This is the site for the latest news on cruise bargains, itineraries, awards, new ships and items of interest to the discriminating cruise traveler.
Photo credit: Cunard
A YOUNG MAIDEN MAKES A MAIDEN CALL
Queen Victoria, the newest luxury liner in Cunard’s expanding fleet, made her maiden call to Ft. Lauderdale on January 16, just three days after embarking on her Maiden World Cruise and making an historic Royal Rendezvous in New York with both sister-ships Queen Mary 2 and QE2. Queen Victoria has been sailing with QE2 since departing Southampton, England, on January 6, as the two made a tandem Transatlantic Crossing together. Queen Victoria was launched on December 10, 2007 by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla Parker Bowles). Joining Queen Victoria at Port Everglades was Cunard’s grand dame QE2, arguably the world’s most famous ocean liner. QE2 embarked on her 26th and final World Cruise and will complete her service to the Cunard fleet in November 2008.
For additional information, visit the line's website by clicking on the link below:
From coconut scallops in the Caribbean and Spanish tapas in the Mediterranean to chicken mole in Mexico, guests sailing aboard Holland America Line’s cruise ships in 2008 will savor new menus reflecting their ship’s current itinerary. Master Chef Rudi Sodamin has incorporated flavors, techniques and recipes from around the world on new menus fleetwide. Menus are changing to reflect the ship’s sailing itinerary, and local foods are brought on board to better reflect the regional cuisine. The new Mexico and Caribbean menus are the first to debut and are available now on ships sailing those itineraries. “Part of the fun of travel is experiencing new cultures,” said Richard D. Meadows, executive vice president of marketing, sales, and guest programs. “By incorporating regional dishes, Chef Rudi has brought the excitement of visiting new destinations to the dining room.” Other sample dishes include: chili-rubbed tuna brochette, chilled West Indian lassi soup, mahi mahi with roasted corn salsa and plantains, Mexican tortilla soup with mushrooms, and guava stuffed chicken. In an effort to enhance the fine dining experience on board, Sodamin will continue to introduce new menus as the ships change sailing destinations. He’s developing new menus for Northern and Southern Europe, as well as other destinations. On European itineraries, guests can enjoy prosciutto and coppa from Italy, Spanish tapas, Mediterranean olive oils and produce, artisanal cheeses and Norwegian salmon. Alaskan sailings will continue to feature wild Alaskan seafood. For more information, contact a travel agent or call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit the company's website by clicking on the link below:
An expansive new aqua park featuring a 300-foot-long water slide, along with an exclusive adults-only area, and a totally redesigned “resort-style” main pool will be incorporated into the Carnival Fantasy when the 2,052-passenger SuperLiner undergoes a multi-million-dollar dry dock in the fall of 2008.
Taking center stage on the Carnival Fantasy’s Verandah Deck will be Carnival WaterWorks, a spectacular aqua park featuring a four-deck-high 300-foot-long corkscrew water slide – the longest, most elaborate at sea – along with an 82-foot-long dual-lane racing slide, and various water spray apparatus creating cool and exhilarating fun for kids and adults, alike. Located aft will be Serenity, an exclusive adults-only outdoor retreat designed as an ocean-going oasis for relaxation, tranquility and comfort. Offering magnificent ocean vistas, Serenity will feature plush chaise lounges and chairs, colorful oversized umbrellas, two whirlpools, and a separate area where guests can relax in shaded comfort. For additional information and reservations for all of the Carnival Fantasy’s four- and five-day departures from New Orleans, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit the line's web site by clicking on the link below:
CELEBRITY CRUISES UNVEILS “TOP 10” ON CELEBRITY SOLSTICE
Guests aboard the new Celebrity Solstice will have a variety of dining options from which to choose, with an assortment of 10 diverse restaurants on the ship. "The dining experience has always been central to our guests’ cruise experience, and on Celebrity Solstice, we’ll present the extraordinary service the brand is known for,in venues designed to perfectly complement the spectacular cuisine,” said Celebrity’s President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. "The larger size of Celebrity Solstice allows us to offer more options for our guests, with menus created by some of the best talent in the business."The venues will include: The Grand Epernay, combining Old Hollywood glamour and contemporary design in the main dining room created by Adam Tihany, highlighted by a two-story glass wine tower; the Tuscan Grille, featuring the Old World charm of Italy in the Tihany-designed specialty venue; Silk Harvest, an Asian-themed venue designed by RTKL;
Blu, which features “Clean Cuisine” exclusively for guests booked in Celebrity Solstice’s new AquaClass category of accommodations and open for other guests on a space-available basis; Murano, which presents a blend of classic and modern Continental cuisine served with Riedel stemware, fine bone china and gleaming silverware;as well as Bistro on Five, offering a variety of specialty crepes complemented with sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts and entrees including quiche, fish and chips, baked ziti and chicken pot pie. Other specialty food areas include Café al Bacio & Gelateria; the AquaSpa Café; Mast Grill & Bar; and the Oceanview Café and Grill. Celebrity's current fleet will be joined by Celebrity Solstice in 2008, Celebrity Equinox in 2009, Celebrity Eclipse in 2010, and a fourth Solstice-class ship in 2011. For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111 or click on the links below:
Guests on Windstar Cruises' special 8-day cruise aboard the 312-guest msy Wind Surf can partake in the glamour of the Cannes Film Festival and the thrill of the Monaco Grand Prix race on an itinerary departing May 18, 2008, from Nice, France. Guests will overnight in Cannes, France, during the star-studded Cannes Film Festival and spend three nights in Monaco during the prestigious Formula One Grand Prix race. Other ports visited include St. Tropez, France and St. Florent, Corsica. "This popular cruise offers guests the exciting allure of Cannes, exclusive Grand Prix events and luxurious Mediterranean cruising," said Diane Moore, Executive Vice President, Windstar Cruises. Guests who wish to attend the Grand Prix may purchase the Monaco 66e Grand Prix Package Tour which begins on Friday, May 23 and ends on Sunday, May 25, 2008, and includes a private "Welcome to Monaco" cocktail reception and gala dinner on board the ship on Friday; an exclusive gift package of Bushnell binoculars, official 66e Grand Prix de Monaco program, official Monaco Auto Club Ticket holder, souvenir hat and souvenir jacket. Guests will also receive Tribune K reserved seating at the Formula One Grand Prix time trials on Saturday. On Saturday evening, a Windstar reception will be held at the H.S.H. Prince Rainier III Auto Collection Museum where guests will have the opportunity to stroll through the exhibits which include one hundred cars of all ages, made by the biggest European and American firms, and will be able to view six state coaches belonging to the late H.S.H Prince Rainier III of Monaco. The private reception will be catered by France's world famous Lenotre of Paris. On Sunday, a private breakfast on board the ship is followed by a thrilling day of viewing the final Grand Prix race from the same track-side reserved seats. Rates for the limited 3-day package is $2,400 per person and must be pre-booked. Rates for the cruise begin at $3,299 per person, double occupancy. For more information including brochures, rates and itineraries contact a professional travel agent, call Windstar at 1-800-258-7245visit the line's web site by clicking on the link below:
Cruise West, the leader in small-ship cruising, offers multi-generational groups and families the opportunity to connect while exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site and natural wonderland of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Special pricing for kids ages 18 and under is available on all 2008 Glacier Bay Highlights departures, with savings of up to 75 percent off adult fare in a AAA cabin or 50 percent off the adult fare in a category A or AA cabin. Fares start at $1,799 per adult and $900 for one child sharing an A cabin. Glacier Bay is a living classroom with massive tidewater glaciers, lush forests and a large concentration of whales, bears, seals, sea otters, mountain goats and wolves Ä an ideal environment for a family to share spectacular, memory-building moments. Cruise West’s three- and four-night Glacier Bay Highlights cruises are onboard the newly named and new to Alaskan waters, 102-guest Spirit of Glacier Bay, offering up-close and personal encounters that large ships just can’t offer. Both the three- and four-night cruises spend two days in Glacier Bay and the four-night makes a port call at the historic town of Haines. Cruising roundtrip Juneau from May to September, special pricing for children ages two to 18 is available in multiple categories of travel, from one adult and one child sharing a cabin to two children ages 13 to 18 sharing a double cabin. Pricing is all-inclusive except alcohol and any optional excursions in Haines. Cruise West offers the opportunity to explore remote and distinctive destinations throughout North and Central America, Asia and the South Pacific. Small-ship cruising allows for personalized experiences not offered by larger cruise lines. Guest capacities aboard Cruise West’s nine ships range from 78-138. Guests may expect personal enrichment through onboard narrative and presentations by local experts. The ships’ forward lounges and ample outdoor deck space provide outstanding viewing opportunities, and inflatable boats allow for up-close exploration and shore landings. For more information, contact a travel agent, phone Cruise West at (800) 296-8307 or visit the line's web site by clicking on the link below:
Disney Cruise Line will transform one of the most beloved animated features of all time into a stage spectacular aboard the Disney Wonder cruise ship when Toy Story-The Musical makes its debut at the Walt Disney Theatre this spring. This is the first time the popular Disney•Pixar classic has been adapted for the stage. "World-class Disney entertainment is an important hallmark of Disney Cruise Line that sets us apart from the rest of the cruise industry and one of the reasons guests sail with us again and again," said Disney Cruise Line President Tom McAlpin. "Toy Story-The Musicalrepresents the next generation of staged entertainment for Disney Cruise Line and a great enhancement to our incredible array of entertainment aboard the Disney Wonder."The costumes for Toy Story-The Musical are some of the most complex ever developed for a Disney Cruise Line production. Costume designer Ann Closs-Farley created an extraordinary vision for what the characters would look like on stage. With a combination of articulated puppets and inflatable costumes, the Toy Story characters come to life -- including a nearly 9-foot-tall version of Rex the dinosaur and a 4-foot-round Hamm the piggybank. In all, Toy Story-The Musical represents one of the largest productions ever developed for a cruise ship. This is just the second time a Pixar animated feature has been adapted for the stage by Disney Creative Entertainment. In early 2007, Finding Nemo-The Musical debuted at Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort and has been a tremendous success. To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, guests can contact their travel agent, call Disney Cruise Line at 888-DCL-2500 or visit the line's web site by clicking on the link below:
CRYSTAL SYMPHONY TO PRESENT ROSTER OF CREATIVE ARTISTS
Famed mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade will headline a program of distinguished artists and composers on Crystal Cruises' new Classical Music cruise to Scandinavia and Russia this summer. Live performances and guest lectures highlighting the music of Beethoven, Bach and Mozart will transform the ultra-luxury Crystal Symphony into a floating concert hall on an 11-day, June 7, 2008 voyage to the Baltic's imperial cities. The roster of musicians, composers and lecturers includes:
Frederica von Stade - a six-time Grammy-nominated American mezzo-soprano with more than 60 recordings including complete operas, aria albums, solo recitals and popular crossover albums; Leila Josefowicz, - a classical violinist and 2007 USA Cummings Fellow who has played famed halls from New York to Munich; Anders Paulsson - an internationally acclaimed master of the rare soprano saxophone who has inspired more than 40 composers to write music especially for him; Jake Heggie - composer in residence to the San Francisco Opera, renowned for his contemporary operas including Dead Man Walking (2000) and composition of more than 200 art songs as well as chamber and concert works; Fred Plotkin - renowned for his books on opera, music, the visual arts, food, wine, and travel; Joel Revzen - general director of Arizona Opera, who also serves on the conducting roster of the Metropolitan Opera, and Cindy Rhys - acclaimed actress and cabaret singer. The journey features calls in Oslo, Norway; Copenhagen and Rønne, Denmark; Helsinki, Finland; St. Petersburg for three full days; concluding with an overnight stay in Stockholm, Sweden. Fares begin at $4,685, per person, double occupancy. For additional information, contact atravel agent, call 888-799-4625 or visit the line's web site by clicking on the link below:
