11 Favorite Out-of-the-Way Places Best Explored From a Cruise Ship

Traveling with Jones has visited more than 175 ports and scenic cruising destinations around the world.

Cruising is a great vacation value as travelers can discover new places to return own. We've certainly discovered many destinations and cultures via cruise ship, and many have become our favorite vacation spots.

Take a look at some of their favorite “out-of-the-way” destinations 

Paula Dean Announces 2013 Cruise

Paula Deen, popular Food Network star, is set to headline her third cruise in 2013. 

The chef will host her Royal Caribbean cruise on January 27 with a seven-night Caribbean trip departing from Galveston, Texas.

The cruise will take place on Royal Caribbean's 3,114-passenger Mariner of the Seas. Stops for vacationers will occur in Roatan, Honduras; Cozumel, Mexico and Belize City, Belize.





Cruise Highlights:

- Onboard Value Booklet with over $450 in savings (maximum two per cabin)
- Welcome & farewell cocktail parties
- CD & DVD of the trip shot by O’Neal Bailey & Bailey’s Photos
- Exclusive beach BBQ on Half Moon Cay, featuring the Deen Family Olympics
- Cooking demo by the ship’s executive chef with a “critique” by Paula
- Special personalized commemorative gift


For more info vist http://pauladeencruise.com/

Avid Cruiser Voyages: Small-ship Caribbean

Since the dawn of the industry, the Caribbean has remained one of cruising’s most quintessential destinations. 

Popular with travellers in both winter and summer, there’s no shortage of ships – or itineraries – in this relatively small geographic area.

While cruise lines around the world frequently send their biggest, newest and best ships for a season of sailing to the Caribbean’s most popular ports, the experience aboard a smaller ship, presents a world of difference. 

For starters, many smaller vessels are ultra-luxury ships, expedition vessels, or yachts that recall the glory days of sail, but in a modern way. Not only do they ensure a top-notch onboard experience, but their relatively small size also allows them to call on ports that are simply unavailable to the big megaships.

Read full article at Travel Research

Windstar Cruises 2013 Voyage Brochure

Luxury Windstar Cruises has just published its 120-page Voyage Collection Brochure featuring 2013 sailing schedules.

Featured are cruises to the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Italy, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Greek Isles, and trans-Atlantic crossings.

Exciting new itineraries will debut in 2013 exploring origins of world religions with Footsteps of Faith, and Gaelic Explorers which will take cruisers through the hills, highlands, castles and pubs of Ireland and Scotland.

The 2013 brochure also features the floor-plans for the recently renovated Wind Star and the soon-to-be renovated Wind Surf and Wind Spirit.

Check this out! For a limited time, enjoy 2-for-1 fares on all 2013 voyages when you book by September 1, 2012. Visit the site for more info NEW in 2013 from Windstar

RCL Adding Coca-Cola Freestyle Machines

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line announces their fleet will begin adding Coca-Cola Freestyle Machines making the cruise line the first in the world to make these machines available for their passengers.

Designed by Ferrari with the interface of an iPad, these machines are smaller than a standard vending machine and can produce 125 flavors of various Coke products such as peach Coke and grape Fanta Zero.

The machines will have a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) that will work with their souvenir cups. The cups will allow passengers who purchase the soda card to serve themselves, and will expire at the end of their cruise.

The first ship to receive the Freestyle machine was the Majesty of the Seas in early June. There are several more U.S. based ships scheduled to have them by the end of the year. Royal Caribbean expects most of their fleet to be equipped with the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines by the end of 2013.

Crystal Cruises Announcing 2015 World Cruise

This week Crystal Cruises will formally announce its new world cruise.  

This is a 108 day voyage roundtrip abroad the Crystal Serenity, which will circum-navigate the globe, and set sail on January 15, 2015 from Miami and feature six segments. 

#1 16 days from Miami to Callao/Lima
#2 - 19 days from Callao to Auckland
#3 - 21 days from Auckland to Perth
#4 - 21 days from Perth to Cape Town
#5 - 15 days from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro
#6 - 16 days from Rio to Miami

Crystal Serenity will make maiden calls in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Albany, Australia; Ambodifotra and Taolagnaro, Madagascar; and Richards Bay, S. Africa.

Other exciting port stops include Bora Bora, the Cook Islands, Easter Island, Wellington, Sydney, Melbourne, Reunion Island, Buenos Aires, Cartagena, Turks & Caicos, and many more.

We'll be checking the site http://www.crystalcruise.com/ for more info when the announcement is made, and post updates.

Holland America 2013 Early Advantage Savings

Holland America Line announces free upgrades and Early Advantage savings on a selection of 2013 cruises/cruise-tours. 

Save up to 50% by combining two cruise itineraries on select Collectors Voyages in Europe. On some sailings, third and fourth cruise guests in the same cabin can qualify for free or reduced cruise fares.

Early Advantage savings on a 14-day Collectors Voyage is priced from $1,799 per person, double occupancy, for an inside stateroom - includes a free upgrade to an ocean-view while staterooms are available.

A family of four can take advantage of free or reduced third and fourth guests in the Caribbean, with fares starting at $699 for the first two guests, and the third and fourth sailing free. Guests who book an ocean-view category for $999 qualify for a complimentary verandah upgrade.

A 14-day Australia/New Zealand cruise starts at $1,699 for an inside stateroom and $1,999 for an ocean-view stateroom for the first and second guests, with reduced fares for the third and fourth guests starting at $1,049. While staterooms are available guests who book an ocean-view statement qualify for a verandah category.

Seven-day Alaska Inside Passage cruises from Seattle or Vancouver start at $699 for inside staterooms or $999 for verandahs, with free upgrades available. Alaska cruise tours are also available from 10 to 20 days, and prices start at $999 for inside staterooms and ocean-view staterooms.

Visit Holland America's site for more info on Early Advantage 

NCL Cruise Event Features Perks and Savings

Pick Your Room - Get Your Perk + 50% Reduced Deposits

Book any 2012 cruise vacation 5 days or longer before July 21, 2012 and receive 50% reduced deposit fleet-wide, plus free perks worth up to $270 in your stateroom. 

Receive special onboard amenities such as a specialty dinner, $50 spa credit, a bottle of wine plus more.

View what each room type special onboard amenity offers - http://www2.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/cruise-event

Top Large Ship Cruise Awards

Travel & Leisure Magazine has posted their annual awards for the best travel in the world 

For the category of "Top Large Cruise Ships", here are the full results . . .

• Crystal Cruises 89.90
• Regent Seven Seas 89.36
• Azamara Club Cruises 87.31
• Oceania Cruises 86.05
• Disney Cruise Line 84.96
• Cunard Line 83.26
• Celebrity Cruises 81.61
• Holland America Line 80.37
• Royal Caribbean 79.40
• Princess Cruises 79.08

The scores are results of reader surveys from the Travel & Leisure Magazine.

Visit the site, and check out the award winners of the Small-Ship Cruise Lines, River Cruises, Domestic Airlines, International Airlines, Car Rental Agencies, Safari/Tour Operators, as well as the top Hotels, Cities, and Islands. 
http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2012/air-cruise-more

Bon Voyage: Dieters Can Take Their Cruise Fun Seriously

When Carnival Cruise Line launched the latest of its three Dream-class ships in June - the Carnival Breeze - it raised the bar on cruise cuisine. 


Breeze offers full meals for just about every diet I can imagine. People traveling together who follow different diets can often dine in the same restaurant. Low-salt and low-fat dieters, vegetarians and vegans will find an excellent selection of dishes.

Bon Voyage: Dieters can take their cruise fun seriously

Cruise and Help the Humane Society

How about taking a seven-day exotic Western Caribbean winter cruise leaving from Tampa Feb. 3-10, 2013?

Not only do you enjoy a vacation in the tropics, but the Humane Society of Polk County benefits from the fund-raising at the same time.

Ports of call include Cozumel, Belize, Roatan and Grand Cayman. Rates include cruise, government fees, taxes, gratuities, roundtrip motor coach and $35 per person donation to the humane society.

Every $35 donation will be matched by Travel and Cruise World, the booking agent. A minimum $100 deposit is due with the reservation.

For rates, to book and details, call Travel and Cruise World at 863-295-9017 or 863-295-9013, or email info@travelandcruiseworld.com

Skip The Flight And Drive To A Cruise This Summer

It's no surprise that airfares are soaring this summer. Even though there are flash sales and the like, it's still expensive for a couple or a family to fly.

For Southern Californians, options are San Diego and Los Angeles; for those in Houston, Galveston is a thriving port; and other cities like Charleston and New Orleans draw locals who want to skip a flight to enjoy the seas.

On the East Coast, popular ports are New York, Boston, Bayonne, Baltimore and Norfolk. The ports all have secure and affordable parking, where it's literally park and board.

Those who live in Florida have for years had the option and convenience of boarding ships in Tampa, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Now, cruise lines are providing convenient ports for other large markets.

Continue Reading Article - Skip The Flight And Drive To A Cruise This Summer

Windjammer Sailing Adventures First Voyage July 22

Windjammer Sailing Adventures has announced that its first voyage will depart July 22, departing round-trip from Grenada.

The Mandalay, which formerly operated for now-defunct Windjammer Barefoot Cruises, will sail weekly, departing Sunday and returning Saturday, according to the company website.

The cruises will visit “a selection of islands in the Grenadines,” including Grenada, Carriacou, Union Island, Mayreau, Tobago Cays, Bequia, St. Vincent and possibly others.

“Remember, ports visited are subject to change ... we go where the captain and the winds take us!” the company website says.

Windjammer Sailing Adventures was started by Charles J. Kropke in the freewheeling spirit of Windjammer Barefoot, which was started in 1947 by the legendary Capt. Mike Burke. That company had legions of devoted fans but ultimately shut down in 2007.

Cruise fares include a cabin/bunk, three meals a day, onboard entertainment, early morning pastries and Bloody Marys, early evening snacks, Rum Swizzles, wine with dinner and 24-hour coffee and tea. Tips are optional with about $75 per person per week is suggested.

Standard cabins below deck with bunk beds are priced at $1,599 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares are $1,699 for Commodore Cabins, larger cabins below deck with bunk beds; $1,799 for Admiral Suites on main deck with double lower bunk and upper Pullman; and $1,899 for a Kings Cabin, a double sized cabin with shower separate from the bathroom.

There is a $400 discount on the second week of back-to-back sail. Port charges are $99 are in addition to the cruise fare. Single shares are available at the per-person rate and the company will pair up with another single of the same sex. Single occupancy is 175 percent of the per-person rate. Third passenger prices are $1,199 for Commodore Cabin and $1,299 for Admiral Cabin.

For reservations, call 888-972-7245, ext. 101, or visit http://sailwindjammer.com/Home_Page.html

Source: Theresa Norton Masek - TravelPulse