Cruise West Undergoing Restructuring

New Bookings Suspended

Spirit of Oceanus Cruise Terminated

Cruise West announced the continuation of restructuring of the company.  Passengers on the Spirit of Oceanus' Voyage of the Great Explorers terminated their world cruise in Newfoundland, Canada.

A recorded message indicates that the cruise line has not been sold and that the call center is temporarily closed as the company restructures.

According to the line's press release, "Additional assets may be sold and other steps are being pursued towards a restructure. As part of this process, Cruise West has suspended accepting any new bookings." 

The statement indicated that some cruises will continue:


"The Spirit of Endeavour will sail from Seattle on the British Columbia Cruise and the Spirit of '98 from Portland, or along the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Cruise West will also complete cruises or land tours already underway in Alaska."

According to information on the Cruise West website, impacted guests who have not yet traveled on the Spirit of Oceanus world cruise should file a claim with their third-party insurance company, contact their credit card company, or if payment was made by check, contact info@cruisewest.com.

The statement indicated that executives would not take media calls at this time and will be releasing additional details in the future.   We will monitor this developing story and report any updates.

For more information, call the company's emergency number at 888-396-0280, email info@cruisewest.com or visit www.cruisewest.com.

Why 3rd-party Travel Insurance Important

This unfortunate situation, for passengers impacted by the terminated cruise, underscores the importance of purchasing third-party travel insurance at the time your cruise is booked.    Cruise line failures are rare, but when they occur, passengers can be stranded in remote parts of the world.  Fortunately, this cruise was terminated in one of the scheduled ports of call, perhaps minimizing the impact on the guests.  


About Cruise West

Cruise West offers small-ship experiences to guests.   We hope that they will be able to obtain the necessary funding to continue operations.  We wish them success in their restructuring efforts.    Stayed tuned for more information as it becomes available.

Royal Caribbean ChoiceAir

ChoiceAir Promotion
Starting December 14, 2009

Alaska, Caribbean, Bahamas Offer (click) Cruisetour Offer

Dubai, Europe, Mexico, Hawaii Offer (click)

Royal Caribbean International introduced a new air/sea program called ChoiceAir this year. It is a new way for guests to buy their air transportation to and from their cruise vacation. Guests are able to purchase their airline tickets at the best available prices, when they are booking their cruise.

The program is different than traditional air/sea programs in that customers select their own flights from all published airline schedules and fare types. Guests may book directly on the website, over the phone with Royal Caribbean, or through their travel partner. No matter who makes the ChoiceAir reservation, the guest is assured the best value for their cruise by tying their airline reservations to their cruise.

When guests use ChoiceAir, Royal Caribbean can monitor travel to the ship, and step in to help should they run into trouble in transit. They will ensure the Guest makes it to the ship or if necessary work with the airline partners to get them to the next port-of-call, whenever possible.

The ChoiceAir website filters air displays to fit the cruise time parameters, allows a guest to use different credit cards to pay for each guest in a reservation, links the air reservation with their cruise reservation, and provides optional airport to seaport transfers.

ChoiceAir is offered for Domestic flights and also in many International Markets. There is a $15.00 per person non-refundable service fee for domestic North American destinations and $25.00 per person non-refundable for International destinations.

Purchasing your flights through ChoiceAir is similar to doing so directly with the airline. All tickets are subject to the airline's rules. Generally on a nonrefundable ticket, the guest may re-use the ticket, subject to any fees imposed by the airline. You will be subject to any penalties or restrictions imposed by the airline. Guests may call the ChoiceAir Support desk and change or cancel the reservation.

For more information about ChoiceAir consult the website or call your travel consultant.

Flights can be added to a cruise reservation via ChoiceAir up to 7 days before your cruise. From time to time, Royal Caribbean will have ChoiceAir promotions, such as the one which is currently in progress.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Itineraries

Introducing Celebrity Select Dining

Now Available to

Pre-Reserve Online Fleetwide

Celebrity Cruises Announces Flexible Dinner Option

Starting this Fall

Celebrity Select Dining is a new flexible dining option that allows you to choose when you dine on a day by day basis. You’ll still be seated in the ship’s main dining room, order from the same dinner menu, and enjoy the same amazing service that you’re accustomed to onboard Celebrity Cruises, but with more flexibility.

Once you’ve chosen Celebrity Select Dining in your reservation, you can make your day by day reservations pre-cruise, reserve once onboard or simply come to the dining room whenever you’d like to have dinner.*

Celebrity Select Dining debuts onboard Celebrity Equinox, beginning with the September 26, 2009 sailing. All other ships in the fleet will introduce the program during the first quarter of 2010.

Historically, guests on most cruise lines decided at the time of booking whether they wanted early or late seating for dinner in the main dining room. Sometimes that meant rushing to dinner after a relaxing spa treatment or cutting that shopping trip short so that you could get back to your cabin to change for dinner.

With this new program, plan your dinner around your daily activities. If you want to spend some extra time sightseeing in port, you’ll have the option to dine a little later that evening. Celebrity Select Dining is all about flexibility. You can choose to dine in the Main Dining room at any time between 6:00 and 9:30 pm each evening. If you wish, you can dine at different times throughout the cruise - the flexibility is yours.

For those that like to plan in advance, make your day by day dining reservations online before your cruise. Celebrity Cruises recommends online reservations for the best possible dining experience. Reservations will be accepted onboard the ship also.

Key Highlights of Celebrity Select Dining SM

• Same amazing service as traditional seating
• Same menu as traditional seating
• Still seated in the Main Dining Room
• Pre-paid gratuities are required to participate — this includes tips for your waiter, assistant waiter, dining room management, and all stateroom service.
• You have the choice to either dine with other guests or just with your own party
• Once Celebrity Select Dining is selected in the cruise booking, day by day reservations can be made pre-cruise online on celebritycruises.com
• Reservations are strongly encouraged in order to avoid a delay in seating, and can be made online pre-cruise up to 4 days prior to sailing, or onboard with the Maitre ‘d
• Only groups of 20 or less can be seated at one time
• Celebrity Select Dining is subject to availability

*Celebrity Select DiningSM is subject to availability, and gratuities must be prepaid in order to participate. Only groups of 20 or less can be seated at one time.

To make your reservations for Celebrity Select Dining, contact your travel agent or visit www.celebritycruises.com/celebrityselectdining.

Celebrity Cruises Overview & Itineraries