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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Holland America Adds a Canaletto Italian Restaurant and Enclosed Wintergarden to the ms Prinsendam

Prinsendam Holland America Line - Completes Upgrade

Holland America Line recently completed the addition of the line's casual Italian restaurant Canaletto and transformed the Lido Terrace into an enclosed Wintergarden aboard ms Prinsendam. Named for the famous 18th-century Venetian artist, the award-winning Canaletto is located in the Wintergarden, which is adjacent to the Lido dining area. The restaurant serves classic Italian fare with tableside service for dinner only, and reservations are encouraged. With the addition of the eatery to Prinsendam, Canaletto is now on all 15 ships in the Holland America Line fleet.

“We continue to invest in our fleet and the onboard experience to offer the best premium cruise experience,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “Prinsendam has one of our most loyal followings, so the new Wintergarden and popular Canaletto will certainly be appreciated by our guests.”

In addition to Canaletto, the 835-guest Prinsendam’s aft Lido terrace was enclosed and remodeled into a covered Wintergarden. The new area increased the dining capacity of the Lido and provides the venue for Canaletto. The ship also received other cosmetic enhancements during its dry-dock in Freeport, Bahamas, including new balcony decking and balcony dividers.

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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Cunard Line Renoun Guest Speakers On Select 2013 Cruises

Cunard Line to Welcome Cutting-Edge Speakers from
the Worlds of Books, Business and Biology in 2013

Renowned for its award-winning Cunard Insights on board enrichment programme, Cunard Line has announced that leading luminaries in their fields – author Bill Bryson, business guru Lord Digby Jones and eminent Professor of Science and Society Lord Robert Winston – are among the featured speakers aboard Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth beginning this spring.

“The quality of our speaker programme on board our ships is something which sets Cunard apart,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. “We are delighted to welcome three such pre-eminent and internationally respected figures to our line-up for 2013 who will add an extra dimension to our passengers’ experience on board.”

Delving into a variety of compelling and relevant topics, Cunard Insights introduces guests to accomplished experts and visionaries who reflect the Line's legacy of adventure and prestige while sailing a luxury cruise vacation. Sail dates for these cutting-edge Cunard Insights speakers, as well as the voyage itineraries, are as follows:

Lord Digby Jones, Queen Victoria, Adriatic Explorer, 15 May, 17 days: Southampton; Palermo for Sicily; Korcula, Croatia; Venice; Dubrovnik; Corfu; Messina for Sicily; Valencia, Spain; Southampton. Fares start from $3,074 per person (including government fees and taxes), plus save $500 per person off airfare when booked by 31 March 2013.
Lord Robert Winston, Queen Elizabeth, Norwegian Fjords and North Cape Explorer, 26 May, 14 days: Southampton, Stavanger, Flaam, Alesund, Trondheim, Honningsvag for North Cape, Tromso, Geiranger, Bergen, Southampton. Fares start from $2,616 per person (including government fees and taxes), plus save $500 per person off Airfare when booked by 31 March 2013.
Bill Bryson, Queen Mary 2, Autumn Colours, 15 October, 12 days: New York; Newport, Rhode Island; Boston; Bar Harbor, Maine; St John, New Brunswick; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Québéc (overnight stay); New York. Fares start from $1,999 per person.

All fares quoted are per person, based on double occupancy.

Bryson, Lord Jones and Lord Winston complement the array of speakers lined up for Cunard’s current four-month World Voyages, who include:

Queen Mary 2 – journalist and war correspondent Martin Bell; ex-Formula 1 driver Sir Jackie Stewart; former Chief of the General Staff General Dannatt; and “Human Planet” BBC documentary producer Dale Templar
Queen Elizabeth – Roger McGuinn, lead singer of The Byrds; Royal commentator Jennie Bond; former ambassador and high commissioner Sir Alan Collins; and polar explorer Felicity Ashton
Queen Victoria – former politician and broadcaster Edwina Currie; author and “queen of cakes” Jane Asher; and cartoonist Gerald Scarfe

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Monday, January 28, 2013

InnerSea Discoveries + American Safari Cruises Unveils New Company Name: Un-Cruise Adventures

Marking another milestone in its 16 year evolution, adventure cruise line InnerSea Discoveries/American Safari Cruises has officially changed its name to Un-Cruise Adventures. The line operates seven boats carrying 22-88 guests in Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico’s Sea of Cortés, Columbia and Snake Rivers and Coastal Washington and British Columbia.

“We’ve experienced phenomenal growth and success over the last four years,” said Dan Blanchard, principal and CEO. “What began as yacht cruising under the American Safari Cruises name has now expanded to include more styles of Un-Cruise Adventures, and this name change reflects that growth.”

The company has three yachts offering Luxury Adventures—22-guest Safari Quest, 36-guest Safari Explorer and 86-guest Safari Endeavour—an inclusive, upscale experience along with adventure activities. The 88-guest Safari Legacy, a replica Victorian steamer, debuts in August 2013 and will offer inclusive Heritage Adventures focusing on Living History aboard and ashore through presentations and tours. Three expedition vessels—60-guest Wilderness Adventurer, 76-guest Wilderness Discoverer and 76-guest Wilderness Explorer—offer Active Adventures for those desiring more outdoor explorations at a lower price point. Charter Adventures are also offered on all boats.

“Un-Cruise Adventures reflects the distinct nature of our small group travel by boat,” said Tim Jacox, executive vice president of sales and marketing. “Luxury of Experience really speaks to what Un-Cruise Adventures is all about. With a cap of 88 guests, we are able to experience more of the destinations through a wide range of activities – kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling and hiking under our Luxury and Active Adventures or reenacting history with Heritage Adventures.”

New in 2013

In 2013, the 88-guest Safari Legacy begins operating in Alaska and then sails on the Columbia and Snake Rivers in fall and spring. It debuts Heritage Adventures—a new style of Un-Cruise Adventure with a focus on Living History aboard and ashore. In November 2013, the Wilderness Explorer will begin sailing Active Adventures in the Hawaiian Islands between Oahu and Hawaii, the Big Island. And three Alaska Unleashed departures are scheduled for the Wilderness Adventurer in Alaska for adventurers desiring an amped up week of high adventure.

Moving forward, all company materials will change to reflect the new name of Un-Cruise Adventures. The company’s website URL will change to un-cruise.com.

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Friday, January 25, 2013

Royal Caribbean Reserving Names.

Media Sources state the Royal Caribbean has trademarked a number of names that could potentially be assigned to their two Project Sunshine Class ships and/or their new Oasis Class ship(s) currently under contract/construction.

The following names have been trademarked - Anthem of the Seas, Passion of the Seas, Vantage of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas and Pulse of the Seas.

The necessary paperwork was filed by Royal Caribbean on November 2, 2012.

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Thursday, January 24, 2013

Princess Cruises Adds 2 Short Cruises For The New Royal Princess

Royal Princess Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises has announced two preview cruises aboard Royal Princess, giving passengers a unique opportunity to get a taste of the new ship before its official inaugural voyage. The June 9 and June 14 cruises will sail roundtrip from Southampton on a two-night itinerary featuring a call in St. Peter Port, on the island of Guernsey.

Passengers on the short sailings will be able to sample Royal Princess’ many ground-breaking features, including the dramatic over-water SeaWalk, Princess Live! television studio, and plush new poolside cabanas before the ship’s inaugural sailing on June 16, 2013.

Both voyages will go on sale on January 29, with limited availability. Per person cruise fares start at $530 for an obstructed-view balcony stateroom.

The 3,600-passenger Royal Princess is a new-generation ship for Princess Cruises. Among the special features found on board will be a greatly expanded atrium, the social hub of the ship; a dramatic over-water SeaWalk, a top-deck glass-bottomed walkway extending more than 28 feet beyond the edge of the vessel; plush private poolside cabanas that appear to be floating on the water; the new Princess Live! television studio; a pastry shop; a special Chef’s Table Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of light; and balconies on all outside staterooms.

The ship’s 2013 maiden season will include cruises on the line’s signature Grand Mediterranean itinerary throughout the summer, followed by Eastern Caribbean cruises beginning in the fall.

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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Interesting Fact on the Lastest Royal Caribbean Oasis Order.

Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class Ship Ordered From STX France

As reported here earlier, Royal Caribbean has ordered a 3rd Oasis class vessel for delivery in 2016 and an option for 4th ship in 2017.

Intestesting enough, the first 2 Royal Caribbean Oasis Class ship were ordered from STX Europe's Finland Yard. The lastest one has been ordered from STX Europe's French Yard. The same yard that built French Line's France, Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and countless MSC Cruises ships.

It is reported that the Finnish Government did not come up with an attractive financing offer as their French counterparts. Sources close to the deal, say that the French Government financing assured Royal Caribbean that the pricing of the new ship(s) would be close to the price of the same they paid for the original 2 ships in 2009. The cost is estimated at 1.25 Billion dollars.

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Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Carnival Destiny Thruster Issues Cause Last Minute Schedule Change

Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Destiny

As of 7 PM last night, the Carnival Destiny was still dockside in Miami. Carnival Cruise Lines has announced an itinerary change for the Jan. 21 departure of the Carnival Destiny, due to problems with the ship’s stern thrusters. The stern thrusters are used primarily to help the ship move sideways.

Regrettably the Carnival had to replaced calls at Grand Turk and Half Moon Cay with Key West and Freeport. The itinerary was changed to Freeport in the Bahamas and Key West, Florida because both port have tugs which can help the ship dock and undock.

The thruster issue does not compromise safety of the ship.

The modified itinerary is scheduled to depart Miami at 4 p.m. Jan. 21 and call at Key West Jan. 23, Freeport Jan. 24 and Nassau on Jan. 25, returning to Miami on Jan. 26. The Carnival Destiny did eventually sail from Miami at around 8 PM .

Guest had the option to cancel for a full refund or to continue on the cruise and receive a $50-per-person onboard credit.

On February 2nd the Carnival Destiny will sail on an 18 Day transatlantic cruise. At the end of the cruise, she will proceed to Italy's Fincantieri Shipyard for a $155 Million dollar transformation into the Carnival Sunshine.

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Monday, January 21, 2013

Celebrity Cruises Charts Unique Licensing Deal with Billboard

Launch includes sweeps with opportunity to win “Rock the Red Carpet” tickets;

Onboard experience includes game show, music trivia series and theme party

When considering what are the hottest new songs or who are the most popular performers, Billboard is the source that comes to music lovers’ minds. So, when seeking a partner for a series of new musical offerings onboard, that’s exactly who Celebrity Cruises approached, and guests across the fleet are now “rocking” the benefits.
Celebrity today announced that they have joined forces with Billboard to launch a series of innovative, modern luxury musical programs onboard. Based on Billboard’s exclusive charts that track today’s hottest songs and artists, a trivia series, new musically focused game shows and themed parties will offer guests fun and exciting entertainment experiences across the fleet, with a chance to win Billboard prizes.
On every Celebrity ship (with the exception of Celebrity Xpedition), guests can enjoy:

Billboard: The Music Game Show - A “TV-style” interactive game show that tests guests’ knowledge through multiple rounds of music challenges, with the studio audience able to join in the action through an audience response system.
Billboard: The Music Trivia Series - Teams participate in trivia contests comprised of questions based on various genres, such as Music Legends, Music in the Media, Decades, Country, British Invasion: Now and Then, ‘70s and ‘80s.
Billboard Music Card Prize Giveaway - Guests participating in the trivia series and game shows have the chance to win Billboard music cards, which can be used to redeem music from the billboardmusicpromotions.com website, featuring millions of downloadable songs.
Totally ‘80s Theme Party - Currently offered exclusively on Celebrity Reflection, the cast, activities staff and DJ transport guests back to the ‘80s in this fully produced and choreographed party, featuring Billboard Hits of the decade and encouraging dancing all night long.

In addition, two lucky Celebrity guests have the chance to win a set of tickets to the 2013 Billboard Music Awards Show in Las Vegas, May 19, through the “Rock the Red Carpet” sweepstakes running from January 7 through April 7, 2013. Each winner will be invited to bring a guest, and will have red carpet access, pre- and post-party access, premium seats at the show, and roundtrip air from a major gateway to Las Vegas for each winner and guest. To enter, click www.celebritycruisesrocktheredcarpetsweeps.com.

About Celebrity Cruises:
Celebrity Cruises’ iconic “X” is the mark of modern luxury, with its cool, contemporary design and warm spaces; dining experiences where the design of the venues is as important as the cuisine; and the amazing service that only Celebrity can offer, all created to provide an unmatchable experience for vacationers’ precious time. In addition to cruise vacations visiting all continents, Celebrity also presents immersive cruisetour experiences in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America. With a fleet of 11 ships, Celebrity is one of the fastest-growing major cruise lines, and one of five brands operated by global cruise vacation company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

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Friday, January 18, 2013

Queen Elizabeth 2 To Become a 500 Room Hotel and Attraction in Asia

Queen Elizabeth 2 to become a Hotel in Asia

QE2 Dubai, has the pleasure to announce that MS Queen Elizabeth 2 Known popularly as (QE2) will be moved today to Drydocks World Dubai for undertaking classification checks prior to her renovation as a luxury floating hotel.

For The Full Story Go To Our Sister Site -> www.NortheastCruiseGuide.blogspot.com

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