The Sea Change: Ever Finer Cruise Dining

Once upon a time, there were two choices: the main dining room or the informal, all-you-can-eat buffet. That landscape has changed considerably. On virtually all lines, cruisers can opt for open or reserved seating.

"You can pretty much choose when you want to dine, who you want to dine with and how you want to dress for dinner," said Naomi Kraus, cruise editor for Frommer's Travel.

On the Queen Mary 2 and the Oceania and Regent Seven Seas lines, guests can choose from a health-conscious menu designed by Canyon Ranch.

Royal Caribbean added seven new food venues when it relaunched the refurbished 2,500-passenger Radiance of the Seas.

Imagine eating a special meal hosted by the executive chef in the ship's galley during the busy dinner hours. For $75 per person one or two nights per cruise, as many as 10 Princess Cruises passengers enjoy a multicourse chef's table menu paired with wines.

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Lake Michigan Shoreline Sightseeing Cruise

There’s no better way to celebrate summer than on a Shoreline Sightseeing Brew Cruise.

The September 2 cruise features a selection of specialty beers from Harpoon Brewery - cruisers will receive generous samplings of these Harpoon specialties, plus tasty snacks from Harry Caray’s Tavern on a 90-minute Lake Michigan cruise. A cash bar is also available.

Feel Famous - Sail Cunard

Cunard has launched a new marketing campaign - “Feel Famous. Sail Cunard”

The tagline ties in with new marketing strategy including DVD's, Videos, and updates to all printed brochures to help sell it's three ships - Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2 (shown above), and Queen Victoria.

A set of special cruise fares - Feel Famous Fares - is being offered on all three Cunard liners.

Also a new Cunard landing page at www.feelfamouscunard.com has just launched. Visitors can view a video introduction to the brand, review special fares and sign up for the line’s Feel Famous Sweepstakes to win a transatlantic crossing on the Queen Mary 2.

Princess Aloha Spirt Cruises

Princess Cruises offers more than 50 sailings to the Hawaiian Islands in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, with cruises departing from both Los Angeles and San Francisco.

While at sea, passengers will experience a special "Aloha Spirit" program with Hawaii-themed activities, parties, menu items and learning opportunities.

Whether choosing to enjoy an Aloha sailaway party, learn about local wildlife and volcanoes, or simply want to relax and enjoy the poolside Hawaiian melodies or an island-themed Movies Under the Stars selection, cruisers will find numerous ways to feel the Hawaiian spirit.

Included in the program are a number of hands-on ways for passengers to immerse themselves in all things Hawaii, such as:

• Hula dance lessons

• Hawaiian language lessons

• Lei making

• Playing the ukulele

• Hawaii-themed culinary demonstrations

• Kona Coffee tastings

View Princess Hawaii Cruises

Great Deals - Top Cruise Destinations

Find great deals everyday on top cruise destinations - Plus, select sailings receive bonus savings.
Destinations - Alaska, Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico and Canada/New England

Great Cruise Deals

Cruise Line Smoking Policy Revision

Carnival Cruise Lines: As of last month, smoking in public areas is permitted only in dance clubs and designated areas of casinos and open decks on all its 23 ships.

It is also allowed in jazz clubs on 13 of its vessels. Starting Dec. 1, the line will ban smoking fleetwide in all staterooms, though smoking still will be permitted on private balconies except for spa staterooms, which will continue to remain entirely smoke-free.

Princess: Starting with all cruises departing on or after Jan. 15, Princess Cruises will no longer allow smoking in staterooms or on balconies. Passengers will still be able to smoke in designated areas, including Churchill’s Cigar Lounge and portions of the disco, casino and open decks.

Holland America: Smoking in staterooms will be prohibited on sailings on or after Jan. 15, but will be permitted on stateroom verandas. Smoking is also banned in designated indoor public areas, but allowed in certain other designated venues, including open decks.

Carnival Breeze Debuts June 2012

Carnival Cruises is giving cruisers and agents a sneak peek into its newest ship, the Carnival Breeze, which debuts in June 2012.

The line recently released photos of the ship’s Caribbean-inspired, contemporary staterooms and interiors.

Other ship amenities include:

• RedFrog Pub

• SportSquare recreation complex

• Cucina del Capitano, a family-style Italian restaurant

• Wraparound open-air promenade called The Lanai, with whirlpools that extend over the ship’s sides

• Expansive WaterWorks aqua park

• Ocean Plaza, an indoor/outdoor café and live entertainment venue.

The Carnival Breeze is scheduled to enter service June 3, 2012, with a special one-time voyage from Venice to Barcelona, positioning the vessel for a summer schedule of 12-day Mediterranean voyages through October 25, 2012. 

Following a 15-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Barcelona to Miami, Carnival Breeze will launch year-round six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises from Miami on November 24, 2012.

Visit www.carnival.com/breeze

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Royal Caribbean - Get Dinner for 2 on Enchantment of the Seas

Carnival - Enjoy Free Stateroom Upgrades

Celebrity, Norwegian and Disney - Up to $100 Onboard Credit

Azamara - Up to $300 Onboard Credit

Costa - Call in Special - Kids Sail FREE or for $199

Also check out Popular Cruise Destinations Deals:

Alaska - from $71 / night

Bahamas from $25 / night

Bermuda from $62 / night

Caribbean from $36 / night

Europe from $37 / night

Hawaii from $71 / night

Mexico from $42 / night

Canada / New England from $61 / night

All You Can Drink Packages on RCI

Royal Caribbean has announced a new all you can drink package on three of its ships - Independence of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, and Grandeur of the Seas.

RCI says this new policy responds to consumer demand by European customers - and they are rolling this out on three ships that cater to non-Americans.

The Beer & Wine Package will cost $29 per person/per day for beers and house wine - and you get a 25% discount on all other liquor and wine. 

Then there's the Classic Package - cost is $39 per person/per day and includes all beers, house wine, and liquor - except premium and speciality brands. And you get a discount of 25% on cocktails, and other premium wines and liquors.

And for big drinkers there's the Premium Package, at a cost of $49 per person/per day - and it includes everything in the Classic Package PLUS glasses of wine that sell for up to $10, cocktails, premium liquor brands and a 25% discount on all bottles of wine, glasses of wine over $10 and speciality liquors.

Norwegian Kids Sail Free Announcement

Norwegian Cruise Line is inviting children ages 17 and under to sail for free when their parents book them on a cruise by May 7, 2011 as third or fourth guests on select sailings fleet-wide. 

Destinations include the Bahamas, Bermuda, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Europe.

Ships included in this promotion are Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Star, Pride of America, Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl.

Family Friendly Features:

• Signature Nickelodeon activities and shows

• Waterslides

• Two-story Wii wall

• Supervised kids and teens programs

• Dedicated Kid’s Café

• Norwegian Epic features an Aqua Park, a two-deck sports complex and an interactive children’s area, Recess

Visit www.ncl.com

Last Minute MSC Fall Foliage Cruise

MSC Cruises is offering cruisers a discount rate on seven night Fall Foliage Cruises
 

Discount rates start at $999 through May 31, 2011.

The discount applies to the Captivating Colors of Canada cruise from New York to Quebec City, Montreal, Canada, and the Brilliant Colors of Fall cruise, sailing from Quebec City to New York.

Rates are available for residents of the U.S. and Canada and are based upon double occupancy, cruise only, and subject to availability.

Note: Rates also include one-way air between Montreal or Quebec airport and New York airport.

For more info visit  www.msccruisesusa.com

Carnival Magic Debuts in Europe May 1

Carnival Magic, Carnival Cruise Lines' newest ship, is set to debut May 1, following the completion of its sea trials in the Adriatic Sea.

Accommodating 3,690 passenger, the line's "Fun Ship" will debut in Europe with a series of seven- to 12-day Mediterranean cruises May 1-October 16, 2011, before launching seven-day Caribbean service from Galveston, Texas, November 14, 2011.

Featured additions include the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub; the Italian restaurant, Cucina del Capitano, highlighting the line's Italian heritage; and SportSquare, a top-deck recreation area with cruising’s first ropes course and outdoor fitness area.

For more information, visit www.carnivalmagic.com
 
Source: Travel Agent Central

Best Online Cruise Deals

Cruise Deals - Select Sailings - Bonus Savings

Royal Caribbean - Get Dinner for Two on the Enchantment of the Seas

Carnival - Enjoy Free Stateroom Upgrades

Celebrity - Up tp $100 Onboard Credit

Norwegian - Up to $100 Onboard Credit

Disney Cruise Line - Receive $100 Onboard Credit

Azamara - Receive $300 Onboard Credit

Costa - Call-in Special - Kids Sail Free or for $199

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Carnival Magic Build A Ship Contest

• Build a model Carnival ship from things around the house... create a floating symbol of fun! (Okay, it doesn't have to float.)
  
  
• Take a digital picture of your creation. Show it off as best you can. Make us want to take a cruise with YOU!
  
  
• You can win some amazing prizes. Grand prize? A Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Magic. (You know... the real one, of course!)
  
  
• Others win too! For every entry and vote, $1 will be donated to help St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^® end childhood cancer.
  
  Learn more by watching the contest video