Disney lines cruise into top spot

By Phil Reimer, For Postmedia News

J.D. Power is probably known to most observers as the company that ranks cars from automakers around the world. On TV, you will find the award - or endorsement - stamped on commercials, and the manufacturers wait anxiously to slap on that seal of approval.

But the people at J.D. Power are more than that. They rank insurance, electronics and a host of services and manufacturers, including travel. I had assumed they felt the cruise industry was a niche market because their travel surveys concentrated on air, hotel, other travel and car rentals. Now cruising has caught their attention, and they have just completed the company's first Cruise Line Satisfaction Report for 2013.

The following seven categories, in order of importance, are the criteria used to rank the cruise lines: service; stateroom; food; embarkation/debarkation; entertainment; cost; and excursions (port adventures).

The ranking totals were out of 1,000 points and were based on 3,003 responses from customers who travelled on a cruise ship. The rankings took place from May 29 through June 14 this year.

The winner that came first in the rankings? Disney Cruise Line, with 871 points, performed especially well in the food and entertainment categories.

Read more at: http://www.calgaryherald.com/travel/Disney+lines+cruise+into+spot/8620803/story.html

Cruise Voyant Offers Florida Residents Cruise Deals Starting from $60 a Day

Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) August 05, 2013

South Florida based cruise travel agency Cruise Voyant is promoting Florida Resident discounts that start from $60 a day. As part of this promotion, Florida residents can visit CruiseVoyant.com and book a cruise with exclusive discounts.

Residents can take advantage of these savings for a limited time on popular cruise lines including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Carnival. The cruise destinations include Caribbean, Bahamas, Mediterranean, Vancouver and more.

Cruise Voyant allows consumers to search for cruises by location, destination, cost and interest such as single’s cruises, family cruises, adventure cruises or romantic cruises. CruiseVoyant.com also features informative articles on all major cruise lines and ships that may help you choose the right cruise, best cabin, view itineraries and plan what you want to do while onboard.

Read more at: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/8/prweb10989464.htm

CruiseDealership Announces MSC Divina First Time Ever Year Round Cruises

MSC Cruises prepares for a year round presence in the North American market. The announcement came during the christening celebration for the line’s 12th new ship, MSC Preziosa, in Genoa, Italy. MSC Divina, sister ship of the MSC Preziosa, which was christened last spring and will now cruise year round from the Port Miami beginning November 2013, said Thomas DeSimone, Co-Founder & CEO of CruiseDealership.

The extension of MSC Divina’s scheduled cruise voyages to year round cruising showcases the company’s desire to expand into the North American market.

Read more: http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=177124#.Ud3Ih20kwio

Norwegian Breakaway, a New York City-themed cruise ship

The Breakaway, which evokes New York City on board in its food and activities, sails by the Statue of Liberty.

On board the new 4,000-plus-passenger Norwegian Breakaway, guests can eat a real New York hot dog, wash it down with a Brooklyn Lager, and indulge in a cannoli from Carlo’s Bakery, then work it all off with the Rockettes.

Breakaway is a ship created by a cruise company helmed by a New Yorker for New Yorkers. Reminders of the Big Apple are everywhere.

Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Kevin Sheehan was born and raised in the city. While at Hunter College, he drove a cab. At Norwegian, he envisioned the line’s newest mega cruise ship — the largest ever to port year-round in New York — as a waterborne version of Manhattan. Mission accomplished.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/nysea-norwegian-breakaway-manhattan-water-article-1.1360046#ixzz2Yg3EjiUV

Hidden cruise deals: how to nab flash sales

While researching a recent story on summer’s best Alaska cruise bargains, I was dumbfounded to discover jaw-dropping $299 rates for a last-minute 7-night Princess Cruises sailing to Alaska — one of the best-value fares I’ve stumbled upon during my many years of travel deal-hunting. The only problem? They seemingly weren’t available to everybody, with the $299 fares populating on the Princess website for me, but not for my editor, who was located in another region (fares there showed up from $599 for the same sailing).

Intrigued, we decided to dig deeper on these fare discrepancies and uncovered a world of hidden cruise deals and short-lived “flash” sales.

Karen Candy, media relations manager for Princess, revealed that the $299 Alaska fares were likely showing up regionally, since the cruise line sometimes has limited flash sales that are targeted to specific markets. A rarity for any travel provider: They explicitly did not want any publicity on these blink-and-you’ll-miss-them fares. Candy explained, “They are restricted, offered very close in on sailings with space, and are offered in very limited quantities.”

Read more:  http://travel.yahoo.com/blogs/compass/hidden-cruise-deals-nab-flash-sales-183802736.html

Royal Princess: 5 things you'll love about the new cruise ship

The three-deck-high Piazza on Princess Cruises' new Royal Princess. / Steve Dunlop (via USA TODAY)

 Princess Cruises' newest ship isn't radically different from its earlier vessels, and that's by design. The Love Boat line aims for consistency in its fleet.

Still, that doesn't mean the 3,560-passenger Royal Princess is a carbon copy of its earlier sisters (with its addition, Princess how has 17 ships at sea). Nearly 20% larger than the next biggest Princess vessel, the Royal Princess boasts a number of notable new and expanded features that go a long way in setting it apart.

Read more at: http://www.freep.com/article/20130617/FEATURES07/306170082/Royal-Princess-5-things-you-ll-love-about-new-cruise-ship

Quantum of the Seas: New Cruise Ship Unveiled

Quantam of the Seas: A very modern cruise ship has been unveiled by Rayal Carribbean International, complete with a range of attractions such as bumper cars.

This computer-generated image provided by the Royal Caribbean International cruise line shows the North Star, an observation capsule on a movable arm that will offer a bird’s eye view from 300 feet above the water, part of the Quantam of the Seas. The new ship is slated to launch in Novemeber 2014 from Bayonne, N.J. (AP Photo/Royal Caribbean International)

 NEW YORK—Royal Caribbean cruise line dazzled cruise aficionados Tuesday with details of its forthcoming Quantum of the Seas ship, which will be the first at sea to offer attractions like bumper cars, simulated skydiving and an observation capsule called The North Star, with a bird’s eye view 300 feet (91 meters) above the water.

“Without a doubt, Quantum of the Seas is a game changer with technological innovations never imagined aboard a cruise ship,” said Stewart Chiron, who writes at CruiseGuy.com.

“I can’t wait to get on it,” said Barbara Lippincott, who’s taken 160 cruises on Royal Caribbean and was among a number of the company’s devotees at a Manhattan event unveiling the ship’s features.

Read more at: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/17543-quantum-of-the-seas-new-cruise-ship-unveiled/