More Destinations Beyond Caribbean

click image to enlarge

Cruising Life Cycle

In our previous post, Been on Caribbean Cruise What Next, we spoke about first-time cruisers who sailed to the Bahamas and Caribbean on short voyages.   We also took a look at several longer cruises of  7 night duration.   This article will discuss more alternatives, including longer voyages.

Seasonal Travel

While there are several options beyond the Caribbean, the time of year that you decide to travel may limit your choices.  For example, the Alaskan cruise season goes from May through late August / early September.   Our next destination, can only be enjoyed in the Summer and early Fall.

Canada / New England

From the picturesque towns and rocky coast of Maine to the breathtaking beauty of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, you will enjoy a picturesque cruise experience without having to travel far from home when you visit Canada / New England.  These cruises can be anywhere from 4 - 5 nights to more than a week.  VIEW ITINERARIES

Mexico

Mexico is not just sunny beaches and great water sports. Mexico's Spanish colonial roots fused with her turbulent Indian ancestry have engendered a rich cultural history.  VIEW OFFERS

For those on the west coast, a short Mexican cruise may be your first time adventure.  Ports like Cabo San Lucas offer beautiful scenery and water sports.   Calling on one or more Mexican ports is often part of longer cruises in the Pacific Ocean or Panama Canal crossings.

Asia / Exotics

Asia is just as much a land of superlatives in current times: the largest continent, the tallest mountains, the longest coastline, and three-fifth's the world's population. The riches of Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei still defy description... BEGIN SEARCH

When you think of Exotic destinations, what comes to mind?  For us there's nothing like the Galapagos, A Land Beyond Xpectations.

World Cruises

Of all the world's travel experiences, none can compare to a world cruise. You will discover legendary antiquities from the Acropolis in Athens to the Pyramids of Egypt. Trace the footsteps of biblical prophets in Israel from Jerusalem to Nazareth. Transit the historic Suez Canal, sail the Pacific to Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Hong Kong. It is not only where you journey that determines your overall enjoyment, but how. A world cruise offers the ultimate travel adventure! You will see parts of the world you always dreamed about -- and all from the comfort of your luxurious cruise ship... BEGIN SEARCH

Cruising is About Choices

Hopefully we've convinced you that there's a lot more to see via cruise ship than the Caribbean.  Of course, there is nothing wrong with taking a cruise to The Bahamas or Caribbean, especially in the winter time when it is cold, windy, and snowy in your home town.   We'll continue with more choices in our next post.   Until then, check out the links we've provided to learn more about these destinations.  Happy Cruising !!

2014-15 Celebrity Cruises World Tour

Celebrity Cruises  announced the kickoff of “Celebrity’s World Tour 2014-15,” the brand’s introduction of guest-inspired, destination-rich, modern luxury vacations to all seven continents of the world.  The collection of itineraries in Celebrity’s World Tour will be revealed in detail as each set opens for bookings over the next four weeks.

The World tour features destination-rich vacations the in each of the seven continents, with more ports of call, more overnight stays, and the modern luxury style, design, cuisine and entertainment the brand is known for delivering onboard.

Click on Image for Deployment Details Celebrity Cruises Presents "Celebrity's World Tour"  HTML version | Download PDF version Celebrity Captain’s Club Cruisetour Offer

To further enhance guests' destination experience, every Celebrity ship in 2014 will offer the services of a Destination Concierge, whose in-depth knowledge of the ports of call on every itinerary will allow the expert to guide Celebrity's guests through every aspect of their adventures on land, including Celebrity Exclusives, or to create special excursions tailored precisely for individual guests' preferences.


With Celebrity's World Tour, Celebrity's valued Captain's Club members receive "Priority Access" with the opportunity to be first to book the new sailings with exclusive offers. The first in the portfolio – Celebrity's 2014 Bermuda, as well as Canada & New England – is now open to loyalty members.

2014-15 Royal Caribbean Deployments

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has begun announcing their 2014-2015 Deployment Schedule. We will be updating the table below with a link to pages on our website with more details about the ships and itineraries included in each deployment. As of this initial posting, two schedules have been released: the Summer Caribbean and Northeast and the Fall Bermuda and Canada/New England.  

Summer Caribbean and Northeast

Select from amongst the following ships: Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, and Freedom of the Seas. 

• Oasis, Allure, and Freedom feature alternating 7-Night Eastern and Western Caribbean Itineraries. 
• Explorer and Grandeur feature Bermuda with 5 & 9-Night and 6 & 7-Night cruises respectively

Fall Bermuda and Canada/New England

Select from Brilliance of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, and Grandeur of the Seas.

• Brilliance features 7-Night Canada/New England
• Explorer sails 9-Night Canada/New England and 5 & 9-Night Bermuda
• Grandeur sails 8-Night Canada/New England and 6-Night Bermuda

For more information:

FEBRUARY 7, 2013	Summer Caribbean and Northeast
MARCH 6, 2013	Fall Bermuda and Canada/New England
MARCH 13, 2013	Alaska
MARCH 14, 20, 28, 2013	Europe and Transatlantics
MAY 1, 2013	Australia and Hawaii
APRIL 18, 2013	Winter Caribbean and Northeast
APRIL 23, 2013	Short Caribbean and Bahamas

If you haven’t signed up for our eSavers Newsletter yet, be sure to do so. This is just one of our communication vehicles to keep you informed about industry news and special offers for our loyal followers.

Bracing for Major Hurricane Irene

High above the Earth from aboard the International Space Station,
astronaut Ron Garan snapped this image of Hurricane Irene
as it passed over the Caribbean on Aug. 22, 2011.                  Credit: NASA

Major Hurricane Irene

Continues to Impact

Cruise Schedules

East Coast Bracing 

for Landfall

For the second weekend in a row, Irene, now a Major Hurricane, is dominating the weather and causing local governments and the entire travel industry to scramble to revise schedules to keep property and people safe from harm.

Atlantic Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

200 PM EDT SUN AUG 28 2011

...CENTER OF IRENE MOVING OVER SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND...

Warnings Issued for Hurricane Irene -- See this post for current warnings, location, hazards, and other updates

      CURRENT WARNINGS       TRAVEL ADVISORIES        StormScape LIVE    

      INTERACTIVE TRACKING      CANADA HURRICANE CENTRE

Despite Hurricane Irene's weakening to a Category One status, it is still packing quite a punch and has local governments scrambling to keep property and residents safe.   The NHC is warning that all of the tropical cyclone Hazards:  Wind, heavy Rainfall, Storm Surge, Surf, and Tornadoes are forecast.

Hurricane of the Century

The GOES-13 satellite saw Hurricane Irene
on August 27, 2011 at 10:10 a.m. EDT
after it made landfall at 8 a.m. in Cape Lookout, NC.
Irene's outer bands had already extended into New England.
(Credit: NASA/NOAA GOES Project)
Click image for more dramatic images of Hurricane Irene

Many are referring to Hurricane Irene as the storm of the century.   Mandatory evacuations have begun for parts of the eastern seaboard of the United States.  The picture above, courtesy of NASA, shows why there is this great concern.   The hurricane is massive!  As we write this article, Irene is a Category Three Hurricane with winds in excess of 115 MPH.   Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 290 miles.

Ten States Declare Emergencies - Mandatory Evacuations Across the Region
Transportation Systems Shut Down

Irene will move northwest and approach the North Carolina Coast this weekend before continuing its journey north, skimming the Mid-Atlantic coast with possible landfall in New England.

Fifty-five million people are potentially in Hurricane Irene's path, from the Carolinas to Cape Cod on the U.S. East Coast, and tens of thousands are evacuating as cities including New York brace for the powerful storm to hit.

NYC Unprecedented Evacuation / Transit Shutdown

As powerful Hurricane Irene makes it way up the East Coast of the United States, New York City ordered nearly 300,000 people to evacuate flood-prone areas and subways.  The New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has begun a full system shutdown.  Philadelphia and New Jersey will also shut down on Saturday.

It was the first time the nation's largest city was evacuated. Never before has the entire mass transit system been shuttered because of a storm.  New York city has not seen a storm of this magnitude in decades.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he was confident people would get out of the storm's way.

"Waiting until the last minute is not a smart thing to do," Bloomberg said. "This is life-threatening."

President Obama spoke with reporters from the farm where he is vacationing on an island off the Boston coast.  He will be leaving the area on Saturday well ahead of the storm.

"All indications point to this being a historic hurricane," 

"I cannot stress this highly enough. If you are in the projected path of this hurricane, you have to take precautions now. Don't wait. Don't delay," Obama said.

Cruise Ship Travel Alerts

This past week, many cruises had their itineraries altered to outrun the storm.   In most cases, port orders were changed or in some cases, Bahamas ports were swapped for Western Caribbean ports.

As the weekend approaches and the hurricane bears down on many of the homeports along the east coast, ships are racing to arrive ahead of the storm.  Several itineraries have been modified to cut the current cruise short, arriving in the homeport as much as a day early.  Some ships will delay arrivals until Monday. Departures for weekend cruises vary by port with some scheduled on time while others departing a day or more late. 

Ports impacted:  Baltimore, Bayonne New Jersey, Boston, New York, 

Travel Advisory Links:

Major Cruise Ship Impact  <---- click here for latest updates

Carnival Tropical Storm Irene - Itinerary Updates
RCI Tropical Weather Update
NCL Tropical Weather Updates 
Holland America Travel Advisories
Celebrity Cruises Travel Advisories  

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

NOAA Hurricane Central 

Airline Travel Advisories

Major airlines -- including US Airways, American, United Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines and AirTran -- have dropped ticket change fees for passengers scheduled to fly to or from many cities along the East Coast this weekend. 

Airlines canceled more than 9,000 flights for the weekend and another 250 on Monday, according to the online flight tracking service Flightaware.com.

Check directly with your airline carrier for latest cancellation information

Additional Travel Woes

Transit systems in New York City, Philadelphia and New Jersey   shut down on Saturday.

Amtrak Cancels More East Coast Trains in Advance of Hurricane Irene

Greyhound has canceled or delayed a number of routes because of the storm.

Hurricane Preparedness

Each year NHC, FEMA, and other government agencies host several events to raise awareness about the dangers of tropical storms and hurricanes.  See our Hurricane Zone for links to articles we published in conjunction with this year's Hurricane Preparedness Week as well as those from past years.  For those planning to sail this weekend, be sure to read Hurricane Preparedness for Cruisers

We will continue to monitor this major hurricane and post updates.  Hurricane Zone will point to the latest information.   We have provided several links which provide up to the minute news, forecasts, advisories.

Disaster Prevention should include:

•  Developing a Family Plan
•  Creating a Disaster Supply Kit
•  Having a Place to Go
•  Securing your Home
•  Having a Pet Plan

"How To" guides for protecting your property from flooding &amp; high winds. (FEMA)

Celebrity Cruises 2011 Bermuda & Canada

Bermuda, Canada & Celebrity Summit - courtesy Celebrity Cruises

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

Celebrity Summit®

2011 BERMUDA, CANADA, NEW ENGLAND DEPLOYMENT

8-Night Bermuda & Caribbean
San Juan, Puerto Rico • Philipsburg, St. Maarten • Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas • Tortola, B.V.I • Kings Wharf, Bermuda (overnight) • Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey

7-Night Bermuda

Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey • Kings Wharf, Bermuda (overnight 2 nights) • Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey

14-Night Canada & New England
Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey • Boston, Massachusetts • Portland, Maine • Bar Harbor, Maine • Halifax, Nova Scotia • Quebec City, Quebec • Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island • Sydney, Nova Scotia • Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey

14-Night Canada & New England
Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey • Boston, Massachusetts • Portland, Maine • Bar Harbor, Maine • Halifax, Nova Scotia • Quebec City, Quebec • Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island • Newport, Rhode Island • Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey

6-Night Bermuda & Caribbean
Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey • Kings Wharf, Bermuda • Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas • San Juan, Puerto Rico

Enchanting the Port of Baltimore

Enchantment of the Seas® 

Sailing Year-round from Baltimore Maryland

Baltimore just got more enchanting. Enchantment of the Seas® is now sailing year-round from this beautiful city, offering more onboard activities and amenities than any other ship in the area.  

Royal Caribbean's Vision Class of ships include exciting new features like Bungee trampolines, suspension bridges, an expanded Pool Deck, and the interactive Splash Deck, a great spot for kids to get soaked. Enjoy Boleros, the new Latin-themed lounge; work up a sweat in the fitness facilities; and then cool down with a cone from Ben & Jerry's.  Learn More about Enchantment of the Seas®

5-Night Bermuda 

Baltimore, Maryland • Kings Wharf, Bermuda (Overnight) • Baltimore, Maryland

8/9-Night New England & Canada 

Baltimore, Maryland • Portland, Maine • Saint John, New Brunswick • Halifax, Nova Scotia • Bar Harbor, Maine • Boston, Massachusetts • Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore, Maryland • Portland, Maine • Bar Harbor, Maine • Saint John, New Brunswick • Halifax, Nova Scotia • Boston, Massachusetts • Baltimore, Maryland

9-Night Bahamas 

Baltimore, Maryland • Port Canaveral, Florida • Key West, Florida • Nassau, Bahamas • Cococay®, Bahamas • Baltimore, Maryland

9-Night Eastern Caribbean 

Baltimore, Maryland • San Juan, Puerto, Rico • Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas • Samana, Dominican Republic • Labadee®, Haiti • Baltimore, Maryland

12-Night Southern Caribbean 

Baltimore, Maryland • Labadee®, Haiti • Samana, Dominican Republic • San Juan, Puerto Rico • Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas • Philipsburg, St. Maarten • Tortola, British Virgin Islands • Baltimore, Maryland

Carnival Announces Price Increases

Photo courtesy Carnival Cruise Line

Wave Season Ending Soon
Prices to Increase

Do you remember my post, Now is the Time, from last December? In that post, I told you that in a meeting that I had with cruise line executives, they foretold of increasing prices. Ladies and Gentlemen ... That Day Is HERE.

For those not familiar with the term "Wave Season", this is the most important time for the cruise line industry during the year. It runs from mid-January through early Spring and besides being the most important time, it is also the busiest time.

Carnival Cruise Line announced yesterday that they have seen record bookings for the current Wave Season and as a result of the strong reservation activity for 2010 departures, have announced a general price increase that will become effective March 22nd.

Carnival President and CEO Gerry Cahill said, "We're seeing significantly increased volume as consumers are taking advantage of the incredible value that a Carnival cruise provides. And while pricing hasn't fully recovered to 2008 levels, we are increasing prices and will implement an across-the-board increase effective March 22."

He said that the price increases will vary by departure date but will be up to 5 percent.

Cahill attributed the record booking activity to a wide range of factors, including strong travel agent partner support, targeted marketing initiatives, itinerary enhancements and the wide variety of close-to-home departure points.

Carnival Cruise Lines is the largest and most popular cruise line in the world, with 22 "Fun Ships" operating voyages ranging from three to 15 days in length to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Canada, New England and Europe.

Carnival also has two new ships on order -- the 130,000-ton Carnival Magic, which is scheduled for delivery in 2011, and a sister ship set to debut in 2012.

So, just as I predicted last December, this is only the first of many such announcements which I've been expecting. If you have plans to take a summer vacation with your family this year, I strongly encourage you to book now. We are here to help you. As Cruise Specialists, we are experts in finding the right cruise to meet your requirements. Even with price increases, a cruise is still the best travel value out there.

Currently we are featuring Up to a 2-Category Upgrade on Carnival. Find More Carnival Cruises Here.

February Celebrity Cruise Offer

February Cruise Offer

In past articles, we've talked about the various destinations that Celebrity Cruises sail to. These include Europe (featuring the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, and Russia), Alaska, Canada & New England, Bahamas, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. I think you'll agree that these are among the most sought-after cruise destinations.

You've also heard about the Solstice-class ships as well as the Millennium-class ships that bring innovation and comfort to you from the moment you walk onboard and are greeted by the friendly Celebrity staff. For those that like a little smaller ship, Mercury and Century would be among your choices in the Celebrity fleet.

For this month only, we have arranged additional savings onboard select Celebrity cruises to introduce you to the cruise line that is Designed for You SM.

Receive Up to $100 in Onboard Credit
7-10 Night Itineraries -$50 Onboard Credit
11+ Night Itineraries - $100 Onboard Credit
(Ocean View and higher staterooms/ per cabin)

Click the following link for complete details:
Up to $100 in Onboard Credit

Booking Window: February 1 – February 28, 2010

Best cabin selections are available to those that plan early, so I suggest that you review the itineraries that are featured in this month's sale and place your deposit to lock in this deal.

Thanksgiving Greetings 2009

Keukenhof Gardens - Holland

HAPPY
THANKSGIVING

Lepreau Falls - Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is here already. Where did 2009 go? As has become my tradition, I'd like to share with you some of the things that I'm thankful for and highlight some of my adventures this year.

I hope that you, your family, and friends have plenty to be thankful for this holiday season. I know that I have plenty of things to be thankful for, including my health, family, and friends and the ability to share my love of cruising with all of you. I’m grateful that I’ve been able to explore new worlds with family and friends again this year.

While this has been a tough economic year, it appears that the cruise industry has weathered the storm. Just this month, we have been highlighting the introduction of Oasis of the Seas. Royal Caribbean International has set the standard bar quite high with this new marvel. The value of cruising has never been stronger. Even in these tough times, more and more families have taken to the seas. There were some record discounts offered, making it even a better value, and consequently we have seen a surge in first-time cruisers.

The photos above are from some of our cruises this year. The true highlight of the year was our Tulip Time river cruise on AMA Waterways Amalegro. We sailed out of Amsterdam, Netherlands visiting the surrounding Belgium and Holland area. My favorite memories are of the Keukenhof Gardens (top photo) where we saw thousands of tulips in bloom and Brussels where we feasted on Belgium chocolates and freshly made Belgium waffles topped with fruit and chocolate.

Mid-year we visited Canada and New England stopping at Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada (middle photo) and Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Reversing Falls in Saint John and a Tall Ship Sailing Experience were two of my favorite things from that cruise vacation.

Our National Conference departed last month from Baltimore, Maryland (bottom photo), and sailed to Port Canaveral and then on to the Bahamas. Carnival Pride is now sailing year-round from this port which is within driving distance of many parts of the Eastern United States. Our visit to Baltimore was definitely a highlight of this trip as was our all day excursion to Blue Lagoon.

When the Pilgrims came to the New World, they came in Tall Ships, much like the one we sailed on in Halifax. The average length of those ships were 110 feet. The length of the Oasis of the Seas is more than 10 times that at 1182 feet. The Pilgrim ships had 32 - 150 passengers while the Oasis can hold more than 6300 (not counting the crew). It took months to cross the Atlantic while the Oasis of the Seas took 14 days (due to the storm encountered in the Northern Atlantic).

Thank you for making my blog column a part of your lives in 2009. I hope that the information I share helps you to dream about future cruises of your own. I'd be honored to help you plan those trips. I have the best job in the world - helping make dreams come true. For that, I'm truly thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving to All

Where in the World Does Celebrity Cruise - Vol. 2

Bermuda

Yes folks, our second destination in our series on Where in the World does Celebrity Cruise in 2010/2011 is Bermuda. For those on the East Coast of the U.S., you have a destination where you can truly escape from it all without having to venture too far.

Each of the Celebrity Bermuda itineraries offers at least one overnight in King's Wharf, providing you an ample opportunity to experience a phenomenon found in few other places – beaches with pink sand.

This is Celebrity's Bermuda – so close to home yet so different from any other place. Choose from 6 to 8-night cruise vacations to Bermuda from New Jersey or San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Celebrity Summit ®

Sailing from Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey

7-Night Bermuda
4/25; 5/9, 5/23, 5/30; 6/6, 6/13, 6/27; 7/11, 7/25; 8/8, 8/22; 9/5/2010

Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey; Kings Wharf, Bermuda (overnight 2 nights); Cape Liberty, Bayonne, NJ

7-Night Bermuda & New England
5/2 & 6/20/10

Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey; Newport, Rhode Island; Kings Wharf, Bermuda (overnight); Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey

7-Night Bermuda & New England
05/16/10

Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey; Newport, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts; Kings Wharf, Bermuda (overnight); Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey

6-Night Bermuda & Caribbean
10/24/10

Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey; Kings Wharf, Bermuda (overnight); Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; San Juan, Puerto Rico

Sailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico

8-Night Bermuda & Caribbean

4/17/10

San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Tortola, B.V.I.; Kings Wharf, Bermuda (overnight); Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey

Form a Group Sailing to Bermuda -

We have Special Pricing thru August 31st

Please submit your Group request here.

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

Holland America 3 Day Sale - Thru Friday, August 14

Act Fast! Sale ends Friday, August 14 at 11:59 p.m., Pacific Time

If you missed the Holland America 3-Day Sale in July, it's not too late to cash in on savings on sailings through the rest of the year.

Attention Mariner Members - Preview Sale - Tuesday, August 11th

Asia & Pacific Rim

Australia & New Zealand

Upgrade to an outside stateroom from $100 on select sailings!

Canada & New England

Upgrade to an outside stateroom from $200 on select sailings!

Caribbean
Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside on select sailings!

Hawaii Cruises

Upgrade to an outside stateroom from only $100 on select sailings!

Holiday Cruises
Upgrade to an outside stateroom from $100 on select sailings!

Mexico Cruises

Upgrade to an outside stateroom from $50 - $100 on select sailings!

Panama Canal
Upgrade to an outside stateroom from $100 on select sailings!

South America & Amazon

Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside or upgrade from only $100 on select sailings!

Transatlantic Voyages

Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside or upgrade to a Verandah from an Ocean View from only $50 on select sailings! Plus enjoy limited-time savings on Verandah Suites!

The list of ships and special cruises are just too numerous to list. Contact me for complete details, but don't wait too long as these deals will go fast. You can also check my web site for a list of Holland America sailings.

Holland America 3 Day Sale (July 15-17)

Holland America 3-Day Sale

July 15-17, 2009

If you missed the Holland America 3-Day Sale in June, it's not too late to cash in on savings to Alaska and other Destinations.

This is a great year to travel to Alaska and what better way to do so than on a Holland America Cruise ship. This sale features new special fares on verandahs and suites as well as upgrades available for as little as $50.

Alaska Sailings Included in this Promotion:

7-Day Alaskan Explorer Cruises (Select departures late August / September)

Get an outside for the price of an inside, or Upgrade from an ocean-view to a verandah for $100 on select sailings!

Other Offers:

Asia & Pacific Rim

Australia & New Zealand

Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside or upgrade from only $100 on select sailings!

Canada & New England

Upgrade to an outside stateroom from $200-$300 on select sailings

Mediterranean & Western Europe

Transatlantic Voyages
Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside—or upgrade to a Verandah from an Ocean View from only $50 on select sailings! Plus enjoy limited-time savings on Verandah Suites!

Hawaii Cruises

Upgrade to an outside stateroom from only $100 on select sailings!

Mexico Cruises

Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside or upgrade from only $50 or $100 on select sailings!

South America & Amazon

Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside or upgrade from only $100 on select sailings!

Caribbean & Panama Canal

Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside on select sailings!

Holiday Cruises

Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside!

The list of ships and special cruises are just too numerous to list. Contact me for complete details, but don't wait too long as these deals will go fast. You can also check my web site for a list of Holland America sailings.

Happy Father's Day

Greetings from the Atlantic. We are onboard Carnival Triumph for a cruise to Canada and New England. We arrived at New York LGA airport yesterday where we then took a cab to the Manhattan Terminal. We arrived around 1 PM and by 2 PM we were onboard having some lunch.

The weather in New York was gloomy and raining as we sailed out of New York Harbour. It didn't matter - it is still wonderful sailing past the Statue of Liberty.

Today we are enjoying Father's Day at sea. The weather is still gloomy, but it isn't stopping us from having a good time.

One of the first things we did yesterday after getting something to eat was to take the spa tour. We both booked massages including a free hot stone treatment on the back. They were offering specials during the spa tours.

I'll write more later in the week. I hope all the fathers have a great Father's Day today. Hopefully you'll have a cruise vacation as a gift. If you still got the usual tie, you might want to drop a hint for your birthday or next holiday.

Celebrity Cruises Exclusive Sale

Celebrity Cruises Beat The Heat Summer Sale

Now thru June 30, 2009

Celebrity Cruises has teamed up with World Travel Holdings (parent company of Cruises Inc.) to offer guests an Exclusive Sale now through the end of this month. I can only share a glimpse of the offer here - you'll have to contact me for full details.

Receive UP to $100 in Onboard Credit, when you book an Ocean View stateroom or higher on any MENTIONED departure.

Select from certain sailings August, 2009, through January, 2010, to destinations such as Alaska, Bermuda, Caribbean, Canada & New England, Mediterannean and other parts of Europe, Panama Canal, South America, and Transatlantic voyages.

Ships include some of the old favorites like Centruy, Constellation, Infinity, Mercury, Millennium, and Summit. The sale also includes select voyages on Equinox and Solstice, their newest ships.

Celebrity Cruises, a premium cruise line, has one of the youngest and most innovative fleets of any major line. Since Celebrity's first sailing in 1990, it has been recognized as an industry leader, praised for providing friendly and engaging service, exotic Elemis Spa facilities, award-winning gourmet cuisine, and an overall atmosphere of easy elegance. Purchased by Royal Caribbean International in the late 1990's, Celebrity has grown its fleet significantly while maintaining its Premium niche. More information about Celebrity Cruises and Itineraries.

Onboard Credit offers ($50 per stateroom – 7 – 10 night itineraries /$100 per stateroom- 11+ night itineraries) are in U.S. dollars and are not redeemable for cash. This offer is valid for NEW individual Ocean view and higher stateroom bookings, made June 1 – 30, 2009 on mentioned departures. Group bookings are not valid. THE OFFER CAN BE USED WITH CERTAIN FARES.

Additional restrictions apply - contact me for full details.

Holland America 3 Day Sale - Alaska & Other Destinations

Holland America 3-Day Sale

June 17-19, 2009

If you missed the Holland America 3-Day Sale in May, it's not too late to cash in on savings to Alaska and other Destinations.

This is a great year to travel to Alaska and what better way to do so than on a Holland America Cruise ship. This sale features new special fares on verandahs and suites as well as upgrades available for as little as $50.

Sample of July / August, 2009

Alaska Sailings Included in this Promotion:

7-Day Alaskan Explorer Cruises — Roundtrip Seattle

ms Zaandam: Friday Departures via Glacier Bay

Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside!

7-Day Alaskan Explorer Cruises — Roundtrip Seattle

ms Amsterdam: Saturday Departures via Hubbard Glacier

Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside!

7-Day Alaskan Explorer Cruises — Roundtrip Seattle

ms Westerdam: Sunday Departures via Glacier Bay

Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside or a verandah stateroom for the price of an ocean-view!

7-Day Glacier Bay Inside Passage — Roundtrip Vancouver

ms Volendam: Wednesday Departures via Glacier Bay

Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside!

7-Day Glacier Bay Inside Passage — Roundtrip Vancouver

ms Zuiderdam: Saturday Departures via Glacier Bay

Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside or a verandah stateroom for the price of an ocean-view!

7-Day Glacier Discovery — Vancouver to Seward (or reverse)

ms Ryndam: Friday Departures via Hubbard Glacier

ms Statendam: Sunday Departures via Glacier Bay

ms Veendam: Sunday Departures via Glacier Bay

Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside!

14-Day Back-to-Back Glacier Discovery— Roundtrip Vancouver

ms Veendam & ms Statendam: Sunday Departures via Glacier Bay

Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside!

Alaska CruiseTour

Select July & August Departures

Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside!

Other Offers:

Asia & Pacific Rim

Australia & New Zealand

Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside or upgrade from only $100 on select sailings!

Canada & New England

Upgrade to an outside stateroom from $100-$200 on select sailings

Mediterranean & Western Europe

Enjoy limited-time savings on Verandah Suites!

Transatlantic Voyages

Upgrade to a Verandah Stateroom from an Ocean View from only $50 on select sailings!

Plus enjoy limited-time savings on Verandah Suites!

Hawaii Cruises

Upgrade to an outside stateroom from only $100 on select sailings!

Mexico Cruises

Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside or upgrade from only $50 or $100 on select sailings!

South America & Amazon

Get an outside stateroom for the price of an inside or upgrade from only $100 on select sailings!

Caribbean & Panama Canal

Special savings on select cruises

The list of ships and special cruises are just too numerous to list. Contact me for complete details, but don't wait too long as these deals will go fast. You can also check my web site for a list of Holland America sailings.

Holland America 3 Day Sale

Holland America Line - 3 Day Sale

Get the best fares of the season

when you book May 27-29, 2009

Where do you want to go on your next cruise vacation? Holland America Line has announced a three day sale now through Friday, May 29th. Virtually all of their destinations are on sale with special pricing and other offers.

Perhaps one of the following offers might appeal to you. There are way too many cruises to list in this blog, but I'd be happy to provide details on any of the itineraries - just call or email me for more information.

Sample of the offers:

Get an outside for the price of an inside!
• Alaska Cruise / Cruisetours
• Asia & Pacific Rim
• Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific
• South America & Amazon
• Holiday Cruises
• Panama Canal Cruises

Upgrade to an outside from $50-$100 on select sailings
• Asia & Pacific Rim
• South America & Amazon
• Canada & New England Cruises
• Hawaii Cruises

Upgrade to a Verandah from an Ocean View from only $50 on select sailings! Plus enjoy limited-time savings on Verandah Suites!
• Northern Europe Cruises
• Mediterranean & Western Europe Cruises
• Transatlantic Voyages

There are also special pricing on Caribbean sailings. Savings start today for Mariners.

Crystal has something better than "all inclusive."

AS YOU WISH PROGRAM

With Crystal Cruises' new As You Wish promotion you’ll receive up to $2,000 in shipboard credits to spend anyway you wish. Indulge in spa treatments, fine wines, a Vintage Room experience with your friends, gratuities for your favorite waiter, something special from the boutiques, or even a unique Crystal Adventures® shore excursion.

The choices – all of them – are yours.

Chose to be pampered with an aromatherapy massage in the Crystal Spa followed by a shopping spree in the fine boutiques onboard. In the evening, dine at Prego and try the popular braised beef short ribs paired with your favorite bottle of red wine. You may also wish to spend your $2,000 on fascinating Crystal Adventures ashore. Decide from a long list of excursions and select one that fits your desires.

Choose from 17 Mediterranean and Northern Europe cruises, as well as New England & Canada, Panama Canal, Caribbean, Trans-Atlantic or South America cruises to spend these credits as you wish, and you’ll soon realize that award-winning luxury has never afforded you this much freedom.

Call me to learn more about Crystal Cruises itineraries and this offer. You can also visit Sea Luxury Cruises by Cruises Inc. Luxury - You Deserve It

Why Not Northeast 2010

Close your eyes and think about your 2010 cruise vacation

What images do you see?

Perhaps you see unusual famed pink sand beaches and vibrant pastel homes or nature trails, kayaks and white water rafting or lighthouses and lobsters or people swimming with dolphins, parasailing and relaxing on the beach.

Where might you be? Do you give up? The answer is on a Royal Caribbean cruise somewhere in the Northeast. The 2010 Northeast Deployment schedule was announced today and cruises are available for booking.

Royal Caribbean will have three ships, the Enchantment of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, and the Jewel of the Seas deployed in the Northeast for the 2010 season. The destinations include Bermuda, Bahamas, Canada, New England, and the Eastern Caribbean.

The ships will sail from Baltimore; Boston; Norfolk, VA; and Cape Liberty in Bayonne, NJ, on 84 cruises. You'll be able to select from five to nine-night cruises. Recognizing that many people want to avoid flying and instead depart from close-to-home ports, Royal Caribbean has launched the first year-round deployment in the Baltimore, Maryland port on the Enchantment of the Seas.

For more information about the Northeast destinations or the itineraries, consult my website or give me a call. I'd be happy to help plan your 2010 cruise vacation to one of these destinations.

Cruising Canada / New England

Cruises to Canada and New England are seasonal and ranges from short 5 Night Summer getaways to longer 10 night Foliage Cruises in the Fall. These cruises typically depart from New York or Boston and include visits to most of these ports depending upon the ship and sailing date: Bar Harbor, Maine, New Brunswick, St. Johns, Newfoundland, Montreal, Quebec, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

St. John's is the capital of the Canadian province of Newfoundland. It is the oldest city in North America. One of the tours possible in Newfoundland is "Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, Bird Island Adventure". It is a six hour tour that includes a lobster lunch with all the trimmings.

Halifax is the capital of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It is the largest city in Canada's Atlantic provinces. It was founded in 1749 by Honorable Edward Cornwallis. The city retains many historic buildings such as the Naval Dockyard and St. Paul's Church. One possible tour in Nova Scotia is "Peggy's Cove & Lobster Boil". It is a 5 1/2 hour tour that includes a lobster lunch with all the trimmings. You can definitely get your fill of lobster in this part of Canada.

Summer or Fall, Canada and New England is a pleasant alternative to cruising in the Caribbean.