The long and short of cruising offers variety from one day to 126 days at sea

   Out to Sea column for Oct. 27/12

 

   (c) By Jim and Barb Fox

Chilling on the white sand beach of Half Moon Cay, a cruise line “private island” in the Bahamas, with a Holland America ship at anchor. (Jim Fox photo)

   Ever thought about taking a leisurely two-week cruise visiting many of the smaller and less-visited Caribbean islands?

   Or, how about 30 days at sea circling the Hawaiian Islands and then off to Tahiti and Bora Bora?

   Then there’s 126 days at sea on a luxury cruise circling the world.

   When reality sets in, today’s time-deprived and financially strapped society can only dream – but there’s an alternative: taking one of the new, shorter cruises now widely offered.

The Caribbean is a top choice for shorter cruises as Holland America Lines' Volendam is shown in port at Roseau in Dominica, known as the "nature island." (Jim Fox photo)

Royal Caribbean announces National Cruise Vacation week offer

Vacationers Can Enjoy Up to $100 Onboard Credit for 2013 Europe & Trans-Atlantic Cruise

MIAMI – Now is the time for vacationers to plan the next European adventure or trans-Atlantic crossing with Royal Caribbean International. In conjunction with the Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) National Cruise Vacation Week, Royal Caribbean International is offering up to $100 onboard credit to vacationers who choose a Europe cruise with the line.

Vacationers have incomparable choices among nine of the world’s most innovative ships, many of which have recently been revitalized to offer some of the successful and signature onboard amenities from the world-acclaimed Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.

For all new individual U.S. and Canadian bookings, made with deposit from October 21 through 28, 2012, for a seven-night or longer 2013 Europe or trans-Atlantic sailing, guests will receive an onboard credit of $50 per inside or oceanview stateroom, and $100 per stateroom with balconies and suites. Vacationers can view more
 information at http://tinyurl.com/9aob5ga. Travel agents should visit www.CruisingPower.com/NCVW.

News ships ordered for Holland America and Carnival Cruise Lines

News Release

            MIAMI (October 26, 2012) – Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK) today announced it has reached an agreement for the construction of two new cruise ships – a 99,000-ton ship for its Holland America Line brand and a 135,000-ton vessel for its Carnival Cruise Lines brand.  

            A memorandum of agreement has been signed with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of a 2,660-passenger ship for Holland America Line scheduled for delivery in fall 2015 and a 4,000-passenger ship for Carnival Cruise Lines scheduled for delivery in winter 2016.

          The total cost for the two vessels combined, which includes the U.S. dollar denominated contract price and all owner’s costs, will be approximately $195,000 per lower berth. The memorandum of agreement is subject to customary closing conditions, including execution of shipbuilding contracts and financing.

 

Silversea's second expedition ship will set sail as Silver Galapagos

 

Enriching new 7-day itineraries for late 2013

open for sale in mid-November

 

(Ft. Lauderdale, FL -- October 22, 2012)  Luxury expedition cruise specialist Silversea has announced Silver Galapagos as the name for its second small-sized expedition ship, which is currently sailing as the Galapagos Explorer II.

The new name signals the company's intent to maintain a consistent level of elegance throughout its fleet, and will take effect after the all-suite, 100-guest vessel undergoes a major refurbishment in September 2013. In a related move, the hull of the Galapagos Explorer II has already been painted the same dark blue as Silver Explorer, the company's other expedition ship.

Norwegian Cruise Line orders new ship for delivery in 2015 and option for second

MEYER WERFT to deliver “Breakaway Plus” ship in October 2015

MIAMI – October 17, 2012 – Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that it has reached an agreement with MEYER WERFT GMBH of Germany to build a new cruise vessel, for delivery in October 2015, with the option for a second ship for delivery in spring 2017.

The new ship, at 163,000 gross tons and approximately 4,200 passenger berths, will be larger than the Company’s Breakaway class ships currently under construction at MEYER WERFT and incorporate many of those vessels’ unique design elements and innovations. With the project name “Breakaway Plus,” this new vessel will be the largest in Norwegian’s fleet.

Princess Cruises celebrates National Cruise Vacation Week with Escape Completely sale

Cruise Deals on More than 200 Sailings Offer Free Balcony Upgrades

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (October 19, 2012) – Princess Cruises is celebrating National Cruise Vacation Week with an Escape Completely Sale offering cruise deals throughout the week of October 22-29. More than 200 cruise departures are on sale, and passengers can enjoy a free balcony upgrade as well as 50 percent off their cruise deposit.

Featured destinations include Caribbean cruises as well as cruises to Alaska, Europe, Hawaii and the Panama Canal. Cruise departures run from January to July, 2013. More information about the sale details and pricing can be found at www.princess.com/sale.

Cunard Line’s Queen Elizabeth named best luxury cruise ship for entertainment and atrium design

Private viewing boxes in the Royal Court Theatre
aboard Cunard Line’s Queen Elizabeth

Travel Weekly Magellan Awards

22 October 2012 – A panel of judges comprised of nationally renowned cruise industry experts named Cunard Line’s Queen Elizabeth “Best Luxury Cruise Ship for Entertainment” and “Best Luxury Cruise Ship for Atrium Design” for this year’s Travel Weekly Magellan Awards.

The distinctive Grand Lobby atrium aboard
Cunard Line’s Queen Elizabeth.

The “Best Luxury Cruise Ship” awards signify the ocean liner’s prevalence in providing the ultimate luxury cruise for which Cunard is known.  With more than 550 entries from around the world, the Magellan Award winners represent the best in the travel industry and salute the outstanding travel professionals behind it all.

Azamara Club Cruises offers Destination Immersion with $500 onboard credit and more on European voyages

MIAMI, October 18, 2012 – Azamara Club Cruises is celebrating Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) National Cruise Vacation Week by offering up-market travelers up to $500 onboard credit when they book a 2013 Europe voyage between Oct. 21 and 27, 2012.

Travelers taking advantage of the National Cruise Vacation Week offer also will enjoy up to $2,000 ChoiceAir credit, when making an Azamara ship the destination of choice for a Europe voyage.

The cruise line’s twin boutique ships, Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey, will sail European waters beginning March 27 and May 15, 2013, respectively, transporting travelers, aboard newly refreshed ships, to unique and culturally-rich destinations on voyages featuring late-night departures and overnight port stays. Savvy travelers can apply their onboard credit toward Land Discovery shore excursions or rejuvenate in the onboard spa after a long day exploring a new found, favorite European port.

New York's ship Norwegian Breakaway takes a bow

Norwegian Breakaway, under construction at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany achieved another milestone on Wednesday morning when the ship’s bow was lowered into place.

 

MIAMI – October 18, 2012 – Norwegian Breakaway’s construction, underway at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany celebrated a very significant milestone in the early morning hours on Wednesday, October 17, 2012, when the ship’s bow was lowered into place.

The bow, known as block 73, weighed 361 tons, measured 72 feet long, 101 feet wide and over 39 feet high. Theprocess of putting the bow in place was efficiently completed in just 30 minutes. 

This significant step represents the completion of the lower part of the steel hull, those areas that come in contact with the sea, and indicates that only the superstructures, or topsides of the ship, remain to be finalized

Announcing the Cunard sale on select voyages aboard Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth

N E W S
 
 Week-Long Sale Offers Complimentary Balcony Upgrades and up to $300 in On Board Credit



18 October 2012 – If the Norwegian Fjords or the ancient ruins of Seville call to your sense of adventure, then The Cunard Sale may offer the perfect opportunity to book your luxury cruise vacation.

Starting 22 October, this week-long sale will offer a Reduced Deposit, On Board Credit of up to $300 per stateroom, and Complimentary Balcony Upgrades on 30 select voyages, including Cunard’s signature Transatlantic Crossings aboard flagship Queen Mary 2.

Celebrity Cruises presents new California coastal and Alaska vacations

Modern luxury line’s “Sale of the Century” offers exceptional value on five new sailings

MIAMI – October 15, 2012 – Celebrity Cruises today announced five new vacation options, available at enticing rates for a limited time, through the “Sale of the Century,” the modern luxury line’s theme for the new sailings.

• Vacationers interested in a cool, carefree taste of the breathtaking California coastline now have two new options:
  • A four-night getaway departing San Diego April 18, with visits to Santa  Barbara and Catalina Island, California, and Ensenada, Mexico
  • A five-night escape departing San Diego April 22, with visits to Santa Barbara, San Francisco and Ensenada, complete with a relaxing day at sea

Royal Caribbean announces year's final three-day Wow Sale

 Vacationers Can Enjoy Up to $200 Onboard Credit on all 2013-14 Royal Caribbean Sailings

MIAMI, Oct. 12, 2012 – Royal Caribbean International today announced that its final WOW Sale of the year will run for three days on October 15, 16 and 17, 2012.

For all new individual bookings made for a 2013-14 Royal Caribbean sailing, vacationers can receive $50 onboard credit per stateroom on three- to five-night itineraries; $100 per stateroom for six- to nine-night itineraries; and $200 per stateroom for 10-night itineraries or longer.

Guests can apply their onboard credit toward an exhilarating shore excursion or rejuvenating spa session, or celebrate a special occasion during their cruise with a specialty dining experience. Vacationers also can enjoy 50 percent reduced deposits during the three-day WOW Sale to lock in their 2013-14 Royal Caribbean cruise vacation anywhere around the world.