Viking River Cruises Celebrates 15th Anniversary

Viking River Cruises ( www.vikingrivercruises.com ) marks its 15th anniversary in 2012, the world's leading river cruise line is planning the biggest year in its history.

Founded in 1997, Viking River Cruises was established with four Russian river cruise vessels and a company name to honor the Vikings that first traveled by longship to explore Russia's waterways.

Today, Viking owns and operates the world's largest fleet of river vessels, and 2012 will see the launch of six new Viking Longships--an industry first--as well as the completion of its Russian fleet refurbishment.

On March 21, 2012 in Amsterdam, Viking will christen four of the six Viking Longships - Viking Njord, Viking Odin, Viking Idun and Viking Freya.

A historic event, the christening will mark the first time in history that four cruise ships will be christened at once. After departing from Amsterdam, the Viking Longships will sail Viking's most popular European itineraries including the 15-day Grand European Tour, 8-day Romantic Danube, 8-day Danube Waltz and 10-day Tulips & Windmills.

Joining their sister ships, two more Viking Longships - Viking Embla and Viking Aegir - will make their debut in July and August 2012, respectively. And given unprecedented demand, Viking is reviewing its new build program for 2013 and 2014.

Crystal Fast Track Check In

Crystal Cruises has announced a check-in process easing embarkation procedures for all guests.

Effective January 20th, in every Crystal embarkation port, “Crystal Fast-Track Check-In” eliminates 100% of ship check-in procedures in port terminal waiting areas, transitioning guests from dock security to Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity lounges.

By utilizing a new barcode on each guest cruise ticket, a new ticket scanning system and the consistency of Crystal’s own onboard crew, the cruise line is accelerating the check-in required on the first day of sailing.

As is customary in each embarkation port, porters load guests’ luggage onto the ship, and guests observe required local security procedures as they enter port terminals.  However, instead of processing documentation in the terminal, guests are ushered on board to complete registration, and receive their room keys or boarding cards with photo identification.

Visit www.crystalcruises.com

Costa Cruises Clarifies Refund Policy for Concordia Passengers

Costa Cruises will refund the full cost of the cruise and travel expenses for all guests who were on the Costa Concordia when it ran aground Jan. 13.

The company said it will reimburse all travel expenses incurred both reaching the port of embarkation and on the homeward journey, including any independent arrangements made for transfers. Any onboard expenses also will be refunded, any credit card charges will be credited to the account and any cash deposits will be refunded. Costa also will reimburse any medical expenses incurred as a result of the accident.

“Every effort will be made to return the valuables left in the cabin safe,” the cruise line said. “Information on the return of personal belongings and other forms of compensation will be communicated.”

Costa issued the statement on Jan. 23 after some media outlets reported that the line was only offering 30 percent off future cruise coupons to those on the ship.

In fact, the 30 percent future cruise discount, in addition to a full refund, was for people scheduled to sail on Costa Concordia from Jan. 14 onward.

The Mystery of the Muster: Cruise Ship Safety Laws Explained

Cruise Critic is a great source of information - every cruise passenger needs to be aware of cruise ship safety laws.

All cruise lines have to follow regulations called Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), which were adopted following the sinking of the Titanic and are administered by the United Nation's International Maritime Organization (IMO). The U.S. Coast Guard also gets involved by making sure those regulations are followed by passenger ships that stop in the United States.

The SOLAS regulations pertaining to muster drills are fairly short and straightforward. They require that the drill take place within 24 hours of embarkation. The regulations differentiate between a muster and a "safety briefing."

According to SOLAS rules, whenever new passengers embark, a safety briefing must be held "immediately before sailing, or immediately after sailing," consisting of at least a PA announcement. This may be supplemented with other info -- by written materials contained within each cabin, for instance. Regulations require that the safety briefing provides "clear instructions" that "detail the actions each person on board should follow in the event of an emergency."

But a muster, where passengers are physically assembled, is required only within 24 hours of sailing. (In Concordia's case, the muster drill was scheduled to take place after additional passengers boarded on Day 2 in Savona, Italy, which would have been within the required 24-hour window.)

Head over to Cruise Critic and read . . . The Mystery of the Muster: Cruise Ship Safety Laws Explained - Various

Windstar Cruises Blog

Windstar's $18 million refurbishment plan is a dramatic, fleet-wide initiative which creates the most extraordinary boutique yacht experience. 


The attention to detail and quality will truly make you feel like you are sailing aboard your own private yacht, with exceptional service to boot! 


From new furniture, upholstery, art, lighting, wall coverings, carpeting, ceiling finishes, window treatments and floor coverings, the new décor – complete with warm wood finishes – elevates our yachts to a level that is truly “180 Degrees from Ordinary.”

Wind Star and Wind Spirit will be undergoing complete renovations of their staterooms, owner’s suite and corridors following their respective Costa Rica and Caribbean seasons. 


Staterooms will be transformed with new leather headboards, stately arm chairs, linen wall coverings, new lighting features, elegant window coverings, plush wool carpeting, art work, stylish bed cushions, and luxurious bed throws. The owner’s suite on each yacht will be additionally outfitted with new furniture that is easily convertible to lounging, dining, or accommodating a third occupant.

More details at Windstar Cruises Blog

Opinion: Big Cruise Ships Are Safe

The terrible tragedy of the Costa Concordia has raised a lot of questions about cruise line safety and even the notion of are the big cruise ships that cruise lines like Costa, Carnival or Royal Caribbean sail still safe.

While there is no doubt in anyone's mind that what transpired in Italy with the Concordia was absolutely awful, I think it's time to rid ourselves of the notion that cruise ships aren't safe.

Read futher - Opinion: Big cruise ships are safe | Royal Caribbean Blog

Silversea Offers Six Wine Series Programs

Silversea Cruises has tapped wine experts Lyn Farmer and Richard Nurick to host a Wine Series enrichment program on six voyages this year.

Farmer is a widely published wine and food writer and senior editor of The Wine News magazine, and has been honored with the James Beard Foundation Award for best writing on wine and spirits. He has judged international wine competitions and led tastings and tours to food and wine regions throughout the world.

Richard Nurick, a retired London wine merchant, is a distinguished wine judge and lecturer who taught wine appreciation courses at Newbury and Henley colleges in the U.K. He is currently a full judge with the International Wine Challenge, a global competition open to all wines sold in Britain.

On each wine-themed cruise, discerning travelers with a passion for fine wines will enjoy sampling vintages and learning about the tradition and art of winemaking in special tastings and lectures. Depending on the itinerary, guests may also have the chance to explore celebrated wine regions on optional guided shore excursions.

The following Wine Series voyages will be hosted by Lyn Farmer:

Voyage 3203: Silver Shadow departs Auckland Feb. 4 on a 19-day sailing to Fremantle (Perth) with calls in Napier, Wellington, Picton, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Port Lincoln, and Albany. Silver Savings fares start at $10,599.

Voyage 4210: Silver Whisper departs Monte Carlo May 1 on a 12-day sailing to Southampton with calls in Palma de Mallorca, Cadiz, Portimao, La Coruña, Bilbao, Bordeaux and Le Verdon. Silver Savings fares start at $6,099.

Voyage 1220: Silver Cloud departs London Aug. 13 on a 14-day sailing to Monte Carlo with calls in Saint-Malo, Bordeaux, Bilbao, Lisbon, Cadiz, Malaga and Sete. Silver Savings fares start at $8,099.

Voyage 1232: Silver Cloud departs Buenos Aires Dec. 22 on a 16-day sailing to Valparaiso (Santiago) with calls in Montevideo, Punta del Este, Puerto Madryn, Stanley (Falkland Islands), Punta Arenas, Laguna San Rafael, Puerto Chacabuco and Puerto Montt. Silver Savings fares start at $9,999.

Richard Nurick will host the following:

Voyage 4220A: Silver Whisper departs Southampton July 26 on a 9-day sailing to Lisbon with calls in Bordeaux, St. Jean de Luz, Bilbao, Gijon, La Coruña and Vigo. Silver Savings fares start at $6,299.

Voyage 4220B: Silver Whisper departs Lisbon Aug. 4 on a 9-day sailing to Southampton with calls in Oporto (Leixoes), Bilbao, Bordeaux, Saint-Malo and Honfleur. Silver Savings fares start at $6,299.

Fares listed above are per person, based on double occupancy for a Vista Suite. Silver Savings is a capacity-controlled program and subject to availability.

Visit www.silversea.com

Source: TravelAgentCentral

Big Question Hovers Over the Cruise Ship Industry

Cruise lines were ready for a busy year, with continued deals, expanded river jaunts and hot new locales. How the Costa Concordia disaster affects the industry is still unknown.

The first quarter of 2012 was supposed to be a sweet spot for passenger cruise lines. Wave season, as it's known, marks a time when cruise companies and travel agents roll out deep discounts on cruise vacations and rack up lots of sales.

But that changed Jan. 13, when the Costa Concordia struck rocks off the western coast of Italy, killing at least 11 passengers in one of the worst cruise-ship tragedies in recent times. Images and videos of the listing liner have been shown appeared continually on TV and online in the media, often accompanied by interviews with survivors, who say panic and chaos took hold during the ship's deadly slide.

Continue with article - A big question mark hovers over the cruise ship industry - latimes.com

More West Coast Passengers Boarding Hawaii Cruises

More than 104,000 travelers arrived in the islands on cruise ships - mostly from the West Coast - in the first 11 months of last year, according to the most recent data available.

That's a 14.5% increase from the same period in 2010. There were 59 cruise liners that pulled into Hawaii ports during that time, an increase of 11.3%.

There are several reasons for the growth, industry experts say, including the presence of more cruise ships in the Pacific - and a fear among some travelers of ongoing drug-cartel related violence in Mexico.

The industry still hasn't recouped a pre-recession peak of about 130,000 passengers reached in 2007, but travel agents say demand for West Coast to Hawaii cruises is strong.

Read full article

Has Costa Concordia's Captain Been Outed on Facebook?

The captain of a vessel is the supreme master of his ship at sea.  The captain is responsible for the safe navigation of the vessel, discipline and order of the crew, and the safety of all crew and passengers.

Costa Cruises released a statement saying there may have been "significant human error" on Captain Schettino's part. The vessel appears to have been too close to the shore, and the captain's judgment in handling the emergency appears to have not followed standard Costa procedures.

The captain spoke on Italian TV, and insisted the rocks were not on his map. However the coast guard states the waters are well mapped. Local fishermen in the area state the coastline is well know for its rocky sea floor.

Although not confirmed, many locals say The Concordia had a tradition of "a fly-by" with Giglio island. Locals further state the ship would come close to the island and sound its horn while passengers onboard would wave.

But now comes this news from of all places Facebook!

Cruise disaster: captain neared rocks in Facebook stunt for friend's family
In a pre-planned stunt advertised on Facebook, captain of The Concordia, Francesco Schettino, sailed perilously close to the coast of Giglio so that the ship's head waiter could salute his family on land.

Princess Offering Wave Season Fares For Europe/Alaska

Princess Offering Wave Season For Europe and Alaska

Princess Cruises is offering special fares on cruises to Europe and Alaska – with a Balcony Bonus Sale through January 31. Clients who book during the event can save up to $1,000 per couple off Launch Fares, plus receive a free balcony upgrade.

These special cruise deals give you the chance to book a balcony stateroom at the same price as an unobstructed oceanview stateroom. The sale also includes Europe and Alaska cruisetours.

So cruisers can combine their Alaska cruise with a land adventure that might include Denali. Or, clients might plan to see Europe or the Middle East in more depth with Classic Italy, Ancient Petra or Swiss Alps land tours.


Examples of the sale fares (all are per person, double occupancy) include:

12-day Mediterranean/Greek Isles cruises from $1,490 ($2,540 balcony)

11-day Scandinavia and Russia cruises from $1,049 ($2,540 balcony)

12-day Holy Land cruises from $1,990 ($2,590 balcony)

7-day Alaska Voyage of the Glaciers from $799 ($1,399 balcony)

10-day Denali Explorer cruisetours from $1,273 ($1,823 balcony), and

17-day Classic Italy cruisetours from $3,849 ($4,699 balcony)

The Balcony Bonus Sale runs through January 31, 2012, and is available to residents of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Visit www.princess.com/balconybonus.page

Sail With Kate Gosselin and Kids on RCI

Luxury Tours and Cruises, a division of Alice Travel, has arranged a special "Sail With Kate" program featuring Gosselin and her eight children on the Aug. 12, 2012.

The week long Caribbean cruise roundtrip departure will be from Port Everglades, FL on  Allure of the Seas.


Gosselin will mix and mingle during the week with guests booked on this special program. Among the planned "Sail With Kate" events.

Perks of this cruise include a commemorative personalized gift (one per family); personal photo taken with Gosselin; barbecue party with live band on deck; morning brunch; family games with Gosselin and the cruise staff; a charity dinner (optional); question-and-answer session with Gosselin; book signing; craft program; shore excursion accompanied by Gosselin; and a group farewell dinner.

Cruisers must book through Alice Travel to participate in the exclusive Kate Gosselin party-at-sea.

Pricing ranges from $1,900 per person double for an oceanview cabin up to $3,175 per person double for a junior suite, excluding third and fourth berth fees listed in some categories.  

A special pre-cruise hotel program is also available at the Courtyard Fort Lauderdale Beach at $120 per person per night for a double/twin room.

Visit www.kategosselincruise.com

Oceania New European Tours and Excursions

Oceania Cruises announces more than 1,000 new tours and shore excursions. 

 Choose Three Different Ways to Explore

With the start of the Europe 2012 season, Oceania Cruises is offering three sightseeing options - and package highlights include:

·         A la Carte – As before, individual shore excursions can be purchased in advance or onboard the ship. However, starting with the 2012 Europe season, guests who book excursions prior to sailing will enjoy 10% off on-board prices.

·         Your World Collection – This option offers guests the flexibility to select a combination of excursions that most appeals to them and save 25% off on-board prices. The minimum number of excursions per package varies based on the number of ports on the itinerary. For example, on a voyage with eight ports, the minimum is five excursions.

·         Unlimited Passport Collection – Designed for travelers who wish to fully experience a destination in depth, this package offers unlimited shore excursions throughout the voyage – a savings of up to 40%.

Guests pay a set fee for the entire cruise and will be able to book an unlimited number of excursions. Package prices will vary based on the number of ports on the itinerary. For example, the package price for a cruise with seven ports is $699 per person. As an added bonus, guests who purchase the Unlimited Passport Collection also receive discounts on limited-availability tours.

Exclusive Early Booking Window

Guests in suites and concierge-level staterooms enjoy a 60-day advance priority booking period. Travelers who purchase either the Your World or Unlimited Passport collections also receive priority confirmation of their selections. This added benefit is designed for those who wish to ensure they have a place reserved on the most popular tours in marquee cities such as Venice, Rome, St. Petersburg and Istanbul.

All excursion packages are fully refundable until sail date and must be purchased in advance of sailing to enjoy the maximum savings. Packages will be non-refundable thereafter. A la Carte tours will remain fully refundable up until 36 hours before the excursion.

Visit www.OceaniaCruises.com

iCruise iPad App Available for Wave Season

iCruise has offered apps for iPhone and Android, but has now added an iPad app just in time for "Cruise Wave Season"  which runs from January to March.

iCruise created over 20,000 new images that were not optimized for the iPad, and deck plans are rendered properly taking advantage of the iPad’s “pinch and zoom" functionality.

The new iPad app allows you to track a ship, along with receiving updates. More features include 12,000+ itineraries, 25 destinations, route maps, port photos and re-sizable deck plans from 30 cruise lines.

A new update feature is the Revelex-powered ability for live online pricing, availability and booking on 13 cruise lines including: Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Azamara, Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise, Holland America, Princess, Seabourn, Crystal, Cunard, MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises.

iCruise has targeted the smartphone/tablet market with free iPhone, iPad, Android apps, mobile website, and plans to develop an app for Kindle Fire later this year.

Cruise Finder™ App - Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.Requires iOS 3.2 or later

Smoking at Sea

Passengers abroad Princess Cruises will not be allowed to smoke in staterooms or on balconies staring Monday - with one exception. Look for other cruise lines to tighten up on their "smoking policies" soon.

Here's the most recent cruise line politices:

Princess: With cabins now off-limits, smokers will be able to smoke in designated areas only including Churchill's cigar lounge and sections of the disco, casino and open decks.

Holland America Line: Starting Sunday, the cruise line will also ban smoking in staterooms fleet-wide.

Norwegian Cruise Line: As of Jan. 1, no smoking in cabins, but balcony stateroom guests can light up on balconies. Cigar and pipe smoking isn't permitted in either area. Guests can smoke in designated areas such as sections of the casino and in some outdoor public spaces and open decks.

Carnival Cruise Lines: Since Dec. 1, smoking is banned in all cabins across its 23-ship fleet, but not on outside balconies, except for Spa staterooms. Guest surveys showed less than 5% of guests opted to smoke in their cabins.

Ok, back to the exception to Princess Cruise Lines smoking policy . . .

Princess is making e-cigarette users, sometimes called "vapers," the exception. E-cigarette users can smoke in staterooms and balconies, but will be banned from other areas on the ships.

Also, Carnival and Norwegian cruise lines are restricting e-cigarettes to designated smoking areas only.

We will post updates as we get them

Norwegian Re-Brands Children and Teens Program

NCL (Norwegian Cruise Line) has re-branded it's on-board kids and teen activity program. The details (including new program name) will be released in the coming months.

The new program will be launched next month on the Norwegian Gem - and eventually the entire NCI fleet will feature the new activities.

One of the main features about the new program is new age groups will be defined. The new groups will consist of 3-5 years; 6-8 years; 9-12 years and two groups of teens - 13-14 and 15-17. In addition to the new breakdown of these age groups, there will also be new programs for babies and toddlers 6 months old to 2 years.

The focus of the new program will be sporting activities, arts/crafts, theater and technology. Depending on the age group the activities will change every 30 to 60 minutes, and set within blocks of programming time in the morning, afternoon and evening.

New creative themes include circus day, theater/technology/sports and port of call day. NCI is teaming up with Cirque Du Jour is a company that specializes in teaching children real circus skills such as scarf juggling, ball juggling, plate spinning, clowning and acrobatics has also been hired. It will create circus workshops and shows. Family friendly events will include parades and scavenger hunts.

And the new programs expand beyond the dedicated children's facilities into other areas of the ships.Kids and teens will have new activity options at the on-board sports courts, rock walls, theaters and lounges.

In order to successfully implement these programs, NCI will increase the ratio of staff to children, as well as establish new criteria for hiring of counselors. Counselors will have to have a college degree in recreation or child care (or the equivalent experience).

 All the new programs will supplement the exclusive Nickelodeon family events, shows and activities that Norwegian already has on several ships: Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Jewel and, starting in mid-February, Norwegian Gem.

Nickelodeon activities include pool games, breakfast with the characters, where kids – and adults – can eat, sing and play with SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Patrick, Diego and more; Dora’s Dance Party, where kids can join Dora and the Nickelodeon cast to dance and sing along; meet and greets with Nickelodeon characters including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and many more.

In addition, there are also other family activities offered, including Nick Jr. story time, family trivia and special arts and crafts sessions.

Visit www.bookncl.com

MSC Poesia Sailing Again After Running Aground

The 2,550-passenger MSC Poesia, which ran aground in shallow water off of Port Lucaya, Grand Bahama, last weekend is now sailing on its regular schedule of Caribbean itineraries.

The ship and its guests were safe during the mishap, and all onboard equipment and services continued to operate normally, including all previously scheduled tender service and shore excursions, according to an MSC spokeswoman.

The ship freed itself, with the assistance of four tugs, which pulled the ship off of a reef on Saturday evening during high tide and arrived Sunday morning at its next scheduled port of call at Little San Salvador on time.

It was on a three-night charter cruise called “Holy Ship!” - an electronica music cruise. According to press reports, the ship docked at low tide in about 14 feet of water, about half the normal depth for a ship that size.

Source: Travel Pulse by Mimi Kmet

Is Wave Season Still Best Bet For Cruise Deals?

Getting a killer price on a cruise in the first quarter of the year used to be as common as seeing chocolates dominate store shelves before Valentine's Day, but these days, the rules may be changing.

Many travelers wait for wave season -- the period from January to March, when cruise lines have traditionally offered their best deals -- to book their vacation at sea. Is that still a good strategy today? The views are mixed.

Read Is 'wave season' still the best bet for cruise deals? - CNN.com

New Disney Ship Fantasy Floated Out in Germany

The Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, the Disney Fantasy, has taken to the water for the first time.

The 2,500-passenger vessel on Sunday was floated out from a dry dock in Germany where it has been under construction for more than a year -- one of the last major milestones before its maiden voyage in March.

A sister to the much-heralded Disney Dream, which debuted last year, the 130,000-ton Disney Fantasy is arriving as the line gears up for a major expansion that includes its first cruises out of New York, Seattle and Galveston, Texas. The two new ships are Disney's first in more than a decade and together are more than doubling the line's capacity.

Read full article - New Disney cruise ship, Fantasy, floated out in Germany - USATODAY.com

Princess Cruise Line - Hawaii, Pacific Cruises 2012-13

Princess Cruise Line announces 10 itineraries to Hawaii, Tahiti and the South Pacific for the Fall of 2012 and Spring 2013.

Four ships  will sail roundtrip to the Hawaii islands from Los Angeles and San Francisco - and the newly renovated Grand Princess will make its debut to Hawaii.

Itineraries include 10-day “Tahiti & Polynesia” routes sailing roundtrip from Papeete, Tahiti.

11-day “Hawaii & Tahiti” cruise offers Hawaiian Islands and French Polynesia.

28-day “Hawaii, Tahiti and Samoa” itinerary offers two roundtrips from Los Angeles to American Samoa, visiting Hawaii and Tahiti along the way.

http://www.princess.com/

Royal Caribbean Caribbean/Panama Canal Cruises - Vision of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Caribbean/Panama Canal Cruises - Vision of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International’s Vision of the Seas will offer 19 Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises in the winter 2012-13.

The cruises range from 10 to 15 nights roundtrip from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.

A 10-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary includes calls at Tortola, St. Maarten, Dominica, Antigua, St. Kitts, St. Croix and Martinique.

An 11-night Southern Caribbean itinerary call at Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, Bonaire, Aruba, St. Kitts, Dominica and St. Vincent, a maiden port for Royal Caribbean.

Holiday and New Year’s cruise, departs Dec. 24, with ports of St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Vincent, Martinique and Labadee - RCI's private beach destination in Haiti.

In addition, two 14-night Panama Canal itineraries will sail from Port Everglades and San Diego on Oct. 5 and Oct. 19, respectively. On March 18 and April 2, 2013 there will be two 15-night sailings departing from Port Everglades and also San Diego.

Kenny G 2013 Alaskan Cruise

Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Kenny G has chartered Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Millennium for a weeklong Alaska cruise, set for May 17 to 24, 2013.








More info
http://www.kennygcruise.com/

Regent Seven Seas Luxury Cruises Includes FREE Air

The ships of Regent Seven Seas Cruises offer voyages of exploration and discovery to more than 300 ports on all seven continents. 


The luxury vessels are designed for guests numbering in the hundreds rather than the thousands. The ambiance on board is personal, individual, accommodating - "upscale but not uptight." And all ships share certain distinctions in accommodations, service, dining and amenities that elevate them to the lofty vantage point of our enviable six stars.

With Regent Seven Seas Cruises guests can enjoy cruising as it was meant to be aboard the luxurious, mid-sized ships.

In addition to 2-for-1 Fares plus bonus savings, fares include FREE roundtrip air, FREE luxury hotel package, FREE unlimited shore excursions, FREE fine wines and premium spirits, and much more. Enjoy - it's all included!

http://www.rssc.com/specials/

St Lucia Shore Excursion via Jade Mountain

St Lucia's Jade Mountain resort is offering cruise ship couples a “Whisk Her Away to Jade Mountain” daytime excursion featuring a private helicopter ride from Castries to the resort in Soufriere. 

The ride features views of the island's west coast before landing at the Jade property located on a rugged hillside above the sea.

Guests will enjoy a specially designed, four-course lunch with a choice of wines and cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Jonathan Dearden. Jade Mountain's menu features fresh seasonal ingredients, including organic produce grown on the resort's Emerald Estate farm. The excursion is priced at $2,799 per couple (two passengers) or $3,099 for four people. 

Tours can also be booked via private speedboat for $1,999 per couple (two passengers) or $2,499 for four passengers.  For more information, call 800-223-1108.

Silversea 2013 Voyages Across Six Ships

Silversea Cruises has unveiled a line-up of worldwide voyages for 2013 that are all on sale now. 

In 2013, the company's six elite ships will offer over 200 voyages, visiting more than 450 destinations on seven continents. 

Highlighting the program is Silver Whisper's 115-day World Cruise, Silver Spirit's inaugural calls in Hawaii (last visited by Silversea in 2010), and Silver Explorer's new expedition cruises to Canada's Hudson Bay.

Also noteworthy are Silversea's 32 new ports of call, which include 21 just for Silver Explorer alone. Collectively, the line's other ships will offer 11 new destinations: Soller de Majorca, Spain; Sabang (Pulau Weh), Indonesia; Port Arthur, Australia; Liverpool, U.K.; Klaipeda, Lithuania; Saaremaa, Estonia; Quebec, Canada; Chios, Greece; Portsmouth, Dominica; Fanning Island, Kiribati; and Fukuoka, Japan.

Here's a snapshot of Silversea's 2013 schedule:

World Cruise 2013

A 115-day journey from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale aboard the Silver Whisper on Jan. 5. Crossing the equator four times, the World Cruise itinerary will follow the tropical belt to 52 destinations in 28 countries with overnight stays in several ports. The warm-weather journey will include New Zealand and Australia's west coast; the isles of French Polynesia; the Asian cities of Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore; and Africa's western coast. Guests may choose to extend their voyage an additional three days to disembark in New York, or 15 days to disembark in Southampton.

Silver Cloud

Silver Cloud begins the 2013 season exploring South America and then crosses the Panama Canal to the Caribbean to offer a series of roundtrip voyages from San Juan. After spending May in the Mediterranean, she'll venture to Northern Europe for a summer season that includes calls in the British Isles, Iceland, the North Cape and Russian ports in the White Sea. Silver Cloud heads south to the warmer Mediterranean in the fall and come November, crosses the Atlantic to South America where the highlights include a 17-day Amazon adventure and cruising the Chilean Fjords at year's end.

Silver Wind

For Silver Wind, the New Year begins in South Africa with three 10-day roundtrip sailings from Cape Town, followed by an 18-day cruise along the west coast of Africa and two voyages in the Canary Islands. Silver Wind then repositions to the Mediterranean for an extended summer program filled with mostly seven- and nine-day voyages exploring the Mediterranean. Highlights include a three-day extended visit in Monte Carlo for the Grand Prix during the May 23 cruise from Barcelona to Rome, as well as calls in Egypt and the Holy Land. Silver Wind then heads south along Africa's west coast to conclude the year back in Cape Town.

Silver Shadow

Silver Shadow opens the year voyaging around Australia and New Zealand. Then in late February and March, she'll offer a series of itineraries focused on Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand before traveling north to China and Japan for the spring. Summer finds Silver Shadow in Alaska for a series of mostly seven-day cruises between Seward and Vancouver. During October and November, she'll offer cruises focusing on China and Vietnam, before heading south to celebrate the holidays with a 15-day voyage between Sydney and Auckland.

Silver Whisper

Silver Whisper begins 2013 with a World Cruise. Over the course of four months she'll journey west from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, visiting 52 destinations across Oceania, Asia and Africa. From mid-May through August, she'll explore Northern Europe offering seven-day Baltic cruises with extended stays in St. Petersburg. A transatlantic crossing from Southampton to Montreal will reposition Silver Whisper to offer a collection of fall foliage cruises through Canada and New England before heading south to the Caribbean in November. Following a 16-day holiday cruise through the Panama Canal, she'll end the year in Los Angeles.

Silver Spirit

For Silver Spirit, 2013 arrives in the Caribbean. Then in February, after a crossing of the Panama Canal to Los Angeles, she repositions for a 31-day voyage through the Pacific Ocean, highlighted by calls in French Polynesia, Kiribati and the major islands of Hawaii. Throughout summer, seven- and nine-day sailings focus on the eastern Mediterranean and Greek Isles. Other highlights include three seven-day Black Sea cruises. In late November, Silver Spirit arrives in Fort Lauderdale for a series of roundtrip Caribbean cruises culminating with a 14-day holiday cruise.

Silver Explorer

The luxury expedition ship Silver Explorer sails into 2013 offering a series of cruises to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Spring and summer are highlighted by trips along the west coast of Africa, western Europe, the British Isles, and Svalbard's frozen Arctic landscapes. First-ever expedition voyages in Canada's Hudson Bay highlight August. In September, Silver Explorer heads south to offer a series of Caribbean and Central America explorations before arriving in Ushuaia in November to conclude the year with Antarctic expeditions.

Visit www.silversea.com

Source: TravelAgent

New NCL's Breakaway Sets Sail From New York 2013

Norwegian Cruise Line’s new  4,000 passenger ship, Norwegian Breakaway, will sail from her year-round homeport of New York City to the Bahamas & Florida and the Caribbean during her inaugural winter season.  

The 144,037-ton ship will enter service in April, 2013.

Following a summer inaugural season sailing seven-day cruises from New York to Bermuda, Norwegian Breakaway will embark on a series of 25 seven-day cruises to the Bahamas & Florida beginning on Sunday, October 13, 2013. 

The ship will also sail two 12-day Southern Caribbean itineraries on January 5 and 19, 2014, along with two Weekend Escape cruises on January 17 and 31, 2014.

These cruises go on sale to Norwegian’s top travel partners and Latitudes Rewards members (past guests) today and to the general public on Friday, January 6.

Norwegian Breakaway’s Bahamas & Florida cruises depart on Sundays and include stops in Nassau, Bahamas; Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay; and Orlando & the Beaches (Port Canaveral), Florida; along with three relaxing days at sea. These sailings run through April 27, 2014.  The ship’s 12-day Southern Caribbean cruises include the following ports of call: San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Castries, St. Lucia; Bridgetown, Barbados; and Basseterre, St. Kitts; along with five relaxing days at sea.

In October of 2011, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Norwegian Cruise Line announced that beginning in May 2013, Norwegian Breakaway will be the largest ship to homeport year-round in New York City, bringing 140,000 additional embarking passengers into New York City over two years, resulting in an estimated $35 million in additional direct spending.

Information on Norwegian Breakaway’s accommodations and itineraries can be found on Norwegian’s website.

Source: USA Today, Critic Critic Blog  

Popular Cruise Destinations

Alaska
from $76 / night

Bahamas
from $37 / night

Bermuda
from $53 / night

Caribbean
from $38 / night

Europe
from $36 / night

Hawaii
from $69 / night

Mexico
from $50 / night

Canada / New England
from $53 / night

Alaskan Dream New Itineraries, Ports of Call

Alaskan Dream Cruises, a small-ship cruise line sailing in Southeast Alaska, announced three new itineraries, additional ports of call and ship renovations. Owned and operated by an Alaska Native family in Sitka, the company will operate its second season from May through September.

The 42-passenger Alaskan Dream will sail on three new itineraries in 2012 -- an eight-day trip that focuses on less-explored destinations, including Hobart Bay and Kasaan, and two 11- and 13-day trips through the Inside Passage. The three itineraries include new ports of call for the cruise line -- Ketchikan, Skagway, Haines, Thorne Bay, Kasaan, Wrangell and Gustavus.

The new eight-day “Alaska’s Inside Passage Sojourn” itinerary travels between Sitka and Ketchikan, visiting the village of Kake, Petersburg, Kasaan, Thorne Bay and Misty Fjords. In addition, Hobart Bay is an adventure base camp visited exclusively by Alaskan Dream Cruises, offering sea kayaking, all-terrain vehicle tours and small Zego sport boat excursions. Rates for the cruises begin at $2,269.

The “Alaska’s Southeast Explorer” 11-day itinerary also sails between Ketchikan and Sitka, but expands the route to include Juneau, Glacier Bay National Park, Gustavus, Skagway, Haines and Wrangell. Travelers also spend an evening on Colt Island at Orca Point Lodge, which is available only to guests of Alaskan Dream Cruises and its sister company, Allen Marine Tours, for an Alaska salmon and king crab dinner. Rates for the cruises begin at $3,399.

The 13-day “Alaska’s Glacier Bay and Inside Passage Voyage” follows a similar route to the 11-day cruise, but visits Windham Bay from a private wilderness retreat that offers fishing, sea kayaking and two-person outboard motor boats. A full day is spent whale watching among the Inian Islands and near Point Adolphus, a famous feeding area for endangered humpback whales. Guests will also visit Lake Eva near Sitka for a hike on a newly rebuilt trail in Tongass National Forest, the nation’s largest. Rates for the cruises begin at $3,989.

Complimentary shore excursions are included. In addition, local naturalists and Alaska Native guides conduct onboard presentations.

Alaskan Dream Cruises also renovated both of its ships for the new season. Its 42-passenger Alaskan Dream, formerly the Executive Explorer, was redone with new carpet and paint, new closets in passenger cabins and a revamped forward lounge. The Admiralty Dream, formerly the Spirit of Columbia, was give a lighter color scheme in the cabins and public areas, as well as new carpet. The forward lounge was also redesigned.

The company was launched in 2011 by the Allen family, members of the Tlingit Kaagwaantaan Clan. The Allen family also founded Allen Marine Inc., a boat-building company, in 1967, and operates Allen Marine Tours, which offers day cruise tours to travelers in Alaska’s Inside Passage.

Source: TravelPulse

Cruise Tours Versus Going on Your Own

Cruise passengers heading for the island of Jamaica e-mailed inquiring about a cheaper way to enjoy the beach in Ocho Rios vs. taking a ship sponsored tour which will put them over their tight cruise budget. 

Cruise passengers familiar with their destination, or those who are more adventurous will often opt to go on their own once arriving at their port destination. We suggest if going on your own and using local transportation (especially taxi's) know which ones are official or licensed by the local government.

We suggested Reggae Beach, which is approximatelyh 10-15 minutes from the port. The official taxi's in Jamaica are JUTA taxi's, and we suggested they only take JUTA to their destination. The rate to Reggae Beach is approximately $40.00, which can be shared by up to four people. The price should always be negotiated up front.

On arrival to the beach, it will cost $5.00 which includes beach chairs - along with bathroom facilities. You will ususally find a Reggae band for entertainment. The beach bar features cold drinks, jerk chicken and conch. Kayak's are also available for rent.

Another plus in visiting this particular beach is it is private, which means you don't have to deal with the crowds at the public beaches, and those pesky local beach peddlers.

By taking the taxi rather than the cruise ship sponsored tour, the four friends will save approximately $50 per couple. They plan to use the extra money for the required tips to cabin steward, along with other cruise staff.

Many first time cruisers on a tight budget do not take the required tipping into consideration. It's one of those details many overlook when booking a cruise - in the cruise documentation the tipping guidelines are spelled out.

In this particular case, the four passengers are cruising on Carnival which charges $11.50 per-person, per-day gratuity to onboard accounts. Each cruise line has a different policy, read our Cruise Line Tipping Policies for guidelines for particular cruise lines.

Windstar Cruises Two-For-One Fares on Caribbean Voyages

Windstar Cruises operates a fleet of three luxury 

sailing yachts that explore hidden harbors and 

secluded coves of the world's most treasured destinations. 

Windstar announces two-for-one fares starting from $1,399 per person, based on double occupancy, on select 2012 Caribbean voyages when booked by February 24, 2012.

Three Caribbean itineraries are available and each one features intimate and exclusive island-hopping experiences in the tropics all while sailing on a luxurious sailing yacht.

Experience the eclectic Caribbean sailing from Dutch St. Maarten to French-influenced Martinique on Windstar's Flavors of the Caribbean voyages.

Seven-day sailings on Wind Surf roundtrip from Philipsburg, St. Maarten visit Le Marin, Martinique; Pigeon Island, St. Lucia; Roseau, Dominica; Falmouth Harbour, Antigua; and Gustavia, St. Barthelemy. Departures: January 14, 28; February 25; and March 10, 24, 2012. Two-for-one fares starting from $1,399 per person, double occupancy on select sailings.

Read entire news release for more info

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New Disney Ship, Attractions and Experiences

Guests will be able to enjoy new experiences at Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line and Disneyland in 2012.

The Disney Fantasy’s maiden voyage is scheduled for March 31, 2012. The newest ship from the Disney Cruise Line fleet will sail on week-long Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, Fla. The 4,000 passenger ship features a cast bronze statue of Mademoiselle Minnie Mouse dressed in vintage 1920’s fashion as the main statue in the lobby.

Here is a list of what will open this new year

• Sections of the new Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom will open early in 2012. In February the first phase of the Fantasyland expansion will be open.

• In early 2012 the Barnstormer coaster, Fantasyland Station and the first half of the Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction will be open to the public.

• Sorcerers will invade the Magic Kingdom in early 2012. During the new interactive experience, “Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom,” Merlin the magician recruits guests as apprentice sorcerers to undertake missions to hunt for villains inside the park.

• The Richard Petty Driving Experience at Walt Disney World Resort will welcome new supercars and a custom-built one-mile track in mid-January. 

• New Royal Guest Rooms come to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort in mid-February.

• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort located next to Disney’s Pop Century Resort at Walt Disney World will open in May of 2012.

Read entire article for full details on all new Disney happenings for 2012