Thinking about booking your next cruise? Well this is the time to take advantage of the considerable discounts that many cruise lines are offering. Non profit organization, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), has issued a press release detailing the onboard credits and savings that you can receive by booking your cruise in the next few weeks. For the month of February, many member lines of CLIA are offering special rates, onboard credits, deposit waivers or other incentives designed to stimulate record cruise sales for 2008. This year's Wave Season offers a range from savings of more than 50 percent of cruise prices to onboard credits worth hundreds of dollars, stateroom upgrades and other perks. Here's a sampling of offers (unless otherwise noted, offers extend through February 29). For the full list of discounts available, please visit www.cruising.org
Carnival Cruise Lines: Special rates of $249 to $339 per person on select departure dates for three- to five-day voyages on Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration, both with new Serenity adults-only decks and Carnival Waterworks aqua parks.
Celebrity Cruises: Onboard credits of $50 to $200 per stateroom, based on the length of voyage, on cruises in Alaska, the Caribbean and Europe.
Cunard Line: Onboard credits of up to $300, plus a waiver of deposits for second guests on select Queen Mary 2 sailings and Queen Victoria maiden European voyages.
Holland America Line: Savings of up to $450 off brochure rates plus upgrades for as little as $100 depending on sailing. The View and Verandah promotion applies to the company's eight ships offering select 2008 Alaska departures.
Norwegian Cruise Line: Weekly special offers, including on-board credits and stateroom upgrades for select destinations, are offered as part of NCL's "Freestyle Resolution Sales Event" and can be found at www.ncl.com. The promotion also includes the chance to win a free cruise.
Princess Cruises: A special "Alaska Wilderness Sale" features savings of $200 per couple plus a $200 onboard credit on Princess cruise tours, with rates starting at $1,399 for an 11-day sailing. The offer is available on many Alaska sailings.
Royal Caribbean International: Onboard credits of up to $200 per stateroom on select Alaska sailings/tours for 2008.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
It's About Time
Seems like a cruise line has finally listened to cruisers complaints. Princess Cruise Line has updated its disembarkation process to allow a more efficient and streamlined process. Moving away from instructing passengers to listen to announcements for their luggage tag color to be called, Princess is now assigning a time and place to assemble on the final morning. Passengers are then escorted to the gangway by a staff member, eliminating the guesswork as to the actual time passengers will disembark.
Passengers now receive a letter the day before the end of the cruise that outlines their designated time to meet in an assigned public room, depending on their return air arrangements. This allows them to sleep in a little longer and enjoy a more relaxed breakfast. The program is being rolled out fleetwide and has received some great feedback already.
Hint for the rest of the industry: Jump on the bandwagon!
Passengers now receive a letter the day before the end of the cruise that outlines their designated time to meet in an assigned public room, depending on their return air arrangements. This allows them to sleep in a little longer and enjoy a more relaxed breakfast. The program is being rolled out fleetwide and has received some great feedback already.
Hint for the rest of the industry: Jump on the bandwagon!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Crystal Gets Physical
Luxury cruise line, Crystal, has begun to offer new shore excursions for their European itineraries that cater toward cruisers who pursue more active endeavors. From May through November the award-winning Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony will offer guests 28 unique voyages showcasing the best-loved cities of Europe and the Mediterranean, now with an expanded roster of Crystal Adventures shore excursions that allow guests to live the experience in a dynamic new way.
This is different take on the typical shore excursions offered in Europe and the Mediterranean. Steering away from the general walking and bus tours of museums, historic sites and shopping tours, Crystal will offer bicycling in Barcelona, cliff climbing in Croatia, and a self-driven off-road Jeep adventure in Mykonos, among many others. According to John Stoll, Crystal’s director of land programs, “Our new outdoor Crystal Adventures offer more rugged encounters unique to each destination -- in some of Europe’s most spectacular settings.”
Many cruise lines have begun to expand their shore excursion programs to include “off the beaten path” destinations and activities. Time will tell if cruise passengers embrace these new options or if the tried and true selections will prevail.
This is different take on the typical shore excursions offered in Europe and the Mediterranean. Steering away from the general walking and bus tours of museums, historic sites and shopping tours, Crystal will offer bicycling in Barcelona, cliff climbing in Croatia, and a self-driven off-road Jeep adventure in Mykonos, among many others. According to John Stoll, Crystal’s director of land programs, “Our new outdoor Crystal Adventures offer more rugged encounters unique to each destination -- in some of Europe’s most spectacular settings.”
Many cruise lines have begun to expand their shore excursion programs to include “off the beaten path” destinations and activities. Time will tell if cruise passengers embrace these new options or if the tried and true selections will prevail.
Monday, January 28, 2008
All About NY
Great news from the Jungle! We’ve launched our newest site, www.CruisingFromNewYork.com. Our staff has teamed up with editor, Anne Campbell, one the co-founders of Cruise Critic and Cruise Mates to bring you the best information on cruising from the New York area. The site offers just about everything you need to know about the three cruise terminals in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Cape-Liberty (Bayonne, N.J.) From the parking facilities to traffic tips for people driving to them, we’ve got it all. There also are comprehensive reviews of the ships that sail from the terminals and a detailed look at the many itineraries available to Bermuda, The Bahamas, the Caribbean, Canada, New England and Europe.
New York is one of North America’s fastest growing cruise home ports. More than one million passengers embarked or disembarked through New York's cruise facilities in 2006. Eight lines now sail regularly out of the city, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Cunard and Celebrity. In addition to cruise information, our site provides tips on hotels, sightseeing, nightlife and shopping in the New York area.
New York is one of North America’s fastest growing cruise home ports. More than one million passengers embarked or disembarked through New York's cruise facilities in 2006. Eight lines now sail regularly out of the city, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Cunard and Celebrity. In addition to cruise information, our site provides tips on hotels, sightseeing, nightlife and shopping in the New York area.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Dancing like the stars
Royal Caribbean is featuring a unique opportunity on their Explorer of the Seas! They’ve teamed up with two time champion Cheryl Burke of the TV show Dancing with the Stars and Louis van Amstel, the Emmy-nominated choreographer for the ABC-TV show to bring guests an all new, interactive dancing competition. Guests can now compete in popular ballroom dance styles and mambo their way to the spotlight in “Invitation to Dance”, RCI’s newest production show featuring guests as the stars.
With the guidance of professional dancers, stylists and make-up artists, guests may just realize their true calling while on vacation. Guests are chosen during an evening of ballroom dancing at the beginning of each cruise, and four couples are selected to participate in the “Invitation to Dance” production show later that week. The finalists will then work with Royal Caribbean’s professional ballroom instructors to learn slick dance moves, attend costume fittings, and receive star treatment in preparation for their Royal Caribbean stage debut.
“Invitation to Dance’ is another example of Royal Caribbean’s dynamic and innovative approach to offering engaging entertainment and activities for our guests,” said Peter Compton, vice president, Entertainment and Guest Activities, Royal Caribbean International. “With all the excitement surrounding competitive dancing on television, we are now challenging our guests to live out a dream while enjoying their cruise vacation.”
With the guidance of professional dancers, stylists and make-up artists, guests may just realize their true calling while on vacation. Guests are chosen during an evening of ballroom dancing at the beginning of each cruise, and four couples are selected to participate in the “Invitation to Dance” production show later that week. The finalists will then work with Royal Caribbean’s professional ballroom instructors to learn slick dance moves, attend costume fittings, and receive star treatment in preparation for their Royal Caribbean stage debut.
“Invitation to Dance’ is another example of Royal Caribbean’s dynamic and innovative approach to offering engaging entertainment and activities for our guests,” said Peter Compton, vice president, Entertainment and Guest Activities, Royal Caribbean International. “With all the excitement surrounding competitive dancing on television, we are now challenging our guests to live out a dream while enjoying their cruise vacation.”
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
IMPORTANT TRAVEL BULLETIN
The U.S. Government has updated the travel requirements for cruise travel. Effective February 18, 2008, all passengers must board the cruise ship one hour prior to departure. Cruise ships departing from U.S. ports are now required to provide full passenger and crew manifests to the government authorities 60 minutes prior to the ship's scheduled departure.
If you will be cruising in the future here are some travel tips to ensure your cruise leaves on time and with you onboard!
· Submit your full passenger information as soon as possible but, at the minimum, prior to arriving at the pier. Many cruise lines now offer online check-in that customers are urged to participate in.
· Leave plenty of time in your travel schedule to get to the cruise terminal. If you are flying into the port city, it is suggested you arrive the day before to avoid in-transit delays. Each cruise line may have different final boarding times so check your cruise documents thoroughly when making travel arrangements.
· Make sure you bring the appropriate proof of citizenship documents with you to the port. Do not pack them in your luggage! At this time, cruisers are required to have a government issued ID, typically a drivers license and proof of citizenship including:
o Passport
o Original or certified copy of birth certificate*
o Naturalization papers
o For more information please visit: http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingborders/whtibasics.shtm#3
Cruise passengers on international cruises who do not have proper identification will not be allowed to board their ship after January 31, 2008.
*Please note that Photocopies that do not have an original raised seal are not acceptable and may result in denied boarding.
If you will be cruising in the future here are some travel tips to ensure your cruise leaves on time and with you onboard!
· Submit your full passenger information as soon as possible but, at the minimum, prior to arriving at the pier. Many cruise lines now offer online check-in that customers are urged to participate in.
· Leave plenty of time in your travel schedule to get to the cruise terminal. If you are flying into the port city, it is suggested you arrive the day before to avoid in-transit delays. Each cruise line may have different final boarding times so check your cruise documents thoroughly when making travel arrangements.
· Make sure you bring the appropriate proof of citizenship documents with you to the port. Do not pack them in your luggage! At this time, cruisers are required to have a government issued ID, typically a drivers license and proof of citizenship including:
o Passport
o Original or certified copy of birth certificate*
o Naturalization papers
o For more information please visit: http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingborders/whtibasics.shtm#3
Cruise passengers on international cruises who do not have proper identification will not be allowed to board their ship after January 31, 2008.
*Please note that Photocopies that do not have an original raised seal are not acceptable and may result in denied boarding.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
What’s New for 2008?
Greetings cruisers! We hope you all had a safe and enjoyable holiday. There are lots of new and exciting things coming to the Jungle in 2008. We’re working hard to make sure you get the best information on cruising at our sites.
Starting in early February, our sister site, www.GreatPorts.com, will feature information on the top cruise ports in Europe. GreatPorts is the number one spot to find hotels, transportation tips and sightseeing operators at all of your favorite North American ports. And you can find all this and more for many Europe destinations, just in time to kick off the European cruise season. And don’t forget, our Port Concierge is here to answer any and all questions you may have on your departure port!
Also, due for release toward the end of winter is our new site, CruiseXpertFinder.com Here we will compile and showcase a list of cruise travel agents who are experienced in many areas of special interest cruises like honeymoons, family reunions, music and art cruises etc. They can help you find and plan a special theme that is already existing or start one of your own. We like to think of it the "Yellow Pages of Cruising".
You can count on us to bring you great articles, the latest cruise news and hot deals for your future voyages. Check out our Community Boards for the latest updates and for all your cruise reviews. We look forward to hearing from you!
As always,
Happy Sailing!
Starting in early February, our sister site, www.GreatPorts.com, will feature information on the top cruise ports in Europe. GreatPorts is the number one spot to find hotels, transportation tips and sightseeing operators at all of your favorite North American ports. And you can find all this and more for many Europe destinations, just in time to kick off the European cruise season. And don’t forget, our Port Concierge is here to answer any and all questions you may have on your departure port!
Also, due for release toward the end of winter is our new site, CruiseXpertFinder.com Here we will compile and showcase a list of cruise travel agents who are experienced in many areas of special interest cruises like honeymoons, family reunions, music and art cruises etc. They can help you find and plan a special theme that is already existing or start one of your own. We like to think of it the "Yellow Pages of Cruising".
You can count on us to bring you great articles, the latest cruise news and hot deals for your future voyages. Check out our Community Boards for the latest updates and for all your cruise reviews. We look forward to hearing from you!
As always,
Happy Sailing!
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