Cruise
Royal Caribbean Extends Kids Sail Free Offer
Royal Caribbean is extending its limited-time “Kids Sail Free” offer to its Baltimore-based ship, Grandeur of the Seas. From March 15-31, travellers in the Greater Maryland Area and beyond can enjoy complimentary cruise fare for third and fourth guests of all ages in any triple- or quad-occupancy staterooms onboard Grandeur of the Seas, as well as a 50% reduced deposit. The offer is valid for all new individual bookings and named group bookings made on sailings departing between May 2 and Dec. 9, while supplies last. For more details, visit...
Diamond Princess Upgraded
As Princess Cruises gets ready for its second season of Japan cruising, Diamond Princess is undergoing an extensive drydock to add enticing new features designed to appeal to Japanese cruisers. During the $30 million refurbishment, the ship will receive an extensive new Japanese bath area – making it the largest such bath experience at sea – as well as a new sushi restaurant, enhanced shopping areas, a revitalized Horizon Court, additional staterooms, new interior furnishings and finishes, fresh hull paint and exterior refurbishment, and contemporary and Asian-style touches. The...
Costa Sets Sail From Miami
Next winter season, Costa Cruises will deploy a second ship roundtrip out of Miami, marking the first time since 2009 that the line will have two ships sailing from the North America homeport. The 2,114-passenger Costa Mediterranea will cruise seven-day itineraries, joining the 2,260-passenger Costa Luminosa, which will return to sail its 10-day voyages. The addition of the second ship represents a nearly 94% increase in capacity. Costa Mediterranea will begin sailing from Miami Dec. 12 and Costa Luminosa starts its Miami season Dec. 20. On two alternating 10-day cruises,...
Carnival Serves Up Green Eggs And Ham
Carnival Cruise Lines’ exclusive partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises kicked off in grand style last week on Carnival Splendor which became the first “Fun Ship” to offer Seuss at Sea, a fleet-wide program featuring fun youth, family, dining and entertainment experiences inspired by the world and words of Dr. Seuss. The festivities included the first-ever Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with the Cat in the Hat and Friends, where both the young and young at heart enjoyed playful food straight from Dr. Seuss’s imagination – green eggs and ham, colourful fruit and pancake stacks,...
NCL Cancels All Tunisia Calls
On March 9, the government of Tunisia refused to allow Israeli nationals to disembark Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) Norwegian Jade in the Port of La Goulette, and in response to this discriminatory act NCL has cancelled all remaining calls to Tunisia and will not return. “We want to send a strong message to Tunisia and ports around the world that we will not tolerate such random acts of discrimination against our guests,” said NCL CEO Kevin Sheehan (pictured). “We are outraged by this act and the fact that we were not notified in advance of this practice. We apologize sincerely...
March Madness
As part of ALBATours’ latest “March Madness” promotion, in which all of its Italy tour vacations and Mediterranean cruise holidays are on sale, the 23-day “European Grand Voyage” stands out for its tremendous value. Offering a combination of land tour and cruise vacation, this 23-day/21-night adventure visits a total of seven countries, starting off in Florence, Italy for two nights of pre-cruise fun before setting sail from Genoa on the MSC Orchestra for a 10-day Western Mediterranean cruise. Heading west, clients will visit Malaga and Cadiz (Seville) before heading...
Crystal To Debut Ambassador Hostesses
In an industry first, Crystal Cruises is introducing Ambassador Hostesses on select cruises, expanding its popular onboard dancing program. Female counterparts to the line’s Ambassador Hosts – professional dance partners for ladies without one – will debut on three Ballroom at Sea Experiences of Discovery voyages in 2014 and 2015. Along with eight male dance hosts (double the usual number), the transatlantic sailings will each feature two Ambassador Hostesses to cha cha, swing and waltz with solo gentlemen during evening dance sets, live orchestra performances and dance...
Bonus Commission
Encore Cruises is offering agents up to a 2% bonus commission on all Europe sailings departing this spring. Valid on all new bookings made between March 6 and March 31, the offer is applicable on any 2014 Europe sailing departing in April, May or June. For interior, ocean view or balcony staterooms, agents will receive 1% bonus commission, for bookings in suites and above, they will receive 2% bonus commission. This offer applies to all of Encore’s cruise line partners, including AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Azamara Club Cruises, Costa Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian...