Things You Might Not Know About Royal Princess

Princess Cruises has revealed nearly all the features about Royal Princess—with the exception of naming her Godmother—and they know their many loyal passengers are looking forward to its debut in June. The ship will contain many striking features, including a soaring atrium and the dramatic over-the-water SeaWalk. But what may escape immediate notice are the myriad of unique innovations throughout the ship designed to enhance the Princess Cruises experience that passengers have come to know and love. Including technological advancements, fresh entertainment offerings, new taste treats, and expansions of the classic Princess experience, these new features will bring an extra level of enjoyment for everyone on board when the ship sets sail.

To bring you up-to-date on what to expect, here are “ Things You Might Not Know about Royal Princess”...

1. New (and Complimentary) On-Demand Stateroom Programming – A new generation of in-room television entertainment will debut aboard Royal Princess, offering an extensive array of on-demand movies and other programming options. The entire library of hundreds of movies, as well as classic and contemporary television show episodes, will be offered free to passengers. The new system will also offer a live feed from the ship’s television studio Princess Live!

2. Four Brand-New Original Production Shows – The Princess Theater aboard Royal Princess will debut four new production shows, including “Colors of the World,” an experiential journey through the destinations visited by Princess ships; “Spectacular!” a colorful music extravaganza; “Sweet Soul Music,” a tribute to rhythm and blues; and “What the World Needs Now,” an elegant show celebrating the music and style of the ‘60s.

3. Tea Tower with Sommelier and 250 Blends – Featuring a tea sommelier and a choice of 250 blends, tea lovers will revel in Royal Princess’ unique tea tower located in the ship’s central Piazza.

4. Art & Architecture Mobile Tour – A new self-guided tour will enable passengers to explore the ship’s extensive art collection using their personal smart phones or tablets. Passengers can enjoy the 30-stop tour at their leisure, or scan a QR code located at each artwork to discover interesting facts about the artist and their work.

5. Outdoor Art Installation by Marine Artist Wyland – Famous marine artist Wyland is creating a dramatic, custom piece of sea-inspired art that will be installed on the ship’s top deck. The new work will be revealed during the ship’s inaugural celebration in June.

6. Flair Bartending Shows – The top-deck SeaView Bar will feature midday and sunset flair bartending shows where talented bartenders will entertain passengers with their impressive bottle-tossing and mixing skills.

7. Whiskey Flights at Wheelhouse Bar – Inspired by the growing popularity of whiskey, the line’s signature Wheelhouse Bar will feature a menu of three different whiskey flights, each featuring three whiskeys. Passengers can choose from single malts, three “Glens,” and other iconic whiskey options.

8. Daily Pub Lunch – Also in the Wheelhouse Bar, Princess’ popular English pub lunch will be offered daily. Previously available only on select sea days, Royal Princess will serve the full traditional pub-style lunch on all sea days and on port days will offer fish and chips and a ploughman’s lunch. Signature brews will also be available.

9. Mobile Cruise Information Intranet – Princess@Sea, a brand-new mobile-friendly intranet site will enable passengers to easily access daily updates about entertainment, onboard specials, weather and port news, as well as review their onboard folio from their personal mobile or tablet devices.

10. Royal Indulgence Package – New cabanas in The Sanctuary, which feature an array of exclusive treatments in the adults-only setting with ocean views, will offer customized packages that range from $320 to $3,000, the latter for a “Royal Indulgence” package for four people.

11. Concierge Lounge for Suites – A first on a Princess ship, suite passengers can access an exclusive area to relax or work, with access to full front desk services, plus light snacks and beverages. A dedicated lounge staff will be on hand to assist with such things as shore excursions, specialty dining, or Lotus Spa reservations. It will also serve as a private disembarkation lounge for suite passengers.

12. Largest Gelato Menu at Sea – Royal Princess’ new gelateria will serve up the largest variety of Italian-inspired gelato and ice cream creations at sea. Gelato will feature a menu of eight delicious flavors prepared by the ship’s pastry chef, plus more than 20 toppings and sauces, and specialty items such as sundaes, waffle cones, and sweet crepes.

13. Sabatini’s Bites and Flights – As the line’s signature Sabatini’s Italian restaurant will be located right next to Vines on deck 5, the wine bar will now offer Sabatini’s Bites to accompany its popular wine flights. Passengers can sample small bites of such dishes as Tuscan Brochettes, Beef Carpaccio, and Lamb Chop Lollipops.

14. Largest Outdoor Movie Screen at Sea – Princess was the first cruise line to introduce this innovative offering in 2004. Aboard Royal Princess, not only is the Movies Under the Stars screen 30 percent larger than our current screens, it will be the largest at sea.

15. Touch Screen Photo Finder with Facial Recognition Technology – The Royal Princess photo gallery will feature digital kiosks that use facial recognition technology to help passengers find all of their photographs. Passengers can save favorites, customize prints, and take advantage of special packages, all from the convenience of the kiosk.

16. Princess Live! All Day Programming – The new television studio aboard Royal Princess, a first for Princess, will feature programming from 8am until midnight, including live talk shows (such as the daily Wake Show), demonstrations, and performers. With seating for just under 300, the space will afford a more intimate opportunity to meet the ship’s entertainers, play games, and enjoy refreshments with the dedicated café.

17. Four Different Water and Music Shows – The ship’s central pool area will feature daily and nightly performances of four separate themed sequences comprising dancing fountains, special music, and live performers. The Movies Under the Stars screen will also be incorporated as an additional show element.

18. Largest Collection of Super Tuscan Wines at Sea – More than 20 choices of these headline-making wines from Tuscany will be available in Sabatini’s, featured by the bottle and in a new Sabatini’s Super Tuscan Wine Tasting event, where passengers can enjoy the rare opportunity to sample the wines accompanied by small plates from the Italian restaurant.

19. Largest Complimentary Pizza Restaurant at Sea – Alfredo’s Pizzeria, already a favorite on several vessels, will take Princess’ reputation for serving the best pizza at sea to a new level. With 121 seats, Alfredo’s aboard Royal Princess will be the largest such pizza restaurant at sea, and will feature an expanded menu of Neapolitan-style pizzas, calzones, flatbreads, and baked pasta.

20. Princess’ Greenest Ship – Royal Princess has been designed to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, making it the line’s greenest ship. Some of the key areas of focus include the ship’s extremely efficient hull and propeller design, which requires the same energy as the line’s smaller ships to drive it; a distributed air conditioning system with a large number of fan coil units rather than a centralized system; usage of low energy lighting throughout the ship with an emphasis on LED; the addition of variable speed drives to the biggest electrical consumers such as ventilation fans; a tunnel washer in the laundry which will reduce water consumption; and the introduction of additional monitoring of the ship’s overall energy usage.

The 3,600-passenger Royal Princess is a new-generation ship for Princess Cruises. Among the special features found on board will be plush private poolside cabanas that appear to be floating on the water; a pastry shop; a special Chef’s Table Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of light; and balconies on all outside staterooms. The ship’s 2013 maiden season will include cruises on the line’s signature Grand Mediterranean itinerary throughout the summer, followed by Eastern Caribbean cruises beginning in the fall. More information and video previews of the ship are available at Princess.com/RoyalPrincess.

Find more Royal Princess details, images, and videos on Cruise Diva's blog at:

• Princess Cruises Newest Ship Will Be A Royal
• Royal Princess: Expanded Atrium, New Features
• Royal Princess Introduces Updated Amenities and A New Balcony Stateroom Category
• Royal Princess: Expanded Atrium, New Features
• Princess Cruises Raises the Curtain on New Royal Princess Entertainment Venue
• The Ultimate In Relaxation Coming Aboard Royal Princess
• Princess Cruises Shares A Look At New Royal Princess Fitness Facilities
• Princess Cruises Takes Dining To The Next Level With New Royal Princess
• Princess Cruises Unveils Posh Royal Princess Sanctuary & Retreat Pool With New Features
• Junior Cruisers Have A Lot to Look forward to In New Royal Princess Youth & Teen Centers

Photo Courtesy of Princess Cruises

Norwegian Launches New “Guppies” Program for Children Under Three

Children and teens have always given Norwegian Cruise Line’s youth programs and facilities high marks and now the line has gone a step further by introducing a brand new “Guppies” program to Splash Academy. The expanded children’s program offers interactive programming for kids’ ages six months to three years old and gives parents with children under the age of three the opportunity to engage in a variety of sensory-based programs with them, including baby art, featuring organic, vegetable-based “Wee Can Too” art products, baby “Rhyme Time,” where a storyteller recites popular nursery rhymes featuring puppets, and “Motion in the Ocean,” a parent and baby mini-workout.

Norwegian Cruise Line is also celebrating the successful fleet-wide implementation of its enhanced Youth and Teen programs, Splash Academy and Entourage. The new programs, announced in February of 2012, have received enthusiastically positive reviews from parents and kids, and have made a dramatic impact on the overall family cruise experience. With the new programs, kids and teens have the chance to participate in a variety of innovative events and activities throughout their cruise, specially tailored to their individual age groups. Both Splash Academy and Entourage feature a different theme each day, such as “Rumble in the Jungle,” and “Under the Big Top,” offering new surprises every time the children return to the program.

Kids of all age groups love participating in the sporting activities that were developed through the partnership with The King’s Foundation and Camps, a United Kingdom-based organization. The sports component of the youth programs offers high quality sports activities designed to make a positive impact on the children. Examples include soccer skills; physical challenges; and icebreaker action games. Bowling tournaments, soccer challenges and “dodge ball under the stars” are just a few of the active offerings for teens. The new program also offers the family a chance to play along in a variety of sporting activities including dodge ball, tug-of-war and other exciting family challenges.

One of the most popular aspects of the new program is the circus workshop, developed through the partnership with Hilario Productions’ Cirque du Jour, which offers fun circus activities for the whole family. Through the program, children have the rare opportunity to learn a variety of unique skills such as balancing feathers, juggling, plate spinning and even stilt walking. Classes take place within the youth program, but a family circus school performed in a circus ring, hosted by the Cruise Director, who acts as ringmaster, is also offered.

Parents also enjoy participating in activities and events with their children, including cupcake decorating; pizza making; family game shows; family charades; Family Deck Party; and a special Family White Hot Party. Additional information about Norwegian’s family offerings can be found at NCL.com/family.

Image © CruiseDiva.com

River Cruises Are Booming

America's Baby Boomers are responsible for many things, not least among them a boom in travel. With more time and disposable income available than ever before, they are taking to the air and waterways worldwide in numbers unseen in the past.

In response to Boomers' lust for travel in comfort and style, several companies that operate the river boats so popular with them are introducing new vessels at a rapid clip.

Take Vantage Deluxe World Travel, which, if you've been following Cruise Diva's Blog, you know the line just launched River Splendor last week in Antwerp, Belgium. That ship followed one introduced in 2012, and a sister-ship will follow this spring, bringing their state-of-the-art fleet designed to appeal to American travelers to four deluxe river vessels in Europe.

AmaWaterways, which operates more than a dozen ships worldwide, continues to build upon their fleet of custom-designed vessels in Europe, Russia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Africa. The company will debut two new ships in Amsterdam and Portugal in 2013, to be followed in 2014 by two more in Europe.

The largest fleet of river ships, operated by Viking River Cruises, grew this week when the line set a world record with the christening of ten new Viking Longships—four of the christenings took place in Amsterdam and the remaining six were conducted live via satellite from the shipyard in Germany. That feat followed the christening of six ships in 2012, with twelve more planned for launch in 2014. Viking's chairman Torstein Hagen wants to have 100 river cruise vessels operating on European waterways by 2020. That may seem far fetched, but the line is already half-way to that mark with a fleet that sails in Europe, China, Russia, Southeast Asia, and Egypt.

You don't have to be a Baby Boomer to enjoy a river cruise, but if you're under 55 you may find yourself the youngest passenger on your ship.

Image © CruiseDiva.com

River Splendor Sets Sail for Bruges & Amsterdam

River Splendor docked in Terneuzen

With the fireworks and festivities surrounding River Splendor’s christening behind us, our vessel cast off and departed Antwerp sometime after 1am. Unless you were looking out a window, you wouldn’t have known it—cruising on a river is certainly smooth sailing.

All passengers were assigned to one of four shore excursion groups at the beginning of the voyage and at the port talk for Bruges, Mel and I were pleased to learn that the Program Manager assigned to our group was a native of the medieval city. He outlined that our excursion was not only to be a walking tour, but would also include a segment on a canal boat. As we chatted with him we realized that the itinerary was nearly identical to one we’d taken on a previous visit to the city. We reluctantly decided to stay aboard River Splendor when she docked in Terneuzen, a 45-minute ride by coach to Bruges. It turned out to be a good decision as the day was cold and it snowed. Mel explored the village of Terneuzen and I used the time to become better acquainted with River Splendor. We met up for lunch in the aft-facing Captain’s Club lounge where light lunches are served and brats, hot dogs, and burgers were being prepared on a grill on the aft veranda.

River Splendor in a lock

Later we logged on to the Internet with our laptop utilizing the ship’s complimentary WiFi to check email and Mel had a nice chat with Captain Roger about River Splendor’s mechanical and energy-efficient “green” features. The Captain also explained how the ship’s size is determined by European Union regulations, including the length of 442 feet—naturally she has to fit into the locks she transits—the Captain said those locks are the river ships’ biggest obstacles. However, there are also bridges to go under with only 20 feet of clearance and when River Splendor approaches one everything on the top deck, including the railings, furnishings, awnings, and even the wheelhouse, are “folded down” to pass beneath them. Captain Roger explained that the wheelhouse is actually lowered into an open space on the deck below.

Amsterdam—home of canals, bicycles & houseboats

As we arrived in Amsterdam the next morning it was obvious we’d gone under a low bridge because the top deck awnings and chairs were still folded flat. Approaching the pier, there were already two river vessels docked there on either side of it and River Splendor tied up alongside Viking Idun—rafted together the two ships’ lobbies lined up and we went ashore by walking through the Viking ship. From what little we observed, it was interesting to compare the two—Vantage’s River Splendor has an elegant traditional look and a more modernist décor appeared to be the theme of the Viking ship.

It was a short walk on the pier to where covered (and heated!) boats awaited for our tour through the canals of Amsterdam. We sipped wine and munched on cheese and crackers as our guide pointed out the sights. No trip to Amsterdam would be complete without a visit to a diamond factory and we probably learned more about them than our husbands cared for us to know. At the conclusion of the demonstration every guest was served a flute of champagne containing a “diamond”—two of which were real. Mel’s and mine weren’t real, but we shared the excitement of the winners’ good fortune. At the conclusion of the tour we had all afternoon to visit the city’s museums and attractions on our own.

All good trips must come to an end and Vantage’s care of their passengers was quite apparent in the debarkation process. They had everyone’s flight departure times and scheduled the transfers accordingly. After an early breakfast of Belgian waffles we set our luggage out in the passageway for pick-up at 7am and by 7:30 our transfer van was on the way to the airport.

We hope you’ve enjoyed a taste of our journey. Watch next week for a complete ship preview of Vantage Deluxe World Travel’s brand-new River Splendor online at CruiseDiva.com.

Photos © CruiseDiva.com

River Splendor, Arrival & Antwerp, Belgium

Antwerp skyline from River Splendor

There’s the river, but where’s our boat? We could be forgiven for our confusion after a long flight from New York to Brussels, Belgium and a coach transfer to Antwerp to board Vantage Deluxe World Travel’s brand-new River Splendor. Stepping off the bus we saw Captain Roger Spoor standing level with the dock—no, he wasn’t walking on water, he was on the top deck of River Splendor waiting to personally greet every passenger as they boarded. Despite the snow and cold wind—a rarity this time of year in Belgium—it was a warm welcome.

We later learned that Antwerp’s River Schelde rises and falls with the tide. By mid-afternoon River Splendor was completely visible from the shore and our starboard side 4th deck cabin with a French balcony had a splendid view of the city, including the Cathedral’s spire, rather than the side of the concrete dock that was our earlier “view.”

River Splendor—top deck level with
roadway ashore at low tide

No one likes air travel these days and we are no exception. Delays due to New York weather kept our flight from Atlanta to JFK on the ground for more than an hour and we barely made our connecting flight. Fortunately, we did and our suitcase was the first off the plane in Brussels—meaning it was probably the last one to make it to the plane. Despite a somewhat rocky start to our trip due to the airline, once we were in the hands of Vantage’s personnel we began to experience the care they provide their guests. During the four-night Grand Inaugural Sailing aboard the new River Splendor they literally took care of everything to make the voyage enjoyable.

A welcome light lunch was served buffet-style in the Compass Rose Restaurant and the afternoon activities included classical music in the Latitude 52° Lounge, followed by a welcome briefing hosted by Captain Roger and Hotel Manager Laci. Like other river vessels, River Splendor doesn’t have life boats, but during the safety briefing we were instructed on the use of life vests and how to proceed in case of an emergency. Afterwards, the Vantage Program Managers (our hosts onboard and ashore) gave a port talk before the Captain’s Welcome Diner in the restaurant—a delightful set menu with choice of entrée. The men at our table enjoyed the veal with risotto so much that they requested, and were served, a second portion!

For the Grand Inaugural Sailing we were entertained by Richie “Rich” & 24Karat Funk  in the Latitude 52° Lounge each evening; however, most voyages feature local entertainment brought on board and music provided by a DJ for dancing.

While we were able to catch a nap between lunch and the welcome briefing, we retired early in order to be well rested for the next day’s adventure—a walking tour of Antwerp that included the gorgeous Cathedral where four magnificent works by the Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens are displayed. Three of the masterpieces, including the famous triptych, The Decent From The Cross, were created especially for the Cathedral (pictured here). When the tour concluded there was time to explore the city independently and shop for necessities—such as Belgian chocolates.

Tours were conducted using audio headsets that enabled us to hear the interesting facts, customs, and stories recounted by our English-speaking guides. Even Mel, who tends to bring up the rear while taking photos, was able to follow the commentary with the headset... and not get lost.

Back on board River Splendor we were treated to a “Cultural Connection” lecture about Belgian chocolate and sampled fruit dipped in dark or milk chocolate as well as chocolate Easter eggs. Then we went ashore to attend the naming ceremony (see our story at Vantage Deluxe World Travel Christens ms River Splendor) before attending a celebratory dinner at the Grand Café Horta in Antwerp.

Follow along tomorrow for more of our voyage!

Photos © CruiseDiva.com

Vantage Deluxe World Travel Christens ms River Splendor in Antwerp, Belgium

ms River Splendor Godmother, 
Miss Belgium Noemie Happart

The Cruise Diva crew was on hand last Thursday when Vantage Deluxe World Travel, which is celebrating 30 years of success as a world renowned tour operator, introduced the ms River Splendor in Antwerp, Belgium. The newest addition to its growing European river cruising fleet was christened by Miss Belgium Noemie Happart as the ship's godmother. After the four-night Grand Inaugural Sailing, the new River Splendor began its official inaugural voyage on March 17th from Amsterdam.

Measuring 442 feet in length, the maximum allowed by European Union regulations, the ms River Splendor boasts several innovative features that are consistent with Vantage's new fleet including a fuel efficient propulsion system that allows for reduced emissions and earns the vessel a "green ship" designation, energy-saving LED lighting and canvas ceilings throughout the ship, a hydraulic sliding roof that provides as indoor/outdoor dining experience in the aft-facing lounge, and the largest full-service galley of any European river cruising company. With a maximum of 176 passengers and 45 crew members, the ms River Splendor offers one of the best crew-to-passenger ratios available and the most public space of any Vantage European river cruising ship. This newest vessel is the second ship to come online, following the successful launch of the ms River Discovery II in 2012.

The traditional champagne bottle break

"We are incredibly excited to launch the second ship of our new fleet, the ms River Splendor alongside our most valued partners and a select group of best customers," said Kevin Wallace, COO of Vantage Deluxe World Travel. "We are expecting significant growth in the number of passengers we host on our European river cruising vessels in 2013 and 2014 including new departures to the Seine, Rhone, Saone in France and the Elbe in Germany, and we are looking forward to offering our customers the best cruising experience available anywhere with this exceptional ship." Wallace added, "We could not ask for a better 30th anniversary gift. We are looking forward to showing our customers the world aboard our new fleet!"

In addition to an intimate cruising experience, Vantage's newest ship offers a variety of accommodations. The larger staterooms include a 330 square foot owners' suite, 12 spacious 250 square foot deluxe suites, and a selection of other stateroom offerings. French balconies are featured in 78% of accommodations and all boast hotel style beds, individual climate control, flat-screen TVs equipped with free Video on Demand, U.S. television channels, and interactive trip planning and GPS tracking; free WiFi; personal safes; U.S.-type electrical outlets; and bathroom amenities by L'Occitane. With eight single staterooms, the ms River Splendor is ready to satisfy the demand of single travelers. The new ship's dining room has floor-to-ceiling windows to offer diners delightful river views while they enjoy menus of favorite American and European dishes; a full service cocktail lounge featuring live, local entertainment; and an internet center, library, and fitness room.

As part of Vantage's major $120 million fleet investment program, ms River Splendor will immediately double Vantage's river cruising fleet, joining the ms River Discovery II, which was introduced in 2012. The ms River Venture will launch in late March 2013 and the soon-to-be-renovated ms River Navigator will sail again in September 2013. In addition to enhanced amenities, the fleet will offer passengers new itineraries along the Elbe, Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers, a new Grand River voyage in France, and revamped itineraries in Portugal and Russia. Vantage has been a pioneer in the river boat industry since 1999. For more information on current travel programs, visit VantageTravel.com.

Images (c) CruiseDiva.com

Carnival Cruise Lines Fleet Update

It seems that whenever I travel, something happens that I cannot keep readers of my blog updated about. Last week while I was in Europe to attend the christening of Vantage Deluxe Travel’s River Splendor (more about that starting tomorrow when I recover from jet lag), the Carnival Dream experienced a problem that is outlined in the March 14th Q&A below. Following the Q&A is a statement from Carnival Cruise Lines regarding that and other occurrences during the week.

Facts on Carnival Dream

Q: What is going on with Carnival Dream? What happened?
A: While at dock in St. Maarten yesterday, the ship’s engineering team conducted a regularly scheduled test of the ship’s emergency diesel generator. A malfunction occurred which has rendered the emergency generator inoperable. At no time did the ship lose power and the ship’s propulsion systems and primary power sources were not impacted. However, for a period of time last night, there were interruptions to the elevators and restroom services. Toilets and elevators are currently working, and have been since about 12:30am.

Q: Where was the ship when the problem occurred?
A: The Carnival Dream was at dock in St. Maarten during a regularly scheduled port of call visit and remains there currently. All passengers are safe and comfortable.

Q: Did the ship lose power?
A: At no time did the ship lose power and the ship’s propulsion systems and primary power sources were not impacted.

Q: Why is the ship not able to sail back to Port Canaveral?
A: While the ship’s propulsion systems and primary power source were not impacted, in an abundance of caution, we prefer not to sail with guests on board without an operational back up emergency generator.

Q: Are the toilets and elevators working?
A: Toilets and elevators are currently working, and have been since about 12:30am.

Q: Is it true that toilets were overflowing and sewage on floors, in hallways, etc.?
A: We have had multiple conversations with the ship’s management team. Based on the ship’s service logs and extensive physical monitoring of all public areas, including restrooms, throughout the night, we can confirm that only one public restroom was taken offline for cleaning based on toilet overflow and there was a total of one request for cleaning of a guest cabin bathroom. Aside from that there have been no reports of issues on board with overflowing toilets or sewage. The toilet system had periodic interruptions yesterday evening and was fully restored at approximately 12.30am this morning.

Q: Are guests allowed to get off the ship?
A: Guests have the option to get off the ship to visit the port of St. Maarten until their scheduled return home. We have also arranged complimentary water taxi service for guests who wish to explore other areas of the island.

Q: What is going to happen with the guests from here?
A: All guests are being flown via a combination of commercial and private chartered air to either Orlando, which is the closest air gateway to Port Canaveral, or to their final destination depending on their individual needs.

Q: Is it true that Carnival is flying everyone to Miami and putting them on buses?
A: No.

Q: What kind of compensation will they receive?
A: Guests on the current voyage will receive a refund equivalent to three days of the voyage and 50 percent off a future cruise.

Q: Are you cancelling future cruises?
A: We have cancelled the ship’s next voyage which is scheduled to depart on Saturday, March, 16. Guests scheduled to sail on this cruise will receive a full refund and 25 percent off a future seven-day cruise. Guests who re-book will have their current rate protected on the future sailing. Additionally, any non-refundable transportation related expenses will be reimbursed.

Q: How many passengers and crew are onboard?
A: There are 4,363 guests and 1,370 crew on Carnival Dream.

Q: What are you doing to help passengers without passports?
A: We have already addressed this issue with the relevant authorities and the guests will not have an issue traveling without passports.

Carnival Cruise Lines Update - March 16, 2013

We would like to share an update with you regarding the status of Carnival Dream, Legend and Elation and to answer your questions and clarify many misperceptions that are being driven by confusing and, in many cases, inaccurate media coverage. We would also like to update you on the status of our ongoing internal review in the wake of the Carnival Triumph incident.

Carnival Dream

As of this evening, we will have nearly completed the process of flying all guests from St. Maarten to either Orlando or their final destination via a combination of 21 charter flights and multiple commercial air flights. Additionally, we are providing some 600 hotel rooms in Orlando as needed based on travel plans, along with all motor coach transportation needs. Once all guests have left the ship, Carnival Dream will make preparations to sail back to Port Canaveral with the crew on board and we expect to sail on Sunday.

The ship’s power plant, propulsion and hotel systems are fully operational. Aside from some periodic interruptions to restroom and elevator service for a few hours Tuesday night, at no time have any of the ship’s systems and services not been functional. One public restroom was taken offline for cleaning Tuesday evening, but otherwise there were no issues with sanitation functionality or cleanliness on the vessel. Reports to the contrary are completely false.

We have had permission from all necessary regulatory authorities to depart from St. Maarten and sail to Port Canaveral since earlier this week. However, it was our decision not to sail with guests on board without a functioning back-up emergency generator. Upon arrival in Port Canaveral early next week, we will install a replacement emergency generator, followed by the appropriate inspections and approvals to operate our next scheduled voyage on Saturday, March 23rd.

Carnival Legend

Carnival Legend is experiencing a technical issue with the ship’s propulsion system which is having a minor effect on the ship’s maximum speed which is being reduced by a few nautical miles per hour versus normal capacity. The ship’s safety systems, steering and all hotel services are functioning normally and the ship, which has been achieving speeds of 19 knots, is scheduled to arrive in Tampa on time tomorrow morning.

On Sunday afternoon, Carnival Legend is expected to depart on schedule while technicians continue to make progress on the repairs. The ship is expected to operate its normal itinerary with the exception of one port – Grand Cayman – which is being replaced by Costa Maya. Any guests wishing not to proceed based on the change to one port of call have been given the option of cancelling and receiving a full refund.

Carnival Elation

At no time has the Carnival Elation been under tow or required the assistance of a tug boat. The ship continues to operate its normally scheduled itineraries. The ship is experiencing a minor technical issue with the steering function of one of its two redundant Azipod propulsion units and the tug that is trailing the ship while it travels on the Mississippi River is purely a precautionary measure. The ship is scheduled to return on time from its current voyage on Monday. Repairs are expected to be fully completed prior to the ship’s departure for its next cruise on Monday afternoon.

Our Commitment to Safety and Security

We would like to sincerely apologize to our guests for the disruption to their vacation plans as a result of these occurrences. The cause of each one is unrelated although we take each of them very seriously. As always, the safety of our guests and crew is our foremost priority. Carnival Cruise Lines carries some 4.5 million passengers a year and operates thousands of cruises without incident. Our historical safety record is outstanding. We have comprehensive maintenance programs in place that meet or exceed all regulatory standards and requirements.

We are committed to learning from any incident that may occur on one of our vessels to apply lessons learned and prevent future occurrences. We are presently conducting a comprehensive fleet-wide review that encompasses multiple operational areas, systems and training. We have assembled an expert team from across the company, as well as a variety of outside experts to complete the assessment. We expect to make an announcement early next week on the initial steps of our implementation program based on the results of our review. In the meantime, we are confident that we will continue to provide our guests with a safe, fun and memorable vacation experience and look forward to welcoming them on board.

British Ports Continue Growth

Britannia may no longer rule the waves worldwide, but more passengers than ever before are visiting Great Britain through the country’s 52 cruise ports. Figures released by CruiseBritain show that in 2012 more than 100 ships visited the UK. And these ships brought a record 723,000 passengers on day calls, a rise of 11 per cent. 2012 also saw 962,000 passengers begin their cruise at a UK port, a 10 per cent increase on 2011, with 84 per cent of passengers being British.

Forty-seven different cruise lines tied up in a UK port in 2012 with passengers taking day trips to a variety of destinations across the country. Britain’s island geography makes Round Britain cruises an unusual and unique itinerary option and allows visitors to explore coasts, castles, cities, and countryside in one easy visit. Plus, Britain’s geographical proximity to complementary countries offers additional choice for a wide range of lines and ships. From expedition cruises to boutique ships, British-focused to German, North American, French and Spanish-focused lines, Britain is growing in appeal.

“The growth in both cruise ship visits and passenger numbers is a continued testament to Britain’s value as a cruise destination,” commented Kate O’Hara, Chair CruiseBritain. “Since 2004, we have seen the number of visiting passengers more than double and the number of different cruise ships calling has gone from 76 to 105, a rise of 38 per cent. The uniqueness of Round Britain cruises together with our diverse regional history, heritage, culture and scenery ensure our continued success. Britain’s destinations deliver an excellent passenger experience and we all work towards delivering a smooth operation for the cruise lines,” added O’Hara.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Darwin Australia Marks Growth as Popular Port of Call

Capital of Australia’s Northern Territory, Darwin is fast becoming a popular port of call for cruises heading to Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. Located adjacent to Darwin’s Central Business District, the Fort Hill Wharf terminal welcomed more than 42,000 passengers in the 2011-12 season, representing annual growth of nearly 6 percent. Forty-three ships passed through Darwin last year, including many of the major cruise lines such as Holland America, Princess, Celebrity, Carnival, Seaborne, Silversea, Cunard, and Royal Caribbean. The growing and vibrant international city of Darwin is a key regional port for ships whose passengers want to explore more remote areas to fully experience all of the Territory’s offerings from indigenous art and culture to its amazing wild and marine life.

If you go, here are some of Darwin’s main attractions:

Crocodile Country -- This is Australia after all, and Darwin is an ideal place to take a cruise to see jumping crocs, dive with them in the “Cage of Death, or get up close to stuffed ones as large as 16-foot “Sweetheart” at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.

Tours with local guides -- For an authentic tour of the region, a traditional Larrakia guide takes visitors on an excursion to Darwin’s enormous Harbor along the Esplanade pointing out sites of cultural significance along the way. Below the Esplanade, through a pocket of rainforest is Lameroo Beach where visitors learn of the various marine animal totems of the indigenous Larrakia people.

Defence of Darwin -- The Defence of Darwin Experience is the first facility in Australia to provide visitors with an immersive, interactive, multimedia experience that is dedicated to the period 1932 to 1945, a very important time in Territory history. The commemorates the 70th Anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin and provides an opportunity for visitors to understand the impact of the war on Darwin and its inhabitants, both civilian and military.

Beyond Darwin, popular tour destinations include:

KAKADU & LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARKS -- There are two world-class national parks in the Top End of the Territory that are ideal for exploring the region’s natural beauty. Litchfield National Park offers waterfalls, waterholes, bushwalks, four wheel drive tracks as well as bird and wildlife. Listed as a World Heritage site for its cultural and natural values, Kakadu is accessible by road and air with a range of tours from one day or longer.

KATHERINE -- As the gateway to nature and adventure, the Katherine region extends from the Gulf of Carpentaria near the Queensland border towards the Kimberley in the west. One of the most popular activities here is to cruise, canoe, bushwalk or fly over the magnificent Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park or soak in Mataranka’s thermal pools. Katherine can be explored on tours from Darwin, as a whistle-stop tour on The Ghan train journey, or as a self-drive destination.

ARNHEM LAND & TIWI ISLANDS -- From Darwin, visitors can take day trips to experience the Polynesian-influenced Tiwi people and the indigenous people of Arnhem Land just across the water. Both the Tiwi Islands and Arnhem Land are particularly appealing for blue water fishing enthusiats. Arnhem Land also offers the opportunity to visit indigenous art centers or take tours with local guides to learn about the indigenous culture while exploring the beaches of white sand and azure waters.

ALICE SPRINGS -- Australia’s most famous outback town, Alice Springs offers the opportunity to explore historic sites and see the work of local artists in Aboriginal art galleries. Visitors can also tour the Royal Flying Doctor Service facilities, the world renowned aero-medical service that brings first class health care to people in the most remote areas of the bush.

AYERS ROCK/ULURU -- This is the heart of the Red Centre and is an iconic destination for anyone visiting Australia. In addition to the significant physical and archeological presence this sandstone formation represents, it also holds great cultural significance to its traditional Aboriginal owners. Uluru/Ayers Rock can be experienced from several different vantage points and touring options. Adventure seekers can choose to walk the base, ride a camel or even tour Uluru on the back of a motorcycle. Those who seek an aerial view can do so by various helicopter tours.

Triple the size of California, Australia’s Northern Territory encompasses almost one sixth of the country’s total land mass and is home to the legendary Outback with its diverse Aboriginal culture, incredible natural landscapes, and unique wildlife. From the awe-inspiring Red Centre icons of Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and Kings Canyon to the Top End’s adventure and wildlife destinations of Katherine Gorge and Kakadu National Park, Australia’s Northern Territory is a dramatic, beautiful cultural destination. For more information on travel to Australia’s Northern Territory, visit AustraliasOutback.com.

Image Courtesy of Australia’s Northern Territory

What Was it Really Like Aboard The Disabled Carnival Triumph?

A Dallas realtor told a Royse City Rotary Club audience in Texas that she likes talking about her experiences aboard the Carnival cruise ship, Carnival Triumph, that was disabled 150 miles off Southern Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula last month after an engine room fire.

Jim Hardin reports in the Royse City Herald-Banner of Greenville, Texas, that it wasn't exactly the total disaster related on CNN and other media outlets.

“I like talking about it because I like people to hear the true story,” Vicki White, whose brother is Royse City Rotarian Tom Shelton, told club members last Thursday morning.

“It was an experience I will never forget,” White said. “It brought out the worst in humanity, but they were few and far between. Believe me, the best of humanity far prevailed.

White said she can’t understand why some passengers are telling horror stories about food shortages. “We ate very well,” she said. “Once the cruise ship started taking over serving the portions themselves, lines went fast,” White said. “There was plenty of food. We had everything from grilled chicken, to steak, to chocolate mouse, to cake and fruit, and bagels and cream cheese, eggs and sausage. “So, all this stuff about living on pickles and onions, it’s just a lie. I mean, we all ate at the same place.”

The crew tried to entertain the passengers, she said. And they all pitched in to help. She said the women who did facials and massages went out on night security patrols. The man who was the headliner at the ship’s comedy club grilled chicken. And the entertainers who performed in the Broadway show served meals. “Everybody was working,” White said. “Everybody on the crew was doing something. Passengers volunteered, but they (crew members) said, ‘We’ve got it covered.’ They always had a smile on their faces no matter what.”

What bothered her most, she said, was the lack of communication.

For more of Vicki White's observations, click on the link above for the complete story in the Royse City Herald-Banner.

Cruise Lines to Increase Calls to St. Kitts

Port Zante Arrivals Building in St. Kitts

You should begin to see St. Kitts appear more often on cruise ship itineraries in the days ahead as the island continues to grow its cruise tourism sector at an impressive rate. Cruise arrivals are projected to increase to approximately 650,000 for the 2013/2014 season and to more than 700,000 in 2014/2015.

To accommodate the growing cruise sector, plans are being developed to improve the capacity for berthing larger ships at the third pier located at the cargo port, and for designing a second cruise pier downtown at Port Zante. The St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA) expects to install a breasting dolphin at the multi-purpose cargo pier so that it can accommodate ships over 850 ft. in length, giving St. Kitts the ability to berth three large ships by the start of the 2013/14 season.

“As a direct result of our persistent sales calls, as well as our focus on improving our destination product and service offerings, we are pleased to announce that the significant growth we have seen in the cruise sector over the past six years will continue,” said Senator Ricky Skerritt, Minister of Tourism & International Transport. “Cruise Executives have indicated to me that St. Kitts has become an increasingly important port of call, one that helps them market their itineraries.”

Future cruise tourism developments now confirmed for St. Kitts include the following:

· For the first time, St. Kitts & Nevis will be receiving scheduled calls from four ships of the luxury Seabourn Cruise Line, which will make a total of 29 calls in 2013/2014 bringing over 6,000 passengers.

· Pullmantur Cruises will make 22 weekly calls in the 2013/2014 season from the ship Horizon, which will provide approximately 30,800 incremental passengers. It is the first Spanish cruise line to call at St. Kitts.

· Costa Cruise Line will make six calls in 2013/2014 with the Costa Mediterranea, which will bring an additional 14,400 passengers.

· Two German-based lines will call on St. Kitts in the next two seasons with Aida Cruises making a total of 11 calls from two vessels in 2013/2014, which will total 27,100 passengers, and TUI Cruises bringing back the Mein Schiff for regular season calls in 2014/2015 following a successful test season in 2011/2012.

· Meanwhile, Norwegian Cruise Lines has booked calls in 2014/2015 with the Norwegian Pearl, which will make 14 calls bringing approximately 33,500 passengers, and with the Norwegian Breakaway, which will make three calls bringing an estimated 12,000 new passengers.

· Disney Cruise Line will be making four off-season calls in the summer of 2014, yielding a projected total of 9,600 passengers.

In February 2013, Carnival Cruise Line replaced the weekly year-round calls of the Carnival Victory with the larger capacity Carnival Valor, which has increased the berths per call by 216. The Valor also carries 407 more crew members than the Victory.

Royal Caribbean International is also expected to increase its number of calls in 2014/2015.

St. Kitts passed the half million passenger arrivals mark for the first time in the 2009/2010 cruise season. In addition to increasing cruise passenger arrivals, the geographic markets from which the lines originate are expanding, with vessels now hailing from the USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Located in the northern Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, St. Kitts offers a diverse tourism product developed from the destination’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and rich history. The island’s stunning variety of tourism attractions include hiking through the tropical rainforest, riding the region’s only scenic railway which connects the island’s former sugar plantations, visiting the Caribelle Batik factory, touring Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park—the only man-made UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Eastern Caribbean—ziplining, and more traditional vacation pastimes such as watersports, golf, shopping, tennis, gourmet dining, gaming at St. Kitts’ exclusive casino, or simply relaxing on one of the island’s sandy beaches.

Image Courtesy of St. Kitts Tourism Authority

Carnival Sunshine Transformation in Progress

Over the past several decades ship builders have performed what seemed like miracles to existing cruise ships. Decks have been added to some, while others have been cut in half to receive entirely new mid-ship sections. With that in mind, it’s interesting to see the unprecedented renovation taking place aboard Carnival Cruise Lines’ soon-to-be former-Carnival Destiny—the world’s largest cruise ship when she was launched in 1996. When the work is done, the resulting vessel will emerge from the 49-day, $155 million dry dock as a like-new cruise ship with a brand new name—Carnival Sunshine.

Hundreds of Carnival employees and contractors are hard at work transforming the ship from Carnival Destiny into Carnival Sunshine, which will be the first ship in the Carnival fleet to feature all of the elements of the line’s $500 million Fun Ship 2.0 product enhancement initiative. Carnival Cruise Lines is also documenting the process in a series of videos. The initial demolition of many of Carnival Destiny’s existing spaces is already underway, from removing the water slide to make way for the new WaterWorks park to reconfiguring the open decks to accommodate new poolside venues such as the RedFrog Rum Bar, BlueIguana Tequila Bar and Guy’s Burger Joint, as well as the stunning three-level Serenity adults-only retreat. After the initial demolition, workers will begin installing the enticing new spaces. This episode in Carnival’s ongoing video series offers an insightful behind-the-scenes look at the progress:

Video Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines

Norwegian Breakaway Filled With Technological Advances

Passengers who will be boarding Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship in days to come won’t notice the environmentally-friendly and technologically advanced innovations it contains, but they play an important role in today’s travel at sea.

Norwegian Breakaway, currently wrapping up construction at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, will incorporate a number of emission reducing, energy saving and enhanced safety systems which will be in use when the ship is delivered on April 25, 2013.

“Being environmentally conscious is of the utmost importance to us at Norwegian as we have demonstrated with our state of the art environment practices and technology in place across our fleet,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Chief Executive Officer. “Norwegian Breakaway features a number of environmentally friendly attributes in line with our Eco-Smart Cruising philosophy. We are proud that with these technologies we continue to lead the way in ship innovation and reduction of our carbon footprint.”

Emission Reducing Features:

Norwegian Breakaway is equipped with a new generation of ABB XO Azipods, that are smaller and more streamlined, which, together with a new Azipod Dynamic Optimizing system, will enhance steering and turning angles, leading to a saving in fuel and reduction in emissions. 

Through Advanced Computional Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, the underwater hull has been optimized to provide the least resistance for the average speed of the ship’s planned itineraries, enhancing the ship’s speed/power ratio by 20 percent.

The ship will also increase its energy efficiency and, therefore, reduce emissions, through the use of the latest generation of silicon-based antifouling paint on the ship’s hull.

Features on the bridge include a trim optimization system from Eniram that collects data over time and optimizes the trim at different loading and speed conditions, while taking weather and wave elements into consideration. In addition, the NAPA voyage optimization system helps to plan the ship’s cruise in more intelligent ways, such as taking currents, engine configuration and weather into account.

Norwegian Breakaway has been outfitted with a new system called Pure Dry that recovers fuel oil from waste oil; thus reducing the amount of waste oil that will be disposed of ashore.
Heat recovery is another priority in energy savings and, on Norwegian Breakaway, it is implemented on the freshwater and diesel generators. These heat exchangers, along with waste heat exchangers from the main engines, can be used in other sources on board, such as to heat potable water.

Norwegian is the first cruise line to install a galley energy management system, known as GEM, from Almaco. The system will automatically turn on the ship’s ovens at scheduled times, allowing the chefs to better manage their kitchens throughout the day and further increase energy efficiency.

Norwegian Breakaway includes an advanced remote control system for the staterooms. This system allows for power, air conditioning and lighting to be switched off remotely when guests are not in their staterooms.

The majority of lighting in the public spaces of Norwegian Breakaway is LED, in order to increase the ship’s energy efficiency.

Enhanced Elements:

The ship features an all-new mustering tracking system for both guest and crew mustering via Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs).

A state-of-the-art water ballast treatment system supplied by Alfa Laval has been installed on Norwegian Breakaway, a first among Norwegian’s fleet.

For information about the features and accommodations on Norwegian Breakaway, visit Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway micro-site and these links on the Cruise Diva Blog:

· Norwegian Cruise Line Begins “Project Breakaway” Reveal
· Norwegian Cruise Line Introduces “The Haven”
· “The Haven” by Norwegian: Posh Accommodations For Project Breakaway
· Norwegian Breaks Out More Project Breakaway Accommodations
· Innovative Spaces Planned For Norwegian’s Norwegian Breakaway
· Norwegian Breakaway Is Set To Be A Teen-Pleaser
· Dining and Entertainment Options for Norwegian Breakaway
· Norwegian Breakaway’s Hull Artwork Unveiled
· NYC’s Iconic Rockettes Named As Norwegian Breakaway Godmothers
· Norwegian Breakaway to Feature Cutting-Edge Spa & Fitness Experiences
· Norwegian Breakaway to Put NYC on Ice
· Norwegian Breakaway will Light Up the Night with Fireworks Shows
· Norwegian Breakaway Gets A New “Boss”

Image Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Queen Elizabeth & the Queen Mary to Meet for the First Time in Long Beach on March 12

Whenever two of Cunard Line’s queens—past or present—meet up it’s an event, as it will be tomorrow when Cunard Line’s Queen Elizabeth and the legendary Queen Mary will make history when they meet for the first time in a Cunard Royal Rendezvous in Long Beach Harbor. This rare evening encounter will be open to the public and will feature traditional whistle salutes between the ships and conclude with a fireworks display. Adding to the significance of the occasion, the Royal Rendezvous will be Queen Mary’s first encounter with a Queen Elizabeth since 1967 when Queen Mary, during her final Transatlantic Crossing in Cunard service, passed by the original Queen Elizabeth on the morning of September 25th.

“The Queen Mary is a cornerstone in our nearly 175-year history, and we are very pleased to introduce our youngest Cunarder to this legendary ship in festive Royal Rendezvous fashion,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line.

If you are in Long Beach, the best public viewing location of the Royal Rendezvous is on the Promenade Deck of the Queen Mary herself, at the aft (back) deck of the ship. Free access to the ship will be offered from 4:00-9:00pm; the charge for parking will be $15.00. A DJ will be on deck providing musical entertainment while everyone awaits the historic meeting. Queen Elizabeth will sail into Long Beach Harbor at approximately 6:30pm, and the fireworks display will begin at 7:30pm.

Joining these maritime icons overhead will be one of Goodyear’s famous blimps, the Spirit of America, which will escort the Queen Elizabeth into the harbor and capture aerial coverage of the Royal Rendezvous.

During Cunard Line’s history, the Queen Mary epitomized the Golden Age of Ocean Travel and served as a Cunard liner for more than 30 years. She also served as a British Royal Mail Ship (RMS) and as a troopship during World War II. Winston Churchill credited Cunard with ending the war one year early due to the dangerous troop transport that both the Queen Mary and the original Queen Elizabeth provided.

The Queen Mary’s influence lives on today, inspiring Cunard’s modern fleet; and she continues to be a popular tourist and maritime destination as a hotel and museum in Long Beach Harbor, located south of Los Angeles.

For more information on the historic meeting of Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mary, visit: Cunard.com/rendezvous and QueenMary.com/royalrendezvous.

Image Courtesy of Cunard Line

New Cruise Review: Noordam

Here at Cruise Diva HQ we always appreciate our readers reviews, be they good, bad, or indifferent.

Sadly, in this case, Paul Murray relates, "We were very disappointed with our most recent voyage on the Noordam. There were some very good points about the ship as well, but the overall impression I/we had with the Noordam and Holland America was negative."

Paul started with good impressions, but there were also some less than satisfactory incidents that left him with unrealized expectations—never a good way to end a cruise. For the full account, here's his Noordam Review.

New Cruise Review: Celebrity Millennium in Asia

Welcome aboard Celebrity Millennium on an exotic cruise from Singapore with Cruise Diva's long time friend Dr. Joe Reynolds.

Celebrity Millenium from Singapore Review

Charity Cruise To Benefit Veterans

To benefit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and Operation Homefront, Princess Cruises' first-ever charity cruise in support of U.S. veterans will feature a number of special guests including former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen (Ret.); retired senior officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force; an award-winning war correspondent; and other respected speakers, authors, and panelists. The voyage is expected to generate $1 million, split equally between the two charities.

Princess President and CEO Alan Buckelew, a Vietnam veteran himself, will be on board to host the cruise. He will be joined by special guests Admiral Mullen, former Army Chief of Staff General George Casey (Ret.), former Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz (Ret.), and former Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead (Ret.), who will each host military branch gatherings throughout the voyage. The senior officers' wives, Deborah Mullen, Sheila Casey, Suzie Schwartz and Ellen Roughead will take part in a panel discussion centered on the lives of military families and the changing roles and challenges of spouses before, during and after deployment.

In addition, guest lecturers on the cruise will include:

• Joe Galloway – Decorated War Correspondent and Co-Author of We Were Soldiers Once…and Young
• Justin Constantine – Lt. Colonel, USMC Reserve, speaker and veteran's advocate
• Gregory Melikian – Former Army sergeant selected to announce the unconditional surrender of Germany and the end of WWII in Europe

Princess Cruises has been designated a commemorative partner with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, a national program organized to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Princess Cruises will conduct activities to recognize Vietnam Veterans and their families for their service, valor, and sacrifice throughout the sailing.

The Western Caribbean cruise will sail Nov 5-9, 2013 roundtrip from Houston aboard Caribbean Princess, with a call at Progreso, Mexico. The 4-day cruise will offer passengers the opportunity to honor those who have served in the military as well as active duty military personnel. In addition to the line-up of military guests and speakers, there will be special performers, celebrities, unique topic panels, and a military film festival. Princess will custom-design onboard activities such as a Stars and Stripes Sailaway, a military themed show, a Red, White and Blue Gala, game shows, trivia quizzes and more to celebrate US veterans.

A portion of each passenger's cruise fare, which is expected to total approximately $500,000 will be matched by Princess Cruises for a total of $1 million earmarked for the two veterans' organizations to share equally. As part of Princess' ongoing Military Cruise Benefit Program, active and retired military personnel choosing to book this cruise will receive a $50 onboard credit.

The cruise launches Princess Cruises' new "Cruising for a Cause" initiative where the company will dedicate entire sailings to support select charitable causes. This new, industry-leading program will provide the line's passengers, many of whom are looking for opportunities to make positive contributions to their communities and the world, a way to make a difference even as they vacation. Additional information about the special "Cruising for a Cause" sailing supporting U.S. veterans can be found at princess.com/cruisingforacause.

Un-Cruise Adventures Acquires Safari Voyager

Un-Cruise Adventures has announced its acquisition of the 64-guest Safari Voyager for its yacht fleet with plans to offer Luxury Adventures year-round in Mexico’s Sea of Cortés beginning in November 2013. In winter 2015, the vessel will transition to sailing year-round in Central America.

Previously named Sea Voyager, the vessel is currently in Colombia undergoing renovation. Details for Central America deployment such as itineraries, included shore programs, fares and dates of operation will be available spring 2013.

The Safari Voyager will replace the line’s 86-guest Safari Endeavour in Mexico’s Sea of Cortés beginning in November 2013 and offer four different itineraries available year-round from homeports of La Paz, Cabo and Guaymas. Current plans have the Safari Voyager transitioning from Mexico to year-round itineraries in Central America beginning in December 2015. The vessel will spend winters exploring Costa Rica, summers in Belize and offer transits of the Panama Canal in spring and fall. The 86-guest Safari Endeavour will then return to sailing in the Sea of Cortés during the winter.

The Safari Voyager will have 33 outside view staterooms including four suites and two single staterooms for a total guest capacity of 64. During the renovation, a new Library will be created on the Cabin Deck with eight floor to ceiling windows, plush furniture, and nautical décor in tribute to New World explorers. The very top deck of the vessel—the Sun Deck—will be transformed into a new al fresco public space with fitness equipment and lounge chairs. A massage room will also be added. A swim step platform on the stern of the boat is a convenient place for guests to access the water for included adventure activities such as snorkeling, skiff excursions, kayaking and stand up paddle boarding.

A spacious view Lounge features 20 floor to ceiling windows, a full-service bar, four glass doors with two as doubles opening onto an outside deck—a design element created for air conditioning when needed or flung open to deck. Comfortable chairs and tables outside extend the Lounge onto the deck. A separate Dining Room on the Main Deck accommodates all guests for meals at one seating in an ornate setting with rich, dark wood treatments. A nautical and tropical design ties décor together throughout public spaces.

The Safari Voyager becomes the adventure cruise line’s eighth vessel—all with capacities below 90 berths, a hallmark of Un-Cruise Adventures. The company has three expedition vessels sailing Active Adventures, three more yachts sailing Luxury Adventures and one replica Victorian-style steamer sailing Heritage Adventures. Current adventure destinations include Southeast Alaska, Hawaiian Islands, Mexico’s Sea of Cortés, Columbia and Snake Rivers, and Coastal Washington and British Columbia.

“The Safari Voyager fits in perfectly with our upscale adventure fleet,” said Dan Blanchard, Un-Cruise Adventures’ principal and CEO. “The vessel is outfitted for warm weather sailing and will be ideal for tropical adventures in Central America.”

A Luxury Adventure includes all meals, adventure activities, massage, premium wine/beer/spirits, transfers and port fees and taxes. For more information, visit un-cruise.com/.

Image Courtesy of Un-Cruise Adventures

Holland America Line Brings The Sounds of B.B. King's Blues Club to Eurodam

First they created a bit of Hollywood glam on board with "Dancing With The Stars" and now, all the way from the world-famous Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, Holland America Line has launched the B.B. King's Blues Club aboard ms Eurodam, with the ship's Queen's Lounge transformed into a vibrant blues musical experience. Five nights each week on cruises through June 20, 2013, world-class musicians from the B.B. King Blues Club Band create a dynamic energy to move the crowd to sing and dance along. The eight-piece band features two vocalists backed by a drummer, bassist, guitarist, sax player, trumpet player, and Hammond B-3 organ player.

To create its own B.B. King's Blues Club at sea, Eurodam trimmed its Queen's Lounge with portraits of the Memphis Blues legend, illuminating the prominence of Memphis Blues and its influence on everyone from B.B. King, Sam & Dave and Otis Redding to The Rolling Stones and Neil Diamond. A special stage was crafted to resemble a Memphis club with guitars hanging in the backdrop. Exclusive specialty cocktails from the land-based clubs also will be served, featuring the tasty, rum-based Lucille and Rock Me Baby concoctions mixed with different fruit liqueurs and juices.

In addition, "Memphis Sounds," a live stage show directed by Marion Caffey (producer of Amateur Night at the Apollo) and produced by B.B. King's Blues Club's CEO Tommy Peters, will headline one night on the ship's Mainstage. "Memphis Sounds" showcases the true sounds of the American music genre of Memphis Blues performed by the B.B. King Blues Club Band. The 45-minute performance incorporates video projection to tell the story of the blues.

"This collaborative effort is a perfect partnership," said Richard Meadows, executive vice president of marketing, sales and guest programs for Holland America Line. "Bringing the vibe of Memphis aboard Eurodam will create a new atmosphere on the ship that is going to be exciting for our guests. We also look forward to taking this show to other Holland America Line ships throughout 2013 and beyond through this new venture."

If you can't get aboard Eurodam, but are in Memphis, B.B. King's Blues Club is a supper-club style restaurant created and named after the reigning king of the blues and recording artist for more than four decades. B.B. King's offers a perfect blend of some of the finest live music and a variety of the South's most delicious comfort foods influenced by flavors from New Orleans all the way to the Mississippi Delta. For more information or to make a reservation, please visit bbkingclubs.com.

For more information about the B.B. King's Blues Club at Sea, Holland America Line's cruises and CruiseTours, visit hollandamerica.com.

Image Courtesy of Holland America Line

Cunard Line Celebrates 200th Anniversary of “Pride and Prejudice”

Chawton House Library

As fans of Jane Austen’s novels are aware, the 200th anniversary of her classic “Pride and Prejudice” has arrived.

To celebrate, and offer cruise travelers a unique opportunity, Cunard Line has planned a special site tour highlighting the famed author’s regional ties to Southampton, England, Cunard’s home port. Four-day, three-night tours are available pre- and post-sailing for select Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossings and Europe voyages between April and December of this year, and include lodging and select meals.

Site visits include:

-- Jane Austen’s House Museum: Tour the 17th century Chawton village home where Austen wrote many of her major works
-- Winchester Cathedral: Pay respects at Austen’s burial site and view an exhibition of her life and work
-- Chawton House Library: Visit this historic manor, which Austen frequented, featuring a robust collection of 18th century women’s literary works (historic Chawton House Library is pictured above)
-- Salisbury Cathedral: While viewing the original Magna Carta, tour the location for the 1995 award-winning film, “Sense and Sensibility,” which was based on the eponymous Austen novel

"Jane Austen resided in Southampton for some time, and so we are delighted to provide our guests a glimpse into this beloved writer's life," said Peter Shanks, president, Cunard Line. "The Austen tours are the perfect complement to enjoying the British heritage of a Cunard voyage, either before or after sailing."

Sample 2013 voyages featuring these pre- and post-voyage tours include, but are not limited to, the following:

-- July 17 for the seven-day July 20 westbound Transatlantic Crossing from Southampton to New York
-- Aug 5 for the seven-day Aug 8 westbound Transatlantic Crossing from Southampton to New York
-- Sept 29 for the seven-day Sept 22 eastbound Transatlantic Crossing from New York to Southampton
-- Dec 11 for the 11-day Nov 30 Iberian Serenade roundtrip from Southampton

Grab your favorite Jane Austen novel and plan to join Queen Mary 2 on a cruise vacation rich in classic British traditions. For more information about the special “Pride and Prejudice” 200th Anniversary site tours, visit cunard.com/janeausten.

Image Courtesy of Cunard Line

Carnival Cruise Lines Debuts “The Fun Shops” Online

Internet shopping has certainly made my life easier. No more dealing with finding a parking spot in the mall parking lot where my car could get door dings, no waiting in line to check out, and a nearly unlimited selection of merchandise are at my fingertips. I can even shop for and book travel online.

However, the one type of merchandise that's been limited is cruise related gifts. Yes, it’s always been possible to pre-order certain things to be delivered to us on board, but the selection hasn’t been great. That’s changed with the launch of Carnival Cruise Lines’ revamped online retail section “The Fun Shops”—now available on the line’s website.

The redesign includes a totally new “look and feel,” as well as simpler navigation choices like shopping by product, by occasion or one of Carnival’s four exclusive branded options: Cruise Cash, Cherry on Top, Funnel Gear and Portside Liquor. The site also marks the initial phase of a product expansion with new gifting options ranging from Carnival branded gear to chocolate-covered strawberries rolled in red velvet crumbs.

The Fun Shops can be used to buy a gift for anyone booked to sail on a Carnival cruise—even yourself. If users are looking to surprise a guest with “fun-tastic” treats while on board, they can click on the site’s new virtual “Booking Buddy,” which makes it easy to connect their order directly to a guest’s reservation without having to spoil the surprise by finding out information like their booking number. The “Gift Finder” feature is also new to the site and helps users select the perfect present for a booked guest, ranging from special-occasion treats, flowers, stateroom celebratory decorations, and themed gift packages. Some of the most popular gifts include cakes, festive cabin décor, cooler packages, and high seas gift sets, which are delivered to guests once they board the ship.

Along with the launch of the site, the company introduced Carnival “Cruise Cash,” which provides an immediate credit to a guest’s Sail & Sign account (commonly known as onboard credit); they can use this to pay for bar tabs, photos, shore excursions, spa treatments, or any other expenses accrued during their voyage.

Most items can be purchased for delivery up to two days before disembarkation, for those last-minute mid-cruise surprise gifts. Take a look at “The Fun Shops” for yourself at Carnival.com/FunShops. Hint: liquor prices are far above “duty-free” rates per bottle, but pricing for wines is reasonable.

Image Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines

A Blooper of Epic Proportion

A regular visitor to Nassau,
Norwegian Epic was denied a 
berth due to a port error.

When cruise ships have to cancel a port call at the last minute the cause is usually weather related; however, in the case of Norwegian Epic’s recent aborted call at Nassau it was a simple case of oops. It seems that someone responsible for assigning berths in the Bahamian port made a costly mistake. The port scheduled too many cruise calls on February 23rd and had to cancel a ship—in this case Norwegian Epic, its largest regular visitor during the winter Caribbean season with 4,100 passengers on board.

While passengers were surely unhappy about missing a port, local businesses were even more outraged. A local newspaper The Tribune reported that Atlantis Resort, which expected several hundred Norwegian Epic passengers to spend the day there on an excursion, lost an estimated $100,000 due to the error. Business owners downtown were steamed as well. One vendor told the newspaper, “This is one of the biggest cruise ships in the world. How can they just allow it to be turned away? Whatever boat replaced it could not have been as big and could not have brought as many tourists to town. How do you overbook a cruise ship anyway?” Good question. But it’s one to which officials in charge will only say, “it won’t happen again.”

Entertainment staff and crewmembers aboard Norwegian Epic were probably just as upset as the merchants in Nassau. As the ship spent the day at sea instead of in port, many of them had to scramble to plan activities for passengers and continue to work on board instead of spending a day off ashore.

Image Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Carnival Dream’s Port Canaveral Itineraries Expanded

Here’s some good news for Floridians or anyone who prefers to drive to Florida for a cruise—the road trip part of our journey just got a bit shorter. Carnival Cruise Lines has expanded Carnival Dream’s year-round schedule from Port Canaveral, Florida, which is more convenient for those of us in the drive-to market. New itineraries include never-before-offered eight-day Caribbean departures along with two new five-day options, and a one-of-a-kind four-port, seven-day eastern Caribbean itinerary. With these new options, Carnival Dream will offer six distinctly different five- to eight-day cruise programs from Port Canaveral—the widest variety of itinerary choices from this highly popular Central Florida homeport. Additionally, the expansion further bolsters the line’s position as the Caribbean cruise leader, operating approximately 1,250 voyages and carrying more than 3.6 million passengers within the region each year.

Carnival Dream’s two new eight-day schedules include a three-port Southern Caribbean itinerary with extended stops at the islands of Aruba, Curacao and Grand Turk, and an eastern Caribbean itinerary featuring visits to four tropical destinations: St. Maarten, Tortola, St. Thomas and Grand Turk. Seven southern Caribbean voyages will be offered, departing May 2 and 30, Aug. 23, Oct. 4, and Dec. 6, 2014, and Feb. 7 and March 7, 2015, while six eastern Caribbean cruises depart May 17, Sept. 5, Oct. 17, and Dec. 19, 2014, and Feb. 20 and March 20, 2015.

The two new five-day departures mark the first time that Carnival has offered short-cruise itineraries on a Dream-class ship. One five-day program features the popular ports of Key West, Nassau and Freeport departing May 25 and Oct. 12, 2014, and March 15, 2015, while the other offers day-long visits to Nassau and Grand Turk departing Aug. 31 and Dec. 14, 2014, and Feb. 15, 2015.

The line has also created a new four-port, seven-day eastern Caribbean itinerary—unique to Port Canaveral—that includes stops at Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas and Nassau. These attractive week-long cruises are being offered roughly once a month and complement Carnival Dream’s existing seven-day western Caribbean cruises calling at Cozumel, Belize, Mahogany Bay, and Costa Maya that sail throughout the year.

The 3,646-passenger, 130,000-ton Carnival Dream launched year-round Caribbean service from Port Canaveral in 2009, ushering in a number of innovations for the line. These include a half-mile wraparound outdoor promenade called The Lanai, along with Ocean Plaza, a stunning indoor/outdoor café and entertainment venue, and Carnival WaterWorks featuring a 303-foot-long Twister water slide and other splash-tastic features. The ship also features a wide variety of accommodation choices, including more than 1,000 balcony and ocean view staterooms – perfect for viewing the spectacular Caribbean scenery, as well as two-bath, five-berth staterooms that hold particular appeal with families. Expansive children’s facilities, along with a Serenity adults-only retreat and a 23,750-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa, are also offered.

Even if you aren’t driving to port, these are some pretty terrific itineraries to choose from!

Image Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines

Tony Tillman is Princess Cruises’ Entertainer of the Year

Cruise Director Lisa Ball presents Tony Tillman
with the 2012 Entertainer of the Year award

Four finalists vying for Princess Cruises’ Entertainer of the Year performed aboard Crown Princess during the February 9-16 sailing, the passengers cast their votes, and the winner was Tony Tillman, a singer and dynamic entertainer often compared to Sammy Davis, Jr. or Ben Vereen. A star of “The Rat Pack is Back” tribute show in Las Vegas, Tillman’s fast-paced and energetic style won over the Crown Princess audiences.

Crown Princess passengers attended live performances from each finalist—along with Tillman the finalists included comedy and dance duo Alfredo and Seymour, comedian Sarge, and mentalist Wayne Hoffman—and their vote chose the winner. Tillman was announced as the line’s “2012 Entertainer of the Year” on the final night of the cruise at a celebratory event in Princess’ signature venue, The Piazza and received a cash prize of $5,000 along with the title.

“Congratulations to Tony Tillman for being chosen as our second annual Entertainer of the Year,” said Martin Hall, vice president of entertainment. “All of the talented finalists thoroughly entertained Crown Princess passengers, and they each represented the caliber of guest performers on Princess ships.”

Image Courtesy of Princess Cruises