February 2012

"50 Essential Experiences -- The Travel Bucket List" Now Available as a Special Collectors' Book

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The sophisticated readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine have chosen Crystal Cruises’ fleet as 2012’s top mid-sized cruise ships.  The February issue’s list of “Top 100 Cruise Ships in the World”—up from 80 last year—ranks the 1,070-passenger Crystal Serenity and 922-passenger Crystal Symphony as the number one and two vessels, respectively, in the medium category.

“We are incredibly humbled, flattered, and appreciative of the continual recognition by our guests,” says Crystal President Gregg Michel.  “We continually challenge ourselves to invest in, and re-invigorate, our ships to be the very best.”

Of the seven criteria upon which ships were rated, Crystal won more areas than any other small, medium, or large cruise line.  The ultra-luxe company ranked highest of all ocean cruise lines in Design/Layout, and further dominated most criteria in its size category, including Crew/Service, Food/Dining, Activities/Facilities, and Shore Excursions.  

“This poll shows that a superb cruise vacation is more than just ‘sailing,’ it’s about the sum of its parts—like adventure offerings on land, how one is treated, and attention to detail on each ship,” Michel says.  “With our luxury ships winning the number one and number two slots, as well as leading in so many individual features, savvy world travelers clearly believe that Crystal Cruises delivers an overall resort vacation experience on the high seas better than any peers.” 

Crystal’s passion for taking care of guests in an inviting environment of extraordinary space, quality and choices has earned the company more “World’s Best” awards than any other cruise line, resort, or hotel in history, including Condé Nast Traveler readers’ “Best Cruise Line” (Mid-Sized) honors in fall 2011. 

In 2012, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity visit 182 ports-of-call in 59 countries on 60 worldwide itineraries worldwide.  Voyages this year include 25 seven- to 15-day, all-inclusive cruises visiting the western and eastern Mediterranean (including the Black Sea) from March through December, as well as seven to 94-day sailings through the North Cape, western Europe, Baltic & Russia, China, Japan, southeast Asia, Australia, South Pacific, South America, New England/Canada, Panama Canal, British Isles, Canary Islands and Mexican Riviera.  Until February 28, “Book Now” fares start at $1,360 per person/double occupancy, with additional savings available for groups of six or more, new-to-Crystal travelers, and combining cruises.  Attractive air add-ons are also offered from more than 90 North American airports. 

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Television personalities and award-winning authors enhance enrichment program

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Passengers Can Save up to $1,400 Per Stateroom on Summer Cruise Destinations

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Grand Prize Includes Free Crystal Cruise for Two

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First-Ever Miami Departures and New European Destinations Provide More Options for Disney Cruise Line Guests

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New Global Brand Campaign Targets Tri-state Area Residents in Series of Subway Activations

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Norovirus is so widespread that only the common cold is reported more frequently. The CDC estimates that there are 23 million land-based Norovirus cases each year in the U.S., affecting one in 12 people, or 8% of the population. In contrast, the number of cruise passengers affected is .028% of the 8 million cruising population, or 1 in 3,600 of those who vacation aboard ships. Symptoms of Norovirus include mild stomach upset with vomiting and diarrhea, usually lasting between one and three days. The illness generally resolves without treatment or long-term consequences.

Health officials recommend that the best way cruise passengers can protect themselves from getting ill is to wash their hands frequently and thoroughly.

Further information about Norovirus is available through the below links to the CDC and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/pub/norovirus/Norovirus.htm

http://www.cruising.org/regulatory/cruise-industry-policies/vessel-sanitation

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For those for whom football fever lingers well after the Big Game, ultra-luxe Crystal Cruises is offering a showdown of gridiron greats during a spring “NFL Legends”-themed voyage.  The May 8, port-packed Trans-Atlantic sailing from New York to Dover features a football-focused “Ocean Views” panel discussion and each  guest individually sharing inspiring personal stories from decades on the field, as well as hard-won tools for success in any field, since everyone faces teams, competition, and occasional losses and victory dances in work and life.  Scheduled motivational speakers include:

• Coach Don Shula: Hall of Famer who holds the most wins in National Football League history as coach of the only undefeated NFL season record-holders, the Miami Dolphins, as well as the Baltimore Colts.
• Larry Csonka: Bowl MVP and Hall of Fame All-Pro running back for Shula’s undefeated Miami Dolphins and the NY Giants.
• Jim Tunney: “The Dean of NFL Referees,” with thirty years’ experience as a pro game Official.
• Coach Dick Vermeil: Former Bowl-winning head coach of UCLA, the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles and St. Louis Rams.
  
  

“Sports fans know these guys as experts of the pig skin, but they’re also quite wise about the thick skin required to face hurdles in anything,” says Bret Bullock, Crystal’s vice president of entertainment. “All travelers on board can glean powerful coaching and playing tips for whatever game they’re trying to win in life.”

The experts will each host individual sessions, then gather for the “Ocean Views” confab to share opinions on sports and next season’s predictions (instead of world events, as usually discussed in “Ocean Views”). In addition to Q&A, audience members will be able to weigh-in anonymously during the panel with individual electronic polling devices that are new for the program this year. 

The unusual Trans-Atlantic itinerary, with only three of its sixteen days spent at sea, overnights in New York before sailing on to Newport, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts; St. John’s, Newfoundland; Reykjavik and Heimaey (maiden call), Iceland, Tórshavn/Faeroe Islands, Denmark; Ålesund, Norway; Hellesylt/Geiranger and Bergen, Norway; and London/Dover.  The voyage also marks Crystal Serenity’s first “All-Inclusive” experience, with complimentary fine wines and premium spirits throughout the ship, and pre-paid gratuities for housekeeping, bar and dining staff all included.  Until February 28, per-person “Book Now” fares start at $5,055, with attractive air add-ons from more than 90 North American airports.

Crystal’s award-winning, luxury cruises always include a diverse selection of thought-provoking, scholarly, and sophisticated enrichment activities that provide extensive on-board choices for cultured world travelers.

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Enter a world of breathtaking beauty and historical discovery

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Surprises Boston Couple Who Met On Norwegian Spirit With A Dream Honeymoon

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Ship Now Offers Signature Princess Cruises Features, Including Piazza Atrium, Movies Under the Stars, Alfredo's Pizzeria

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Holland America Line’s 2012 Mediterranean season features an extensive selection of itineraries ranging from seven to 42 days, as well as an exciting 62-day Grand Mediterranean and Black Sea Voyage aboard the intimate ms Prinsendam.

Six of the line’s other ships — ms Eurodam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms Rotterdam, ms Maasdam and ms Ryndam — also will sail the region on 32 different itineraries that span the eastern and western Mediterranean. Celebrated guest chefs will enhance select cruises as part of the Culinary Arts Center program, performing cooking demonstrations for guests in the ship’s state-of-the-art show kitchen, conducting tastings and participating in question-and-answer sessions.

“The Mediterranean has it all — from top-rated beaches and incredible architecture to historical landmarks and a long history,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs for Holland America Line. “Whether it’s a shorter cruise or a Grand Voyage, by offering one of the most extensive itinerary selections of any cruise line, we enable guests to take their dream cruise.”

Grand Mediterranean and Black Sea Voyage
A highlight of the Med season comes this spring when ms Prinsendam, the line’s smallest and most intimate ship -- just 835 guests, departs Fort Lauderdale, Fla., March 12, 2012, on its roundtrip 62-day Grand Mediterranean and Black Sea Voyage. Visiting 32 ports in 14 countries, the itinerary includes maiden calls at Durrës, Albania’s second-largest city and one of Europe’s oldest cities; Saint Raphaél in the Côte d'Azur region of France, and Castellón de la Plana in the Costa del Azahar region of Spain.

Overnight stays in Seville, Spain; Ku?adasi (Ephesus) and Istanbul, Turkey; Piraeus (Athens), Greece; Venice, Italy; Barcelona, Spain, and Lisbon, Portugal, provide guests with more time for exploring of some of the world’s most interesting destinations.

The Grand Voyage also offers grand experiences on board. Guests can relax and unwind during leisurely days at sea, taking advantage of the extra time to read a book, indulge in a massage at the Greenhouse Spa or watch a movie in the theater. Sommelier and Wine Educator Charlie Arturaola will be on board from March 21 – April 3 as part of the Culinary Arts Center program. Brian Archibald, executive sous chef of Camelback Inn, a JW Marriott Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz., also will sail from April 18 – 30.

Evening activities shine on board as well with local cultural entertainment and special guest headliners, while festive gala balls and formal nights create memorable moments. Dining is elevated to a new level on each Grand Voyage, featuring local ingredients and regional cuisine from all corners of Europe.

For those with less time, 11 segments are available ranging from 16 to 41 days and start at $1,999 per person. Special reduced air offers are also available starting at $449 from 25+ gateways. No matter which segment a guest selects, guests can use Holland America Line's Fly Cruise Program, which offers assistance with air travel interruptions.

2012 Mediterranean Voyages
Highlights of the season include three 12-day sailings on ms Nieuw Amsterdam that explore Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Montenegro and Croatia. Guests looking for a longer voyage can combine the two itineraries to create a 24-day Collectors’ Voyage.

A series of two 10-day itineraries on ms Noordam can be combined to form a 20-day Collectors’ Voyage, with calls at ports in Italy, Monaco, Spain, Tunisia, Croatia, Greece and Turkey.

The new 17-day Spanish Rhapsody sailing roundtrip Rotterdam onboard ms Rotterdam offers guests the opportunity to explore the best of what Spain has to offer in addition to ports in both Portugal and Italy.

Fares for a seven-day Mediterranean voyage start at just $699 per person, double occupancy.

Select Mediterranean cruises also feature a guest chef on board:

• Ken Oringer, executive chef/co-owner of Kenneth Oringer and Clio restaurants in Boston, Mass., sails on ms Nieuw Amsterdam’s 12-day Mediterranean Empires cruise June 5.

• Kevin Sbraga, executive chef and owner of Sbraga restaurant in Philadelphia, Pa., and Bravo's “Top Chef” season seven winner, sails on ms Noordam July 17 in the Mediterranean.

• Giuliano Hazan, author of “Cooking Italian With Giuliano” and International Association of Culinary Professionals Cooking Teacher of the Year, sails on ms Rotterdam’s 17-day Moorish Empires cruise Sept. 29.

• Timon Balloo, executive chef of Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill in Miami, Fla., sails on ms Noordam's 7-day Riviera Romance cruise Oct. 15.

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Royal Caribbean has revealed Oasis-style refurbishment plans for the 78,491-ton, 1,998-passenger Rhapsody of the Seas, scheduled in March.

The Vision-class ship is 15-year-old and will head into dry dock in Singapore for a multimillion dollar overhaul. The refurb is part of Royal Caribbean's $300 million, three-year Royal Advantage initiative, which calls for the addition of many of the popular features found on the large 5,400-passenger Oasis and Allure of the Seas.

Changes for Rhapsody include:

New Dining Options
A number of Oasis-class dining options will be added to Rhapsody, effectively doubling the choices. New venues include Izumi (Asian, $3 cover, then a la carte); Giovanni's Table, an Italian restaurant serving family-style dishes ($10 per person for lunch, $15 for dinner); and the Park Cafe deli, a casual bistro concept borrowed from Oasis and Allure -- minus the setting in an actual park (no added cost). The ribbon will also be cut on a new Chops Grille, Royal Caribbean's signature option for grilled meats and seafood ($30 per person), and the Chef's Table, a $95 wine-paired dinner hosted by the executive chef and sommelier.

Technological Enhancements
All cabins will gain flat-screen TV's, and Wi-Fi will be made available bow to stern. New digital "Wayfinder" signage, which debuted on Oasis of the Seas, will be added throughout, and an outdoor movie screen will be installed by the ship's main pool. (Royal Caribbean, a long-time poolside-jumbo-tron holdout, has been steadily adding the mega-screens to its ships.) Post-dry dock, Rhapsody's cabins will also feature iPads, an inclusion introduced on the recently refurbished Splendour of the Seas. The iPads can be used to access daily schedules and onboard accounts and make restaurant reservations.

The line also is implementing "electronic mustering," which means that during Rhapsody's post-dry dock muster drills, crew will take roll by swiping cards. The technology, introduced on Oasis of the Seas is "implemented via guest SeaPass cards, allowing for real time accountability of all guests and crew to the evacuation command teams," said spokeswoman Janet Diaz. Currently Freedom of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas feature electronic mustering.

New Lounges and Spaces
Rhapsody's 60-foot-high, seven-deck Centrum will get a makeover just like on sister ship Splendour of the Seas. The beautiful, massive hanging sculpture will be removed to make way for cirque-style aerial performances, which can be witnessed by up to 1,400 passengers at once. The Centrum's Champagne Bar will be transformed into the R Bar, featuring a 1960's vibe, complete with iconic furnishing and signature cocktails. Check out the before picture to the left.

Rhapsody will gain a Diamond Lounge, a dedicated space for Crown & Anchor Society loyalty-program "Diamond" members.

Unlike Splendour of the Seas, which received 124 new balconies, Rhapsody will not be getting any private outdoor cabin spaces.

For the Kids
A Royal Babies and Tots Nursery -- another Oasis innovation -- will be added to Rhapsody. The space provides childcare and activities for children from 6 to 36 months old (not included in cruise fee)

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Disney Cruise Line is about to officially grow its fleet to four ships on Thursday when it gets delivery of the new Disney Fantasy.

The Fantasy has been undergoing sea trials in the North Sea after nearly two years of construction at the Meyer-Werft shipyard at Papenberg, Germany.

It left the shipyard in January and has been testing and adjusting various operation systems ahead of the official handover to DCL in Bremerhaven, Germany. The Fantasy will depart Germany on Feb. 16 making several stops during is transatlantic crossing before arriving at Port Canaveral on March 6.

The christening for the Fantasy will be in New York City on March 1, the first time a Disney ship will be christened away from Central Florida. The ship's debut voyage will be on March 31 and then begin offering alternating seven-night cruises to the eastern and western Caribbean with stops at Castaway Cay, the line's private island in the Bahamas.

While the exterior of the ship is finished, a DCL spokesperson said the line will be putting finishing touches on the ship all the way up to its debut voyage. The Fantasy is a sister ship to the Disney Dream, which debuted in 2010. Both ships can carry more than 4,000 passengers and join the line's two older ships, the Disney Wonder and Disney Magic.

The Fantasy and the Dream will be based out of Port Canaveral sailing a variety of itineraries to the Bahamas and eastern and western Caribbean.

The Disney Wonder, which has been sailing out of the Port of Los Angeles, will head to Alaska this summer before repositioning to the Port of Miami at the end of the year for Caribbean sailings. The Disney Magic, which had been sharing Port Canaveral space with the Dream, next heads to New York for the summer before making its debut at the Port of Galveston this fall.

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From Riedel comparative wine glass workshops to cooking competitions, from Rosetta Stone language lessons to iPhoto classes, from wellness workshops to pool volleyball with the ship's officers, the popular Celebrity Life activity program offers a multitude of ways to enjoy a modern luxury experience on every Celebrity Cruises vacation. This year, the premium cruise brand is making its already rich Celebrity Life lineup even more robust on its transatlantic sailings and calling it "Celebrity Life Plus," amplifying the "Taste," "Learn," "Revive" and "Play" themes known for exciting and entertaining vacationers year-round.

"Experienced cruisers know that transatlantic cruises offer an ideal opportunity to spend luxurious days at sea learning new things, exploring new tastes, recharging, or simply having fun," said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations, Celebrity Cruises. "The introduction of Celebrity Life Plus takes everything our guests already love about these sailings and about Celebrity Life and marries the two, resulting in the most comprehensive, enriching, exciting and fun long cruises, offering incredible speakers and other exclusive activities.  Never before have we had such a wide array of offerings and activities on one sailing."

In a single transatlantic cruise, Celebrity Life Plus will offer cruisers as much immersion as a theme cruise, but while actual theme cruises focus on one area of interest, Celebrity Life Plus offers a robust breadth of activities focused on multiple themes.

Vacationers who wish to explore their love of food and wine will revel in the opportunity to hear from guest chefs and wine educators, who will present cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, book signings, food-and-wine pairing dinners and more, on each transatlantic cruise.

Those who wish to sharpen their mind will take pleasure in learning from dynamic speakers from Smithsonian Journeys, the program known for often unrivaled expertise that provides Celebrity's destination lectures on many of its regular cruises throughout the year. Astronomy experts David Hughes and Steve Maran will be onboard select sailings, as will art history expert Allison Jessing and Mark Kaufman, an expert in the burgeoning science of life beyond Earth.

Additionally, former Olympic gold medalist Frank Shorter and Hall of Fame professional basketball player Nancy Lieberman will share their experiences in the world of sports.

Additional special interest speakers will include naturalists, oceanographers and guest artists. The first of these will be the first at-sea appearance by the renowned palette knife artist Graham Denison, a master of contemporary impressionism whose work has been prominently featured by The Walt Disney Company and other leading consumer brands. Denison will be on the first 2012 spring transatlantic sailing painting live in a studio setting, offering guests an interactive class and hosting question-and-answer sessions. Guests with an interest in bringing out their own inner artist can participate in additional interactive classes led by master artists from Miami Beach's ArtCenter / South Florida.  Classes will include jewelry making, mosaics, drawing, Chinese brush painting and watercolor.  

Vacationers who wish to use their time onboard to focus on their wellness will enjoy Celebrity Life's special fitness programming; Celebrity will introduce the popular Latin and internationally inspired dance-fitness class "Zumba Fitness" into its Celebrity Life Plus line-up. The program has over 12 million followers in 125 countries. Celebrity Life Plus will offer two classes a day, led by Zumba instructors who are part of the "Zumba Instructor Network™" and who hold licenses to teach specialty Zumba classes – Zumba Gold (for the active older adult) and Aqua Zumba, which Zumba calls "the ultimate pool party."

The cruises that will feature Celebrity Life Plus are:

• 14-night voyage on Celebrity Solstice, departing Fort Lauderdale, Florida on April 15, 2012 and arriving in Barcelona, Spain on April 29
• 10-night cruise on Celebrity Eclipse, departing Miami, Florida on April 21, 2012 and arriving in Southampton, England on May 1
• 15-night cruise on Celebrity Constellation, departing Fort Lauderdale on May 5, 2012 and arriving in Amsterdam, Holland on May 20
• 14-night cruise on Celebrity Equinox, departing Fort Lauderdale on April 16, 2012 and arriving in Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy on April 30
• 9-night cruise on Celebrity Silhouette, departing Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey on April 22, 2012 and arriving in Rome (Civitavecchia) on May 1
• 13-night cruise on Celebrity Eclipse, departing Southampton on October 27, 2012 and arriving in Fort Lauderdale on November 9
• 14-night cruise on Celebrity Equinox, departing Rome (Civitavecchia) on November 26, 2012 and arriving in Fort Lauderdale on December 10
• 15-night cruise on Celebrity Constellation, departing Southampton on November 30, 2012 and arriving in Miami on December 16
• 15-night cruise on Celebrity Silhouette, departing Rome (Civitavecchia) on December 1, 2012 and arriving in Fort Lauderdale on December 16

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Passengers Can Enjoy up to 2-for-1 Savings, Plus up to $100 Onboard Credit

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For its upcoming European season, ultra-luxe Crystal Cruises is offering new, interactive ways to explore the rich Christian history of the continent via new Christian Heritage Tours.  Travelers cruising to the Mediterranean, western Europe, or the North Cape will have nine new opportunities to make a pilgrimage, attend mass, contribute to charitable works, or learn about the relics and architecture of centuries-old sites of religious renown, with more tours still in the works.  

Among the Crystal Adventures being introduced from April to December are:

• Dubrovnik, Croatia: Make a pilgrimage into Bosnia, where reported visions of the Virgin Mary have made Medjugorje’s Apparition Hill a top sacred site for Catholic pilgrims.
• Barcelona: Attend private mass with Crystal’s onboard priest at Gaudi’s infamous Sagrada Familia (a cruise-industry first).
• Leknes/Lofoten, Norway: Choose from three different trips to see the 18^th century, wooden Russian-style Flakstad Church.
• Sorrento, Italy: Assist the 400 year-old charity brotherhood of Pio Monte della Misericordia, via a complimentary “You Care, We Care” voluntourism excursion.
• La Coruna, Spain:  View the UNESCO World Heritage town of Santiago de Compostela from the rooftop of the largest Romanesque church in Spain.
• Southampton/London: See the carved, canopied choir stalls of the almost 1000 year-old Winchester Cathedral, once the seat of Anglo-Saxon and Norman royal power.

 
“This program expansion builds upon our incredibly popular Jewish heritage tours offered around the world,” says John Stoll, vice president of land and port operations.  “Religious-related shore excursions are just one more way our guests can experience the unique history and culture of a destination, and perhaps even connect with their own personal ancestry, as well.”

Until February 28, per-person “Book Now” fares for Crystal Symphony or Crystal Serenity’s all-inclusive, luxury European cruises start at $1,360 per person/double occupancy, with attractive air add-ons from more than 90 North American airports.  A one-week sale ending February 11 also offers up to $800 per stateroom in shore excursion credits on select European voyages.

Crystal Cruises’ passion for creating unique luxury experiences both on land and at sea have helped earn the company top ratings from international travelers for two decades. 

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...esearch into the holiday habits of Britons...

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Royal Caribbean International Shares "Romance at Sea" Survey Results and Discovers Couples Have Better, More Frequent Intimate Moments Onboard

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