January 2012

Other encouraging signs for 2012 can be seen in the ambitious renovation project...

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Passengers Can Save up to $1,000 Per Stateroom with Free Balcony Upgrades

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Passengers to Share a Year of Reasons to Get Away from the Everyday

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...more than double the revenue of any prior year for the last week in December.

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Norwegian Cruise Line’s new state-of-the-art 4,000-passenger ship, Norwegian Breakaway, will sail from her year-round homeport of New York City to the Bahamas & Florida and the Caribbean during her inaugural winter season.

Following an inaugural summer season sailing seven-day cruises from New York to Bermuda, Norwegian Breakaway will embark on a series of 25 seven-day cruises to the Bahamas & Florida beginning on Sunday, October 13th, 2013.

The ship will also sail two 12-day Southern Caribbean itineraries on January 5th and 19th, 2014, along with two Weekend Escape cruises on January 17th and 31st, 2014.

These cruises go on sale to travel partners and Latitudes Rewards members (past guests) today and to the general public on Friday, January 6th.

“Norwegian Breakaway is one of the most highly anticipated new ships and has seen great demand for her summer sailings to Bermuda,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. 

“For her winter inaugural season, Norwegian Breakaway will offer guests a chance to escape from the cold of the Northeast and be transported in grand style to the tropics of the Caribbean and the Bahamas & Florida. 

“We are also excited to announce the ship will stop at our newly enhanced private island, Great Stirrup Cay, offering an exclusive beach experience.”

In October of 2011, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Norwegian Cruise Line announced that beginning in May 2013, Norwegian Breakaway will be the largest ship to homeport year-round in New York City, bringing 140,000 additional embarking passengers into New York City over two years, resulting in an estimated $35 million in additional direct spending.

Currently under construction at Meyer Werft in Germany, Norwegian Breakaway will be 144,017 gross tons and is scheduled for delivery in April 2013.

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To better meet the needs of the growing family vacation market, Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that it is revitalizing its current youth program and will implement a new best in class program fleet wide. The re-branded program will be introduced on Norwegian Gem in mid-February and will be rolled out to all of the line’s Freestyle Cruising ships subsequently.

“More and more families are choosing a cruise for their vacation since it represents such a good value and offers so much for the entire family.  In fact, close to 150,000 children sailed on our ships in 2010 and that number continues to rise,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “We’ve already taken family programming to the next level by offering Nickelodeon experiences on some ships.  Now, we want to make sure that we are continuing to offer the best possible experience for families. To do this, we are investing millions of dollars in revamping our youth and family programming.”

The current program, Norwegian’s Kid’s Crew in place since 1999, will be renamed and the age groups are being redefined to better address the skills and interests of children. The new age groups will be: three to five years; six to eight years; nine to 12 years; along with two teen groups: 13 to 14 and 15 to 17 years.  There will also be programming for babies and toddlers ages six months to two years.

The new fully developed and enhanced curriculum tailored to each age group is being produced in conjunction with The King’s Foundation and Camps, a United Kingdom-based organization that provides high quality sport and activity programs designed to make a positive impact on children. More focus will be placed on sporting activities, arts and crafts, theater and technology.  Activities will change every 30 to 60 minutes depending on the age group and will be set within blocks of programming time in the morning, afternoon and evening.

The new curriculum will also include creative themes, such as circus day, theater/technology/sports and port of call day.  The company has engaged Cirque Du Jour, a New York-based company that specializes in teaching children real circus skills such as scarf juggling, ball juggling, plate spinning, clowning and acrobatics. Circus workshops and shows will also be offered for the entire family.

In addition, the youth programs will be expanded to utilize other areas of the ships, including the sports courts, rock walls, theaters, lounges and public spaces and will feature more family events such as parades and scavenger hunts.

“We want to ensure our youth and teens are engaged in the programs we offer and that they are having fun,” said Richard Ambrose, Norwegian Cruise Line’s vice president of entertainment.  “We have designed this new youth program to cater to the specific interests and skill sets of children and teens to ensure that they are having the vacation of a lifetime.”

The company is also investing in its youth staff, by increasing the ratio of staff to children and establishing new criteria for the hiring of counselors, including the requirement of a college degree in recreation or child care (or the equivalent experience).

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Cool jazz, cool brand, cool environment combine to create rare vacation opportunity

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After a five-week long, $35 million dry dock at the Navantia ship yard in Cadiz (Spain), Splendour of the Seas has re-emerged with an array of new features. The new features are showcased in the video Splendour delivers the Wow: Revitalisations provide more innovations and surprises.

Splendour of the Seas’ new features include the dining venues Chops Grille, Izumi, the Boardwalk Dog House, Chef’s Table and the Park Café; the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery; a Diamond lounge for Crown and Anchor loyalty guests; a Concierge Lounge for suite guests and upgraded technology throughout. In addition, the ship now boasts 124 new balconies and a host of new stateroom amenities including flat screen televisions, new bathrooms, and completely remodelled interiors. From mid-February Splendour of the Seas will become the first cruise ship to feature iPads in all staterooms. Other features added include ship-wide WIFI, a digital way-finding system, electronic mustering and an outdoor cinema screen.

The Centrum of the ship has also been transformed into an exciting entertainment venue. With its sweeping views and central location on the ship the Centrum is a new chic and sophisticated venue featuring a range of daytime activities, nightly entertainment and aerial performers. The Centrum’s Champagne Bar has also been unveiled as a new venue – the R Bar – featuring a sophisticated 1960s vibe, complete with signature cocktails.

The video is also available to download from http://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/ and you can also view on YouTube here’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTbayWbI1lc

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 22 innovative ships, calling on more than 270 destinations in 72 countries across six continents. The line also offers unique cruise tour land packages in Alaska, Canada, Dubai, Europe, and Australia and New Zealand.

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New next season, Princess will offer more Hawaii cruises than ever before, with four ships sailing roundtrip to the islands from both Los Angeles and San Francisco. In addition, the renovated Grand Princess will make her debut voyages to Hawaii as part of her first West Coast season.

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New Year’s resolution to get in shape?  Crystal Cruises is combining fitness with world exploration on more than a dozen 2012 international cruises offering expanded Pilates and yoga programs, including Pilates Reformer, starting in January.  Dedicated instructors from such high-profile institutions as Equinox gym, LA’s Jonathan Club, and NY’s Yale Club will teach complimentary classes on both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, on nine sailings each throughout the year.

Crystal Serenity’s group Pilates program utilizes new Pilates Reformer equipment, while Crystal Symphony offers classic floor training utilizing mats, exercise balls, rollers, and other core-strengthening accessories.  Men- and couples-only yoga instruction provides new approaches to more traditional Yoga practices also offered.  Travelers can attend several classes per day during their cruise, or arrange private one-on-one sessions of either interest. 

“Whether it’s achieving results without pain, creating a balanced mind and body, or providing detailed attention to each individual’s needs, our certified instructors all have motivational philosophies that align with Crystal’s approach to creating luxurious, customized and multi-faceted vacation experiences,” says Entertainment Manager Chris Corrigall.

The 18 sailings with enhanced fitness instruction include:

World Cruise/Australia, Asia, Trans-Pacific (winter/spring):

• Yoga and Pilates — Jan 18, Feb 7 and 26, Mar 13 and 31

Caribbean, Central and South America:

• Yoga — Feb 6 and 20, Mar 3
• Pilates — Jan 27

Panama Canal:

• Yoga – Apr 21
• Pilates – Oct 31 

Trans-Atlantic:

• Pilates — Mar 19, May 8, Sept 15, Dec 9

Trans-Pacific (fall):

• Yoga – Nov 25, Dec 8

Every Crystal cruise offers a host of complimentary classes such as stretch, spinning, abs, circuit training/boot camp, and more.  Crystal’s fitness center, the only Feng Shui spa and gym at sea, offers state-of-the-art Kinesis strength training equipment, LifeFitness^® treadmills with individual flat-screen TVs, cross trainers, recumbent and upright life cycles and steppers, free weights, and other strength-training equipment.  Golf instruction, tennis, Nordic Pole Walking, WALKVEST^® Training, personal trainers, and a bevy of dietary choices also give guests extensive opportunities to maintain or enrich their health and fitness regimes while away from home.

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Holland America Line has promoted Rob Coleman to vice president, North America field, charter and incentive sales. He will lead the development and execution of programs and initiatives to attain annual and strategic sales and revenue goals that encompass both Holland America Line and Seabourn brand through the joint sales teams.

Most recently Coleman was director, charter and incentive sales, where he was responsible for client relations, incentive offerings, logistics and event management. He reports to Mark Kammerer, senior vice president, marketing and North America sales. Reporting to Coleman are the eastern and western division sales directors, the director of business development services and the charter and incentive sales management team.

“Rob is an experienced sales professional who brings a strong performance record to this role,” said Kammerer. “He’s held a variety of positions within Holland America Line, and his leadership in this new role will be a valuable asset to our organization.”

Prior to returning to Holland America Line in 2006, Coleman worked at Virtuoso, serving as the eastern regional sales director for the luxury travel network. He joined Holland America Line in 1999 and held several positions, including senior director, field sales; eastern division sales director and district sales manager in Atlanta, Ga., and Houston, Texas.

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Technological Innovations Bring Stories and Characters to Life

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Silversea Cruises, known for its luxurious ships and exotic destinations, has unveiled an extensive line-up of worldwide voyages for 2013—all on sale now. And complementing what is arguably the most expansive schedule of any cruise line, are attractive savings incentives in 2013 that include almost double the number of Free Air gateways available (on select sailings) to travelers departing from the U.S and Canada, and Onboard Spending Credits of up to $1,500 per suite on all voyages (with the exception of Silversea Expeditions).

In 2013, the company’s six elite ships will offer over 200 voyages, visiting more than 450 destinations on seven continents. Highlighting the program is Silver Whisper’s 115-day World Cruise, Silver Spirit’s inaugural calls in Hawaii (last visited by Silversea in 2010), and Silver Explorer’s new expedition cruises to Canada’s beautiful Hudson Bay.

Also noteworthy are Silversea’s 32 new ports of call, which include 21 just for Silver Explorer alone. Collectively, the line’s other ships will offer 11 new destinations: Soller de Majorca, Spain; Sabang (Pulau Weh), Indonesia; Port Arthur, Australia; Liverpool, U.K.; Klaipeda, Lithuania; Saaremaa, Estonia; Baie-Comeau (Quebec), Canada; Chios, Greece; Portsmouth, Dominica; Fanning Island, Kiribati; and Fukuoka, Japan.

“For the discerning luxury traveler, our 2013 schedule, with over 30 new ports of call, offers unparalleled opportunities for unique and life-enriching journeys to all corners of the globe,” said Steve Tucker, Silversea’s vice president of field sales for North America. “With almost double the number of Free Air gateways and generous Onboard Spending Credits now available, this is the perfect time to finalize your travel plans for next year—and enjoy an affordable luxury vacation exploring the world with Silversea.”

Here’s a snapshot of Silversea’s 2013 schedule:

WORLD CRUISE 2013
An epic 115-day journey from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale awaits guests when they board Silver Whisper on January 5. Crossing the equator four times, the World Cruise itinerary will follow the tropical belt to 52 destinations in 28 countries with overnight stays in several key ports. The warm-weather journey will explore an array of far-flung cultures and scenic wonders including New Zealand and Australia’s remote west coast; the idyllic isles of French Polynesia; fascinating Asian cities of Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore; and Africa’s rarely seen western coast. Guests may choose to extend their voyage an additional three days to disembark in New York, or 15 days to disembark in Southampton.

SILVER CLOUD
Silver Cloud begins her 2013 season exploring South America and then crosses the Panama Canal to the Caribbean to offer a series of convenient roundtrip voyages from San Juan. After spending May in the Mediterranean, she’ll venture to Northern Europe for a summer season that includes calls in the British Isles, Iceland, the North Cape and remote Russian ports in the White Sea. Silver Cloud heads south to the warmer Mediterranean in the fall and come November, crosses the Atlantic to South America where the highlights include a 17-day Amazon adventure and cruising the majestic Chilean Fjords at year’s end.

SILVER WIND
For Silver Wind, the New Year begins in South Africa with three 10-day roundtrip sailings from Cape Town, followed by an 18-day cruise along the exotic west coast of Africa and two voyages in the Canary Islands. Silver Wind then repositions to the Mediterranean for an extended summer program filled with mostly seven- and nine-day voyages exploring the Mediterranean. Highlights include a three-day extended visit in Monte Carlo for the Grand Prix during the May 23 cruise from Barcelona to Rome, as well as calls in Egypt and the Holy Land. Silver Wind then heads south along Africa’s west coast to conclude the year back in Cape Town.

SILVER SHADOW
Silver Shadow opens the year voyaging around Australia and New Zealand. Then in late February and March, she’ll offer a series of itineraries focused on Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand before journeying north to China and Japan for the spring. Summer finds Silver Shadow in Alaska for a series of mostly seven-day cruises between Seward and Vancouver. During October and November, she’ll offer cruises focusing on China and Vietnam, before heading south to celebrate the holidays with a 15-day voyage between Sydney and Auckland.

SILVER WHISPER
Silver Whisper begins 2013 in grand style with a World Cruise. Over the course of four months, she’ll journey west from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, visiting 52 far-flung destinations across Oceania, Asia and Africa. From mid-May through August, she’ll explore Northern Europe offering primarily seven-day Baltic cruises with extended stays in St. Petersburg. A grand transatlantic crossing from Southampton to Montreal will reposition Silver Whisper to offer a collection of fall foliage cruises through Canada and New England before heading south to the Caribbean in November. Following a 16-day holiday cruise through the Panama Canal, she’ll wrap up the year where she started, in Los Angeles.

SILVER SPIRIT
For Silver Spirit, 2013 arrives in the sunny waters of the Caribbean. Then in February, after a crossing of the Panama Canal to Los Angeles, she repositions for a 31-day grand voyage through the glistening Pacific Ocean, highlighted by calls in French Polynesia, Kiribati and the major islands of Hawaii. Throughout summer, seven- and nine-day sailings focus on the eastern Mediterranean and Greek Isles. Other highlights include three seven-day Black Sea cruises. In late November, Silver Spirit arrives in Fort Lauderdale for a series of roundtrip Caribbean cruises culminating with a 14-day holiday cruise.

SILVER EXPLORER
The luxury expedition ship Silver Explorer sails into 2013 at the bottom of the Earth, offering a series of cruises to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Spring and summer are highlighted by adventures along the west coast of Africa, western Europe, the British Isles, and Svalbard’s frozen Arctic landscapes. First-ever expedition voyages in Canada’s Hudson Bay highlight August. In September, Silver Explorer heads south to offer a series of Caribbean and Central America explorations before arriving in Ushuaia in November to conclude the year with Antarctic expeditions.

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Dramatic Makeover to Include Piazza Atrium, Movies Under the Stars, Alfredo's Pizzeria

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Cruise travel celebrated a banner year at Broward County’s Port Everglades in Fiscal Year 2011 (October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011) and containerised cargo climbed to its highest level since the global economic downturn in 2009, according to recently released year-end statistics for the South Florida seaport.

Multi-day cruise passengers, those sailing on cruise ships that go out for more than one night, reached a record 3,664,103 in FY 2011, a 10.6 percent increase from 3,314,208 in FY 2010. The total number of passengers, including single-day and multi-day, was 3,952,843 in FY 2011, up 7.6 percent from 3,674,226 passengers in FY 2010. Cruise traffic generated a record $56.7 million in revenue for FY 2011, which is 24.1 percent higher than in FY 2010. Royal Caribbean International’s introduction of its second year-round 5,400-passenger Oasis-class ship, Allure of the Seas, in December 2010, contributed significantly to the increase in multi-day passengers at Port Everglades. Thirteen cruise lines offered services at the Port in FY2011 via a 55-ship cruise fleet, including Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Discovery Cruise Line, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn, and Silversea Cruises.

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Oceania Cruises is introducing two new beverage packages on voyages beginning in 2012. The new wine, beer and spirits beverage packages are designed to enhance the culinary experience for guests while at the same time offering additional convenience and value.

All Oceania Cruises guests will continue to enjoy unlimited complimentary soft drinks, bottled water, specialty coffees and teas on every sailing. The two new packages are:-

• House Wine and Beer, priced at $29.95 per guest, per day, includes house wine by the glass and beer with lunch and dinner in any dining venue or via room service. House wine options are from a selection of red and white wines that change daily.
• The second option, Open Bar, priced at $49.95 per guest, per day, includes beer and premium house wine by the glass and most beverages on the bar menu. Guests can also order spirits and beer through room service. Premium house wine options are from an exclusive selection of featured red and white wines that change daily.

“Our new beverage packages offer guests a convenient and affordable way to further enjoy the finest cuisine at sea,” said Kunal S. Kamlani, the line’s president. “By paying one set price, guests can enjoy a wide variety of wine, beer, spirits or even a nightcap at a terrific value.”

The new beverage package prices include gratuities and can be pre-booked online or through a reservations representative. They can also be purchased onboard at any time during the cruise, with prices prorated for the days remaining. Guests can upgrade packages during the sailing.

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Physical and virtual experiences include interactive digital sweeps with $10,000 prize

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The newest Disney Cruise Line ship, Disney Fantasy, floated out of the enclosed building dock at the Meyer Werft shipyard yesterday as fireworks filled the sky. This symbolizes one of the final stages of this ship's construction and marks a significant milestone towards the March 31, 2012 maiden voyage.

The Disney Fantasy features many of the innovations found on her sister ship, Disney Dream, with several new guest experiences exclusive to the ship that are sure to delight every member of the family. New experiences found on the Disney Fantasy include two Broadway-style musical spectaculars for the Walt Disney Theatre, a dining experience at Animator's Palate where guests' own drawings magically come to life, an interactive adventure quest starring the Muppets, a splashtacular water play area called AquaLab, a sophisticated nighttime entertainment area for adults inspired by European travel and much more.

The Disney Fantasy will sail seven-night alternating eastern and western Caribbean itineraries. All voyages will depart from Port Canaveral, Fla. and include a stop at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay.

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While heading to Port Lucaya near Freeport, Bahamas on Saturday, the 93,000-ton MSC Poesia ran aground on top of a reef. The cruise line hasn’t released a statement yet but the ship was later free during high-tide and was able to move to it’s next port of call.

The grounding didn’t stop the beach-goers as tender boats were able to ferry passengers from anchorage (or reefage) to the shores of Port Lucaya.

According to Captain Archer, a local captain in the port, “they waited for a tide to get high at 1800hrs she was pulled off with 4 tugs and a fifth standing by. At 2000hrs, she was free and continued on her journey at 19.5 knots to little Salvador. So I assume minimal damage, if any (with that speed)!”

MSC Poesia was on a special three-day music charter cruise to Grand Bahamas Island and Half-Moon Cay. Divers are expected to access reef damage today.

Update: A statement from MSC Cruises was released. ”In navigating the harbor off Port Lucaya in the Grand Bahamas, MSC Poesia ran aground at 6:50 a.m. Saturday morning.  The ship and its guests were always completely safe and all onboard equipment and services continued to operate normally including all previously scheduled tender service and shore excursions,” said a spokeswoman with the company.

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With the ever-expanding cruise market – several new ships premiere each year – that dream vacation on the high seas can come in any size and experience you want: big or small, exotic or closer to home, luxury or casual, tropical getaway or icy expedition.

Whichever you choose, make the most of your time and experiences on board. Seek out the specialty restaurants, book a massage, make it a point to watch the sunrise or sunset, take a class, enhance your computer skills, enjoy a show.

We’ve been lucky as travel journalists to set sail more than 50 times. Here are a few our recent favorites.

Seabourn’s intimate approach

Seabourn’s six ships each have just 104 or 225 suites, assuring intimacy and personalized service. The newest, Seabourn Quest, recently christened in Barcelona by actress Blythe Danner, holds only 450 passengers. The line’s smaller-sized ships can access ports and harbors inaccessible to mega-ships.

If you thrive on the exotic, check out Seabourn’s maiden calls for 2012: Rosas, Spain; Porto Torres on Sardinia; Mgarr on Gozo; San Antonio on Ibiza; Sóller on Mallorca; Ciutadella on Menorca; Lemnos in the Greek Isles; Cesme, Sinop and Iskenderun in Turkey; and Larnaca on Cyprus.

Seabourn’s spokesperson says cruising is all about discovering new places, sights, sounds and tastes.

We did just that on an unforgettable Seabourn Spirit cruise from Hong Kong to Shanghai.

The Seabourn suites are spacious, with walk-in closets, tubs and showers, and sitting areas for relaxing or hosting a soiree with new friends met on board.

Complimentary wines and spirits are served throughout the ship, and your suite is stocked with your choice of spirits (one bottle per passenger).

Guests sample gourmet cuisine in The Restaurant, or on Quest at Restaurant 2 with sexy chocolate-and-red-wine-colored décor. But you can also have dinner served, course by course, in your suite or on the veranda, where the table is set with linen, silver and crystal.

Another night, slip into the whirlpool spa at the ship’s bow and have cookies and milk delivered.

The concierge staff can arrange restaurant reservations or performance tickets in port, as well as other custom experiences ashore such as a private trunk show in Monte Carlo, or a gondola serenade in Venice.

Our Hong Kong experience included a personal shopper who picked us up in a Town Car and helped us maneuver a sea of unique shops.

Princess Cruises: Travel like royalty

People often ask our advice on where they should cruise. Hands down, we say: Alaska. With the ease of getting there and the majestic, raw, breathtaking beauty that awaits, it will not disappoint, and one of the best cruise operators to Alaska is Princess Cruises.

They also offer a great add-on land stay with glass-enclosed excursion trains to showcase the snowy landscape. Their exclusive Denali Express and McKinley Express services take you directly from your cruise ship to a Princess wilderness lodge.

At sea, they promise: “Alaska’s Inside Passage is one of the most scenic sea-lanes in the world, home to bald eagles, whales, sea lions, otters, brown bears, mountain goats and flocks of seabirds.” Plus, there are all those amazing glaciers to see.

With 16 ships in Princess’ fleet spanning the globe (17 ships by May 2013), undoubtedly one of them will feature a destination perfect for you.

Princess shore excursions are diverse, and you’ll likely have the chance to try something new. On Ruby Princess, our last sailing in the Caribbean, we tried a Segway tour and Temazcal Mayan Sweat Lodge separately on Cozumel before teaming up for shopping afterward.

On Princess Cays, the cruise line's private island, we loved having a private bungalow, and we continued receiving the star treatment back on ship at The Sanctuary, the adults-only oasis on Deck 17 Forward featuring private butlers and two massage cabanas.

Don’t miss the Princess specialty restaurant, Sabatini’s, for fabulous Italian cuisine. Another night, we experienced the special chef’s dinner that starts with in-the-galley champagne and appetizers and concludes with a signature menu at the chef’s table with other diners.

In the Asian-themed Lotus Spa, hot stone massage is a great choice, and there’s even acupuncture. (Tip: book spa appointments online before you cruise to snag one of the coveted sea-day slots.) The thermal suite has a sauna, steam rooms and heavenly, curved, heated-slab “beds.”

Onboard activities will keep you busy, from mixing cocktails in Mixology@Sea, to taking dance lessons and making pottery, to watching a movie under the stars or taking in a stage show like “Once Upon a Dream” (loved it).

Another favorite is Astronomy@Sea, in which you can explore the night sky on the top deck, assisted by one of the ship's bridge officers.

Solstice Class cruising

While Celebrity Cruises has 10 ships in its fleet, the buzz surrounds its Solstice Class line of ships that started in 2008 with Celebrity Solstice, then continued with Celebrity Equinox (2009), Celebrity Eclipse (2010) and the newest, Celebrity Silhouette. Holding 2,850 passengers, Celebrity Reflection will premiere this year, completing the $3.7-billion investment in what Celebrity has labeled “premium cruising.”

Even though the ships were contracted before the economy plunged, Celebrity has forged ahead, paying attention to customer desires and proceeding with bold plans that are paying off.

The ships are spectacular, with stunning décor, a huge art collection and outstanding cuisine in widely varied dining venues.

Head-turners include the top deck Lawn Club with growing grass; the Hot Glass Show and glassblowing studio from the Corning Museum of Glass; and The Hideaway, an upscale, avant-garde tree house, with cozy, intimate lounging “nests.”

Solstice ships specialize in the cool factor. In the iLounge, you can not only check your email on an Apple computer, but also buy one. And, you can tour the aforementioned fabulous art with an iPad.

“Celebrity Life” is the line’s approach to onboard learning and fun, like language instruction through Rosetta Stone, comparative wine tastings with Riedel Crystal, and enrichment presentations with Smithsonian Journeys.

“The Art Studio” has experts in drawing, painting and beading leading small groups, plus culinary sessions on the art of food with plating, tastings, mixology and other classes. It’s also the spot for exclusive, pairing dinners hosted by guest chefs participating in Celebrity’s “Savor Your Destination” program.

The ships are sprinkled with sophisticated and fun nightclubs and lounges. One has an ice bar; another features the innovative Enomatic wine serving system. Insert your cruise card, place a glass under the dispenser and voila.

Of the specialty restaurants, Qsine earns the title of hippest. Here you order wines on an iPad, and the culinary journey features interesting bites presented unusually. How about sushi lollipops or popcorn fish-n-chips in movie-style containers?

The loveliest eatery is Blu, reserved for AquaClass stateroom guests. AquaClass cabins are inspired by the ship’s AquaSpa, definitely worth a visit.

Among the standout entertainment are aerial shows – yes, flying performers on a cruise ship.

Celebrity sails in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Bermuda, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal, South America, and the Galapagos Islands.

Disney’s newest ship

Disney has long been the go-to entertainment brand on land, so you’d expect a lot from them at sea. You get all that and more on the new Disney Dream. There’s also Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, plus Disney Fantasy is slated for this year.

This is the only cruise line with a fireworks spectacular at sea, and the Walt Disney Theater is one of the largest showrooms on water. Of course, the lavish, original shows are full of the imagination and innovation you’ve come to know from Disney.

Disney has its own private island, Castaway Cay, where, amid watersports and barbecues, you’re also included to a “Lilo and Stitch” dance party. Back on board, don’t miss the Pirate Party. There’s a Goofy miniature golf course, two virtual sports simulators, a basketball court and more. In addition to their terrific kids’ program, there’s a special private club for tweens 11-13.

Just because you’re having fun doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice luxury: 73 percent of the cabins are outside staterooms, and nearly half have private verandahs.

Even the inside cabins have an “electronic porthole” television system that shows what’s happening outside while Disney characters pop into view. And there’s AquaDuck, the first water-coaster at sea, and the ride takes you out over the ocean before dumping you in the pool. Wow.

Disney Dream is 40 percent larger than her two predecessors (and holds up to 4,000 passengers), and she’s built with a classic profile, like ocean liners of the early 20th century.

When parents or couples without kids need down time, there are adult entertainment and specialty areas designed to keep you “Marco Polo” free, including:

• Quiet Cove, an adults-only pool.

• 687, a sports bar for adults at night.

• Cove Café, an adults-only lounge.

• Evolution, a nighttime, adult dance club.

• Meridian, Pink and Skyline, adults-only bars.

• Remy, an adults-only gourmet French restaurant.

Disney promises that kids will set sail on their very own fairytale. Smart adults will want to join the ride.

Parlez-vous Francais?

We can’t resist mentioning our most recent cruise – a new discovery, even for many cruise insiders.

Le Boreal is a new, small ship from the French cruise company Compagnie du Ponant. They call it a luxury mega-yacht; she holds just 264 passengers.

We sailed from Boston to Montreal, along the St. Lawrence River, to ports we had never heard of. Along the way, we trekked to see 65,000 nesting sea birds, went whale-watching, and learned about the history and culture of the Acadians with a walk in Bar Harbor’s Acadia National Park.

The ship is sleek and contemporary with good service, and we loved the affable captain. “My job is to give the goose bumps to the passengers,” he says.

You’ll certainly get those if you sign on for one of Le Boreal’s expedition cruises to Antarctica, the Great White Continent. It’s the cruise of a lifetime.

Companie du Ponant offers 170 different cruises all over the world, including theme cruises for opera, golf, gastronomy, music, cinema, comedy and family-friendly.

Bon voyage!

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