Cruise News Of The Week

Cruise Diva is pleased to share news from the cruise industry for the week ended April 2, 2011, brought to you courtesy of Cruise News Daily.



Links mentioned in the video can be found on CruiseNewsDaily.com.

Windstar Cruises Bankrupt, But Still Sailing

In a not too unexpected move after trading in its stock was suspended by NASDAQ last Friday, Ambassadors International, Inc, owner of Windstar Cruises, announced that it has voluntarily filed petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. It has also entered into an agreement with a private investment firm, Whippoorwill Associates, Inc,  as agent for its discretionary funds and accounts. Under the terms of the agreement, Ambassadors proposes to sell substantially all of its assets, including its principal operating unit, Windstar Cruises, through a court-supervised sale process.

Ambassadors and Windstar intend to continue normal business operations during the sale process, which is proposed to be completed in approximately 45 days. Windstar also plans, subject to court approval, to continue to:

-- Operate all Windstar cruises as scheduled;
-- Maintain all of Windstar's customer programs and policies;
-- Honor all Windstar fares and reservations, including charter contracts;
-- Provide commissions and payments to its travel partners as usual and employee wages and benefits without interruption; and
-- Pay all Windstar vendors and suppliers for goods and services received both before and during the reorganization process in connection with the sale.

Whippoorwill, with over $1 billion under management, intends to maintain Windstar's business and operations and invest in Windstar's growth following completion of the anticipated sale.

Winners in this situation? Hopefully, booked passengers, both present and future.

Losers? It is expected that Ambassadors' stockholders and holders of Ambassadors' convertible notes will not receive any distribution following the sale and these securities will likely have little, if any, value following the Chapter 11 proceeding.

Crystal's Spring-Summer "You Care, We Care" Focuses On Kids & Conservation

For cruise travelers who want to make their vacation a more memorable experience, as part of its gratifying new "You Care, We Care" program, Crystal Cruises announces seven more spring-summer voluntourism excursions focusing on both conservation and helping disadvantaged children. Most outings include immersive education about the cultures visited ranging from urban farming lessons in Cartagena, Colombia to Maori traditions in New Zealand.

Scheduled in conjunction with voyages through Africa, Hawaii, Alaska, and the Pacific Coast aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity sailings, the complimentary shore excursions offer hands-on opportunities for guests and crew to aid communities-in-need, including:

-- Langa Township, South Africa (4/18): Assisting orphans with homework at the Siyamphambili Orphanage;
-- Astoria, Oregon (4/14 & 4/20): Working with the Friends of Ft. Stevens to improve a former Civil War fort-turned-state park;
-- Makapu-u Beach, Hawaii (5/1): Removing invasive weeds that threaten the less than 2% of original coastal plant ecosystems left on Oahu;
-- Sitka, Alaska (5/14-8/18): Supporting the operation/maintenance of the salmon hatchery and/or marine-life exhibits at the Sitka Sound Science Center; and
-- Dublin, Ireland (7/29): Helping troubled youth from St. Joseph's Youth Club with facility upkeep, activity planning, and/or simply playing a game of snooker.

"Whether from the hugs from village children or the tears from grateful adults, our volunteers always leave these places moved by the experience," says John Stoll, vice president, land and port operations. "These trips are changing lives, on both sides of the spectrum."

This year, "You Care, We Care" volunteers have bonded with young burn victims over arts and crafts, card games, and a musical "jam session" at Lima, Peru's ANQUIEM Burn Rehabilitation Center; planted trees to restore native forests at the Hakikino Conservation Reserve in Napier, New Zealand; and helped with building restoration, garden revitalization, and/or recreational activities while brightening the lives of children at orphanages and villages in Lautoka, Fiji ; Rio, Brazil ; Marigot Bay, St. Martin ; and Colombo, Sri Lanka. Voluntourism excursions for the remainder of 2011 itineraries are in development.

A cornerstone of Crystal Cruises' culture is its genuine hospitality and service that has been internationally celebrated for two decades. This spirit of generosity extends to its respectful treatment of the environment, oceans and communities in which it travels. For more information, visit CrystalCruises.com.

Carnival Valor to Operate 6- & 8-Day Cruises from Miami in 2012

Building upon its distinction as the leader in Caribbean cruising, Carnival Cruise Lines will introduce a series of 6- and 8-day voyages from Miami aboard the 2,974-passenger Carnival Valor operating mid-Jan through Oct 2012. Carnival Valor’s 6- and 8-day departures provide consumers with new itineraries featuring unique combinations of Caribbean destinations and opportunities to visit islands that are typically not featured on longer length cruises from Florida.

Six-day cruises depart on Sunday and return the following Saturday, while the 8-day cruises depart on Saturday and return the following Sunday. All itineraries allow vacationers to cruise in one week, an advantage for those with limited time.

• Western Caribbean 6-day cruises will call at Key West, Grand Cayman & Ocho Rios, departing once every two weeks beginning Jan. 15, 2012. 

Three different four-port, 8-day cruise itineraries will be offered on a rotating basis from Jan. 21 through Oct. 27, 2012. The itineraries include:

• Eastern/Western Caribbean cruises calling at Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, Grand Turk & Nassau
• Eastern Caribbean cruises featuring stops at St. Thomas, Antigua, Tortola & Nassau
• Eastern/Southern Caribbean cruises to Grand Turk, La Romana (Dominican Republic), Curacao & Aruba

Between now and Dec 2011, Carnival Valor will continue to operate its 7-day voyages which depart Sundays from Miami, alternating to the eastern and western Caribbean.

Carnival Valor is one of 19 Carnival Cruise Lines’ ships that call at Caribbean destinations on a year-round or seasonal basis. Carnival carries over 3.3 million guests on Caribbean cruises annually, the most of any cruise operator. The line will expand its Caribbean offerings in November when the new Carnival Magic launches 7-day eastern and western Caribbean cruises from Galveston, becoming the port’s largest year-round ship.

New “Legends” Set To Rock Norwegian Epic In Europe

To keep the Legends In Concert shows aboard Norwegian Epic fresh and exciting, Norwegian Cruise Line regularly changes up the trio of legendary performers they feature. With the ship's first season in Europe coming up, NCL has announced that three new Legends in Concert tribute artists will make their debut on Norwegian Epic’s May 18, 2011 Western Mediterranean sailing from Barcelona, Spain. The three Legends, representing some of the world's most famous entertainers–Whitney Houston, Elton John, and Shakira, will perform on board through Nov 5, 2011.
A staple on the Las Vegas' center strip for over 25 years, Legends in Concert is known as the pioneer of live tribute shows and has assembled the greatest collection of live tribute artists and celebrity look-alikes in show business. Legends in Concert on Norwegian Epic features three celebrity tribute performers taking the stage in the Epic Theater for six 45-minute shows over three days during a 7-day cruise. In addition, a Legends “Unplugged” show is performed on three additional nights in the Manhattan Room, the ship's New York-inspired supper club, providing an unprecedented dining and entertainment experience. Past tribute performers on board Norwegian Epic have included Madonna, Elvis, Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Aretha Franklin, Neil Diamond, and Janet Jackson.
"Legends in Concert has been one of the most popular and memorable shows aboard Norwegian Epic because the performers are so dynamic and authentic,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's chief executive officer.
Jazmine Hyytia, a native of Long Island, New York, portrays Whitney Houston and draws her musical inspiration from her Cuban heritage while speaking and singing in both English and Spanish. Hyytia started her musical career on the European music scene.
Paying tribute to the “Rocket Man,” Stephen Sorrentino embodies Elton John, the bespectacled Englishman known for his international musical hits, along with his outlandish attire. A New Yorker, Sorrentino has trained at the Metropolitan Opera and later studied comedy with The Second City in Chicago.
Ines Zak, a native of Mexico, who will portray Shakira, has been a singer and an entertainer all her life. In Mexico, she performed on radio and television and as the opening act for Mexican legends such as La Prieta Linda and La Sonora Santanera.
“The entertainers appearing on Norwegian Epic for the European summer itineraries were specifically selected because of their international appeal and diverse musical styles,” said Brian Brigner, chief operating officer for "Legends" producer, On Stage Entertainment. “They are three of the highest quality tribute acts in the world, and they will be joined by the always electrifying Legends singers and dancers, and a rockin’ live band.”
Norwegian Epic sails 7-day Western Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona, Spain from May 22 through Oct 23, 2011 calling on Florence/Pisa (Livorno); Rome (Civitavecchia); and Naples, Italy; and Palma, Majorca, Spain. To learn more about Norwegian Epic’s cruises, visit NCL.com.

Cruise News: Informative & Engaging

There's more than one way to get your cruise news these days and our friend Alan Wilson at Cruise News Daily has come up with an inventive and entertaining delivery method on CND's Cruiseblogger. We're sure Cruise Diva readers will enjoy the following video as much as we did and will look forward to more. Be sure to catch its humorous ending. You won't be disappointed.

For more than a decade Cruise News Daily has been providing daily news, features, and commentary about the cruise industry to consumers and cruise line executives. CND's Cruiseblogger supplements their daily e-mail newsletter with thoughts on other news coverage and industry items.
Yesterday's heartwarming blog story—"The Little Girl with Cancer Who Just Wanted See a Cruise Ship"—is a must-read.

The Fifth Annual Cayamo Cruise Is Set To Sail In 2012

Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, John Prine and many more artists will headline the fifth annual CAYAMO cruise, sailing from Miami on Feb 5 through Feb 12, 2012 aboard Norwegian Pearl. Also featured in this one-of-a-kind floating folk music festival are Richard Thompson, Keb' Mo', Buddy Miller, Loudon Wainwright, Iris Dement, Greg Brown, and many more!

Cayamo is the only full-ship charter that attracts fans of folk, Americana, country, bluegrass, and any combination of those a musician can create. Other acts sailing include Shawn Mullins, James McMurtry, Chuck Cannon, Works Progress Administration, Aslyn, Enter the Haggis, the Ryan Montbleau Band, and more to be announced throughout the year. In addition to the best performers you'll find on the Caribbean, guests will enjoy the ports at Cayo Levantado, St. Maarten, and St. Barthelemy during the trip.

"The Cayamo community has become more than we ever dreamed since launching it in 2008," says Sixthman CEO Andy Levine. "Celebrating the fifth annual cruise is a milestone for us as well an opportunity to set the stage for one of kind collaborations between past Cayamo heroes and new artists joining the family."

This cruise is not only known for its breathtaking marquee shows—for instance, John Hiatt and Lyle Lovett will perform all of their main stage concerts together—but also for its spontaneous collaborations, intimate jam sessions, and other unexpected activities such as dance parties hosted by World Cafe's David Dye or a chance to catch a rare "Loud & Rich" performance. Last year one of the highlights was John Prine's duet with Brandi Carlile on "In Spite of Ourselves"—will he reprise that with his original partner Iris Dement in 2012? You'll have to sail with them to find out. Josh Jackson from Paste Magazine said, "A week aboard the Cayamo cruise may be the single coolest thing about my job."

Head over to Cayamo.com for details and to book a cabin.

Consideration, Courtesy & Civility: Mind Your Cruise Ship Manners

Of course it's your vacation and of course you deserve to have the best time ever on your long-awaited cruise. But do you really want it to be at the expense of others? When it comes to our fellow passengers, it sometimes seems that way.

Cruise ships, particularly the ones in the mega-ship size range, are cities at sea. Like any land-bound city, a cruise ship is inhabited by a diverse population. Passengers and crewmembers come from all corners of the globe and from varying cultural backgrounds. The thing most guests have in common is the desire to have a satisfying vacation—to explore new places, to relax and revitalize, to spend time with family and friends, or to just have some carefree fun.

It seems that some passengers get a bit carried away in terms of carefree and forget to pack one of life's little treasures—the good manners we practice at home and in our everyday lives.

Don't stand out in a bad way, get Cruise Diva's Guide to Good Cruising Manners

Silver Shadow Gets A Spirit-Inspired Makeover

Silversea Cruises' Silver Shadow returned to service on March 19th with a fresh new look after emerging from a two-week drydock in Singapore. As with the refurbishment of sister ship Silver Whisper last year, the enhancements Silver Shadow received echo the sophisticated contemporary design themes and warm color palettes of Silversea's newest ship, Silver Spirit.

Some of of Silver Shadow's makeover highlights include:

New Look for Suites: Carpets, headboards, curtains and veranda furniture were replaced and sofas and chairs feature new upholstery. Each suite has a new mattress custom-made exclusively for Silversea featuring an individual spring system with a soft and firm side that can be reversed to suit each guest's preference. A new memory pillow top covers the mattress when configured as a queen-sized bed. Larger suites (Owner's, Grand, Royal and Silver) have also been outfitted and a new state-of-the-art Bang & Olufsen home audio system.

Refreshed Public Areas: La Terrazza, the Bar, Panorama Lounge, Reception area, Card Room, and Conference Room received new upholstery, carpeting, curtains and wall treatments. New carpet was laid in the Observation Lounge. The Spa features new wood flooring with new tiling and wall décor in treatment rooms. The Restaurant's hardwood floor was reconditioned and polished and the chairs dressed in new upholstery. An upgraded sound system was added to the Show Lounge, Panorama Lounge, and La Terrazza. New carpet was installed in all corridors, landings and staircases.

Upgraded Outdoor Spaces: All-new synthetic turf covers the jogging track and the pool area features new deck furniture, plus a new sound and light system for evening entertainment and outdoor shows. The pool itself has been upgraded inside and out with new tiles. A large awning was installed over the outdoor dining section of La Terrazza, along with new outdoor furniture. And the Pool Grill, also with a new awning, will become The Grill for evening dining featuring the popular new Black Rock cooking concept that debuted aboard Silver Spirit. At the new outdoor restaurant, guests enjoy an interactive dining experience that lets them cook prime meats and fresh seafood on heated volcanic rocks at their table.

In addition to enjoying a fresh reconditioning and polishing of teak decks and woodwork, the ship underwent thorough maintenance on mechanical and propulsion systems. For more information on Silversea Cruises, visit Silversea.com.

Carnival Magic Completes Successful Sea Trials in the Adriatic Sea

Shown here, the 130,000-ton Carnival Magic has recently conducted sea trials in the Adriatic Sea in preparation for its May 1 debut from Venice, Italy. Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, the 3,690-passenger vessel had a full contingent of officers, technicians and engineers on board who thoroughly tested the Carnival Magic’s navigation and mechanical systems. Following the successful completion of sea trials, Carnival Magic returned to Monfalcone, where it is undergoing final interior outfitting prior to its delivery late next month.

While sharing essentially the same layout as sister-ship Carnival Dream, Carnival Cruise Line’s newest “Fun Ship” Carnival Magic will introduce a host of new features, including the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub; Cucina del Capitano, a family-style Italian restaurant that brings Carnival’s Italian heritage to the table; and SportSquare, a top-deck recreation area featuring the cruise industry’s first ropes course and outdoor fitness area.

Set to debut in Europe Carnival Magic will sail a series of 7- to 12-day Mediterranean cruises operating May 1–Oct. 16, 2011. Following a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing, Carnival Magic will launch 7-day Caribbean service from Galveston, Texas, Nov. 14, 2011, becoming the port’s largest year-round cruise ship.

Carnival Cruise Lines Launches ‘Build a Ship’ Contest to Benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Get your craft papers, colored markers, and glue lined up and ready to put to use for a good cause. Kids and big kids at heart can put their artistic skills to the test and build a ship in their own homes to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. Carnival Cruise Lines is launching a “Build a Ship” contest that invites anyone 13 years or older to build a model Carnival ship out of everyday items and submit a photo of it to win a free Carnival cruise. The competition is the latest in a series of contests and other activities in anticipation of the May 1, 2011 launch of the line’s newest ship, Carnival Magic.

Participants are encouraged to use their imagination to create their own custom-designed Carnival cruise ship. Whether it’s soda cans, leftover scraps of wood or cardboard boxes, there are no limits on what household materials can be utilized. Once the ship model is complete, entrants are asked to snap a photo of their creation and upload it to CarnivalMagic.com/contest with a title and a brief description of the materials used to build it. Photos will be displayed in an online gallery on the Carnival Magic microsite. Submissions can be entered now through April 6, 2011, and the winner will be announced April 26, 2011.

The winner will be chosen by an online vote open to the public from a predetermined selection of five finalists and will receive a 7-day Carnival Magic Caribbean cruise for four from Galveston, Texas, in an ocean view stateroom. Details and contest rules can be found on Carnival Magic’s microsite (link above). Carnival will donate $1 to St. Jude, up to $10,000, for each entry and vote, as well as for each Facebook fan who “likes” the contest. Even if you aren’t creative, you can still make a difference by voting.

Carnival Magic is set to debut in Europe with a series of 7- to 12-day Mediterranean cruises operating May 1–Oct. 16, 2011. Following a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing, Carnival Magic will launch 7-day Caribbean service from Galveston, Texas, Nov. 14, 2011, becoming the port’s largest year-round cruise ship.

Crystal Cruises Steps Up to All Inclusive

We've always considered it ironic that several cruise lines included in the luxury category haven't measured up to the inclusiveness of others. It just seemed odd to be signing beverage chits and passing out gratuities on some luxury lines and not others.
However, one of the lesser inclusives, Crystal Cruises is enhancing its expansive host of services and amenities to include even more in your fare. Effective in spring 2012, cruise vacations on Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity will include complimentary fine wines and premium spirits throughout the ship, open bar service in all lounges, and pre-paid gratuities for housekeeping, bar and dining staff. The complimentary gratuity amenity also includes Penthouse butler service as well as service in all of Crystal's fine specialty restaurants and sushi bar. The new benefits begin with each ship's first Trans-Atlantic cruise next year: Crystal Symphony's "Beyond the Sea" sailing from Miami to Lisbon on March 19, 2012, and Crystal Serenity's "New World to Norway" voyage from New York to London on May 8, 2012.

"Our 'All Inclusive' is an evolution of Crystal's luxury services and responds to the desires of today's upscale cruise traveler," says Gregg Michel, president of Crystal Cruises. "As many lines throughout our industry have itemized their services for additional charges, Crystal is maximizing the guest experience by eliminating additional transactions, further enhancing the ease and luxury of a Crystal cruise. We believe this service will offer greater convenience, simplicity and comfort."

Crystal Cruises has added more and more complimentary amenities, services, workshops, and dining opportunities to its award-winning luxury cruise vacation experience each year since its inception. Always included at no additional cost are: all non-alcoholic beverages such as bottled water, specialty coffee drinks, soft drinks and fresh juices; all meals, including dining in specialty restaurants; high tea; ice cream and frozen yogurt bar; gym, steam, saunas and whirlpools; numerous fitness classes such as Spinning and group Pilates Reformer instruction; golf lessons with PGA pros; Walk-on-Water weighted vests and Nordic Pole walking equipment; Yamaha keyboard classes; Berlitz language classes; paddle tennis; computer/technology classes; art classes; Crystal Visions lecture series, featuring distinguished speakers; award-winning entertainment; in-stateroom movies and CDs; film screenings in the onboard cinema; dance lessons; dedicated junior cruiser facilities; early embarkation luncheon; welcome champagne; comfortable shuttles to town; pillow menus; self-service laundries; twice-daily housekeeping with nightly turndown service; and 24-hour room service. Penthouse accommodations also include personal butler service, pressing, stocked bar, and other amenities and services.

A complete list of 2012 Crystal itineraries, with fares, for all cruises is now posted on Crystal's website, CrystalCruises.com, and all cruises are now open for booking. Also included with all cruises is free round-trip air transportation from two dozen North American gateways (or a generous air credit), with airport/ship transfers included.

All guests enjoy Six-Star service from gracious European-trained wait staff, concierges who belong to the prestigious "Les Clefs d'Or," and sommeliers certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers. Crystal's passion for taking care of guests in an inviting environment of extraordinary space, quality and choices has earned the company more "World's Best" awards than any other cruise line, resort, or hotel in history. There's no word yet, but we predict that Crystal's "All Inclusive--As You Wish" onboard spending credit will disappear as the booze begins to flow. It may not be long after that the "free" air is gone with the wind as well.

MSC Cancels Middle Eastern Ports of Call

MSC is always putting the safety and security of its guests before all considerations and as a consequence of recent political developments in Tunisia, Egypt, and Barhain, the company announces all upcoming calls in these countries are canceled until the end of the 2011/2012 cruise season.

MSC guests will be offered alternative itineraries or exciting days at sea, having the opportunity to discover other ports-of-call and relax while making the most of the onboard amenities.

Holland America Line & National Park Service to Produce Glacier Bay Podcasts

You may remember in Cruise Diva's description of the art tour aboard Nieuw Amsterdam earlier this year that it was made all the more enjoyable because the narrative is loaded on an iPod® that can be borrowed from the librarian in the Explorations Cafe. The art tours have come a long way from when they were printed out on paper for passengers to read as they viewed the artworks. Stepping up the evolution of their onboard specialty tours, Holland America Line has joined forces with the U.S. National Park Service to produce a "Glacier Bay Ranger Podcast Anthology" that gives guests a unique glimpse into one of the largest protected wilderness areas in North America during their Alaska cruises. Narrators Paul Lasley and Elizabeth Harryman, radio personalities and hosts of Holland America Line's iPod® Art Tours, present a rare insider's view into this land of scenic and natural wonders. Each podcast includes in-depth interviews with Glacier Bay scientists, rangers, administrators and even an elder from the native Huna tribe.

"Holland America Line's enrichment program is one of the most important elements of our cruise experience, and this project enables us to offer our guests unprecedented access to the experts who know this region better than anyone," said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs, of Holland America Line. "We have been exploring the pristine waters of Glacier Bay for many years even before it was a national park, and with these in-depth podcasts our guests will develop a deeper appreciation of this beautiful area."

The one-of-a-kind auditory adventures offer inspiring insights about the early exploration of Glacier Bay, the spectacular glacial fjords, snow-capped mountain ranges and the region's marine and terrestrial wildlife. The 16 podcasts begin with a welcome message from Cherry Payne, former superintendent of Glacier Bay National Park, and Randy Thomas, a ranger naturalist, who guide listeners on how to get the most out of their Holland America Line Alaska Glacier Bay cruise experience.

"Through these podcasts, our ranger naturalists and experts will take Holland America Line guests on a journey to the last ice age, where they can discover a breathtaking land that continues to attract thousands of visitors each year," said Tom VandenBerg, supervisory park ranger and the podcast project coordinator from Glacier Bay National Park. "This diverse area is so impressive and extensive that listeners will learn something new in every podcast."

The "Glacier Bay Ranger Podcast Anthology" joins Holland America Line's exclusive iPod® Art Tours, a self-guided walking tour of each ship's extensive art collection, that also are available for download. Listeners can download all 16 of the "Glacier Bay Ranger" podcasts, or only a specific audio file, onto a personal iPod®, MP3, or portable media player before embarking on a Holland America Line Alaska cruise to Glacier Bay. Preloaded podcasts on iPods® also are available on board for checkout. The "Glacier Bay Ranger Podcast Anthology" is available for download on the Holland America Line website.

While the entire anthology of sixteen episodes is four hours and twenty-one minutes long, it's worth the time to learn more about Alaska. Our good friends Paul and Elizabeth are so engaging that you'll be sorry when the podcasts come to an end. Who else but Elizabeth would describe the day in Glacier Bay like "sailing into a refrigerator"? And...you don't have to be on a Holland America ship to listen to the recordings right on their website.

One-in-a-Million Jacksonville Cruise Passengers

Just taking a spring break vacation with her family on the Carnival Fascination was pretty awesome for Arkansas eighth grader Emily Wilt. She had no idea it was about to be even more special as she was named the one millionth passenger to embark on a cruise through JAXPORT’s Northside terminal last weekend. After driving 12 hours with her parents and older brother from their home in Siloam Springs, Northwest Arkansas to board the ship, Emily was identified as the one millionth passenger by the terminal customer service crew shortly after embarkation began.

Emily received a number of gifts and perks from Carnival and JAXPORT, including a commemorative plaque and special VIP treatment throughout their 5-day cruise, which includes stops at the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay and Nassau.

“I was really excited about our cruise before, but now it’s going to be even better,” Emily told reporters following a short ceremony outside the cruise terminal.

The JAXPORT cruise terminal opened in 2003 and the Carnival Fascination launched the port’s first year-round cruise program in September 2008. The 2,052-passenger ship offers 4-day cruises to Freeport and Nassau in the Bahamas, and 5-day cruises to Nassau and Half Moon Cay or Key West. An estimated 170,000 passengers cruise annually from Jacksonville on Carnival.

Seabourn's Six-Ship Fleet Will Spotlight European Voyages in 2012

Not long ago we reported here on the Cruise Diva Blog that top-rated Seabourn will have all six of its intimate, award-winning ships in Europe this year, sailing itineraries of different lengths in diverse destinations. Once again in 2012, Seabourn's six ship fleet of all-suite ships will offer an unprecedented array of voyages in Europe. From Norway's North Cape to the czarist palaces of the Black Sea coast, the line's ships will explore 165 different destinations among the continent's landmark cities, historic sites and natural splendors on cruises of 7- to 19-days.

"Europe is really a destination that travelers will return to again and again, " noted Seabourn's President, Richard D. Meadows. "No matter how many times you visit great European cities, you always discover something new," he continued, "and our Seabourn ships also take our guests into smaller, hidden gems that many travelers never see."

Following its maiden World Cruise in early 2012, the 450-guest Seabourn Quest will offer cruisers an extended April-to-November season of voyages exploring the whole expanse of the Mediterranean Sea. Appealing 7-day cruises between Venice, Athens, Istanbul, Rome and Barcelona are easily combinable into longer voyages with different ports and extra savings.

Also concentrating on the Mediterranean, Seabourn Odyssey's 7-day voyages sail east from Venice to Athens and Istanbul, calling on the gorgeous Greek Isles, the scenic coast of Turkey and, on a couple of occasions, into the Black Sea. Odyssey's week-long voyages are also combinable for more variety and extra savings.

The French and Italian Rivieras, islands and yacht harbors of the Western Mediterranean provide a wealth of fascinating ports to explore, and the 208-guest Seabourn Legend takes full advantage of that fact by sailing two different, 10-day itineraries between Rome (Civitavecchia) and Monte Carlo that include overnight stays in Barcelona and Valletta, Malta, both of which have a celebrated nightlife.

Legend's sister-ship Seabourn Spirit is offering a new 10-day itinerary sailing roundtrip from Venice to the very best of the Adriatic coast, including ravishing Kotor in Montenegro, the rustic, friendly Puglia region of Italy, the Dalmatian towns of Dubrovnik and Split in Croatia, plus Rovinj, the gem of Croatia's northern Istria peninsula. The cruise also includes a Marina watersports day in Triluke Bay in high season, and an overnight in incomparable Venice.

Summer cruises in Scandinavia, the Baltic and the Norwegian Fjords are immensely popular, and for good reason. The baroque masterpieces of St. Petersburg form the multi-day centerpiece of cruises on both the 450-guest Seabourn Sojourn and the 208-guest Seabourn Pride. Cruises of the Norwegian fjords on both ships vary from 10 to 16 days, with some including the Arctic Circle and the North Cape.

The entire eight-month season is now open for sale, and itineraries, fares and other details can be viewed on the company's website at Seabourn.com.

Royal Caribbean Wants You To Sleep Like Royalty

You slept like a baby on your last cruise with them and Royal Caribbean wants you to have the same nightly comfort at home. To make that possible, the cruise line has launched the Royal Caribbean Bedding Collection, providing you with the opportunity to recreate your onboard sleep experience–from mattress to pillow and duvets to pillow cases–in your own bedroom. Manufactured exclusively for Royal Caribbean in Italy, the collection is designed to provide the regenerative comfort of a vacation-night rest and features a full-line of bedding essentials that are now available for purchase at www.royalcaribbeanbeddingcollection.com. By the way, that’s Adam Goldstein, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean, illustrating the advantages of the bedding, but we don’t think the models, or the Martini, come with the set. Nor are pillow chocolates offered.

“In line with our Royal Advantage program, the Royal Caribbean Bedding Collection was chosen with care to offer the indulgent sleep experience that they [guests] enjoy onboard and longed and requested to bring home,” said Lisa Bauer, senior vice president of Hotel Operations, Royal Caribbean Intl. “Guests can continue to experience the WOW at home with a good night’s rest with our signature bedding, designed for comfort and, most important, quality. The new bedding collection offers consumers a little Royal Caribbean cruise vacation at the end of every day.”

The collection, made by Matermoll & Emmebiesse and imported from Italy, features two types of mattresses, the Royal Mattress and the Royal Suite mattress. Also available are two types of pillow top pads–the Royal Pillow Top Pad and Royal Memory Pillow Top Pad–and two types of pillows–Royal Memory Pillow and Royal Sweet Dream Pillow. The complete bedding set includes: fitted sheet with corners, flat sheet embroidered with the Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor logo, which arrive in an elegant Cofanneto gift box, plus two pillowcases, two Royal Sweet Dream Pillows and a duvet cover with buttons. Each item, available in various sizes, is designed and engineered to deliver, deep, restorative sleep, night after night. Items in the collection are available for purchase separately or in sets, with shipping to the U.S. and Canada. We understand the mattresses larger than twin size do not come with a signature cruise ship “split” down the middle.

Celebrity Cruises Plans to "Go Big" in Summer of 2012

“Go big or go home” is Celebrity Cruises’ mantra for the summer and early fall season of 2012. That’s when the premium cruise line will return to Alaska and Bermuda; sail revamped voyages to Canada and New England; and offer more opportunities to enjoy Europe cruises than ever before, with five ships visiting 70 ports in 22 countries, sailing from six departure ports, and featuring 19 distinct Mediterranean itineraries.

Highlights of Celebrity’s European expansion include a new Venice homeport and Iceland cruises. While recognizing that people’s vacation time is precious, Celebrity has shaped a 2012 Europe lineup that exemplifies the premium cruise brand’s focus on offering a multitude of ways for people to have the best vacation experience possible. Some extended overnight stays and eight new ports will add even more depth to Celebrity’s already broad Europe offerings; these include Klaksvik, Faroe Islands; Akureyri, Iceland; Bari, Catania, and Ravenna, Italy; Skijolden, Norway; Koper, Slovenia and Fuerteventura, Canary Islands. Travelers can enjoy these and the 62 other ports Celebrity will visit in Europe in 2012 in ultra-premium style, as Celebrity is deploying four of its award-winning Solstice Class ships to sail full Europe seasons in 2012. They will be joined by the recently “Solsticized” Celebrity Constellation.

Guests who wish to deepen their experience in Europe can take advantage of Celebrity’s cruisetour offerings, which combine a cruise with a 3- to 5-night pre-cruise escorted land package in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. All packages are escorted by a local tour director and include hotel accommodations, transportation, select activities, breakfasts, and some additional meals.

Celebrity’s Europe season will be bookended by transatlantic sailings that will transition the ships from Europe to their next destination; these cruises range from 13 to 15 nights in length and feature ports such as Barcelona, Lisbon, the Azores, the Canary Islands and Paris/Normandy (Le Havre).

Popular Alaska vacation experiences continue with new cruisetours designed with intergenerational group appeal. For the fifth consecutive year, Celebrity Century, Celebrity Infinity, and Celebrity Millennium will return to Alaska in the summer of 2012, offering vacationers ways to enjoy vacations featuring Celebrity’s signature cuisine, activities, and service amidst unforgettable, inspiring scenery.

Guests who wish to venture deeper into Alaska can take advantage of Celebrity’s cruisetour offerings, which combine an Alaska cruise on Celebrity Millennium with a pre- or post-cruise escorted land package highlighting the region’s natural beauty, culture and heritage. A total of 20 packages will be available in 2012, including tours designed specifically for families.

Celebrity’s Bermuda lineup aims to bewitch travelers. After being “Solsticized” in January 2012, Celebrity Summit will return to Bermuda that summer for a third consecutive season, reprising its 2011 roundtrip 7-night itineraries from Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey.

Canada and New England are enchanting autumn destinations and in September 2012, Celebrity Summit will shift from Bermuda cruises to three 14-night Canada and New England sailings. Differing from previous years, the cruises, which will depart on Saturdays, will include a new port of call for Celebrity: Gaspé, a city situated on the point of the Gaspé Peninsula in eastern Quebec, Canada. To help vacationers maximize their celebration of autumn’s splendor, Celebrity is also building on its previous Canada and New England offerings in 2012 by adding more time (two full days) in Quebec City, Canada.

Shoreside options add immersion, depth to any sailing and to help round out travelers’ summer cruise experience, Celebrity will offer a variety of shore excursions aimed at satisfying a range of travelers’ interests, including winery visits, glacier tours, private floatplane trips, beach sojourns, and more. To make it easy for guests to plan their vacation, Celebrity offers the option for guests to book shore excursions in advance of their cruise.

Celebrity’s 2012 Europe and transatlantic season, as well as Bermuda and Canada/New England cruises, are now available for booking. On April 6, Celebrity’s 2012 Alaska season will open for sale. Members of Celebrity’s Captain’s Club loyalty program are eligible to receive up to $600 savings per stateroom when booking select 2012-13 itineraries before July 29, 2011. Complete details on Celebrity’s shore excursions are available online; shore excursions are not included in cruise fare.

More details about the above cruises and cruisetours are available at Cruise Diva’s Cruise News and specific itineraries can be found at CelebrityCruises.com.

Princess Cruises: News Update About Upcoming Changes to Itineraries Including Japan

Statement

The people of Japan have experienced an unimaginable tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers continue to be with them in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake, tsunami and damaged nuclear reactors. After careful review of the evolving situation and guided by the U.S. Department of State and other authorities, we have decided to cancel upcoming calls to Japan through May.

This change will impact the following voyages:
At this time, Ocean Princess 7109 (departing April 13) which has a scheduled call to Okinawa, Japan's most southern prefecture, is not impacted. Princess is in the process of contacting affected passengers.

We regret any disappointment our revised itineraries may cause, but we hope our passengers will understand the difficult circumstances that led to these changes, and that the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew is our foremost priority.

Sun Princess: S106 (departed March 5)
Diamond Princess: M107 (departing March 19)
Ocean Princess: 7107 (departing March 20)
Ocean Princess: 7108 (departing April 1)
Diamond Princess: M108 (departing April 4)
Diamond Princess: M109 (departing April 20)
Diamond Princess: M110 (departing May 6)

Princess Cruises Plans to Sail Wherever You Want to Cruise in 2012-2013

No matter what’s on your personal “bucket list” of must-see places, chances are good that Princess Cruises can take you there. Their entire 2012-2013 season of cruises and cruisetours–a whopping total of nearly 600 cruise options on 150 itineraries to more than 300 destinations around the world–is now open for booking. For the first time, Princess has simultaneously launched its full slate of cruises which include the line’s largest Europe deployment, an expanded Alaska schedule, new sailings from Galveston, more South American options with two ships sailing around Cape Horn, and more West Coast sailings to Hawaii, Mexico, and along the California coast than ever before.

Among the line’s offerings for the 2012-2013 season, Princess will begin sailing to the Hawaiian Islands from San Francisco, will offer longer 14-day Australia & New Zealand itineraries, and will once again sail to the Western Caribbean from Galveston, Texas. More ships will sail in South America and Alaska, and several ships will make regional debuts, including Grand Princess’ first ever sailings on the West Coast and Caribbean Princess’ maiden European deployment. Cruisetours combining a cruise and land experience will enable passengers to more fully explore Alaska, Europe, Canada and New England, Asia, Australia, and South America.

Get ready to explore this overview of Princess’ 2012-2013 cruise season:

ALASKA: Princess draws on more than 40 years of experience cruising the 49th state, offering Gulf of Alaska and Inside Passage sailings with an extensive selection of cruisetours to the heart of Alaska. The 2012 program will include a seven ship deployment, including a fourth ship added to the Voyage of the Glaciers route, and three ships sailing the Inside Passage. All cruisetour options will continue to include Alaska’s top two attractions–Denali and Glacier Bay National Parks, and Princess will take more passengers to Glacier Bay than any other cruise line.

EUROPE: The largest Europe deployment in Princess history, the 2012 season offers a wide selection of sailings through the timeless cities of the Mediterranean, the splendor of Scandinavia and Russia and the intriguing ports of Northern Europe. The season features seven ships sailing on 57 itineraries to 116 destinations, including Caribbean Princess’ European debut and new 14-day Baltic and 16-day Land of the Midnight Sun routes. And 12-day Mediterranean and Greek Isles cruises will continue to offer overnight stays in one of the continent’s most sought-after destinations–Venice. Two new ports will debut–Korcula, Croatia on the 12-day Mediterranean Collection on Pacific Princess and Nessebar, Bulgaria (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) on the 12-day Black Sea & Crimean Coasts route.

CARIBBEAN: Princess’ Caribbean schedule will feature five ships sailing to the best of the sparkling waters of the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean. Passengers can choose from 115 voyages sailing to 22 destinations on 10 itineraries. The season includes Princess’ return to the Texas Gulf Coast with the debut of Crown Princess sailing out of Galveston.

PANAMA CANAL: Princess continues to be the leader in Panama Canal cruising, with two ships, eight itineraries–including both full and partial transits–and 40 voyages aboard Coral Princess and Island Princess.

MEXICO & PACIFIC COAST: The 2012-2013 season will feature more Pacific coastal sailings than ever before, plus Mexico sailings from both Los Angeles and San Francisco. Five ships will sail on 31 departures of nine itineraries sailing to 14 destinations. A new 7-day California Coastal itinerary will feature the best of the Golden State with an added visit to Catalina and an overnight in San Francisco.

HAWAII, TAHITI & SOUTH PACIFIC: The dazzling islands of Hawaii and Tahiti headline a season with more Hawaiian Islands sailings than ever before including new voyages from San Francisco. The full program includes eight ships offering 12 itinerary choices with 56 voyages to 32 destinations. Among the highlights are an expanded Hawaiian Islands program with three ships sailing roundtrip from Los Angeles and San Francisco, Grand Princess making her West Coast debut, and two sailings of the popular 28-day Hawaii, Tahiti & Samoa itinerary previously introduced with the fall 2011 schedule.

ASIA, INDIA & AFRICA: Princess’ Exotics program includes sailings throughout Asia plus passages through the Suez Canal and across the Indian Ocean. Five ships sail on 28 sailings of 21 itineraries to 54 destinations. Other highlights include Bangkok once again featured as a homeport on the line’s 16-day Southeast Asia & China itinerary, plus the line’s first call in Aomori, Japan.

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND: “Down Under” cruising expands with a new longer itinerary, plus three ships based locally for Aussie-style cruising. Four ships will sail on 40 voyages of eight different itineraries. Highlights include a new 14-day Australia & New Zealand itinerary–adding Wellington and Picton – and a new 33-day Round Australia & New Zealand itinerary. Featuring the largest Australia deployment of any North American line in the region, Princess ships will also offer more New Zealand cruises than any other line.

SOUTH AMERICA & AMAZON: The lively Latin culture of South America takes center stage with Princess 2012-2013 cruise season, offering three ships sailing on 18 voyages of 11 itineraries. Highlights include two ships–Star Princess and Grand Princess–both sailing an around Cape Horn itinerary between Buenos Aires and Santiago, and a new 19-day Brazilian Adventure route that stops for an overnight in Rio during the world-famous Carnival. Pacific Princess will once again offer cruises up the mighty Amazon River.

CANADA & NEW ENGLAND: The North Atlantic Coast voyages offer dramatic scenery and historic attractions. Two ships sail on three favorite Princess routes visiting 12 destinations. The 11 departures include Caribbean Princess sailing roundtrip from New York, and Emerald Princess offering 10-day Classic Canada & New England sailings between New York and Quebec.

WORLD CRUISES & CIRCLE PACIFIC: Three ships will offer world voyages, including Pacific Princess rounding the globe on a 107-day voyage from Ft. Lauderdale to Venice on Jan 27, 2013; Sun Princess setting sail on her first-ever global circumnavigation with a 104-day sailing from Sydney on May 16, 2012; and Dawn Princess offering a 75-day Circle Pacific itinerary that departs July 27, 2012.

“We know that many of our passengers are advance planners, and would like to see the full breadth of our cruise itineraries to decide where to vacation next with us,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “So for the first time we’ve released all of our itineraries at once so they have the entire world at their fingertips as they’re planning their next cruise.”

Additional information about Princess Cruises and itinerary details are available at the company's website, Princess.com.