Is Texas Ready For The Mouse?

The first Disney cruises out the Lone Star State kicked off over the weekend with a celebration at the Port of Galveston.

The ship will be based in Galveston through May, when it repositions to Barcelona for the summer of 2013.

The 1,754-passenger Disney Magic set sail from the port on Saturday for the first of several dozen four-, six-, seven- and eight-night sailings to the Caribbean and Bahamas.

Disney already has announced plans for more cruises out of Galveston over the winter of 2013-14 aboard the Disney Magic's sister ship, the Disney Wonder.

To salute its arrival in Texas, the Disney Magic displayed a Texas-sized cowboy hat on its funnel on Saturday as it arrived in Galveston. Crew members and Disney characters waved from the vessel's upper decks.

The Disney Magic is one of five cruise ships sailing out of Galveston this year. Also based in the port full- or part-time are the 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic, 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph, Royal Caribbean's 3,114-passenger Mariner of the Seas and (starting in December) the 3,080-passenger Crown Princess.

Source: USA Today Travel "The Cruise Log" - Click to read these related stories
- Disney shakes up itineraries out of Texas
- Photo Tour - Disney's two newest ships compared
- Disney Magic has begun stocking wines from the Bryan, Texas-based Messina Hof winery at its bars

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

11 Favorite Out-of-the-Way Places Best Explored From a Cruise Ship

Traveling with Jones has visited more than 175 ports and scenic cruising destinations around the world.

Cruising is a great vacation value as travelers can discover new places to return own. We've certainly discovered many destinations and cultures via cruise ship, and many have become our favorite vacation spots.

Take a look at some of their favorite “out-of-the-way” destinations 

Skip The Flight And Drive To A Cruise This Summer

It's no surprise that airfares are soaring this summer. Even though there are flash sales and the like, it's still expensive for a couple or a family to fly.

For Southern Californians, options are San Diego and Los Angeles; for those in Houston, Galveston is a thriving port; and other cities like Charleston and New Orleans draw locals who want to skip a flight to enjoy the seas.

On the East Coast, popular ports are New York, Boston, Bayonne, Baltimore and Norfolk. The ports all have secure and affordable parking, where it's literally park and board.

Those who live in Florida have for years had the option and convenience of boarding ships in Tampa, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Now, cruise lines are providing convenient ports for other large markets.

Continue Reading Article - Skip The Flight And Drive To A Cruise This Summer

RCI Warning of Delays for Majesty of the Seas on June 25

Royal Caribbean is warning passengers on the Majesty of the Seas cruise out of Miami, Florida on June 25 that there could be delays related to the Miami Heat victory parade.

The victory parade for the NBA champion Miami Heat is scheduled for the same day the ship is scheduled to depart. Some of the victory parade festivities will take place in the downtown Miami area and include streets that provide access to the Port of Miami.

Royal Caribbean is advising anyone on the ship to give extra time prior to embarkation.  The ship's 4:30 p.m. departure will not be delayed due to traffic. As a reminder, all guests must be checked in and onboard the ship 60 minutes prior to sail time.

Source: Royal Caribbean Blog

RCCL Adds Additional Ships for Virgin Islands

Great news! The U.S. Virgin Islands is a perfect cruise destination

Royal Caribbean International announces new Caribbean itineraries which include two additional ships regularly calling on the Virgin Islands.

Jewel of the Seas will visit St. Thomas several times during the 2013-2014 season, and Adventure of the Seas will call on St. Thomas and St. Croix on various voyages.

Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas will continue to alternate seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries with stops in St. Thomas, while Freedom of the Seas' Eastern Caribbean itinerary lists calls on St. Thomas.

Enchantment of the Seas Sails From Port Canaveral in 2013

Royal Caribbean has announced Enchantment of the Seas will debut as a homeported vessel at Port Canaveral in 2013.

In December the ship will undergo a revamp, and  replace Monarch of the Seas which last sailing from Port Canaveral will be March 29, 2013. The ship is being transferred to Royal Caribbean's sister cruise line Pullmantur in Spain.

As of April 25, 2013 Enchantment of the Seas will sail every Monday and Friday, offering three- and four-night voyages year-round from Port Canaveral. Both the three and four night cruises will call at Nassau, Bahamas and CocoCay - Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas.

After the revitilazation Enchantment of the Seas will offer guests more onboard amenities, including Royal Caribbean's signature Chops Grille steakhouse.

New Cruise Ships Slated for Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico

Carnival Corporation said Tuesday that it is building a $65 million cruise ship center in the Dominican Republic to draw ships to the Puerto Plata region for the first time in nearly 30 years.

The Amber Cove Cruise Center at Bay of Maimon is scheduled to open in 2014 and is expected to accommodate as many as 8,000 cruise ship passengers daily.

Also on Tuesday, officials in Puerto Rico announced that the U.S. Caribbean territory would be the home port for a Royal Caribbean cruise ship next year. The Jewel of the Seas is slated to make 25 departures out of San Juan starting in May 2013.

Read full article
New cruise ships slated for Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico - The Washington Post

Passengers Have Lack of Enthusiasm for Cruiselines Private Islands

A recent poll at Cruise Critic (www.cruisecritic.com) set out to determine what they thought of the various private beaches, private islands, and phony port cities that the cruise
lines are busily throwing up all over the Caribbean.

The results weren't favorable to these artificial communities.

46% of the persons polled responded that they had either never heard of or never experienced a private island, private beach or phony port, which means they never really felt the need for such a facility.

Nearly 37% responded that they regarded these artificial facilities as "cheesy," something they could do without. The near-30% went on to say that they preferred going to a "real" port.

Only a small 24% opined that they enjoyed these newly-built stops, and a tiny six percent said they liked them but only for the shopping options they provided.

Read more:

Is Shopping in Port a Rip Off?

By and large, it’s buyer beware when shopping in port, particularly at cruise line-preferred stores with their questionable pricing and guarantees.

The biggest hint we can give you is, if you’re planning on a big spend - electronics, jewelry, even liquor - do your homework before you leave home.

Priceless Tips for Avoiding Port Shopping Rip-Offs : The Lido Deck:

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 Packages - Pier Transfers and 21-Day Parking

Travelers set to sail out of Florida should look into Homewood Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport and Cruise Port, whose two cruise packages include pier transfers and parking for up to 21 days through December 30, 2011.

Located in Dania Beach/Fort Lauderdale, the Hilton property has released the Fort Lauderdale Cruise Package from $109 per night with transfer to Port Everglades and the Cruise Miami Package from $129 per night with transfer to Port of Miami.

Cruise Packages Include:

• 24/7 Shuttle service to-from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

• Hot breakfast buffet

• Evening shuttle to-from restaurants, shopping and entertainment

• Mon-Thu evening reception/meal

• Wireless and high speed Internet connection

Hotel amenities include rooms with LCD HD flat panel TV with Hi-Def programming, DVD library with DVD rental available, Serta Suite Dreams bedding and fully equipped kitchens, among many other things.

Contact Area Director of Sales Carolina Torres at carolina.torres@hilton or visit www.hwsfllairport.com

Source: Travel Agent Central

Cunard Line Takes Delivery of Queen Elizabeth

Cunard Line has taken delivery of Queen Elizabeth  - the second largest ship ever built in the fleet and the third new liner for the luxury cruise vacation company in six years. 


This is just the first of a number of significant events over the next few weeks - including the ships official naming by Her Majesty the Queen in Southampton on Monday, October 11, 2011.


Queen Elizabeth left the shipyard on September 30 to sail to Southampton, where she will berth at the Ocean Cruise Terminal on October 8.  

Queen Elizabeth will depart on her maiden voyage at 5 p.m. on October 12.

Bermuda Ports Close Due to Hurricane Igor

Bermuda's ports will be closed from Friday through Monday, as Hurricane Igor bears down on the island nation. The port closures have forced several cruise lines to change itineraries.

According to the National Hurricane Center's 11 a.m. EDT update, Igor is located about 430 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands and 910 miles south-southeast of Bermuda. 

Maximum sustained winds are near 140 miles per hour, and the storm is moving in a northwesterly direction.

Right behind Igor is Hurricane Julia, which has weakened to a Category Two storm with maximum sustained winds near 100 miles per hour. At this point, Julia is even farther from land than Igor and is likely to be reduced to a tropical storm by Friday; there's no immediate cruise impact.

Read more on Cruise Ship Itinerary Changes at Cruise Critic

Explore the Cruise Lines

In today's market there are numerous Cruise Ships, Schedules and Worldwide Destination Ports


View all of the major cruise lines, and check out the following:

• Ship Reviews

• Ship Photos & Tours

• Ship Details (Itineraries, deck plans and more)

EXPLORE MAJOR CRUISE LINES

Miami Pre-Post Cruise Package from Marriott

Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay hotel in downtown Miami, located near the Port of Miami, invites guests to extend their Miami cruise with the pre/post cruise package.

With rates ranging from just $209 - $249, the Pre/Post Cruise Package offers a deluxe guest room, two welcome cocktails, breakfast for two and transportation to the Port of Miami.

Extend the experience of blue water, sunny skies and gorgeous sights at this Port of Miami area hotel with Marriott's Port of Miami Vacation Package for stays from now through December 31, 2010.

This special package is ideal for relaxing and unwinding at a convenient Port of Miami hotel and can be booked by calling 1-800-228-9290 or visiting www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/miabb-miami-marriott-biscayne-bay and using code TRS.

The Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay hotel is located just minutes from the Port of Miami and provides easy access to Miami International Airport and the surrounding area in the heart of downtown Miami.

The hotel offers 580 guest rooms and 21 suites and convenient access to South Beach, Bayside Marketplace, the Art Deco District and entertainment at the nearby Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts featuring opera, jazz, and symphony performances.

Deal Dates End  December 31, 2010

Alaska Cruises Can't Meet Proposed Pollution Limits

The cruise industry is not happy with the new pollution limits for ships that could go in effect in Alaska later this year.

The Juneau Empire today reports an industry representative told a public hearing that more than half of the cruise vessels operating in the state would not be able to meet new limits for the pollutant ammonia that are part of proposed wastewater rules for 2010.

The news outlet says Alaska Cruise Association consultant Mike Tibbles argued the limits are too strict in general and there's not enough time for the industry to comply before the start of the Alaska season in a few months.

Source: USA Today Cruise Log

CruiseFromNewYork.com Details New York Sailings

A new website called CruisingFromNew York.com provides information for travelers seeking to cruise from the three New York area ports -- Manhattan, Brooklyn and Cape Liberty in Bayonne, N.J.

The site was launched by Anne Campbell, a veteran cruise industry journalist. The website includes information on the three ports, directions, parking and suggested routes. The site also features reviews of ships sailing in and out of New York, year-round itineraries, message boards and cruise discounts.

Those planning a pre- or post-cruise stay in New York will find information on hotels, sightseeing, nightlife and shopping.

For more information, visit www.cruisingfromnewyork.com.

Source: Modern Agent

Aruba Opens Expanded Cruise Terminal

Aruba Ports Authority has inaugurated its upgraded and expanded cruise terminal, just in time for the winter cruise season.

The authority invested more than 3 million Aruban guilders (about US$1.67 million). The cruise terminal features murals of birds flocking to our island during winter season, as well as local bird species.

The Aruba Information Booth, manned by trained Aruba Cruise Tourism PR Cruise Greeters, was upgraded as well. The booth is designed and equipped with two mega-displays the island's coral stones.

The terminal has also a first-aid station, a telephone service and a coffee shop. The terminal is now the home of 17 stores offering an array of local and international products, including perfume, souvenirs, clothing, jewelry, postcards, paintings, towels and accessories.

For more information, visit www.ArubaByCruise.com.