Avalon Waterways Offering More Suites for 2014

Avalon Waterways in 2014 will offer more suites than staterooms on its Europe river cruises operated by eight “Suite Ships.” 

Each Suite Ship features two full decks of 200- and 300-square-foot Panorama and Royal Suites.






Nice Touches! 
Avalon’s suites feature a wall of windows 11 feet wide with a seven-foot opening. When opened the sliding doors turn the entire suite into an open-air balcony. The beds face the windows so guests can watch the views from bed. 

Avalon’s Suite Ships will sail the Danube, Rhine and Main rivers in 2014. 

The Suite Ships, and the year they entered service, are Avalon Panorama (2011), Avalon Vista (2012), Avalon Visionary (2012), Avalon Artistry II (2013), Avalon Expression (2013), Avalon Impression (2014), Avalon Illumination (2014) and Avalon Poetry II (2014).

http://www.avalonwaterways.com/

Source: TravelPulse

Seabourn Adds Penthouse Spa Suites to Newer Ships

Seabourn is adding four Penthouse Spa Suites to its three newer ships. 

The new spa suites will be located on Deck 10 directly above the Spa at Seabourn. They will provide access to the spa via a spiral staircase and also will include unlimited access to the spa’s Serene Area, spa amenities in the suite and the services of a spa concierge.



Seabourn Quest will have the new spa accommodations when it emerges from a scheduled drydock in May. The new suites will be added to Seabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Sojourn during their next scheduled drydocks.

The four suites measure 516 to 538 square feet in size and have private balconies of 172 square feet with views over the ship’s stern. The suites will have a living and a dining area with seating for four, a separate bedroom, walk-in closet, a glass door and floor-to-ceiling windows onto the veranda, a bathroom with a tub and spa shower, and two flat-screen TVs. 

Along with the guests’ beverage preferences, a second in-suite bar will be stocked with flavored water, fruit juices, mixed nuts, dried fruits and healthy snacks. Guests can choose a calming fragrance from a selection of four by L’Occitane, to be diffused throughout the suite during evening turndown. Spa music will also be available as a background soundtrack. The bathrooms will feature Molton Brown spa products, such as exfoliating body wash and thermal salts body soak.

The spa concierge can make treatment and service reservations for the guests. The spa’s Serene Area features heated lounges, an aroma steam bath with salt inhalation, and a herbal bath. The Serene Area on Seabourn Odyssey is a large hydro-pool, while Seabourn Quest and Seabourn Sojourn features a Kneipp Walk pool, which provides water therapy treatment designed to enhance circulation.


Source: Travel Pulse - Theresa Norton Masek

Titanic II Project Moving Ahead

Some names associated with disaster need to be retired forever - I am not feeling any anticipation of the maiden voyage of Titanic II - Linda


Australian billionaire Clive Palmer is moving ahead with plans to build a full-scale replica of the ill-fated Titanic. Palmer’s Blue Star Line has signed a contract with Finland-based Deltamarin for the project development phase for Titanic II.

Palmer says the new vessel will sail from Southampton to New York on its maiden voyage in 2016.

Royal Caribbean Bringing The Wow Factor

RCI Unveils Quantum of the Seas

Here's the newest Royal Caribbean ship that has everyone talking, and it's not even built yet! Just signed up for updates when the ship is open for booking . . . 

Set to sail in the Fall of 2014 from New York, Royal Caribbean is definitely bringing the WOW factor - See if you don't agree

North Star Glass Enclosed Pod - Glass enclosed bubble on a mobile arm takes passengers on a breath-taking journey more than 300 feet above sea level 

SeaPlex - First-ever bumper car experience at sea. It will also be the location of the ship's indoor basketball court

RipCord by iFly, the first-ever sky-diving experience at sea

Every Room Has A View - Virtual Balconies in interior cabins offers real-time views of the ocean and exciting destinations via wall-sized screens

Two70°- Transforms from day to night to deliver spectacular entertainment that includes performance art, aerialists and panoramic digital scenery



Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd is a global cruise company operating 38 ships under the following brands: Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisières de France

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/home.do

Related News
Royal Caribbean Fills Virtual Ship With Celebrities

   

Letter from Carnival President and CEO

Received this e-mail today from Carnival. Obviously this is not been the best couple of years for the Carnival Cruise Line brand, and they launched an operational review regarding all the recent incidents 

Dear Carnival Past Guest,

Our goal is to drive continual improvement across all aspects of our customer experience. To that end, we launched an operational review this February to learn all that we could from recent incidents and find new solutions. 

Today, we are announcing a fleet-wide enhancement program and will be investing more than $300 million to expand the availability of hotel services in the rare instance of a shipboard event that involves the loss of primary power. In addition, we will also reinforce key shipboard operating systems and add new technologies to further prevent a potential loss of primary power. 

Work is underway and you can learn more about these initiatives in this brief video. For more information, visit the Carnival News & Updates tab on Facebook.

It's important to note that all of our 24 vessels operate safely today, and have strong systems in place to prevent, detect and respond to emergency situations. We meet or exceed all current regulatory requirements and are committed to delivering our guests a safe, reliable and enjoyable vacation experience.

With our investment, we will introduce new technologies and enhance current systems to our fleet. 

Additionally, we are forming a new Safety & Reliability Review Board comprised of leading third party experts from organizations such as United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, as well as leading airlines and equipment manufacturers. The addition of external experts to our new Safety & Reliability Review Board will provide us with further expertise and perspective in support of our goal of continuing to drive constant improvement.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your loyalty to Carnival Cruise Lines. My goal as the leader of Carnival Cruise Lines is to improve everyday across all aspects of your experience with us. I want to assure you that we will do everything we can to continue to improve our product and provide you with a fun and memorable cruising experience.

Sincerely,


Gerry Cahill
President and CEO
Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Offers “Thomas the Tank Engine” Shore Excursion

Carnival is the only cruise line to offer this tour, which is sponsored by Ambassatours Gray Line, on the Aug. 5 and Aug. 10 five-day cruises. 

Carnival Cruise Lines is offering a shore excursion to a full-size replica of “Thomas the Tank Engine” during select Carnival Glory voyages that visit Saint John, New Brunswick, this summer. 

The excursion includes a 25-minute train ride along the Saint John waterfront aboard a full-size Thomas replica, a variety of Thomas & Friends-themed entertainment such as storytelling and videos, arts and crafts activities, an appearance by Sir Topham Hatt, temporary children’s tattoos, merchandise shops and more. 


The excursion also includes an all-day pass on hop-on, hop-off double-decker sightseeing buses.

“Thomas The Tank Engine” is the television star of “Thomas & Friends” books published in 145 countries and 30 languages.

Source: TravelPulse

Royal Caribbean Sale For 3rd And 4th Guests

Great deal for families!

Royal Caribbean is looking to attract families by offering discounts on passengers staying in a cabin as the third or fourth person in the cabin.

The sale prices are good for new U.S. and Canadian bookings made from April 10 through May 10, 2013 aboard select Royal Caribbean ships. 

Reduced third- and fourth-guest fares offer vacationers up to 50% savings for cruises departing on September 1st through December 31, 2013.

Sale fares for third- and fourth-guest start at $99 per guest for 3 night Bahamas cruises and $199 per guest on 4-7 night Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean and Europe cruises.

www.RoyalCaribbean.com/April34Guest

Holland America Dance Contest to Win Free Cruise

Holland America Line has a dance competition in which 15 guests can win a free cruise and a chance to compete for a Mirror Ball Trophy on the “Dancing with the Stars: At Sea” Champions Cruise on Nieuw Amsterdam Jan. 12, 2014.

The contest began February 23, 2013, and continues through November 25, 2013.

Every sailing will feature a “Dancing with the Stars: At Sea” program that includes complimentary dance lessons with the ship’s dance professionals and a competition.

On every Holland America Line cruise* guests will have the opportunity to:

• Participate in complimentary dance classes based on dance routines from the ABC smash hit show: “Dancing with the Stars.” This is your chance to learn the basics or new steps.

• Compete in the Dancing with the Stars: At Sea competition. Following an early elimination process, finalists will have the opportunity to take to the main stage with Holland America Line professional dancers. One Cruise Champion will emerge, based on the highest combined point total from a panel of three judges as well as audience participation.

• At the end of 2013, the Cruise Champion with the highest score from each ship will have an opportunity to perform as a finalist on the Champions Cruise in January 2014. 

Finalists, and a guest, will be invited on a complimentary 7-day Champions Cruise to the Caribbean, where the 15 finalists will dance for the coveted mirror ball trophy and title of Holland America Line’s Dancing with the Stars: At Sea Grand Champion.

More Dancing with the Stars info

P&G Offers Free Environment Youth Program

Explorer and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau is committed to the belief that the survival of the world’s oceans depends on capturing the imagination at a young age. 

This unique, groundbreaking program from Paul Gauguin Cruises introduces young travelers (ages nine to 17) to the extraordinary natural wonders of French Polynesia through direct, hands-on, interactive experiences with marine and island ecosystems. 

Young Ambassadors explore coral reefs, hike rainforest trails, and visit marae (ancient Polynesian temples). 

They also learn how black pearls and vanilla are cultivated, how volcanic islands become coral atolls, and how to paddle an outrigger canoe. Parents are encouraged to join children on eco-excursions and other activities aboard and ashore.

This program will not be offered in summer 2014, so this is the year to take advantage of this remarkable program!

Reserve one of these qualifying cruises by April 30, 2013, and this program is FREE - a value of $299 per child!

Tahiti & the Society Islands
Starting from $4,795 - June 1, 8. 2013 
Starting from $4,895 - July 6, 13, 27; August 3, 10, 2013

Cook Islands & Society Islands
Starting from $5,395 - June 15, 2013

More on this offer - as well as other Paul Gauguin specials

Cruise Ships Head Back to Grand Turk Cruise Port

Carnival Cruise Corp. confirms cruise ships will begin docking at the Grand Turk cruise port on April 8 - the first time since mid-March 

The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) economy has lost millions of dollars in economic activity as a result of the recent outbreak of gastroenteritis at the Grand Turk cruise port, which is owned by the Carnival Corporation.

Almost three weeks have elapsed since cruise ships discontinued berthing at the facility for fear of passengers disembarking on the island contracting the virus. The outbreak also appears to be spreading to the rest of the island, as more residents are reportedly coming down with the sickness.

The health department and tourist board have issued press releases describing their efforts in attempting to isolate and contain the outbreak. One possible source of the outbreak is thought to be in the water supply; however, this theory has not been proven as public health authorities wait on test results.

Problems with the sewage system at the cruise port are another possible cause and sources on Grand Turk report that a recently commenced excavation of the sewage system has been covered by temporary posts and plastic cloth. Security guards are posted, keeping locals from coming close to the site.

What appears to have happened is that gray water effluent is being contaminated by the sewage system.

The latest estimate for completion of the repairs and sanitization is another seven to ten days. It is understood that Carnival executives will be arriving this week to meet with Premier Rufus Ewing and be interviewed on a Radio Turks and Caicos broadcast.

One concerned resident of Grand Turk said that the situation on that island is worsening as cruise ships were the only thing that kept the island advancing, noting that it would be a big setback for Grand Turk if the situation persists.

Carnival Corporation has been plagued with a number of unfortunate incidents over the past two years. In December 2011, the Costa Concordia capsized in the Mediterranean, while just a few months ago an engine failure resulted in one its cruise ships losing all power in the Gulf of Mexico.

Carnival has a number of ports of call throughout the Caribbean and is developing attractions in neighbouring Dominican Republic; however, the Grand Turk cruise centre has enjoyed a steady increase over the years since its opening in 2004.

The TCI government relies on Carnival’s head tax to help meet its budgetary obligations with over $3 million in annual receipts coming from arriving passengers. It is estimated that the economic impact for Grand Turk is some $250,000 per day in activity.

The cruise port has been hosting six to eight ship arrivals per week. The ships each carry between 2,500 and 3,500 passengers and it is believed that 90 percent of the passengers disembark the ship and visit the welcome centre. Approximately 20 percent of the passengers take taxis to visit other sites on the capital island.

Skift 

(c)2013 the Caribbean News Now (Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands). Distributed by MCT Information Services.