tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29768906528414903532012-01-29T16:04:18.513-05:00Cruise DivaThe award-winning cruise travel news, information, and editorial blog.Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.comBlogger17371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-78831612212609662972012-01-29T00:01:00.020-05:002012-01-29T00:01:02.162-05:00Crystal Cruises to Launch Evening BistroWith almost a dozen dining choices on each ship, Crystal Cruises' most popular daytime gathering spot, The Bistro, is expanding to evening hours. Reflecting the space's European-style sidewalk cafe ambiance, the complimentary menu will offer "small bites," desserts, and "midnight" snacks, along with premium wines and flavored coffees. The new nightly cafe debuts in April on Crystal Symphony and Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-66807250864743952932012-01-28T00:38:00.005-05:002012-01-28T00:38:00.224-05:00SeaDream Taps Into a “Life Transformation Program” With a “Raw Food” Menu OptionOne of the highlights of a voyage on SeaDream Yacht Club’s luxurious SeaDream I and SeaDream II is the honest-to-goodness gourmet dining. Every dish is prepared to order and, in my opinion, the food I’ve been served is outstanding. So, I was pretty dismayed to learn they have introduced a “Raw Food” menu option, boasting that it is the first of its kind at sea. Admittedly, with my confirmed Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-11111579382124467812012-01-27T10:25:00.001-05:002012-01-27T12:39:25.664-05:00Cruise News: Costa Cruises Details Costa Concordia Guest Reimbursement OfferCosta Crociere wishes to again express its profound condolences to the families of the victims, continued sympathy to the families of the missing and deep regret and sorrow for the damages and hardship the Costa Concordia accident caused to all its guests.
Costa Crociere announced a compensation proposal for guests who have returned home after the Jan. 13 tragic Costa Concordia accident. This Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-85559302500022842152012-01-27T00:00:00.053-05:002012-01-27T00:00:03.563-05:00Ruby Princess Rescues BoatersThe good news is that earlier this week three French sailors were rescued at sea northeast of Cuba (between Berrys/Clarencetown and Samana Cay in Bahamian territory) when their trimaran lost power, leaving them stranded miles from the nearest port. Princess Cruises' Ruby Princess altered course and launched a rescue boat to pick up the distressed mariners at 11:40pm EST on Monday, Jan 23. Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-39434235659276082842012-01-26T00:16:00.044-05:002012-01-26T00:16:00.095-05:00Cruise News: After Concordia, Deal Or No Deal?Conventional “wisdom” among some travel bloggers suggests that booked passengers are cancelling their cruises en masse due to the recent Costa Concordia incident and now is the time to act quickly to get a rock bottom fare for your next cruise. I even had a friend ask me yesterday if I thought his family could get a great deal on a cruise in March. He was under the impression that cruise lines Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-61794554686978214062012-01-25T14:19:00.044-05:002012-01-25T14:19:00.144-05:00Cruise News: Message From Norwegian Cruise Line's CEOAs a past passenger of Norwegian Cruise Line, I received the email below today. Last week I sailed on Norwegian Epic and can state that the safety drill referenced was conducted within hours of boarding and before the ship sailed from the Port of Miami. While we were not required to bring personal flotation devices to the drill (as is currently a common practice on many cruise lines), the Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-19322066204127072412012-01-25T11:00:00.000-05:002012-01-25T11:00:07.817-05:00Norwegian Cruise Line Launches New Alaska Cruisetours
The Alaska Railroad
Guests sailing aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sun on Alaskan cruise vacations in 2013 can now add pre- or post- Cruisetours to round out their voyage. Ranging in length from four to six days, guests can select their perfect Alaska adventure from four different packages. The Cruisetours are escorted by a local Alaskan guide and each tour features two nights in Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-71355791844293008912012-01-25T08:47:00.001-05:002012-01-25T08:49:01.344-05:00Labor Strikes Delay Oceania Cruises’ New ‘Riviera’Oceania Cruises was notified by ship builder Fincantieri late last week of construction delays and as a result, will reschedule the maiden voyage of its m/s Riviera. Construction on the 1,250-guest ship fell behind schedule when strikes at Fincantieri's shipyard near Genoa, Italy, lasted longer than expected.
The maiden voyage of Riviera has moved from April 24 to May 16, and all guests affectedLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-14480722281857889752012-01-24T15:46:00.004-05:002012-01-24T16:08:55.345-05:00Cruise News: Costa Cruises Clarifies Reports Regarding Discounts & Promotional OffersAs if the situation surrounding the deadly grounding of Costa Concordia weren’t bad enough, the media isn’t making it any better. In a sensational bit of tabloid-ish reporting that has been published and republished over the past few days (sorry, I don’t know the original source or I’d link it), Costa Cruises was said to have offered survivors of the Concordia capsizing a 30 percent discount on Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-42862346991446310432012-01-24T13:15:00.000-05:002012-01-24T13:15:00.397-05:00Disney Cruise Line Adds New Itineraries & Ports for 2013With their growing fleet, Disney Cruise Line will offer new itineraries for 2013, including an expanded portfolio of European cruises with new destinations such as Venice, Italy, and the Greek Isles. In addition, Disney Cruise Line will utilize a second homeport in Florida, with Caribbean sailings departing from the Port of Miami for the very first time.
With the addition of the Disney Dream andLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-52598501588879177082012-01-24T11:03:00.001-05:002012-01-24T11:07:33.323-05:00A message from Celebrity Cruises' President & CEOAs a past passenger, I received the following email from Dan Hanrahan, President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises and would like to share it with you.
Clearly, as the result of the Costa Concordia grounding and loss of life, the cruise industry wants to reassure past, present, and future passengers that they will do everything possible to prevent such a tragic accident from happening again. I Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-66935909151480125782012-01-24T09:59:00.000-05:002012-01-24T09:59:00.232-05:00Royal Caribbean Addresses Cruise Travel SafetyIt's no surprise that the grounding of Costa Concordia has deeply affected not only Carnival Corporation and its cruise brands, but the entire industry. Yesterday Cruise Diva shared a message from Princess Cruises' Captain's Circle e-newsletter to past passengers and earlier today we shared an announcement from Prestige Cruise Holdings, parent company of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-21082022221625012902012-01-24T00:09:00.006-05:002012-01-24T00:09:00.074-05:00Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises Announce Revised Muster Drill PolicyPrestige Cruise Holdings, parent company of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, has announced that effective immediately all ships will hold guest muster drills on the day of departure. Presently, all Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises vessels hold muster drills on the same day of departure, with few exceptions.
“On just a handful of occasions the drill is held the Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-80055055905725740652012-01-23T16:27:00.006-05:002012-01-23T16:27:00.731-05:00Message From Princess Cruises President Alan Buckelew Regarding the Costa Concordia TragedyFrom the Captain's Circle e-newsletter to past passengers sent out today, Princess Cruises President Alan Buckelew made this statement.
"All of us at Princess Cruises continue to be deeply saddened by the grounding of the Costa Concordia and the tragic aftermath. We are stunned that this incident occurred, and our hearts go out to all those affected, especially the families of the deceased, and Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-56801646292505286032012-01-23T14:00:00.000-05:002012-01-23T14:00:00.447-05:00Sapphire Princess Drydock to Add Signature Princess Cruises Features
Sapphire Princess’ atrium is being transformed into
Princess Cruises’ signature Piazza
Sapphire Princess is two weeks into a dramatic, four-week drydock transformation that will completely transform the onboard experience, bringing it up to Princess Cruises’ standard of excellence.
The drydock, taking place in the Victoria Shipyards in British Columbia, continues a multi-year fleet renovationLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-38646934136471310672012-01-23T00:00:00.005-05:002012-01-27T10:20:59.872-05:00Cruise News: Costa Concordia Aftermath, Carnival Corporation Announces Safety AuditIn light of the tragic Costa Concordia disaster, Carnival Corporation, parent company of Costa Cruises and nine leading cruise lines around the world, has announced a comprehensive audit and review of all safety and emergency response procedures across all of the company’s cruise lines.
Carnival Corporation and the cruise industry as a whole have maintained an excellent safety record over the Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-21580195403327350172012-01-22T08:01:00.008-05:002012-01-22T08:01:00.232-05:00A Really Cool Time Aboard Norwegian EpicAfter spending a week in the warmth of the Caribbean sun we couldn’t resist donning parkas and gloves for a short sojourn in Norwegian Epic’s Ice Bar—the only one at sea.
With our cruise winding down it’s a good way to get back into the “real” world where it will be winter when we get home. Besides, who could resist meeting this icy Viking? He also has a polar bear friend in the Ice Bar where Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-46495567858037200822012-01-21T00:05:00.008-05:002012-01-21T00:05:01.159-05:00Norwegian Epic’s “Spicy” RetreatAll day every day there’s a spot where adults (over 18) can head to for peaceful serenity. It’s Spice H2O and a favorite retreat for sunbathing, swimming, hot tubbing, and just relaxing in the sun or the shade of an umbrella.
At the top of the tiered space for lounging are the Spice H2O pool bar and a convenient snack counter.
After dark the area comes alive with live music and deck parties, Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-3455112520497012702012-01-20T00:00:00.002-05:002012-01-20T00:00:02.290-05:00Nick on Norwegian EpicYou never can tell, you just might see a celebrity or two on a cruise as we did here on Norwegian Epic. Last night we ran into Sponge Bob Squarepants and he graciously posed with us for a snapshot.
This is a Nickelodeon cruise and the kids have lots of opportunities to have fun with their favorite characters. The activities are numerous—Breakfast with Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon Meet and Greet, Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-40883373628983722602012-01-19T00:16:00.000-05:002012-01-18T13:20:24.083-05:00Epic Entertainment on Norwegian EpicCruise ship shows generally consist of troupes of talented singers and dancers performing songs from Broadway musicals and other themed productions that might feature medleys of tunes by popular artists. That’s not what you’ll find here aboard Norwegian Epic.
The Epic Theater is quite simply the site of the most spectacular extravaganzas at sea. All the way from Las Vegas, we’ve enjoyed Blue ManLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-16518194333873096252012-01-18T00:00:00.008-05:002012-01-18T00:00:06.289-05:00Luck of the Irish on Norwegian Epic
O'Sheehan's Burger
My husband Mel would tell you that I’m not a top-of-the-morning person and until I get my coffee I can be cranky. While room service is a good option, getting out for a good breakfast is an important start to the day so I try my best to not be a mean old crab in the buffet line. Mel likes buffets and I don’t so we’ve discovered a compromise here aboard Norwegian Epic that Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-64562363350371783192012-01-17T00:00:00.004-05:002012-01-17T00:00:05.377-05:00A Night Out On Norwegian EpicNorwegian Cruise Line’s signature “Freestyle Cruising” offers a multitude of choices—there are so many dining and entertainment options on Norwegian Epic that it would be difficult to experience them all in a single week, but we’re giving it our best shot.
Take last night for instance. We began the evening with dinner in Moderno, the Brazilian style churrascaria. It’s a new restaurant experienceLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-65359400128712334042012-01-16T00:00:00.011-05:002012-01-16T00:00:03.599-05:00Norwegian Epic: Home Away From HomeBased on a unique concept, our balcony stateroom on Norwegian Epic follows the contours of the waves twelve decks below. Much has been written about the floorplan, which includes two bathroom pods—one for a shower with a nifty handheld or adjustable height rain shower fixture and the other for the toilet—both with curved frosted glass sliding doors. Privacy really isn’t an issue for Mel and me, Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-85455841721274773612012-01-15T00:04:00.007-05:002012-01-21T20:24:58.961-05:00Embark Like A Norwegian: Day One, Introduction to Norwegian EpicArrival at the Port of Miami and embarkation on Norwegian Epic couldn’t have been smoother. After dropping off luggage and parking, we proceeded to the terminal—there were two entrances for security—split by deck number. Once through the speedy security check point the lines to check in were short and we were on board Norwegian Epic in no time. Actually, about 45 minutes, which is pretty epic forLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-88388644736356283522012-01-14T21:03:00.000-05:002012-01-14T21:03:47.678-05:00Carnival Corporation Statement Regarding Costa ConcordiaThis statement is from Carnival Corporationin Miami, FL. Carnival Corporation is the parent company of Costa Cruises. On January 13, 2012, Costa Cruises’ vessel, the Costa Concordia, departed from Civitavecchia, Italy with approximately 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew members on a 7-day voyage. At approximately 10:00pm CET, the vessel struck rock off the coast of Isola del Giglio, Italy and Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-34363974367612424572012-01-14T13:30:00.044-05:002012-01-14T13:30:00.628-05:00Cruise Like A Norwegian With A Free RingtonePersonalizing your mobile phone is all the rage these days and one of the most popular ways to make it personal is with a ringtone. While my mobile has been rocking an Elvis tune, I've discovered a way to celebrate Cruising Like A Norwegian with the popular song, "Lets Go." You'll recognize it from Norwegian Cruise Line's TV commercials and now you can get it as a free ringtone for iPhone, Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-50800370032805454402012-01-14T00:00:00.000-05:002012-01-14T00:00:04.277-05:00100 Years of Cruising Like A NorwegianThere was a lot to celebrate aboard Norwegian Sky, when the ship rang in the New Year and the 100th birthday of Mrs. Zara Holtz on January 1, 2012.
Mrs. Holtz, originally from Queens, NY, now residing in Fort Lauderdale, FL, was sailing on board Norwegian Sky with her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. She was not expecting a birthday celebration on board, especially one as large as this.Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-87132882814256386412012-01-13T00:00:00.012-05:002012-01-13T00:00:08.984-05:00Posh Redesign Planned For Crystal Symphony
Crystal Symphony's Redesigned Palm Court
Crystal Cruises' Crystal Symphony is set to receive a million-dollar-a-day transformation during its $15 million dry dock scheduled for June 1 to 16, 2012. In only 15 days at Germany's Blohm + Voss shipyard, the ship's Avenue Saloon, Palm Court lounge, Galaxy showroom, Hollywood Theatre, Bridge Lounge, and Fantasia and Waves "junior cruisers" areas will Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-69118986441216486452012-01-12T00:13:00.004-05:002012-01-12T00:13:01.038-05:00Prepare For Island Time In 5DCruise Diva has always contended that the best islands in the world are those that float and move. Yes, they’re called cruise ships and Carnival Cruise Lines offers a peek at what you'll find on their newest “island” the Carnival Breeze.
So, did you catch the mention of a 5D theater? With Carnival Breeze’s Thrill 5D Theater, you will enjoy an exhilarating, multi-dimensional experience that willLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-42282411322470582132012-01-11T13:47:00.000-05:002012-01-11T13:47:29.275-05:00For New Yorkers, “The Caribbean Is Closer Than You Think–Cruising from Midtown”Look up! It’s not a bird or a plane and it’s not even Superman. Is that a cruise ship hovering over the heart of Manhattan?
Actually it’s a huge billboard that promotes Carnival Cruise Lines’ new year-round departures from New York aboard the Carnival Miracle. The cruises, which kick off on April 12th, encompass three different 8-day Caribbean and Bahamas/Florida itineraries featuring some of Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-79025170286016924532012-01-11T00:00:00.011-05:002012-01-11T00:00:01.557-05:00Celebrity Infinity Has A New LookThe sleek "new" Celebrity Infinity is making a splash with first-time and returning passengers alike. Celebrity Cruises has taken the most popular sophisticated features from the Solstice Class and transformed Celebrity Infinity from an already favorite cruise ship into a chic, modern luxurious vacation experience.
Here's a look at "Celebrity Infinity's Modern Makeover: Enhancing an Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-50680774539940636582012-01-10T00:00:00.027-05:002012-01-10T00:00:10.272-05:00Disney Fantasy FloatsAs fireworks filled the sky and Minnie Mouse waved from an upper deck, the newest cruise ship for the Disney Cruise Line fleet, the Disney Fantasy, was slowly floated out of shipbuilder Meyer Werft’s covered building dock in Papenburg, Germany last Sunday. Now that the new ship is outside the covered hall, tests and trials are scheduled to be performed while the ship remains in the harbor.
Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-54325551213231291582012-01-09T00:00:00.042-05:002012-01-09T00:02:21.431-05:00New Cruise Review: Celebrity EclipseFrequent cruisers and Cruise Diva contributors, Mary and Vincent Finelli share the enjoyment of a pre-holiday cruise aboard Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Eclipse and offer their impressions of the third of Celebrity's hugely successful Solstice-class ships to launch since 2008.
While I was somewhat disturbed that Vincent related, "There has been insinuations by some readers that our reviews are Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-60770435844057466022012-01-08T00:00:00.029-05:002012-01-08T00:00:02.623-05:00Royal Clipper Conquers ParadiseWhen I happened across this evocative video, I was reminded of the day I boarded Star Clippers' Royal Clipper in Barbados for a cruise through the Grenadines aboard the world's largest full-rigged sailing ship.
Relive Royal Clipper: A Sailing Diary with Cruise Diva for insight into what sets this experience apart from other cruises and learn the reason for the video's soundtrack (1492: ConquestLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-518981447256638862012-01-07T00:00:00.016-05:002012-01-07T00:00:06.411-05:00Cruising "Like A Norwegian" For KidsNorwegian Cruise Line has long been known as a family-friendly cruise vacation option and, in recognition of the needs of the growing family vacation market, the line has announced that it is revitalizing its current youth program to meet the demand. The re-branded new best-in-class program will be introduced next month on Norwegian Gem and will subsequently be rolled out fleetwide.
The currentLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-91689369312782813192012-01-06T00:00:00.070-05:002012-01-06T00:00:05.325-05:00Princess Wants to Know, “What Inspired You to Cruise?”Last year Princess Cruises rolled out their first blog, “50 Essential Experiences, The Travel Bucket List” in which Princess destination experts and readers shared their Essential Travel Experience of the Week (Cruise Diva's is here, The Hidden Value of Travel: Amsterdam, The Netherlands). Inspired by the success of that year-long themed blog, Princess has launched a new one for 2012 entitled “Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-49263495975634655002012-01-05T00:00:00.026-05:002012-01-05T00:00:06.257-05:00NCL Reveals Norwegian Breakaway’s Inaugural Winter/Spring DeploymentWhen Norwegian Cruise Line’s new state-of-the-art Norwegian Breakaway sails from her year-round homeport of New York City, the 4,000 passenger ship will voyage to the Bahamas and Florida as well as the Caribbean during her inaugural winter season. Following a summer inaugural season sailing 7-day cruises from New York to Bermuda, Norwegian Breakaway will embark on a series of twenty-five 7-day Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-71127218977641965022012-01-04T00:00:00.086-05:002012-01-04T00:00:02.204-05:00Technology for Cruise TravelersAs I prepare to celebrate the eleventh anniversary of CruiseDiva.com's creation, I'm reminded of how things were back in 2001. Other than a laptop without WiFi, I had no tech devices. There was almost no Internet availability on cruise ships, so I was pretty excited to see the first Internet cafe at sea on Norwegian Sky that year. But hooking up via my own laptop meant paying the per-minute Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-85900025400198297162012-01-03T00:04:00.037-05:002012-01-25T08:40:45.131-05:00Oceania Cruises Introduces the Convenience & Value of Beverage PackagesFor those of us who hate the nuisance of signing bar checks while on a cruise vacation, Oceania Cruises has introduced two new beverage packages on voyages starting this year. The new wine, beer, and spirits beverage packages are designed to enhance the culinary experience with wines to complement lunch and dinner menus while at the same time offering additional convenience and value.
House WineLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-86575764642330523082012-01-02T00:00:00.033-05:002012-01-02T00:00:08.855-05:00How To Get Behind Closed Doors On Your Cruise Ship
On the bridge, Grand Princess
Before 9/11 when security became a major concern, it was common for all cruise passengers to be invited to visit their ship’s bridge. Tours were often announced in the ship’s daily program and you could either sign up, or simply show up for a look at the scheduled time. Some small cruise ships even had an “open bridge policy” and passengers could drop in when they Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-79555255200399883002012-01-01T11:29:00.000-05:002012-01-01T11:36:59.143-05:00Happy New Year!From Sea to Shining Sea
Whether you're celebrating the holidays at home with friends and family or traveling the globe, Cruise Diva wishes you peace, good health, and a very Happy New Year—not just today, but throughout 2012.
Linda and Mel
Photo © CruiseDiva.comLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-91434108060163997462011-12-31T00:17:00.005-05:002011-12-31T00:17:01.540-05:00When Elephants Fly"What's more 'Fantasy' than a flying elephant?" That's the thought that inspired Walt Disney Imagineering to select Dumbo and his pal, Timothy Q. Mouse, as the characters who will represent the new Disney Fantasy cruise ship. You may know that each Disney Cruise Line ship has Disney characters featured on the ships' sterns. Disney has now revealed that Dumbo will be flying just off the stern of Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-88204577874744590402011-12-30T00:00:00.027-05:002011-12-30T00:00:02.881-05:00The Vikings Are ComingNoted as one of the world's leading river cruise companies (with a fleet of 23 river vessels in service and 8 more in the works), Viking River Cruises plans on going to sea with their newly christened Viking Ocean Cruises. To achieve that end, the new cruise line has placed an order with shipbuilder STX France in St Nazaire for two 41,000-ton, 888-passenger cruise ships to be delivered in spring Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-63046675641280834962011-12-29T00:00:00.028-05:002011-12-29T10:15:15.468-05:00New Cruise Ships Sailing Into 2012Watch Throughout the Year for New Cruise Ship Launches
While the cruise ships scheduled for launch in 2012 are all new vessels, each one is almost identical to existing sister-ships. Brand-new ship classes won't be making an appearance until 2013 when Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line are set to launch Royal Princess and Norwegian Breakaway, respectively.
Despite that, there are Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-51443954951561184302011-12-28T00:00:00.011-05:002011-12-28T00:00:00.578-05:00Celebrity Cruises Solsticizes the Millennium ClassIf you're a fan of television's DIY Network you'll enjoy the video below. In it, executives from Celebrity Cruises explain how they are updating the popular Millennium-class ships in their fleet. They coined the term "Solsticizing" to name the ambitious, $140-million revitalization that takes the best modern venues and experiences from the Solstice-class ships and adds them to the Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-36454772245877901612011-12-27T00:00:00.032-05:002011-12-27T00:00:02.736-05:00Mahogany Bay Cruise Center Welcomes One Millionth Cruise Passenger
Magical Flying Beach Chair
Mahogany Bay Cruise Center (MBCC) in Roatan reached a significant milestone this month when it welcomed its one millionth cruise passenger since opening nearly two years ago. The one millionth visitor to the MBCC was one of 4,268 passengers aboard the Carnival Dream, which makes year-round calls at the $62 million facility on alternating weeks.
“Achieving our one Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-26135129257720051742011-12-26T00:00:00.040-05:002011-12-26T00:00:05.316-05:00It's All ‘About Rose’While high-end hotels and luxury cruise lines have offered top name toiletries and bath amenities for some time, it’s taken a while for the trend to reach the deluxe level of the cruise market.
However, Azamara Club Cruises is raising the bar and adding an element of exclusivity for its guests by becoming the only cruise line to introduce the European ‘About Rose’ collection of toiletry productsLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-84491538771629415972011-12-25T00:57:00.001-05:002011-12-25T00:57:00.333-05:00Merry ChristmasWhether you're on land or at sea, Cruise Diva wishes you peace and joy and a very Merry Christmas.
Linda and Mel
Image Aboard Renaissance Cruises R3Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-32182658164727087272011-12-24T00:01:00.007-05:002011-12-24T00:01:04.273-05:00Québec City: Queen of the St. LawrenceOur contributor Pat Woods recently sailed on a Canada/New England Discovery cruise aboard Holland America Line’s ms Maasdam that called on four Canadian ports. Each had interesting attractions with fascinating learning experiences in Canada's rich blend of Native American, French, and English history, and culture. However, Pat relates that Québec City was the undisputed standout port.
Pat says, Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-57600690739362736932011-12-23T00:16:00.000-05:002011-12-23T09:10:54.693-05:00What to Expect: General Cruising Information & Debarkation DaySadly, all cruises come to an end eventually and it hardly seems fair that you have to leave when it feels like your vacation has just begun—days on a cruise fly by!
What to do... Well, first you have to pack for home. But there are numerous other tasks to take care of before you leave your cruise ship.
Cruise Diva explains the process and other things you'll want to know in General Cruising Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-74112603245411370082011-12-22T00:15:00.003-05:002011-12-22T00:15:01.430-05:00What To Expect: Port Days on A Cruise
Arriving in port
The Captain deftly inches his vessel alongside the pier as line handlers scurry to grab the ropes and secure them. The gangway appears and everyone is anxious to proceed ashore. But first there is a delay until the announcement that the ship has "cleared."
What's that all about? And what is there to do ashore? Should you sign up for a shore excursion or tour on your own?
Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-66234529161108990162011-12-21T00:44:00.017-05:002011-12-21T00:44:00.261-05:00What to Expect: Cruising Sea Days
At sea—an afternoon on the Pool Deck
All days at sea aren't identical, but they do have a lot in common. Most ships schedule activities, port talks, lectures, games, and fitness programs on a non-stop basis. This is the time to personalize your cruise experience—you can participate in any or all the activities scheduled or do nothing more strenuous than lift an umbrella drink while reading a Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-49727638732375737992011-12-20T00:36:00.024-05:002011-12-20T00:36:01.058-05:00What to Expect: Cruise Embarkation Day
Smile for the birdie--an embarkation photo op
Once the planning, packing, and anticipation are behind them, veteran cruise passengers sometimes view embarkation day as anticlimactic. However, for first-time cruise travelers, embarking on their first ship can be more than exhilarating—it can be downright intimidating. What exactly can you expect?
First of all, keep in mind that your embarkationLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-4016120243457225202011-12-19T00:00:00.022-05:002011-12-19T00:00:02.081-05:00New Cruise Review! Celebrity Equinox in the Med and Crossing the AtlanticOur reviewer Ed Schlenk welcomes us aboard Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Equinox for a Mediterranean cruise and transatlantic crossing.
Ed says, "It is difficult to imagine a cruise that comes closer to ideal than our Equinox transatlantic cruise (Nov 28 - Dec 12, 2011), which sailed from Rome (Civitavecchia) to Ft. Lauderdale, spending a week in the western Mediterranean and a week crossing theLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-85153217466074989402011-12-18T00:01:00.056-05:002011-12-18T00:01:02.246-05:00Windstar's Wind Surf Debuts New Luxe Décor
Wind Surf Stateroom
Windstar Cruises has revealed the first phase of Wind Surf's refurbishment encompassing the yacht's staterooms, suites, bridge suites, and corridors. The heavy, almost dreary colors previously found in accommodations were gone when Wind Surf welcomed guests on Dec 10th in Philipsburg, St. Maarten. In their place was a new luxurious, classic, stylish yacht look and a fresher Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-56286133262742988562011-12-17T00:07:00.102-05:002011-12-17T00:07:00.253-05:00Douglas Ward, Your Go-To Cruise GuideFor more than a quarter of a century (27 years to be exact), Douglas Ward has been sharing his knowledge about cruise travel and cruise ships with readers in Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships. The 2012 edition, now available in bookstores and on Amazon.com (the link provided above), continues the tradition of being known as "the cruise industry Bible" for its detailed Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-89213315254487744042011-12-16T00:00:00.000-05:002011-12-16T00:00:12.140-05:00Norwegian Cruise Line Reveals Winter 2013/14 Fleet DeploymentThe really big news in the Norwegian Cruise Line announcement of its winter deployment for the 2013/2014 season is that the line is bringing Norwegian Star back to the West Coast to sail from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera. After a two-year hiatus, it's a limited engagement, but certainly one that will please tourism officials in the beleaguered Mexican ports.
In another show of confidence, Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-33836216134238269642011-12-15T00:04:00.068-05:002011-12-15T00:04:02.253-05:00Crystal Serenity: A Welcome Sight To Capsized RowersWhile Tom Fancett from the U.K. and Tom Sauer from the Netherlands were competing with 16 other boats in the 2011 Atlantic Challenge Race to row across the Atlantic to Barbados, a large wave sunk their 26-foot-long rowboat 480 miles west of the Canary Islands. They were in luck, even though they spent 10 hours in a tiny life raft. The luxury cruise ship Crystal Serenity was only 120 nautical Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-24371197692014165132011-12-14T00:00:00.000-05:002011-12-14T00:00:03.731-05:00Quick! Answer That Shell!Should you be walking down the street and hear a ringing, it might not be your cell phone. It might be a conch shell as a phone—dubbed the "Shellphone" by Royal Caribbean—and its mission is to communicate the message of the cruise line's new brand campaign: "The Sea is Calling. Answer it Royally."
Royal Caribbean has left "The Nation of Why Not" behind (we always thought it was confusing) in Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-49311738472457585652011-12-13T00:00:00.000-05:002011-12-13T00:00:03.271-05:00Get Your Motor Runnin' at 'Grand Prix de Monaco' on a Silversea AdventureSilversea Cruises proves once again that they deliver the WOW in luxury and style. Guests sailing on the nearly sold-out Silver Spirit voyage of May 24, 2012 are in for a special treat. Silversea is offering an optional 2-day "70th Grand Prix de Monaco" land package. Silver Spirit guests will have the opportunity to experience the thrill of a Formula One race at the Monaco Grand Prix during the Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-47570590736024896172011-12-12T00:00:00.000-05:002011-12-12T10:17:23.098-05:00New Cruise Review: Crown PrincessWhen frequent cruisers and Cruise Diva contributors, Mary and Vincent Finelli returned to Princess Cruises' Crown Princess to sail the Southern Caribbean they concluded that "This was a great cruise, even better than the one we had last year on this ship."
This was the Finelli's sixteenth cruise on Princess ships and their second on the Crown Princess, thus they became Elite members of the Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-44072263361929769602011-12-11T00:00:00.000-05:002011-12-11T00:00:00.185-05:00Just In Time For Christmas: The Chipmunks Go Cruisin’Most of us probably remember the song “Christmas Don’t Be Late,” sung by Alvin, Simon, and Theodore, the infamous Chipmunks. I can’t recall the first time I heard it, but I’ll never forget how annoying it was when my younger brothers sang along.
And now they’re back (the Chipmunks, not my brothers) with another holiday treat. Mark your calendar for the Dec 16 release date of ALVIN AND THE Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-16160776512693148872011-12-10T00:00:00.000-05:002011-12-10T00:00:03.445-05:00Refit For A Queen
Golden Lion Pub
After a major refurbishment that will prepare her to welcome guests for a luxury cruise vacation on her upcoming Transatlantic Crossings and Europe and World Voyages, Cunard Line’s flagship Queen Mary 2 has proudly returned to her homeport of Southampton to show off her new look. Engaged by Cunard Line to develop the new designs was Tillberg Design Company, who were involved inLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-85261646660962792462011-12-09T00:00:00.000-05:002011-12-09T00:00:05.140-05:00Celebrity’s Suite ReflectionEarlier this year when Celebrity Cruises launched Celebrity Silhouette, their latest Solstice-class ship, a look at the deck plan for Celebrity Refection, the next ship in the class (which sets sail in the Fall of 2012), revealed significant changes. Most notably, Celebrity Reflection has an additional deck and higher passenger capacity. We pondered what the line had on the drawing board for the Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-54415241028488833252011-12-08T00:00:00.000-05:002011-12-08T13:36:10.481-05:00“Wishes” Take Center Stage In A New Show Aboard Disney Fantasy in 2012It’s Show Time!
Some of the most entertaining musical extravaganzas at sea are staged on Disney Cruise Line ships and every night is show time in the Walt Disney Theatre, a 1,340-seat entertainment palace that blends classic design with ultra-modern features. Spanning three decks with orchestra and balcony seating, the theater’ art deco styling recalls luxurious show places of a bygone era. At Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-87138487173832203692011-12-07T00:00:00.000-05:002011-12-07T00:00:04.038-05:00Dining Packages Offer Specialty Restaurant Variety To Royal Caribbean PassengersOne of the highlights of every cruise is dining out, whether it’s in the main dining room, the casual buffet, or a specialty restaurant, for which a cover charge and reservations are required. While they were somewhat slow to embrace the concept of specialty restaurants, Royal Caribbean has not only expanded them beyond the usual steakhouse or Italian offerings on their newest ships—the line is Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-12009122939996888912011-12-06T00:00:00.001-05:002012-01-06T14:11:08.009-05:00Get Your Latitudes Rewards With Norwegian Cruise LineWe’ve always thought Norwegian Cruise Line had a pretty good past passenger program and Cruise Diva has been a member since it was initially called “Embark” and later changed to “Latitudes.” So we were pretty excited to hear that Norwegian has made enhancements to the guest loyalty program.
Renamed Latitudes Rewards, the new program better recognizes Norwegian’s valued loyal guests. Key program Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-82264082305133999092011-12-05T00:00:00.000-05:002011-12-05T01:40:48.291-05:00Deck The Halls & Let It SNOW!Snow flurries have set the stage for a festive holiday season aboard Princess Cruises ships at sea for the past five years and the “frozen” fantasy continues again this year. No matter where they are sailing, passengers won’t miss out on a white Christmas as snow magically falls in the ships’ multi-story atriums (on all ships except for the lines’ two small vessels Pacific Princess and Ocean Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-43181933285756235352011-12-04T00:00:00.000-05:002011-12-04T00:00:07.134-05:00A Disney Holiday DreamIt's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in my neighborhood with wreaths and lights adorning front doors and windows and Disney Cruise Line is getting into the spirit of the season as well.
Santa's elves created more than 300 custom designed pieces for the first holiday season on the Disney Dream, making the ship festive and decked to the "raft-ers" with holiday cheer! Get a behind-the-scenesLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-10988718002262346962011-12-03T00:00:00.000-05:002011-12-03T00:00:04.432-05:00Baby On Board: Packing For Little CruisersOver the years Cruise Diva has packed literally hundreds of suitcases. Some would say that makes me an expert, but they would be wrong. When it comes to packing for myself and my husband, yes I know the ins and outs, but I was clueless about packing for babies until I got some help from actual mommies.
I always welcome input, especially to the Packing Lists found on CruiseDiva.com. Here's one Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-38449521850698636392011-12-02T00:00:00.001-05:002011-12-02T00:00:00.580-05:00Disney Fantasy’s Enchanted ArtOne of the features we found most enchanting about Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream was the Enchanted Art we encountered throughout the ship. Whenever we paused to admire an individual art piece, it magically came alive. On the Disney Dream’s sister-ship, Disney Fantasy, which is set to launch in March 2012, more than 20 pieces of Enchanted Art—inspired by classic Disney characters and Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-43549658020399213582011-12-01T00:00:00.040-05:002011-12-01T00:00:07.453-05:00Celebrities Take To The SeaCruise Diva has had the good fortune to meet a few celebrities on cruises—Suzanne Somers and Gavin McLeod come to mind because they both graciously and patiently posed for photos with their fellow passengers. However, you’re not always assured to see real big-time celebrities on a cruise, unless of course you are sailing on Disney Fantasy. Upon its launch in March 2012, the Muppets make their Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-31487036189071061022011-11-30T00:02:00.000-05:002011-11-30T00:02:23.581-05:00Norwegian Cruise Line Has “The Haven” Guests Covered From Shore to ShipSome of the sweetest suite complexes at sea can be found on Norwegian Cruise Line ships and the line has just launched a new perk for their guests who book them. A shoreside concierge desk exclusively for guests with reservations in the line’s most luxurious accommodations, The Haven by Norwegian provides pre-cruise assistance enabling guests and their travel agents to pre-arrange a variety of Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-57190990405595437642011-11-29T00:33:00.135-05:002011-11-29T00:33:00.613-05:00Protesters Drive American Safari Explorer From MolokaiOne of America's biggest tourist attractions just happens to be the island paradise of Hawaii. As a frequent vacationer there, Cruise Diva has done the island-hopping thing through the state by air and it's a real pain in the neck. Unless we planned to stay put on one island, we'd settle in and in a couple days have to pack up for a flight to the next island destination...and so on and so on. Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-24163334609226673032011-11-28T00:00:00.002-05:002011-11-28T00:00:08.598-05:00How Holland America's Oosterdam Expertly Handles Medical EmergenciesHolland America Line's Oosterdam Circle Hawaii cruise proved to be exciting in more ways than one.
Our contributor Karen Segboer relates the circumstances behind Oosterdam altering course for not one, but three medical evacuations in a single day. The route from Hawaii to disembark in San Diego presented an interesting situation for passengers. Karen shares the details and images of the Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-1418581914395922122011-11-27T00:12:00.055-05:002011-11-27T00:12:00.035-05:00Something Splendour-ous Is HappeningIntroduced from 1995 through 1998, Royal Caribbean’s Vision-class ships have always been some of the prettiest ships in the fleet, but even pretty girls need a bit of attention as they age. Sister Vision-class ship Enchantment of the Seas was extensively rejuvenated in 2005 when she was cut in half and stretched, but since her launch in 1996, Splendour of the Seas has remained remarkably Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-88816203442614144112011-11-26T00:00:00.001-05:002011-11-26T00:00:01.464-05:00And the Winning 'Seabourn Moment' Is...It might have been a rescue at sea or an exceptional service experience, meeting new friends and reconnecting with old ones. Those were only some of more than 200 stories Seabourn received in its "Seabourn Moments" contest that ran from Oct 10 through Nov 7. After weeks of submissions, Seabourn fans voted for their favorites and then a panel of judges, consisting of a combination of Seabourn Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-24927463305311728562011-11-25T00:15:00.018-05:002011-11-25T00:15:00.077-05:00Black Friday + Cyber Monday = NCL DealsThe day after Thanksgiving is a shopaholic’s dream and this year super shoppers can book some pretty incredible cruise vacations. For instance, there’s Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship, Norwegian Epic, which departs from Miami weekly through April 7, 2012 to sail through the Eastern Caribbean visiting St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Nassau Bahamas, as well Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-12051192934001764892011-11-24T00:27:00.008-05:002011-11-24T00:27:00.434-05:00Happy ThanksgivingWhether you're on land or at sea, Cruise Diva wishes you all the best this holiday season.Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-22417662264290297782011-11-23T00:00:00.033-05:002011-11-23T00:00:01.438-05:00Bringing Celebrity Cruises' Menus to YouTomorrow is Thanksgiving here in the United States and most of us will offer thanks for our many blessings and share a traditional meal with family and friends. Here at Cruise Diva, we'll feast on turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings—as will many passengers on cruise ships all over the world.
Celebrity Cruises will also serve the familiar holiday feast, but the line shares that they put a lotLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-29714687456062247732011-11-22T00:00:00.046-05:002011-11-22T00:00:02.322-05:00Where in the World is Regis Going Now?We're not sure where he is right now, but since last Friday—Regis Philbin's final day on television's daytime talk show, Live with Regis and Kelly—rumors are rampant about what he'll be doing next. Here's one place we know for certain he'll be: on March 13, 2011 Regis will head east—to the Far East that is, as a guest speaker aboard Crystal Cruises' Hong Kong to Osaka segment of its World Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-77845873305706976572011-11-21T00:00:00.044-05:002011-12-12T10:54:38.690-05:00Won't You Let Me Take You On A World Cruise?World Cruise. Those two words set some travelers' hearts aflutter. And it's simple to see why. There's no easier way to see a vast swath of the world's most treasured destinations than on a World Cruise.
While chatting recently with a good friend about the preparations she and her husband are making before they depart on a World Cruise in January, memories of my last voyage aboard Silversea Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-31331690086424985382011-11-20T00:00:00.013-05:002011-11-20T00:00:00.705-05:00Celebrate the Holiday Season at SeaIf you're planning to get away for the holiday season this year, Silversea Cruises invites you to wrap yourself in pampering luxury with a collection of enticing voyages that span the globe from Africa and the South Pacific to the Caribbean and South America. This year the all-suite, intimate ships of Silversea offer an elegant way to revel in the joy of the holiday season with cruises ranging Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-59049434935161977562011-11-19T00:47:00.006-05:002011-11-19T00:47:00.517-05:00A New Twist On Motion Sickness ReliefI wish I were on a cruise this week, I really, really wish I were anywhere but here at home recovering from dental surgery. When the oral surgeon explained he could do my upcoming implant one of two ways, either with local or general anesthesia, I chose to be totally asleep. It was the right decision.
The only problem I could foresee was that when awakening from the anesthetic, I would be queasyLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-71025375070506622792011-11-18T00:00:00.057-05:002011-11-18T09:06:23.325-05:00Take a Deep Breath and eXhale' Aboard Celebrity ShipsCruise lines have taken their cue from the hotel industry and joined the "bedding wars" afloat. As Cruise Diva reported in Get A Good Night’s Sleep At Sea, "You want to sleep well wherever you lay your head so it’s good to know that cruise lines consider that when selecting bedding for their ships." At that time, Celebrity Cruises didn’t make the cut of those lines with the beds we'd most like toLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-78579116980569172212011-11-17T00:00:00.023-05:002011-11-17T00:00:08.909-05:00Princess Cruises to Name First-Ever Entertainer of the YearEach year passengers aboard Princess Cruises ships enjoy thousands of performances from guest entertainers—comedians, magicians, tribute bands and other specialty acts. But next April only one performer will be able to claim the first-ever title of “Entertainer of the Year.” Passengers aboard Princess’ Entertainer of the Year cruise—Ruby Princess’ April 8, 2012 sailing to the Eastern Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-11019914999176208602011-11-16T00:00:00.013-05:002011-11-16T00:20:50.024-05:00St. Augustine to be Featured in Two National Broadcast ProgramsLocated midway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Florida's Historic Coast features historic St. Augustine and the place where Ponce de Leon first came ashore after his historic 1513 discovery of the land he named La Florida, an area whose boundaries included what would later become the eastern United States.
Our Nation's oldest city is becoming more and more popular with cruise travelers Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-58941576291483441982011-11-15T00:03:00.000-05:002011-12-06T11:49:13.153-05:00Royal Caribbean & Starbucks Start Brewing Aboard Oasis of the SeasThere was a time when you couldn’t get a decent cup of coffee at sea. At some point most cruise ships switched from ground coffee to a syrup base for brewing and the resulting java was often not drinkable. Happily, the tide has been turning for coffee lovers in recent years. Although they are paying the price for specialty coffee, they don’t seem to mind because they are accustomed to it ashore. Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-31983947765326015572011-11-14T00:00:00.000-05:002011-11-14T00:00:01.076-05:00New Sabatini’s Menu Now Available Across Princess Cruises FleetWelcome to one of Cruise Diva’s favorite Italian restaurants on land or at sea. While we loved the experience before, we’re sure to enjoy it even more now...
That’s right, Princess Cruises’ signature Italian restaurant, Sabatini’s, has introduced an updated menu and new style of service, which is now available across the fleet aboard all ships featuring the popular eatery. Known for its pastas,Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-64900261662176214152011-11-13T00:19:00.002-05:002011-11-13T00:19:00.213-05:00Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas Makes Big Screen Debut In "Jack and Jill"What better way to enjoy any holiday than on a cruise with family and friends? The ultimate family cruise vacation set sail last Friday with the premiere of Columbia Pictures' newest comedy film "Jack and Jill," the story of Jack Sadelstein (Adam Sandler), a successful advertising executive who dreads one event each year: the Thanksgiving visit of his identical twin sister Jill (also Adam SandlerLinda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-19505185284643276982011-11-12T00:00:00.073-05:002011-11-12T00:21:26.697-05:00Splendour of the Seas’ Revitalization Doubles Dining OptionsWhen specialty dining restaurants began appearing on cruise ships some lines immediately embraced the concept, while others were somewhat slower out of the gate. Royal Caribbean was one line whose onboard restaurants evolved at a slower pace; however, they are certainly playing catch-up with popular dining venues that were initially introduced on the newest ships now showing up on older, Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-32270978350972725582011-11-11T00:00:00.029-05:002011-11-11T00:00:02.323-05:00Galveston Island Celebrates Arrival of ‘Carnival Magic’ this Weekend & More Ships in the FutureAs Galveston becomes the homeport of Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest ship this weekend, officials on the island are celebrating what is expected to be a tremendous economic contributor to the island’s tourism industry.
The 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic, a brand new ship that will receive a celebrity-style U.S. debut from the GRAMMY Award-winning band Maroon 5 this Sunday in Galveston, has the Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-87383331953447716572011-11-10T00:15:00.015-05:002011-11-10T00:15:00.927-05:00Unique New Cruise Offerings From Port Canaveral Aboard Carnival EcstasyCarnival Cruise Lines launched the cruise industry’s only 4- and 5-day Bahamas/Caribbean program from Port Canaveral this week when Carnival Ecstasy departed Tuesday on a 5-day sold-out cruise to Nassau, Freeport, and the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay–the first of 78 annual voyages from the Space Coast.
Carnival Ecstasy’s one-of-a-kind schedule includes two different 4-day Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-33890871964888501402011-11-09T00:03:00.013-05:002012-01-23T10:27:41.875-05:00Princess Cruises Offers Veterans Day Sale & Year-Round Military Onboard CreditPrincess Cruises is offering a special Veterans Day Sale on a selection of 70 itineraries in Europe and Asia. The holiday promotion, which runs from Nov 9-14, features savings of up to $1,800 on a balcony stateroom, plus as much as $100 in onboard credit per stateroom.
Itineraries on sale include some of the line’s most popular European routes, including the Mediterranean and Scandinavia and Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-29972170738387836102011-11-08T00:19:00.018-05:002011-11-08T00:19:00.381-05:00Looks Like He’s A HitYou just never know who you are going to see aboard cruise ships these days. That’s Florida Governor Rick Scott pictured here (at left) with Carnival Cruise Lines’ disc jockey Ro Parrish aboard the Carnival Imagination during a turnaround day at the Port of Miami. In addition to spinning the latest hits, Governor Scott took time out of his schedule to participate in a line dance with Carnival Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-70737843215415037232011-11-07T00:14:00.021-05:002011-11-07T00:14:00.208-05:00For Carnival Cruisers, Here's A TipFor the first time in a decade, Carnival Cruise Lines has raised the recommended gratuity amount for service staff on their ships. The new total amount is $11.50 per guest, per day, effective on voyages departing Dec 1, 2011 and onward.
For convenience, gratuities are automatically charged to your onboard account. Broken down, this is how the $11.50 is distributed:
• $3.70 Per Day Stateroom Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-65153889249281539912011-11-06T00:29:00.002-04:002012-01-02T13:46:01.598-05:00Oceania Cruises to Christen New ‘Riviera’ in MonacoOceania Cruises’ new 1,250-guest Riviera will be christened in Monte Carlo on April 19, 2012. The lavish, invitation-only gala ceremony will take place pier-side at Monaco’s Port Hercules overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
Design plans call for trellises of fresh local flowers, plants and columns to transform the pier into a garden taking its inspiration from the famous Princess Grace Rose Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-39229673822453714242011-11-05T00:00:00.055-04:002011-11-05T00:00:02.750-04:00Silversea Launches Exclusive New Entertainment Program
The Cast of Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Guests aboard Silversea Cruises' ships will soon have something new to sing (and dance) about. The ultra-luxury line has announced it is launching a totally revamped entertainment program created exclusively for the company's ships by Nevada-based Choozi Entertainment, which creates, produces, and directs live stage shows around the world.
In a move away Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-32539123095676045612011-11-04T00:10:00.035-04:002011-11-04T00:10:01.166-04:00Carnival Recognizes U.S. & Canadian Military Families With A Special PromotionIn recognition of Veteran’s Day, which falls on Friday, November 11 this year, Carnival Cruise Lines is offering a promotion throughout the month of November allowing active and retired U.S. and Canadian military personnel to book up to three “Fun Ship” staterooms at discounted rates for themselves and their friends and family members.
Reservations must be made between Nov 1-30, 2011, to Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2976890652841490353.post-75018208624358507692011-11-03T00:00:00.068-04:002011-11-03T00:00:02.743-04:00Bravo, Norwegian Gem: Nightmare At Sea Ends WellImagine sailing your 39-foot sailboat Sanctuary in the North Atlantic when the sea turns ugly and you are still 350 miles from land. Then imagine your boat is taking on water after it has lost power. To make matters worse, your life raft is swept away. That's the nightmare situation five Canadians found themselves in last Saturday, Oct 29th. As we reported in Norwegian Gem Rescues Storm Tossed Linda Coffman, AKA Cruise Divahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00424715335188751361noreply@blogger.com0