2022 In Review

Our Cruise Pause / Resumption Story

In February 2020 we were in Australia on a repositioning cruise from Melbourne, Australia to Singapore.  The Covid-19 Pandemic was about to shutdown the cruise industry. Prior to departing Melbourne, we were informed that we would not be sailing to Singapore, but instead would be flying home from Perth, Australia, just 7 days into our cruise.   The long pause in cruise travel had begun for us and our clients.

While on our Australia cruise, we had booked a South America & Antarctica cruise for January, 2021.  Unfortunately, that too would be cancelled, along with a family vacation we'd planned for the summer.

The Cruise Travel Restart

In November, 2021 we attended our National Conference on Celebrity Apex.  During that conference we were given the opportunity to book several cruises in 2022 at reduced rates in order for us to experience cruising after the restart and report to our guests.  In addition, we had several cruises, like the ones mentioned above, that we'd need to reschedule.   2022 was going to be a busy cruise year for us.

We began 2022 with a sailing on the brand new ship & cruise line - Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady.  The highlight of the year was our final river cruise on Avalon Waterways Imagery II from Prague to Frankfurt visiting several Christmas Markets.   For more details, click below for our 2022 cruise page.

Our 2022 Cruises - Click for Details

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Celebrity Revelation Beyond Expectations

 

Introducing Celebrity Beyond

 
April 29, 2021 Celebrity Cruises revealed their newest ship in the Edge class - Celebrity Beyond. Their name for this ship is perfect as they have really gone beyond our expectations with this ship. Known for modern luxury and innovation, they've taken a winner with Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex and, if you can imagine, improved on that design. Just like one might do in their own home, after living in it for awhile, you know what you love and what you could improve.  They have done just that.

Celebrity added length and height to this new design, allowing for expansion of some of the popular venues onboard, such as the Rooftop Garden and Sunset Bar. Taking advantage of multiple decks there and in the Resort Deck, guests can relax and socialize in style while not missing a view of the ocean and their surroundings. 

Words alone can't express the amazing transformation, so watch these videos to learn more about the reveal.  Enjoy ...

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President of Celebrity Cruises, talks with Royal Caribbean executives, designers, and architects that had the inspiration for Celebrity Beyond. The ship will have her debut in Europe next year. Whether you are new to cruising or a seasoned cruiser, you will fall in love with this marvelous creation from their design team.

  (Updated 10/21/21)
More space. More luxury. More connected. Celebrity Beyond℠. 
Welcome to a place where you can escape and experience all the things you’ve been missing for so long. Only now, those things are even better than you’ve imagined. This is a place where the everyday gives way to the extraordinary. A place with more space to lose yourself in and more luxury to love. Where the possibilities are as endless as the views. Where you can disconnect entirely while you reconnect with each other—and the world. 
This place is Celebrity Beyond.

 
View Celebrity Beyond YouTube Playlist

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Click the banner above for the latest cruise promotions

 

Cruise lines are offering special promotions and pricing on popular cruises to encourage consumers to plan their next cruise vacation now. We'll be featuring promotions on our website and social media.

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Behind the F1rsts - Norwegian Prima

On May 12, 2021, Norwegian Cruise Line opened for sale the first of six ships within its highly anticipated next class of vessels, Prima Class, the Brand’s first new class of ships in nearly 10 years. With voyages beginning in summer 2022, Norwegian Prima, the first of the six ships, will be 965 feet long, 142,500 gross tons and able to accommodate 3,215 guests at double occupancy. The vessel will be a game-changer for NCL, offering guests exciting itineraries, more wide-open spaces, thoughtful and stunning design, a variety of new experiences as well as Norwegian’s exceptional service.

“Despite not having sailed in more than a year, we never stopped working and innovating, we never once pressed pause,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. “In fact, we doubled down on our brand investment in order to deliver unforgettable guest experiences that go well beyond expectations. Not only will we begin cruising this July, we’re so proud and so incredibly happy to announce the start of an exciting new chapter as we introduce the Prima Class and the first ship in a line of unrivaled vessels with Norwegian Prima.”

“The name ‘Prima,’ which means “first” in Italian, is a natural fit that ties into our legacy of firsts in the industry and a fitting tribute to our new Italian shipbuilding partners at Fincantieri,” added Sommer.

 

WIDE-OPEN SPACES AND ELEVATED EXPERIENCES THAT GO BEYOND EXPECTATION

Norwegian Prima will offer the highest staffing levels and space ratio of any new cruise ship in the contemporary and premium cruise categories, delivering an unrivaled guest experience. She will offer the largest variety of suite categories available at sea with 13 suite categories as well as the largest three-bedroom suites of any new cruise ship and the Brand’s largest-ever inside, oceanview and balcony staterooms, including the Brand’s largest-ever bathrooms and showers for standard stateroom categories. 

click to enlarge images

Norwegian Prima will also offer the most outdoor deck space of any new cruise ship including more total pool deck space than any other ship in NCL’s fleet as well as multiple infinity pools and vast outdoor walkways allowing guests to take in the sea, the ocean breeze and a variety of elevated experiences.

THE ELEVATED HAVEN ON NORWEGIAN PRIMA 

To provide guests with an unrivaled experience in luxury cruising, The Haven by Norwegian on Norwegian Prima has been elevated to offer the Brand’s most exclusive and centralized suite complex. Spanning eight decks of suites and public areas, the ultra-premium keycard only access ship-within-a-ship concept provides guests with private amenities, dedicated services and the most luxurious accommodations on board. For the first time, the Cruise Line relocated all 107 Haven suites to the aft (the rear of the ship) within close proximity of private elevators exclusively reserved for Haven guests.


OUTDOOR LIVING ON OCEAN BOULEVARD

Furthering the elevated experience that places guests first and understanding the important connection they have with the outdoors and proximity to the sea, NCL reimagined its industry pioneering The Waterfront by doubling the space and adding a greater variety of experiences and dining options than ever before by introducing Ocean Boulevard. 

Located on deck eight, Ocean Boulevard at 44,000 square feet long, wraps around the entire deck, allowing guests to walk around the entire ship and experience amazing ocean views while having the choice to partake in numerous exceptional outdoor activities.

BUCKET-LIST ITINERARIES ON THE INDUSTRY’S NEWEST SHIP 

• Summer 2022: Northern Europe and The UK 
• Fall/Winter 2022: Bermuda and The Caribbean 
•  Fall/Winter 2022-2023: Western Caribbean Voyages Homeporting from Orlando, Fla. (Port Canaveral) 
• Spring 2023: Bermuda 
• Spring and Summer 2023: Northern Europe 

CRUISE WITH CHRIS 

NY TO ICELAND

MAY, 2023

There are some amazing repositioning cruises including an 11-day transatlantic journey from New York City to Reykjavik, Iceland, visiting Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia, before making calls to several immersive Icelandic ports, including Akureyri, which resides on the longest fjord in Iceland and Isafjordur, where guests can take in Icelandic Viking history and unspoiled natural marvels. 

We are booked on this cruise, so call us to join us on this amazing itinerary.

We have just scratched the surface on this amazing new innovative ship from Norwegian Cruise Line.  Explore Norwegian Prima by viewing these videos.  Not only will you get your first glimpse at the innovations, but you'll also here from the designers who made this happen.

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Celebrity Cruises Returns to Galapagos

Celebrity Cruises Announced 

Galapagos Deployment Schedule

In a special trade webinar yesterday, Celebrity Cruises updated travel advisors on their upcoming announcement regarding their return to service in the Galapagos.   If you have been following my blog, you know that Galapagos is our all-time favorite cruise destination.  It is a Land Beyond Xpectations.

Deployment Update:

While working with health and government authorities towards this shared goal, we are evaluating all current itineraries. The determination has been made that we can safely sail in the Galapagos this summer beginning on the below dates with 7-night itineraries. 

• July 4, 2021 – Celebrity Flora® 
• July 24, 2021 – Celebrity Xpedition® 
• September 18 – Celebrity Xploration®

As a result of this deployment change, Celebrity Cruises is suspending all Galapagos sailings scheduled to depart before the above noted return-to-service dates.

In addition, they are announcing the following Offers for future sailings:

As Celebrity Cruises returns to service in the Galapagos, they will be limiting capacity to about 50% just like they are in other destinations.  In the case of Celebrity Flora that means you'll have an even more intimate cruise vacation as there are only 100 people at full capacity, however, the crew will be at full capacity providing you with an incredible experience you'll never forget.   

What's more, you can forget about your masks when exploring the various islands, as the inhabitants (iguanas, blue footed boobies, and giant tortoises) won't mind.  You'll be able to still get up close and personal to them - they won't care about social distancing either.

Now is the time to explore this amazing destination.   We still remember our experience there as if it were yesterday and we've not had any vacation like that before or after it.   Call me today to start planning your return to cruising.

Explore Galapagos in Luxury

Check out our Galapagos Diary

Celebrity Xpeditions Galapagos

10-Night Cruise Tour

August 29, 2008

Land Beyond Xpectations

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I recently completed extensive training and have become Travel Safety Verified. As your dedicated Travel Advisor, your safety is our priority, and it's our job to ensure you have the necessary information you need to give you confidence and peace of mind when making your future travel plans. Click the link to review our Travel Safety program with valuable resources that will answer many of your questions.

Where have you explored? 

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