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