Crystal Fast Track Check In

Crystal Cruises has announced a check-in process easing embarkation procedures for all guests.

Effective January 20th, in every Crystal embarkation port, “Crystal Fast-Track Check-In” eliminates 100% of ship check-in procedures in port terminal waiting areas, transitioning guests from dock security to Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity lounges.

By utilizing a new barcode on each guest cruise ticket, a new ticket scanning system and the consistency of Crystal’s own onboard crew, the cruise line is accelerating the check-in required on the first day of sailing.

As is customary in each embarkation port, porters load guests’ luggage onto the ship, and guests observe required local security procedures as they enter port terminals.  However, instead of processing documentation in the terminal, guests are ushered on board to complete registration, and receive their room keys or boarding cards with photo identification.

Visit www.crystalcruises.com

Holland America Line Unveils 2011, 2012 Grand Voyages

Reservations are open for Holland America Line's fall 2011 and early 2012 cruises of four itineraries on two of its ships across all seven continents.

Guests may book the full cruise or in segments of 18- to 112-day voyages.

Full-cruise passengers booking early can benefit from amenities including prepaid hotel service charges, shipboard credit, luggage delivery service and a complimentary shore excursion or event for select stateroom categories.

In the fall of 2011, ms Amsterdam will embark on the 70-day Grand Asia and Australia Voyage and the 112-day world cruise, Grand World Voyage.

In January 2012, the ms Prinsendam will go on the 68-day Grand South America and Antarctica Voyage, before the 62-day Grand Mediterranean and Black Sea Voyage in March.

Cruise activities will include local cultural entertainment and guest headliners and lecturers. Dining will feature local ingredients and regional cuisine and wines. On-board service will include almost one crew member for every two guests.

Visit www.hollandamerica.com

Carnival, Razorfish Launch Social Media Cruise Planning App

Carnival Cruise Lines and Razorfish today announced the launch of a groundbreaking new social commerce Facebook application that allows users to easily view, compare, select and share.


The application, the first of its kind in the cruise industry, allows users to engage their social network in their vacation planning through personalized newsfeed updates and even invite friends to book the same trip.

The application, available on Carnival’s official Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/carnival), enables the user to explore all available Carnival cruise options without leaving Facebook by providing the functionality to sort cruises by date, duration, port of call, and accommodation type.

Once users decide on a particular cruise, they can share the detailed cruise information with their Facebook friends by simply clicking a button.

Users can also customize their newsfeed messages, which include a link to the cruise, to invite friends to book the trip as well.

View full article at Carnival News

The Free Cruise Offer: Scam or Legit?

We've seen spokes model Carmen Electra touting free cruises on TV, received the award booklet mailing (with its official-looking stamps of approval from The Islands of the Bahamas, Alamo and Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort) and discovered the offer while browsing the Web.

We're told that collecting our free cruise is easy: Call an 800 number, or fill out a form, and it's time for two nights of zero-cost cruising.

Naturally, "scam" might be the first thing that comes to mind with such an offer. And it quickly becomes apparent that the * means it's not actually free.

It'll cost you a minimum of $59 per person for government fees and port taxes. There's nothing necessarily untoward here; the government taxes and fees are clearly stated, and $59 per person for a two-night Bahamas cruise -- which includes accommodations, all meals, entertainment and a call at Grand Bahama Island -- still seems like a decent deal for a quick getaway.

Still, people have had serious complaints when trying to book the offer, ranging from confusion about which company is making the offer (Caribbean Cruise Lines, which sends the deal, or Celebration Cruise Line, which operates the ships) to forced timeshare pitches and misleading pricing.

Cruise Critic did some research, including attempting to book a cruise, to help you determine whether the offer is a scam or a good deal. First, a bit of background:

Who is Caribbean Cruise Line, Anyway?

Paper Tickets On The Way Out!

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has begun an important countdown - 100 days to 100% e-ticketing.

100% electronic ticketing eliminates lost tickets, makes itinerary changes easy and enables a wide array of self-service options.

"In 100 days the paper ticket gets put in a museum. On June 1, 2008 we will achieve 100% electronic ticketing," said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA's director general and CEO.

The "Simplifying the Business" program drive by IATA began back in June 2004, with the goals of making travel more cost efficient, along with making travel and shipping more convenient. Back then only 18% of the tickets issued around the globe were e-tickets, but today the number has risen to 93% overall.

But there are still challenges to getting everyone around the globe onboard. E-ticketing in Africa is 83%, along with the Middle East having reached 84%.

But, the real concern is Russia, and the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) that used to be part of Russia - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. They are all currently at just 54% e-ticketing because of recent government changed legislation.

For more information, visit www.iata.org/stbsupportportal

Cruise Passenger ID and New Pre Departure Requirements

New Cruise Passenger Pre-Departure Requirement - if you are planning or have made reservations for a cruise vacation, please be advised of this new pre-departure time requirement.

As of Feb 18, all cruise passengers departing from U.S. ports must be on board at least one hour prior to sailing, a new pre-departure requirement of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Cruise ships are required to provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection a full passenger and crew manifest an hour before leaving port. So when flying into your port of departure, you should factor this new time frame into your airline flight schedule, as well as the time it will take you to get from the airport to the cruise port terminal.

As of January 31 ruling that all U.S. citizens 19 or older traveling by LAND OR SEA ports or borders, must prove their identity and citizenship with a valid U.S. passport, or provide TWO other documents that prove identity and citizenship - a valid driver's license or government issued ID AND an original or certified birth certificate. No copies of birth certificates are accepted.

As of January 31, oral declarations of citizenship, which were allowed are no longer accepted.

Having a valid U.S. passport proves both your identity and citizenship. Passport processing is back on schedule. If you apply for a U.S. passport, or need to renew your passport, the time frame to receive your passport is currently six weeks.