Amazon Nature Tours introduces "wilder" four-day sailings

(Media Release)

Expedition Cruise Line Celebrates End of Brazilian Visas with Revamped Tours

Toucan

JAMESTOWN, RI – In celebration of the end of the visa requirement to Brazil, Amazon Nature Tours, a small ship expedition company that sails further into the Brazilian Amazon basin than any other line, has introduced new “Into the Wild” four-day sailings.

These sailings are an enhancement of their previous shorter cruises, going deeper into the Amazon basin and allowing guests a greater opportunity to explore the dense forests and small tributaries within the UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, The Central Amazon Conservation Complex.

Amazon Nature Tours is the only line to offer four- and six-day sailings in the Brazilian Amazon basin, exploring the least inhabited major river in the Amazon basin, the Rio Negro.  While most lines sail the Peruvian Amazon or do day trips on the Brazil side, Amazon Nature Tours goes far into the Brazilian rain forest.

These true expedition cruises are led by trained naturalists and include kayak and launch excursions into the “flooded forests,” rainforest hikes, visits to native villages, fishing for piranhas, outings to the beach and more.  Highlights of the four-day trip include:

Calling howler

  -  Deep wilderness exploration far from other travelers and human settlement

  -  The Anavilhanas Archipelago, a reserve that includes the world’s largest system of river islands and also areas of tall dense rainforest called the igapó, the black water flooded forest where dense forests grow right out of the dark water of the Rio Negro.

Princess Cruises named amongst healthiest cruises by SHAPE magazine’s Healthy Travel Awards

 (News Release)

Cruise Line Recognized Second Consecutive Year for Lotus Spa and Fitness Offerings 

Princess Cruises was recognized by SHAPE magazine in the Healthy Travel Awards for the cruise line’s Lotus Spa (pictured above), fitness center and family friendly offerings. 

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. -- Princess Cruises has been recognized by SHAPE magazine as a winner in its fifth annual Healthy Travel Awards for the second consecutive year, recognizing the cruise line's fleetwide and state-of-the-art Lotus Spa and Fitness Centers, and family friendly offerings like the Glacier Bay National Park Junior Ranger Program in Alaska.

The SHAPE Healthy Travel Awards, featured on shape.com, represent the best wellness hot spots and programs to relax, refuel, get inspired, and reconnect while on vacation. Award categories include the best in hotel gyms, restaurants, and cruises, as well as healthiest amenities and family getaways.

"We’re honored to be acknowledged by SHAPE magazine in its Healthy Travel Awards. In addition to the Lotus Spa and fitness center, we’re equally thrilled to see the Glacier Bay National Park Junior Ranger Program in Alaska recognized,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president.

“The Junior Ranger Program is a special partnership with the National Park Service designed to help our youth guests appreciate the vast wildlife and landscape exclusive to this region of the world. 

Holland America Line debuts new Club Orange program with exclusive benefits

 Premium Amenities that Enhance the Cruise Experience

Club Orange includes dedicated concierge, exclusive dining, priority access and more

Seattle, Wash. — Holland America Line is introducing the unique Club Orange program that provides exclusive benefits and amenities to guests looking to elevate their cruise experience.

From a private dining venue to priority services and a dedicated concierge hotline, Club Orange allows guests to opt in to extra privileges that are available to a limited number of guests on each cruise.

Club Orange is included for guests in Neptune and Pinnacle Suite categories and the program is available to purchase for a small number of non-suite staterooms on each sailing. The program has launched on Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam and is rolling out to the rest of the fleet this year.

“Club Orange allows guests to add extra premium benefits and luxury amenities to their cruise for a great value,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line.

“One of the reasons people choose Holland America Line is because of the quality of what we offer — the best food at sea, the most authentic live entertainment and our award-winning service — and Club Orange is another way for guests to enhance their cruise experience.”

The name Club Orange pays homage to Holland America Line’s rich Dutch heritage. The company was founded in the Netherlands more than 145 years ago and it’s the color of the Dutch Royal Family, which hails from the House of Orange.

50 years of cruising in Alaska for Princess Cruises

   Out to Sea for July 27/19

   (c) By Jim and Barb Fox

   North to Alaska – go north, the rush is on.

   The popularity of Alaska cruising is heating up, far from the beach runs in the Caribbean.

   A pioneer in the Great Land is Princess Cruises marking its 50th year with seven ships, new entertainment, shore excursions and culinary offerings to mark this significant milestone.

   The first cruise to Alaska departed on June 3,1969 on Princess Italia carrying 525 guests to this “breathtaking bucket-list destination.”

Cool off in Glacier Bay, Alaska on the Crown Princess.

    “We’ve spent half a century developing our legacy in Alaska and host more guests there than any other cruise line – more than five million over the last 50 years,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president.

   To celebrate the 50-year milestone, there are “new and authentic experiences, combined with the awe-inspiring beauty” of sailing north.

   In the cruise season that continues through mid-September, Princess has deployed seven ships, the largest ever, featuring the debut of Royal Princess.

   The cruises range from seven to 12 days and depart from Vancouver, Anchorage (Whittier), Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Cunard ships Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth meet in Halifax for the first time

Spectacular Sailaway in Celebration of Fifth Annual Samuel Cunard Prize

The sister ships unite in founder Sir Samuel Cunard’s birthplace

Cunard’s flagship ocean liner Queen Mary 2 follows sister ship Queen Elizabeth in Halifax, Nova Scotia harbor on Friday, July 26, 2019 (Photo Credit: Steve Farmer for Cunard)

VALENCIA, Calif., July 26, 2019 – Luxury cruise line Cunard’s flagship liner Queen Mary 2 had a rare meeting with sister ship Queen Elizabeth and offered spectacular sailaway on July 26, 2019 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, birthplace of the company’s founder Sir Samuel Cunard.

The meeting was arranged in celebration of Zita Cobb and Sandra Greer, this year’s recipients of the Samuel Cunard Prize for Vision, Courage and Creativity and The Innovative Spirit Award, respectively.

The Samuel Cunard Award for Vision, Courage and Creativity was inaugurated in 2015 to celebrate the company’s 175th Anniversary in the ancestral home of its founder Sir Samuel Cunard.

Trump administration halts cruises, visits to Cuba effective tomorrow; new rules announced

Breaking news . . .

U.S. imposes new immediate travel bans to Cuba:

https://www.thestate.com/entertainment/celebrities/article231151683.html?fbclid=IwAR3DEcstZdHljQElllIxcKQ8m7ZCws_Vgpt9RmTHWu3AHahX4X5mH25Iib8

Le fjord du Saguenay au Québec est spectaculaire: Holland America cruise

    Out to Sea for May 25/19

   By Jim and Barb Fox

   At the first glance of a map, you wonder how a huge cruise ship can navigate the many twists and turns on this small rivulet of water.

   The journey along what is Canada’s only navigable fjord in Quebec rewards passengers with breath-taking scenery that includes craggy mountains and peaks with high plateaus carved centuries ago by glaciers.

The sun goes down on the Saguenay Fjord, called one of the prettiest places in the world. (Jim Fox photo)

    On select St. Lawrence voyages, ships go slowly on the Saguenay Fjord, creating mere wavelets en route to some of the most picturesque villages in “La belle province.”

   When we sailed on Holland America’s Eurodam, a crowd was waiting on the wharf at Saguenay on the Baie des Ha! Ha!

   They greeted us – mostly American tourists with a good sprinkling of Canadians – in their best English and us with our worst French.

   It turned out Eurodam was making the 200th visit by a cruise ship to the port and we learned the city, 190 kilometres north of Quebec City is known for its warm welcome.

  Holland America’s Eurodam pays a visit to Saguenay, Quebec with writer Jim Fox. (Barbara Fox photo)

Cruise ships trying to cut the gluttony and waste on the high seas

   Out to Sea for March 23/19

   (c) By Jim and Barb Fox

    Food, glorious food.

   When it comes to cruise vacations, gluttony on the high seas was often a measure of a good trip.

   From the moment of going aboard, cruisers race to the seemingly endless buffets, main dining room and 24-hour pizza, ice cream and room service – not to forget the accompanying tasty libations.

   A popular place on Carnival ships is Guy Fieri’s Burger Joint. (Barbara Fox photo)

    Cruisers steadily munch their way through “free food” (included with the price of the cruise).

   These floating feasts go on around the clock and now often include dining on your balcony with waiters serving each course.

   You can’t escape it: food is often a theme in shore excursions, too.

Go wild on expedition cruises on Canada's west coast and the Brazilian Amazon

   Out to Sea for Jan. 19/19

   (c) By Jim and Barb Fox

   Cruising “off the beaten path” is gaining in popularity as cruisers seek to explore rarely seen sights with just a few of their “friends.”

   Canada gets its first “luxury expedition ship” on the west coast – Cascadia, a 138-foot catamaran for 24 guests.

   As well, Naturetours.com, a small ship expedition company that sails further into the Amazon than any other line, is re-launching its signature vessel, the Motor Yacht Tucano.

A grizzly bear is sighted on a Maple Leaf Adventures west coast sailing. (Greg Shea photo)

   Maple Leaf Adventures, based in Victoria, B.C., describes Cascadia as being “very small” but with spacious cabins, unlike polar region ships.

   The company provides “remarkable journeys, engaging people and wild spaces” for boutique expedition cruises in British Columbia and Alaska,” said publicist Maureen Gordon.

   The “truly wild luxury cruises” are in response to travellers’ discovery of the experiential benefits of expedition cruising such as in Antarctica, she added.

   It’s an opportunity for savvy cruisers to explore B.C. wonders on a 138-foot catamaran.

Hurricanes and stormy seas haven't detered cruise ships from the popular Caribbean ports

   Out to Sea for Nov. 17/18

   By Jim and Barb Fox

   Anchors aweigh is exactly what’s happening as more ships are plying the clear blue waters of the Caribbean and Bahamas.

   Even with the three back-to-back hits in two weeks last year from hurricanes, that part of the world retains its claim as one of the top cruise destinations.

  Cuba is also continuing to grow in visits by both ships and passengers.

Celebrity and Disney ships disembark thousands of passengers at a Caribbean port. (Jim Fox photo)

   Many new ships including those with thousands of passengers coming into service have Caribbean itineraries for year-round, seasonal and splitting with Alaska during prime season.

   There are more than 235 ships with 27-million passengers visiting the Caribbean annually.

   The numbers are sure to grow as cruise lines have on order 50 new ocean-going vessels able to carry 220,000 passengers over the next 10 years.

   As for the largely irrational mood of the hurricanes, many ports were spared significant damage.

   Cruise Critic website said “most islands with cruise ports made a swift recovery, working to bring tourism dollars back into the economy just weeks after the storms.”

   It reports the “good news is that every single Caribbean cruise port is open and welcoming cruise ships and visitors.”

Carnival Victory to be transformed and renamed Carnival Radiance in 2020

Popular Branded Food, Beverage and Entertainment Innovations to be Added During 38-Day Renovation in Cadiz, Spain

MIAMI (October 16, 2018) – Carnival Victory will undergo a bow-to-stern refurbishment in 2020 that will add a wide variety of popular branded food, beverage and entertainment innovations.  A surprise new dining option will make its debut on Carnival Radiance, as well.

The renovation will complete a $200 million enhancement program and the ship will be renamed Carnival Radiance following a 38-day dry dock which will take place in Cadiz, Spain, from March 18 to April 26, 2020.  

 Itineraries for the newly renamed Carnival Radiance will be announced and go on sale in mid-November.  Carnival Cruise Line fans who want to be the first to book on Carnival Radiance can get a head start by clicking here where they can register to get a “first to know” alert and special promotional offer when itineraries are opened for sale.

Windstar Cruises’ new ‘Easy Stays’ make it effortless to extend the experience beyond the ship

Easy Stays gives Windstar guests access to hand-selected accommodations and local experts paired with perks Including luggage transfers and breakfast

 In Athens, Easy Stays partners with classic Grand Bretagne

(News Release)

Seattle, WA, October 17, 2018 – This fall Windstar Cruises expands its curated offerings to include newly launched Easy Stays. 

The program was designed in partnership with select hotels and destination management companies across the world to create a seamless cruise-hotel-transfer package.

Guests can select from hotels in more than 30 cities where the cruises embark and disembark. The variety of properties allows guests to select the hotel that best suits their travel style – whether a quaint, boutique hotel or stunning modernist accommodations.