Celebrity Cancels Second Galapagos Cruise Due to Lobster Violation

Well, here's something you don't hear everyday - cruise cancelled due to frozen lobster - read on . . . 

Celebrity Expedition

Celebrity Cruises has cancelled the June 9 departure of the Celebrity Expedition in the Galapagos Islands after its permit to sail in Galapagos National Park was suspended for 45 days. 

The cruise line was cited for the transportation and storage of 12 kilograms of frozen lobster tails in the Galapagos while out of season. Along with the cancellation of the June 9th cruise, the June 2nd  cruise was previously cancelled.

A Celebrity spokeswoman said the lobster was purchased legally during the season from local fishermen certified by the national park. “No purchases of lobsters were made out of season,” the company said. “A new regulation published by the park stated that the lobsters must be consumed within five days after the end of season. The violation is for having the frozen lobster tails in our freezer after the season ended.”

Despite the 45-day suspension, Celebrity hasn’t cancelled other cruises yet because it is negotiating to restore the permit as soon as possible. The line posts updates on the situation on its website.

Guests booked on the June 9 cruise will get a full refund and a 25% credit for another Celebrity Xpedition cruise. The credit is based on the amount they paid for their June 9 cruise and may be used within two years. 

Future cruise certificates will be mailed to guests’ home address or travel agent within two to three weeks. Celebrity will refund air costs if purchased through the cruise line. Those who did not purchase air through Celebrity will be reimbursed for airline change fees. Those booked on the June 9 cruise can call 888-829-4050.

Source: TravelPulse

Celebrity Cruises “123 Go!” Special Promo

Celebrity Cruises announced the return of “123 Go!,” the brand’s biggest promotion,  allowing consumers to select what they value most in a Celebrity vacation. 

Guests can select from the same three options that made Celebrity’s original introduction of 123 Go! a success.

These include: 

1) Free “Classic Beverage Package” for two, allowing guests to pair Celebrity’s cuisine with their favorite beverages, representing a value of up to $1,200 for two guests, including beverage gratuities and based on a 12-night itinerary; 

2) Free Gratuities, allowing vacationers to know all tips for Celebrity’s staff are covered, representing a value of up to $360 per stateroom, based on a 12-night itinerary and including coverage of stateroom, waiter, assistant waiter and head waiter gratuities; 

3) Onboard Credit of up to $300 per stateroom, depending on the selected itinerary length, and available for guests to apply to shore excursions, specialty dining, wine tastings, spa treatments, boutique items, or any other onboard purchase.

Guest booking a cruise on one of the line’s five ships in Europe have the opportunity to select two of the three special options. 

Celebrity’s Captain’s Club loyalty members have the exclusive, additional benefit of an onboard credit of $500 if booking a suite during the period of the promotion, applicable to sailings from June through September 2013.

Celebrity’s “123 Go!” offers are valid on all ships (with the exception of Celebrity Xpedition) and all sailings from June 2013 through March 2014, providing the cruise is booked between by April 15, 2013.

Celebrity 123go! 

Source: TravelPulse

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!

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.

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

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Feast or Famine: Will RCI's New Dining Packages Save You Money?

Who says sister lines don't share recipes? Taking a page off Celebrity Cruises' menu, Royal Caribbean has introduced seven new specialty dining packages available on four of its ships.

RCI's new packages are currently being offered on Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas. (Radiance and Splendour now feature several restaurants that debuted on the Oasis-class duo, thanks to recent massive refits.) At this time, there's no set date for expansion of the dining packages to additional ships.

Read full article at Cruise Critic

Celebrity Cruises Raises Funds & Awareness for Breast Cancer Research

Celebrity Cruises has entered into a partnership with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) to help raise awareness and funds. Kicking off the effort was the sale of tickets to a two-night cruise experience aimed at culinary enthusiasts. The sale was curated by leading local experience site, Gilt City, and sold out in a few hours.

“All of our Solstice-class godmothers have been breast cancer survivors who have accomplished great things,” said Dan Hanrahan, president and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “Now, we hope to play a small part in not only honoring these remarkable women, but also in changing the landscape of the field of breast cancer research, by raising money for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, one of the world’s leading breast cancer non-profits with a mission that offers hope for a future without breast cancer.”

Celebrity offers different ways its guests can help support BCRF. The cruise line will donate $2 from the sale of each copy of its lifestyle book, “Excite The Senses,” in October, and also will donate $3 per sale of a non-alcoholic pink cocktail onboard. Also, the line will auction off hand-blown of pieces from its glass-blowing show on three Solstice-class ships, with proceeds to go to BCRF.

The first activity to go public was a Gilt City sale of tickets to a two-day cruise package on Celebrity Silhouette, during its stateside debut in New Jersey in November. With a $700 donation from each package to go to BCRF, Celebrity Cruises will donate a minimum of $50,000. Tickets were $900 per couple and include all meals, cocktails and wine.

For more information, visit www.celebritycruises.com

Cruisers Have More Options - At A Cost

Seeking to give passengers more choices, cruise lines have expanded on-board options and the additional costs that sometimes go with them.

Carnival Magic features pub with a private label beer and a la carte pricing for food, and a for-fee Italian restaurant.

Norwegian Dawn features a Brazilian steakhouse that costs an additional $20 - and has been popular on the line’s newest ship, Epic.

The Disney Dream, Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, includes a $75-a-person gourmet restaurant (alcohol not included) called Remy.

Celebrity Silhouette (shown) offers new $149-a-sea-day cabanas in the Lawn Club area that previously held only grass, as well as an interactive grill. The price for that new restaurant has already increased from $30 to $40.

Royal Caribbean's 5,400-passenger Allure of the Seas, features 26 dining options. Of those, 12 come at an additional charge. Other extra-fee options on Allure range from a Starbucks to cupcake shop to Chef’s Table, a fine dining-and-drinking experience for $95 a person — an increase in recent months from $75.

Read more at Miami Herald

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Also check out Popular Cruise Destinations Deals:

Alaska - from $71 / night

Bahamas from $25 / night

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Celebrity Eclipse Newest Ship to Call Miami Home

The newest cruise ship to call Miami home will make its debut cruise to the Caribbean this week.

It's also bringing in big bucks to the Port and City of Miami.

At more than a thousand feet long and 121 feet wide, the Celebrity Eclipse is the third in series of five of the cruise line's Solstice Class ships. It's also the tenth ship to join Celebrity's Miami fleet.

The ship was built in Papenburg, Germany and entered service at the end of last April in which it was taken on a series of "short break" cruises of the Canary Islands, Scandinavia/Russia and Spanish Mediterranean from Southampton, England.

Like her sister ships - Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox - Celebrity Eclipse will feature nearly a dozen restaurants and dining venues including Qsine described as being an "interactive dining venue complete with wine menus on a personal touch screen".

The Celebrity Eclipse is the first of the cruise lines ships to offer the "Celebrity iLounge".  It's an internet café complete with MacBook workstations where guests can check their e-mail, update their Facebook or Twitter or print boarding passes.

The iLounge will also offer latest MacBooks, iPods and accessories for sale and have a center where guests can get tips on Mac or iPod usage.

Source: CBS4 South Florida News

Cruise Passengers Robbed in St Kitts

Authorities in St. Kitts say two masked gunmen have held up a tour bus, robbing 16 cruise ship passengers of their cash and cameras. No one has been harmed.

Police say the tourists from the Celebrity Mercury ship were traveling to the Brimstone Hill Fortress, a park popular with visitors.

Bandits hold up cruise ship tourists in St. Kitts

Celebrity Launches iPad Art Tours

Earlier this year, Celebrity introduced the first "Celebrity iLounge," a center equipped with MacBook workstations, a retail space and an enrichment center. 

The iPads on each Solstice Class ship are now equipped with floor plans of every deck, with select works of art flagged.

The tour begins with a touch of the screen when guests select the work of art he or she would like to learn about. Details include the title, artist's name, medium used, description and image.
 
Celebrity's three Solstice Class ships are home to over 14,000 works of original art.

The new tours began on Celebrity Solstice as of August 15. They will continue on Celebrity Eclipse and Celebrity Equinox on August 21.

Visit www.celebritycruises.com

Source: Travel Agent Central

Cruise Bargains - Repositioning Cruises

During the Fall and Spring, cruise lines move fleets to warmer climate ports so ships will be ready to sail for the next cruise season.

In the Fall, cruise lines move their fleets from Europe to the U.S., Caribbean and South America and from Alaska and Vancouver to California. In the Spring, they move them in reverse.

You will pay far less per day when booking repositioning cruises, and have more days at sea – along with fewer ports of call – but you’ll still have the same access to cruise-ship amenities, including ample food, swimming pools and on-board entertainment.

Here’s an example of a few repositioning cruise prices:

Norwegian Cruise Line has a 14-night cruise from Venice, Italy, to New York, departing Oct. 30, with rates starting at $45 per day. The ship stops in Granada and Cadiz, Spain, Lisbon, Portugal, and Ponta Delgada in the Azores. Rates start at $629 for an inside cabin, $949 for an ocean view, $1,289 for a balcony and $1,499 for a suite.

Carnival is offering a 16-night cruise from Barcelona to Galveston, departing Oct. 28, with rates starting at $50 per day. The ship stops in Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, Las Palmas and Grand Turk. Rates start at $799 for an inside cabin, $1,099 for an ocean view, $1,289 for a balcony and $2,439 for a suite.

Celebrity’s 17-night Panama Canal cruise from San Diego to Baltimore start at $65 per day. The ship departs Oct. 1 and makes stops in Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Huatulco, Puntarenas, Cartagena and Coco Cay in the Bahamas. Rates start at $1,099 for an inside cabin, $1,399 for an ocean view, $2,499 for a balcony and $2,699 for a suite.

Celebrity Cruises Says Bye to Baltimore

Celebrity Cruises is scuttling Baltimore for the more lucrative waters of Australia and New Zealand.

Word is the cruise line will pull Celebrity Century  from Baltimore effective next year. The ship was scheduled to operate a series of 12-night voyages out of the city in late 2011 and early 2012; instead it will redeploy to Australia and New Zealand for the winter season.

As reported by USA TODAY - Celebrity says customers with individual and group bookings that are named and deposited on Baltimore sailings departing between November 1, 2011 and March 21, 2012, have the option to cancel their booking, or move to the same category of accommodations on a choice of the following:

• Comparable trans-Panama Canal voyage on Celebrity Infinity on either October 28, 2011 or March 27, 2012

•  Celebrity Century's Hawaii sailings October 2 or 17, 2011, or April 2 or 20, 2012; 

• 10- or 11-night Caribbean cruises on Celebrity Equinox in 2011

• Or entirely new 12-night Caribbean sailings from Cape Liberty, NJ, on Celebrity Silhouette, the line's fourth Solstice Class ship, entering service in 2011."

 The line also says holiday sailings are open only to passengers currently booked on Celebrity Century's double-holiday voyage of December 23, 2011.

Passengers with applicable bookings who opt to shift to one of the eligible sailings will receive a $200 per cabin or $400 per suite onboard credit.

Passengers with reservations on the previously announced sailings on Celebrity Century  from Baltimore in 2011-12 will be contacted by Celebrity Cruises. Passengers with questions specific to those bookings also can call 888-281-9343.

Note: The announced cancellations do not affect the series of Celebrity sailings out of Baltimore planned for this coming winter on the Celebrity Mercury.

Visit www.celebritycruises.com

Source: Travel Agent Central

Celebrity Eclipse Welcomes Qsine Restaurant

Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Eclipse is unveiling the newest, and most innovative, member of its dining roster.  Qsine will join the ranks alongside Tuscan Grille, Blu, Murano  and Silk Harvest.

The menu, designed by Chef Jacques Van Staden, prides itself on giving unique twists to your usual fare. Staden's motto: "Make the ordinary, unordinary."

On the menu:

Sushi Lollipops - Nigiri sushi with soy center, wasabi mayonnaise and pickled ginger-radish salad.

Meatball Trilogy - Kobe beef with ceddar and marinara sauce; veal with mushrooms and marsala sauce; and turkey with cranberry and sage gravy.

Chitinis - chinese selections served in martini glasses.

Tresviche - tiger shrimp and bay scallops with lemon juice, tequila, cilantro, tomatoes and japaleno oil.

Popcorn Fish Chips - Boddington's-battered codfish and chips served with malt vinegar or aioli.

Slider Party - mini-grilled Kobe beef patties with aged Wisconsin cheddar served on brioche buns with "Qsine's original slider sauce" and garnishes.
 
Taco Royale - Black Angus sirloin steak, homemade taco shells, caramelized onion-poblano, and do-it-yourself fresh guacamole, with a stone mortar and pestle.

Lava Crab - Alaskan King crab, sweet yellow corn and scallions with Hataifi and Old Bay sauce, served in glasses over heated red stones.

Qsine will be open from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., for a cover charge of $30 per person.

Source: Travel Agent Central

Celebrity Cruise Passengers Sick at Sea

Nothing worst than being sick at sea . . .

Celebrity Cruises is still investigating what caused an outbreak of upset stomach and diarrhea among 450 passengers and crew members abroad the Mercury.

Unfortunately this is not the first time Celebrity's Mercury has come down with passenger illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the Mercury was responsible for two of the 15 recorded outbreaks of illness on U.S. cruise ships last year, both caused by norovirus.

Actually Holland America had the worst outbreak last year with 7 outbreaks on 5 different ships. Obviously being the worst and second worst is NOT a list any cruise line would want to be mentioned on.

If the outbreak was caused by  "norovirus", studies have shown that the virus is spread through dirty bathrooms on cruise ships.

I have not sailed on the Mercury, but have sailed on two other Celebrity ships. I found the rooms to be extremely clean, and the food was great. The cruise passenger cabins are cleaned everyday, but one has to wonder what goes on below in the crew cabins - who is actually cleaning those cabins? 

CNN -  More than 400 fall sick on Caribbean cruise

Celebrity's New Tech iLounge

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The new iLounge feature will be on Celebrity Eclipse when it launches in April.

The iLounge is composed of three main areas - 26 contemporary workstations where guests can check their e-mail, retain their social media connections, or print boarding passes; a retail space offering cruisers the opportunity to see and try out the latest MacBooks, iPods and accessories; and an enrichment center where certified staff will offer guests tips on Mac or iPod usage.

Celebrity will offer in the Celebrity iLounge a series of engaging new courses designed to suit its guests' interests - including do-it-yourself photo books, movie editing and web design, through programs including iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and iWeb.

Whether cruise guests are savvy or novice users of Mac or iPod products, Celebrity's certified staff will be well-equipped to assist, following more than 125 hours of training in operating systems, applications, and products.

They also will be poised to illustrate to guests the differences between Macs and PCs. As an Authorized Apple Reseller, Celebrity will have products available for guests to purchase, including iPods, MacBooks, and essential accessories.

Located on deck six of Celebrity Eclipse, the Celebrity iLounge will house the 26 MacBook Pro's, classroom and retail area, in addition to display pods, a 56-inch flat-screen TV for use during classes, and an accessible workstation.

The Celebrity iLounge also will be presented on Celebrity Silhouette, which launches in 2011.