Norwegian Epic to Have Studio Staterooms, New Spa Suites

In its latest "Epic" reveal, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) unveiled the full range of accommodations -- appealing to both low and high ends of the market -- on its new F3 class ship, Norwegian Epic. The line also announced that it is opening group block space reservations on Norwegian Epic today, exclusively for its travel agent partners.

Among the highlights of the new accommodation offerings are: a new design of studio inside staterooms; spa cabins, a first for the line; and the largest ship-within-a-ship complex at sea offering luxury accommodations.

"Since this ship is our largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising vessel to date, we've taken a fresh approach to our stateroom mix, offering niche accommodations such as our family and spa categories, along with creative, ground-breaking design as evidenced by The Studios with Living Room and largest ever Courtyard Villa complex," said Kevin Sheehan, NCL's CEO.

According to Sheehan, the new Studio staterooms are designed with the budget-conscious traveler in mind and were created to maximize space, as the Studios are slightly smaller than standard inside staterooms. Each studio can sleep up to two people and features a large, round window that looks out into the corridor, along with customizable color changing light effects that mirror different stages of the day. Guests can also change the light by mood settings, such as the love setting.

The 128 Studios occupy decks 11 and 12 and Studio guests have exclusive key-card access to the Living Room, a two-story lounge area featuring a concierge, bar, room service, two large TV screens, a quiet reading section and comfortable seating for hanging out.

NCL will also be introducing spa balcony, deluxe balcony staterooms and suites within the spa for the first time. Guests in the 39 Spa suites, which feature a unique look and feel, will have complimentary 24-hour access to the ship's thermal suite and fitness center. In addition, eight of the spa suites each feature an in-room whirlpool.

Norwegian Epic's ship-within-in-a-ship complex will be comprised of 60 suites and villas spanning two private decks (decks 16 and 17) at the top of the ship. The suite category choices will include Courtyard Villas, Penthouse Suites and Deluxe Owner's Suites. Guests staying in one of these suites will have exclusive access to the Courtyard Villa, which features a pool, two whirlpools, gym, saunas, sundeck, the Uber bar, a concierge lounge and indoor/outdoor dining.
Norwegian Cruise Line's popular family-friendly staterooms are available on the Epic as well. The majority of the staterooms, both deluxe balcony and balcony, many that connect, will be on two decks close to an expanded Kids Crew facility. The family staterooms will feature Norwegian's signature New Wave design.

Disney Names New Ships Dream and Fantasy

Disney Cruise Line will name its two newbuilds Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. The announcement was made at The Walt Disney Company’s annual meeting of shareholders. “Last week, steel cutting began on our next two Disney cruise ships. Today I’m pleased to announce their names,” said Robert A. Iger, Disney president and CEO. “The Disney Dream will set sail in 2011, while the Disney Fantasy will hit the high seas in 2012.”“The names are very telling of our brand and are part of our history,” said Karl Holz, president of Disney Cruise Line and New Vacation Operations. “Disney is known for making dreams come true, and for creating worlds of fantasy that go beyond the imagination. The names are a natural choice for our ships.”

Construction began with a steel-cutting ceremony at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The first piece of steel cut was part of the art deco-inspired scrollwork that will grace the bow of the ships. Similar to the scrollwork on the existing ships, the pattern is reminiscent of the classic ocean liners of the 1930s. The new ships will be purpose-built with families in mind. The expansion will more than double the passenger capacity for Disney Cruise Line. Each 128,000-ton ship will have 1,250 staterooms.

CruiseOne is removing job insecurity from the cruise booking equation by offering the "first ever comprehensive" job loss travel insurance policy. CruiseAssurance offers consumers the security of knowing that they can cancel their cruise, on any cruise line, up to the last minute, and beyond, because of an unexpected layoff.

"The hurdle our agents are experiencing is that consumers are waiting," Steven M. Hattem, vice president, marketing for CruiseOne, told Travel Trade. "They are waiting because they're not sure if they're going to have a job and be able to afford a vacation."

CruiseAssurance, Hattem added, takes that thought process out of the equation. "There's no need to wait anymore. You can plan a cruise, pay your money and you're protected if for any reason you lose your job."

Making the policy even more enticing for clients is that the job loss insurance comes at no extra cost to clients purchasing CruiseOne's basic travel insurance.

Dwain Wall, general manager of CruiseOne, added, "In today's environment, it is crucial for businesses to step up to the plate showing we understand consumer challenges... Our 'CruiseAssurance' policy takes the concept of job loss insurance to a new level, easing the concerns of consumers at no charge and on any cruise line of their choice."

Under the CruiseAssurance policy, travelers booking a cruise can cancel their trip up to the day of departure, or even while on their cruise. The only requirements are that travelers purchase an entry-level travel insurance plan (administered by Travel Guard) from their CruiseOne agent and present their termination letter. One year of employment is required. CruiseAssurance applies to bookings made March 1 through May 2, for cruises departing any time.

The CruiseAssurance initiative is an exclusive benefit to consumers booking through one of more than 500 CruiseOne agents nationwide.

"We felt very strongly that this was necessary and will be a real added benefit to our agents in being able to get more consumers to make the actual buying decision because they have one less thing to be concerned about."
"Our agents now feel like they're being armed with something really new, unique and really exclusive. Nobody else has this," Hattem added.

Carnival Sensation Adds "Evolutions of Fun"

The 2,052-passenger Carnival Sensation has undergone a multimillion-dollar renovation and emerged with a host of new facilities and features, including a sprawling Carnival WaterWorks, the exclusive adults-only retreat Serenity, and redesigned tropical themed main pool. Ninety-eight balconies were also incorporated onto existing oceanview staterooms and a new Circle C facility for 12- to 14-year olds was added, as well.

The extensive renovation, which took place during a 35-day dry dock, is part of Carnival's "Evolutions of Fun" refurbishment program for the line's eight Fantasy-class vessels. Carnival Sensation is the fourth "Fun Ship" to receive the upgrades, joining the Carnival Imagination, Carnival Inspiration and Carnival Fantasy, which have already been renovated. The four remaining Fantasy-class ships will be refurbished over the next few years.

Carnival Sensation resumed its year-round three- and four-day Bahamas cruise program from Port Canaveral last week. Three-day cruises depart Thursdays and visit Nassau while four-day voyages depart Sundays and call at Freeport and Nassau.
"With its wide variety of on-board facilities and convenient three- and four-day schedule from Port Canaveral -- located in close proximity to Central Florida's many attractions and theme parks -- Carnival Sensation has been a popular choice for 'Fun Ship' guests, particularly families," said Roberta Jacoby, Carnival's senior vice president of hotel operations. "And with the new water park, updated pool area and other guest-pleasing features, we're making a terrific, value-packed vacation choice even more attractive to consumers," she added.
Ninety-eight existing oceanview staterooms on the Carnival Sensation have been retrofitted with balconies, creating expansive new cabins measuring approximately 230 square feet. Twenty-four of the new balcony cabins are located mid-ship, 12 are near the stern, and the other 62 are located aft, with several of these accommodations featuring extended balconies. Additionally, a number of the Carnival Sensation's suites have been modified to feature larger, extended balconies.

All of the Carnival Sensation's 1,026 staterooms have been completely remodeled with new wall coverings, tile work, carpeting and light fixtures. Additionally, virtually all dining, dancing and entertainment venues, as well as all guest corridors, have been renovated with a host of cosmetic enhancements.

NCL to Sail From Port Canaveral in 2010/11

Separately, NCL announced that for the first time in more than 11 years, it will homeport a ship seasonally at Port Canaveral, beginning October 2010. The 1,936-passenger Norwegian Sun will sail alternating seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, departing every Saturday from Oct. 9, 2010 through April 16, 2011.

"As part of our homeland cruising initiative, we are always looking for attractive ports in which to base our ships," said Kevin Sheehan, NCL's president and CEO. "By bringing Norwegian Sun to Port Canaveral, we are offering cruisers in Central Florida and to those vacationing in Orlando quick and easy access to Freestyle Cruising. In addition, Port Canaveral offers our guests a wide range of pre- and post-cruise packages with the ability to visit a number of family attractions."

Norwegian Sun's seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise will stop in Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. The Western Caribbean cruises will call in Cozumel, Santo Tomás de Castilla (Guatemala), Belize City and Key West. Since there is no port repetition, the two itineraries can be combined.

NCL will also offer seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings from Miami on Norwegian Pearl from Oct. 10, 2010 through April 10, 2011. Western Caribbean sailings include Roatán, Belize City, Costa Maya and Key West. Eastern Caribbean sailings include Samaná, Dominican Republic; St. Thomas; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Great Stirrup Cay. These two itineraries can be combined.

Norwegian Dawn will sail alternating five-day Western Caribbean and nine-day Southern Caribbean cruises out of Miami, from Nov. 14, 2010 through April 22, 2011. Western Caribbean sailings include Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Southern Caribbean includes Samaná, Tortola, Antigua; Barbados; and St. Kitts. Norwegian Dawn's five- and nine-day sailings can be combined to create a 14-day Caribbean cruise.

Also from Miami, NCL has extended Norwegian Sky's three- and four- day cruises to the Bahamas through April 18, 2011. Four-day Bahamas cruises on Mondays include full-day stops in Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay. On Fridays, the ship sails a weekend getaway, three-day Bahamas itinerary, departing Miami at 5 p.m. with all-day stops in Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, returning to Miami at 7 a.m. on Monday.

These cruises go on sale Feb. 12. Call me to book any of these cruises at (706) 579-5005.

Caribbean Princess Adds Features

Caribbean Princess has just emerged from an extensive three-week drydock to add a piazza-style atrium with the wine, seafood and cheese bar, International Café and Vines; the adults-only Sanctuary; seven new suites; and a more centrally located casino. Work is also nearly complete on a new Crown Grill steak and seafood restaurant.
These amenities became passenger favorites when they debuted aboard Crown Princess, Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess over the last three years, and are being added to a number of ships, including Golden Princess in May. The company has already introduced many of these features on Star Princess and Grand Princess.

"We want to give passengers who sail aboard any of our large ships the opportunity to enjoy the innovative amenities that have become hallmarks of the Princess cruise experience," said Jan Swartz, executive vice president of Princess Cruises.

As part of the renovation, the 3,080-passenger ship -- which debuted in 2004 -- made other changes including a new location for the sports court, a new Limelight boutique, new shore excursions and Captain's Circle desks, new Internet café and library, and the addition of flat-screen TVs in all staterooms.

Celebrity Names World Travel Holdings 'National Account Partner of the Year'

Celebrity Cruises has named World Travel Holdings (WTH) its 2008 "National Account Partner of the Year." WTH owns and operates several cruise brands, including Ft. Lauderdale-based CruiseOne and Cruises Inc.

"Throughout 2008, Celebrity Cruises showed that they are willing to make a continued investment in the travel agent community," said Brad Tolkin, co-chairman and co-CEO of World Travel Holdings. "Celebrity was the first to implement a no rebate policy and was among the first to eliminate fuel surcharges. They are clearly committed to helping travel agents succeed. This level of respect does not go unnoticed by our agents and as we proudly accept this honor, we pledge to continue doing our part in 2009."

In September, Cruise One and Cruise Inc. held the companies' annual National Conference aboard the Celebrity Mercury, with Dondra Ritzenthaler, senior vice president of sales for Celebrity and Azamara Cruises, as the keynote speaker. At that same conference, CruiseOne franchise owners and Cruises Inc. independent agents named Celebrity their "Premium Cruise Line Partner of the Year."

In November WTH, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. exclusively chartered the Celebrity Solstice for a special two-night sailing.

"We are thrilled to recognize World Travel Holdings as our National Account Partner of the Year," said Ritzenthaler. "Day in and day out, the WTH team demonstrates nothing but professionalism and a desire to succeed, and it is a pleasure to partner with such a terrific group of people."

This is the first time the lines are honoring top producing agencies.

NCL F3 Name Is Norwegian Epic

Norwegian Cruise Line today announced that its new F3 will be named the Norwegian Epic. NCL also announced that only agents will be able to block group space when the group space opens for sale in mid-March. Only groups will be open for sale in mid-March, not FITs. "It is a great opportunity for agents and when we open it up to consumers, agents will be ready to take the influx of sales," NCL executive vice president, global sales and passenger services Andy Stuart told agents in a Webinar today.

The Norwegian Epic will be home ported in Miami and sail on alternating seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises year-round from Miami. The first sailing will be in summer of 2010, after a series of pre-inaugural cruises. Stuart said NCL "is determined to show this ship to as many agents as we can. We are excited about this new product."

Eastern Caribbean cruises visit St, Maarten, St. Thomas and Nassau and Western cruises will go to Cozumel, Costa Maya and Roatan. The two can be combined. "We are thrilled to return to Miami year-round," said Stuart.

With agents the only source for consumers to secure space on the Norwegian Epic, agents will be in great shape to be ready for bookings when the ship goes on sale, said Stuart. "It is a further demonstration of how travel agents are number one at NCL. This is the travel agents' ship and we would like agents to take ownership of the ship," said Stuart, noting that agents cut the first steel for the ship and that a number of NCL's top agents signed the first steel; their signatures are permanently welded into the Norwegian Epic's structure.

Call me in Mid-March to secure your space on this exciting ship, (706) 579-5005.

NCL Introduces Online Check-In

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has launched online check-in via its new "My NCL" portal. This online gateway enables guests to update and track pre-cruise activity.
"By checking in online with 'My NCL,' guests will speed up the boarding process," said Vivian Ewart, vice president of passenger services.

Booked guests can log onto www.ncl.com, from reservation inception up until 24-hours prior to departure, and click on the online check-in icon to begin the process. Guests will be asked to enter their name, ship, sailing date and reservation number in order to create a username and password. Once a profile is created, all guest preferences, including reservation details, required pre-cruise information, shore excursion reservations and printable cruise ticket are stored on their "My NCL" account.

The guest check-in form on "My NCL" is intuitive based on the guest's nationality and itinerary and will automatically alert the guest of the appropriate documentation needed to sail.
Guests can also log into their "My NCL" account at any time to update their profile and cruise vacation preferences, print their e-docs, as well as check on their Latitudes (past guest program)status.

AMA Waterways Offers Free April Air

AMA Waterways is offering free air to Europe on its river cruise departures in April. The offer is good on flights departing New York, Boston, Washington, DC, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Seattle.

The Free April Air Promotion is available to clients who book the following AMA Waterways April depatures:

• Tulip Time - April 3, 5 and 10, 9 days, Holland & Belgium;


• Spring Time Cruise - April 8 and 18, 12 days, Amsterdam to Paris;


• Romantic Danube - April 3 and 7, 12 days, Prague to Budapest;


• Europe's Heartland Cruise - April 22, 12 days, Paris to Prague;


• Cruising Portugal & Spain - April 14, 12 days, Douro River Valley.

Call me Mike at (706) 579-5005 or 877-Cruise1 or mziegenbalg@cruiseone.com to take advantage of these great rates. They won't last long!

Carnival Unveils New Early Booking Savings Program

Carnival Cruise Lines is launching a new cruise pricing option called Early Saver, which offers fares as much as 25% lower than the best generally available rates, and provides rate protection if rates later drop below what the client originally paid.

Early Saver rates will be available beginning Jan. 12 and offered up to three months prior to sailing date for cruises of five days or less and up to five months prior to sailing date for longer length voyages, subject to availability. When booking an Early Saver fare, you will be able to choose a specific stateroom.

"Early Saver fares should encourage clients to book early with confidence," said Lynn Torrent, senior vice president of sales and guest services. The program offers several great mechanisms to help secure early sales."
To book Early Saver fares, travel agents must use an electronic reservations channel. The standard required deposit is immediately non-refundable at the time of booking. Any changes in ship or sailing date outside of Carnival's standard penalty period require a $50 change fee.

The Early Saver rate protection feature ensures that if a lower Carnival advertised rate becomes available after the booking is made, a rate adjustment can be requested and the cruise line will issue the difference in the form of a non-refundable shipboard credit. The lower fare must be for the same ship, sailing date, stateroom category and number of guests. To request a price adjustment, a rate protection form must be completed and emailed to Carnival by agents.
The lower rate must be available at the time the form is submitted. Rate adjustment requests can be submitted up to two business days prior to the cruise departure date. Early Saver fares are available for both individual and group reservations.

The Early Saver fare program will be available on virtually all Carnival ships and itineraries. For more information, call Mike at (706) 579-5005.

Oceania Launches Fifth Anniversary Savings

As previously announced last week, Oceania Cruises will launch its largest promotion ever on Jan. 7, with what the line calls unprecedented price reductions on more than 40 voyages.
In celebration of the completion of its fifth year of business, the line is offering savings of up to 72%, on voyages in Europe, Asia, Australia & New Zealand, South America and the Caribbean. That means clients can enjoy the Oceania Cruises Experience for as little as $1,249 per guest, the line announced.
In addition, solo travelers can enjoy the Oceania Cruises Experience for a single supplement of only 25% and third and fourth guests in a stateroom will receive an additional 50% reduction off of their cruise fare.
"With these significant pricing incentives and valuable amenities such as shipboard credits and pre-paid gratuities, this is the perfect opportunity for travelers to enjoy the acclaimed destination experience and unrivaled value that Oceania Cruises represents," stated Bob Binder, president of Oceania Cruises.

2009 European Collection

On select 2009 European Collection voyages, guests will receive free airfare, 2 for 1 cruise fares and an additional price reduction of $2,000 per stateroom on accommodation in categories G through A.
Applicable Sailings: April 4 - Barcelona to Istanbul, 14 days; May 31 - Rome to Istanbul, 12 days; June 5 - Athens to Rome, 12 days; July 23 - Athens to Istanbul, 12 days; July 26 - Venice to Barcelona, 14 days; August 4 - Istanbul to Rome, 12 days; Aug. 16 - Rome to Athens, 12 days; Aug. 23 - Istanbul to Athens, 12 days; Sept. 4 - Athens to Rome, 12 days; Sept. 9 - Istanbul to Athens, 12 days; Sept. 28 - Venice to Barcelona, 14 days; Oct. 12 - Barcelona to Athens, 10 days; Oct. 17 - Athens to Venice, 12 days; Oct. 17 - Venice to Istanbul, 14 days; Oct. 22 - Athens to Venice, 12 days; Oct. 29 - Athens to Istanbul, 12 days; Nov. 3 - Venice to Rome, 12 days; and Nov. 15 - Rome to Barcelona, 10 days.

2009-2010 Winter Collection

For the 2009-2010 Winter Collection, guests will receive the following price reductions in addition to free airfare and 2 for 1 cruise fares along with amenities valued at up to $1,500 per stateroom.
10 Day Voyages: $500 per stateroom price reduction, $500 per stateroom shipboard credit and free prepaid gratuities.
12-24 Day Voyages: $1,000 per stateroom price reduction, $500 per stateroom shipboard credit and free prepaid gratuities.
25-40 Day Voyages: $1,500 per stateroom price reduction, $500 per stateroom shipboard credit and free prepaid gratuities.
Applicable Sailings: All Winter 2009-2010 Collection voyages to Australia and New Zealand, Asia, South America and the Caribbean and Panama Canal.

Call Mike for any Oceania Cruise at (706) 579-5005 or visit http://www.cruisesbymike.com/.

Carnival Rolls Out 'Fun4All' Event With Free Upgrades

Carnival Cruise Lines has rolled out a new sales event, called "Fun4All," with free best available upgrades on virtually all three- to 12-day cruises departing through Dec. 18, including voyages to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England and Europe. To be eligible for this special offer, bookings must be made between Jan. 5 and 23.

"With consumers beginning to make their summer and fall vacation plans, there's no better time to book a 'Fun Ship' vacation and this free best available upgrade promotion makes the value of a Carnival cruise even greater," said Lynn Torrent, Carnival's senior vice president of sales and guest services.

The new "Fun4All" sales event is capacity controlled and applies to new individual bookings for categories 4A and higher. Upgrades are available within specific stateroom accommodation types (i.e., interior to interior, ocean view to ocean view, balcony to balcony, etc.). Guests must request fare code PFF when making the reservation.

For additional information and reservations, call me (Mike) at 706-579-5005.

Happy Holidays from Mike and CruiseOne

Just wanted to take a moment to wish every one a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a bright and prosperous New Year!

And Remember...You haven't Lived 'till you've Cruised!

Click this Link for a special Holiday Greeting!

RCI Adds Oasis Inaugural Sailings

Royal Caribbean International today announced two additional sailings to Oasis of the Seas' inaugural season: a seven-night inaugural Eastern Caribbean itinerary, sailing on Dec. 5, 2009, and a special four-night voyage - departing Dec. 1, 2009 - to celebrate the launch of an all-new Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private beach paradise in Haiti.

The Dec. 5, 2009 seven-night inaugural will call at St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Nassau. Guests booked on the original inaugural sail date of Dec. 12, 2009 can move to the new inaugural sailing of Dec. 5 before it opens to the public for booking on Jan. 12, 2009. During the reaccommodation period, which ends on Jan. 11, 2009, the following special benefits will apply: Guests choosing to sail consecutively on both the Dec. 1 and the Dec. 5, 2009 voyages also will receive a $200 onboard credit per stateroom ($300 onboard credit per suite) for an 11-night Oasis of the Seas cruise. Booked guests who want to take either the Dec. 1 or Dec. 5 sailing will be reaccommodated in the same stateroom and category. The cruise fare for the Dec. 5 sailing will remain unchanged. Guests who want to sail on the four-night voyage will receive a prorated fare.

The four-night itinerary includes a call at Labadee and two days at sea. Oasis of the Seas' maiden port of call at Labadee on Dec. 3, 2009 also will herald the opening of new facilities and array of activities and excursion options at the private beach destination.

Uniworld River Cruise Reintroduces Pay-In-Full Savings

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is reintroducing its Pay-In-Full Savings program that gives savings of $600 to $2,000 per couple on 2009 itineraries throughout Europe. The deal is good for those who pay in full by Jan. 31. “In the current challenging economic environment we want to give our customers every incentive to travel. With the reintroduction of the pay-in-full savings, coupled with the all-inclusiveness of a Uniworld river cruise, consumers now have a very compelling reason to travel to Europe and the other destinations we offer,” said Guy Young, president of Uniworld.

Princess Ships Prepare for a Festive Season at Sea

Snow Flurries Again Provide Holiday Magic, Along with a Gingerbread Housebuilding Challenge and Turkey Carving Training from the Experts

As the holidays draw near, Princess ships are preparing for another festive season at sea, and weather conditions are again pointing to unusual snow flurries onboard. After an extremely popular debut last year, snow will again magically fall in the ship’s atriums, transforming the vessels into a winter wonderland throughout December.

“What’s better than the romance of a white Christmas, especially when it’s an unexpected surprise?” said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president. “Our snowfalls were such a huge hit last year that this has now become a new tradition on Princess ships.”

The innovative snow-making process creates falling flakes that vanish on contact, letting passengers enjoy the excitement of snow flurries without the need to bundle up. Princess’ daily snowfall will occur on all ships except for the lines’ three small vessels – Pacific Princess, Tahitian Princess and Royal Princess – which do not have large, multi-story atriums.

Even when the snow isn’t coming down, Princess ships will feature a merry atmosphere. Vessels are decked out in holiday décor – even including a Christmas tree on the vessels’ masts – and strolling carolers fill the air with the sounds of the season.

Passengers can once again participate in a “gingerbread challenge,” where teams test their holiday housebuilding skills in a fun-filled competition to construct the most creative gingerbread structure. Or they can test their holiday craft skills by creating a personalized photo ornament. And new this year is a turkey-carving demonstration from the onboard culinary experts to prepare passengers to do the honors at their next holiday feast.

Special events also include a reading of “The Night Before Christmas” by either the captain or cruise director, and a holiday variety show adds a seasonal element to the ship’s entertainment offerings. For those who can’t get enough of Christmas carols, the ships’ Princess Pop Star talent show will feature a holiday edition where competitors can croon their favorite seasonal songs.

Religious services are held as well, and passengers can attend midnight mass or an inter-denominational church service performed by onboard clergy. Passengers will receive a stocking turndown gift and can enjoy classic holiday films or even relax in front of a traditional burning Yule log … on their stateroom television!

Holiday Feasts – Each Princess ship’s culinary team will delight the senses with spectacular holiday displays and will serve up several delicious feasts. A sumptuous Christmas brunch includes complimentary eggnog. On Christmas Day, passengers will sit down to a dinner of traditional holiday fare including roast turkey and all the trimmings. Freshly prepared stolen and Christmas cookies (even some for Santa) round out the seasonal treats.

Christmas For Children – Junior cruisers can count down to the big day with special holiday activities. Santa Claus makes an appearance with his sack full of toys, and a fun-filled holiday fair in the atrium offers youngsters the opportunity to try their hand at Christmas cookie decorating, balloon making, face painting, games and other competitions. The youth centers will host holiday parties for each age group, and kids can make decorations to display on the center’s Christmas tree. Youngsters can get creative with other holiday-themed arts and crafts projects throughout the cruise, and they will have an opportunity to sing Christmas carols for passengers. For parents who want to stay up later to celebrate the holidays, free late-night group kid sitting sessions will be available on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Hanukkah – Ships will also offer festivities for passengers celebrating the Festival of Lights. A special area of the ship is reserved for those participating in Hanukkah events and ships will display menorahs and fresh flower arrangements decorated in blue, silver and white. Children will enjoy themed arts and crafts pertinent to the holiday.

Happy New Year – Passengers will ring in a fun-filled 2009 with festive New Year's Eve parties, complete with music, confetti, noise-makers and a balloon drop to count down to the new year. Earlier in the evening, the dinner menu will feature special treats just for New Year’s Eve. On New Year’s Day, football fans will be pleased to know they won’t miss the holiday’s traditional college bowl games, as the telecasts will be shown (as available by satellite) in a shipboard lounge or on some vessels’ giant Movies Under the Stars top-deck screen.

The 17-ship Princess fleet will cover the globe this holiday season, with sailings to the Caribbean, Mexico, the Panama Canal, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, South America, Hawaii and the South Pacific.

Carnival Glory to Sail Canada Cruises From NYC in 2010

Carnival Cruise Lines will increase capacity on its seasonal cruise program from New York in 2010 with the 2,978-passenger Carnival Glory scheduled to operate a variety of four- and five-day Atlantic Canada voyages from June to September, followed by a series of five week-long fall foliage cruises.

It marks the first time that Carnival has deployed one of its largest ships on the highly popular program.

Additionally, departing from New York makes these cruises extremely convenient and attractive for the huge population base within driving distance of Manhattan, as well as for those in the larger Eastern US who can take a short-haul flight to one of the area's three major airports.

Four-day cruises departing Thursdays feature a call at Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada and scenic cruising in the Bay of Fundy, while five-day cruises departing on Mondays and Saturdays include stops at Saint John and Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The program commences with a four-day voyage departing June 6, 2010 (a one-time Sunday departure). Week-long fall foliage itineraries beginning Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010, feature four different ports of call, including Boston, Portland (Maine), Saint John and Halifax.

The cruise line is currently accepting reservations for both its 2009 and its 2010 departures from New York (2009 voyages will operate on the Carnival Triumph). For additional information and reservations, call me at (706) 579-5005 / (877) CRUISE1.

Viking River Cruises said it will debut Viking Legend, featuring cutting-edge technology and largest suites in Europe river cruising. The new ship will be introduced on the 15-day Viking River Cruises Grand European Tour itinerary, which takes guests along the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers between Amsterdam and Budapest; its official launch is expected to occur in May 2009. To further entice travelers to experience the new Viking Legend and all of the ships in its fleet, Viking has rolled out an incentive offer to encourage people who have taken at least one ocean cruise to try river cruising. “If you like ocean cruising, you will love river cruising,” said Tor Hagen, Viking chairman and CEO. “That is why we are offering anyone who has taken an ocean cruise a special Ocean Cruisers discount of $500 per person/$1,000 per couple on any 2009 Viking itinerary.”

Viking Legend will feature two suites measuring 310 square feet each -- the largest river cruise suites in Europe. “While all our staterooms are deluxe, with hotel-style beds, European linens and high-quality amenities, these suites are truly magnificent,” said Hagen. “Their size and configuration are comparable to high-end American hotel rooms, so guests can relax in unprecedented comfort.” Suites will have complimentary room service (in-room dining) available during all mealtimes. The new ship will be powered by an innovative propulsion system, allowing it to achieve an estimated 20 percent boost in fuel efficiency over any other river cruising vessel in the region. The new ship will also provide a quieter ride for guests by using four smaller propellers instead of two large propellers.

In addition to reducing emissions and engine noise, Viking Legend will provide the latest security features such as double hulls, multiple exits in all public areas and backup generators. At 443 feet, the three-level Viking Legend will be the longest in the Viking fleet, and will accommodate 189 guests in 98 staterooms. Additional amenities include 26-inch flat-screen televisions, refrigerators, hair dryers and in-room safes. Aboard Viking Legend, guests will enjoy fine dining at the ship's restaurant featuring seasonal menus and local specialties, a library, sun deck with 360-degree panoramic views, souvenir shop and an observation lounge.
For more information or to take advantage of these special rates, call me at (706) 579-5005 or Toll Free (877) CRUISE1

Disney Cruise Line Offers Reduced Rate “Bounceback” Cruise

Disney Cruise Line is offering clients sailing on a four- or seven-night cruise this winter the opportunity to sail on a three-night Bahamian cruise for $99 per person, double occupancy, later in 2009. Agents must book clients on a four- or seven-night cruise with sail dates of Jan. 31 through March 8, 2009, and March 21 to 28, 2009. Clients can then select a “bounceback” cruise at the $99 rate on most sailings between Aug. 13 and Dec. 17, 2009. To take advantage of this offer, the first cruise must be booked by Dec. 15, 2008. Call me today to take advantage of this limited time offer. (706) 579-5005 / (877) CRUISE1