MSC Deals to Sea One-Week Sale to Caribbean and Europe

Save up tp 58% on select 2012-2013 Caribbean Cruises, and select 2012 European Cruises.

The “MSC Deals to Sea” are available on select Europe sailings of two Fantasia-class ships, MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida, and MSC Poesia for Caribbean sailings.

• MSC Fantasia’s seven-night “Mediterranean Fantasy” itineraries in September and October include port calls at Genoa, Barcelona, Naples, Palermo, La Goulette and Marseille. Roundtrip departures are available from Genoa, Barcelona, Marseille or Naples. 

• MSC Poesia’s 10-night Eastern Caribbean cruise departing Dec. 11 and select seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises, including the Dec. 21 Christmas cruise and Dec. 28 New Year’s sailing from Fort Lauderdale.

Book by September 5, 2012. Rates start at $54 per night per person, double occupancy; government fees and taxes are additional.

Check out this offer, and all special offers from MSC

Princess Cruises Features Rare Caribbean Sailing

Princess Cruises is offering a rare 10-day Eastern Caribbean cruise on the 680-passenger Pacific Princess, Jan. 17 to 27, 2013. 

The sailing features the line’s only calls at Tortola and St. Barthelemy in 2013 as well as Antigua, St. Lucia and St. Kitts. Fares begin at $899 per person, based on double occupancy.

“Because Pacific Princess travels the globe, we rarely have the opportunity to offer a Caribbean cruise on this popular small ship,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “But because we’re rescheduling the ship’s dry-dock, we now have a wonderful chance to offer this unique one-time itinerary option before she takes off on her yearly world cruise.”

Source: Travel Pulse

What Does It Mean When Your Cruise Ship Is Sick?

As we head into the end of summer and beginning of Fall, we will hear more about the norovirus because cruise ships will start their Caribbean cruises and the cold and flu season kicks off again. 

This means more stories about cruise passengers getting ill while at sea. The word "norovirus" does sound pretty bad. I even thought there was something dangerous about sailing on cruise ships after I heard about case after case.

That was until I talked to doctors at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and found out that norovirus is nothing more than the stomach flu - and it isn't a disease that people only get on cruise ships.

According to the braniacs at the CDC, "the common cold is the only illness more common, and
the CDC estimates that there are more than 20 million cases of norovirus annually."

Read full article - What Does It Mean When Your Cruise Ship Is Sick?

NCL's New Stingray Encounter, Snorkel Trail at Private Island

Norwegian Cruise Line has opened a new stingray encounter and a snorkel trail as part of its $30 million enhancement project on its private island, Great Stirrup Cay, in the Bahamas. In addition, a new theme bar sponsored by Patrón Spirits is expected to open in September.

Located inside Bertram’s Cove, on the right hand side of the main beach, the Stingray Encounter lets guests interact with 18 specially trained stingrays in an enclosed area.

Each stingray has a name and its own personality, and guests can feed, watch and hold them, and even take photos.

Use of a mask, snorkel and snorkel vest is included so guests can peer at the rays below the water’s surface. The hour-long excursion includes 45 minutes of interaction with the rays and costs $29 per adult and $19 per child.

The new snorkel trail, located near the Stingray Encounter in Bertram’s Cove, portrays the tale of a shipwreck. As the legend goes, “The Fancy,” sailing from Nassau, Bahamas, in 1696, encountered a mythical creature named Lusca that was half-shark, half-octopus. It is believed the creature was responsible for the ship disappearing near the Berry Islands, the location of Great Stirrup Cay. Guests can look for clues underwater that lead to the treasure that the Fancy was carrying, highlighted by 17 underwater scenes that depict the shipwreck and Lusca’s legend, including cannons, a sunken piano, treasure chests, swords and more.

Developed in conjunction with IDEA Inc., an Orlando-based company that develops theme park experiences, the “Fate of the Fancy Snorkel Adventure” features some authentic artifacts that are more than 300 years old. In addition, the artifacts are eco-friendly and are expected to stimulate additional marine life.

Guests can explore the snorkel trail by renting snorkel equipment for $29 per adult or $15 per child for the day. Or, they can purchase both the “Fate of the Fancy Snorkel Adventure” and the stingray encounter at a discounted price of $49 per adult, a $9 savings, and $29 per child, a $5 savings.

Norwegian has also partnered with the spirits brand, Patrón, on a new bar called Lighthouse Beach Bar presented by Patrón. It will feature Patrón products, including its popular tequila, along with a full range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The bar will be outfitted with beach-inspired décor, including bar stools, umbrellas and menu boards, as well as two large flat-screen TVs that will show entertainment from music videos to sporting events. The new bar is set to open in September.

Earlier this year, Norwegian opened private cabanas on Great Stirrup Cay. Located to the west of the island’s main beach, the cabanas are available for $249 per day for up to six guests. Each cabana is furnished with lounge chairs, tables, a cooler, beach towels and a shower. Cabana rental also includes a $50 food and beverage credit, up to six all-day passes to the Hippo Waterslide and one large float to use.

Guests who reserve one of the 10 cabanas will get priority tender service to the island and, upon arrival, will receive six complimentary bottles of water and a fruit basket. The cabanas are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be pre-booked as a shore excursion.

The 250-acre Great Stirrup Cay was the first private island operated by a cruise line. Additional activities on the island include a Waverunner tour, a large Hippo Waterslide, an eco-boat tour, kayaking, parasailing, shopping at the straw market and more.

Norwegian Sky makes year-round stops at Great Stirrup Cay on three- and four-day cruises from Miami. Norwegian Gem visits during seven-day “Bahamas & Florida” itinerary from New York.

Beginning in October, Norwegian Jewel will also stop at Great Stirrup Cay on seven-day “Bahamas & Florida” cruises from New York.

Norwegian Pearl will also visit the private island this winter on its seven-day Western Caribbean itinerary from Miami.

Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian’s new ship launching next spring, will visit Great Stirrup Cay on seven-day cruises from New York to the Bahamas and Florida beginning in mid-October 2013.

By Theresa Norton Masek - TravelPulse

Holland America Facebook Sweepstakes

Holland America Line has launched a sweepstakes on Facebook that will award one fan a seven-day summer cruise for two in an ocean-view stateroom to Europe, Canada/New England or Alaska.

To enter, users must “like” Holland America’s Facebook page, while current fans will click on the “win a cruise” icon. The entry form must be completed for a chance to win the cruise.

The sweepstakes runs through Oct. 31, 2012.

Source: TravelPulse

Cruise Tip of the Day and Contest from Condé Nast Traveler

Share a Cruise Tip - You Could Win a $10,000 Caribbean Cruise

What was the best day you ever spent in a cruise port? Did you watch glass-blowing in Venice? Spy on endangered tortoises in the Galapagos? 

Sumbit your cruise tip to Condé Nast Traveler by September 7, and you could win a $10,000 Caribbean cruise for two on luxury liner Seabourn. Travel editors and experts will select the person with the smartest tip to win the grand prize. 

Cruise Contest Tip of the Day: Basket Shopping in Dominica - Condé Nast Traveler

Have You Seen The Most Unique Shower in the Cruise Industry?

Now this is innovation!

Take a look at the all glass shower on Celebrity Cruises new cruise ship "Reflection"

Passengers will have a full ocean view as the glass shower extends out over the edge of the ship. The type of glass used in the shower allows you to see out, while others cannot see in.

Reflection will also feature Celebrity's first TWO bedroom suites featuring a 194 sq ft veranda, and 1,600 sq ft of space.

View the brief video, aptly titled "The Perfect Manifestation of Modern Luxury" - gives an update on Celebrity Reflection construction - and the glass shower.

MSC Kids Fun Time Dinners

MSC is now offering "Fun Time Dinners" for children ages 3 to 11

On our last cruise vacation we noticed most parents with smaller children opted for eating at the variety of cafe's rather than dine in the dining room. After a long day of fun activities, it's far easier to dine in an informal environment than going back to the cabin to shower and dress for the dining room.  

When parents want to dine in a more formal setting, MSC is offering an alternative. While the parents are having their first course, they can opt for the kids to dine in a separate area attended by Kid's Club staff members. After dinner the kids staff have planned activities at the Mini and Junior Club, as well as theme parties.

MSC is offering Fun Time Dinners on all their ships. Parents need to register in advance for the Mini or Junior Club, along with completing the dinner coupons.

MSC Cruises

Carnival Fee For Early Embarkation

Would you pay an extra $49.95 to get on board sooner?

Well Carnival is testing out a new program "Faster to the Fun" for cruisers who want to avoid the long lines at the cruise port. Other benefits include express luggage delivery, early or late disembarkation, priority dinner seating, tender priority, and express access to the ships guest service desk. The additional cost is per stateroom - not the number of occupants in the stateroom.

According to guest surveys, Carnival states there is a strong interest in a fee-based package that provides the same priority access and benefits that Diamond and Platinum level members get for free. The "Faster to the Fun" designation shows up on the printed boarding documents via the online registration.    

The new program rolls out on the Carnival Imagination's sailing on August 20th, and the Carnival Liberty sailing on August 25th.

"Faster to the Fun" can be purchased in the shore excursion section of carnival.com located at www.carnival.com/Activities/Excursion/101031.

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Conde Nast Traveler's 2012 Cruise Guide - All-star stretches along five storied European rivers—the Danube, the Main, the Rhine, the Moselle and the Seine.        

Danube

Austria

Danube - The second-longest river on the Continent and one of its busiest, the Danube begins in the mountains of Germany’s Black Forest and weaves 1,770 miles southeast through eight other countries and four capital cities to the Black Sea.

Germany

Main - One of the Rhine’s largest tributaries, the Main flows through the forests of Germany’s enchanting southwest. The water turns terra-cotta as it passes through the mineral-rich Spessart hills. Foxes, boars and other wildlife are easily spotted beneath the towering oaks onshore.

Moselle - The 350-mile Moselle intersects with the Main and Rhine in Koblenz before zigzagging its way southwest through Germany, along the Luxembourg border, and into northeastern France.

Rhine - The twelfth-longest river in Europe and one of the most trafficked, the Rhine flows from the eastern Swiss Alps to the North Sea.

France

Seine - Beginning near Dijon, in northeast France, the Seine flows some 500 miles—through the French capital, west to Normandy, and into a pastoral landscape so beguiling that few French painters could resist its charms.

Head over to Conde Nast Traveler for more info and photo's

Norwegian Cruise Line Also Cracking Down on Deck Chair Saving

Leaving towels and other items to reserve chairs, and then going off to do other activities for hours is a behavior that has become customary on cruise ships. It's an attitude that deck chairs in a particular location on the ship belong to YOU only, and no one else has a right to occupy them. Travelers taking land vacations experience this same problem at hotels and resorts. It's simply a matter of having respect for fellow travelers. 

Enjoy your time lounging in the sun, and when it's time to leave to do other activities, take your belongings with you, and let others have the same experience - Linda  

Carnival Cruise Line implemented a new desk chair policing program on the Carnival Breeze - read this post if you are unfamiliar with this new policy.

Now Norwegian Cruise Line has begun a deck chair policing program similar to Carnival's new program on the Norwegian Star last month, and will evaluate whether it goes fleetwide in the next few weeks.

Norwegian states their current fleetwide policy is that we ask guests to please not reserve deck chairs for more than 45 minutes.

Norwegian Cruise Line Charging for Passengers Under 2

Norwegian Cruise Line no longer gives kids under two years of age a "free" ride. As of last week, the line now charges the same cruise fare for all children, no matter how young.

"All children now pay the same rate, which is typically the reduced 3rd or 4th  fare when traveling with two adults in the same stateroom," a Norwegian spokesperson told Cruise Critic in an e-mail.

Previously, the line, which doesn't allow babies under six months of age on its ships, only charged a small portion of the fare plus government taxes and fees for kids under two. Norwegian would only say the under-two fare, before the new policy, varied by ship, destination and date.

Norwegian's new policy brings it in line with most other cruise lines that cater to children. Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean maintain fare policies that require the first two passengers in all cabins to pay full price, with reduced fares for 3rd and 4th passengers in the same cabin - regardless of age.

Disney Cruise Line offers a larger price break for kids under three with the fare for all children under three years of age costing 50% less than the cruise fare for kids ages three to 12, but their average price points on its cruises are typically significantly higher than those for Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Carnival.

The Yacht Cruise Experience

Variety Cruises offer guests a yacht like atmosphere shared with only 44 to 72 guests.

Sail in comfort to the Greek Islands, Turkey and the Adriatic. Variety Cruises offers a variety of itineraries with embarkation from Athens, Crete, Rhodes, Corfu and even from Dubrovnik - Croatia.

While earing their reputation with Greek Islands programs, they have expanded ships deployment to include summer cruise destinations such as Italy and Malta, South France and the Adriatic, as well as winter cruise destinations such as West Africa, the Seychelles and Cuba.

Special offers with free pre and post land tours are available for each program. Learn more about the "Yacht Cruise Experience"

Carnival Cracking Down on Cruisers Saving Deck Chairs

Have you ever been frustrated with cruisers who save deck chairs in prime locations for hours at a time without using them?

Carnival is more than frustrated with guest complaints about the issue. The world's largest cruise line this week began testing a new policy.

Here's the heart of the complaints - Many early riser cruisers place personal items on entire rows of deck chairs near the pools and other deck-top attractions even though they don't plan to use the chairs for hours. As a result, later rising passengers often are unable to find an open seat.

Cruise staff on the line's new Carnival Breeze have begun policing seat saving by placing stickers with the current time on any deck chairs that are being saved with towels, books, shoes and other passenger items.

After 40 minutes, if the chair still is reserved but unoccupied, the staff will remove the items, take them to the towel station by the main pool, and the staff will leave a note explaining what they have done.

Get ready for the other cruise lines to adopt this policy

CNN Traveler Luxury Cruise Giveaway

CNN Travelers is giving away a seven-night Caribbean cruise for two on luxury line Seabourn (including airfare)  - but you're going to have to earn it telling about with your BEST tips to other cruises when in any port destination.

Maybe you ate a to-die-for Greek salad at a hole-in-the-wall taverna in Santorini or swam with whale sharks in Belize.

Their team of travel experts will select the person with the smartest recommendation to win the big prize. The tip can be for any port city in the whole wide world, and you have until September 7, 2012 to submit.

Check out a few of the most interesting tips submitted so far . . .

Kid Rock's Chillin' the Most Cruise 2013

Kid Rock is bringing you the 4th Annual Chillin' the Most Cruise setting sail via the Norwegian Pearl, March 6th-10th, 2013.

Kid Rock will be playing two shows and spending a much needed vacation alongside his favorite fans.







CRUISE ITINERARY - (Subject to change)

Tuesday, March 5, 2013 - Pre-Party on Ship (additional purchase; departs 9PM ET) http://www.kidrockcruise.com/event/preparty/

Wednesday, March 6 - Depart Miami, FL (approx 4:00 PM ET)

Thursday, March 7 - Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Friday, March 8 - Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Saturday, March 9 - Day At Sea

Sunday, March 10 - Arrive Miami, FL (approx 8:00 AM ET)

In addition to admission to all cruise concerts, the price of your room also includes:

• All meals (there's gourmet fare in the formal dining rooms, casual indoor and outdoor grills open for meals throughout the day and 24-hour room service).
• Non-carbonated beverages (i.e. tea, juices, coffee).
• Free entrance to hot spots like the ship's disco and casino.
• Use of the ship's beautiful pools and giant waterslide (all with plenty of deck space to enjoy a cocktail and some great music).
• Use of the Norwegian Pearl's health and fitness center.
• Norwegian Splash Academy and Entourage facilities and activities if you're bringing children.
• Taxes, port charges and ticketing are added at check-out and pre-paid by you ($200.00 per person).

More info at http://www.kidrockcruise.com/

Norwegian Cruise Line's Second Annual #SeaTweetup

The second annual #SeaTweetup cruise is will sail on October 12- 15, 2012.

The Norwegian Sky will depart from Miami and set sail for a weekend getaway to the Bahamas visiting Nassau, and NCL's private island Great Stirrup Cay.

The interactive cruise was coordinated by members of the South Florida social media community.

Cruisers will take part in special networking events throughout the cruise including  social media marketing panels and discussions, giveaways and cocktail parties.

Also social media experts will share their experiences with followers. Participants will have access to the ship’s Internet Café and Wi-Fi network, as well as invitations to in-port events to post, tweet, and blog throughout the weekend to the twitter hashtag #SeaTweetup.

Where To Start When Planning a European Cruise Vacation

There are many beautiful and exotic places to visit around the world.

From the untouched natural beauty of the Siberian wilderness to the stunning river passages of Western Europe, plenty of destinations are worthy of a vacation. In some cases, it can be stressful trying to narrow down a particular area to devote the entirety of the vacation to.

Fortunately, cruises are a means to see more than just one site while simultaneously combining all the preparation for the vacation into one luxurious service.

From transportation to your destinations, seeing all the beautiful landmarks and attractions, to meals and sleeping arrangements; cruises are a fantastic option for people who do not want to do a lot of planning themselves.

There are many cruise options available, particularly within Europe – allowing tourists to experience the rich history of this continent in relaxing style.

As someone who is planning to look into European cruises as a possible vacation option, consider these popular options as a place to begin your adventure. Continue with article