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