Cruise
Quite A Trio
Royal Caribbean International has announced that the second ship in its new and most advanced Quantum class of ships, Anthem of the Seas, will be joined by Adventure of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas in the U.K. as part of an unprecedented 2015 Europe season. The cruise company had previously announced that the Anthem of the Seas would homeport at Southampton, U.K. when it launches in April 2015. The ship will mark its inaugural Europe season with 19 cruises to the Spanish, French and Italian rivieras, and the Canary Islands on three- to 16-night itineraries, and then reposition...
Made In Italy
Costa Diadema, the new Costa Cruises flagship set for delivery by Fincantieri shipyard Oct. 30, 2014, will debut with a seven-night preview cruise from Trieste, Italy, Nov. 1. The $750-million ship then will sail three inaugural seven-night cruises in the western Mediterranean featuring extended port calls before entering regular weekly service from Savona, Italy, through the winter season. Italy takes centre stage during Costa Diadema's first weeks in service with the "Made In Italy" liner calling at Trieste, Naples, Genoa, Savona and La Spezia. The Costa Diadema's preview cruise...
Niagara’s Legend Sails On
Despite harsh winter weather conditions, Hornblower Niagara Cruises has completed assembly on half of its fleet in preparation for the tour operator's inaugural spring launch. At its dock on the Niagara River, Hornblower has assembled one of the two catamarans that will ferry visitors to the base of the Horseshoe Falls for a unique view from the base of the Niagara Falls. The second catamaran will complete assembly in the next two weeks before undergoing final preparations for the official launch. Terry MacRae, CEO and president of Hornblower, said that: "While battling record cold...
Royal Caribbean salutes Texas
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes vacations. Royal Caribbean International’s new Navigator of the Seas saluted the great state of Texas last week with massive Lone Star State flags draping the front and stern of the ship. Navigator of the Seas is the largest ship to homeport year-round in Galveston and boasts the cruise industry’s first Virtual Balconies, which provide guests in select interior staterooms the sights and sounds of the sea with real-time views of the ocean through an 80-inch, high definition screen framed to look like a real balcony. The...
Blooming with Blount
Let’s accentuate the positive. Spring is on the horizon and Blount Small Ship Adventures will be bringing back two of its most popular itineraries that explore the port towns of the South, “Southern Antebellum” and “Mississippi & Tenn-Tom Waterway.” The eight-day, seven-night “Southern Antebellum” cruise showcases some of the South’s most iconic port cities, including Savannah, GA, Charleston, SC, and Amelia Island, FL. Highlights of the itinerary, which has departures on the Grande Mariner May 1, 11, 20 and 29, include onboard presentations on Savannah’s rich...
Carnival doubles the rewards
Carnival is celebrating the second anniversary of its Travel Agent Rewards Program with a new “Double the Appreciation, Double the Rewards” promotion for agents throughout the month of February. Through the promotion, all new online bookings made during the month of February entered into the program will be eligible for double rewards points. The only program of its kind in the cruise industry, Carnival’s Travel Agent Rewards program enables agents to earn points for the activities they do every day in working with Carnival. Agents can earn 50 to 3,000 points per activity in...
Avalon reveals plans for two more suite ships
Cruising with Avalon Waterways will become an even more “suite” experience in 2015. Thanks to the overwhelming response Avalon’s Suites Ships have received, the river cruise company has announced it will unveil two additional Suite Ships -- The Avalon Tranquility II and Avalon Tapestry II. The addition of these ships, plus three new Suite Ships scheduled to be unveiled this spring (Avalon Impression and Avalon Poetry II in March; Avalon Illumination in June), will bring the fleet’s Panorama class Suite Ship total to 10, or 66% of the company’s fleet. These innovative...
Celebrity, Canyon Ranch team up
Celebrity Cruises and Canyon Ranch have unveiled a partnership to feature Canyon Ranch SpaClub at Sea facilities onboard 10 Celebrity ships. Canyon Ranch and Celebrity will “create the largest and most comprehensive SpaClub at Sea offering, and debut exclusive SpaClub services and treatments.” The Canyon Ranch SpaClub on Celebrity Cruises will include spa, beauty salon, wellness and fitness amenities presenting signature Canyon Ranch offerings. The industry-leading brands intend to elevate the onboard experience by introducing exclusive SpaClub treatments and services tailored...