Luxury Operator Silversea Offers Shorter Cruises

In its continuing mission to provide guests with more choices, ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises has just announced a new collection of eight shorter cruises for 2013. These convenient four- to seven-day voyages to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean are designed for time-strapped working professionals, travelers who like to combine a cruise with a land program, and individuals who may be new to luxury cruising and would like a taste of Silversea's award-winning, all-inclusive experience.

"Many travelers today have busy schedules that make it difficult to fit in time for an extended luxury cruise vacation," said Ellen Bettridge, Silversea's president of the Americas. "It's important for us to offer options that cater to these consumers as well as those who have time for longer voyages."

Silversea's new shorter voyages for 2013 include:

FOUR DAYS

• Northern Europe Voyage 1318B: Silver Cloud, June 15 - 19, Hamburg to Copenhagen, with calls in Warnemünde (Rostock) and Helsingborg. Silver Privilege fares start at $1,830.
• Mediterranean Voyage 2307C: Silver Wind, March 16 - 20, Barcelona to Rome, with calls in Monte Carlo and Livorno. Silver Privilege fares start at $1,360.
• Mediterranean Voyage 2314A: Silver Wind, May 14 - 18, Rome to Monte Carlo, with calls in Bonifacio, Calvi, and Livorno. Silver Privilege fares start at $1,590.

FIVE DAYS

• Mediterranean Voyage 2307B: Silver Wind, March 11 - 16, Lisbon to Barcelona, with calls in Málaga, Cartagena, and Valencia. Silver Privilege fares start at $1,560.
• Mediterranean Voyage 2314B: Silver Wind, May 18 - 23, Monte Carlo to Barcelona, with calls in Sóller de Mallorca, Ibiza, and Valencia. Silver Privilege fares start at $2,170.

SIX DAYS

• Northern Europe Voyage 1318A: Silver Cloud, June 9 - 15, Southampton to Hamburg, with calls in Honfleur, Oostende, Antwerp, and Amsterdam. Silver Privilege fares start at $2,610.

SEVEN DAYS

• Mediterranean Voyage 5309B: Silver Spirit, April 16 - 23, Lisbon to Barcelona, with calls in Portimão, Cádiz, Málaga, Ibiza, and Valencia. Silver Privilege fares start at $2,730.
•  Mediterranean Voyage 5314B: Silver Spirit, May 25 - June 1, Athens to Rome, with calls in Katakolon, Corfu, Kotor, Dubrovnik, and Sorrento. Silver Privilege fares start at $2,810.

Aboard Silversea's intimate, all-suite ships, guests enjoy spacious ocean-view accommodations, sumptuous gourmet cuisine, the personalized service of a butler, and a generous selection of all-inclusive shipboard amenities, including complimentary beverages, wines and spirits served throughout the ship, stocked in-suite beverage cabinet, and all gratuities.

Silver Privilege fares listed above are cruise-only rates per guest, based on double occupancy for a Vista Suite. Silver Privilege is a capacity-controlled program and subject to change.

======================================================= 

   Check Out Our Other Sites

NYCruiseInfo.com Website   
NortheastCruiseGuide.com    
Blog on Cruises From New York, Boston, Baltimore, Norfolk & the Northeast
Free Cruise Newsletter

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. 

======================================================= 

 Check Out Our Other Sites

NYCruiseInfo.com Website   
NortheastCruiseGuide.com    
Blog on Cruises From New York, Boston, Baltimore, Norfolk & the Northeast
Free Cruise Newsletter
,

Princess Cruises Details Short Getaway Sailings for 2010-11

(June 11, 2009) – The spring and fall cruise seasons in 2010-11 bring opportunities for Princess Cruises passengers to escape on the line’s short West Coast sailings. Ranging from an overnight cruise to a week-long journey, these “coastal” getaways offer passengers the chance to sample the Princess experience as they explore the Pacific coastline.

Passengers can choose from among 18 sailings, including a special seven-day cruise to coastal wine regions with themed onboard presentations, four- and five-day samplers of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, plus shorter sailings of one to three nights. Princess’ seasonal getaways offer an opportunity to sail on ships that are traveling along the Pacific coast to begin or end a summer of Alaska cruises.

“People need to escape today more than ever and these short sailings are a great way to fit a cruise into the schedule – and budget,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president.

Princess coastal sailings for 2010-11 include:
Wine Country Coastal – A seven-day cruise geared towards wine lovers, this special sailing will offer the chance to explore the California wine regions of Santa Barbara and the San Francisco area – as well as visit the microbreweries of Astoria, Oregon. Themed excursions will be available in many ports to enhance the local wine focus. In addition, onboard presentations from guest experts will showcase the world of food and wine with demonstrations, tastings and special meals. The cruise aboard Sapphire Princess will depart from Los Angeles on May 7, 2011, sailing to Vancouver with calls at Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Astoria, Seattle and Victoria.

California Coastal – Sailing on a five-day journey down to California from Vancouver, Sapphire Princess will call at Victoria and San Francisco before arriving in “the city of angels,” Los Angeles. The sailing will depart on September 20, 2010.

Alaska Sampler – This quick roundtrip sailing from Vancouver will give travelers a taste of the 49th state, with visits to the Alaskan ports of Juneau and Ketchikan. The five-day cruise on Coral Princess will set sail on May 10, 2010.

Northwest Sampler – Royal Princess will take visitors on a four-day trip through the scenic Inside Passage with visits to Vancouver and Victoria. Sailing roundtrip from Seattle, the voyage will depart May 20, 2010.

Pacific Coastal: Los Angeles/Vancouver –Passengers can relax with two full days at sea as they cruise up the Pacific coast on these three-day journeys between Los Angeles and Vancouver. Golden Princess will offer two departures on September 26, 2010 and May 11, 2011, and Coral Princess sails on September 18, 2010.

Pacific Coastal: San Francisco/Vancouver –Several cruises travel between San Francisco’s legendary Golden Gate and picturesque Vancouver. Coral Princess offers a four-day sailing with calls in Astoria, Oregon and Victoria, BC on May 19, 2011. For a two-day option, Island Princess offers sailings on October 4, 2010 and May 14, 2011, while Star Princess sails on May 11, 2011.

Pacific Coastal: Vancouver/Seattle – These convenient overnight sailings between Vancouver and Seattle offer the perfect opportunity for a first taste of Princess hospitality. Sapphire Princess will sail May 15, 2010 and September 19, 2010. Golden Princess will offer departures on September 25, 2010 and May 14, 2011. Royal Princess will cruise on September 13, 2010 and May 18, 2011. And Star Princess will depart on May 13, 2011.

Launch Fares for overnight Coastal sailings start at $99 per person, based on double occupancy.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent

Celebrity Century to Offer Short Cruises Year-Round From Florida

April 23, 2009 – Travelers looking for an easy-to-access, quick getaway featuring extraordinary service, premium accommodations and outstanding culinary offerings in a comfortably sophisticated environment will soon have quite a few more opportunities to reward themselves. Beginning in May of 2010, the 1,814-guest, recently refurbished Celebrity Century will offer its popular four- and five-night Caribbean itineraries year-round instead of limiting them to the winter season. Celebrity Century’s 2010-11 sailings opened for sale today.

Since 2005, Celebrity Century has sailed in Europe in the summer, and in the Caribbean in the winter. After kicking off her new year-round Caribbean status on May 3, 2010 with a one-time seven-night Western Caribbean sailing featuring stops at George Town, Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico; Playa del Carmen, Mexico; and the line’s private-destination island, CocoCay, Bahamas; Celebrity Century will then present a series of four- and five-night Western Caribbean voyages.

Celebrity Century’s 2010-11 five-night sailings will alternate between two different itineraries. One of these is new and features calls to Roatan, Honduras and Cozumel bookended between two sea days. The other five-night itinerary is similar to past offerings, and includes stops in Ocho Rios, Jamaica and George Town. The four-night itinerary will remain the same as the 2009-10 offerings, and will feature visits to Key West and Cozumel.

Two five-night holiday sailings will be available: the December 24, 2010 cruise will mark the first time Celebrity visits Falmouth, Jamaica and also will include a stop in George Town, while the December 29, 2010 voyage will include Celebrity Century’s only three-port line-up of the season, with stops at Key West, CocoCay, and Nassau (Bahamas).

Guests can make the most of their Caribbean getaway by booking any of the engaging shore excursions Celebrity offers in the region, available for an additional charge. Highlights include:
“SeaTrek Kayak Adventure” at CocoCay, a unique eco-adventure where guests enjoy an informative and interactive guided kayak tour in the beautiful turquoise waters around CocoCay and view a variety of marine creatures such as starfish, conch, and stingrays.
“A Taste of Key West,” where guests hit the streets of the southernmost town in the continental U.S. and experience a taste of the Conch Republic, enjoying a casual walk and sampling Key West favorites such as key lime pie.

“Deluxe Beach Break” in Cozumel, which gives guests the opportunity to spend the day sunbathing on sandy beaches and swimming in the waters of the Mexican Caribbean, with drinks and food included.

“Jolly Roger Catamaran and Gumbalimba Park” in Roatan, Honduras, which features a catamaran cruise with time for snorkeling at the Roatan National Reef and a visit to the Gumbalimba Nature Park with a guided tour.

Onboard Celebrity Century, guests can enjoy all the enhancements made when the ship underwent a $55-million makeover in 2006. These upgrades included the addition of 314 new verandas, 14 new suites, 10 new staterooms ranging from inside to veranda categories, and an expanded number of ConciergeClass category staterooms. Celebrity also expanded its AquaSpa, added the specialty restaurant, Murano, refurbished the main dining room, created the first ice bar at sea, and enhanced the bedding in staterooms. Since the ship’s 2006 makeover, it has also benefited from Celebrity’s fleetwide dining upgrades, including 200 new menu offerings, a significantly upgraded casual dining area, and an entirely new brunch offering – all part of “Celebrity’s Star Treatment-SM.”

MSC Cruise MSC Poesia Short Cruise Discounts

(APRIL 13, 2009) – Don’t have a lot of time but still yearning for a Caribbean escape? Don’t worry – MSC Cruises has the solution. MSC Cruises features several short (3- and 5-night) cruises scheduled on the luxurious MSC Poesia as she sails her inaugural season in North American waters (sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale) during the 2009-10 Caribbean season:

5-night “Caribbean Escape”: calling at Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Georgetown, Grand Cayman, with two days at sea; departing Nov. 10 and Nov. 15, 2009; rates begin at $399;

• 5-night “Mayan Discovery”: calling at Belize City, Belize and Costa Maya, Mexico, with two sea days; departing Jan. 3, 2010; rates begin at $399;


• and 3-night “Tropical Getaway”: calling at Nassau, Bahamas and Key West, Florida; departing April 24, 2010; rates begin at $239

All rates are cruise-only, per person, double occupancy; government fees and taxes are additional.

As on all MSC Cruises’ sailings, children ages 17 and younger sail free when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults.

“Even on a 3- or 5-night itinerary, guests can enjoy the ambiance of an MSC Cruises sailing, from the elegant décor and unparalleled service to the highly acclaimed international entertainment and cuisine, which includes many authentic Italian dishes,” says Richard E. Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises (USA), Inc.

MSC Poesia’s season will also include a variety of 7- and 10-night itineraries, as well as special Christmas and New Year’s sailings. MSC Poesia features 1,275 staterooms, of which 80 percent are outside staterooms and 65 percent have a balcony.

The ship has a generous 236,000 square feet of public spaces, 2 pools and 4 hot tubs, plus a 13,000-square-foot spa. Guests can select from four restaurants, including a Sushi Bar alternative dining restaurant.

Like her sister ships (MSC Musica and MSC Orchestra), MSC Poesia features sophisticated and elegant decor, attention to detail, the finest in international entertainment and Italian hospitality.