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.

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.

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.