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Crystal To Offer Premium Air for Europe 2008
2007-12-25 23:13:00
When you go to Europe with a luxury line like Crystal Cruises, its assumed you’ll want to upgrade your air as well. Crystal is making it easier in 2008 to arrive in Europe in the lap of luxury. For its 2008 Western and Northern Europe cruises, Crystal Cruises is expanding its air/sea program with two new air upgrade options. A partnership with Eos Airlines provides a corporate jet-like experience, while Premium Economy service through British Airways and Scandinavian Airways offers more legroom and comfort than coach. The services are available from specific U.S. gateways in addition to Crystal’s coach air/sea fares.
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Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Freestyle 2.0 Is Better
2007-12-24 22:09:00
Citing feedback from both past guests and travel agents, NCL recently announced its Freestyle 2.0 fleet wide initiative featuring significant enhancements in its onboard experience further improving the guest satisfaction level. With the pending completion of the financial agreement for $1 billion with Apollo Management, LP (”Apollo”) nearing completion, the enhancements include a major investment in the total dining experience; upgrading the stateroom experience across the ship; new wide ranging onboard activities for guests all of ages; additional recognition, service and amenities for balcony, suite and villa guests; and a re-launch of a tiered Latitudes past guest recognition program. This solidifies NCL’s, and its parent company Star, determination to remain as one of the world’s leading suppliers of cruise vacations.
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Hurtigruten Offers Many Holiday Specials For Norwegian Coastal Voyages
2007-12-23 16:00:00
Hurtigruten Cruises, formerly Norwegian Coastal Voyages, has a wealth of specials to assist you in experiencing nature up close and personal from a cruise perspective. Having witnessed first hand the onboard environment of Hurtigruten, I can highly recommend it to adventure cruisers. I personally spoke with one of their onboard guides for Antarctica, and what a wealth of knowledge he was. What amazed me even more was his enthusiasm for Hurtigruten as a company, and their goals to satisfy the passenger. It’s not just a cruise, but more of a complete educational procress that enriches your life experiences in the short time you are with them. Now you have no excuses. The specials listed below are simply fabulous, and will enable you to see parts of the world you will long remember.
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Azamara Cruises Offers Onboard Credits
2007-12-22 15:45:00
If you weren’t motivated by getting a butler with your stateroom on an Azamara Cruise, they have sweetened the pot even further. The newest player in the deluxe cruise market launched the “Azamara Cruises European Premiere Event,” a promotion that offers onboard credit to guests in North America who book European voyages with the line. The only bad thing about the new brand of Celebrity Cruises is that not enough people know about it. Their itinerarires are fabulous, you do in fact get a butler with every room, and the values are unmatched in the cruise industry. Now you have no excuse for not taking an Azamara cruise.
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Queen Mary 2 Best Luxury Cruise Ship
2007-12-21 16:03:00
Queen Mary 2 has just been named the world’s “Best Luxury Cruise Ship ” by the editors of Travel Weekly, the national newspaper of the travel industry, at its fifth annual Readers Choice Awards black-tie gala at the Pierre Hotel in New York. The award represents a synopsis of some 40,000 reader’s opinions about the Queen Mary 2 and Cunard Line. Their reader base is mainly cruise executives, travel agents and industry wholesalers. I read this with some amusement today after having just read an article by another travel writer about a mutiny on the Queen Mary 2 a while back due to propeller problems causing a few missed ports. At that time, people were angered by this, causing disruptions on-board, sit-ins and mass meetings in theatres and public rooms. It amused me because by these people’s reactions, you might have though Cunard broke the propellers on purpose. It just points out that the electronic media is both a blessing and a curse. Irate p...
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Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Christens Norwegian Gem in New York
2007-12-20 15:57:00
The “It Girl” Godmother has finally arrived in the form of Cindy Cardella of Fairfield, NJ, who came out the winner among five finalists chosen by an online poll conducted by Norwegian Cruise Line . The ship’s Christening ceremony was held yesterday in New York . Cindy’s online video showcased how she best fit the model of the It Girl, and her love for Norwegian Cruise Lines. She will receive a seven-day cruise in the ultra-luxurious 5,000-square-foot Garden Villa for her and five of her entourage. With three boys, she can utilize all the space in that Garden Villa, and they will have the experience of a lifetime. Once again, Norwegian Cruise Line has an industry first, this time in the selection process of a godmother!

Princess Donates $10,000 to Alaska Natural History Association
2007-12-20 02:46:00
Princess Cruises and Tours has donated $10,000 towards the Alaska Natural History Association ’s continued work in developing educational programs for the state’s National Parks and other public lands. Princess Cruises, long an industry leader in Alaska cruise travel, fills the need to maintain the pristine wilderness which comprises our largest state. Educational programs are a large part of every journey in Alaska the cruise line makes. Princess continues its quest to make sure Alaska will always be a premier vacation destination, and allow all its travelers to benefit from the work of the association.
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2007 World Travel Awards Vote Princess Best Cruise Line Website
2007-12-20 02:36:00
A key member of the world’s leading cruise lines has been awarded the best cruise website for 2007 by the World Travel Awards . Princess .com won the award as the “World’s Leading Cruise Website ” at the 14th Annual World Travel Awards. More than 167,000 travel agents and industry professionals in more than 160 countries around the globe voted for Princess Cruises, recognizing them as the best in travel worldwide.

Costa Cruises More Than Doubles Asia Capacity for Cruising
2007-12-18 13:56:00
Costa Cruises , already the leader in Europe and South America cruising, is now attempting to solidify its Asia market reputation by adding a second cruise ship in Asia. The 53,000-ton Costa Classica will be moved to Asia betginning in March 2009, and will add over 1,600 beds to their inventory. Costa cites increased demand for the move, and expects the ship to fill quickly. Majestic and modern are just some of the ways you could describe Costa Classica, one of the most majestic and modern boats in their fleet. Costa offers the best value in Asia cruising when compared to its ultra-luxury competitors.
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Crystal Cruises Partners With Nobu Matsuhisa On The Crystal Symphony
2007-12-17 13:16:00
If you love sushi as much as I do, you have a surprise coming if you book passage on the Crystal Symphony ’s L.A. to Hong Kong cruise in March. World-class master chef Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa is showcasing two new restaurants aboard the award-winning luxury ship, Crystal Symphony. The new restaurants, called Silk Road and The Sushi Bar, will be offered under the personal eye of Nobu, who will join the ship in March to oversee the debut. The Symphony is joining the Crystal Serenity in offering Nobu delicasies to its cruise passengers.
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Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Family Cruising On The Gem
2007-12-16 22:11:00
Norwegian Cruise Line ’s (NCL) Norwegian Gem showcases the special attention NCL pays to family cruising. Accomodations include a variety of connecting cabins, family suites and the now famous Garden Villas. The beauty of the family suite is that the adults get to spend time in a luxurious suite, with beautifully appointed sitting area, master bedroom and bath, while the kids get their own separate room within a room, complete with bath and closet and room for three. The one I viewed on the Norwegian Gem was the Amethyst Suite. As you can see, the master suiite is georgeous, and and has all the comforts of luxury.
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Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Inaugural Day 2
2007-12-15 18:39:00
Day two of the Norwegian Cruise Line s (NCL) Gem inaugural began with a fabulous breakfast in the Garden Cafe. I love omelettes, and theirs was excellent. Then it was off to tour the ship. Starting at deck 13, I found the Spinnaker Lounge. This turned out to be a really all inclusive, do anything venue. Flat screen TVs everywhere, bar, shuffleboard, darts, pool, air hockey, and dance floor, plus a fabulous panarama view out the front of the ship. The night before, one of NCL’s biggest travel partners held a nice cocktail private party in here. Plenty of room for any large group function. It was a great chance to me to see many old friends and co-workers in the cruise industry.
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Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Gem Inaugural Was a Blast
2007-12-14 14:38:00
When Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) throws a party, they allow nothing to get in the way. For only the second time in my 17 years in the cruise industry, I boarded a ship in a snowstorm. The two day Boston inaugural of the Norwegian Gem was smack in the middle of a blizzard that dropped 7 inches of snow on Boston in one afternoon. Once at the pier though, the cruise line went immediately into their standard outstanding shore side operation, welcoming everyone, thanking them for coming, and making sure it was as painless as possible to get onboard. Once inside, and away from all the elements, the magic was in the air, and one of the most beautiful ships I’ve seen was before me.
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NCL ?License to Thrill? Clip Now Available Online
2007-12-13 14:38:00
Norwegian Cruise Line unveiled a preview of “License to Thrill,” a movie-sode starring its new “It” Girl Norwegian Gem last week. The trailer can be viewed at gemitgirl.com, an online site dedicated exclusively to Norwegian Gem. I will be venturing out on the Norwegian Gem today on a two day “fam” trip, and will be reporting back from the ship as we go. They will introducing the new Godmother, and it promises to be a great trip on an even better cruise ship. I still can’t imagine bowling at sea, but I will definitely let you know how it goes.
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Carnival Expands European Cruise Presence in 2009
2007-12-12 23:23:00
Carnival is expanding its European presence in 2009 despite already having ,the majority of tonnage in the region with the Carnival Family brands. With Costa, Holland America and Princess already holding a large presence in Europe, this will help solidify the market share. Carnival continues to grow in the rapidly expanding European cruise market, and will operate an unprecedented number of ?Fun Ship? voyages within the region in 2009. The line?s 2009 European season will feature two of its newest 110,000-ton ships ? Carnival Liberty, which will operate 12-day Northern European and Mediterranean cruises, and Carnival Freedom, sailing 12-day departures to the Mediterranean.
More About: Carnival , Presence , Cruise , Carnival Cruise Line

Apollo Management Agrees to Buy Regent Seven Seas Cruises
2007-12-11 15:14:00
Apollo Management L.P. (Apollo) has invested in yet another cruise line, Carlson’s Regent Seven Seas Cruises , with the first quarter 2008 as the target completion date. The transaction will be subject to normal conditions concerning regulatory approval, and cruise operations will continue as a key part of the global Regent brand. This adds to an already impressive portfolio which includes an investment in Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) as well. Apollo is a leading private equity firm and capital markets investor worldwide. Regent Seven Seas Cruises is consistently rated in the top three cruise lines in the luxury market.
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Royal Caribbean Cruises Into the German Cruise Market
2007-12-10 14:29:00
IN an effort to maintain, and grow , their position in the world cruise market, Royal Caribbean International announced today that it has entered into a joint venture with TUI AG serving the German cruise market. The new company, TUI Cruises , will begin service with one ship, in early 2009, and grow quickly with two newbuilds planned for 2011 and 2012. Sales and marketing will commence earlier in Spring 2008. Both partners will hold a 50 percent interest in the joint venture, which is subject to regulatory and board approvals before completion.
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Costa Cruises CEO Named to Club 33
2007-12-09 16:21:00
Costa Cruises , the company that pioneered pleasure cruising, and is currently the leading cruise line in Europe and South America, has added another distinction to the fold. Chairman and CEO, Pier Luigi Foschi, has been listed in the ‘Club 33′ - the 33 most important and influential people in global travel industry as published by the American Travel Weekly Magazine. He currently oversees the most modern fleet of any European cruise line with 10 ships sailing to over 160 ports in Europe, Scandinavia, South America, the Caribbean and the the east and west Mediterranean.
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MSC Cruises Teams With Formua One Racing
2007-12-08 13:47:00
It makes sense from a marketing perspective that MSC Cruises would be an advertising supporter of one of the world’s largest sports venues, Formula One Racing . Each event has been known to draw over 350 million viewers worldwide, and MSC wants to take advantage of that kind of media exposure. MSC currently has a fleet of eight ships, and sails to the markets where the Grand Prix races take place, mainly Europe and South America.
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Cunard Line Appoints New Global Culinary Ambassador
2007-12-07 13:41:00
Cunard Line announced today that Jean_marie Zimmermann has been promoted to Global Culinary Ambassador , and will heading the culinary operations for all three of Cunard Lines ocean liners. Just another piece of good news out of Cunard as she also prepares to bring the Queen Victoria home for all of England to see. The Queen Victoria is scheduled to arrive in Southampton today after gliding through the Southampton Water on the way to her appointment Monday, December 10, with Her Royal Highness The Dutchess of Cornwall, and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to be named at a ceremony at Mayflower Park.
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Royal Caribbean Taps Port Everglades as Genesis Homeport
2007-12-06 14:25:00
Royal Caribbean Cruises has agreed to port its 2 new Genesis project ships in Ft. Lauderdale beginning in 2009. The 54,00 passenger ships will be the largest afloat, and promise to bring the Ft Lauderdale area a weekly surge in potential business, resulting in significant economic and tourism growth. The agreement between Royal Caribbean and Broward County is expected to be finalized by the cruise line company’s Board of Directors and the Broward County Commission on or before December 19, 2007.
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Windstar Cruise Line Voted Porthole Magazine?s Most Romantic
2007-12-05 11:43:00
Windstar Cruise s was a double winner in the Reader’s Choice Awards this year from Porthole Magazine . Still a small cruise operation by today’s standards, Windstar operates a modest, three-ship fleet of luxury yachts famous for exploring hidden harbors and secluded coves of the world?s most treasured destinations. This year was a banner year for Windstar with the readers as they have been recognized by Porthole Cruise Magazine as the Most Romantic Cruise Line and the Best Tall Ship by readers in the 9th annual awards. This makes Windstar Cruises a three time winner of the Most Romantic Cruise Line and the first time winning Best Tall Ship. Their smaller ships are only built for 148-312 guests, and will not only lead you to exotic ports of call, but to uncharted levels of contentment. Enjoy the casually elegant spirit, decadent cuisine and award-winning service onboard a Windstar cruise.
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Silversea Offers Optional Shore Excursions for China
2007-12-04 14:12:00
Taking advantage of the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games schedule in China , Silversea is capitalizing on the fact that China is electrified with excitement and activity as the country prepares to welcome the world. Extensive construction of new facilities in the host city of Beijing is already underway with brand new stadiums, hotels, restaurants, galleries and upscale shops that will accommodate the needs of an unprecedented influx of visitors. Silversea wants to offer a unique opportunity for savvy travelers to explore China’s greatest cultural and historic attractions amid the growing fanfare, but without the crowds in the months before the major influx of humanity occurs.
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Carnival Cruise Line Wins 9 Awards from Porthole Magazine
2007-12-03 13:50:00
Carnival Cruise Line is once again leading the way in the cruise industry, this time with the Reader’s Choice Awards from Porthole Magazine . Cruisers’ confidence rang out loud and clear for Carnival, who won nine of this year’s coveted awards. The poll is the results from some 9,000 readers of Porthole Magazine, long a stalwart of cruise publications. This should come as no surprise to Carnival cruisers, as the line has garnered over 90 awards since the poll started back in 1999. Of course, that is far and away more than any other cruise line.
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Cunard Line Queen Victoria Continues the Spa Excellence
2007-12-02 14:21:00
Cunard is once again poised to re-define what cruising and spas are all about. The new Cunard Royal Spa and Fitness Centre aboard the Queen Victoria promises an experience like no other. The glass enclosed, luxurious 13,000 square foot spa affords its attendeees fabulous ocean views during their sessions. The spa offers a comprehensive health and wellness program including a breathtaking Hydrotherapy Pool and Thermal Suite which provides the centerpiece for the ultimate spa experience. Drawing on holistic, relaxing and stress-relieving treatments from disciplines around the world, the Cunard Royal Spa will offer among the most luxurious and exotic treatments available in any spa resort at sea today.
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Disney Cruise Line Still Best Bet For Family Cruising
2007-12-01 12:59:00
Year after year, Disney Cruise Line continues to show why it still ranks number 1 in cruising with the American public. After successfully bringing family travel to the cruise industry in 1998, they continue to be recognized for refining that product year after year. This year was no exception as Disney has won 8 more top awards, the latest being in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards back in September. The ranking was determined from answers given by readers when asked to rate cruise lines on cabins, food, service, itineraries, destinations, activities and value. The brings the total of awards won by Disney to almost 50 in its 9 years of existance. If you cruise with Disney after Thanksgiving this year for the holidays, you will see some of the extra touches that make them famous. -A nearly three-deck-tall tree festooned with decorations in the atrium lobby, where “snow” flurries fall and a tree-lighting ceremony occurs. -A Christmas Day visit from Sa...
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Cruise West Heading South For The Winter
2007-11-30 23:32:00
Cruise West is taking a step in a different direction this winter. Long known for its leadership in Alaska cruising, they will feature exotic birds, pearls, and snorkeling this winter in multiple, sun-soaked itineraries. Cruise West is taking its distinctive brand of up-close, casual and personal experiential cruising made famous in Alaska, and sailing south for the winter with itineraries that allow guests to romanticize in the South Pacific and witness the rich marine life and history in Mexico?s Sea of Cortés. You can also take in the prolific wildlife and beaches of Panama & Costa Rica. All cruises offer onboard naturalists and topical expert lecturers to bring each distinct destination to life.
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Amadeus Waterways Offers Special for AARP Members
2007-11-29 22:45:00
If you are a senior, a member of AARP, and looking for a special offer on river cruising in Europe, then Amadeus Waterways has exactly what you’re looking for. AARP Services Inc. and Amadeus Waterways, the well-known river sightseeing cruise operator, today announced a preferred provider relationship that will enable AARP?s 39 million members to take luxury cruises through Europe, Russia and Egypt at a discount. Under the agreement, AARP members will receive a $100 per person discount on an Amadeus Waterways cruise. Members also will be eligible for additional exclusive offers on certain trips. This special can also be used in conjunction with other specials offered by well known agencies who partner with Amadeus Waterways, like Destination Oceans in Portland, Maine.
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Regent Seven Seas Cruises Offers Winner?s Parade at Carnaval
2007-11-29 00:42:00
Regent Seven Seas Cruises is once again going the extra mile to provide a memorable cruise experience to its loyal followers by giving them the opportunity to attend the Winner ’s parade at this year’s Carnaval . This experience will be available to all cruisers on the South American itinerary departing in early February. Once again solidifying their efforts to offer only the best in shore side experiences, Regent Seven Seas is scoring big again, showing why they are a step above their competitors, and are currently the #1 small ship cruise line.
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Holland America Cruises in South America and Antarctica With 3 Ships
2007-11-27 14:10:00
Holland America LIne announced plans for 2009 that involve 3 ships cruising their South America n and Antarctica itineraries. Featuring new itineraries and more sailings than in the past, cruisers can choose from 18 cruises on ms Statendam, ms Prinsendam or flagship ms Amsterdam. Ranging from 13 to 68 days, and including spectacular scenic cruising through the fjords and glaciers of Chile, the new cruises offer the opportunity to visit some of the most remote sites in the world like Deception Island in Antarctica and Iguazú Falls, and experience two of the New Seven Wonders of the World chosen in a consumer poll in July: Machu Picchu in Peru and Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Holland America will also feature overnight stays in several ports, allowing guests more time to become immersed in local culture and traditions after embarking on these longer cruises.
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