East Coast Snow Aims for Cruise Ports

Photo Courtesy Carnival Cruise Line

CARNIVAL PRIDE ®

Weather Forecast:
Baltimore - SNOWY
Bahamas - SUNNY

CARNIVAL FANTASY ® 

Delayed  Arrival

Carnival Fantasy's arrival in the Port of Charleston, SC  
Monday, December 27, will be delayed several hours. Carnival is advising embarking passengers to arrive after 1:30 p.m.  

Note:  This Blog Post covered a particular event, however, links contained in this article may still be useful during later weather events.     Click (here) for Weather & Travel Links

New York and New England Airports Closed

The East Coast is being hit by a major snow storm which has stranded passengers in several states including New York and Boston.   The closures won't directly impact cruises in that area since there are none scheduled to leave until January 2nd.   Of course, passengers trying to depart from or through New York or Boston, will be impacted by the closures.

 

Carnival Pride and Norwegian Jewel were not impacted by the snow storm.  They departed on schedule Sunday afternoon.

IMPORTANT WEATHER LINKS

NWS - Local Weather

NWS - Baltimore, MD

Baltimore Sun Weather Page

NWS - Charleston, SC

IMPORTANT TRAVEL LINKS

Airport Delays

Baltimore/Washington International Airport

BWI Ground Transportation

Port of Baltimore

Port of Charleston

It is always advisable to allow extra time for travel to your port of call, especially during winter months.   Check with your air carrier in advance to see if there are any changes to your flight schedule.   The cruise line will notify your travel agent of any known itinerary changes, but last minute changes can also occur.   Best advice is to expect changes and have travel insurance to assist you with any missed connections.

Carnival Cruise Lines 2011 Bermuda

NOW EVEN MORE BERMUDA ITINERARIES!

From April to November 2011, Carnival Cruise Lines will be offering 16 departures to the island from Baltimore, Norfolk, New York - and for the first time, historic Charleston!

Carnival's 2011 Bermuda departures include:

• Baltimore (7-day cruises on the Carnival Pride) – April 10 and 17, September 18, October 2 and November 6.
• New York (7- and 8-day departures on the Carnival Miracle) – April 14 and 21, and September 11 and 27.
• Norfolk (6-day sailing on the Carnival Glory) – October 16.
• Charleston (6-day voyages on the Carnival Fantasy) – April 23, May 19, June 16, August 25, September 15 and October 6.

Reservations are currently open for these 2011 Bermuda sailings.
Cruises to Bermuda (select date)        Other Bermuda Posts

All of the Bermuda voyages will dock at King's Wharf. Guests on 6-day voyages will be able to spend two-day calls in King's Wharf; those on the 7- and 8-day cruises spend three action-packed days in Bermuda.

The people of Bermuda are very friendly and helpful.  There are plenty of activities for the entire family in Bermuda.   It is very easy to get around Bermuda by bus, taxi, and ferry.  King's Wharf is the perfect location for starting your day's exploration.   Hamilton is a short ferry ride away, so you are not limited to one area.

Drive to Your Next Cruise Vacation

Stretching the Vacation Budget

A recent survey indicated that more and more families are deciding not to fly to their destination this year and instead are taking to the roads.   This makes sense especially for families with two or more children.   The cost of airfare adds up quickly when you travel with the entire family.

You don't have to limit your final destination to the 50 contiguous states if you decide to drive to your vacation spot.  Did you know that there are 23 U.S. ports that you can select from, some of which offer year-round cruising?

These cruise ports also offer parking facilities, some of which are covered parking, that offer prices comparable to airport parking garages.   You can also explore near-by hotels that offer stay and park packages complete with transportation to the pier.

Carnival Fascination Sailing From
Charleston, SC  Year-round

Starting May 18th, Carnival Fascination is sailing year-round five-, six- and seven-day cruises to The Bahamas and Key West, Florida from Charleston, SC.   The ship will also offer six six-day Bermuda cruises from Charleston next year.  Carnival Fantasy is expected to carry 140,000 passengers annually from Charleston.

This past week, Carnival Cruises and Charleston officials participated in several events commemorating the new sailing program including: Carnival’s Launch of Year-Round Service from Charleston Highlighted by City’s First-Ever Water Slide Races

The recent addition of the awesome aquatic amenities of Carnival WaterWorks, Serenity Adult-only Retreat, and a tropical resort-style pool make this 70,367 ton, 2,056 passenger vessel the perfect vacation destination.

Elation Arrival, Courtesy Carnival

Carnival Elation Sailing From

Mobile, AL Year-round

Starting May 15th, Carnival Elation replaced Carnival Fascination sailing four-, five- and seven-day Western Caribbean cruises from Mobile, Alabama.  Carnival Elation is scheduled to operate 74 voyages annually from Mobile, carrying an estimated 170,000 passengers each year.

This past week, Carnival Cruises and Mobile officials participated in a traditional maritime plaque ceremony to commemorate launch of the year-round program. Carnival Elation is a sister ship of Carnival Fascination, so the same on-board amenities await you and your family.

These are just a couple examples of recent announcements for cruise vacation options from ports of call within driving distance.   So pack up the family and drive to one of the U.S. ports of call to begin your cruise.

Where in the World Does Celebrity Cruise - Vol 3

Panama Canal

Yes folks, our third destination in our series on Where in the World does Celebrity Cruise in 2010/2011 is the Panama Canal. Whether you are on the East Coast, West Coast or somewhere in between, you'll find a Panama Canal cruise that is sure to please.

Select departure ports of Charleston, South Carolina, Miami, Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, San Diego, California, Los Angeles, California, San Juan, Puerto Rico, or Seattle, Washington. These ports allow you to decide if you want to go Eastbound or Westbound on your Panama Canal voyage. The 48 miles of the Panama Canal will be very memorable.

One Canal, Two Oceans, and Unlimited Possibilities

It's not often that the scenic route is also the shortcut. But that's exactly what you'll find on Celebrity's Panama Canal itineraries -- the shortest distance between the East and West coasts of the U.S. and some of the most scenic cruising anywhere in the world. This represents not just an opportunity to travel right through the heart of the rainforest, but to visit an exciting collection of ports on either side, including the Yucatán Peninsula, the Mexican Riviera, and cosmopolitan cities from San Diego, California to Miami, Florida.

Sailing from Charleston, South Carolina

Celebrity Mercury®

16 Night Westbound Panama Canal
4/19/10

Charleston, South Carolina; Cartagena, Colombia, Panama Canal; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Huatulco, Mexico; Acapulco, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Los Angeles, California

Sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Celebrity Constellation®

15 Night Westbound Panama Canal
12/18/10

Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Cartagena, Colombia; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Panama Canal (Cruising); Huatulco, Mexico; Acapulco, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; San Diego, California

Celebrity Infinity®

14 Night Westbound Panama Canal
3/28, 10/10, 11/07/10 & 3/27/11

Fort Lauderdale, Florida; George Town, Grand Cayman; Cartagena, Colombia; Panama Canal; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Huatulco, Mexico; Acapulco, Mexico; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Los Angeles, California

Celebrity Infinity®

15 Night Westbound Panama Canal
4/25/10

Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Cartagena, Colombia; Panama Canal; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Huatulco, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; San Francisco, California Sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida

16 Night Westbound Panama Canal
4/24/11

Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Cartagena, Colombia; Panama Canal; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Acapulco, Mexico; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; San Diego, California; Seattle, Washington

Sailing from Los Angeles, California

Celebrity Infinity®

14 Night Eastbound Panama Canal
10/24, 11/21/10

Los Angeles, California; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Acapulco, Mexico; Huatulco, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Panama Canal; Cristobal Pier, Panama; Cartagena, Colombia; Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Sailing from Miami, Florida

Celebrity Constellation®

14 Night Westbound Panama Canal
1/3/10

Miami, Florida; Cartagena, Colombia; Panama Canal; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Huatulco, Mexico; Acapulco, Mexico; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; San Diego, California

13 Night Westbound Panama Canal
2/28/10

Miami, Florida; Cartagena, Colombia; Panama Canal; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Huatulco, Mexico; Acapulco, Mexico; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; San Diego, California

Sailing From San Diego, California

Celebrity Constellation®

13 Night Eastbound Panama Canal
1/2/11

San Diego, California; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Acapulco, Mexico; Huatulco, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Panama Canal; Cristobal Pier, Panama; George Town, Grand Cayman; Fort Lauderdale, Florida

14 Night Eastbound Panama Canal
1/17, 03/28/10

San Diego, California; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Acapulco, Mexico; Huatulco, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Panama Canal; Cristobal Pier, Panama; Cartagena, Colombia; Miami, Florida

Celebrity Infinity®

14 Night Eastbound Panama Canal
4/11/10 & 4/10/11

San Diego, California; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Acapulco, Mexico; Huatulco, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Panama Canal; Cristobal Pier, Panama; Cartagena, Colombia; Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Celebrity Mercury®

17 Night Eastbound Panama Canal
10/1/10

San Diego, California; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Acapulco, Mexico; Huatulco, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica (overnight); Panama Canal; Cartagena, Colombia; Santo Domingo, Domican Republic; Baltimore, Maryland

Celebrity Millennium®

14 Night Eastbound Panama Canal
9/27/10

San Diego, California; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Acapulco, Mexico; Huatulco, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Panama Canal; Cristobal Pier, Panama; Oranjestad, Araba; Willemstad, Curacao; San Juan, Puerto Rico

Sailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico

Celebrity Millennium®

14 Night Westbound Panama Canal
4/16/10 & 4/18/11

San Juan, Puerto Rico; Cartagena, Colombia; Panama Canal; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Huatulco, Mexico; Acapulco, Mexico; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; San Diego, California

Sailing from Seattle, Washington

Celebrity Infinity®

16 Night Eastbound Panama Canal
9/24/10

Seattle, Washington; San Diego, California; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Acapulco, Mexico; Huatulco, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Panama Canal; Cristobal Pier, Panama; Cartagena, Colombia; Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Form a Group Sailing to Panama Canal -
We have Special Pricing

thru August 31st

Please submit your Group request here.

Call me or email me requesting more details about these cruises.

Where in the World Does Celebrity Cruise - Vol. 1

The Caribbean

Yes folks, our first destination in our series on Where in the World does Celebrity Cruise in 2010/2011 is the Caribbean. You don't have to worry about snow, even in the dead of winter. It's always warm and sunny there.

Escape from every day life not far from home. All you have to do is relax on your cruise vacation in the Caribbean. Choose from 7 to 14-night cruise vacations.

Seven Celebrity Ships offer cruises of 7 nights or more in the Winter of 2010/2011

Sailing from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Celebrity Solstice - 7-night Caribbean year-round

Sailing from Miami, Florida

Celebrity Eclipse - 5 to 8-night Caribbean Winter 2010/11

Sailing from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Celebrity Equinox - 10 & 11-night Ultimate Caribbean Winter 2010/11

Sailing from Miami, Florida

Celebrity Constellation 14-nights Exotic Southern Caribbean Winter 2010/11

Sailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico

Celebrity Summit - 5 to 8-night Southern Caribbean Winter 2010/11

Sailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico

Celebrity Millennium - 10 & 11-night Southern Caribberan Winter 2010/11

Sailing from Baltimore, Maryland

Celebrity Mercury - 9/10-night Bahamas, 11 to 14-night Caribbean Year-round

Sailing from Charleston, South Carolina

Celebrity Mercury - 10/11-night Caribbean Winter 2010/11

No matter when you want to go, or how long you want to cruise, a Celebrity Cruise ship can take you to somewhere in the Caribbean. I hope you noticed that all three of the Solstice-class ships will be deployed in the Caribbean. Having been on Celebrity Solstice for it's inaugural, I can confirm that she is a magnificent cruise ship - one that will exceed your expectations.

Form a Group Sailing to the Caribbean - We have Special Pricing thru August 31st

Please submit your Group request here.

Call me or email me requesting a flyer with more details about these cruises. There is too much details to post in a blog note.