Saving On Cruises In 2013

Great cruise tips from Gadling ...

Cruise travel in 2013 is a done deal for many seasoned cruisers; they bought 2013's sailings more than a year in advance. Cruise travelers on the cutting edge of buying cruise vacations are working on 2014 now. 

Traditional buying strategies for cruise vacations include buying as far in advance for the best cabin location and often, the best price. But depending on your tolerance for price fluctuations, buying far in advance might not be the best idea in 2013 due to changes in the way cruise lines promote fares.

Make no mistake about it: buying a cruise is getting to be more like buying a commodity or volatile stock. Buying far in advance to get a preferred cabin location – like mid-ship for those prone to motion discomfort – is still a good idea. There are only so many cabins on the ship and the good locations sell first.

Still, buying a flexible fare that allows changes later without penalty can often end up with the best value. Here's how:

Say we buy a seven-night Carnival cruise for two at the lowest possible price, one that has restrictions and charges penalties for changes made after booking. At the time of buying, we're happy because we got our preferred cabin location and the price seemed quite reasonable, a year or more in advance of sailing.

A few years ago, that strategy had a much higher chance of bringing home a win. Odds were that the price paid so far in advance would be the best available and that price stuck.

But that was a few years ago - Continue reading 

Breakaway Will Offer Fireworks On Every Cruise

Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Norwegian Breakaway, scheduled to enter service in May in New York City, will have a fireworks show on every cruise. 

The environmentally-friendly display will take place on the second-to-last night at sea each week, after the ship departs Bermuda during its summer inaugural season.

The produced show will be set to a playlist of classic 1980s hits including “Come on Feel the Noise” by Quiet Riot, “Whip It” by Devo, “Cherish” by Madonna, “Final Countdown” by Europe and “Purple Rain” by Prince.

The 4,000-passenger Norwegian Breakaway will arrive in its year-round home-port of New York City on May 7, 2013. 

The ship will begin seven-day cruises to Bermuda on May 12. From October through April 2014, the ship will offer cruises to the Bahamas & Florida and the Southern Caribbean.

Theresa Norton Masek for TravelPulse

Explore The Exotic With Seadream Yachts

Only 112 Guests - 95 Awaqrd Winning Crew - 5 Star Cuisine - Inclusive

From October 2013 through April 2014, SeaDream II will explore new ground as she visits Asis's most striking locations, from the hustle and bustle of international shopping havens Hong Kong and Singapore, to the undisturbed charm and tranquility of Myanmar and New Guinea. 

In Asia you will find a little bit of everything: busy commercial centers, serene temples, rainforests, and white sandy beaches. 

Voyages from 7 to 15 days will explore Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, East Timor, Austraia, Indonesia, New Guinea, Vietnam, Cambodia and Hong Kong. 

http://www.seadream.com/

Australia and New Zealand Competitive Cruise Destinations

The Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Baltic and ... the Tasman Sea?

Photo Credit - Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

The rapid expansion of cruises out of Australia over the past five years has been one of the biggest stories in the industry, and the next five years could bring even more of a boom in the region, say executives.

"It's a great market, and it certainly has room for growth," Royal Caribbean CEO Adam Goldstein says . "It's one of the primary markets that have emerged in the last five to 10 years in a meaningful way."

Cruises out of Sydney and other Australian cities to ports in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific have taken off with Australians eager to explore their homeland and other nearby locales with the ease that cruise ships offer, Goldstein says. But it's not just a local crowd filling ships.

Continue reading at USA Today - AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND: Experience the wonder Down Under by boat

What Were The Top Cruise News Stories of 2012?

The Costa Concordia tragedy, disruptions caused by Superstorm Sandy to onboard fires, overboard passengers and several unlucky excursion-related incidents, cruise lines battled what seemed to be a never-ending barrage of misfortune in 2012.

Costa Concordia - Photo Credit World Maritime News

Here are the news articles Cruise Critic readers read and talked about the most:

The Costa Concordia Tragedy
On January 13, 2012, Costa Concordia hit a rock off the coast of Italian island of Giglio. Within hours the ship had capsized, 4,000 passengers and crew evacuated and 32 people had died. 

Superstorm Sandy Wrecks Havoc on Cruises
Hurricane/superstorm Sandy might easily have been one of the most disruptive weather forces the cruise industry has faced, with 10 days of itinerary changes and rough at-sea rides. In all, some 50 itineraries were upended with some passengers forced to remain at sea longer than scheduled, while others were short-changed or had their cruises canceled entirely. 

Carnival Introduces All-You-Can-Drink Package
In August 2010, Carnival announced it had begun testing a flat-fee, all-inclusive beverage program called the "My Awesome Bar Program" on Carnival Victory. 

Carnival Passengers Robbed on Excursion
Just because an excursion is ship-sponsored doesn't mean things can't go wrong, something 22 Carnival Splendor passengers learned when they were robbed at gunpoint in February while in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. No one was injured, but most lost a variety of valuables, as well as passports and other forms of identification. 

Royal Caribbean Passengers Injured on Excursion
Carnival passengers were not the only ones to learn ship-sponsored doesn't always mean "safe." Eleven Royal Caribbean passengers were injured during a traffic accident while on a ship-sponsored shopping tour in St. Thomas in late January. The passengers were traveling in an open-air "safari cab" when it collided with a parked car. 

Shipboard Fire Doesn't Dampen Passengers Spirits
On March 30 a fire broke out aboard Azamara Quest while the ship sailed off the coast of Manila. 

Cruise Line Cabin Gaffe Infuriates Passengers
Nothing infuriates cruise passengers like believing a cruise line is sticking it to them, and that's exactly how a number of Royal Caribbean cruisers felt after the line took away their prime location cabins and "accidentally" sold them to other passengers. Yikes!!

Cruise Critic Predicts 2012 Trends
Fewer new-builds but growth in refurbishments, more fee-based offerings and the rebirth of Mississippi River cruising were trends Cruise Critic accurately predicted for 2012. 

Passenger Overboard
Every year the cruise industry sees several people go tragically overboard, and this year was no different. The story of a female passenger who went overboard from Allure of the Seas in September caught the attention of our readers. 

Crown Princess Dethroned by Noro
Few things make cruisers cringe more than the thought of contracting noro-virus while at sea. So when Crown Princess was in the news because of noro-virus twice in a two-month time span, Cruise Critic readers took notice. 

Read more details on each of these stories at Cruise Critic

10 New Cruise Industry Safety Procedures

Nearly a year after the Costa Concordia shipwreck, a cruise industry panel formally summarized 10 new safety practices that have been adopted to protect passengers.

The industry reacted quickly to the widely publicized Jan. 13, 2012, incident in which the Costa Cruises ship crashed off the Italian coast, killing 32 passengers. It established a safety panel and began implementing new procedures less than two months after the accident.

Passengers may have already noticed one new policy, adopted last February, which requires cruise lines to hold muster drills before ships leave port. Previous regulations called for them within 24 hours of departure.


Another new policy, adopted in April, severely limits bridge access during arrival and departure from port and any other time when increased vigilance is required, such as during heavy traffic.

"The industry's commitment to the safety of passengers and crew remains our number one priority," Christine Duffy, president and CEO of Cruise Line International Association, said in a statement.

Other newly enacted policies include:

• Excess life jackets: Cruise ships must carry additional life jackets, having more than the number of passengers aboard.
• Location of life jacket: The jackets must be stowed near muster stations or lifeboats and be easily accessible.
• Securing equipment: Cruise lines must enact procedures to secure heavy items such as pianos and televisions.
• Passenger nationality: The nationality of each passenger must be recorded and easily available to search-and-rescue workers.
• Musters and emergency instructions: During musters and emergency situations, cruise lines must communicate 12 basic elements to passengers, including the location of life jackets and how to recognize emergency exits.
• Lifeboat loading training: Crews responsible for lifeboats must practice loading and handling one full boat at least every six months.
• Passage planning: All bridge team members to be briefed on passage plans.
• Consistent bridge procedures: Large cruise companies must have consistent bridge operating procedures across all its brands.

The safety review was led by cruise industry members with the advice and input of an independent panel of safety experts, including Mark Rosenker, former chairman of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board; Stephen Meyer, former Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy and Head of the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch; Dr. Jack Spencer, former director, Office of Marine Safety, U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, and Willem de Ruiter, former executive director of the European Maritime Safety Agency.

Source: USA Today

This item was written by Larry Bleiberg, former Travel Editor of The Dallas Morning News and Coastal Living magazine. Bleiberg is serving as Guest Editor of The Cruise Log while USA TODAY Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is away. 

Holland America Dancing With The Stars at Sea

Whether you like to Tango, Quickstep, Paso Doble, or sit back and enjoy watching the sizzling performances, this program offers guests an entirely unique experience on the seas.

Six theme cruises in 2013 and early 2014 will feature “Dancing with the Stars” events including dance lessons; a chance to meet the dancers, ask questions and take photos; and a dazzling production starring celebrities and the famed dance pros, complete with glamorous costumes and routines from the TV show. 

Currently scheduled to appear on select sailings are two-time champion pro dancers Mark Ballas and Kym Johnson; pros Tristan MacManus and Lacey Schwimmer - More dance pros and celebrities to be announced.

In addition to the theme cruises, every sailing on all 15 ships in the Holland America Line fleet will feature an exclusive “Dancing with the Stars” program including dance lessons and an opportunity for some lucky guests to dance center stage in an exciting dance-off performance. These activities will feature the ships’ professional dancers and will be developed in collaboration with the show’s dancers and choreographers.

Currently scheduled to appear on our 2013 Theme Cruises

February 16, 2013, ms Eurodam, 7-Day Eastern Caribbean 
Professional Dancers: Lacey Schwimmer and Mark Ballas 
Stars: Joey Fatone and Sabrina Bryan.

June 22, 2013, ms Veendam, 7-Day Canada & New England 
Professional Dancers: Chelsie Hightower and Mark Ballas 
Stars to be announced.

June 30, 2013, ms Oosterdam, 7-Day Alaska 
Professional Dancers: Kym Johnson and Tristan MacManus 
Star: Carson Kressley. Additional star to be announced 

July 7, 2013, ms Oosterdam, 7-Day Alaska 
Professional Dancers: Kym Johnson and Tristan MacManus 
Star: Carson Kressley. Additional star to be announced


2014 Theme Cruises: (Pros/celebrities to be announced)
January 5, 2014, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, 7-Day Eastern Caribbean

January 12, 2014, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, 7-Day Western Caribbean

Professionals and celebrities are subject to change.

Holland America Line

Kids Sail Free on Crystal to Northern Europe and Mediterranean

In the summer of 2013 Crystal Cruises is offering a kids-sail-free promotion on cruises in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. 

There are four June and July cruises in 2013 where kids age 17 and under can travel for free when sharing a third berth in a stateroom with two adults. Crystal Family Memories program also offers additional free sailings and perks for groups of six or more.


The kids sail free program is available on three 10-day Baltic sailings on Crystal Serenity departing June 25, July 20 and July 30, from Stockholm, Sweden, to Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; Berlin/Warnemünde, Germany; and Copenhagen, Denmark.

The free sail program is also good on the seven-day Mediterranean sailing departing July 6 on Crystal Symphony, which visits Istanbul and Kusadasi, Turkey; Mykonos, Greece; and Sicily, Sorrento, and Rome/Civitavecchia, Italy.

Prices start at $2,495 per person if booked by December 28, 2012. 

http://www.crystalcruise.com/

New Carnival Breeze

See why Carnival BreezeTM was awarded Cruise Critic's Best New Ship 2012. 

Now sailing from Miami. New features include a multi-dimensional Thrill Theater, family fun at Hasbro, The Game Show, RedFrog Rum Bar, and so much more!

Check it out!

New Way to Share the Fun of a Carnival Cruise

The perfect gift for holidays, birthdays and any special occasion!

• Good for any amount between $10 and $2,000
• Redeemable toward bookings and/or purchases on board
• Available digitally and by mail

http://www.carnivalgiftcards.com/

Best Cruise Deals

Popular Cruise Destinations

Alaska
from $64 / night

Bahamas
from $37 / night

Bermuda
from $63 / night

Caribbean
from $32 / night

Europe
from $32 / night

Hawaii
from $61 / night

Mexico
from $56 / night

Canada / New England
from $50 / night

RCI Launches New All-Inclusive Beverage Packages

Royal Caribbean International has introduced two new beverage packages, joining other lines that offer similar inclusive deals. 

The Classic Beverage Package costs $45 per guest, per day, for beer, house wines by the glass, non-alcoholic cocktails, fountain soda and juices.

The Premium Beverage Package costs $55 per guest, per day, and includes beverages in Classic Package - as well as frozen drinks and all cocktails including premium brands. Both package prices include service charges.

Beverage packages are available for purchase on all seven-night or longer sailings and must be purchased on the first day. Guests choosing either package also must purchase the package for guests 21 years old or older sailing in the same stateroom. Packages are currently available on 13 ships and will be available on the remaining ships with seven-night or longer itineraries by early 2013.

The move follows similar programs offered by Carnival Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Line. Carnival launched the program as a test but has rapidly expanded it to eight ships. The “Cheers!” all-inclusive beverage package is now available on Carnival Splendor, Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, Carnival Victory, Carnival Valor, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Conquest and Carnival Legend.

The Cheers Package costs $42.95 per person, per day, plus a 15% gratuity, includes a variety of wine, beer and spirits, along with sodas and non-alcoholic frozen cocktails throughout the voyage. All wines by the glass, beer and individual cocktails priced $10 and lower are available within the program.

Norwegian is testing an all-inclusive drink package on Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Jade. The package costs $49 per person per day, plus gratuity.

SOURCE: TravelPulse

Holland America “Sail & Save”

Holland America Line just announced “Sail & Save” sale on select cruises 

“Sail & Save” offers up to 50% off select cruise fares and free or reduced third and fourth fares on select voyages. A free hotel stay is also offered on select Canada/New England and Alaska cruises and cruise-tour departures.

Cruise destinations featured in the sale include Alaska cruises and cruise-tours, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Canada/New England, Caribbean, Europe, Grand Voyages, Hawaii/Tahiti, Mexico, Panama Canal and South America.

Holland America

Travel Channel's Sweepstakes - Win $10,000 Caribbean Cruise Vacation

Travel Channel is giving you the chance to take to the seas in the Travel Channel - December 2012 Caribbean Cruise Travel Trivia Sweepstakes. Enter for your chance to win a week-long cruise or instant prizes.

The grand-prize winner will receive a Caribbean voyage for two on a full rigged tall ship including shore excursions, meals, and more. The total prize value is $10,000. In addition, daily instant winners will travel blankets and carry cases.

Entry into Travel Channel's December 2012 Caribbean Cruise Travel Trivia Sweepstakes - Open to US residents above the age of 21. 

Enter daily through December 31, 2012. Read more...

Disney Basing Entire Fleet in Florida By 2014

Disney will operate all of its ships out of Florida in the early half of 2014, the cruise line announced as it unveiled new itineraries, which include a new port in Jamaica.

The Disney Magic will return to Port Canaveral, joining Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy in sailing off the central Florida coast.

And Disney Wonder will continue to home port in Miami. (In 2013, Magic is scheduled to sail out of Galveston, Texas; Barcelona and Miami.)

Most sailings from Port Canaveral will visit Disney's popular private Bahamian island, Castaway Cay.

Dream and Magic will sail a variety of itineraries, including three- and four-night Bahamian sailings. Fantasy will sail seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean routes, some of which will include a stop at Castaway Cay, and a stop in the new port, Falmouth, Jamaica.

Many passengers sailing from Port Canaveral combine a cruise with a theme-park vacation in nearby Disney World.

Meanwhile, Wonder, which begins sailing from Miami later this month, will offer four-night Bahamas sailings, and five-night Western Caribbean sailings, some of which include a stop in Castaway Cay.

For more information, visit disneycruise.disney.go.com

Source: USA Today