Cruise Deals: Hawaiian and Caribbean Sailings Offer Deep Savings this Winter

Two Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Award-winning cruise lines—Holland America and Princess Cruises—are offering fantastic savings on trips to Hawaii and the Caribbean. Better yet, the ships leave from ports of call that are easily accessible no matter where you are in the country. Holland America’s ms Eurodam is selling a 7-night Caribbean cruise for as little as $499, while folks looking for a longer island escape can score a 14-night Hawaiian cruise for as little as $995 on Princess's Sapphire Princess.

Read about all the current deals at:  http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2012/12/hotwire-cruise-deals-hawaii-caribbean-121912

5 Ways To Save Money Booking A Cruise Vacation

A cruise vacation has a lot of value already built in. Sailing from one popular port of call to another on board your floating hotel, transportation costs are locked in, as are all meals. Still, there are some additional factors to consider, such as fare codes that can add up to real savings at the time of booking or later, when lower prices come along.

• Consider Restricted Fares
• Don't Care Where You Sleep
• Special Discounts
• Keep Looking After Booking
•  Use A Travel Agent For Their Intended Purpose

Read the details at :  http://www.gadling.com/2012/12/18/5-ways-to-save-money-booking-a-cruise-vacation/

Eight-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise for $709; Palm Springs Studio Suites For $89

>>Crown Cruise Vacations has an eight-night eastern Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean Internationalstarting at $709 per person, double occupancy, plus taxes and fees. The cruise departs Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Feb. 16, 2013, and makes port in St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Puerto Rico and the private island of Labadee, Haiti. 877-283-1114, tinyurl.com/arwnjdh

>>General Tours World Traveler is offering a discount of $500 per person on its Machu Picchu & Posada Amazonas tour, which spends seven days exploring Lima, Cuzco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, and two days in the Peruvian Amazon. That brings the cost down to $2,999 per person, double occupancy, and includes lodging, 17 meals, all transportation, including internal flights, and services of a guide. 800-221-2216, tinyurl.com/aqgcwpk

>>Wyndham's Plaza Resort & Spa in Palm Springs, Calif., has studio suites as low as $89 per night for travel through Jan. 31. You have to book by Dec. 20, and there's a two-night minimum stay, along with some blackout dates. 866-701-3950 and mention code NOVNL or at tinyurl.com/cgdw8gc

For more deals visit:   http://www.courant.com/features/hc-web-deals-1202-20121202,0,2175086.story

Cruise Planners Launches 'Vote for Vacation' Campaign

Taking advantage of high levels of interest in this years national elections in particular the presidential election between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, Cruise Planners - American Express Travel, reports it is celebrating National Cruise Vacation Month and the World’s Largest Cruise Event (WLCE), October 21-27, 2012 with a 'Vote for Vacation' campaign.

The WLCE is a spinoff of Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) National Cruise Vacation Week event during which travel agencies across North America promote the industry by hosting events, seminars and promotions, Cruise Planners notes. CLIA encourages agent participation in the WLCE.

Read more at: http://www.travelagentcentral.com/consortia/cruise-planners-launches-vote-vacation-campaign-37587

MSC Cruises Offers Holiday Sale Through Oct. 31, 2012

MSC Cruises is offering more time to book a Caribbean holiday celebration on the MSC Poesia and receive a complimentary balcony upgrade valued at up to $220 per person.

MSC Cruises’ special “Holidays On Sale” rates are available now through Oct. 31, 2012, offering guests complimentary upgrades from oceanview to balcony staterooms or from balcony standard to balcony superior staterooms.


Read more at: http://www.travelagentcentral.com/cruises/msc-cruises-offers-holiday-sale-through-oct-31-2012-37389

Norwegian Cruise Line plans two-deck spa on next ship

Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship will have one of the most elaborate spa and fitness complexes at sea -- a sprawling, two-deck temple to relaxation that will feature what's billed as the first salt room on a cruise ship.

The 23,000-square-foot Mandara Spa on the soon-to-debut, 4,000-passenger Norwegian Breakaway also will have a large thermal suite with 13 heated loungers, vitality pool, whirlpools, sauna, solarium and steam room, along with a full-service salon and barber shop, the line announced today.

The salt room will be designed for therapies aimed at alleviating respiratory and skin ailments, strengthening the immune system, promoting better sleep and having a long-term positive impact on overall lung function, the line says. It'll feature a grotto setting.

Read more at:  http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2012/09/26/norwegian-cruise-line-breakaway-spa/1594505/

Disney kicks off first cruises from Texas

Kent Phillips

By Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Is Texas ready for the Mouse?

The first Disney cruises out the Lone Star State kicked off over the weekend with a celebration at the Port of Galveston.

The 1,754-passenger Disney Magic set sail from the port on Saturday for the first of several dozen four-, six-, seven- and eight-night sailings to the Caribbean and Bahamas. The ship will be based in Galveston through May, when it repositions to Barcelona for the summer of 2013.

Disney already has announced plans for more cruises out of Galveston over the winter of 2013-14 aboard the Disney Magic's sister ship, the Disney Wonder.

 Read more: http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2012/09/disney-cruise-galveston-texas/70000988/1

Deal watch: Cunard Line launches tropical cruise sale

This item was written by Johanna Jainchill, who covers the travel industry for Travel Weekly. Jainchill is serving as Guest Editor of The Cruise Log while USA TODAY Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is away.

Known mostly for its trans-Atlantic sailings, Cunard Line is offering five days of savings on its warm-water itineraries with the Tropical Discoveries Sale.

Starting today, the British cruise company is offering reduced rates, as well as two-for-one savings, reduced deposits and on-board credit of up to $300, on 16 sailings departing in 2013, booked over the next five days.

The itineraries include the South Pacific, Panama Canal transits, and the Caribbean.

Read more: http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2012/09/cunard-line-tropical-discoveries-sale/70001249/1

Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas cruise: Search over for woman who went overboard

By: By Juan Ortega, Sun SentinelThe Coast Guard on Tuesday evening gave up its search for a 21-year-old woman who fell overboard Sunday night from a cruise ship about 47 miles east of Fort Lauderdale.

The Bartlett, Tenn., woman was seen going overboard by another passenger on Royal Caribbean's mega-ship Allure of the Seas, the same day the ship had kicked off a seven-night Caribbean itinerary from Port Everglades.

The ship remained at sea Tuesday, but was scheduled to make its port of call at St. Maarten on Wednesday.

Read more: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/national/royal-caribbean-allure-of-the-seas-cruise-search-over-for-woman-who-went-overboard#ixzz2714QDaqj

Steal of the Week: Cruise the Southern Caribbean Over Thanksgiving From $67 Per Night

September 13, 2012 | By Cruise Critic

From CruiseCritic.com

THE DEAL: American Discount Cruises & Travel is offering a seven-night Southern Caribbean cruise aboard Caribbean Princess, sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale on November 17, 2012. Fares start from $466 per person for an inside cabin, $493 for an outside cabin, $736 for a balcony cabin and $916 for a mini-suite.

Read more at:  http://www.cruisecritic.com/blog/index.php/2012/09/13/steal-of-the-week-cruise-the-southern-caribbean-over-thanksgiving-from-67-per-night/?isalt=0

Carnival Axes Future Cruise Certificates

From cruisecritic.com

Starting September 27, Carnival passengers will no longer be able to purchase cruise certificates good toward the purchase of future cruises while onboard ships. Existing certificates will be honored through their printed expiration dates.

According to a document on GoCCL, the travel agent section of Carnival's Web site, the certificates – officially called the Future Carnival Vacations Program – underperformed economically, and, after "careful consideration," the cruise line decided to eliminate the program.

Read more at: http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4988

Singles cruises for Halloween

Remember when Halloween was considered a holiday just for kids? No more. Halloween is now a major holiday for adults -- especially singles.

Halloween sailings are drawing more interest than ever this year, according to the professional singles cruise planners. Thousands of solo cruisers will take to the high seas this Hallow’s Eve, with a Halloween singles cruise to satisfy just about anyone...

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/09/12/singles-cruises-for-halloween/#ixzz26GUxDKyA

Cruise.com Launches Mobile App for iPhone and Android

DANIA BEACH, Fla., Sept. 10, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Cruise.com, a subsidiary of Omega World Travel, Inc. and one of the Internet's leading cruise sellers, announces the launch of their new mobile app for both iPhone users and Android users. The free app is designed to put a wealth of cruise-related information at the user's fingertips. The Cruise.com app is available now for download in the iPhone App Store and in the Android Marketplace and can be also be downloaded at www.cruise.com.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/10/4804532/cruisecom-launches-mobile-app.html#storylink=cpy

Seniors on the Go: Cruise lines turn to fees, packages

Following the lead of airlines, some big cruise lines are moving toward the airlines' pricing philosophy: Keep the base price low, and make up the difference with fees. How this will play out is anybody's guess, but if you're considering a cruise, you need to look past the initially featured rates.

Read more at:  http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-09-04/travel/sns-travel-ed-perkins-seniors-on-the-go-cruise-lines-turn-to-fees-packages-20120904_1_cruise-lines-drink-packages-cruise-critic

First look at Peter Max-designed cruise ship exterior

Courtesy Norwegian Cruise Line

Call it Peter Max's largest canvas ever.

Norwegian Cruise Line today released the first image of the Max-designed hull art planned for its next ship, the Norwegian Breakaway -- a colorful mixture of New York- and cosmic-themed imagery that will cover 40,000 square feet of the vessel's exterior.

"Norwegian Breakaway is New York's ship, and this colorful artwork by Peter Max will make the ship an instant icon," Norwegian CEO Kevin Sheehan says in a statement.

Debuting in April 2013, the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Breakaway is scheduled to sail year-round out of New York to such destinations as Bermuda and the Bahamas. At 144,000 tons, it'll be the largest ship ever to be based year-round in the city.

Read more at: http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2012/09/norwegian-cruise-hull-art-peter-max/837902/1

Deal watch: Norwegian Cruise Line launches Hawaii promotion

Norwegian Cruise Line is offering $100 in on-board credits to customers who book a Hawaii cruise by Saturday.

The three-day Hawaii Bonus Days sales event, which kicked off today, is for new reservations on the line's Hawaii-based Pride of America and is good with any cabin category.

The 2,138-passenger Pride of America operates week-long cruises out of Honolulu to the Hawaiian islands of Maui, Kauai and Hawaii.

Norwegian offers Hawaii packages that include a seven-night cruise and airline flights to and from the sailing starting at $1,949 per person, based on double occupancy.

Read more at:  http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2012/08/norwegian-cruise-line-deal-hawaii/835170/1

Cruise line Star Clippers to offer voyages to Cuba

Courtesy Start Clippers

Cruise company Star Clippers has announced plans for voyages to Cuba, but the trips will be off limits to U.S. citizens in observance of the U.S. embargo of the country.

The Monaco-based sailing ship line says the 170-passenger Star Flyer will operate two repositioning cruises ending or originating at Cienfuegos, Cuba; one six-night cruise round trip from Cienfuegos; and five seven-night round-trip sailings from Cienfuegos -- all to take place during February and March of 2014.

Read more:  http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2012/08/cruise-ship-cuba-star-clippers/832719/1

Carnival Cruise Line offering all-you-can-drink package

The cruise review website, Cruise Critic, is reporting that Carnival Cruise Line has begun testing an all-you-can-drink package aboard the Carnival Victory. The program, called “My Awesome Bar Program” was rolled out on the August 5 departure of the Carnival Victory. The report indicates that the test program could possibly be rolled out to the entire fleet if Carnival deems it to be a success.

The cost for this program is $42.95 per person per day, plus a 15 percent gratuity. However, there is a catch. If one person wants to purchase this package, then all passengers in the same stateroom who are 21 years old and older must purchase the package in order to prevent multiple passengers sharing off the same package. Also, passengers can only order one drink at a time.

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/carnival-cruise-line-offering-all-you-can-drink-package

World's largest cruise ship to host Beatles fans

By Patrick Farrell, AP

By Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

The world's largest passenger ship will be the setting for the latest Beatles tribute cruise.

A Florida travel agent has booked group space in March on Royal Caribbean's 5,400-passenger Allure of the Seas for the Cruise for Beatles Fans 2013, which will feature performances by a Beatles tribute band and other musicians with a Beatles connection.

The seven-night Beatles-themed sailing will kick of in Fort Lauderdale on March 3 and include calls in the Bahamas, St. Thomas and St. Martin.

Traveling with participants will be Mark Hudson, billed as a producer for the Beatles' Ringo Starr; Billy J. Kramer, who has recorded songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney; Joey Molland, a singer from Badfinger, a band signed by the Beatles' label; and Beatles tribute band Revolution. Radio host Joe Johnson will emcee the trip.


Read more: http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2012/08/beatles-cruise-worlds-largest-ship-/814670/1

Cruise lines find new ways to tap hometown talent

By Arlene Satchell, Sun Sentinel

Major cruise lines are finding new ways to tap the expertise of local companies and personalities to enhance their shipboard guest offerings.

Royal Caribbean International, for example, formed a partnership with James Beard Award-winning Miami chef Michael Schwartz of Michael's Genuine Food & Drink.

Since October Schwartz has been creating specialty, multi-course tasting menus, which integrate produce and meat sourced from South Florida farmers for 150 Central Park — Oasis of the Seas' fine dining restaurant.

Industry experts say initiatives like these are cruise lines' attempt to cater to a more diverse, discerning and evolving customer, and to find other ways to stand out.

Read more: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-cruise-lines-local-talent-20120820,0,692260.story

Get up to $200 to spend on board Norwegian Epic or Pride of America

Get up to $200 to spend on board Norwegian Epic or Pride of America, as Norwegian Cruise Lines celebrate their return of Undercover Boss to syndication on TLC. And don’t forget to catch the episode featuring Kevin Sheehan, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line, and these two award-winning ships on Saturday, August 18th!

Carnival Cruise Lines to offer early boarding, for a price

By Paul Motter | Cruisin For Deals | Published August 07, 2012 | FoxNews.com

One cruise line is taking a chapter from the airline industry and offering passengers --willing to pay extra -- the chance to board their ship early.

Carnival Cruise Lines announced it will begin testing a new program where all the occupants of a given stateroom can board the cruise ship as soon as it is cleared for new arrivals. The program, called “Faster to the Fun,” also will allow passengers instant access to their staterooms upon boarding and will even have their hand-delivered luggage waiting for them in the stateroom upon arrival.

The program will be available on two Carnival ships: the Carnival Imagination (starting Aug. 20) and Carnival Liberty (Aug. 25) and is limited to a relatively small number of people. It costs $49.95, but only one occupant of the stateroom needs to book it to give the same benefit to everyone staying in the room.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/08/07/carnival-cruise-lines-to-offer-early-boarding-for-price/#ixzz22xfLsR3G

Huge savings on shorter Crystal Cruises luxury voyages

Crystal Serenity off the Greek island of Mykonos, one of the port calls on a short voyage that departs Oct. 30. (Crystal Cruises)

By Jane Engle
August 8, 2012

Crystal Cruises, consistently rated among the world’s top luxury lines, upped its game this year by making its voyages “all-inclusive,” with wine and bar service, gratuities for dining and housekeeping staff and more included in fares. Such pampering does not come cheaply. Even with sale pricing, 12-day voyages often start near $4,000 per person. But by choosing shorter trips, you can cut your outlay by half or more.

The deal: “Crystal Getaways” are voyages of five to eight days that start as low as $1,310 per person, double occupancy, plus port charges and other fees, for the cruise only; airfare is extra. The varied itineraries include popular ports in the Mediterranean region.

When: Nine departures are available through Dec. 1. You must book by Aug. 31.

Read more at: http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-crystal-cruises-discounts-20120807,0,541719.story

Cruise Lines International Association CEO Announces Blog, Twitter Account Launch

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- CLIA CEO Christine Duffy announces the launch of two new social media accounts: a Twitter feed and CEO Blog.

"With such a dynamic, changing industry, CLIA is committed to keeping our members and vacationers informed on every platform possible. I look forward to these new ways to share my thoughts on the industry and the latest news, and engaging with consumers, CLIA members, and news media," Duffy said.

Duffy's Twitter, www.twitter.com/cliaceo , will allow her to interact in real time with members, consumers, and news media.

Read more at:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/cruise-lines-international-association-ceo-announces-blog-twitter-account-launch-2012-08-01

Cruise Lines Are Welcoming Meeting Planners Aboard

ST. LOUIS, August 2012

Former meetings industry executive Christine Duffy, now the president and CEO of the Cruise Lines Industry Association (CLIA), made big strides toward meeting planners considering cruise ships and river boats more often for their meetings during MPI’s World Education Conference July 28-31 in St. Louis.

During a press conference at the event, Duffy announced that 13 members of CLIA have agreed to host one MPI chapter meeting annually—for each chapter that expresses interest—aboard one of their ships. She also led a session on cruises as viable meeting options and noted that CLIA will be exhibiting at IMEX, taking place in Las Vegas this October. Finally, Duffy noted that CLIA will be hosting groups of planners aboard ships during two industry conferences next year: CLIA’s annual conference, taking place in June in Vancouver; and the SITE Global Conference, which will be held in Orlando in Dec. 2013.






Read more at: http://www.meetingsfocus.com/NewsEvents/IndustryNews/IndustryNewsDetails/tabid/138/ArticleID/19022/Default.aspx

Priceline introduces Express Deals for hotels

By Terry Gardner | Special to Tribune Newspapers

If you hate paying retail hotel rates but need to know whether your lodging will be pet-friendly or have two beds, Priceline’s new Express Deals may be for you.

“We know some travelers are traveling with kids and need two beds or a pool or a gym, so we developed Express Deals over the last six months to help those travelers,” said Christopher L. Soder, CEO of Priceline North America.

Unlike Name Your Own Price deals where bidders only know a hotel’s star level and neighborhood in advance, Express Deals reveal hotel amenities, star level, neighborhood and guest ratings up front. Instead of bidding, customers choose the deal they want, pay for it, and then Priceline reveals the hotel’s identity.

Read more at: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-25/travel/ct-taking-off-priceline-express-deals-for-hotels-20120625_1_hotel-names-rates-priceline-negotiator

Royal Caribbean promises faster Internet at sea

This item was written by Johanna Jainchill, who covers the travel industry for Travel Weekly. Jainchill is serving as Guest Editor of The Cruise Log while USA TODAY Cruise Editor Gene Sloan is away.

CAPTION

By Michel Verdure

As frequent cruisers can attest, Internet connections at sea can be painstakingly slow and undependable, a source of perennial frustration for passengers.

Royal Caribbean is hoping to remedy that with a recent agreement the cruise line made with O3b Networks that the line says will bring Internet at sea, "as if connected to fiber at home or in the office."

By summer 2013 the company's 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, will offer passengers "high-speed satellite-delivered broadband service" thanks to a multiyear, multimillion dollar agreement Royal made with O3b, a global satellite service provider.

Read more at:  http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2012/06/royal-caribbean-faster-internet/790873/1

Five things you'll love about the new Carnival Breeze

 By Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

ABOARD THE CARNIVAL BREEZE -- Longtime Carnival fans will notice a new, contemporary look on the line's latest vessel, the Carnival Breeze. But the newest "Fun Ship" still is all about fun.

Unveiled this month in the Mediterranean, the 3,690-passenger Breeze is chock full of amusements that in some cases break new ground for the line, including a 3-D theater with moving seats and special effects. Here, five things to love about the ship (for a more expanded view of its many features, look for a Cruise Log photo tour coming next week):

 1. WaterWorks. You don't have to be a child to appreciate the appeal of this sprawling water play area -- one of the largest at sea. Looming above the ship's main pool deck, WaterWorks offers two water slides that rival anything found at a land-based resort: The scream-a-minute, 312-foot-long Twister and the towering, funnel-style DrainPipe.

 2. SportSquare. As if WaterWorks wasn't enough deck-top fun for one cruise vacation, Carnival has devoted another generous chunk of the ship's exterior space to this smorgasboard of gee-whiz amusements. 

3. Serenity. Is your idea of a relaxing day in the sun one where children are nowhere to be seen? Don't worry: Carnival has thought of you, too. As on the line's last two new ships, the Breeze is home to an adults-only, deck-top hideaway called Serenity that is as quiet as nearby WaterWorks is loud. 

4. Thrill Theater. Tucked onto Deck 4 near the Breeze's teen club, this new-for-Carnival, 24-seat venue offers a high-tech escape for adults as well as kids. Combining 3-D projection technology with motion simulation, it's home to short productions under 30 minutes.

5. Cucina del Capitano. The second Italian eatery on a Carnival ship (the first rolled out last year on the Carnival Magic) is a lively, family-style affair that pays homage to the company's historical connections with Italy.

Read more at: http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2012/06/carnival-breeze-cruise-ship/788539/1 

Secret Tip to Search and Compare Hotel Rates Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/24/4437689/secret-tip-to-search-and-compare.html

HONG KONG, April 24, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Hotel search has now gotten easier with OpenRoomz.com aggregated Hotel Search Engine. The hotel comparison tool allows you to search and compare hotel rates anywhere in the world. While there are many online travel sites in the market, few actually focus just on hotel search. OpenRoomz.com helps travelers compare hotel prices from 100's of booking sites at once. We search all major accommodation websites and compare hotel rates.

To make search faster, OpenRoomz.com has an enhanced UI to reduce the amount of clicks to search and compare hotel rates. "We went back to square one and removed all unnecessary links to enhance the user experience. What we were able to achieve was a more efficient hotel search tool," said Marketing Manager Leona Lam.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/24/4437689/secret-tip-to-search-and-compare.html#storylink=cpy

TV's 'Frozen Planet' boosts Antarctica cruise bookings

First they saw it on TV, now they want to see it in real life.

Upscale tour company Abercrombie & Kent reports that Frozen Planet, the epic Discovery Channel series about the earth's polar regions that began airing in March, has caused a surge in bookings for cruises to Antarctica.

An Abercrombie & Kent spokeswoman tells USA TODAY that since the March 18 debut of the seven-part series the company has received more than 250 phone calls from travelers interested in Antarctica who have specifically referenced the show, and more than 100 of them have booked a trip.

Read more:  http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2012/04/antarctica-cruise-frozen-planet-/679151/1

Holland America Line Offers Extensive South America Program In Fall 2012 And Winter/Spring 2013

SEATTLE, April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Guests looking for vibrant ports of call, historical adventures and an extreme range of climates can chart a southerly course to South America aboard three Holland America Line ships come fall 2012. ms Veendam, ms Maasdam and ms Prinsendam head to South America on a series of cruise expeditions featuring exceptional scenic cruising around the continent.

The popular itineraries range from 13 to 68 days and include a new 49-day extended, port-intensive Amazon and Carnival Voyage aboard Maasdam in early 2013. A 23-day Amazon Explorer Cruise in November 2012 and a 68-day Grand South America and Antarctica Voyage in January 2013 aboard Prinsendam are additional highlights of the line's 2012-13 South America cruise schedule.

Read more:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/holland-america-line-offers-extensive-south-america-program-in-fall-2012-and-winterspring-2013-2012-04-24

Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship Introduces Cutting-Edge Video Game Technology

Disney Cruise Line now has two brand new $1 billion ships sailing the Caribbean, the Disney Magic and the Disney Fantasy. Both ships feature the latest technology, including video game experiences that cannot be found anywhere on land. The following videos will showcase some cool gaming tech aboard the new Disney Fantasy ship.

Read more:  http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngaudiosi/2012/04/16/disney-fantasy-cruise-ship-introduces-cutting-edge-video-game-technology/

Carnival Cruise Lines to expand in Europe in 2013

By Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Industry giant Carnival today announced it would offer its widest array of European itineraries ever in 2013.

The line says it will send the 2,124-passenger Carnival Legend to the Continent next year from April to October for an extended season of sailings that will include the line's first Norwegian fjords itinerary and its first extended program from the U.K.

Among the voyages on the newly announced schedule are a single 12-night sailing to Norway and Western Europe; a single 12-night sailing around the British Isles with stops in Norway and France; and multiple 12-night sailings around the Baltic -- all departing from Dover, England.

Also planned are 12-night Mediterranean sailings departing from Venice, Barcelona and Dover.

Read more: http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2012/02/carnival-cruise-lines-ship-europe/627467/1

Cruise industry adopts new safety rules after Concordia disaster

By Mary ForgioneLos Angeles Times Daily Travel & Deal blogger
February 13, 2012, 2:51 p.m

Relatives and loved ones of victims of the Costa Concordia disaster sail to the damaged cruise ship to mark the one-month anniversary. (Enzo Russo / EPA)

 It's been a month since the Costa Concordia struck a reef and tipped over near Italy's Giglio Island, causing the deadliest cruise ship tragedy in modern times and prompting the industry to enact new safety rules.

The cruise industry last week announced a key change in how ships conduct safety drills. Passengers now will be informed of safety protocols and emergency evacuation procedures, known as "mandatory musters," before ships leave port. (Here's the Passenger Muster Policy.)

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-new-cruise-ship-rules-20120213,1,6488138.story

Norwegian Cruise Line profits improve in 2011

Norwegian Cruise Line said Monday that revenues and profits had increased in 2011, though the shipwreck involving another company’s ship earlier this year had a negative impact on bookings.

BY HANNAH SAMPSON

HSAMPSON@MIAMIHERALD.COM

Higher ticket prices and bigger onboard spenders helped Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line post improved profits in 2011, the company said Monday.

Norwegian, the world’s third largest cruise operator, reported that revenue increased more than 10 percent to $2.2 billion. Adjusted EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, increased to $506 million from $405 million a year earlier.

Net income increased from $23 million in 2010 to $127 million in 2011.

Read
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/13/2640349/norwegian-cruise-line-profits.html#storylink=cpy

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/13/2640349/norwegian-cruise-line-profits.html