Girlfriend Caribbean Cruise To Jamaica And Grand Cayman

Five fabulous nights for the Girls to relax, reconnect and laugh on board the Celebrity Constellation sailing out of Miami to Grand Cayman and Jamaica. 

Sail out of Miami to the islands of Grand Cayman and Jamaica PLUS two days at sea to enjoy the sea, ship and sunshine with our sister friends!

On Grand Cayman – Fabulous shopping, gorgeous beaches and swimming with the Stingrays! For those who love the beach, the seven mile strand of powdery white sand and stunning waters will amaze you. For those who love to shop, Cayman has style and flair. And for those who love adventure, come with us and swim with the stingrays!

On Jamaica – Zip line through the jungle, climb Dunns River Falls, or spend the day on a stunning beach. This tropical paradise has culture, beauty and reggae music that will keep you moving to the beat!

Your days at sea – Lounge by the pool, relax at the Aqua Spa, Broadway shows, movies, shopping, casino, Wine tastings, golf, attend an art auction … the list is endless! Sing, dance, laugh, enjoy time with your girlfriends!

Block out January 26-31, 2013 for a GREAT GIRLFRIEND GETAWAY CRUISE to the CARIBBEAN!

New York Cruises On Hold In Wake Of Sandy

The closure of the Port of New York this week in the wake of Super Storm Sandy is wreaking havoc with cruises scheduled to begin and end in the city.

Norwegian Cruise Line says the New York-based Norwegian Gem will make an unscheduled stop in Boston today for several hours to take on supplies and fuel before returning to sea to await the New York port's reopening. The 2,394-passenger ship was scheduled to return to New York on Monday after a nine-night cruise to the Caribbean but has been stuck at sea for the past two days.

Princess says the Caribbean Princess sailing scheduled to begin today in New York is being delayed for an indeterminate period.

"The Brooklyn port is closed to all vessels until the weekend," Princess notes in a statement. "We are researching other ports and are hopeful we can secure a berth in Manhattan on Friday if the area is approved for sailing by the U.S. Coast Guard."

The Crystal Symphony sailing to Los Angeles that was scheduled to begin today in New York now will begin on Friday in Charleston.

Read full article - Cruises from New York on hold in wake of Sandy

Hurricane Sandy Strands Cruise Passengers at Sea

Passengers on a cruise ship headed for New York City will have to remain at sea for at least another day and possibly more.

Norwegian Cruise Line's Gem was on a nine-day eastern Caribbean cruise sailing round-trip from New York. The ship departed New York Oct. 20 and was scheduled to return today, but can't because all area ports are closed.

"All passengers on the ship are comfortable and we have opened up phone lines and Internet so passengers can make complimentary calls and emails as needed," Vanessa Lane, a spokeswoman for the cruise line, told ABC News.


"What makes this situation unusual," she said, "is the size of the storm. Usually a ship would just head to another port -- but that's not possible."

She added that while some passengers might see the extra sea days as an inconvenience, others would see it as an extended vacation.


Read full article
Hurricane Sandy Strands Cruise Passengers at Sea - ABC News

Windstar National Cruise Vacation Week Promo's

Windstar is offering two-for-one cruise fares on select voyages in both Europe and the Caribbean for National Cruise Vacation Week for bookings by October 27, 2012. 

Guests booking a European cruise will also receive two free hotel nights at the beginning or the end of the cruise. Caribbean cruise guests will receive up to $800 of bonus savings. Also all bookings made from Oct. 21 to 27 will receive $100 per stateroom of shipboard credit.

http://www.windstarcruises.com/

National Cruise Week - Free Upgrades From Carnival

They say nothing in life is free ... except upgrades!

During National Cruise Vacation Week (October 21- October 27), the term "free" is being thrown around quite a bit.

FREE upgrades for past guest cruisers when you book during the world's largest cruise sale.

Low Past Guest Rates - Free Upgrades* (up to two categories) - 50% reduced deposits
 
Check it out!

RCI Announces New Dining Options

From the Royal Caribbean Blog - The cruise line formally announced it was revamping its main dining room choices by investing in a multi-million dollar upgrade.

The exact changes are as follows:

• The main dining room menu has been revamped to offer a greater variety of choice.Royal Caribbean’s much-loved favorites such as aged hand-cut Manhattan steak, escargot bourguignonne, shrimp cocktail and crème brulee, are now available every night.
• To cater to its growing global clientele, Royal Caribbean will add more international food options in the dining room with a renewed focus on authenticity.
• Good news for dessert lovers – Royal Caribbean will offer a new “hot from the oven” blueberry peach crumble, sticky bread and butter pudding and sumptuous carrot cake.
• To better cater to those with special dietary needs, Royal Caribbean will introduce more heart-healthy, gluten-free and lactose-free food options. It has enlisted a registered and licensed dietician and nutrition consultant to evaluate existing menus, create new offerings for guests with dietary restrictions, and shape the cruise line’s current gluten-free and lactose-free program into a more guest-friendly experience.
• All low calorie, gluten-free and lactose-free options will be clearly identified with respective menu icons as well as menu selections that can be modified to fit these requirements for guests.? In addition to the new menu designations, Royal Caribbean is rolling out new daily gluten-free bread offerings, available on request in all venues, including specialty restaurants.
• All of the new main dining menu offerings will include upgraded entrees such rack of lamb, surf & turf, beef sliders and daily entrée dinner salads.
• As part of the investment, the cruise line will continue to focus on training which includes a sous chef certification program with the American Culinary Federation and a new wait staff training curriculum targeting the new menus, standards training, and allergen and dietary programs.
• Guests also will notice a change in the physical menu with a new fresh design featuring the cruise line’s international culinary team.

Source: Royal Caribbean Blog

Steal of the Week: Cruise Eastern Caribbean From $57 Per Night

Wow - this is an awesome deal for a 7 night Caribbean cruise - especially a "suite" for under $1K! 

THE DEAL: American Discount Cruises & Travel is offering a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise onboard Holland America’s Eurodam, sailing round-trip from Fort Lauderdale on December 8, 2012. 

Fares start from $399 per person for an inside cabin, $449 for an outside cabin, $599 for a balcony and $999 for a suite.

Get more details at Cruise Critic 
Steal of the Week: Cruise the Eastern Caribbean From $57 Per Night : The Lido Deck

Special Savings on Luxury Tahiti Cruises

The islands of French Polynesia are spectacular - and so are the savings on select luxury cruises to paradise aboard the deluxe m/s Paul Gauguin! We've dramatically reduced prices on three of our most popular itineraries, so you can enjoy:

Savings of $800-$4,300 per person off previously advertised prices

That's on top of our previously advertised special offer of 50% off standard cruise fares plus included airfare from Los Angeles!

Only six sailings are eligible, featuring one-of-a-kind itineraries to Tahiti & the Society Islands (7 nights), the Cook Islands & Society Islands (11 nights), and the Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands (14 nights).

With only 332 guests per sailing - and incredible savings like these - space is sure to fill up fast. You must book by October 27, 2012, to take advantage of this special offer.

http://www.pgcruises.com/2-week-sale

Crystal Opens Bookings For 2014 and early 2015 Itineraries

New 7- to 89-day cruises in 2014 are among the 61 sailings aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, with 16 maiden calls, 194 total ports and 68 countries – including a glamorous World Cruise. 

Early 2015's global calendar offers 15 exotic cruises and a 20th World Cruise, as well as nine maiden calls and a return to ports Crystal Cruises hasn't visited in more than a decade.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are featured on 54 of 61 cruises (or 89% of 2014's itineraries), visiting over 135 historical destinations.

World Cruise: 89-day, Jan-Apr, 5-segment LA-London cruise, with Crystal's first return to West Africa since 2011

34% of cruises are 10 days or less

New ports include Galway, Ireland; Luanda, Angola; Lombok, Indonesia; Ibiza, Spain; Oban, Scotland; Skagen, Denmark; and Puerto Limon, Costa Rica

Returns to places less-frequented by Crystal include the Andaman Islands; Brunei; Ghana; Helsingborg, Sweden; Ko Samui, Thailand; Zihuatanejo, Mexico; Tokyo, Japan; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Korcula, Croatia.

Nearly every itinerary features at least one overnight stay in renowned cities and two consecutive overnights in many places like Yangon, Shanghai, Hong Kong, St. Petersburg, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Itinerary Highlights:

Asia
Twice as many Asia sailings than 2013
First-ever cruises to and from Bangkok, including a new round-trip Holiday voyage with Christmas and Hanukkah in Vietnam and New Year's Eve overnight in Hong Kong. (Dec 21)

Europe
More port-intensive voyages, including four sailings with no sea days
Five North and South Europe combination voyages, with four of them offering time in Bordeaux
New North Cape itinerary, with maiden call in Skagen, Denmark and rare calls in Alta and Kristiansand (Jul 14)

U.S., Caribbean, & Panama Canal:
Crystal Serenity sailing the New England/Canada season for the first time ever, with new cruises to/from Quebec City and Boston.
More Caribbean, including 5 Panama Canal cruises, extending coast-to-coast as well as between Costa Rica and Miami.
New cruises to and from San Diego.

2015 Crystal Cruise Schedule
Crystal kicks off its 25th Anniversary year of ultra-luxury cruising with virtually all itineraries from Jan to mid-Apr being brand new.
New ports include Ambodifototra and Tolanaro, Madagascar; Richards Bay, South Africa; Sanya, China; and Albany, Australia.
Returns to locales less-frequented include Alter do Chao, Brazil; Yantai, China; and Maputo, Mozambique.

Itinerary Highlights:

Crystal Symphony spends the entire first quarter in Southeast Asia, with eight new, exotic sailings between Bangkok, Bali, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Crystal Serenity makes her first-ever complete circumnavigation of the world, from Miami, with the company's 20th annual World Cruise. Six voyages sailing through Miami, Callao, Auckland, Perth, Cape Town, and Rio comprise the 108-day Crystal Serenity adventure.

Source: eturbonews

Carnival Victory 2013 Horror Film Theme Cruise

Sailing Holloween Week 2013 from Miami to Nassau, Half Moon Cay and Freeport

Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Victory has been chartered to host a theme cruise for fans of horror films.

The “Ship Of Fear: A Horror Cruise,” is scheduled to depart Miami on Oct. 28, 2013.

Scheduled to attend are directors and actors from films including “Child’s Play,” “Candyman,” “Phantasm,” “Fright Night,” “The Lost Boys,” “Gremlins,” “Friday the 13th,” “The Howling,” “Pet Sematary” and more.

Also scheduled to perform are Alice Cooper, Dee Snider, Corey Feldman and Truth Movement. Rates start at $729 per person when booked by Dec. 31.

Cruise details at http://www.shipoffear.com/

Source: TravelPulse

Cruisers Get Prison For Skipping Out On Bills

Thinking about walking off a cruise ship without paying your bill? You could end up in prison. 

That's the fate of three New Yorkers who snuck off cruise ships earlier this year without paying for purchases.

Cruisers get prison for skipping out on bills

ESPN Announces ESPNatSEA Events Aboard Royal Caribbean

ESPNatSEA announced a new schedule of  ESPN International live network sports viewing-cruise VIP events aboard select Royal Caribbean ships in 2013.

The new events are part of an initiative by ESPN to offer specialized viewing events to sports fans who also want to enjoy a cruise.  The first two inaugural events will be held aboard Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas.

"Oasis MVP Cruise I" aboard Oasis of the Seas: 7-night cruise round-trip from Ft. Lauderdale to some the hottest Caribbean destination such as Labadee, Falmouth, Jamaica; and Cozumel, Mexico. The biggest football day of the year will be televised live at sea, so be prepared. Dates: February 2 to 9, 2013.

"Jewel MVP Cruise II" aboard Jewel of the Seas: Calling all women soccer fans and football lovers. The biggest day in football is not the only sporting highlight on this 5-night VIP cruise. There will also be a special focus on the international success and rising popularity of women's soccer. This cruise leaves from Tampa, stopping in Key West, Fla. and Cozumel, Mexico. Dates: February 2-7, 2013.

The events will include private VIP cocktail receptions with sport celebrities,behind-the-scenes participation in the production of popular ESPN International programs and sport event viewings.

Participation in both programs will NOT be offered on the cruises. However, interested parties who may have already booked their cruise can contact ESPNatSEA at info@ESPNatSEA.com to register for the VIP Experience.

SOURCE: Royal Caribbean Blog

MSC Diva Sweepstakes

Enter every weekday Monday - Friday for the best chance to win Daily and Weekly Prizes

http://www.msccruisesagent.com/

Grand prize is a 7 night cruise in the glamorous MSC Yacht Club Suite designed by the ship's godmother Sophia Loren.

The Grand Prize voyage will sail from Port Miami during the Caribbean debut season of MSC Divina in the the Fall 2013/Winter 2014 season.

You can't win if you don't play the game!

Pinterest Contest WIN A Carnival Caribbean Cruise

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a Pinterest board full of pictures is worth a 7 Day Cruise for 2 to the Caribbean!

Start Pinning!

Island Hop Hawaii This Winter

Why not island hop Hawaii aboard NCL's Pride of America?

The only itinerary of its kind, enjoy seven full days cruising Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island on a Hawaii Cruise.

With Freestyle Cruising with NCL's unique 7-day Hawaii cruise itineraries, you get the option of overnights in both Maui and Kauai as well as visits to Oahu and the Big Island of Hawaii.

Enjoy 18 restaurants, 9 bars and lounges, excellent family accommodations, spacious suites and lots of balconies for whale watching or taking in the dramatic views of the Napali Coast.

See Hawaii the Norwegian way™ with their new e-brochure

Carnival Cruise Check In At Miami Airport

Along with just announcing fees for early embarkation, Carnival is now offering cruise passenger check in at the Miami airport. 

Cruise passengers can now get their Sail & Sign and boarding cards at the Miami airport on the day of sailing from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Once passengers retrieve their luggage at baggage claim, they will be directed to the check in counter to receive "Airport Express" boarding cards. Sail & Sign cards will also be available at the airport. If you want to use cash for the Sail & Sign deposit, just stop by a cruise terminal check-in counter, or use an on-board Sail & Sign kiosk.

Most cruisers purchase round trip transfers between the airport and pier when paying for their cruise. For those passengers who did not purchase transfers, they will have the option to buy transfers during the airport check in process.

Once you arrive at the pier, passengers will be directed to the Airport Express security lane for a photo ID check, along with the Sail & Sign check.