line and American West Steamboat Company, Robertson said.

Fares for a seven-night cruise range from $3,995 to $4,685 per person, double occupancy. Single rate is $4,685. For more information, call The Cruise Outlet at 1-800-775-1884

U.S. State Department Updates Travel Warning for Japan

2011-04-04T08:18:00.001-07:00

The U.S. State Department updated its Japan Travel Warning, which replaces the Warning dated March 21, 2011. In response to the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Department of Energy, and other technical experts in the U.S. government have reviewed the scientific and technical information they have collected from assets in country, as well as what the government of Japan has disseminated. Consistent with the NRC guidelines that would apply to such a situation in the United States, the State Department continues recommending, as a precaution, that U.S. citizens within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant evacuate the area or take shelter indoors, if safe evacuation is not practical.

Areas of Japan outside these above regions of concern include the islands of Hokkaido, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa, and the prefectures Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Hiroshima, Hyogo, Ishikawa, Kyoto, Mie, Nara, Okayama, Osaka, Shiga, Shimane, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama and Yamaguchi on the island of Honshu. Travelers to these prefectures should bear in mind that transit through Narita (Chiba) and Haneda (Tokyo) airports may be required.

Strong aftershocks are likely for weeks following a massive earthquake such as the March 11 earthquake. Japan remains at risk for further tsunamis. Japanese authorities have issued a warning for people to stay away from low-lying coastal areas. If a tsunami alert is issued by Japanese authorities, evacuate immediately to higher ground.

Commercial flights have resumed at all airports that were closed by the earthquake, except Sendai Airport, and commercial seats are available at the time of this posting. In Tokyo, public transportation including trains and subways are operating. Across Japan, about 90 percent of roads damaged by the tsunami and earthquake have been repaired or made passable, and most restrictions that limited traffic on roads to emergency vehicles have been lifted. Hardships caused by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami continue to cause severe difficulties for people in such areas as Miyagi, Iwate, Fukushima and Ibaraki prefectures. Temporary shortages of water and food supplies may occur in areas of Honshu north of Tokyo due to power and transportation disruptions. Restaurants, supermarkets, and other stores in Tokyo have resumed operations

Crystal to Include Drinks, Gratuities Starting in March 2012

2011-04-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

Crystal Cruises will include wine, spirits and gratuities for housekeeping, bar, butler and dining room staff in cruise fares starting in March 2012.

“Crystal is going all-inclusive in 2012,” said Bill Smith, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the luxury line. The new policy will go into effect after the 2012 World Cruise when both ships head for Europe on trans-Atlantic voyages: Crystal Symphony’s “Beyond the Sea” sailing from Miami to Lisbon on March 19, 2012, and Crystal Serenity’s “New World to Norway” voyage from New York to London on May 8, 2012. The company is waiting until then because the cruise schedules are already published through the first quarter of 2012.

“Pricing is already out in the marketplace with the ‘All Inclusive-As You Wish’ [shipboard credit] promotion, and it would just be too confusing because a lot people are already booked on that,” Smith explained.

The company is doing away with the suggested $7-per-person gratuity for waitstaff in the Prego, Silk Road and The Sushi Bar specialty restaurants, but there still will be charges for Vintage Room wine dinners because they include high-end wines and liquors. Gratuities will still be accepted in the salon and spa.

Crystal will end the “All-Inclusive-As You Wish” promotion, which gave onboard credit of up to $2,000 per couple, although some shipboard credits still will be available through agreements with national accounts and for Crystal Society members who reach certain levels.

Smith said Crystal is becoming more inclusive, not because of competitive pressures, but because it is the “next step in Crystal’s evolution as a luxury leader.” The company has also instituted a Personal Choice dining program that allows guests to dine whenever they choose, as well as the traditional two dinner seatings.

“We now have open seating dining and we are all-inclusive, so we are competitive with any of our luxury competitors and we’re positioned way out in front of the premium and mass-market guys now,” Smith said. “I feel particularly sensitive to what the marketplace and travel agents say. There are some things our competitors do that we don’t do. Some things we do, our competitors don’t do. This is just an easier message for the consumer and travel agent. We want to be competitive, but we didn’t respond just because they were doing it, we felt the market was ready for us to do it.”

He noted that Crystal does not charge for enrichment programs such as Berlitz language programs, Yamaha keyboard classes and lessons with PGA Golf professionals. The line will continue to stock the bar in penthouse accommodations and include a bottle of wine in regular accommodations.

There still will be sommeliers in dining room who will offer a complimentary selection of red and white wines that will likely vary by night and destination. A “Connoisseur’s List” of higher-end wine, champagne and spirits will be available at additional cost.

The company is not looking at including shore excursions, What impact will including beverages and tips have on cruise fares? “This hasn’t really impacted our fares,” Smith said. “I don’t think you’ll see an increase in our fares to cover this. We’ve been very aggressive with our pricing in 2012.”

Overall, including beverages makes a more pleasant atmosphere at the dinner table on the ships, since guests won’t have to wrangle over bills and sign chits for every drink, he said: “It just makes the experience so much more comfortable, not awkward, so much simpler and much more convivial.”

A complete list of 2012 Crystal itineraries and fares is posted and available at TheCruiseOutlet.com. All 2012 cruises are now open for booking.

Also included with all cruises is free round-trip air transportation from two dozen North American gateways (or an air credit), with airport/ship transfers included.

Always included at no additional cost are: non-alcoholic beverages such as bottled water, specialty coffee drinks, soft drinks and fresh juices; high tea; ice cream and frozen yogurt bar; gym, steam, saunas and whirlpools; fitness classes such as Spinning and group Pilates Reformer instruction; Walk-on-Water weighted vests and Nordic Pole walking equipment; dozens of computer/technology classes; art classes; Crystal Visions lecture series; welcome champagne; shuttles to town; pillow menus; self-service laundries; twice-daily housekeeping with nightly turndown service; and 24-hour room service. Penthouse accommodations also include personal butler service, pressing, stocked bar, and other amenities and services.

For more information, call 800-775-1884 or visit www.thecruiseoutlet.com.

U.S. State Department Upgrades Travel Warning for Japan

2011-03-25T10:25:00.001-07:00

March 21, 2011

The U.S. State Department updated its Travel Warning for Japan dated March 18 in response to new information about the malfunction at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, and are now warning Americans within 50 miles (80 kilometers) of the plant to evacuate the area or to take shelter indoors if safe evacuation is not practical. The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Department of Energy, and other technical experts in the U.S. government have reviewed the scientific and technical information they have collected from assets in country, as well as what the government of Japan has disseminated.

On March 21, 2011, consistent with NRC guidelines that apply to such a situation in the U.S., the U.S. government is making available potassium iodide (KI) as a precautionary measure for United States government personnel and dependents residing within Nagoya (Aichi Prefecture), Tokyo (Tokyo Capital Region), Yokohama (Kanagawa Prefecture), and the prefectures of Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Fukushima, Gunma, Ibaraki, Iwate, Miyagi, Nagano, Niigata, Saitama, Shizouka, Tochigi, Yamagata and Yamanashi. The KI should only be consumed after specific instruction from the U.S. government. While there is no indication that it will become advisable to take KI, out of an abundance of caution the U.S. government is making it available to its personnel and family members to be used only upon direction if a change in circumstances were to warrant. No one should take KI at this time. In the event of a radiological release, sheltering in place or departing the affected area remain the primary means of protection.

On March 17, the Department of State authorized the voluntary departure from Japan of eligible family members of U.S. government personnel in Tokyo (Tokyo Capital Region), Nagoya (Aichi Prefecture), Yokohama (Kanagawa Prefecture), and the prefectures of Akita, Chiba, Fukushima, Gunma, Ibaraki, Iwate, Miyagi, Nagano, Niigata, Saitama, Shizouka, Tochigi, Yamagata and Yamanashi. Separately, because of infrastructure damage from the earthquake and resulting tsunami, voluntary authorized departure is authorized for the eligible family members at Misawa AB (Aomori Prefecture). Commercial flights have resumed at all airports that were closed by the earthquake, except Sendai Airport, and commercial seats are available at the time of this posting. In Tokyo, most public transportation including trains and subways are operating. Many roads have been damaged in the Tokyo area and in northern Japan, particularly in the Miyagi prefecture where government checkpoints have been established on damaged roadways. In Iwate Prefecture, toll road highways are restricted to emergency vehicles only.

The Department of State is working to assist U.S. citizens to depart from affected areas. U.S. citizens in Tokyo should review the State Department’s Japan Earthquake/Pacific Tsunami webpage for updated departure-related information. Hardships caused by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami continue to cause severe difficulties for people in the areas affected by the disaster. Temporary shortages of water and food supplies may occur in affected areas of Japan due to power and transportation disruptions. Rolling power outages continue in the Tokyo metropolitan area and areas in northeast Japan affected by the earthquake and tsunami. The Tokyo Electric Power Company reports that three-hour outages may occur in various regions, including Tokyo. Please monitor the Tokyo Electric Power Company website, and local news media for specific information and schedules for the planned outages. Radio stations in the Tokyo area that have emergency information in English include the U.S. Armed Forces station at 810 AM and InterFM (76.1 FM).

Strong aftershocks are likely for weeks following a massive earthquake such as this one. The American Red Cross recommends that in the event of aftershocks, persons should move to open spaces away from walls, windows, buildings and other structures that may collapse, and should be alert to the danger of falling debris. If you are indoors, drop, cover and hold on. If possible, seek cover under a sturdy desk or table, hold on, and protect your eyes by pressing your face against your arm. If there is no table or desk nearby, sit on the floor against an interior wall away from windows, bookcases or tall furniture that could fall on you. Avoid damaged buildings and downed power lines. Great care should be used with matches, lighters, candles or any open flame due to the possibility of disrupted gas lines.

Due to the continuing possibility of strong aftershocks, Japan remains at risk for further tsunamis. Japanese authorities have issued a warning for people to stay away from low-lying coastal areas. If a tsunami alert is issued by Japanese authorities, evacuate immediately to higher ground. Further information about what you can do if a tsunami occurs can be found at the National Weather Service’s Tsunami Ready website, and the International Tsunami Information Center’s website. Current tsunami alerts can be found at the Japan Meteorological Agency website, and the website of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

The U.S. Embassy continues to deploy consular assistance teams where needed; these teams are actively working with the State Department taskforce and local authorities to locate U.S. citizens, visit shelters and assistance centers, and help U.S. citizens identify public and commercial transportation options away from affected areas. U.S. citizens requiring emergency consular assistance should contact the Department of State via email or through the emergency contact numbers listed below. U.S. citizens in Japan should contact family and friends in the United States to confirm their well-being at the earliest opportunity. Where Internet and telephone services are not available, it may be possible to contact people using SMS (cell text message) or other forms of social media such as Twitter and Facebook. For more information, visit www.travel.state.gov.

Crystal Cruises Expands Jewish Cultural Explorations

2011-03-23T08:47:00.000-07:00

With increased participation in Jewish heritage tours, Crystal Cruises has expanded its related programming in 2011. Scheduled are more than a dozen Crystal Adventures that explore Jewish life, past and present, around the world, including in and near Mumbai, Miami, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Berlin, Hamburg, St. Petersburg, Rome, Dublin, Jerusalem/Ashdod, and Odessa.

Examples of excursions include St. Petersburg, where the Russian Jewish community survived Communist oppression, war and hardship, as demonstrated through its people, community centers, music, and an intimate home visit; Mumbai, with visits to three synagogues, ranging from Baghdadi to Bene-Israel congregations; Copenhagen, with a visit the Museum of Danish Resistance, which shows how 99 percent of Denmark’s Jews survived the Holocaust; Dublin, which includes a look at the social, legal and political contributions of the Irish-Jewish community with a visit to the first dedicated day school and home of Israeli ex-President Chaim Herzog; German concentration camps, including Neungamme, which housed 100,000 prisoners outside Hamburg, and Berlin’s Sachsenhausen, which became the blueprint for all other camps; and Rome, including the 2,000-plus-year-old Jewish Quarter. While most 2012 excursions are still in development, Crystal is planning a Jewish heritage tour of Shanghai for its 2012 World Cruise.

Airline Fees Total $9.2 Billion, Half Were Hidden, Says Consumer Group

2011-03-17T11:32:00.000-07:00

Consumers paid more than $9.2 billion in fees to U.S. airlines in 2010 for checked baggage and other services, but these fees were hidden from most travelers when they purchased their airline tickets, because the airlines refuse to share their fee information with travel agents and other distributors, according to a new study by the Consumer Travel Alliance (CTA), a non-profit organization promoting consumer interests on travel policy issues.

Information on extra (or ancillary) fees, which are not visible to the more than half of consumers who use third parties to book their travel, was the focus of an analysis of major U.S. airlines’ year-end financial reports by CTA, in coordination with Open Allies for Airfare Transparency, a coalition representing hundreds of companies in the managed travel community.

On average, passengers paid a total of $36.80 in fees for every round trip ticket—nearly $150 for a family of four, the study found.

Last fall, more than 60,000 travelers signed a petition sponsored by CTA and the Business Travel Coalition (BTC) that called on the federal government to put an end to hidden fees, and thousands of them shared their hidden fee stories. Marc in New Jersey wrote: “This is a non-transparent and dishonest way of making it appear as if the cost of the flight is lower than it ACTUALLY is.” Pat in Arizona wrote: “In all fairness to air travelers, all fees should be disclosed so consumers can make the best choices among airlines to travel.”

This study, the first to look at how the hidden fees imposed by major U.S. airlines have impacted the cost of air travel in 2010, was based on fourth-quarter 2010 earnings releases from the nation’s eight largest airlines as well as data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

For more information, visit www.consumertravelalliance.org.

Cruise lines reluctant to bring back fuel surcharges

2011-03-09T11:38:00.000-08:00

USA TODAY - written by Johanna Jainchill,.

With oil prices soaring this week due to unrest in the Middle East, North American cruise passengers can't help but wonder if fuel surcharges are soon to come. Cruise lines have made no indication that they are considering it, and have so far resisted implementing the fees despite oil's steady price climb over the last year.

However, light sweet crude oil, which most cruise lines use, is hovering at the $100 per barrel range, according to the New York Mercantile Exchange Index. When the cruise lines eliminated their fuel supplements, they established fuel price thresholds at which they reserved the right to reinstate the surcharges. For Norwegian Cruise Line and the brands of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., it was $65 per barrel. For the Carnival Corp. lines, it was $70.

Current prices are still low compared to 2008, when cruise lines were among many companies that collected supplements as crude oil reached record prices of $145 per barrel.

But those fees were controversial and negatively perceived from the start. The Florida Attorney General's Office opened an investigation into possible cruise line collusion and whether it was legal to assess the charges retroactively, and both Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. eventually refunded millions of dollars for the retroactive charges.

Wall Street analysts this week are saying that cruise lines are hesitant to reinstate the fees for various reasons - especially while oil prices are still so volatile.

"We believe cruise line managements have been hesitant to reinstate a surcharge in an environment where prices were not rising rapidly," said Robin Farley, UBS leisure analyst, in a note to investors. "If recent spikes in oil prices continue at the same velocity a fuel surcharge is possible, but we continue to believe the companies would all prefer not to implement any sort of fuel surcharge."

"We believe the industry will be patient before implementing fuel surcharges given the very volatile nature of oil and fuel pricing over the last several weeks," he wrote. "While demand and pricing fundamentals remain very solid, the industry is well aware that consumers to a large degree view ticket pricing and fuel charges as fungible focusing on the total cost of a cruise vacation in our view."

Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of Seas Is First Ship to Visit Falmouth

2011-03-07T11:48:00.000-08:00

After months of delays, Royal Caribbean International’s Voyager of the Seas on Feb. 17 became the first ship to call at the Historic Falmouth port. Located between the cruise ports of Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, Historic Falmouth is a thematic cruise port and gateway to more than 60 land experiences along the north coast of Jamaica.

“We are delighted to see Voyager of the Seas make the first-ever ship call at Historic Falmouth,” said Craig Milan, senior vice president of land operations for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “By partnering with the Port Authority of Jamaica, we are working to deliver our shared vision of Falmouth’s rebirth. Together, we are bringing the town’s historic sites to life and integrating the culture and authenticity of this destination into a superior guest experience.”

The grand opening celebrations will take place on March 22 when Oasis of the Seas makes its maiden call. Other Royal Caribbean ships that will call at Falmouth include Freedom of the Seas on Feb. 23, Navigator of the Seas on Feb. 24, and Allure of the Seas on March 30. Shore excursions from Falmouth include a visit to Good Hope Great House, an 18th century plantation, for a horse-and-carriage ride, river-tubing and ATV exploring; climbing Dunn’s River Falls; sampling rums at Appleton Estate; and river rafting on a 30-foot bamboo raft.

“Falmouth has an important place in the cultural history of Jamaica. It is especially rewarding for us to use that history as an entrée for a new generation of guests,” said Mike Henry, Jamaica’s minister of transport and works, who has responsibility for cruise shipping. “Our sights have always been set on being the pre-eminent cruise destination, and with the best-in-class berthing facilities at the Historic Falmouth port, we’ll now easily welcome the world’s largest ships.”

The revitalization of Historic Falmouth is a multi-phased development project with the first phase near completion; it offers a two-berth pier, retail and restaurant services, and a transportation center. Subsequent phases will include onsite attractions and experiences, hotel and residential developments, and additional retail and restaurant options. The town also has many prominent houses, shops and public buildings built in the 18th and 19th centuries that are still standing, but are in need of refurbishment. The restoration and preservation of several historic buildings in Falmouth is currently underway.

Falmouth was founded in 1790 from land owned by Edward Barrett. His granddaughter was poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning. At that time Jamaica was the world’s leading sugar producer, and this was most evident in Falmouth with more than 80 sugar estates nearby. The town was mapped out in the Colonial tradition, with streets named after British royalty and heroes—King Street, Queen Street, Rodney Street (after 18th century naval leader Admiral Lord George Rodney) and Wellington Street (after Arthur Wellesley, First Duke of Wellington).

The density of historic Georgian architectural buildings, which residents have lived in and maintained, is reflective of the town’s heritage. Its public amenities included the first piped water supply system in the Western Hemisphere, established in 1799. The town prospered throughout the first half of the 19th century and was the birthplace of the abolition slavery movement. Falmouth was the site of many revolts, and many of the buildings in the town served as safe houses for those who had escaped. In fact, a prominent Falmouth reverend, William Knibb, whose house still stands in the town, was granted Jamaica’s highest civil honor, the Order of Merit, in 1988, 150 years after the abolition of slavery.

Port of Los Angeles Provides Power to Three Cruise Lines

2011-02-25T11:15:00.000-08:00

The Port of Los Angeles this month became the first port worldwide to provide Alternative Maritime Power (AMP) to three cruise lines, which significantly reduces ship exhaust when cruise vessels are in port. In recent weeks, ships from Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line have taken advantage of AMP Mobile technology, developed specifically for the port’s World Cruise Center. The World Cruise Center is also the only port where two cruise ships can be connected simultaneously.

“As the state of California recognizes the environmental impacts of operations at California’s major seaports, this program in particular deserves credit for its ability to sharply reduce ship emissions,” said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “The ability to adapt this technology to multiple cruise lines eliminates significant ship exhaust when cruise ships are at berth.”

Cruise ships utilize either 6.6 or 11 kilovolts electrical power distribution systems to plug into shore power, and the Port of Los Angeles can now accommodate either. Currently the power demand of the cruise ships calling at the Port of Los Angeles is from eight to 13 megawatts of power. A seven-megawatt load is equivalent to producing enough electricity for approximately 1,000 homes. The port’s system is capable of delivering up to 40 megawatts of power, with 20 megawatts of power delivery capacity to each of the two ships. In 2004, the Port of Los Angeles started using shore power for in-service container ships.

Cruise Lines Return to Mazatlan After Safety Issues Addressed

2011-02-14T12:12:00.000-08:00

Mazatlan tourism officials report the Mexican port is now busy with cruise passengers just a week after several cruise lines cancelled calls there, citing increased crime. Earlier this week, we welcomed thousands of passengers from major cruise lines, including Holland America, Celebrity, Carnival and Norwegian, said Julio Birrueta, spokesman for the Mazatlan Tourism Trust.

The Pacific Coast destination hosts more than 520,000 cruise passengers annually. In addition to those cruise companies mentioned above, lines that visit Mazatlan include Crystal Cruises, Princess, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, among others. In response to last week’s questions over safety, Mexico Tourism Minister Gloria Guevara Manzo, Gov. Mario Lopez Valdez and other state and local officials met earlier this week with executives from the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association to develop a plan to underscore the destinations commitment to the safety of cruise passengers and all visitors to the destination. Following the meeting, Francisco Cordova Celaya, the state secretary of public safety, announced new measures for Mazatlan that will serve as a model to other destinations throughout Mexico.

The State Department of Public Safety will bolster its tourism police force with a special unit of plain-clothes security personnel in the main tourist areas, including shore excursion sites. In addition, the office of the state attorney will add more bilingual agents to assist visitors. These agents will make the safety of all visitors their priority, said Marco Antonio Higuera, the state attorney. Should any concerns arise among cruise passengers, we will notify cruise line officials immediately. In an effort to assure a speedy and accurate communication, the state secretary of tourism will notify cruise officials directly should any concerns arise.

After a one-week hiatus, Holland America resumed service to Mazatlan this week. Princess Cruises is scheduled to return Feb. 12. Our security team is monitoring the situation very closely and at this time we don't have an itinerary change to report,” Princess said.

Mazatlan hosts nearly two million visitors annually, and that number has increased steadily for the past five years, according to Birrueta. He added that many travelers return year after year for extended stays, with nearly 9,000 U.S. and Canadian citizens making this seaside destination their winter home.

"CostaClub" Members Replacing Crew on Four Costa Cruises

2011-01-31T08:31:00.000-08:00

Costa Cruises has come up with a real novelty called ViceVersa, a unique experience for all its CostaClub members, meaning the company’s most loyal Guests. On four company cruises, CostaClub members will be able to take the place of the crew and experience all the thrill of being a part of the onboard staff and serving Guests. At the same time, the crew replaced by CostaClub members will become the ships Guests.

To fully participate in their new role, CostaClub members will be supervised and trained by the ships Cruise Director. In this way they will discover all the behind the scene secrets of their new job. They will literally step into the crews shoes, wearing real uniforms with the only difference being a special logo. Once prepared, they will work for one day as crew members in different positions: Guest service, tour escorts, cruise staff, musicians, singers, waiters and cooks.

The ViceVersa experience, presented for the first time in November 2010 on board the CostaClub cruise of the Costa Deliziosa, will be proposed again on four Costa cruises that recorded a large attendance by CostaClub members, with special activities reserved for them. On the first cruise, a 21-day voyage, the Costa Luminosa departed on 10 January 2011 from Dubai to discover all about India and the Maldives.

The second cruise is the inaugural cruises of the Costa Favolosa, the fleets new flagship, currently being fitted out at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera. This cruise will depart from Venice on 7 July 2011 and over the next 10 days will make calls to Greece, Israel, Turkey and Croatia.

On the third cruise, the Costa Deliziosa will depart from Amsterdam on 30 July 2011 on route to Greenland, Iceland, the Norwegian fjords and the Farore Islands.

The last cruise is a round-the-world voyage with the Costa Deliziosa. On this historical 100-day cruise, departing from Savona on 28 December 2011, the ship will circumnavigate the globe, sailing westward following the route of the great navigators: from Savona to Los Angeles through the Caribbean and the Panama Canal; from Los Angeles to Singapore with calls in Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia; and then from Singapore to Savona with visits to Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, the Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, the Red Sea and Egypt - a truly unique and unforgettable vacation.

Royal Caribbean Changes Crown & Anchor Society

2011-01-26T09:24:00.000-08:00

Royal Caribbean International changed its loyalty program for past passengers, effective Jan. 21. The Crown & Anchor Society now will award points per night cruised instead of one credit per cruise regardless of length. The program will now award one point per night on a cruise and two points per night in a suite. The rationale is to reward passengers who book higher-level accommodations and take longer cruises, said Vicki Freed, senior vice president of sales.

The first level, Gold, previously kicked in with one cruise credit; now it will take three points. The second level, Platinum, is achieved now with 30 points instead of the previous five credits. For example, Freed said, a guest who takes a 16-day cruise in a suite will earn 32 points—instead of one credit—and attain the Platinum level. Previously, that would have taken five cruises. The change also adds two new levels—an Emerald level that falls between Platinum and Diamond and kicks in at 55 cruise points, and the top-tier Pinnacle.

Pinnacle Club members will be recognized with the benefits of the entire program and complimentary cruises at certain cruise-points milestones. Guests who have a minimum of 100 cruise credits before Jan. 21 will be the first to be invited to join the new top Crown & Anchor Society member tier. Moving forward, Pinnacle Club status can be achieved with 700 cruise points, equivalent to 100 seven-night cruises or fewer cruises if members choose to sail in suites or on longer itineraries.

Disney Dream to Feature Onboard Enchanted Art Program

2011-01-21T08:17:00.000-08:00

An Enchanted Art program, a ship-wide detective game, virtual portholes and dinner “undersea” with Crush, the surfer dude turtle from “Finding Nemo,” are some of the new technology-based attractions aboard the 128,000-ton, 4,000-passenger Disney Dream cruise ship. The goal is the same as that of Disney’s theme parks: “It’s all about storytelling,” said Bob Zalk, senior show producer. However, on a ship, “guests are living with us, so we have to provide more depth in the experience,” he added. To that end, the Enchanted Art program, which features 22 pieces interspersed with regular art throughout the ship, consists of framed pictures that are actually LCD screens with animation. The pictures come to life via an optical trigger, when a guest pauses in front of a piece to look at it. For example, an “oil painting” of the “Minnie Lisa” blinks while birds fly by in the background, and two side-by-side “paintings” of pirate ships engage in a battle with ammunition flying between the two. The program also features black-and-white photos, travel posters, animation cels and other formats. Guests also can control the animation in some pieces, like a picture of a cove with a ship’s wheel in front. Push the start button, turn the wheel and direct Captain Hook’s ship around the cove to trigger things like a rainbow.

The Enchanted Art program also plays role in the new Detective Adventure game, which challenges guests to solve one of two cases -- stolen paintings or kidnapped Dalmatian puppies. After signing in at a kiosk, guests receive a list of six possible villains, a ship map and a “magical” card called a “detective device.” Hold the card up to certain pieces, and the picture slides away to reveal a surprise, like a door with a key. Then, move the card around through the air in front of you to manipulate the scene; for example, to put the key in the lock and turn it to open the door for a clue or one of the missing items. The game, which is designed to promote family bonding and empowerment for kids, is self-paced, so guests can stop, and then pick up where they left off, whenever they want throughout the cruise. And they can go in any order they choose and play as many times as they want, since the game is different every time.

While nearly 90 percent of the Dream’s 1,250 staterooms will be outside (and 90 percent of those will have verandahs), the 150 inside staterooms will have portholes -- virtual portholes. Several cameras will be positioned around the outside of the ship, providing live video feeds to the nearby inside staterooms’ porthole-shaped LCD screens. But the “view” will be more than water; animation will bring the scenes to life. For example, a guest might see the “Up” house float by above the horizon, or “Peach,” the starfish from “Finding Nemo,” might be stuck on the “other side,” smiling. The virtual portholes are so popular that when bookings opened people who booked the inside staterooms declined a free upgrade offer by DCL, according to Jason Lasecki, the line’s director of public relations.

Imagineers also are putting a twist on Animator’s Palate, the main dining venue, with “Undersea Magic,” an interactive dinner show where guests converse with Crush the sea turtle. The show will be based on “Turtle Talk” from Walt Disney World and other Disney Parks, where Crush converses live with guests. Animator’s Palate, which will seat 700 guests (the Magic and Wonder each seat 400) will have 129 hidden LCD monitors imbedded into the walls. Approximately 20 minutes into dinner, lighting and sounds will make it seem like the dining room is underwater, as the LCD screens are unveiled to show an undersea world, as if they were windows. Crush and other “Finding Nemo” characters will swim from screen to screen talking with guests. Crush will even remember kids’ names from the children’s programs, since he will have met them via a large LCD screen in those areas earlier. While Crush and his pals are talking with people in one area of the restaurant, guests in other areas are entertained by sea creatures, like a school of fish that forms different shapes. During the finale, Crush teaches guests how to surf the East Australian Current, complete with surf music.

In addition, The Dream will debut two new restaurants: The Enchanted Garden, a casual dining room, is inspired by the gardens of Versailles with conservatory look and a “sky” that transforms from day to night. The seasonal menu features breakfast and lunch buffet and dinner service. The more formal Royal Palace is designed with pieces from classic fairytales, like a hand-blown chandelier made of glass slippers, portraits of princesses, and portholes with tiara-topped valances.

Among the Dream’s other dining options will be the new Cabanas food court with food and beverage stations inspired by California beaches and indoor and outdoor dining; Flo’s Café, also new, which will serve “Cars”-inspired food like Luigi’s pizza, as well as burgers and other casual fare; the Cove Café with Wi-Fi and Palo Northern Italian restaurant for adults; and Eye Scream and Frozone Treats, quick-service venues based on “Monsters Inc.” and “The Incredibles,” respectively.

New to Disney Cruise Line -- in fact, new to any cruise line -- will be AquaDuck, the first “water coaster” on a ship. The 765-foot, clear plastic tube will span four decks and take guests on a wild ride on two-person, inflatable rafts via high-powered water jets that accelerate them to 20 feet per second. The apparatus starts on Deck 16 and swings out 13 feet over the side of the ship, 150 feet over the ocean, before it takes guests through dips, hills, funnels and rapids and finally splashes down on Deck 12.

In the children’s areas, the upgraded Oceaneers Club and Oceaneers Lab (for children ages 3 to 10) will feature new, 15-foot-square Magic Play Floors with “light pad controllers” on the perimeters that detect movement. Kids stand on the pads and use their feet to play any of 12 to 14 games, each with different levels of difficulty, like unscrambling a scene; jumping over moving laser lights; and guiding Rhino, the hamster from “Bolt,” through a maze to get to food. For physically challenged kids, there are detachable pads that they can hold, using their hands. Nearby, Crush and Stitch will “visit” kids via a 103-inch LCD monitor.

Meanwhile, Vibe (ages 14 to 17) will be four times larger than the teen areas on the Magic and the Wonder. Kids will have special swipe cards to enter the 9,000-square-foot, indoor/outdoor space, which will feature a dance area, a fountain bar and a media room, among other perks. The Dream also will offer Edge (ages 11 to 13), a loft-style area with high-tech entertainment, a dance floor, a video wall and other ‘tween activities, as well as the “It’s a Small World” nursery (ages 12 weeks to 3 years) and Nemo’s Reef, an interactive play area.

For the whole family, the Walt Disney Theater will offer more capacity than its counterparts on the Magic and the Wonder, as well as balcony seating, for live shows; the Buena Vista Theater will offer first-run films with 3D capability; and Goofy’s Sports Deck will offer DCL’s first miniature golf courts

source: http://www.travelpulse.com/disney-dream-to-feature-onboard-enchanted-art-program.html

Singer Jennifer Hudson to Christen Disney Dream

2011-01-19T08:00:00.000-08:00

According to news reports, Disney Cruise Line selected singer and actress Jennifer Hudson as godmother of the Disney Dream, which will be christened at 10:30 a.m. EST Jan. 19 in Port Canaveral, Fla.

Hudson performed on the Disney Wonder in 2003 and appeared on “American Idol” in 2004. Although she wasn’t among the top finishers on the TV show, she carved out a major career for herself, winning the Oscar for her role as Effie in “Dreamgirls.”

Source: http://www.travelpulse.com/singer-jennifer-hudson-to-christen-disney-dream.html

The New Year

2011-01-05T08:26:00.000-08:00

As we closed 2010, much has happened during the year personally and within the world we live. When some things have occurred I often wondered about them. Now as I look back, they were new opportunities which have turned out to be a blessing.

I think about what good things I can do for 2011 and hope that I will be wise enough to see these new opportunities and react to them.

So I wish to you for the wisdom and ability as well to do good things in 2011 which will help us individually and collectively for many years to come.

Warmest regards,

Neil Gorfain

2011 - the Year of the Hawaii Cruise

2010-12-22T07:56:00.000-08:00

Will 2011 be the year of the Hawaii cruise? It would seem that way from the new Travel Trends Survey from Travel Leaders.

The annual look at where Americans plan to vacation in the coming year finds surging interest in Hawaii cruises. Sailings around the Aloha State jumped six places to land at No. 8 among top domestic destinations, just ahead of San Francisco and just behind Washington, D.C.

Cruising to Alaska was No. 3 on the list -- the same as last year. It remains behind perennial top spots Las Vegas and Orlando (which flipped positions this year at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively). Rounding out the Top 10 among domestic destinations were Honolulu and Maui's Kahului (tied at No. 4); New York City (at No. 6); and Chicago and Phoenix (tied at No. 10).

Among international destinations, "Caribbean cruising" remains the top choice among Travel Leaders customers, as it has been in the past, placing ahead of perennial No. 2 Cancun, Mexico. "Mediterranean cruising" continues a multi-year upward climb to land at No. 3 for the first time, ahead of Mexico's Riviera Maya and Rome. Mediterranean cruising ranked at No. 4 last year. Also on the list of top international destinations was "Mexico cruising," at No. 10 (up from No. 11 last year).

Conducted in November, the survey is based on actual booking data for 2011 from 547 Travel Leaders travel agency outlets across the USA. The survey also found that a majority of customers (50.1%) will spend more on travel in 2011. A tad more than 38% said they spend the same amount, with the balance saying they'd spend less.

Among other findings: Last-minute leisure travel is starting to decrease after jumping during the economic downturn. The survey found just 23.3% of Travel Leaders customers were booking a domestic trip within four weeks of traveling vs. 29.8% a year ago. The percentage of customers booking eight weeks or more in advance of a trip has jumped to 61.4%, from 54.5% a year ago.

Posted Dec 20 2010 9:10AM - By Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

The New Haven Firebirds Fundraiser

2010-12-17T11:45:00.000-08:00

The New Haven Firebird Society (a professional Firefighters’ organization) has chosen The Cruise Outlet of Hamden, CT, to help them raise money to benefit their scholarship program.

A 7-day cruise sailing from New York on May 28, 2011, is scheduled. It will be on the Norwegian Jewel and will visit 3 islands in the Bahamas.

For every cabin booked on this cruise, a donation by the Cruise Outlet is being made to the New Haven Firebirds Scholarship fund.

The Cruise Outlet will also be providing some special gifts and events onboard exclusively for passengers who booked this cruise with them.

Rates are as low as $439.00 per person based upon double occupancy. People interested in booking can contact the Firebirds at 203-641-0856 or call The Cruise Outlet at 203-288-1884.

Royal Caribbean Offers Refunds to Brilliance Passengers

2010-12-15T08:15:00.000-08:00

December 13, 2010 3:35 PM

Royal Caribbean International will refund cruise fares to passengers onboard Brilliance of the Seas, which listed during a severe storm Dec. 12 as it approached Alexandria, Egypt. The company is also giving them an onboard credit of $200 per stateroom and $400 per suite.

As the ship continues its voyage, Royal Caribbean continues to assess the incident. About 30 passengers were injured, mostly bumps and bruises, although two guests suffered fractures. The medical facility onboard is fully operational and caring for guests.

The company said the severe ship movement caused damage to some public areas and a loss of electricity in some staterooms. Aesthetic damages to the ship’s interior forced the closure of three public venues for the remainder of the sailing -- the beauty salon, video arcade and disco. “There has been no impact to the ship’s operating systems or engines, and the ship continues to be fully seaworthy,” the company said.

During the approach to Alexandria, the ship experienced extreme wind and sea conditions, including heavy seas and 70 knot winds, nearly double what had been forecasted.

Brilliance of the Seas did not call at Alexandria and instead proceeded to the next port of call, Valetta, Malta, where it will arrive at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 14. The ship will conclude its sailing in Barcelona, Spain, on Dec. 17, as scheduled. Subsequent cruises will sail as scheduled and the ship will not require a dry dock, as repairs are under way.

“Royal Caribbean understands that this has been a frightening experience for our guests and crew, and our officers and crew onboard Brilliance of the Seas will make every effort to ensure that the remainder of the cruise is as enjoyable as possible,” the company said in a statement.

NCL Positions Two New Ships in Alaska, Bermuda for 2012-13

2010-12-13T08:50:00.000-08:00

Announced December 08, 2010

Norwegian Cruise Line is repositioning some of their ships which sail in Alaska and Bermuda in 2012-13.

For the first time, the 2,376-passenger Norwegian Jewel will sail Alaska’s Inside Passage, joining Norwegian Pearl, which is sailing to Glacier Bay from Seattle. Norwegian Jewel will replace Norwegian Star and cruise from Seattle on a seven-day Sawyer Glacier itinerary. The cruises will depart on Saturdays from May 26, 2012, to Sept. 8, 2012, to Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria. Norwegian Jewel will also sail a seven-day Sawyer Glacier cruise from Vancouver to Seattle on May 19, 2012, and a seven-day Sawyer Glacier from Seattle to Vancouver on Sept. 15, 2012.

Norwegian Pearl will operate seven-day Glacier Bay cruises departing on Sundays from May 13, 2012, to Sept. 9, 2012. The itinerary includes Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria. Norwegian Pearl will also sail a seven-day Glacier Bay cruise from Vancouver to Seattle on May 6, 2012, and a Seattle-to-Vancouver cruise on Sept. 16, 2012.

In Bermuda, the 2,348-passenger Norwegian Star will sail to Bermuda from in New York City on Sundays to Bermuda, staying for three full days for the 2012 season. The 2,224-passenger Norwegian Dawn will depart on Fridays from Boston with three days in Bermuda.

Pride of America will continue as the only U.S.-flagged vessel sailing among all four of Hawaii’s main islands. The seven-day cruises from Honolulu are available through April 7, 2013. Ports of call include an overnight in Kahului, Maui; Hilo, Hawaii; an evening sail by the Kilauea Volcano (weather permitting); Kona, Hawaii; an overnight in Nãwiliwili, Kauai; and an afternoon cruise off the Nãpali Coast.

The Cruise Outlet of Hamden, CT a certified Agency for Norwegian Cruise Line has begun to confirm passengers on these sailings. Although many passengers feel they have plenty of time before bookings, according the The Cruise Outlet, passengers who they are booking now for the Bermuda and Alaska season of 2011 and 2012 will get the best possible rates and premier cabins and locations. Almost every sailing for the 2011 and 2012 sailing carries with it on board credits of as much as $300.00 per booking. This on board credit is “free’ money to spend on the cruise for almost anything.

The Cruise outlet is available at info@thecruiseoutlet.com or 800-775-1884

Celebrity to Offer New AquaClass Suites, Expanded Lawn Club

2010-12-10T10:47:00.000-08:00

December 08, 2010 9:45 PM

Celebrity Cruises is adding new features -- including spa-inspired suites and an expanded Lawn Club -- on its new Solstice-class ships due out in 2011 and 2012. Driven by high demand for Celebrity’s AquaClass category staterooms, Celebrity will introduce AquaClass Suites on Celebrity Reflection, with each offering 251 square feet of interior space and 57-square-foot verandas. The AquaClass Suites will include the amenities found in AquaClass staterooms, including exclusive and complimentary access to the specialty restaurant Blu. The new suites also will offer butler service.

In addition to the 34 new AquaClass Suites, Celebrity Reflection also will have an eight additional Sky Suites, 19 additional ConciergeClass staterooms, and 11 more inside staterooms, bringing the stateroom/suite total to 1,515.

Both Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection will present the 56-seat Lawn Club Grill, an outdoor grill venue. A new specialty dining option overlooking the lawn and sea, The Lawn Club Grill will have stainless steel grills and other appliances, custom pizza-making tables and large ovens. By day, the venue will present a casual lunch menu with high-end burgers, but also will offer demonstrations and classes focused on pizza-making, grilling secrets, marinades and more, led by Celebrity chefs, as well as guest chefs participating in the “Savor Your Destination” program. By night, guests can choose meats to either grill themselves, side-by-side with Celebrity’s chefs, or have grilled to order. A nominal surcharge will apply.

The Porch will be a Hamptons-style spot for simple complimentary breakfasts and lunches. The 48-seat venue will be located on the starboard side at the entrance to Lawn Club and will serve complimentary fresh pastries, salads, Paninis and other sandwiches, in addition to specialty coffees, beer and wine.

“The Art Studio,” located within the area of the Lawn Club, will let experienced and novice artists to get hands-on instruction from experts in drawing, painting and beading, as well as the art of food, with plating, tastings, mixology and other culinary-themed classes. The Art Studio also will present pairing dinners hosted by guest chefs participating in Celebrity’s Savor Your Destination program.

For a private retreat overlooking the lawn, ocean and coastlines, Celebrity also will present within The Lawn Club, The Alcoves, eight cabana-style settings, each designed for two to four guests. Each of The Alcoves on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection will offer Wi-Fi, themed picnic baskets and an a la carte beverage menu. The Alcoves will be available as partial or all-day rentals. Adjacent to The Alcoves will be eight hammocks and two whimsical, oversized Adirondack chairs.

Michael’s Club -- a venue found on every Celebrity ship -- will add a selection of more than 50 beers, including craft beers, and will allow guests to participate in sessions focused on food and beer pairings, how to pour the perfect draft, or how to select the proper beer glass. Snacks will include gourmet potato chips, bread sticks and caramel popcorn, amid live music or sporting events airing on 46-inch TV screens.

The Cruise Outlet in Hamden, CT, is foremost in booking passengers on the Solstice class of ships with resident experts of Celebrity and these ships on staff to provide their clients with all the most knowledgeable information for this cruise experience.

Also, the Cruise Outlet is managing a program with American Express for clients who hold the Platnium Card to provide for additional benefits when booking with them for Celebrity.

The Value of the Travel/Cruise Agent

2010-12-06T08:19:00.000-08:00

Neil Gorfain, CEO of NABA Cruise Consultants, Hamden, Connecticut, provides Cruise Line Senior Management with objective information of their product via live unannounced cruise visits. He is regarded by most of the Cruise Executives as one of the most objective people in the industry and provides them with detailed information on much of the positive operations within the ship.

This is an excerpt of an article published in major consumer publications during 2008 and 2009.

You can reach Neil at Neil@thecruiseoutlet.com

Get the best value from your Cruise

You should rarely have to pay the published price shown in the brochure for your cruise. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule. But the first thing a consumer needs to know is what are the “prices” published in the brochure and when was the brochure printed.

It is possible to get a really cheap price for a cruise and save lots of money. YES, but what if you end up with a lousy cabin (like one under the kitchen, or next to the Disco), or on a dirty ship with terrible food? Would you consider that a "Good Deal"?

Smart cruisers want the best Value for their dollar. Remember, each person going on a vacation or cruise is looking for something different. So, price should be the last factor involved in your decision to cruise and on what ship.

Use a Travel/Cruise Agent

Here is a list of Questions every consumer should ask the person they are dealing with in regard to booking their cruise:

What other products does the company sell? The more things they sell, the less they will know about the cruises.
How long has the company been in business?
Does the company have an office and operate from a real location? (this is against many people who are selling cruises from their homes and bedrooms!!)
How long has the person you are dealing with been in the business?
Has this person you are dealing with cruised before?
Has this person you are dealing with cruised on the cruise line and ship you are interested in? (This is very important in regard to the questions you may have)
Are they certified and accredited by that cruise line?
Are they accredited by the Cruise Association? This is in regard to further training and education they mayhave in regard to taking care of you and knowing the differences between the ships.
Can you call and speak with the same person each and every time? Are they on incentive (they will say anything to get your business) or salary?
Do they have “preferred” agreements so they have to sell, promote and push certain cruise lines?

This may sound like a lot of work, but it is your money and we know we can save you hundreds of dollars for a great cruise with a little planning.

Bottom line - you are always better off using a Professional Cruise Agent to book your cruise!

Things to Consider When Planning a Cruise

2010-12-01T08:40:00.000-08:00

This is an excerpt of an article published in major consumer publications during 2008 and 2009. You can reach Neil at Neil@thecruiseoutlet.com

ARE YOU TRAVELING ALONE?
If you are a single traveler, you should be aware that most Cruise Lines charge what is referred to as a "single supplement". Cruise Lines base their rates on two people staying in each cabin. If you are going to travel by yourself, they will charge you a supplement fee. Some cruise lines will charge as much as 200%, so you are basically paying for the other person. The single supplement rates will vary from one cruise line to another and from one sailing date to another. A good Cruise Professional can be an invaluable resource, especially if your travel dates are flexible.

CONSIDER A REPOSITIONING CRUISE
A "repositioning" cruise takes place when a ship is moved from one part of the world to another, generally on a seasonal basis. For example, many Cruise Lines will position ships in Alaska during the summer months when the days are longer. In September or October, they will move these ships back to the Caribbean. You can often find some very reasonable rates on these repositioning cruises.

CHOOSING THE TIME OF YEAR
If you have some flexibility as to when you are able to travel, it can make a big difference in your cruise fare. Holidays are always more expensive as is winter school break & spring break. If you are planning a Caribbean cruise, consider a fall time frame as kids are back in school. Many people are concerned about Hurricanes in the Caribbean. The actual Hurricane season is June 1 through Dec 1. Being a smart cruiser, you are not too concerned about hurricanes. The ships do not head into storms; they alter their route to avoid any bad weather. So the worst case situation is that you will miss a certain port of call and the cruise will visit a different one or have an extra day at sea. Programs, activities and shows all go on as usual.

SHIPBOARD CREDITS
Many Agencies, such as us, will offer shipboard credits and other amenities as a bonus on certain sailings. It is a promotion to get more bookings on certain sailings. An onboard credit can be as much as $2000.00 on a particular cruise. Ask us about these offers. Remember, on most cruises you pay for your drinks (sodas, cocktails, beer & wine), shore excursions/tours, spa treatments and gratuities. Having the shipboard credit helps to offset those expenses. Many amenities such as this are available if you book early enough. Those that wait until the last minute because they think they will get a deal, lose!

BUY TRIP INSURANCE
An important part of getting a good deal is protecting your investment. An independent insurance company (one that just sells insurance) is far better that the insurance offered by the cruise lines. The difference in coverage is so vast; don’t look at the cost of the premium without considering the coverage and how it will be paid to you. The Independent companies pay you the amount of the claim while many cruise line insurance coverage’s give you a credit for another cruise with limited terms and conditions.

A Letter to Our Clients

2010-10-07T10:43:00.000-07:00

The following article was written by Richard Turen, contributing editor for the national magazine Travel Weekly. Richard Turen owns Churchill and Turen, Original article published September 6, 2010

We have added some information to assist you further which is specific to cruising and the Cruise Outlet.

Dear Client:

I hope and trust that you will book your next vacation with our firm. But we know there are alternatives out there, and we know you are receiving mailings and seeing ads that often urge you to book directly with a cruise line or online.

We enjoy an open and honest relationship with our clients. So I would like to share some straight talk with you about using toll-free numbers or websites to book your vacation directly with the provider.

The best-kept secret in the travel industry is that those who book direct are paying for something they are not receiving: the services of a professional travel consultant.

I realize you are being told that it is easy to book your cruise online. You can do it yourself. Just trust the supplier to take care of everything and have your credit card within easy reach.

Be thrilled that you live in a time when you can just click and travel. It's all so easy, isn't it? Turn over your credit card number and personal information to someone in a cubicle in a reservations factory or, better still, to outsourced labor working out of a call center overseas. Now your credit card information is in Bangladesh, and your vacation will be expertly planned and delivered.

So why use The Cruise Outlet.com and its services?

Well, the first thing you need to know (the industry's best-kept secret) is that you are going to pay my fee or commission when you book directly because it is always -- not sometimes, always -- built into the price of any brochure program. It's the way the industry prices.

Cruise Lines, (& even top-grade hotels), love direct bookings because a portion of the travel agent's commission that is built in to every program simply goes into their pockets. They believe that it costs them far less to maintain order-takers in a reservations center.

Most telephone res agents who work for cruise lines are commissioned salespeople with little knowledge of the industry. Their goal is simple: Try to get a direct booking, earn their smaller commission, and let the company pocket the rest of the total commission built into the fare.

So when you book something directly, you are making a sucker bet that the person on the other end of the line has your best interests at heart, will look out for further discounts and apply them to your record and will be there for you in an emergency.

Imagine what happens when you make a direct booking. Your credit card information is stored, and you receive a computer-generated invoice. That's it. You are now a travel statistic. The computer software that is now your "agent" will notify you when final payment is due, and you will receive final documents.

Of course, you will not receive any of the amenities available through our office, so you might actually be missing out on pricing incentives and advantages.

Let me state it as clearly as I can: With the exception of certain websites that run occasional online "sales," you will never receive preferred pricing on any online site.

If a cruise line did not give us pricing that was equal to or better than what they offer on their site, no reputable travel consultant would ever again sell their product. It just never happens. You can always count on the fact that our pricing will be as good or better than any tour or cruise prices you see on direct booking sites.

But frankly, I don't want you to book with us because it is always a better value than booking directly. There are other, more important reasons that have little to do with price.

There is not enough space to list all of the things we provide to our valued clients that are never provided when you book directly with a cruise line. But here are just a few to keep in mind:

We are going to compare what competitive companies offer. We are going to advise you on the very best product to meet your needs. We can point out the advantages and disadvantages of several options. Booking directly puts you in touch with a single-product sales person. That is all you get.

We can provide special documentation and advice about ports and sightseeing options and even hotels in that area.

One of the most important things we can do is analyze your travel insurance needs. If you book direct, you get no options, no discussion. You are offered only whatever the site happens to be selling. We offer options that often saves you money and provide better coverage.

Suppose something goes wrong? Suppose someone gets sick, and you need help getting home in a hurry? Suppose your vacation experience was unsatisfactory? Who is your advocate if you are dealing directly with the company operating the program? You have none.

Perhaps the most important single thing that we do is give you an honest, unbiased view of both the upside and downside of the vacation option you are considering. Book direct and you get none of that. Everything about the product will be painted in glowing terms. Everything will smell like a strawberry.

Finally, a personal note.
When I go to sleep at night, I am generally aware of where my clients are traveling and what current conditions they are likely to encounter. I am concerned about my clients. I think about their welfare, and I think about ways that I can enhance their cruise experience.

I am fairly certain that the direct booking tied up somewhere in a supplier's software booking program is incapable of showing a "booking statistic" much empathy.

We feel that “Our knowledge equals your best Cruise Experience”

Sincerely,

Neil Gorfain

CEO

PS:

I make sure that all of my staff including the receptionist have training on the different cruise products. That all of them cruise at least annually to know more about the product. The entire staff is required to be certified and accredited by each cruise line in the industry. This is necessary in order to enhance your experience and be able to provide the correct and factual information.

Our website is not designed to have you book a cruise online, because we are a company that requires you to call our office and speak to a staff member in order to book. Yes, a real live person who is going to ask questions, verify information and make suggestions. Different?, Yes. Beneficial to you? YES!

Cruise West goes out of business and all sailings are cancelled.

2010-09-21T14:34:00.000-07:00

The Cruise Outlet, in conjunction with a number of the small ship cruise lines, have arranged for clients to be re-booked on similar itineraries with American Safari Cruises. Even clients who have not booked with the Cruise Outlet are welcome and will be taken care of properly and with their best interest.

The Cruise Outlet stopped booking Cruise West a number of months ago when the cruise line started to show indications of something not correct. All clients who did book on that line with the Cruise Outlet, were required to take out full cruise and travel insurance which would protect them in the case of default, which is what has happen.

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has announced that Cruise West “is cancelling all cruises that were scheduled to begin Saturday, September 18, and on all dates that follow.” With the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Cruise West, The Cruise Outlet feels confident that American Safari Cruises and new sister company InnerSea Discoveries are two leading alternatives for accommodating their passengers immediately.
American Safari Cruises operates in 4 of the same west coast destinations as Cruise West. We are offering compelling options to salvage your clients’ vacations on fall/winter 2010 and 2011 departures of Mexico’s Seas of Cortés and Columbia River, and Alaska 2011 departures. To make re-booking as easy as possible, The Cruise Outlet has set up a program with American Safari Cruises to match Cruise West fares for fall 2010/spring 2011 Columbia & Snake Rivers cruises and 25% savings for Mexico’s Sea of Cortés. Sailings in Southeast Alaska, Mexico’s Sea of Cortés and the Columbia & Snake Rivers can be rebooked on American Safari Cruises’ yachts or with the company’s new sister brand, InnerSea Discoveries, which offers moderately priced adventure cruising in Southeast Alaska starting May 2011. Both brands offer small yachts/ships, with guest capacities from 12-49 guests, exemplary service and delicious cuisine, a high crew to guest ratio and active and unique itineraries that include kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and hiking.

American Safari Cruises pioneered yacht cruising in Southeast Alaska 12 years ago, and operates three luxury yachts carrying 12, 22 and 36 guests sailing round trip from Juneau between mid-May and early September. In addition, the yachts operate on the Columbia & Snake Rivers, Mexico’s Sea of Cortés and interisland Hawaii (new for fall 2011). Guests can expect a superlative yacht experience combined with adventure in a casual, yet elegant atmosphere.

InnerSea Discoveries offers highly experiential adventure cruises aboard two 49-guest small ships, the Wilderness Adventurer and Wilderness Discoverer that will sail between Juneau and Ketchikan. The boats were purchased in October 2009 and are currently undergoing major renovations to prepare them for an outdoor-oriented small-ship experience for the 2011 Alaska season.

We welcome passengers who were booked via other means to contact us and ask for Neil Gorfain, CEO of TheCruiseOutlet.com who will personally work with each client needed assistance from the demise of Cruise West.

Limited Time Offers from The Cruise Outlet

2010-09-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

We have some great rates on Winter Break, Spring Break and April Vacation 2011 cruises that are booking fast! Give us a call today at 1-888-775-1884 to speak with one of our Cruise Professionals about booking your trip on any of these amazing cruises, or visit www.thecruiseoutlet.com to browse our other deals!

Winter Break 2011

February 12, 2011 Norwegian Cruise Lines Epic 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing from Miami starting at $656 per person + free dinner

February 13, 2011 Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Allure of the Seas 7-night Western Caribbean sailing from Ft. Lauderdale starting at $884 per person + $25 on board credit

February 19, 2011 Norwegian Cruise Lines Epic 7-night Western Caribbean sailing from Miami starting at $599 per person + $75 on board credit

February 19, 2011 Norwegian Cruise Lines Gem 7-night Bahamas sailing from NYC starting at $801 per person + $50 on board credit

February 19, 2011 Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Oasis of the Seas 7-night Western Caribbean sailing from Ft. Lauderdale starting at $985 per person + $75 on board credit

Spring Break 2011

March 5, 2011 Norwegian Cruise Lines Gem 7-night Bahamas sailing from NYC starting at $414 per person + $50 on board credit

March 12, 2011 Norwegian Cruise Lines Gem 7-night Bahamas sailing from NYC starting at $634 per person + free dinner

March 13, 2011 Norwegian Cruise Lines Jewel 7-night Bahamas sailing from NYC starting at $464 per person + $50 on board credit

April Vacation 2011

April 9, 2011 Norwegian Cruise Lines Gem 7-night Bahamas sailing from NYC starting at $532 per person + free dinner

April 9, 2011 Norwegian Cruise Lines Epic 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing from Miami starting at $703 per person + $75 on board credit

April 10, 2011 Norwegian Cruise Lines Jewel 7-night Bahamas sailing from NYC starting at $561 per person + free dinner

April 10, 2011 Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Allure of the Seas 7-night Western Caribbean sailing from Ft. Lauderdale starting at $893 per person + $75 on board credit

April 16, 2011 Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Oasis of the Seas 7-night Western Caribbean sailing from Ft. Lauderdale starting at $1187 per person + $75 on board credit

April 16, 2011 Norwegian Cruise Lines Gem 7-night Bahamas sailing from NYC starting at $745 per person + free dinner

April 16, 2011 Norwegian Cruise Lines Epic 7-night Western Caribbean from Miami starting at $644 per person + $50 on board credit

April 17, 2011 Norwegian Cruise Lines Jewel 7-night Bahamas sailing from NYC starting at $745 per person + free dinner

April 17, 2011 Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Allure of the Seas 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing from Ft. Lauderdale starting at $1197 per person + $75 on board credit

Why Use a Travel/Cruise Agent?

2010-09-07T13:56:00.000-07:00

The best way to insure that you are getting the best deal is to use the services of an experienced, knowledgeable cruise professional. It may be tempting to go online and simply book your cruise directly with the cruise line, but you will not get the best price. Often, Cruise Agencies will have promotions and specials available to them which cruise lines do not offer. Cruise line personnel who do bookings are given a script and the majority of them do not know anything about cruising. They are hired for their skills to work in a call center and are only concerned with moving numbers.

A Professional Cruise Agent can tell you which of the MANY cabins on the NCL Epic is the perfect one for your upcoming trip!

Using a Professional Cruise Agent gives you an advantage in the event that a problem may arise. The agent can act on your behalf as your advocate to resolve any issues. Your travel agent may do hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars in business each year with a cruise line, so they will have more leverage than you will on your own. In today’s age of experts and specialization, there is a group of companies who specialize in selling only cruises. These are the people with whom you want to deal with and here is why:

A professional Cruise Agent working at a company which specializes in cruises does only that. In today's complex world trying to be a “jack of all trades” does not work. Look around and you will see that to be an expert in a specific area is the only way to be effective and provide the correct information.

The cruise industry has become very complex and the ships extremely large. Even the “sales” and management teams which work for a specific cruise company acknowledge that the new ships are complex. Thus you want to deal with a person who has cruised, cruised on the ship you are planning to cruise on, and does not operate out of the basement or bedroom in their home. That person is not a professional, that is someone who does cruises as a hobby!

Cruise Outlet Named Agency of Record for National Recording Artists SHILOH

2010-09-03T15:18:00.000-07:00

National Recording Artists SHILOH asked the Cruise Outlet (for the 10^th year in a row) to coordinate their upcoming Reunion Cruise sailing from Galveston on April 11, 2011. It is going to be a 5-night cruise with all the cruise bells and whistles, but as with each Shiloh cruise, their fans from all over the US come on-board and participate in their exclusive concerts, events and programs.

Each year SHILOH travels to another part of the Country and for the past 10 years they have been cruising. According to Brian White, the lead singer of Shiloh, “we met Neil on a Gospel cruise that his company had put together and I was very impressed with the smooth and organized style he had”.

SHILOH, based out of Texas, have a national and international touring schedule annually performed all over the United States as well as the White House for Christmas a few years ago. Founded in 1995, many have described their style as Contemporary Southern. Their trademark sound is derived from their extraordinary musical arrangements, closely-knit harmonies, and powerful and distinctive vocals with a special Texas flair.

National Recording Artists SHILOH

“The following year I asked him if he would put a package together for our followers that would combine the pleasures of a cruise and its programs with private concerts and events just for our fans. Since then, we have traveled with our fans every year to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, the Caribbean. The fans love that they are able to hear private concerts and attend private parties”.

According to White “The Cruise Outlet never loses track of who is number one and makes sure that everyone feels special”.

The Cruise Outlet, according to Neil Gorfain, handles many of these special groups throughout the year and is gaining a reputation for making each of these special programs a "smooth sailing".

According to Gorfain, “I am happy to work with Shiloh. They are wonderful people. Each year there are some challenges as each cruise line has its own uniqueness, but the key to our success with these programs is not to let the “customer” or performer know the errors that have occurred. They go on stage without a hitch.”

Create a Better Cruise Budget

2010-09-01T14:58:00.000-07:00

It's always great to know you received a good deal on something, but few things are better than getting a good deal on a fantastic cruise! However, creating an airtight budget for your cruise vacation could end up hindering your overall enjoyment of the experience. Our staff here at The Cruise Outlet want to share their tips on where to spend and where to splurge, to ensure that your cruise budget is big on both savings and fun.

Balcony Cabins

Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or a first-timer, you've probably heard the argument that as you're only sleeping there, inside cabins are a better value. While this may be true for some, our clients have told us the experience of having a private view from their cabin was well worth the added cost. From watching magnificent sunrises over coffee and croissants, to taking in the lush landscapes at each new port of call, a balcony cabin can give you a once-in-a-lifetime experience seeing some of the worlds marvels.

Smaller Ships

Big ships offer a tremendous variety of activities, which for many families may be the way to go. But small ships carrying 1,000 or fewer passenders provide a different value for cruisers not looking for a floating city. Many times smaller ships can call on ports that larger ships cannot. Also, with a much smaller number of passengers aboard smaller cruise ships, guests are not part of a mass tourism experience. You can get to know many people on board and develop lasting friendships with like-minded people.

Book Your Next Cruise While on Your Current Cruise

Cruise lines know they have a captive audience when you're onboard their ships, so they typically offer incentives for booking your next cruise while still on vacation. Usually this type of booking requires only an open ended deposit with no specific sailing committed. However, it is vitally important that you make sure they give your booking to your agenct of record to keep all of your travel details in order for you. Not only can your agent ensure everything about your next cruise runs smoothly, they can almost always readjust your rate to give you a better deal and add other perks and amenities to your upcoming cruise. The Cruise Outlet regularly handles these types of bookings for our clients. Just make sure to bring a copy of your booking to your travel agent when you're back on land.

Pre-Cruise

Explore and enjoy the cities where your cruise begins by adding on at least one hotel night before you set sail. In addition to the extra time you'll have to relax, unwind and dispell any jet lag you may have, booking a pre-cruise hotel night assures that you and your luggage will arrive to the ship on time, and that you will miss any delays due to inclement weather or unforseen circumstances that may otherwise cause you to miss your departure.

Book Back to Back

Even better than disembarking when your cruise is over is staying on board. The Cruise Outlet can often offer incentives for booking back-to-back cruises that will allow you to enjoy an even wider variety of amazing destinations, sometimes without even having to switch cabins so you won't have to pack and unpack.

Cruising for a Cause

2010-08-25T15:50:00.000-07:00

The New Haven Firebirds Society invites you to cruise for a cause, aboard the luxurious Norwegian Jewel, on a special 7-night Bahamas cruise benefiting their Firebirds Society Scholarship Program. Offered exclusively through Firebirds partner The Cruise Outlet, this once-in-a-lifetime journey sets sail from New York City on May 28th, 2011 with rates starting as low as $439.

Sailing from New York and visiting Port Canaveral, Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau Bahamas, Firebird guests aboard the Jewel will enjoy dazzling days of sun, fun, rest and relaxation while supporting a great cause. From a leisurely afternoon of shuffleboard and sun tanning by the pool, to catching a Las Vegas style revue before a high-stakes night in their full casino; Norwegian Cruise Line offers limitless onboard activities and amenities for every taste and lifestyle.

Guests setting sail to support the Firebirds will also enjoy exclusive onboard offers and events, including a private cocktail party, as part of this special rate offered exclusively by The Cruise Outlet.

Early booking is recommended for this amazing cruise, offered exclusively by The Cruise Outlet. Call (203) 288-1884 or email info@thecruiseoutlet.com and get ready to say “Bon Voyage” for a great cause!

How to Choose the Right Cruise

2010-08-24T16:06:00.000-07:00

Every cruise line is as different as day and night. This is where a Professional Cruise Agent can offer much assistance. Each cruise line appeals to different groups or different lifestyles such as senior citizens, young couples, families, adventure seekers, etc.

Today's cruiser can pick from a wide variety of cruise lines when booking their trip. Contemporary, Premium, Upscale, Luxury. Each offers significantly different experiences, as well as differences in prices.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT CRUISE LINE

Most of the contemporary cruise lines have a very broad appeal to their potential passengers. In other words, they try to be everything to everyone. Again, this is where your Cruise Professional can be an invaluable resource when planning your trip. A good Cruise Professional will take the time to learn your needs and match you with the right ship and sailing based on their experience. How long you are going to cruise for, what time of year, and where you want to cruise to are all important factors to consider when choosing the ship and cruise lines.

If you want to cruise the upscale or luxury cruise products, then they must be booked in advance as each sailing for them is different. The Contemporary Cruise Lines will sail the same itinerary weekly when in the Caribbean, Alaska and Bermuda. The Luxury lines sail different itineraries every week or every sailing. Most of their sailings are 8, 10, 12, 14 or more days each time. They can start in one country and end in another.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT STATEROOM and LOCATION

Your best value and smoothest ride is on a lower deck in the middle of the ship. Years ago, the lowest priced cabins were on the lowest decks toward the front or aft end of the ship. Over the past 20 years, ships have changed significantly in layout and design. The cheapest cabins were always next to or right above the engines. Also, the “cheapest cabins” can be found in a multitude of locations and on many different decks.
Again, a Cruise Professional becomes a very valuable asset in your planning.

The cabins range in prices from the least expensive interior cabin, to ocean view cabins with either a port hole or picture window, to a balcony cabin, then a mini suite, and then a full suite/penthouse. Most Cruise Lines have a multitude of different “categories” for each type of cabin and of course the costs vary. If you plan ahead far enough, getting a cabin mid-ship is the best. Especially convenient and wise when cruising on the newer ships which hold over 3500 passengers.

Tips for Solo Cruisers

2010-08-20T08:29:00.000-07:00

If you are a single traveler, you should be aware that most cruise lines charge what is referred to as a "single supplement". Cruise lines base their rates on two people staying in each cabin. If you are going to travel by yourself, they will charge you a supplement fee. Some cruise lines will charge as much as 200%, essentially charging you enough to cover a second passenger. The "single supplement" rates vary depending on cruise line and sail date. However, flexible travel dates and guidance from your Cruise Professional can help solo cruisers avoid many of the pitfalls of traveling alone.

CONSIDER A REPOSITIONING CRUISE
A "repositioning" cruise takes place when a ship is moved from one part of the world to another, generally on a seasonal basis. For example, many cruise lines will position ships in Alaska during the summer months when the days are longer. As the days grow shorter in the fall, these ships are moved back to the Caribbean. You can often find some very reasonable rates on these repositioning cruises.

CHOOSING THE TIME OF YEAR
If you have some flexibility with your sail dates, it can make a big difference in your cruise fare. Holidays, winter school break and spring break are always more expensive. If you are planning a Caribbean cruise, consider a fall sail date once kids are back in school. Many people are concerned about Hurricanes in the Caribbean. Hurricane season is officially June 1 through Dec 1. While many people tend to shy away from booking a cruise during this time, it is important (and smart) to keep in mind that not only are the rates much lower during hurricane season, but that a cruise vacation is the only vacation that allows you to avoid severe weather completely! Ships will never head into a storm, but rather their route to avoid any bad weather. In a situation like this, the worst case scenario is a change in port of call or an extra day at sea. Programs, activities and shows offered on the ship will all go on as usual, regardless of a route change due to weather.

SHIPBOARD CREDITS
The Cruise Outlet, as well as many travel agencies,will offer their clients shipboard credits or other amenities as a bonus for booking a trip on certain sailings. An onboard credit can be as much as $2000.00 on a particular cruise! Remember, on most cruises you pay for your drinks (sodas, cocktails, beer & wine), shore excursions/tours, spa treatments and gratuities. Having a shipboard credit helps to offset those expenses. The earlier you book your cruise, the better the amenities are. Those that wait until the last minute because they think they will get a deal truly miss out on these great perks!

BUY TRIP INSURANCE
An important part of getting a good deal is protecting your investment. An independent insurance company (one that sells insurance only) can offer coverage that is far better than the insurance offered by the cruise lines. The difference in coverage is so vast, don’t look at the cost of the premium without considering the coverage and how it will be paid to you. The Independent companies pay you the amount of the claim while many cruise line insurance coverages give you a credit for another cruise with limited terms and conditions.

The importance of planning your cruise

2010-08-17T15:51:00.000-07:00

The myth that you will get a better price and deal by booking at the last minute is just that - a myth. It is important to know the industry and product if you are going to be a smart consumer!

On a cruise ship, there are many different price categories. The price categories are for the different cabins of which many of these are the same in size and amenities, but in different locations. Unless you are purchasing a suite, almost every cabin on the ship has identical amenities.

When you book your cruise early you get to choose the cabin you want, or if you are dealing with a Cruise Professional, they will recommend a certain cabin in a certain location because they know the ship. Remember, cabins are booked by specific number and location. Once deposited, it cannot be sold to another person. (In hotels it does not work this way. The rooms are issued when you check in.). How often have you had to wait hours before checking into your room? Not on a ship!!

One of the benefits to booking in advance is you get a better choice of cabins. If you wait until the last minute, you are basically going to get a cabin that nobody else wanted. (i.e. rooms under the kitchen, next to the disco, in a location where you will hear and feel the propellers, etc.). When you book your cruise six months to a year in advance, you are only required to put up a deposit to hold the cabin.

An interior cabin on a ship can have 6 different prices depending on its location. All cabins are the same, just the price is different. As the lower cost cabins are sold, the next person has to pay more for the same type of cabin. The cabin can actually be next to each other and one is priced more just for the sake of the cruise lines making more money.

Yes, like any business, many companies will run a sale or promotion to generate business. Cruise Lines are no different. If you booked with a Cruise Professional, and the price was lowered they might have arrangements to protect the lower rate. Many of these “Cruise Agents” will let you know automatically, other companies you will have to check everyday. Remember if you booked with the Cruise Lines directly, this protection will not happen.