Royal Caribbean Says Goodbye to Monarch of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International's oldest cruise ship, the Monarch of the Seas, will transfer out of the fleet in April 2013.

Built in 1991, the 2,390-passenger ship will be transferred to Royal Caribbean's Madrid-based sister company, Pullmantur Cruises, on April 1, 2013.

The Monarch currently sails three- and four-night round-trip Bahamas cruises from Port Canaveral. It will embark on its last sailing for Royal Caribbean on March 29, 2013.

Full article at USA Today - Royal Caribbean says goodbye to Monarch of the Seas - USATODAY.com

New Cruise Trends

Look for a new cruise ship with a dozen outdoor eateries from Norwegian Cruise Line, a chic new chef’s table concept on Princess Cruises’ next ship and a return of wheelers on U.S. rivers. 


Those nuggets were among news revealed at last week’s Cruise Shipping Miami, an annual cruise industry trade show held each year in March.

Read full article: New Cruise Trends: Paddle-Wheelers, Chef Tables, More - Carry On | Travel + Leisure

Sailing on the Carnival Valor

We sailed on Carnival Valor a few weeks ago on an 8 day Southern Caribbean cruise with stops in Nassau, the Dominican Republic, Curacao and Aruba.

We had wonderful accommodations on the Empress Deck with an oceanview balcony.

Our first stop was Nassau, one of the busiest ports in the Caribbean. 

Our ship, the Carnival Valor, was in port along side RCL's Majesty of the Seas, and NCL's Norwegian Sky.


It's real easy getting around the island. You'll always find a taxi at the hotels, and you can easily hire the driver for an hour tour of the island.

Another mode of transportation are the Jitneys (buses) which run through downtown Nassau, as well as Cable Beach.


Check the schedules, as the jitneys do not run on the hour - the cost is $1.50 per person. You need to have exact change, and payment is made when you get off.  A slower, but scenic ride is with the horse drawn buggy ride.


Paradise Island is just 10 minutes away by ferry. Tickets are purchased at Woodes Rogers Wharf or Festival Place, and the cost is just $6.00 per person. The ferry runs every half hour on the hour from 9-6:00 p.m.


Aside from the resorts and beaches on Paradise Island, there is the Bahama Craft Centre featuring unique handmade straw items, wood carvings and souvenirs.


Heading towards Atlantis Resort is the upscale shopping Marina Village, and there are also a number of restaurants serving American, Bahamian and Italian food. You don't need to be a guest of Atlantis to stop off in the casino.


Other points of interest for cruise visitors is the Ardastra Gardens Zoo and Conservation Center - Watch the colorful march of the Pink Flamingo's. There are approximately 300 mammals, birds and reptiles to view, and many are endangered species.


Straw Market - Home of handmade Bahamian crafts such as hand-woven straw hats, bags, dolls, conch shell jewelry, wood carvings and tons of cheap t-shirts. You can bargain for deals.

Our second cruise stop was the port of La Romana. La Romana began drawing more tourists due to Casa de Campo, the finest resort on the island.


La Romana lies on the Southeast coast of the Dominican Republic, and is one of the most populated cities with an estimated 250,000 residents. 


The annual average temperature for the Dominican Republic is about 77 degrees, however the coastal regions temperature is a bit higher.

Just east of Casa de Campo is Altos de Chavón one of the country's leading sightseeing attractions. The village is a charming  version of the type of fortified medieval villages found in Spain, southern France, or Italy.


Off the coast of La Romana lies the deserted island Isla Catalina, which attracts divers and snorkelers. The island can only be reached by motorboat - the trip is 45 minutes, and there are no facilities on the island. Playa Catalina beach is surrounded by turquoise waters, and attracts many of the guests from Casa de Campo - so not entirely deserted.


Cruise passengers should be aware the majority of locals (including taxi drivers) in this area do not speak English - so being able to speak some Spanish will definitely be helpful.


Our third stop was the lovely port city of Willemstad, Curacao.

The capital city is a Dutch styled fantasy land painted in the palettes of pink cotton candy, mango-orange, papaya yellow, avocado green, and ocean blue.

If you've never been to Curacao, it's definitely worth putting on your bucket list. 


This is one of the more "unique" islands in the Caribbean chain, and the largest island of the Netherlands Antilles. 


The island boasts some of the best weather in the Caribbean region, and is located outside the Hurricane Belt.  
As you mingle with the locals, you will see a global citizenship of 50 nationalities who speak Dutch, Spanish, English, and the local dialect Papiamentu. 


Curacao has a lot more European flair than your typical Caribbean island. It's a perfect cruise destination as cruise ships arrive in the center of the island's capital - just a 15 minute walk from the ship.

As you leave the terminal, stroll across the Queen Emma Bridge which connects the two sides of the capital city. 


The bridge is at least 100 years old, and swings open to make way for ships docking or passing through. The bridge is fascinating, and a tourist attraction in its own right. When the bridge is open, you can take a free ferry ride to the other side. 


This is my third visit to Curacao, and the first visit by cruise ship. The Carnival Valor arrived at 1:00 p.m., and we left at 11:00 p.m., giving us time to see points of interest.   


Floating Market - The market has been around for decades, and has become an intricate part of life on Curacao. Venezuelan men sail to Curacao and sell their fresh fish, fruits, and vegetables daily. 


Museum Kura Hulanda - One of the best anthropological museum focusing on Curacao cultures, and showcasing  African exhibits, dating from 500 B.C. The complex features the Kura Hulanda Hotel, museum, and restaurant. 


The Sea Aquarium is located on the south coast just east of Willemstad. Features include a marina, arge beach, hotel, and the aquarium complex. Curacao Underwater Park is right next door, and is a protected marine area for divers, marine biologists and scientists. 


Dolphin Academy - Swim with the dolphins


Ostrich Farm offers great photo opportunity with hundreds of these big birds on site - a favorite activity for kids.  


The island's long coastline offers an array of approximately 30 public and private beaches - many with secluded coves. There are also numerous dive sites with multi-colored Parrotfish, Barracuda, colorful Butterfly-fish, Coral and Sea Anemones. 

Our last cruise stop was the island of Aruba. Known for it's fine beaches - the island's interior is a unique desert landscape. 

The walk into downtown takes less than 5 minutes, and then we'll hop the bus which makes stops at the hotels along the beach strip. 


First stop was Druif Beach next to the Manchebo Beach Resort. Then on to Moomba Beach which is located on Palm Beach, next to the Holiday Inn. My beach strip trip then took me on to Eagle Beach, a little farther to the North. 



Known for it's fine beaches - the island's interior is a unique desert landscape. 

 Points of interest in Aruba


Beaches are first on the list! The island has miles of pristine white sand beaches, and the consistent tradewinds make this a favorite destination for windsurfer's. 


The Butterfly Farm is located on Palm Beach. You'll find hundreds of beautiful butterflies enclosed in a tropical garden. If you make a visit when the farm opens (9 a.m.) you can see the new butterflies emerging.


California Lighthouse - Known as "Hudishibana" and a scenic island trademark. The lighthouse is located on the NW tip of the island, and is named for the U.S ship - the California. Perfect spot for photo's of Aruba's western coastline. 


Horse Back Riding - The Gold Mine Ranch (no time frames on private tours), Rancho Notorious (offers 3 different trails), Rancho Del Campo (offers free roundtrip transportation from your hotel). 


Visit Aruba's Ostrich Farm, and the on-site African Art Shop featuring authentic goods from South Africa. The Savanna Lodge Bar & Restaurant is also on-site and offers panoramic views of Aruba's north coast.


Bubali Bird Sanctuary - Home to more than 80 species of migratory birds.


Island Caves - Huliba Cave, known as the (Tunnel of Love) - the entrance is shaped like a heart - need flashlight to explore. 

Oceania Introduces Culinary Discovery Tours

Oceania Cruises  is expanding its culinary program with the introduction of Culinary Discovery Tours to more than 25 ports worldwide.

Designed for each port, the new tours provide guests with the opportunity to explore local food markets in small groups side-by-side with an expert chef.

Guests may visit an artisanal cheese maker, chocolatier, wine vineyard or a fish market. Tours also incorporate mini-lectures, demonstrations or lunch before returning to the ship’s BonAppétit CulinaryCenter for a cooking class drawing inspiration from the local market.

Culinary Discovery Tours will launch spring 2012 in Europe aboard Riviera and Marina and can be booked prior to departure. The program will roll out in Asia, South America and the Caribbean in winter 2012-13. Prices start at $175, including the escorted market tour and cooking class.

Bon Appétit Culinary Center

Oceania Cruises’ Riviera and Marina features 24 fully equipped work stations. Induction cook tops and convection ovens afford participants the opportunity to gain a hands-on cooking experience. Classes cater to all levels of aptitude, from beginner to master-chef level.

On the line’s smaller ships ( Regatta and Nautica ) Culinary Discovery Tours will combine excursions to local markets with hands-on cooking experiences at a shore-side cooking school or a well-known restaurant kitchen. In Istanbul, as an example, guests will follow their tour with a cooking class at Cooking Alaturka.

New Curriculum, “Hot Topics” Classes

New classes for the Bon Appétit Culinary Center include Oceania Highlights, which features recipes from Oceania Cruises’ signature restaurants: Jacques, Red Ginger, Polo Grill and Toscana; Healthy Cooking, inspired by the line’s collaboration with Canyon Ranch; and Emerging Cuisines, focusing on Moroccan, Peruvian and Asian-fusion dishes.

For 2012, the culinary center will introduce one-hour classes that focus on “hot topics” in the culinary world, including Beyond Brie: the Innovative Cheeses, where guests learn how to assemble a cheese plate or Favorite Pairings with Favorite Foods, which showcases finger foods paired with cocktails and beer.

Additionally, the curriculum will feature a new series of technique classes based on Jacques Pépin’s new book, Essential Pépin. Beginner classes focus on basic knife skills, French sauces and proper technique for cooking fish. Advanced classes concentrate on the sous vide and pressure cooking methods.

Guests enjoy wine tastings with every class and leave with a packet of recipes to bring home. Two-hour cooking classes are priced at $69 and one-hour classes start at $39.

Culinary Enrichment Enhancements

Introducing Cuisines of the World programming fleet-wide. With each new port, the Grand Dining Room and Terrace Café will feature the culinary highlights and local dishes from that country. In addition, the ship’s daily newsletter will highlight port-specific food facts, provide cuisine recommendations and offer other tidbits of gastronomic knowledge.

During most voyages, guests can also attend cooking demonstrations in the ship’s main lounge. These cooking demos will highlight a particular method of cooking, a “mystery” ingredient from a recently visited market or one of the signature dishes from an Oceania Cruises’ restaurant. The demos are open to all passengers and free ofcharge.

For more information, visit www.OceaniaCruises.com

Viking River Cruises 2013 Itinerary for Portugal and Spain

Viking River Cruises, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, is launching a new Portugal and Spain itinerary for 2013.

Guests on the “River of Gold” cruise will experience a 10-day cruise and land tour along the Douro River that explores the cultural, historical and aesthetic heritage of Portugal and Spain.

Travelers can visit the Belém Tower and Jerónimos monastery in Lisbon (a UNESCO World Heritage site), sample port from traditional wooden casks in Porto, tour a baroque mansion in Régua and explore the medieval city of Salamanca. Guests will also see a Portuguese folk music show in Pinhão, sample the wines of Quinta do Seixo in Barca d’Alva and tour the village of Castelo Rodrigo near Vega de Terrón.

Through February 29, Viking is offering the following 2013 Early Booking Discount: 2-for-1 cruise and land pricing plus $1100 per couple off the brochure air rate. All-inclusive rates cover accommodations, all onboard meals, daily guided shore excursions, port charges and more.

Agents who have registered at Viking’s travel agent portal can also create their own co-branded Viking website, which allows them to give clients access to current Viking information on a page that features their own agency name, contact information and logo.

http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/

Crystal Raises Rates On 19 Cruises, Releases Booking Deadlines

Early booking specials can save couples as much as $4,600 off Crystal’s 2013 World Cruise.

Crystal Cruises raised rates from $200-$1,000 per couple on 19 cruises for 2012 and 2013.

Current Book Now fares, announced on March 1, expire on April 30 and June 30 for 2012 and 2013 voyages.

The line’s Book Now promotion provides travelers with a two-month window for the lowest rates on every worldwide cruise aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. Every 60 days Crystal is reviewing its pricing on each cruise.

Since the Book Now pricing program was launched in Sept. 2011, Crystal has raised fares with each booking deadline. Additional price increases are expected on April 30 for 2012 cruises and June 30 for 2013 voyages.

Traveling the world, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity will visit 182 ports-of-call in 59 countries on 60 itineraries worldwide in 2012, 64 voyage options, visiting 226 ports and 62 countries in 2013.

Destination choices include: Western and eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea, North Cape, western Europe, Greek Isles, Baltic & Russia, China, Japan, southeast Asia, Australia, South Pacific, South America, New England/Canada, Panama Canal, British Isles, Canary Islands and Mexican Riviera on itineraries of seven to 98 days.

For more information, visit www.crystalcruises.com

Source: TravelAgentCentral

Disney Fantasy Begins Caribbean Sailings March 31

The Disney Fantasy, the fourth ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, was christened on March 1 during a star-studded christening celebration at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in New York City.

On a night filled with celebrity performances from the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Neil Patrick Harris, Nick Cannon and Heather Headley, it was Disney Fantasy godmother, Mariah Carey, who took center stage for the christening moment. 

Similar to the famed New Year’s Eve celebrations in Times Square, Carey led the audience in a countdown that triggered a 6-foot tall bottle of champagne in the Atrium Lobby to erupt and shower onlookers with confetti and streamers as a traditional bottle of champagne broke against the ship’s hull.

Read full article - Disney Fantasy to begin Caribbean sailings March 31