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/