Saturday, March 31, 2012

Celebrity Cruises Announces 2013-2014 Winter Sailings

There’s no better time than winter to seek out sun-soaked, exotic destinations, and there’s no better way to experience them than immersed in modern luxury. That’s exactly what Celebrity Cruises is offering with its 2013-14 winter itinerary line-up, which will feature a multitude of ways to make the most of precious vacation time on its stunning, award-winning ships, six in the Caribbean and five around the globe in Australia and New Zealand, the Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, South America and the South Pacific. During the winter season, Celebrity Cruises’ guests will visit 170 ports in 42 countries from 20 different departure ports, while enjoying open and airy onboard spaces with careful attention to detail, luxurious accommodations, fresh and innovative cuisine, and genuine and personalized service. Celebrity also will offer a variety of cruisetour vacation options, pairing a land-based experience with a cruise to create the ultimate winter getaway.

Varied itineraries expand modern luxury getaway options

Unique elements of Celebrity’s 2013-14 winter destination offerings will include a 35-night circumnavigation cruise of Australia and New Zealand, departing from Auckland, New Zealand in February 2014 and ending in Sydney, Australia in March 2014. This trip of a lifetime will take place on Celebrity Solstice, the ship that introduced modern luxury style and design to the cruise industry when she debuted in 2008. Celebrity Solstice also will offer two Pacific Island cruises roundtrip from Sydney in October 2013 and April 2014, featuring stops at ports such as Lautoka and Suva, Fiji; Lifou, Loyalty Islands; and Noumea and Isles of Pines, New Caledonia.

A new offering will be four- and five-night Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida on Celebrity Constellation, which was “Solsticized” in drydock last year to include guest-favorite enhancements such as the Tuscan Grille specialty restaurant, CellarMasters wine bar and Café al Bacio and Gelateria, among other venues. Prior to the 2013-14 winter season, new AquaClass accommodations with exclusive access to the Mediterranean specialty restaurant, Blu, will be added to the ship. Celebrity Constellation will offer Bahamas cruises featuring stops in Key West, Florida and Nassau, Bahamas, and Western Caribbean itineraries featuring stops in Key West and Cozumel, Mexico, all roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale from December 2013 through April 2014.

Also new will be a series of cruises out of Los Angeles on Celebrity Century, for the first time since 2010. Hawaii departures and an entirely new Pacific Costal Wine Cruise itinerary which will visit the new port of Santa Barbara, California, and will include an overnight stay in San Francisco, are highlights of Celebrity Century’s October 2013 to May 2014 West Coast season. While in the region, Celebrity Century will offer 15-night Hawaii sailings out of San Diego and Los Angeles, California, and 15-night Panama Canal cruises between San Diego and Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale, Florida in December 2013 and January and February 2014.

Celebrity Century’s Hawaii and Panama Canal will open for booking on April 4, 2012.

Exotic destinations beckon; stylish, comfortable ships pamper

Celebrity’s 2013-14 winter season will be rife with opportunities for vacationers seeking experiences in trip-of-a-lifetime destinations. Cruises and cruisetours in South America will be offered on Celebrity Infinity, which was Solsticized last year as part of Celebrity’s $140-million initiative to incorporate iconic Solstice Class elements into its Millennium Class ships. From the eclectic Qsine specialty restaurant to Celebrity’s first AquaClass staterooms to be added to a Millennium Class ships, among other elements that were added, Celebrity Infinity will provide a luxurious setting from which to gaze upon the majestic landscapes of South America. There, she will offer 14-night cruises between Buenos Aires, Argentina and Valpraiso, Chile during December 2013 and January and March 2014. Two 14-night Antarctica sailings roundtrip from Buenos Aires in February 2014 will offer breathtaking views as the ship sails around and through Paradise Bay, the Gerlache Strait, and Elephant Island. Two Panama Canal sailings on each end of the season will also be offered, sailing eastbound between San Diego and Miami, Florida in November 2013 and April 2014, and westbound from Miami to San Diego in November 2013 and March 2014.

Celebrity’s South America cruisetours can extend a vacation, thereby offering an even richer opportunity to relax and recharge, by pairing a fully escorted land-based tour with a cruise.

  • A Buenos Aires-based three-night pre- or post-cruise land tour to Iguazu Falls features one night in Buenos Aires and two nights in Iguazu Falls
  • A Valparaiso-based five-night pre- or post-cruise land tour to Machu Picchu features two nights in Urubamba, located in the Sacred Valley in Peru, with access to Machu Picchu, as well as two nights in Lima, Peru and one night in Santiago, Chile.

Guests who wish to have the ultimate modern luxury South America vacation experience can book one of these cruisetours for the start of their vacation and the other to take place after their cruise.

Celebrity Solstice will sail a second consecutive Australia/New Zealand season consisting primarily of 12-night cruises between Sydney, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand, from October 2013 to April 2014. Four- and five-night fully escorted land tours can be paired with these to offer a more immersive Downunder experience; these feature destinations such as Ayers Rock, Port Douglas (with a visit to the Great Barrier Reef), and the cosmopolitan city of Sydney. The circumnavigation of Australia and cruises to the Pacific Islands will round out Celebrity Solstice’s Australia/New Zealand season.

Celebrity Millennium, being Solsticized in May of this year, will offer a second consecutive Asia season, sailing a southerly route across the Pacific Ocean to Australia at the start of the season, where she will offer a 17-night cruise between Sydney and Singapore in November 2013. This itinerary will offer overnight stays in Cairns (Yorkey’s Knob), Australia and Singapore. From there, Celebrity Millennium will present guests with 14-night cruises between Singapore and Hong Kong. Two 14-night Indonesia cruises roundtrip from Singapore will be offered in January 2014. These voyages will feature multiple in-port overnight stays in cities including Bangkok, Thailand; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Hanoi (Halong Bay), Vietnam; Bali, Indonesia; Singapore; Hong Kong, China; Shanghai, China; Beijing, China; and Tokyo, Japan.

A more extensive Asia vacation can be enjoyed by combining a fully escorted land tour with the cruises sailing from or ending in Hong Kong. A five-night pre- or post-cruise out of Hong Kong features two nights in Xian, where guests will visit the famed Terra Cotta Warriors, and three nights in Beijing, where guests will access the Great Wall of China, among many other highlights.

The ever-popular 92-guest mega-yacht Celebrity Xpedition will continue to offer a variety of vacation options in the Galapagos Islands, each including naturalist-led explorations and excursions throughout the region.

Celebrity’s 2013-14 Australia and South America cruises will open for booking on April 4, 2012, and the Asia itineraries will open on April 18, 2012. The Galapagos Islands sailings opened for booking in March.

Easy-to-access Caribbean offers uncommon onboard luxury

In addition to Celebrity Constellation’s short Caribbean cruises, voyages through the region’s vibrant blue waters will be offered on four of Celebrity’s five Solstice Class ships and one additional Solsticized Millennium Class ship in the winter of 2013-14. Three of these ships will offer seven-night cruises:

  • Eastern Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Miami, Florida on Celebrity Reflection, currently under construction and debuting later this year with Celebrity’s first-ever AquaClass Suites and the ultra-luxurious Reflection Suite and Signature Suites
  • Alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises on Celebrity Silhouette – the ship that introduced the interactive Lawn Club Grill and private cabanas known as The Alcoves to vacationers – roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale
  • Port-rich Southern Caribbean cruises on the recently Solsticized Celebrity Summit, roundtrip from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Two Solstice Class ships will offer longer cruises with even more ways to maximize vacation time by enjoying all that Celebrity offers onboard, along with the relaxing vibe of the Caribbean:

Celebrity Eclipse will offer a 14-night Exotic Southern Caribbean itinerary roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale from November 2013 to April 2014.
Celebrity Equinox will repeat her 2012-13 10- and 11-night “Ultimate Caribbean” cruises sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale from December 2013 to April 2014.

Celebrity’s 2013-14 Caribbean cruises will open for booking on April 11, 2012.

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Friday, March 30, 2012

2013 Alaska Un-Cruises Unveiled: More Adventure, More Itineraries with InnerSea Discoveries and American Safari Cruises

With more vessels and itinerary choices in Alaska than any previous year, un-cruise adventure operator InnerSea Discoveries and American Safari Cruises has unveiled 2013 rates and dates for its fleet of expedition vessels and yachts. New in 2013, a refurbished Safari Legacy joins the fleet of yachts and InnerSea Discoveries schedules three Alaska Unleashed cruises for the utmost in active adventures.

The 88-guest Safari Legacy, an elegant vessel reminiscent of a gold rush coastal steamer with Victorian décor, debuts with American Safari Cruises in summer 2013. Sailing weeklong cruises between Ketchikan and Juneau, Alaska, the vessel visits Skagway, Haines, Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell, Glacier Bay and the remote fishing village of Pelican. On board, a Living History program focuses on the storied past of Alaska including the Klondike gold rush and historical characters such as naturalist and author John Muir, outlaw Soapy Smith and prospector Skookum Jim. Legacy Leaders and local guest storytellers bring the history and spirit of the past alive with period reenactments and lively presentations.

“The Safari Legacy will be unique within our fleet and adds an option for those interested in exploring the port towns and history of Alaska,” said Tim Jacox, executive vice president of sales and marketing. “We’ll also offer more days inside Glacier Bay National Park with six boats making regular visits, most for multiple days of exploration.”

Adventurers interested in more technical hikes, longer kayaking trips and more opportunities to be active out in the wilderness can choose to sail on one of three weeklong Alaska Unleashed cruises aboard the Wilderness Adventurer. On these exclusive adventures, guest capacity is reduced from 60 to 36 guests to enable a more rigorous slate of outdoor activities. Dates are June 8, July 13 and August 10. For this advanced adventure program, rates start at $5,595 per person based on double occupancy.

Specializing in active adventures in the wilderness, InnerSea Discoveries’ three expedition vessels include the 60-guest Wilderness Adventurer and 76-guest Wilderness Discoverer and Wilderness Explorer. The upscale fleet of American Safari Cruises includes the 12-guest Safari Spirit, 22-guest Safari Quest, 36-guest Safari Explorer, 86-guest Safari Endeavour and 88-guest Safari Legacy.

Expedition ships in Alaska
From May to September, InnerSea Discoveries’ three expedition vessels offer weeklong active adventures in Alaska sailing between Ketchikan and Juneau (and reverse) or Juneau and Sitka (and reverse). With three different itineraries, un-cruises may now be combined for 15-day or 22-day adventures. Guests enjoy exploring nature on kayaking and hiking excursions, paddle boarding and skiff tours. Rates begin at $1,895 per person based on double occupancy. In May and September, 15-day expeditions between Seattle and Juneau (and reverse) are available with rates starting at $3,495 per person based on double occupancy.

Upscale yachts in Alaska
Four yachts sail weeklong, inclusive un-cruises roundtrip Juneau from May 17 through September 8, 2013. The yachts forego port calls and instead explore remote wilderness areas to maximize time for up close encounters with nature and wildlife. Two days are spent exploring inside Glacier Bay National Park with a park ranger on hiking, kayaking and skiff excursions. Rates begin at $4,195 per person based on double occupancy. Longer 15-day voyages between Seattle and Juneau (and reverse) sail in May, August and September depending on vessel. Rates begin at $6,095 per person.

From May through August, 2013, the 88-guest Safari Legacy sails weeklong “Alaska’s Golden History” cruises between Ketchikan and Juneau, Alaska. The vessel will then spend fall and spring sailing on the Columbia and Snake rivers roundtrip Portland, Oregon. Rates and dates will be available spring 2012.

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Thursday, March 29, 2012

Royal Caribbean Shifts Monarch of the Seas to Pullmantur

Earlier this month Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced the transfer of Monarch of the Seas from its Royal Caribbean International cruise brand to its Pullmantur brand, a cruise and tour operator based in Madrid. Monarch of the Seas will transfer to Pullmantur on April 1, 2013, following its last sailing for Royal Caribbean International, which departs on March 29, 2013.

“We are very proud of Monarch of the Seas for delivering great service and outstanding destinations to vacationers since her maiden voyage,” said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “She will go on creating wonderful travel memories through her final sailings for our brand through next March and then continue doing the same for Pullmantur’s guests.”

With the incorporation of Monarch of the Seas, Pullmantur will increase its total guest capacity by nearly 25 percent and meet a rising demand for the brand’s distinctive All Inclusive-style cruise holidays.

‘‘The transfer of Monarch of the Seas will reinforce Pullmantur in our Latin American growth strategy, and help us become one of the most widely recognized brands,’’ said Pullmantur’s President and CEO, Gonzalo Chico Barbier.

Monarch of the Seas was built at Chantiers de L’Atlantique (now STX France) in St. Nazaire, France and sailed its maiden voyage on November 17, 1991. The ship is part of the Sovereign class of cruise ships, which were the world’s largest and most innovative of their time.

Pullmantur is the leading Spanish Tour Operator and Cruise Company, founded in 1971, and famous for introducing the ‘All Inclusive’ concept to cruising. Pullmantur is leader of the cruise market in Spain and Portugal, currently operating a modern fleet of four vessels, with a daily passenger capacity of 9,000, cruising worldwide, and calling on approximately 100 destinations. The company offers a unique door-to-door flight service, operated by its in-house air travel division with a fleet of four Boeing 747-400. Pullmantur Air provides charter flights to the European Cruise Port Embarkations and long-haul flights between Spain and the Caribbean Sea for the company’s tour-operation division. Spain based Pullmantur, operates through satellite offices in Brasil, Mexico, Portugal and France.

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand currently with 22 innovative ships, calling on more than 270 destinations in 72 countries across six continents. The line also offers unique cruise tour land packages in Alaska, Canada, Dubai, Europe, and Australia and New Zealand.

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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Swan Hellenic Offers Discounts On Select Minerva Cruises

To introduce travelers to the newly- refurbished Minerva, Swan Hellenic introduced special sale rates of as much as 60 percent off brochure fares for select cruises of discovery to exotic locales in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean from August through December 2012.

These special sale fares - which begin at just over $125 per person per day, double occupancy - include shore excursions, gratuities, port fees, meals, entertainment and the line’s renowned guest speaker program on the 350-guest Minerva, which recently completed a multi-million-dollar refit. Swan’s special sale fares must be booked by April 30 and are subject to availability.

Minerva’s new look features expansive new public areas and an increased number of suites with balconies, representing 23% of all stateroom accommodation. In addition, all 181 staterooms have been upgraded with new en-suite bathrooms. The ship also boasts a new Orpheus Lounge & Bar, a wrap-around forward observation lounge with expansive panoramic views; an expanded Shackleton Bar; a new Livingstone Lounge for relaxing or reading; dedicated internet lounge and Wi-Fi accessibility throughout the ship; and an impressive outdoor “walk around” Promenade Deck.

Among the itineraries included in Swan Hellenic’s Summer/Fall Sale are the following:

  • The 15-day Venice & the Adriatic (8/15/12) sails from Valletta to Athens, enabling guests to discover the walled cities of the Venetian Empire, the archaeological wonders of Burtrint, Albania and Delphi, Greece, and amazing scenery while cruising along the Dalmatian Coast. Fares begin at $2,599 with overnights in Kotor and Athens.
  • Minerva sails a 15-day Hellenic Highlights (8/29/12) journey from Athens to Istanbul, calling at the old and new Greek capitals of Nauplia and Athens, visiting Crete and the smaller islands of Delos, Paros, Chios and Symia, and sailing Turkey’s Lycian coast. Fares start from $2,499 with overnights in Athens, Mykonos, Kusadasi and Istanbul.
  • Explore the Aegean & Levant (9/26/12) on a 15-day cruise that travels from Izmir in the Northern Aegean to Athens in the eastern Mediterranean, discovering cities of the Roman Empire and medieval times and Crusaders’ castles as well as Mount Athos, the Tombs at Vergina, and remote Greek islands and Turkish villages. Fares begin at $2,799 with overnights in Izmir and Athens.
  • Unearth Treasures of the Near East (11/7/12) on a 15-day cruise from Athens to Luxor/Safaga. En route, guests have the opportunity to explore Roman cities, Crusader castles and Egyptian treasures as they sail through the Suez Canal and into the Red Sea. Fares start from $2,499 with overnights in Athens and Luxor/Safaga.
  • On the 15-day Passage to Oman (11/21/12), Minerva sails from Luxor/Safaga to Dubai along ancient trade routes through the Red Sea. Discover Egyptian antiquities, archaeological sites, souks, palaces and mosques before arriving in the modern city of Dubai. Guests will enjoy overnights in Luxor/Safaga, Djibouti, Muscat and Dubai, with rates starting from $1,899 (only $127 per day).
  • Celebrate the holidays and toast the New Year while discovering the Mysteries of the Indian Ocean (12/19/12) on a 16-day cruise from Colombo to Singapore that features a rare sail up the Yangon River to Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar’s former capital, and the chance to explore the rarely visited Andaman Islands. Rates begin at $2,399 (just $150 per day) with overnights in Colombo, Yangon and Singapore.

On each Minerva sailing, guests will experience British country elegance with a focus on destination and enrichment cruising to iconic destinations and hidden gems with distinguished guest speakers and unparalleled shore excursions.

Swan Hellenic is an award-winning cruise line that has been defining the art of small ship discovery cruising for more than 50 years.

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Monday, March 26, 2012

Princess Cruises Announces New Dining Option On New Royal Princess

Princess Cruises revealed more details about several of the main dining room and specialty restaurant options that will be available aboard Royal Princess when the cruise ship debuts in June 2013, including new special venues and experiences, plus fresh twists on some Princess favorites.

Among the new options are several distinct dining spaces, including a special Chef’s Table Lumiere surrounded by a curtain of light to take the Chef’s Table experience to a new level, as well as wine cellar-inspired private dining spaces in the main dining rooms.

The ship will offer a larger Horizon Court buffet with a brand-new layout, new action stations, intriguing new bistro options – such as a crab shack and fondue restaurant – and even a dedicated pastry shop, an industry first.

For a full evening experience, several restaurants and lounges have been located together, including the Crown Grill which has been combined with the Wheelhouse Bar, and Sabatini’s Italian restaurant which is now adjacent to Vines wine bar.

“These evolutions of our dining program will offer some exciting new options, as well as showcase our signature features which have become passenger favorites,” said Jan Swartz, executive vice president for Princess Cruises. “Royal Princess certainly will take our dining options to the next level.”

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Sunday, March 25, 2012

Fred Olsen Cruises Boudicca Embarks on Amazon River Cruise From UK

Cruisers looking for adventure could hardly do better than to join Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Boudicca for her ‘Amazon Adventure’ cruise, D1301, departing from Portsmouth on 5th January 2013 – an amazing opportunity to explore the fascinating world of the mighty Amazon River.

The outward voyage of this exotic 35-night cruise travels via the ‘Garden Isle’ of Madeira, visiting capital Funchal, then Mindelo in the Cape Verde Islands. From Macapa (Brazil), Boudicca enters the mighty Amazon River, travelling as far as Manaus (Brazil), some 900 miles up-river.

The ship then travels to the heart of the Amazon, and there are many cruise tours available for greater insight into this exotic region: from Santarem (Brazil), guests can travel to the Santa Lucia Woods and enjoy a guided walk along forest trails; at Boca da Valeria (Brazil), they can meet a community of local villagers, living in wooden stilt houses. Another highlight is viewing the astonishing buildings of Manaus (Brazil), built by the rubber barons in the late 19th Century, which are splendidly ornate and ostentatious. The exotic wildlife, vibrant colours, and sounds of the Amazon will live on in the memory for years to come.

On the return voyage, Boudicca departs the Amazon via Parintins (Brazil) and Macapa (Brazil), and continues to the white sands and crystal blue waters of the Caribbean; guests can gently 'kick back' and cruise the Caribbean islands of Tobago, St. Vincent, Barbados, Antigua and St. Lucia.

This fascinating cruise has an additional attraction; the appropriate theme of ‘Amazonia’ through Fred. Olsen’s award-winning onboard enrichment programme. Expert talks and lectures on the history and culture of this amazing region will enhance guests’ experience and knowledge, at no extra cost.

Prices for this exciting cruise start from £4,469 per person, based on two adults sharing an outside, twin cabin, Grade ‘E’. The price includes all meals and entertainment on board, and port taxes.

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