Cruise Tips - Selecting a Cruise Port

The first of a series from Cruise Mates features the secrets to choosing a port of departure that is best suited to your travels.

"The Best Cruise Secrets," offering tips for both new and experienced cruisers from seasoned cruise writers and travel agents.

This series will include 10 articles, each on a different topic, but all suggesting ways to get the best deals and the most value from your cruise dollars. After we've published them all on our site, the articles will be compiled as an e-book available for download on your Kindle or other reader.

Head over to Cruise Mates and read the first article series

Crystal Cruise New Exclusive Access Adventures

Crystal Cruise offering nearly 100 brand new Crystal Adventures with its fall itineraries
 
This fall, Crystal guests can see what backstage life is like at the Monte Carlo Ballet, how the ponies live at St-Tropez's Polo Club, view Mexico's Sierra Madre mountains from a private plane and Copper Canyon by privately chartered rail - among other "private access" experiences.



The cruise line is offering nearly 100 brand new Crystal Adventures with its fall itineraries, offering travelers distinctly new perspectives on the destinations.

On 20 distinctive voyages this fall, Crystal's award-winning ships explore the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Holy Land, Canary Islands, British Isles, New England/Canada, Panama Canal and the Mexican Riviera. 

Many of the latest highlights ashore include VIP access and unique points of view.

Exclusive Access
*    Private visit to Venice's Doges Palace before it opens to the public for the day
*    Guided behind-the-scenes tour of the Monte Carlo Ballet, including the costume department
*    Behind-the-scenes visit to the Polo Club St-Tropez, exploring the stables and luxury clubhouse, and visit with the polo ponies

New Points of View
*    Explore Reykjavik's hot springs, lava fields, trails and mud banks;
*    In a private plane, soar over the Sierra Madre mountain range to Guadalajara to experience its musical, spiritual and artistic culture (from Puerto Vallarta)
*    Bay of Fundy discovery with guidance from a resident marine biologist highlighting the indigenous wildlife (St. John, New Brunswick)
*    Mountain biking adventure featuring spectacular island views on Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
With promotional, Two-for-One cruise fares, Crystal's fall itineraries start at $2,165, per person, and include generous 'All Inclusive - As You Wish' shipboard spending credits ($500-$1,000 per person, depending on itinerary).

For many voyages, complimentary air transportation is included - Business Class Air for Penthouse guests - as well as family incentives and discounted verandah staterooms and Penthouses.

Visit www.crystalcruises.com

Carnival Dream Offers Laser Show

Carnival Dream’s laser shows will be the first ever for a North America–based cruise ship.

Carnival Cruise Lines’ new 130,000-ton Carnival Dream will introduce the line’s first outdoor laser shows that will combine the latest in laser technology with rock music to provide guests a unique and exciting nighttime entertainment option.

The 15-minute nighttime laser shows will feature choreographed lasers projecting brilliant aerial patterns of blue, red and green set to music by popular artists such as Styx, Rush, Van Halen, Boston and Pink Floyd.

Carnival Dream’s new laser shows are just one of a wide range of entertainment choices available aboard the magnificent 3,646-passenger vessel.

Exclusive to the Carnival Dream will be Ocean Plaza, a stunning indoor/outdoor café/entertainment venue that will showcase bands playing a variety of music genres. Ocean Plaza also will host art, photo and spa seminars, scrapbooking classes, magicians and jugglers, trivia contests and more.

Carnival Dream is set to debut Sept. 21, 2009, with the first of three 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruises operating round-trip from Rome, followed by a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Rome (Civitavecchia) to New York Oct. 27 - Nov. 12.

From New York, Carnival Dream will operate two eight-day Bahamas/Florida cruises departing Nov. 15 and 23, then reposition to Port Canaveral, Fla., for a special nine-day Caribbean cruise departing Dec. 3.

Carnival Dream will launch year-round seven-day Caribbean service from Port Canaveral, Dec. 12, 2009.

Source: Breaking Travel News

Royal Caribbean Wins 12 Magellan Awards

Royal Caribbean International received the most gold and most total awards in the cruise ship category in the 2009 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards.


Among its 12 wins, the cruise line took gold for Freedom of the Seas, the H2O Zone kids' water park and Presidential Family Suite on Freedom-class ships, the Clues to the Cruise marketing campaign, and the overview video and official website of Oasis of the Seas.

The Magellan Awards is the premier award for the travel industry. From design to marketing to services, the Travel Weekly Magellan Awards honors the best in travel and salutes the outstanding travel professionals behind it all.

Oasis - World's Largest Cruise Ship

When she launches in December 2009, Oasis of the Seas will be the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship in the world!


An architectural marvel at sea, she will span 16 decks, encompass 225,282 gross registered tons, carry 5,400 guests at double occupancy, and feature 2,700 staterooms.

Oasis of the Seas will be the first ship to tout the cruise line's new neighborhood concept of seven distinct themed areas, which includes Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone.

The ship will sail from her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Additional information is available at http://www.oasisoftheseas.com

Carnival Pride Sailing Out of Baltimore

Carnival Cruise Lines will launch the first year-round cruise program from the Port of Baltimore with seven-day cruises aboard the 88,500-ton, 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride beginning in fall 2009.

The new program kicks off Sept. 13, 2009, and encompasses two weeklong itineraries departing Sundays. The "Exotic Eastern Caribbean" cruises will call at Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay and Freeport, while the Bahamas/Florida departures will visit Port Canaveral, Nassau and Freeport.

Carnival expects that the Pride will carry more than 115,000 guests annually from the Port of Baltimore.

Including its new Baltimore program, Carnival will operate from 17 North American departure points, including 11 year-round homeports, which it says is the most of any cruise operator.

Prior to the start-up of year-round seven-day cruises, Carnival Pride will operate a one-time six-day voyage round-trip from Baltimore Sept. 7 to 13, 2009. Featured ports on this voyage include Freeport and Port Canaveral.

Reservations are currently being accepted for the new departures from Baltimore.

Best Cruise Ships and Cruise Ports

Where's the best cruise ports for beach lovers, snorklers, shoppers, nature lovers, and history buffs?

Which are the best cruise lines for romantic cruises, spa's and fitness, best cruise ship cuisine, and golfers?

Visit our site to find out more . . . Linda

Best Cruise Ports and Ships