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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Grand Princess Kicks Off Year-Round Sailings From San Francisco

Princess Cruise Grand Princess in San Francisco

The first cruise ship to be based year round in San Francisco, Grand Princess, sailed through the Golden Gate for the first time on March 16, 2013. The city celebrated the Princess Cruises vessel’s arrival by declaring the day “Grand Princess Day.”

The ship departed from Pier 35 on a voyage to the Hawaiian Islands. The 2,600-passenger Grand Princess will be based at the Port of San Francisco through spring 2014, offering 37 roundtrip sailings to Alaska, Mexico, and the California coast in addition to Hawaii. Grand Princess will accommodate approximately 96,200 passengers during the inaugural season.

Princess Cruises has a 40-year history of operating cruise ships from the Port of San Francisco.

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Friday, March 1, 2013

Louis Cruise Line and Cuba Cruise Partner on Winter Cuba Cruises


Louis Cruise Line's Louis Cristal in Cuba Cruise Livery

Louis Cruise Lines has announced that the Louis Cristal will be deploy to Cuba for the 2013/14 winter season. The itinerary will call at various ports around Cuba and Jamaica. The 1,452-passenger Louis Cristal will be on a charter arrangement with Toronto-based Cuba Cruise.

Cruises are expected to begin December 16, 2013 thru March 31, 2014. Louis Cruises will be assume all vessel operations responsibility, manage the onboard experience and assisting with the marketing.

Louis Cruise Line and Cuba Cruise attempted a prior Cuba Sailing Season in 2011, but the entire program was cancelled due to low bookings.

It should be noted that American passengers are not able to sail this itinerary because of the current trade embargo with Cuba, but Cuba remains a popular destination among Europeans and Canadians.

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Friday, February 15, 2013

American Queen Steamboat Company's American Queen Emerges From Refit

The American Queen Steamboat Company announces hotel-side refurbishment details of the 436-passenger paddlewheeler currently underway at the New Orleans’ Bollinger Shipyards. As part of the American Queen’s scheduled annual layup, an abundance of enhancements totaling more than one-half million dollars will be evident to past guests boarding for her first 2013 voyage on February 23.

“The American Queen is a national treasure and our loyal guests of her 2012 inaugural season enjoyed a historic return to river cruising in the heartland,” explains American Queen Steamboat Company President and COO Ted Sykes. “After her makeover, public areas will appear even richer and more opulent, while back-of-the-house changes and additions improve efficiency.”

A team of one hundred craftsman is currently dedicated to the American Queen, preparing her for an even more comfortable and enjoyable second season. New woodwork, custom-milled carpets and period fabrics in rich jewel tones not only heighten the sense of elegance but reflect the paddlewheeler’s heritage and pay homage to the glory days of river travel.

All furniture in both public areas and suites is being either reupholstered or replaced. As guests enter their stateroom or suite, they will be welcomed by new mahogany plantation shutters enhancing both privacy and ambiance. Added river scenes by noted artist Michael Blaser will adorn hallways throughout the boat, complementing the décor and reinforcing a sense of nostalgia.

Guests arriving in the J.M. White Dining Room will be greeted by a dramatic new marble and granite entryway, wallpaper and carpeting. New empire-style dining chairs are being added for a grand atmosphere. A mahogany wine wall showcasing a collection of both popular and boutique wineries creates a dramatic centerpiece. The room also features a new double-sided buffet to accommodate a greater selection of culinary specialties at breakfast and lunch. Behind the scenes, newly added appliances will also be welcomed by the galley staff to deliver Culinary Director Regina Charboneau’s signature cuisine.

A perennial favorite among guests, the Front Porch of America, will now become the Front Porch Café, offering a more comprehensive alternative dining option with the addition of a small prep kitchen executing a light menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. New furniture will adorn this sitting area while the outdoor deck remains a favorite spot for reading a classic novel or simply watching the river pass by.

Offering the most inclusive river cruise experience in North America, American Queen’s fares will begin at $1,495 per guest based on double occupancy in 2013, and include a one-night pre-voyage hotel stay, shore tours in every port onboard deluxe SteamcoachesSM, the acclaimed cuisine of legendary chef Regina Charboneau, and complimentary wine and beer with dinner. A variety of holiday lengths ranging from five days to fourteen offer exceptional value and convenience with little or no flying required.

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Friday, February 1, 2013

Cruise Lines Alter Itineraries To Reduce Fuel Consumption

Cruise Line Battling Rising Fuel Prices

The price of fuel has become a larger part of the operating expenses for cruise lines. Cruise lines are continually looking for new ways to reduce expenses.

Many are modifying their itineraries choosing ports closer to their embarkation points to reduce fuel consumption. In addition some cruise lines are adding overnight stays to not only allow more time in port but also keep costs in line. Another tactic is to spend more time at sea. When cruise ships operate at slower speeds, they burn substantially less fuel.

Carnival for example, has cut fuel consumption 24% since 2005 but is still expected to consume 3.3 million tons of fuel in 2013 at a price of $692/per ton. Most of Carnival's 2013 fuel savings are driven by itinerary changes, sometimes trading off itineraries with higher yield in favor of lessening fuel costs.

Other cruise lines are performing similar cost cutting measures to remain competitive and counter rising operating costs.

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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 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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Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Discounts" Luxury Operator Crystal Cruises Offers Shorter Cruises to Attract Younger Crowd

Crystal Cruises Cruise Discount

Luxury travelers take note: Crystal Cruises is kicking off 2013 with a younger clientele, shorter cruises, stronger 2013 bookings, a broader collection of ultra-luxe cruise destinations and savings. How so?

New Book Now fares, guaranteed only through February 28, 2013, offer up to $1500 off Asia, $1500 off Europe, $1600 off New England/Canada, $1700 off South America, $1000 off Holiday sailings, and more.

What’s more…

· Reduced Solo Travel Fares on 12 voyages in Asia, Mediterranean, Baltic and South America – as low as 110% for sole occupancy staterooms.

· Kids Sail Free on select July and August Western and Northern European cruises, in a third berth when sharing a stateroom with two adults.

“Booking early reaps great benefits – in savings, third berth capacity, airfares, etc.,” says Jack Anderson, senior vice president, marketing & sales. “When our last round of Book Now fares expired on December 28, we raised rates on 25 cruises in 2013 and seven in 2014. By the end of December, we had over 70% of our targeted revenue on the books for 2013. The word is out that these extraordinary fares for our ultra-luxury cruises are not guaranteed forever.”

Also significant, many more 2013 cruises are 10 days or less (almost half!), including a 250+% increase in shorter European cruises. Additionally, Crystal’s wildly successful Fall 2012 series of short Getaways, are returning for 2013 with more options to more destinations.

· Crystal Getaways: As little as 5 days, 9 voyages in Asia, Australia/New Zealand, New England/Canada and Alaska start as low as $1,470 per person.

“More than 70% of our Getaways guests are new to Crystal and, on average, almost 10 years younger,” says Anderson. “Some are time-crunched professionals. Some are combining with land stays. All in all, they’ve been blending in well with guests on more extended cruise vacations and are raving about their Crystal experience.”

Also worth noting in 2013:

· More than 50% increase in shipboard overnight stays in port on embarkation days – to better enjoy the destination and ease the travel experience.

· 25% more port days than 2012.

In 2013, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity visit 216 ports of call in 63 countries, while 2014 brings 194 ports in 68 countries. Crystal’s passion for taking care of guests in an inviting environment of extraordinary space, quality and choices has earned the company more “World’s Best” awards than any other cruise line, resort, or hotel in history. With a host of complimentary amenities, from enlightening enrichment speakers and fitness classes to pampering pillow menus and specialty restaurant dining, featuring the cuisine of Nobu Matsuhisa and Piero Selvaggio, a Crystal cruise offers tremendous value in luxury resort vacationing worldwide.

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Monday, January 14, 2013

Celebrity Cruises Offers Discounts on European Cruises

The countdown to the New Year may be over, but the countdown to an exceptional modern luxury vacation is just beginning. Celebrity Cruises today launched “123 go!” – the brand’s biggest promotion to-date, featuring three powerful offers allowing consumers to select what they value most in a Celebrity vacation.

The three exceptional options include:

    Free “Classic Beverage Package” for two, allowing guests to pair Celebrity’s delectable cuisine with their favorite beverages – representing a value of up to $616 for two guests, based on a 7-night sailing, and including coverage of beverage gratuities; or,
    Free gratuities, allowing vacationers to fully relax, knowing tips for Celebrity’s expert staff are covered – representing a value of up to $210 per stateroom based on a 7-night sailing and includes coverage of stateroom, waiter, assistant waiter and head waiter gratuities; or,
    An onboard credit of up to $300 per stateroom, depending on the selected itinerary length, and available for guests to apply to shore excursions, specialty dining, wine tastings, spa treatments, boutique items, or any other onboard purchase.

And, if a Celebrity vacation in Europe wasn’t already enticing enough, guests booking a cruise on one of the line’s five modern luxury ships in the region have the opportunity to select two of the three special options.

Celebrity’s “123 go!” offers are valid for oceanview stateroom and higher bookings on all ships (with the exception of Celebrity Xpedition), and all sailings from February 2013 through April 2014 – with nearly 450 sailings to choose from – providing the cruise is booked between January 7 through January 27, 2013.

“To complement our incredible new promotion in a fun and engaging way, we’ve also introduced an interactive online program called, ‘Experience it,’ which – like our ‘123go!’ offer –puts consumers front and center,” said Celebrity’s Vice President of Marketing Lisa Kauffman. “The video invites them to see and select where they want to go from among Celebrity’s sailings in all continents, then to click on what they want to do onboard, whether it’s relaxing in the AquaSpa or playing in the fitness center; enjoying a cooking class or cocktails; indulging in a culinary journey at Qsine or open-air barbecuing at The Lawn Club Grill.”

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Monday, December 17, 2012

Norwegian Cruise Line Announces Increase in 2013 Hawaii Fares.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced that based on strong demand for its Hawai`i cruise, it will raise fares an average of 10 percent on Pride of America for new bookings beginning January 1, 2013. The only large US-flagged cruise ship, Pride of America sails year-round from Honolulu on a spectacular seven-day inter-island Hawai`i cruise, featuring close to 100 hours in port and overnights in both Maui and Kaua`i. Ports of call include Kahului, Maui; Hilo, Hawai`i; Kona, Hawai`i; Nãwiliwili, Kaua`i; and an afternoon cruise past the breathtaking Nãpali Coast. This cruise was recently voted the “Best Hawai`i” itinerary by Porthole Cruise Magazine in their 13^th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards.

“Because she is US-flagged and crewed, Pride of America is in the unique position of being the only cruise ship that can sail to the four islands of Hawai`i from Honolulu without visiting a foreign port,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “As a result of this unique offering, there is strong, ongoing demand for the ship, propelled by record-breaking guest satisfaction scores. This is a spectacular one-of-a-kind itinerary and the cruise delivers an incredible value for the money compared to the high cost of land-based vacations in Hawai`i.”

As her name implies, the 2,124-passenger Pride of America, celebrates a ‘Best of America’ theme inspired by favorite places in the United States. From the Capitol Atrium to the Alaska-influenced Gold Rush Pub to a New Orleans’ Mardi Gras Cabaret Lounge and Hawai`i-themed

http://www.ncl.com/csimages/78/880/pam_ame_reception_Web.jpg

Aloha Café and Waikiki Bars, guests experience the flavor of the U.S. while visiting the country’s beautiful 50^th state. The ship features 14 restaurants, nine bars and lounges, dynamic public rooms such as the Hollywood Theater, expansive children’s area featuring Norwegian’s new Splash Academy children’s programs and the state-of-the-art Santa Fe Spa & Fitness Center. The heart of the ship, the Capitol Atrium, is inspired by the Capitol Building and White House and features a decorative stone floor and a stunning backlit glass dome.

The company also recently announced that Pride of America will receive major enhancements beginning in March 2013, including the addition of 24 ultra-luxurious suites, four Studio staterooms and four inside staterooms; Moderno Churrascaria, the line’s signature Brazilian-style steakhouse; ship wide wireless internet connectivity; new carpeting throughout; flat screen televisions in all staterooms; updated décor; upgrades to the fitness center; new directional signage; renovations to the gift shop, photo gallery and art gallery; and much more.

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