April 2013

Limited Time Only!

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As reported Wednesday, due to unexpectedly strong winds that reached speeds exceeding 70 miles per hour during a severe storm in Mobile, Ala., Carnival Triumph, which was in wet dock at a Mobile shipyard, broke away from its moorings.

According to meteorological experts, the excessive winds were produced by a phenomenon known as a gravity wave, which is difficult to predict and typically does not produce winds of the level of severity experienced Wednesday.

At this time, we know that numerous mooring lines were used to properly secure the ship. However, four of the bollards that the mooring lines were tied to and are embedded into the pier broke apart. The ship remains docked at the Mobile Cruise Terminal and repairs are continuing. At this time it has not yet been determined how long the ship will remain at the cruise terminal.

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Royal Caribbean International today announced 2014 Scandinavia and Baltic cruises from Hamburg, Germany, on board Legend of the Seas, one of nine Royal Caribbean ships to sail European waters in 2014. The cruise line also announced new 2014 Europe cruisetours, which combine a cruise with an exclusive land tour programme that explores some of Europe’s most vibrant cities and interior regions such as Madrid, Florence and Rome. With the most innovative cruise ships in the region, the cruise line offers families and adventurers a wide selection of exciting European destinations, signature entertainment and innovative onboard facilities, exclusive to Royal Caribbean.

Legend of the Seas’ 2014 Scandinavia and Baltic cruises from Hamburg will open for sale on 11 April, 2013, and the 2014 Europe cruisetours are available for booking immediately.

“There is no better way for families and adventurous holidaymakers to experience Europe than with Royal Caribbean,” said Lisa Bauer, executive vice president of Global Sales and Marketing for Royal Caribbean International. “Whether it’s aboard our world’s most innovative and award-winning ships or on one of our fascinating cruisetours, holidaymakers will be WOW’ed by a European experience that can only be found with Royal Caribbean. Most of our ships have been recently revitalized and offer guests our newest exciting entertainment and the most contemporary onboard amenities, which together make for a most unforgettable European holiday.”

Legend of the Seas is the latest ship in the cruise line’s fleet to undergo extensive refurbishment and now offers guests more dining options as well as exciting entertainment and innovative amenities. All staterooms and bathrooms have been completely refreshed and a new Family Suite has been added to provide families with more room for the whole clan. Legend of the Seas’ guests can now enjoy eight restaurants, including the new Chops Grille, Izumi Asian Cuisine, Park Café, and the exclusive Chef’s Table experience for 16 guests. Furthermore, in addition to Broadway-style musical revues in the main theatre, guests also will be wowed by the new aerial-acrobatic entertainment spectacular, which spans throughout the four-story Centrum.

Through the cruise line’s ongoing fleetwide refurbishment programme, most ships now feature some of the top concepts that were introduced on board the ground-breaking Oasis-class ships, such as new digital signage, bow-to-stern Wi-Fi service, flat-panel televisions in every stateroom, an oversized LCD movie screen overlooking the main pool, Concierge and Diamond Lounges for suite and Crown & Anchor Society member guests, and the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery for guests six to 36 months old.

For the 2014 Hamburg sailings, Legend of the Seas will reposition from Stockholm to Hamburg on July 27, 2014, sailing an intriguing 14-night itinerary throughout the Baltic Sea that features a three-day call at St. Petersburg, Russia; a maiden call for the cruise line at Fredericia, Denmark; and a return to Klaipeda, Lithuania – last visited in 2008. Throughout August 2014, Legend of the Seas will sail every Sunday on a seven-night, roundtrip itinerary from Hamburg, calling at Oslo, Stavanger, Geiranger and Ǻlesund, before departing on September 7 for a 16-night transatlantic sailing to Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey.  Guests will also have the opportunity to embark in Oslo for the seven-night, roundtrip Norway itinerary, or for the ship’s transatlantic crossing.  Legend of the Seas will be joined by Oasis of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas Adventure of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, and Splendour of the Seas in European waters in 2014.

Guests can choose from four Royal Caribbean cruisetours across five ships, which comprise three- to five-night land programmes offering great value exploration of the many inland metropolises and attractions, as well as the coastal ones. Royal Caribbean takes care of all the planning for immersive European land tours, each featuring expert Adventure Specialists who act as guides, historians and concierges; carefully selected accommodation in the heart of each incredible city; premium baggage handling service throughout; transfers between cities, airport and ship; and built-in free time for guests to create their own one-of-a-kind adventures.

Two Royal Caribbean cruisetour programmes combine a Mediterranean cruise on board Serenade of the Seas or Splendour of the Seas with either a four-night Madrid & Barcelona or a three-night Italian Lakes, Como & Venice land tour. On the latter itinerary, guests spend two nights in Como and visit the picturesque Italian town of Bellagio. Another immersive Italian cruisetour combines a Navigator of the Seas sailing with a five-night itinerary that includes all the must-see attractions of Venice, Florence & Rome. Furthermore, the Paris & London cruisetour combines a sailing on board Adventure of the Seas or Brilliance of the Seas with a four-night itinerary that showcases Paris and London’s top, iconic landmarks.

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 21 innovative ships, calling on more than 270 destinations in 72 countries across six continents. The cruise line also offers unique cruisetour land packages in Alaska, Canada, Europe, and Australia and New Zealand. Royal Caribbean provides a world-class holiday experience with a wide range of signature on board amenities, entertainment, and an award-winning family programme.

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Two Bonus GAP Points help Travel Agents Deliver More Value to Clients' Vacations

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Uncovering authentic local finds and having experiences that make you feel like you’ve really connected with a place are important elements in making a vacation extraordinary. Giving travelers the knowledge to make their journeys even better is the inspiration behind a breakthrough collaboration between modern luxury brand Celebrity Cruises and American Express Publishing’s influential brands, Travel + Leisure^®, Departures^® and Food & Wine^®.

The collaboration of the premium brands – all recognized for their commitment to enabling consumers to enjoy outstanding, authentic vacation experiences – includes the formation of “Celebrity’s Global Insiders, powered by Travel + Leisure,” a distinguished group of travel experts, style luminaries, top epicureans, and prominent writers and editors who will help Celebrity’s guests uncover unique and memorable experiences in key destinations on the modern luxury line’s vacations in all seven continents, as well as a series of Destination Guides created by the editors of Travel + Leisure with insider tips and not-to-be-missed spots in 150 of Celebrity’s destinations.

Celebrity’s Global Insiders, powered by Travel + Leisure, are:

• Kate Betts, an award-winning magazine editor and the author of Everyday Icon: Michelle Obama and the Power of Style. Betts is a contributing editor at Travel + Leisure and Time and was previously the editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar, and the fashion news director of Vogue.
• Julia Dimon, a journalist, TV correspondent for Outside Today, and nationally syndicated columnist. Dimon has been featured as a travel expert on ABC, NBC, MSNBC and in The New York Times, among other publications.
• Jack Ezon, president of Ovation Vacations, a company specializing in luxury travel experiences. He appears on the Travel + Leisure A-List and is one of the most influential travel advisors in the U.S.
• Marc Murphy, executive chef and owner of Benchmarc Restaurants, Landmarc and Ditch Plains, as well as Benchmarc Events by Marc Murphy. Murphy also is a judge on Food Network’s top-rated show, Chopped.
• Alisa Ng, founder and CEO of L-atitude.com, a curated online marketplace for travel and fashion enthusiasts. Ng launched the site in 2010, and it has since become an e-commerce partner for Travel + Leisure, and was included in “Best of the Web” features in InStyle, Departures and Town & Country.
• Adam Sachs, a freewheeling travel, food and lifestyle writer. Sachs is a contributing editor for Travel + Leisure and Bon Appetit, and also writes for GQ, Details, and T, among other publications.

Celebrity’s Global Insiders will help Celebrity deliver a 360-degree modern luxury vacation experience by infusing the cruise experience with the Insiders’ unique insights in fashion, food, technology and travel in all seven continents.

The Destination Guides created by Travel + Leisure editors for 150 of Celebrity Cruises’ ports of call will include insider tips, local hidden gems, and “must see” experiences in each destination. Celebrity will feature the content on its website, www.celebrity.com, in brochures, and onboard.

“Throughout the year, our Global Insiders will get together to experience Celebrity Cruises first-hand, and to share their insights on everything from the destinations we visit, to the experiences we offer on land and at sea,” said Celebrity Cruises VP of Marketing Lisa Kauffman. “We recognize how precious vacation time is for our guests, which drives us to continuously find ways to make it outstanding and memorable. We’re confident this collaboration will do exactly that.” Steven DeLuca, senior vice president and publishing director of Travel + Leisure, said, “We’re thrilled to team up with Celebrity Cruises on this exciting new program that gives us the opportunity to bring our expertise and connections to their modern luxury experience. The goal is to make travel better, and this is a great pairing to achieve that.”

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New Adventures Offered in Virtually Every Port

$1,000 per Person Savings if Booked by April 30

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The new tours were developed for European travelers who may be more familiar with these ports and already visited key monuments and traditional sights such as the Colosseum in Rome or Acropolis in Athens. Now Spanish-, Dutch- and German-speaking guests looking for something new can opt to book a less traditional tour — offered in their own language — such as a hiking adventure, biking through town or visiting the countryside. However, for European guests who still want to visit popular landmarks, tours also will be available in the three languages to those destinations. Foreign language tours are offered when 30 guests who speak a common language are booked on a voyage.

“We have a multicultural mix of clientele and adding these tours in three languages ensures that all of our guests have an enriching and fulfilling cruise, both on board and ashore," said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs for Holland America Line. “These tours are not just translations of our English-language tours; they were developed while thinking about the preferences of our international guests."

Tours offered in Dutch include Hiking Ft. Floien in Bergen; an excursion from Monaco to the city of Villefranche-sur-Mer or a relaxing Kayak along the Aurlandsfjord in Flam. German-speaking tours include a visit to the ancient city of Iliada from the port of Katákolon, Greece or a beer cruise on the Bosporus Strait in Istanbul, Turkey. Spanish-speaking guests might enjoy a 4x4 expedition to the village of Cámara de Lobos in Portugal or a beach tour in Valencia, Spain.

The program is expanding and select excursions are offered in German and Spanish throughout South America.

The international tours are part of Holland America Line’s signature shore excursion experience. When in port, guests can choose from a multitude of diverse tours including Overland Adventures, off-the-beaten-track explorations, Signature Collection private-car touring and exclusive Medallion Collection excursions.

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One-of-a-Kind Excursions Created for Families, Children and Adults

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Three- to Seven-Day Sailings from Ft. Lauderdale Open for Sale Today

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"All of Carnival Cruise Lines’ ships operate safely today. Each vessel already has effective systems in place to prevent, detect and respond to emergency situations"

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Published by FOX News

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View shortlist and vote for best video on official MSC Cruises Facebook pages

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Celebrity Cruises is bringing its ambitious, $140-million "Solsticizing" initiative - the modern luxury brand's coined term for adding onto its four Millennium Class ships some of the most popular venues and experiences found on its five award-winning Solstice Class ships - full circle beginning today, as Celebrity Constellation enters a scheduled drydock period to add the full complement of Solstice Class-inspired features and attributes guests love on the ship's three Millennium Class sister ships.

Celebrity Constellation in 2010 was the first of the four to be Solsticized, with the addition of the specialty restaurant Tuscan Grille, new staterooms, renovated bathrooms, new bedding, new flat-screen TVs, entirely refreshed public spaces, and new color schemes throughout the ship. Based on positive guest response, Celebrity then chose to add even more guest-favorite Solstice Class features onto sister ships Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Summit as each completed the Solsticizing project, and now, Celebrity Constellation will feature the full complement, too.

When the ship re-enters service May 5, 2013, the following new features and venues will join those that were added in 2010:

• Celebrity's stylish AquaClass accommodations - a total of 107 staterooms (70 entirely new; 37 converted from ConciergeClass) - highlighted by exclusive access to the Mediterranean-themed "Blu" specialty restaurant and complimentary access to the soothing Persian Garden and Relaxation Room in the ship's revitalizing AquaSpa.
• A total of 17 new oceanview and 12 inside staterooms
• Spacious verandas accompanying the ship's eight luxurious Celebrity Suites, complete with 24/7 butler service.
• The hip Celebrity iLounge - which made Celebrity the first Authorized Apple Reseller upon introduction on Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, and has since evolved to Celebrity's designation as an Apple Specialist - with Apple workstations, informative classes on the latest products and technologies, and a retail store.
• Full wi-fi capability throughout the ship.
• The trendy craft beer experience first introduced in Michael's Club across Celebrity's Solstice Class fleet now also will be offered in Celebrity Constellation's Michael's Club.
• New meetings and conference space accommodating up to 208 guests, courtesy of reconfiguring the prior area to one large room that can be divided into two spaces.
• All suites and staterooms will feature new mattresses made by Reverie. Custom-designed for Celebrity Cruises, the mattresses are hand-made in the U.S. with natural raw materials farmed in a sustainable manner, and are nearly entirely recyclable and/or biodegradable. The mattresses also feature removable covers that are hypo-allergenic, anti-bacterial and dust mite-resistant.
• All suites onboard will feature premium Reverie mattresses with all of the same attributes, in addition to the ability to allow guests to tailor their sleep experience to their personal preferences -from extra plush to firm - with the help of their butler.
• Rounding out the Solsticizing initiative throughout Celebrity Constellation will be new color schemes, new carpeting and new upholstery reflective of the Solstice Class, new sun loungers on the pool decks, and an upgraded basketball court.

To allow consumers to share in the celebration of the additional Solsticizing of Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Cruises invites them to "get their game on" with an online "Memory Match" game running from April 20 through May 20, 2013. Enticing instant-win prizes range from an iPad to a gift card to Celebrity's sleek, hardbound "Excite the Senses" lifestyle book, complete with Celebrity recipes, tips for at-home and holiday and other dinner parties, unique table settings, mixology lessons, and rich imagery to bring it all to life. Visit www.celebritycruises.com/matchgame.

Celebrity also has announced that the plush Reverie mattresses that will enhance guests' sleep experience on Celebrity Constellation will be available for purchase with a special offer from May 1 through July 1, 2013. Any consumer who purchases a Reverie Dream mattress through Celebrity Cruises will receive a complimentary deluxe adjustable foundation, with a retail value of up to $1,800 (www.celebrityexhalebedding.com, coupon code 2FOR1).

For a rare insiders' look at the additional Solsticizing of Celebrity Constellation, follow the progress socially on Celebrity's Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/celebritycruises.

Celebrity Constellation will re-enter service May 5, 2013, setting sail from Miami, Fla., on a 15-night Eastbound Transatlantic voyage to Amsterdam, Netherlands, where the ship will present a seasonal series of modern luxury Scandinavia, Russia and Baltic vacations.

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The two-term former president of Switzerland, NASA’s lead flight controller for Apollo missions and a general who was once the highest ranking intelligence officer in the United States Armed Forces will bring their considerable clout aboard Crystal Cruises this year. The guest speakers are part of a distinguished lineup of internationally influential, preeminent leaders set to present complimentary lectures and interactive Q & A sessions on several of the line’s ultra-luxurious voyages, including:

• Kaspar Villiger – Formerly the president of Switzerland, as well as the chairman of UBS Bank, Villiger is one of the world’s leading  authorities on business, government and finance, whose influence and leadership has affected global economies (September 2, London to Barcelona);
• General Michael Hayden – The retired Director of both the CIA and NSA, and four-star U.S. Air Force General, brings a wealth of knowledge and intelligence from his nearly four decades of military duty and national service (September 19, Venice to Monte Carlo, President’s Cruise with Crystal President Gregg Michel);
• Sy Liebergot – The lead controller at NASA’s Mission Control served during the legendary Apollo program (November 23, Miami to Rio de Janeiro);
• Norm Mineta – The ex-U.S. Secretary of Transportation and congressman is also the recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Medal for his civil rights efforts (September 11, Barcelona to Venice); and
• Nando Parrado – The ultimate survivor, Uruguayan rugby player-turned-motivational speaker was aboard the ill-fated flight over the Andes that later became the subject of the film Alive (July 6, Istanbul to Rome).

 

The speakers join an already-extensive roster of leading experts set to enlighten guests sailing Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity in 2013, including a U.K.-based celebrity florist, award-winning photographers, show business veterans and a bevy of historians and professors.  Crystal often brings expert minds together on their “Ocean Views”-themed cruises, with speakers debating current issues with each other in a live panel that includes audience participation.

“Our guests are worldly, well-educated travelers who seek not only new adventures while on vacation, but also new information and perspectives on topics that affect the world we explore,” says Bret Bullock, vice president of entertainment.  “With such fascinating experiences and knowledge to share, these presenters are certain to spark some stimulating discussions on board.”

Crystal’s award-winning, luxurious offerings 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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Ship to Sail a Southern Hemisphere Route Including West Coast of Africa

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Passengers with Four or Five Cruises will Enjoy New Benefits

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Ready to set sail? Here are eight tips for saving money on a cruise vacation:

1. BOOK EARLY

The cruise industry touts offer-packed deals during its annual "Wave Season," which runs from January through March. If you know exactly when you want to travel, say specifically in the summer when kids are out of school, it pays to book as soon as possible.

Although you may get a lower price attempting to book at the last minute, by booking early you can often get perks, such as free airfare to the departure city, or on-board credits to spend on extras like a massage, or an upgraded cabin.

In general to take advantage of these added incentives, travelers need to book at least four to six months in advance to get the ship, travel dates and state room of choice, adds Carrie Finley-Bajak, CEO of cruising information site CruiseBuzz.net. Also, if you aren't picky about which cabin you get, you can save by accepting an unspecified cabin guarantee.

2. AVOID PEAK TIMES

High season is generally during the summer and other times of the year when school is out. That includes spring break, around the December holidays, Thanksgiving, etc.

For the best deals, book travel for other times of the year: During the school year. After Thanksgiving and before Christmas. And, incidentally, right now.

"This is the season," Spencer Brown says. "Spring is a great time after the Easter holidays to nab a deal."

At this time of the year, different cruise ship itineraries become more affordable, too.

With summer still a couple months away, Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises are more affordable, as is an Alaskan voyage, Spencer Brown says.

3. SAIL OLD SCHOOL

Another way to save money: Select a cruise with an older ship. It may not have as many amenities, but it also won't have nearly as many of the cabins with balconies, which are pricier than the smaller, windowless interior cabins.

Finley-Bajak recommends doing some research on the cruise line to find what year a given ship was built.

Many of the older ships tend to run all year long on the three-day itineraries and are more affordable.

4. LOOK FOR REPOSITIONING CRUISES

Cruise lines move their ships from their rotation in one region to another every few months, usually as the high season in one region cools off and before the next destination heats up. For example, a ship will shift from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean for the winter, or vice versa. Or from the Caribbean to Alaska for the summer.

Booking a vacation on one of these repositioning cruises can be significantly cheaper than a regular itinerary that hits several stops before returning to a home port. All told, you could pay from $35 to $65 per person, per day on a repositioning cruise, says Spencer Brown.

However, one should consider that repositioning cruises are only one-way. The voyage also can take 10 days to two weeks, with fewer stops at ports of call along the way.

5. LOOK BEYOND PRICE

When selecting a cruise, price isn't the only consideration, by far.

There are the perks and incentives that could end up making the trip a better value. But a key factor is whether the cruise you select is right for you. That's because cruise lines cater to different niches of travelers. An older traveler looking for a refined cruise probably wouldn't be happy on a party ship festooned with nightclubs, basketball courts and other attractions aimed at younger passengers.

Experts recommend you read up about specific ships and their itineraries to get a sense of whether the cruise fits what you're looking for.

6. TARGET CHEAPER ITENIRARIES

The shorter the voyage, the less costly the cruise. If you're looking for ultra-cheap, go for a three-day cruise, which tend to compete more on price.

The weak economy in Europe makes a seven-day Mediterranean cruise a good value. Plus, as more cruise lines reposition ships there, competition will increase. That's good for the consumer.

Other ways to find deals: Monitor sites that advertise deals. Some of them include Cruisebuzz.net, Cruise.com and Cruisedeals.com

In addition, getting on cruise company mailing lists can tip you off to sales in advance.

7. CONSIDER A TRAVEL AGENT

A cruise vacation has a lot of components to sort out, from air travel to the departure port, to offshore activities that often are not included in your cruise costs. Travel agents can help sort out the details.

"A travel agent will have access to all the ships and current pricing and promotions," says Finley-Bajak.

Contact a Cruise Travel Agent.

8. ACCOUNT FOR EXTRAS

The term all-inclusive is often associated with a cruise vacation, but in most cases, it's far from the truth.

"If anybody says cruising is all-inclusive, they're crazy," says Spencer Brown, adding that one always pays extra to gamble in the casino, visit the spa, use the Internet, eat at certain restaurants and onshore excursions.

There may also be a hotel stay before your departure, government taxes, fees and gratuities to cover.

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2013’s best cruise deals on cruises that sail within Europe and the Mediterranean.

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