Senate Commits To Vote On US Travel Act

The US Travel Association today applauded U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) for their leadership and agreement to move the Travel Promotion Act (S. 1023) as the first order of business following the Senate's August recess. The legislation will deliver $4 billion in new spending annually to the economy by attracting millions of additional international visitors to the United States. Championed by Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and John Ensign (R-NV), the bill also has the strong bipartisan support of 51 additional Senators.

"The Travel Promotion Act is common-sense legislation that will create American jobs, strengthen local communities and reduce the federal deficit," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the US Travel Association. "Travel promotion is the proverbial 'no brainer' - just ask every other developed nation in the world that is wooing Americans to spend our hard-earned dollars in their economies. We appreciate the Senate's commitment to put America on a level playing field."

In 2008, overseas travel to the United States remained below pre-9/11 levels for the seventh consecutive year. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, international arrivals are down 10 percent year-to-date in 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. Overseas travelers are especially important to the United States economy as they spend an average of $4,500 per person per visit.

"This legislation could not come at a more critical time for millions of workers across the U.S. dependent on a strong travel economy for their livelihoods," said Dow. "With the support of Senators Reid, McConnell, Dorgan, Ensign, Rockefeller and others, America is one step closer to strengthening its economy. We encourage the House of Representatives to follow the Senate with prompt passage of the Travel Promotion Act."

The Travel Promotion Act creates a non-profit corporation to better communicate America's travel policies and promote the United States as a premier travel destination. No U.S. taxpayer dollars are used to fund the program. The program is funded by the private sector and a $10 fee collected by the Department of Homeland Security from travelers who do not pay $131 for a visa to visit the United States. Nearly every developed nation other than the United Sates operates a multi-million dollar promotion program to attract foreign visitors.

Carnival to debut Interactive 'Funhub'

The new Carnival Dream, set to debut Sept. 21, will introduce the FunHub, a comprehensive shipboard intranet portal featuring the cruise industry's first on-board social network, along with access to a wide variety of information on the ship's services, facilities and daily activities.

Access to the FunHub will be available via 36 state-of-the-art stations located on decks 3, 4 and 5, including 12 within Ocean Plaza, Carnival Dream's spectacular indoor/outdoor café and entertainment venue.

The FunHub locations will provide guests with free and convenient access to an informative ship-specific intranet portal, and an exclusive shipboard social network, both of which will be available on a 24/7 basis. Guests may also access the sites via their personal laptops or via 10-inch netbooks which are available for rent and can be used anywhere on board.

Carnival Dream's on-board social network mirrors the experience one finds on other social networking sites. Guests can create a personal profile and use the application to meet and interact with others on board, send and receive private messages, create groups based on interests, and invite friends to attend shows or participate in on-board events. Guests can also create their own private or public discussion group, inviting others in their traveling party or friends they meet on board to participate.

Designed as a convenient resource for wide-ranging information specific to the Carnival Dream, the intranet portal details the ship's numerous on-board activities, including entertainment options, daily events and youth programs. Carnival Dream's extensive food and beverage offerings are showcased with sample menus, hours of operation and more. A filtering application is available to assist guests in planning their day.

The portal also includes weather updates for that day and the next port of call; the latest news and sports scores; biographies of key shipboard personnel; ship and cruise director announcements; fun, interactive polls; helpful three-dimensional ship maps, and a frequently asked questions section.

A year-long collaboration involving Carnival's hotel operations, marketing, IT and guest experience departments, the Carnival Dream's on-board social network and intranet portal are available on any guest computer or Wi-Fi enabled device free of charge.

"Carnival is the industry leader in cruise ship technology and social networking and the FunHub sets a new standard," said Ruben Rodriguez, Carnival's executive vice president of marketing and guest experience. "The FunHub provides Carnival Dream guests with an exciting and convenient way to keep in touch, meet new friends and learn all about this spectacular addition to the 'Fun Ship' fleet," he added.

Want to join in on the fun? Call me now to book a cabin on this wonderful cruise ship! Call (706) 579-5005 or (877) CRUISE1.

CruiseOne at Carnival's 'Pinacle'

CruiseOne, part of the nation's largest cruise retail network as part of World Travel Holdings (WTH), have been named to Carnival Cruise Lines' Pinnacle Club for top producers. The accolade was made official during a presentation by Carnival executives to Brad Tolkin, co-chairman/co-CEO of WTH and Dwain Wall, senior vice president/general manager of CruiseOne and Cruises Inc.
"CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. are in the midst of an outstanding year, both in terms of recruiting new agents to the industry and delivering increasingly high booking numbers to the cruise lines," said Tolkin. "Carnival Cruise Line is a valued partner and we are so thrilled to receive this recognition, which underscores the diligence of our agents amidst a challenging economic climate."

Golden Princess Emerges From Three-Week Dry-Dock

The Golden Princess emerged from the most extensive dry-dock ever undertaken by Princess Cruises, one that was followed closely by thousands of cruise aficionados around the world. Throughout the three-week makeover, a daily online photo journal showed the work needed to add such signature Princess features as a piazza-style atrium, an adults-only Sanctuary, a poolside movie screen, and a new Crown Grill steak and seafood restaurant. The online journal, which was updated each day on http://www.princess.com/, as well as on social networking sites Twitter and Facebook, featured more than 180 photos as the project was undertaken at Victoria Shipyards in British Columbia. The full transformation is available for viewing at www.princess.com/goldendrydock, and features scenes of the hull of the ship and propellers out of the water with the new silicone underwater paint being applied. Also pictured are hundreds of pieces of furniture being reupholstered and key public areas being demolished and re-configured into new spaces. During a short sampler sailing to Ketchikan and then back to Seattle, the new features were unveiled to passengers, and the ship is now cruising on its first Alaska voyage of the season. Golden Princess will continue to offer weekly departures from Seattle on roundtrip Inside Passage voyages through Sept. 12.

Now that the transformation is nearly complete, Golden Princess’ atrium features a new piazza with a street café atmosphere and two new dining options. The International Café serves specialty coffees, cookies, pastries, panini sandwiches and tapas, while wine bar Vines offers more than 30 wines by the glass, plus a selection of seafood, artisan meats and cheeses, and a wine shop. The Sanctuary, an adults-only retreat, features plush padded lounge chairs and the services of Serenity Stewards. Visitors can enjoy beverages and light snacks or receive a massage in a private cabana. A new 300-square-foot poolside LED screen now features evening movies and daytime programming. In addition to family cinema and first-run hits, it showcases major sporting events, concerts and other programming. The ship also now features a new relocated casino on deck 7, a new sports court, a new Internet café and library, and a refurbished fitness center. All passenger cabins were also fitted with new flat-screen televisions.
Some spaces are still in the final phases of completion, including the new Crown Grill restaurant, newly constructed suites, and the relocated shore excursions desk and wedding chapel.

RCCL Announces 2010/11 Short Caribbean Itineraries

Royal Caribbean International announced its 2010/11 Short Caribbean cruises -- a total of 331 sailings, comprised of 20 itineraries and 15 ports of call. The cruise line will enhance and expand its deployment in Tampa with Radiance of the Seas from autumn 2010 through spring 2011, while Majesty of the Seas and Monarch of the Seas will continue their year-round Bahamas getaway sailings from their respective homeports of Miami and Port Canaveral. Grandeur of the Seas will reposition to Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale for summer and autumn 2010, after which Navigator of the Seas will take over short Caribbean itineraries for its fourth consecutive season. Bookings for the line's 2010/11 short cruises are now open.

Radiance of the Seas' itineraries will include a four-night sailing, calling at Cozumel, Mexico, and a five-night sailing that adds Costa Maya. The ship's 2010 season will kick-off with a seven-night Western Caribbean sailing on Oct. 9, calling at George Town, Grand Cayman; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; and Belize City, Belize.

Grandeur of the Seas will reposition from Tampa and continue sailing four- and five-night Western Caribbean itineraries from Port Everglades in April 2010. Ports of call will include Key West, Cozumel, Costa Maya, George Town and CocoCay.

In November 2010, Navigator of the Seas will replace Grandeur of the Seas at Port Everglades, also offering four- and five-night itineraries. On one of its five-night itineraries that depart Mondays, Navigator of the Seas will call at the new port of Falmouth, Jamaica, and Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private beach paradise on the north Haitian coast. Other ports of call will include George Town, Cozumel, Belize City and Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

Majesty of the Seas and Monarch of the Seas will continue year-round three- and four-night Bahamas itineraries, departing Mondays and Fridays from Miami and Port Canaveral. Ports of call will include Nassau, CocoCay and Costa Maya.

Carnival Launches "Your Choice Dining" Program

Carnival Cruise Lines has launched Your Choice Dining, which provides a selection of three dinner seating options for guests aboard the line’s 22-ship fleet. In addition to early or late assigned seating, the cruise line is rolling out Your Time open seating to accommodate individual guest preferences. Also, under the new Your Choice Dining program, dining assignments will be confirmed at the time of booking.
Your Time open seating, currently available on five ships, will be implemented one vessel at a time over the next several months as modifications in dining room table configurations are completed on each ship. An additional eight ships are scheduled to be converted by the end of year, and the balance of the fleet will be converted by summer 2010. The program is now available on the Carnival Legend, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Sensation, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Miracle. By the end of this month, it will be available on the Carnival Conquest, Carnival Elation and Carnival Pride. It will be available on the Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Spirit by mid-June; the Carnival Dream by late September; the Carnival Ecstasy by mid-October; the Carnival Glory by mid-December; the Carnival Fascination by February 2010; and the Carnival Imagination, Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Destiny, Carnival Triumph, Carnival Valor, Carnival Splendor, Carnival Freedom and Carnival Victory by summer 2010.

Confirmed dining assignments are now available fleet-wide. At the time of booking, guests are asked to choose from among early dining at 6 p.m., late dining at 8:15 p.m. or Your Time dining, which allows guests to dine at any time between 5:45 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., if applicable, depending on the ship and sailing date. Dining assignments will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis, according to when guests made their reservations. If the preferred dining choice is not available, guests may confirm an alternate choice and be placed on a waitlist for their first preferences. Waitlists will be cleared prior to the sailing, and guests will be notified via email of their confirmed seating assignments.

Your Time guests also can request any table size or waiter and are typically seated immediately when arriving at the dining room. If a modest wait time is required, guests are given a pager so they are free to relax elsewhere on the ship until their table is ready. Additional options available under Your Choice Dining include poolside eateries and, on a number of ships, reservations-only, fine-dining restaurants.

Royal Caribbean releases itinerary details for new Allure of the Seas

The Allure of the Seas will sail seven-day, alternating eastern and western Caribbean itineraries beginning Dec. 12, 2010, Royal Caribbean International said Monday.

The 220,000-ton, 5,400-passenger Allure and its sister-ship the Oasis of the Seas will be world’s two largest cruise ships when they debut: the Oasis this November and the Allure one year later.

Both ships will be based out of Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades, with the Allure leaving on Sundays and the Oasis on Saturdays.

Both Allure itineraries will feature three days at sea, and in the eastern Caribbean will call in St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Nassau. In the western Caribbean, it will go to Falmouth, Jamaica; Cozumel, Mexico; and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach on the northern coast of Haiti.

Bookings for the Allure’s inaugural season open on April 2 for Diamond- and Diamond Plus-level members of the Crown & Anchor Society, Royal Caribbean's frequent cruiser program, and on April 8 for all Crown & Anchor Society members. General bookings will open on April 13.

Thanks to Travel Weekly for the update.

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.