Get Ready California, You Have Some (Carnival) Splendor On The Horizon

The new 3,006-passenger Carnival Splendor has rounded Cape Horn in South America on its way to a permanent homeport in Long Beach, California, from where it will operate year-round 7-day Mexican Rivera cruises beginning April 5th. Too large to fit through the Panama Canal, the 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor is currently on a series of South America voyages that are serving to position the vessel for its new California-based program where it will earn bragging rights as the largest “Fun Ship” ever deployed on the West Coast.

Representing a new class of ship, Carnival Splendor offers a host of innovations, highlighted by a 21,000-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa–the line’s largest–featuring a thalassotherapy pool, elaborate thermal suite and 17 VIP treatment rooms. Adjacent to the facility are 68 spa staterooms and suites–a first for Carnival. Other features include a 5,500-square-foot children’s play area–the largest in the “Fun Ship” fleet–a water spray park and a sliding sky dome over the mid-ship pool which also houses a massive LED screen displaying movies, concerts and other programming.

Cruise Diva's new ship preview offers a first-hand look at Carnival Splendor during her inaugural season.

Photo: Carnival Splendor rounding Cape Horn, courtesy Carnival Cruise Lines

Bad Economy or Not, Fort Lauderdale Says 'No Thanks' to Spring Break

As Fort Lauderdale's cruise business continues to grow, with Port Everglades anticipating 2.14 million cruisers this year and Royal Caribbean's 5,400-passenger Oasis, MSC Cruises' Orchestra, Carnival's Carnival Freedom and Princess Cruises' Tahitian Princess all making first-time sailings from the port, Nicki Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, anticipates questions of welcoming spring breakers back to the destination whenever she meets with local hospitality industry colleagues. To her pleasure, the collective answer continues to be a steadfast "no."

For more than 20 years, this former South Florida student getaway has hung a philosophical "No Vacancy" sign for the wild and rowdy college crowd and a welcome mat for couples, families, friends on a getaway, international visitors and convention delegates.

"Returning to spring break as a quick tourism fix in a tough economy," said Grossman, who has been at the helm of Broward County's tourism marketing organization since 1995, "is clearly not the answer. Our decision to end spring break in 1986 has driven visitor growth from one half million annually to 10.8 million visitors in 2008. It has allowed us to attract a significant investment in hotel, retail, and restaurant development and build a first-class airport and convention center. And, a very small part of the visitor mix is about 15,000 students who visit each year in the springtime to enjoy our beaches."

That's good news for cruise passengers planning pre- and post-cruise stays in the Fort Lauderdale area who won't have to compete with rowdy college students for hotel rooms or put up with their antics.

What about spring breakers who want to take a cruise? Young adults need to know that For Cruise Travel, Age Matters.

New Pre- and Post-Cruise Options for Port Canaveral Cruisers

Planning to extend a cruise out of Port Canaveral, Florida with a pre- or post-cruise land stay?

Georgina Cruz introduces two New, Fantasy-filled Lodging Options that will be available this year at Walt Disney World in Orlando. One is rustic; the other ultra-modern, and both Disney Vacation Club time-share properties are available for rental to non-member vacationers.

Check out the Saratoga Springs Treehouse Villas, which accommodate up to nine persons each (pictured here), and feel like a kid again!

Featured Cruise Review: Ruby Princess

What could be more fitting than celebrating your 40th (ruby) wedding anniversary during a cruise aboard Princess Cruises' sparkling new Ruby Princess?

That's just what veteran cruisers Vincent and Mary Finelli did last month. Happily, they've shared their special Ruby Princess Cruise Review with CruiseDiva.com readers.

Casa de Campo Welcomes Cruisers

As part of his stand-up routine during a cruise that included a port call in La Romana, Dominican Republic, a comedian once quipped that Casa de Campo is Spanish for “stay on the ship.” It might have seemed funny, or even ironic, to passengers unfamiliar with the destination, but his joke could be the worst “advice” ever offered.

While La Romana isn’t a typical cruise ship port in the sense that San Juan or Nassau are, it’s well worth including on your bucket list of places to see.

For as long as cruise ships have called at La Romana, shore excursions have included outings that allow passengers to get an inside glimpse of the exclusive Casa de Campo resort—horseback riding in the Casa de Campo equestrian center and Chavon River kayaking with a brief tour of the grounds are typical excursions, although your ship might also offer the opportunity to play golf at the famous “Teeth of the Dog” course in the resort.

Security at Casa de Campo is the tightest I’ve ever seen and, in fact, I was turned away at the gate a few years ago. However, I was invited to tour the resort a couple weeks ago while on a cruise aboard Costa Fortuna, including visits to the marina and yacht club, the Altos de Chavon 16th century replica of a Mediterranean village, and lunch at Minitas Beach. My host mentioned an option for cruise ship passengers that isn’t well know and that I’d like to share.

For $75 per person, you can purchase a 9am to 6pm day pass to the beach that includes lunch, beach towels, and a bottled water or coke. You must make a reservation ahead of time, take a taxi from the pier, and purchase your ticket from the hotel concierge when you arrive. You will also have access to Altos de Chavon during the day.

For more information and to contact the resort, enter paradise at the Casa de Campo website.

Costa Cruises Introduces “Buon Appetito” Culinary Contest

Have you sailed on a Costa cruise? Then you realize that, from a delicious pasta dish with flavors reminiscent of a visit to a Roman trattoria, to fresh seafood that brings to mind a leisurely lunch in Portofino, dining onboard a Costa cruise transports the taste of Italy to sea wherever they sail. To celebrate Costa’s grand tradition of Italian cuisine, along with the high praise bestowed on it from numerous past guests, Europe’s Number One Cruise Line is unrolling a new “Buon Appetito” culinary contest for past guests to submit their favorite Costa dining experience.

Between Feb 17 and April 17, 2009, guests who have sailed with Costa may enter the “Buon Appetito” culinary contest by visiting www.costacruises.com and submitting an entry detailing their favorite Costa dining experience or dish in 300 words or less. One winner will be selected by a Costa panel based on creativity and style. The winning entry will win a cruise aboard the new Costa Pacifica, complete with a complimentary dinner for two in the ship’s specialty restaurant, the Club Blue Moon. The restaurant features menus prepared by award-winning Italian chef Ettore Bocchia, heralded for his Michelin-starred cuisine at the Grand Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio, Italy.

“With so many of our guests telling us how much they enjoy the Italian cuisine aboard our ships, we decided to celebrate their enthusiasm with this special “Buon Appetito” culinary contest,” said Maurice Zarmati, president and ceo of Costa Cruise Lines—North America. “While we offer other types of dishes onboard as well, it’s the special brand of magic in our Italian dishes that really moves guests to rave about our cuisine.”

With more than 50 different recipes created each day using 3,500 ingredients, it’s no wonder guests love dining Italian-style aboard Costa’s fleet of 12 ships—soon to be 14 when the Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica come into service in May and June respectively. From homemade pastas and sauces to freshly made pizzas and other specialty dishes, Costa brings its Italian heritage for mangia bene to its guests around the world.

Entries for the “Buon Appetito” culinary contest must be submitted via www.costacruises.com by April 17, 2009. A winner will be selected on or around May 17, 2009 and be notified via mail. The prize is cruise only and the winner is responsible for air, non-commissionable fees and government taxes. Certain restrictions apply.

MSC Cruises & Nintendo Embark on New Era in Onboard Entertainment

MSC Cruises, the fastest-growing cruise company with the most modern fleet on the seas, has teamed up with gaming leader Nintendo to bring cutting-edge interactive play to its world-class entertainment programs and facilities. The new partnership can already be seen in the line's flagship MSC Fantasia, christened by Sophia Loren on Dec. 19, 2008. The largest ship to be commissioned by a European ship owner, MSC Fantasia is equipped with 114 Wii consoles, including 9 Wii Sport consoles in the Sport Bar, 4 Wii fit stations with balance board in the Fitness Center, a competition console on the Sport Deck, and a further console in the main pool area that’s connected to a massive 23 ft x 9 ft screen for public competitions and activities. Other consoles form part of the sumptuous fittings in the elegant suites of MSC Fantasia’s exclusive MSC Yacht Club complex. And, of course, guests can buy their own Wii console and accessories in the Tax & Duty Free shops.

MSC Cruises’ uncompromising dedication to its guests is nowhere more evident than the unrivalled entertainment programs and facilities offered on board MSC Fantasia, with its interactive 4D cinema, state-of-the-art 1,603-seat theater, 18 themed bars, futuristic Liquid Disco and Casino delle Palme with more than 1,000 square feet of casino gaming. The sports amenities are equally extensive, with tennis, squash and basketball courts, shuffleboard, a jogging track and four swimming pools, including the amazing Acqua Park with its 150 fountains which provide endless fun during the day and an astonishing spectacle when lit up to music at night. The MSC Aurea Spa wellness and spa center with solarium completes the picture, for total relaxation after every exertion.

It was only natural for a leading innovator like MSC Cruises to partner with Nintendo, the leader in interactive gaming innovation. Whereas others have responded to videogame demand with increasing and some would say excessive complexity, Nintendo has totally re-thought the experience, adding a physical dimension that takes player involvement to completely new levels. But MSC Cruises was also attracted to Nintendo and the Wii because it provides so much in addition to gaming, offering passengers full access to Wii Channels for surfing the net, editing photos, catching up on the news or weather forecasts, and much, much more.

MSC Cruises, the world’s leading private cruise company with offices in 36 countries, and Nintendo, which has sold 2.4 billion video games and over 420 million consoles, plan to consolidate their partnership by organizing special events, games and tournaments for video game fans worldwide. For more information, visit the MSC Cruises website.

Costa Fortuna: That’s Amore

If there’s a translation from Italian to English for Costa Fortuna, surely it’s “happy ship.” From the top down, Costa Fortuna is surely one of the happiest ships I’ve had the pleasure to cruise aboard.

What exactly makes a ship happy? That’s hard to pin down, but it has a lot to do with attitude. Captain Claudio De Fenza runs a tight ship, yet is a visible and—more importantly—hospitable master. When our paths crossed, he often appeared to be in a hurry, but not so much of a hurry that he couldn’t stop and exchange a few words and a handshake with passengers.

That courteous attitude is infectious and we could see it in the service provided throughout Costa Fortuna. Tables were cleared promptly in the lido area, both inside and out. Bar servers always were at hand when we were thirsty. Pursers behind the Reception Desk remained undaunted when faced with requests in a variety of languages. We wondered if our room steward ever slept as he cheerfully provided extra towels and ice upon request. And we can’t overlook the efforts of the dining room waiters and their assistants. Not only could they efficiently take care of meal service, but their singing and dancing on the night of Festa Italiana drew thunderous applause.

Some of the hardest working people onboard were the social staff—their energy drew us into activities we’d never considered taking part in before.

Then there are those behind-the-scenes crewmembers and officers whose efforts are seldom visible, but who make all the difference. We salute them all for the Love, Laughter, and La Dolce Vita we found aboard Costa Fortuna.

For a closer look at Costa Fortuna, including a link to the photo tour, visit CruiseDiva.com.

Costa Fortuna: Entertaining In So Many Ways

Italian-style cruising on Costa Fortuna began with a buon viaggio celebration was and topped off by Costa Cruise Line's signature Caribbean activity, the Roman Bacchanal. Costa Fortuna's supercharged social staff worked overtime to get everyone in the mood and encouraged everyone to be a part of the action. Just watching them begin their sentences in Italian and end them in English (or Spanish, French, or German) could be exhausting. I wish I could keep up their lively pace.

Activities aboard Costa Fortuna included some of Italy's favorite pastimes, such as playing games of bocce, dancing the Tarantella, tossing pizza dough, and making Venetian-style masks during the Festa Italiana, an Italian street festival at sea. Other nights were filled with festivities as well. A welcome-aboard celebration, hosted by Captain Claudio De Fenza on the first formal night culminated with a huge birthday cake to commemorate Costa’s 50 years of sailing in the Caribbean. Notte Tropical, a tropical deck party with a Mediterranean twist concluded with the presentation of an alfresco midnight buffet. Unfortunately, tropical rain moved our deck party from the main lido to the smaller, covered pool, but didn’t dampen passenger spirits. And during the Roman Bacchanal about half of our fellow passengers donned bed sheets for a rollicking toga party featuring Julius Caesar and gladiator games.

There was also a nod to the traditional cruise ship entertainment. Pool games, trivia, bingo, and sophisticated production shows blended nicely with classical concerts in lounges where a wide range of musical styles invited dancing or listening. My favorite show by far was headlined by John Ciotta (pictured above) performing beloved Italian songs and those made popular by Italian-American artists such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

Dancing certainly wasn’t confined to the pros on the main stage. It was a delight to see passengers take to one of the largest dance floors at sea in the Conte di Savoia Grand Bar and move to the beat of Latin, rock and roll, and Italian favorites. Ballroom dancing pairs were as charming to watch on Costa Fortuna as they are on television. The number of passengers dancing poolside—every day—was truly remarkable, particularly when the music was Italian or Greek favorites. Thunderous applause greeted the musicians at the end of nearly every number.

Italian language, arts and crafts, dance lessons, and cooking classes were extremely popular and well attended during our cruise. On Valentine’s Day, the arts and crafts project was painting special picture frames for their loved ones.

So, you want to know if Cruise Diva wore a toga to the Roman Bacchanal? You had to be there to know.

For a look at Costa Fortuna, including a link to the photo tour, visit CruiseDiva.com. Tomorrow I’ll share another installment from our Feb 8th cruise here on the blog.

Costa, Rhymes With Pasta

There’s nothing I love better than Italian food and a plate of pasta from Costa Fortuna’s Cristoforo Colombo buffet restaurant at lunch satisfied my hunger pains for hours … that is, until dinner when I seldom passed up the pasta course in the formal Restaurant Raffaello. I’ll even admit that one evening we decided to forgo the more formal atmosphere of the Restaurant Raffaello and dined casually in the buffet. Being a buffet, naturally there were other items to choose from, including a carving station, but I headed straight for the just-cooked pasta station.

Seriously, there was (pardon the pun) a buffet of pastas offered during our Costa Fortuna cruise last week and I attempted to try them all. Of course there was spaghetti, but also penne, fusilli, ravioli, and gnocchi. Sauces ranged from familiar tomato-based, either plain or with meat, eggplant, and even swordfish added, to creamy Alfredo and even a tasty Genovese pesto that any Italian cook would be proud to serve. Sadly, I had to pass on the manicotti because it was stuffed with a cheese mixture including spinach. Darn my allergy to spinach!

To make up for that disappointment, I had an extra slice of pizza. As a former-Chicagoan, I like my pizza prepared in a cast iron pan with a nice thick crust and lots and lots of cheese. While Costa Fortuna’s pizza chefs prepared theirs with a thin crust, it was heaped with cheese and the crust was flaky with a flavor all its own.

I don’t mean to give the impression that you’ll have to subside on a diet of pasta and pizza on a Costa cruise. Indeed, one evening I ordered Osso Buco in the Restaurant Raffaello and, layered atop risotto, the fork-tender veal was heaven. On other nights, prime rib was served perfectly cooked and a lobster bisque had me swooning. Baked onboard, the breads were crusty and delizioso. Don’t even get me started on the tiramisu! I wanted seconds, but restrained myself.

Coffee lovers like me were pleased to find Lavazza coffees served not only in a specialty coffee bar as on many ships, but in all the bars on Costa Fortuna where espresso, cappuccino, “American” coffee, and chilled coffee drinks were available. While the complimentary coffee throughout the ship was above-average, the specialty coffee drinks were a squisito way to start the day. No wonder Costa Fortuna is a happy ship.

For a look at Costa Fortuna, including a link to the photo tour, visit CruiseDiva.com. Tomorrow I’ll share another installment from our Feb 8th cruise here on the blog.

Photo: Demostrating the art of Italian cooking aboard Costa Fortuna

Costa Fortuna: Settling In At Sea

We felt right at home as soon as we boarded Costa Fortuna, and small wonder—at 105,000 tons, the ship is basically a slightly smaller Euro-clone of parent company Carnival Cruise Lines' Conquest-class vessels and we've sailed on a number of them in the past. That made it a bit easier to navigate Costa Fortuna’s public rooms, although the size and mix of Costa Fortuna’s is slightly different. For instance, in the style favored by Europeans, the casino was made smaller to add room for the Conte Di Savoia Grand Bar that houses a suitably large dance floor.

More than 60% of Costa Fortuna's accommodations have an ocean view, and 60% of those also feature a private veranda, as did ours (pictured here). With a double-occupancy capacity of 2,720 passengers—maximum capacity 3,470—accommodations include Grand Suites, Suites, Mini-suites, Oceanview Staterooms with Veranda, Oceanview Staterooms with Windows or Portholes, and Inside Staterooms. Twenty-seven staterooms are equipped to meet the needs of handicapped travelers; numerous connecting Oceanview Staterooms are suitable for families.

At 185 square feet, our Oceanview Stateroom with Veranda on Deck 8 wasn’t the grandest on Costa Fortuna, but the location was primo. From our balcony we had a birds-eye view of the starboard bridge wing and could watch as Captain Claudio De Fenza directed docking maneuvers. We also overlooked the scene as one couple barely made it back to the ship in time. While no one wants to be left behind, they cut it very close.

But back to our stateroom interior—even though it was a 7-night cruise, we really appreciated all the storage space. The closets, drawers, and bathroom shelves could have held far more than we packed. We also appreciated a mini-bar fridge that really kept our beverages cold and a high-powered hair dryer at the dressing table/desk. While the layout was familiar to us, the décor is slightly bolder than on Costa’s Carnival cousins and the colors made the cabin cheerier. All-in-all, we found our quarters comfortable and homey.

When Costa Fortuna arrived in Port Everglades to begin her first Caribbean season in Nov 2007, we were on board to tour the ship and were assigned a suite for an overnight “slumber party” (sadly, we were docked all night). For a look at our plush digs, including the Costa Fortuna photo tour, visit CruiseDiva.com. Tomorrow I’ll share another installment from our Feb 8th cruise here on the blog.

Costa Fortuna: Embarkation Day in Port Everglades

Veteran cruisers know that embarkation day can be fraught with mini-perils. Long lines at security and check-in aren't uncommon during high-traffic arrival periods. It's always a challenge, especially at busy ports such as Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. That's where we boarded Costa Fortuna a week ago Sunday.

After dropping off our luggage at Terminal 21, I waited for my husband to return from parking the car and watched as the line to enter the building moved swiftly. By the time Mel joined me there was no line at all and the security process was painless. What would we find at the check-in counters, though? Were all the early arrivals lined up there?

What a surprise when we entered the vast—and nearly empty—main terminal area! Costa Cruise Lines has installed self-service kiosks for passenger check-in. Similar to those we are accustomed to in airports, agents were on hand to help us scan passports and credit cards into the machines. Upon completion of the process, paper boarding passes were automatically dispensed. Passengers who had a problem (for instance, those US citizens without passports) were directed to an adjacent area where they would be checked in manually.

With our paper passes and passports in hand, we were on the gangway in short order. From security to boarding took no more than fifteen minutes. And that was at 11:30am, usually a peak arrival time. We were impressed and understand that Costa plans to install similar kiosks in European embarkation ports as well.

Once aboard we settled in—luggage arrived in record time as well—and mentally prepared ourselves for the boat drill. Always a tedious process, we didn't look forward to it on a ship with an international passenger manifest that included people speaking English, Italian, French, German, and Spanish. That meant the instructions would be given in five languages and we expected it, not to mention the roll call, to take an interminable amount of time.

We couldn't have been more pleased to discover the boat drill was actually entertaining. Attendance was taken by crewmembers scanning our Costa keycard with a hand-held scanner and the young man demonstrating the proper way to wear a life jacket (five times!) was an engaging comic. Sure, the drill is serious stuff, but his pantomime was done with such a light touch that we were amused instead of bored as is often the case. His performance drew applause, something we'd never experienced during a boat drill. We were back in our cabin and ready for sailaway in what seemed like no time at all.

While I was unable to post entries from Costa Fortuna last week, this week's blog will be devoted to cruising Italian-style. For the Costa Fortuna preview from our visit onboard during her first Caribbean season, including a photo tour, visit CruiseDiva.com and watch the blog for more installments from our Feb 8th cruise.

Product Alert: Cruising Caddy

So, you're hanging out at the pool or going ashore and want to have a bottle of water, your cruise ship key card, daily program, port map, iPod, and a cell phone or small camera with you. What do you put them in? A tote bag would work, but then you'd be searching through it when you need that key card to re-board the ship or buy a drink at the pool bar when the water bottle is empty.

Cruise Diva has found an ideal mini-tote with compartments to keep everything organized and handy. It's the Cruising Caddy and it holds up to a 1.5 liter bottle of water and all your essentials. The pleated outside pocket with Velcro closure has a hidden pocket for added security and a second pocket with elastic is large enough for a small digital camera. As a bonus, there's a bottle "sleeve" to keep your water chilled and absorb condensation. The 54" strap is adjustable and a D-ring is handy for hanging it on your belt loop.

My Cruise Caddy is black, but you can get it in khaki and red as well. Available from the Cruising Caddy website, fine luggage and many AAA stores, the black bag is $24.99 and the red and khaki bags are on sale for $19.99.

This really is a nifty little bag as I found out during my Costa Fortuna cruise last week. With its rubberized lining, even the condensation from my ice-cold bottle of water didn't leak through and get my port shopping map wet!

Grand Turk Cruise Center Expects Record 500,000 Passengers in 2009

With 229 cruise ship calls scheduled for 2009, including nearly 89 from Carnival Cruise Lines’ vessels, the Grand Turk Cruise Center (GTCC) is on track for hosting a record 500,000 passengers in the coming year. The unprecedented half-million passenger mark is a 25 percent increase over 2008, during which the GTCC was closed for 30 days following Hurricane Ike.

A key reason for Grand Turk’s continued popularity is the wide array of organized excursion opportunities for visitors, from horseback riding and kayaking to world-class diving, snorkeling and fishing. For those guests who want to explore the island on their own, the new Grand Turk Grace Bay Car Rentals recently opened at the Grand Turk Cruise Center. With this new service, guests visiting Grand Turk will be able to discover the island’s numerous historical sites, gorgeous white-sand beaches, quaint Bermudian-influenced architecture and friendly locals at their own pace.

Five Carnival Cruise Lines’ “Fun Ships” currently call at Grand Turk – Carnival Destiny on 5-day cruises from Miami; Carnival Liberty on 7-day voyages from Miami; and Carnival Miracle on 8-day cruises from New York. Carnival Pride will also feature Grand Turk as part of its new 7-day schedule from Baltimore beginning April 27 – the first year-round program from that port. Grand Turk will also be featured on the Carnival Glory’s new 7-day program from Miami beginning Dec 3.

Cruise Travel: Romance At Sea

Ask six couples what the most romantic aspect of a cruise is and you are likely to get a dozen different responses. To some, it could be the freedom to relax and enjoy one another's company. Or maybe it's the joy of getting away from home, work, and responsibility for a few cherished days.

One thing is certainly true—many couples consider a cruise the most romantic vacation imaginable. Which cruise ships are the most desirable for romantics? Cruise Diva shares her picks for the Most Romantic Ships.

We also offer hints to enhance Romance at Sea and enjoy Princess Cruises' sumptuous Ultimate Balcony Dinner.

Happy Valentines Day!

Romantic Revelations From Princess Cruises

Are men more sentimental than we give them credit for? Surprisingly, men are more likely than women to value time together for Valentine's Day, according to a Valentine's Day survey conducted by Princess Cruises. And, contrary to conventional wisdom, men are actually more (not less) in touch with knowing which gifts their partners most want to receive.

The results of the national survey illustrate that at least one day each year men prove to be the more romantic of the sexes. Candy, time together/love or a card/note are men's most desired gifts, while time together/love ranked fifth on women's lists, and a card/note barely registered at all (coming in at a measly two percent). Women overwhelmingly preferred to receive jewelry or flowers.

Find out your partner's Valentine's Day Gift Desires at CruiseDiva.com. Pssst... hey guys, spend that time together wisely by taking us on a CRUISE!!!

Seabourn Unveils Its Biggest Season Yet

Spin the globe and stop it with your finger—chances are The Yachts of Seabourn travel where it lands. The ultra-luxury cruise line has unveiled new itineraries and exotic ports of call for 2010-2011. With two new Seabourn yachts and a host of new destinations, the line’s well-traveled guests can look forward to its most extensive and diverse year yet. Cruises during the 15-month period are now featured on the line’s website at Seabourn.com and are open for sale. A cruise catalogue will be published in April.

With its fleet of intimate, all-suite yachts, Seabourn is able to access less-traveled destinations that larger vessels can’t. With the addition of Seabourn Odyssey in June 2009 and Seabourn Sojourn in June 2010, the expanded fleet allows Seabourn to continue offering a full array of popular Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries, but also explore newer, more exotic ports of call, such as Palopo on Sulawesi; Zanzibar, Tanzania; and Antseranana, Madagascar. Starting in 2010-2011, Seabourn will operate year-round in Asia—a first for the fleet. As interest in travel to Asia continues to grow, Seabourn is offering many new itineraries as well as its first return to Indonesia in years. New Asian ports of call include Dalian, China; Busan and Inchon, Korea; Nagasaki and Kagoshima, Japan; and numerous Indonesian destinations, including Bali, Borneo, Komodo Island and the Karimoenjawa archipelago.

“One of the many benefits of our newbuilding program is the ability to add exotic, new itineraries in 2010 and 2011,” said Pamela C. Conover, president and CEO of Seabourn. “We are very excited about them and we think our guests will be too. We have never before offered such a wide range of destinations – from small-ship exclusives in the Caribbean and Mediterranean to more remote ports in Asia and Africa.”

Learn more about The Yachts of Seabourn at CruiseDiva.com.

Cruise Deal Alert

It's still "Wave Season" and cruise deals continue to arrive in our email box at a fast and furious pace. Cruise Diva thinks the following offers from NCL and MSC Cruises are particularly attractive for families.

Now is the time to book a summer Freestyle Cruising vacation on board any of Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) 11 ships with its extended Freestyle Resolution promotion. Families who book a cruise from now through March 15, 2009 on many of NCL’s sailings* can take their kids for as low as $99 each, and also receive up to $250 in on-board credit** to be used on everything from shore excursions and specialty dinners to spa treatments, the casino and more.

“This summer, NCL offers families a vacation of a lifetime to fantastic destinations like Alaska, Bermuda, Hawai’i, and Europe all at an affordable price,” said Kevin Sheehan, NCL’s president and CEO. “Family cruises on NCL have great activities for kids of all ages, from our expanded Kid’s Crew program allowing parents to take the night off for a romantic dinner, to the two-story Nintendo Wii, four-lane bowling, rock climbing wall, teen disco, and arcade, not to mention all the exciting shore excursions in each port of call – there’s no doubt kids will have as much fun as adults.”

Popular summer sailings include, a 7-day Sawyer Glacier cruise round-trip from Vancouver, British Columbia on Norwegian Sun with ports of call including Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway, Alaska, from $599 per person. Norwegian Spirit features a 7-day Bermuda cruise round-trip from Boston, from $599 per person; and Norwegian Gem features a 7-day Western Mediterranean sailing round-trip from Barcelona, Spain to Valletta, Malta; Naples, Rome and Florence, Italy; and Cannes, France; from $599 per person. Pride of America offers a 7-day inter-island Hawaii cruise departing from Honolulu and visiting Hilo and Kona, Hawaii; along with overnights in Kahului, Maui and Nawiliwili, Kaui from $999 per person.

Families sailing with NCL can also save while onboard with half price dinners for children three to 12 years old in its numerous specialty restaurants. In addition, families can purchase an unlimited soda package for kids 12 and under for $39.50 which includes a Kid’s Crew backpack, t-shirt, and baseball cap. For teens, the Teen Passport Program is just $34.50 and includes a booklet with 20 tickets for non-alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic smoothies; and admission to an afternoon dance party with DJ, pizza and unlimited soft drinks.

With NCL’s new Groups 2.0 program, families looking to host reunions onboard can save even more. When booking eight or more staterooms via a travel partner, amenities offered range from the ability to make advance Freestyle Dining reservations in any restaurant prior to sailing, to a group cocktail party, on-board credits which can be used throughout the ship, and Freestyle Bowling in the Bliss Ultra Lounge, amongst others.

To book a sailing, contact a travel professional or NCL at 866-234-0292. Further information can be found online at NCL.com.

* One and 2-day sailings are excluded from NCL’s Freestyle Resolution promotion.
** The amount of the on-board credit varies depending on the length of cruise* and category of stateroom booked. For example, on sailings of six days or longer, the on-board credit ranges from $25 for an inside stateroom; up to $75 for a balcony, $150 for a suite or villa and $250 for a garden villa. For three to five day sailings, the on-board credit ranges from $15 for an inside stateroom up to $75 for a suite/villa.

MSC Cruises is offering special bonus upgrades of up to seven stateroom categories on select 10-night Caribbean sailings on MSC Lirica. Cruise-only rates begin at $699 on MSC Lirica’s 10-night Deep Caribbean itineraries sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale on March 4 and March 24. Rates begin at $799 on the 10-night Caribbean Featuring Panama itinerary that departs Fort Lauderdale on March 14. All rates quoted are per person, double occupancy; government fees and taxes are additional.

Guests who book by Feb. 28 and pay at the time of booking are eligible for an up to seven-category upgrade (depending on availability), resulting in an upgrade from an inside to an outside stateroom. Also, guests who book a Category 8 balcony stateroom are eligible for an upgrade to a suite.

The Deep Caribbean itineraries take guests to San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Port Castries, St. Lucia; St. John’s, Antigua; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic. Guests also have three days at sea to enjoy the Italian ambiance and many activities available onboard MSC Lirica. On the Caribbean Featuring Panama sailing, the ship calls at Costa Maya, Mexico; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Cristobal, Panama; Cartagena, Colombia; and Cayo Levantado, and has two sea days. Both itineraries include calls at the line’s private paradise experience at Cayo Levantado. For more information about MSC Cruises, visit their website or a local travel professional.

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Regent Seven Seas Mariner: A New Look For An "Old" Favorite

While you could hardly consider a ship launched in 2001 "old," Regent Seven Seas Cruises' Seven Seas Mariner has recently undergone a makeover and Cruise Diva shares first-hand impressions from her recent cruise.

Welcome aboard as I explore accommodations, dining options, places to relax, places to play, and even take you to the galley and navigational bridge the world's first all-suite, all-balcony ship.

Deal Alert: Tahiti & the South Pacific Aboard Paul Gauguin

"I don't want to go to heaven when I die. I want to go to Tahiti!" That was my husband's wish over twenty-five years ago and it came true when we cruised through the clear, tranquil waters of Tahiti.

French Polynesia is made up of several series of islands, atolls, and archipelagoes, independently surrounded by lagoons and barrier reefs that create unique eco-systems and divine respites for the traveler weary of the usual getaway.

And now you can enjoy the heavenly delights of Tahiti at an unbeatable value. Book by April 30th, 2009 and experience it this summer aboard the award-winning Paul Gauguin at a savings of up to 71% off cruise-only fares. In addition, a third guest sails free on these voyages when booked by April 30th, 2009. Air add-ons are available from select gateways, including Los Angeles.

Space is limited, so call your Travel Professional or Regent Seven Seas Cruises at 866-325-3968.