The full list of theme voyages includes:
“Many travelers love spending their vacation indulging in a special interest or meeting others with similar passions,” says Bret Bullock, vice president entertainment. “On Crystal’s ‘Experiences of Discovery’ cruises, sophisticated explorers can expand their knowledge and connect in a luxury environment.”
Limited-time fares offer Two-for-One prices starting at $2,760/person (double occupancy), including free airport/ship transfers and round-trip air from 24 North American hubs (or substantial air credit). “All Inclusive—As You Wish” shipboard credit of $1,000-$2,000/couple is included on select sailings in the first quarter of 2012. Beginning in the spring, Crystal Cruises’ sailings will include 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.
Crystal’s award-winning, luxurious offerings always include a diverse selection of thought-provoking, scholarly, and sophisticated enrichment activities that provide extensive on board choices for cultured world travelers.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
“The Amazon River voyages sailing in 2012 have been extremely popular, and although we still have a few staterooms available, we knew guests would want to know as soon as possible that we’ll be returning to the Amazon in 2013,” said SeaDream’s President, Bob Lepisto.
2013 Amazon Highlights
2013 Caribbean Highlights
The Disney Fantasy 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. Some of the new highlights found on the Disney Fantasy include:
The Disney Fantasy will sail alternating seven-night cruises from Port Canaveral, Fla. to the Eastern and Western Caribbean and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay with the maiden voyage scheduled for March 31, 2012.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Since 2001, SeaDream has been providing unique, intimate yachting holidays with an emphasis on highly personalized service. When the company was founded they brought a refreshing change to the world of ultra-luxury holidays at sea – with the intention of being completely different from any and every other cruise product. "We started out 10 years ago right after the September 11th attack. Travel came to a halt but our team’s energy and dedication wouldn’t be deterred,” said Bob Lepisto , President. "We are all very proud of our accomplishment and grateful to our guests, devoted employees and travel agent partners who collectively drive our success."
SeaDream Yacht Club was founded in 2001 by Norwegian entrepreneur, Atle Brynestad who is the company's Owner and Chairman. Atle Brynestad founded Seabourn Cruise Line in 1987 and was its Chairman for ten years as well as CEO during the initial years. In 1999 two Cunard ships named Sea Goddess I and Sea Goddess II were transferred into the Seabourn Cruise Line fleet and renamed Seabourn Goddess I and Seabourn Goddess II. It was in 2001 that Atle Brynestad purchased these twin vessels from Carnival (Seabourn Cruise Line's parent company). Brynestad then named the two twins, SeaDream I & SeaDream II and put them through an extensive dry dock and refit. Since then, SeaDream has received numerous awards, honors and accolades. The Berlitz Ocean Cruising and Cruise Ships Guide has recognized SeaDream annually and the 2011 Berlitz Guide rated the 112-guest mega yachts, SeaDream I & II as the top two Boutique Ships (50-200 passengers) in the world.
"During September we’ll be celebrating onboard with 10th anniversary themed parties and decadent dessert extravaganzas" said Erling Frydenberg, SeaDream’s Vice President of Hotel Operations. “We also have a few other surprises in store for our guests, all in the spirit of our 10th anniversary.”
Added Bob Lepisto , President, "During our 10-years, our focus on exceptional service and cuisine has never wavered. Our past is the strongest criterion people have to judge our future." Continued Lepisto, "By understanding and responding to our guest’s needs, we have been able to exceed their expectations. Our success, to a great extent, has been driven by word of mouth marketing by highly satisfied guests sharing their yachting experience with friends, relatives and their travel agents. I very much look forward to the next 10 years."
About SeaDream Yacht Club
The expression “yachting” is not only a statement about size; it describes a lifestyle aboard the intimate vessels. Chic and stylish, SeaDream’s 56-stateroom twin yachts are favored for their elegant informality, state-of-the-art facilities, personal service provided by a crew of 95, inclusive open bar and gratuities, ocean-view accommodations, luxury spa and world class cuisine. Itineraries include the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Amazon. “It’s yachting, not cruising” Enjoy the difference.
September 1, 2011 – Crystal is launching its luxe collection of worldwide 2012 cruises with compelling Book Now fares, available for a limited time.
Swan Hellenic unveiled a multi-million dollar upgrade for mv Minerva. The improvements mark a new chapter in the long history of Swan Hellenic and underlines All Leisure Group plc’s commitment to the future of its much loved ship, enabling it to remain at the forefront of cultural discovery cruising in the years ahead. Swan Hellenic has been consulting with maritime specialists to improve and extend the facilities onboard mv Minerva, with equal importance paid to the ship’s efficiency, maneuverability, comfort and environmental performance. As a ship that has attracted many loyal guests both in North America and in the UK – and in response to passenger feedback – mv Minerva will undergo major enhancements to update, but not change, her unique British country elegance style. The ship’s passenger capacity will remain at 350 per cruise.
Highlights include extensions of the internal and external public areas as well as plans for a new wrap-around forward observation lounge. The new Orpheus Lounge will provide comfort and panoramic views at the forward end of the ship, while innovative design will extend the size of Shackleton’s Bar and create a new Internet Lounge. Swan Hellenic has increased the size of a number of cabins and added balconies to others, increasing the number of balcony suites to 23% of all cabin accommodation. All 181 passenger cabins will be upgraded with new en-suite bathrooms.
This visionary upgrade is scheduled to take place during winter 2011 with mv Minerva embarking on her next exciting era of discovery cruising on March 2, 2012. Swan Hellenic will continue to offer its unique all inclusive discovery cruises, which include a signature shore excursion program, all gratuities, port charges, and a program of engaging talks from eminent Guest Speakers.
Colin Stone, Managing Director, Swan Hellenic, commented: “We continually review our customer feedback, and through this we understand that passengers who loyally return to the ship enjoy the ambience that mv Minerva provides. In order to secure mv Minerva’s place at the forefront of discovery cruising, we are investing for the future through the extensive refurbishments. With 97% of our passengers promising to return to mv Minerva, we are sure that this new upgrade will be appreciated by these loyal passengers, while also appealing to those about to book their first discovery cruise.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Voyage of Discovery has announced the addition of mv Voyager to the Voyages of Discovery fleet, expanding the brand’s product offering and giving customers more flexibility and choice of itineraries to worldwide destinations. Formerly the Alexander von Humboldt, All Leisure Group has invested significantly in improvements to mv Voyager since purchasing the ship in 2009, with further upgrades planned in the future. To date the ship has received major technical upgrades plus the addition of more cabins with balconies, creating extra comfort and space while still maintaining Voyages of Discovery’s renowned unique discovery cruising ethos. Carrying just 550 passengers, mv Voyager offers a choice of 278 cabins, 30 of which have balconies, open seating dining in two restaurants plus an intimate pre-bookable restaurant and a range of large cruise ship facilities with small ship convenience. Like mv Discovery, the small size of mv Voyager means that the ship is able to access remote, out of the way ports – essential for the Voyages of Discovery destination-led cruise offering.
mv Voyager will commence her maiden voyage in November 2012 with a full Caribbean, Central and South American program including a cruise of the Amazon. At the same time mv Discovery will be undergoing an extensive refurbishment during a three-month dry dock period, including teak decking, expansion of public areas, cabin improvements, updated furnishing and developments to dining areas.
Steve Novello, President of the North American office, commented: “This investment is an incredible statement of confidence in our current economic climate by our Executive Management regarding our Voyages of Discovery brand. A new addition to the fleet, major refurbishments to the extremely popular mv Discovery, and our successful North American sales give us even greater optimism for the future. The mv Voyager will be the perfect complement to the already popular mv Discovery, offering our guests a ship with the majority of the staterooms being outside cabins and a wide selection of large balcony cabins. A first for our brand will be the introduction of open seating dining with a choice of restaurants while maintaining the unique Voyages of Discovery style. We take our past passenger comments seriously, and management has clearly acted on that feedback.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Noble Caledonia has acquired a second ship, the former Renaissance VI built in 1991. The ship, a sister of the brand's owned Island Sky, will be named Caledonian Sky when she joins the company in May 2012.
September 6, 2011 – Executives of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced today Royal Caribbean International’s 2012 Asia cruises deployment schedule for Voyager of the Seas – the largest and most amenity-filled cruise ship to sail in the region. At 137,276 gross registered tons, Voyager of the Seas ranks among the world’s 10 largest and most innovative cruise ships and will offer vacationers unparalleled experiences in the region. The ship’s inaugural Asia season will start on May 26, 2012 in Singapore, followed by sailings from Shanghai (Baoshan) and Tianjin in China.
“We have a leading market position in China,” explains Dr. Zinan Liu, group managing director of China and Asia for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “Customer demand is strengthening and we’re responding by increasing our commitment to the region with an additional, bigger ship, to offer a wider range of itineraries to even more ports.”
With Voyager of the Seas and Legend of the Seas, which has been deployed in China since 2010, Royal Caribbean International will offer 49 sailings out of the country in 2012, and will add Xiamen as its fourth homeport after Shanghai, Tianjin and Hong Kong.
“Voyager of the Seas deployment to Asia is another milestone for Royal Caribbean International, and a mark of our confidence and commitment to the region’s potential, as well as part of our global growth strategy,” says Michael Bayley, executive vice president of International, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Voyager of the Seas will offer vacationers a wide range of short cruises – three-, four-, five- seven- and eight-night itineraries in Asia – to longer, 14- to 18-night cruises in the South Pacific to New Zealand and Australia. Chinese guests can also expect to experience a greater variety of products and services tailored to their needs.
Cruises will include the seven-night “Pearls of the Orient” and “Jewels of Asia” sailings, calling at various destinations in Japan and South Korea. Vacationers also can choose a repositioning cruise aboard Voyager of the Seas from Singapore to Fremantle, Australia, departing October 22, 2012, and returning on March 9, 2013. Voyager of the Seas will reposition to begin its winter season from Sydney on November 5, 2012. Bookings for Voyager of the Seas’ 2012 Asia itineraries open today.
When she sails into Asia next year, Voyager of the Seas will introduce several unique concepts never before seen at sea in the region, including the following signature onboard amenities:
In the evenings, there are award-winning Broadway-style musical revues, or opportunities to recount the day’s experiences in multiple onboard bars and lounges over cocktails.
-------------------------------------------------------------------