Royal Caribbean to Retire Monarch OTS

Final Year 3&4-Night Bahamas Cruises Sailing Now Thru March 31 2013
	Royal Caribbean International Monarch of the Seas®
Monarch of the Seas, will be leaving the Royal Caribbean fleet to sail for sister line Pullmantur. Tue ship is the oldest in the fleet, having sailed its maiden voyage in November, 1991. It will continue sailing 3 & 4-night Bahamas cruises thru it's final 3-night voyage March 29, 2013. The ship currently sails from Port Canaveral in Florida. The 2,390-passenger, 73,941-ton ship will enter service for Pullmantur after a significant refurbishment. It will join its sister ship Sovereign (formerly Royal Caribbean's Sovereign of the Seas), which transferred over in 2008. Gonzalo Chico Barbier, president and CEO of Pullmantur said "The transfer of Monarch of the Seas will reinforce Pullmantur in our Latin American growth strategy, and help us become one of the most widely recognized brands."  Cruisers on the West Coast will remember Monarch as a main-stay serving San Diego with short weekend cruises to Ensenada, Mexico and Baja California. Many Crown & Anchor members frequently the ship which served as a training ground for crew members. Often the Monarch was the first ship to try something new, so it was a favorite ship of those travelers. It will certainly be missed by those that have fond memories of cruises gone by.
Ship Profile | Itineraries & Pricing | Deck Plans | Dining Menus | Wine Lists | Kids Programs | Ship Reviews | 360 Tours | Photos Ship Profile & Stats Maiden Voyage 1991 (Refurbished: 2003) Passengers (dbl) 2,766 Tonnage 73,937 Tons Normal Crew Size 858 Length 880 feet Crew Nationality International Beam 106 feet Nationality of Officers Norwegian Draft 25 feet Nationality of Dining Staff International Speed 19 knots Registration Country Norway

If We Build It They Will Come

Plans courtesy of Banana Coast

Next New Cruise Port?

Banana Coast

Tired of the same ports of call in the Western Caribbean? Developers think you might be, and as of this month have begun construction of a brand new cruise pier in Trujillo, Honduras. Located 45 miles south of the Island of Roatan, and situated within the Bay of Trujillo, you will find the new Banana Coast Landing development.

The finger pier will accommodate two post-Panamax cruise vessels by late 2012. A tender dock has been available for ships tenders since 2010.

A Day going Bananas?

Not exactly...   The name of the development comes from a high-point in the town's history.   The economy was fueled in the 1920s - 1940s by the banana trade.

Step into the history of those glory days, as you disembark from your cruise ship.  You will walk where Christopher Columbus did in 1502, during his fourth and final voyage to the New World. Trujillo was settled in 1524 by Spanish conquistadors and later became strategic for Spanish interests in the New World. The Santa Bárbara Fort, constructed in1575, remains largely intact today and provides amazing vistas of the Caribbean Sea.

What awaits guests as they arrive at Banana Coast Landing?

They will find a themed retail destination with approximately 50,000 square feet of retail shopping, including jewelry stores, designer boutiques, a themed restaurant and bar, and a large, sandy beach. This tropical setting, framed by the picturesque mountains to the west, is the perfect paradise for cruise passengers seeking new adventure in the Western Caribbean.

They Will Come?

Banana Coast is being designed by OBM International, the same firm that put Carnival's Grand Turk Cruise Center and Royal Caribbean's private island of CocoCay on the cruise map. The cruise port should be completed by December 2012, so we would anticipate the first passengers could arrive Winter 2012-13 or Spring 2013.

Cruise lines have begun posting their schedules for early 2013, but so far, none include Trujillo, Honduras. We will keep watch to see which cruise line will be the first to call in what sounds like a wonderful addition to the Western Caribbean ports of call.

Asia New 2012 Destination for Celebrity Cruises

Beijing, China   Credit: China National Tourist Office

Celebrity Millennium

From the Great Wall to the river markets of Vietnam, Asian culture has long intrigued vacationers who seek exotic lands and exquisite cultural experiences. Premium cruise brand Celebrity Cruises will give vacationers a way to enjoy Asia in style when it introduces its first-ever season in the region, during the winter of 2012-13, on Celebrity Millennium, which Celebrity plans to "Solsticize" in April 2012. 

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Ship Profile | Itineraries & Pricing | Deck Plans   Dining Menus | Wine Lists | Ship Reviews | 360 Tours | Photos 

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 Celebrity's inaugural Asia season

•  9 new countries including Vietnam, Thailand and China, among others
• 14-night open-jaw cruises between Singapore and Hong Kong 
• Overnight stays:  Singapore; Bangkok; Ho Chi Minh City; Halong Bay; Hong Kong
• Opportunities for travelers to immerse themselves in Asian culture
• Two 14-night sailings roundtrip from Singapore (overnight Bali, Indonesia) in January 2013

 Trans-Pacific Voyages

• The westbound cruise will coincide with the total solar eclipse in November 2012
• (view the eclipse while at sea, when sailing from Fiji to New Zealand)

• Reposition from Hong Kong to Shanghai in April 2013 on a cruise featuring 
• (overnight calls in Hong Kong and Beijing (Tianjin), China.)
• Continue eastbound across the North Pacific to Alaska  
• (call at various ports in China, Japan, and Russia) 

Guests who wish to deepen their experience in Asia can take advantage of one of Celebrity's cruisetours, which combine a cruise with a five-night pre- or post-cruise escorted land package out of Hong Kong.  The cruisetours will feature trips to Xian and Beijing to view the famed Terra Cotta Warriors and the Great Wall of China.  All of these packages are escorted by a local tour director and include hotel accommodations, transportation, select activities, breakfasts and some additional meals. 

While sailing, a variety of shore excursions are available to travelers who wish to immerse themselves in the region. A number of overnight stays in port during the Asia cruises will offer guests the opportunity to enjoy two- or three-day excursions. 

Examples of these include a two-night/three-day overland experience from Bangkok to Siem Reap to visit Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The tour focuses on the temples of Angkor to see the best examples of stone carvings recovered from temples across Cambodia. During cruises that include an overnight stay in port at Halong Bay (Hanoi), Vietnam, an overnight shore excursion includes a visit to the Old Quarter of Hanoi; an opportunity to witness unique Vietnamese performing arts at the Hanoi Water Puppet Theatre; enjoy dinner at a traditional Vietnamese restaurant; and an overnight stay in a leading hotel in Hanoi. 

Guests also will experience the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, the Ho Chi Minh Quarter, One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Museum, as well as a gentle ride on a traditional street cyclo, and lunch at Vietnamese restaurant. 


Members of Celebrity’s Captain’s Club loyalty program are eligible to receive up to $600 savings per stateroom when booking 2012-13 Asia itineraries before July 29, 2011.

Princess Scandinavia - Russia - Norway 2012

Norwegian Fjords

Scandinavia, Russia & Norway cruises


From the glorious spires of St. Petersburg and the idyllic waterfront of Stockholm to the fjords of the Norwegian coast, Princess Cruises can show you all the inspiring sights of this breathtaking region on a wide selection of enticing cruise vacation options.

• See the best of the region on a Scandinavia & Russia cruise and longer sailings that reach the remote lands of North Cape.
• 7-day Interlude Cruises on large and small ships that visit the stunning coast of Norway or Scandinavia
• 2-Day Experiences in regal St. Petersburg to see all the palaces, museums and the city by night.
• Imperial Europe cruisetours pairing a 11-day cruise with visits to the cities of Berlin, Budapest, Vienna, and Prague.

If you are interested in this article, also see: 

Princess Cruises 2012-13 Europe Deployment 

Princess Mediterranean - Greek Isles - Holy Land 2012
Princess British Isles - Iceland - Canary Islands 2012

Itinerary	Itinerary Highlights†	Ship	2012 Dates
Norwegian Fjords Interlude	7 Nights London (Southampton or Dover), Stavanger, Olden/Nordfjord, Bergen, Hellesylt (drop-off for Geiranger Fjord Shore Excursion), Scenic cruising of Geiranger Fjord, Geiranger, London (Southampton or Dover)	Grand Ocean	Jul 21 Aug 10
Scandinavia	7 Nights London (Southampton), Brussels/Bruges (Zeebrugge), Copenhagen, Helsingborg, Oslo, London (Southampton)	Grand Caribbean	Jun 2; Aug 25 Jul 1
Scandinavia & Russia	11 Nights Copenhagen, Oslo, Aarhus, Berlin (Warnemünde), Tallinn, 2-day St. Petersburg Experience (includes 2 full days & overnight), Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen	Emerald	May 12, 23; Jun 3, 14, 25; Jul 6, 17, 28; Aug 8, 19, 30
North Cape & Norwegian Fjords	12 Nights London (Southampton), Bergen, Hellesylt (drop-off for Geiranger Fjord Shore Excursion), Scenic cruising of Geiranger Fjord, Geiranger, Honningsvåg (for North Cape), Tromsø, Lofoten Islands (Gravdal), Flåm/Sognefjord, Stavanger, London (Southampton)	Caribbean	Jun 19
Scandinavia & Russia Collection	14 Nights London (Dover), Copenhagen, Klaipeda, Riga, Tallinn, 2-day St. Petersburg Experience (includes 2 full days & overnight), Helsinki, Stockholm, Kiel Canal Transit, Amsterdam, London (Dover)	Ocean	Jun 3; Jul 3
Baltic Heritage	14 Nights London (Southampton), Rotterdam (for Amsterdam), Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, 2-day St. Petersburg Experience (includes 2 full days & overnight), Tallinn, Gdansk (Gdynia), Oslo, London (Southampton)	Grand	Jul 7
Spitsbergen & North Cape	14 Nights London (Southampton), Stavanger, Lofoten Islands (Gravdal), Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen), Honningsvåg (for North Cape), Tromsø, Hellysylt (drop-off for Geiranger Fjord Shore Excursion), Scenic cruising of Geiranger Fjord, Geiranger, Bergen, London (Southampton)	Grand	Jun 23
Land of the Midnight Sun	16 Nights London (Dover), Bergen, Hellesylt (drop-off for Geiranger Fjord Shore Excursion), Scenic cruising of Geiranger Fjord, Geiranger, Tromsø, Magdalenafjord scenic cruising (Spitsbergen), Ny Ålesund (Spitsbergen), Murmansk (Russia), Honningsvåg (for North Cape), Flåm/Sognefjord, London (Dover)	Ocean	Jun 17; Jul 17
Scandinavia & Russia Grand Adventure	27 Nights Ft. Lauderdale, Azores Islands (Ponta Delgada), Cork (Cobh – for Blarney Castle), Cornwall (Falmouth), Paris/Normandy (Le Havre), London (Dover), Rotterdam (for Amsterdam), Oslo, Copenhagen, Oslo, Aarhus, Berlin (Warnemünde), Tallinn, 2-day St. Petersburg Experience (includes 2 full days & overnight), Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen	Emerald	Apr 26
Northern Europe Grand Adventure®	27 Nights Copenhagen, Oslo, Aarhus, Berlin (Warnemünde), Tallinn, 2-day St. Petersburg Experience (includes 2 full days & overnight), Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, Kristiansand, Glasgow/Edinburgh (Greenock), Dublin, Belfast, Reykjavik, Qaqortoq (Greenland), New York (Brooklyn)	Emerald	Aug 30

†Port order and content for all itineraries may vary.

Princess Cruises 2012-13 Europe Deployment

Princess Cruises® 


2012-13

Princess Cruises® has begun announcing their Summer 2012 - Spring 2013 Programs. We are highlighting their Europe Land & Sea Vacations in this post. Captain's Circle members can take advantage of special Launch Savings.

 If you are interested in this article, also see: 

Princess Mediterranean - Greek Isles - Holy Land 2012
Princess Scandinavia - Russia - Norway 2012
Princess British Isles - Iceland - Canary Islands 2012 

Experience the Best of Europe

Windsor Castle

Answer the alluring call of the Old World with Princess Cruises. Whether you're drawn to legendary ruins, charming villas or awe-inspiring landscapes, Princess Cruises can take you there.

Sail with a crew that shares your passion for exploring this timeless region, and you'll quickly discover why they've been voted "Best Cruise Line - Itineraries."

See more of Europe than you ever dreamt possible when you sail with Princess Cruises. Whether you’re drawn to the idyllic Mediterranean & Greek Isles, the storied Holy Land, sparkling Scandinavia and Russia or the grandeur of the British Isles, there is a Europe cruise vacation that’s perfect for you!

Giants Causeway - Belfast, Ireland

2012-13 Deployment Program

Church of the Spilled Blood - St. Petersburg, Russia

• 7 ships, 57 itineraries and over 125 voyages
• The largest Europe deployment in Princess’ history offering more sailings and more capacity with the addition of Crown Princess sailing the 12-day Greek Isles
• The most popular itineraries return, including the 12-day Grand Mediterranean, 11-day Scandinavia & Russia, 12-day British Isles, 12-day Holy Land, and 7-day Interludes
• Overnight stays in magical Venice on all 12-day Grand Mediterranean, Greek Isles, Greek Isles & Mediterranean and Egypt & Aegean sailings
• Our 2-day Experience in St. Petersburg on 11-day Scandinavia & Russia cruises, 2-day Experiences in Egypt and Israel on 12-day Holy Land sailings and two days in Istanbul on our 12-day Black Sea & Crimean sailing
• New itineraries and maiden ports including Korcula, Croatia and Nessebar, Bulgaria – a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Land & sea vacations that tour Classic Italy, Ireland’s Ring of Kerry, Imperial cities of Eastern Europe, such as Prague and Vienna, and a remarkable journey to the ruins of Ancient Petra, Jordan and the Dead Sea

Princess Past Passengers are eligible for special savings when they book early! Earn up to $200 per couple; these savings can be combined with other discounts and special offers in the future.

Captain's Circle Launch Savings 

• Europe (3-day Europe has $50 savings) $100* 
• Europe Grand Adventure Cruises $200*

*Per Person Savings through 9/30/11

Europe land & sea vacations

Experience Europe in-depth on a land-and-sea adventure that combines a fabulous cruise with four to nine days on land exploring places like storied Rome and Florence, the enchanting cities of Vienna and Prague, or cruise Ireland’s magical Ring of Kerry.

Cruisetour	Nights Destination / Sailing†	Ship	2012 Dates
Tour 1: Europe’s Imperial Treasures	19 Nights 2 nights Budapest, 2 nights Vienna, 2 nights Prague & 2 nights Berlin / 11-day Scandinavia & Russia cruise	Emerald	May 4, 15, 26; Jun 6, 17, 28; Jul 9, 20, 31; Aug 11, 22
Tour 2: Classic Italy	17 Nights 3 nights Rome & 2 nights Florence / 12-day Grand Mediterranean or 12-day Greek Isles cruise	Ruby, Crown	May 13, 19; Jun 6, 12, 30; Jul 6, 24, 30; Aug 17, 23; Sep 10, 16; Oct 10; Nov 3
Tour 3: Ring of Kerry	16 Nights 1 night Shannon, 2 nights Killarney & 1 night Cork / 12-day British Isles cruise	Caribbean	May 10, 22; Jun 3; Jul 4, 28; Aug 9
Tour 4: Ancient Petra & the Dead Sea	16 Nights 2 nights Amman, 1 night Petra & 1 night Dead Sea / 12-day Holy Land cruise	Pacific	May 8; Jun 13; Jul 7, 31; Sep 29; Oct 23; Nov 16

†Port order and content for all itineraries may vary.

Princess Galveston Deployment 2012-13

Galveston, TX - Sea Wall

More Ships Sailing 

From Galveston

2012-13
Caribbean Season

Princess Cruises announced that for the first time since 2007, they will be returning to Galveston, Texas sailing Western Caribbean Itineraries.

Crown Princess  will offer 19 departures from Galveston between December 22, 2012 and April 27, 2013. The seven-day R/T Western Caribbean itinerary includes ports of call at Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; and Cozumel, Mexico.

The 113,700 GT Crown Princess has a passenger capacity of 3,070 and offers many signature features including a piazza-style atrium with International Café and Vines wine bar; the 300-square-foot Movies Under the Stars poolside theater; The Sanctuary, an adults-only "oasis of tranquility"; and a variety of dining, recreation and entertainment options. 

The addition of Crown Princess to Galveston, TX will add additional passenger capacity to a growing market amongst one of the 23 U.S.  home-port options for cruise passengers.   Galveston's famous Sea Wall is a great place to take a stroll, shop among the seaside shops, dine at one of the popular seafood restaurants, or relax in your hotel before your cruise.

Princess Executives & Galveston Officials Comment

"We've received a great deal of feedback from cruisers interested in sailing from Galveston again," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. "So we're excited to be returning in 2012 to bring our Western Caribbean sailings back to Texas."

"Welcoming back Princess Cruises and hosting Crown Princess is a great addition to the Texas cruise market. We're excited that the return of Princess Cruises will offer our passengers additional options of cruise vacations sailing from Texas' premiere cruise port," said Steven M. Cernak, Galveston port director. 

The remainder of the Princess Cruises Caribbean schedule will be announced later this month. We will bring you additional information about their schedules, as well as those for the other cruise lines.