Panorama of Cabo San Lucas Bay from  a Suite at the Riu Palace Resort.  Lovely Suite with an upstairs deck and hot tub with THIS VIEW...  Fantastic.  Be on the watch for a resort by resort review. We toured 10 resorts each very unique. 

I am preparing for a 2 week trip.  I will be traveling on and reviewing the Kimpton Epic Hotel in Miami, the NCL Epic in a deluxe owner's suite  !!! and then a night in Orlando at Disney, a tour of 3 sandals resorts in the Bahamas and a stay at Turks and Caicos..

What is new on the Allure of the Seas ???

How about a Brazilian Steak House in the Solarium at night?

Here is an excerpt from Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean's Chairman and CEO's Blog.. 
I am making my reservations for our January 23rd sailing NOW...  Want to join us?  Just call !!

Careful Due Diligence



Posted on September 15th, 2010 by Richard


“It’s a tough job but someone has to do it.”






Part of the heavy burden I have to shoulder is the need to do extensive testing of our new culinary offerings. A year ago, we were making final preparations for opening the cupcake cupboard onboard OASIS OF THE SEAS and I fulfilled my responsibility by participating in extensive testing of the cupcakes we planned to offer. One has to do what one has to do!





And this year, I feel equally obliged to test the menu for the new Samba Grill being constructed onboard ALLURE OF THE SEAS. As a reminder, on OASIS, in the aft part of the beautiful Solarium, we have a wonderful Solarium Bistro which serves healthy entrées all day. That Bistro has been extremely successful for breakfast and lunch and we regularly receive rave reviews from our guests. BUT, unfortunately, it has been less successful for dinner. Those who go to it have been very happy, but too few people go to it in the evening. As a solid meat-and-potatoes man myself, I am not surprised. The idea of a restaurant whose entrées are all less than 500 calories looks great on paper, but isn’t as attractive for dinner to everyone. In fairness, the Bistro has some exceptionally attractive competition for our other restaurants onboard. I accept that by itself it would do well, but when the alternatives are places like 150 Central Park, Chops Grill, Giovanni’s Table, etc., it ain’t easy.




So, true to our credo of giving our guests what they want rather than what we think they should want, we have decided on Allure to convert the Solarium Bistro into a Brazilian Churrascaria restaurant. It turns out that the facilities onboard are well suited to this and we think it will be very successful.





But our diligence knows no bounds and to be absolutely sure, Adam Goldstein, Lisa Bauer, Vicki Freed and Frank Weber tried out the full menu in our test kitchen. The sacrifices I make striving for excellence. We started with the appetizer buffet. My personal favorite was the gazpacho (which I happen to adore) but the cold cuts, the shrimp and the salads were all excellent. But the big treat was the Gaucho coming around offering meat on huge skewers. All you can eat of some outstanding meats, fishes, chicken, etc. We even auditioned the Samba dancers during our meal.





I was impressed at how they had transformed a very clinical space (in this case our test kitchen) into a truly Brazilian ambience. The small touches really mattered and I really like the unique crockery program.



While we all enjoyed the meal and came away convinced that this was going to be a success, the best evidence ― as always — comes from our guests. We have only recently announced Samba Grill and already the advanced reservations for the venue are running at a rate double what the similar figure was for Solarium Bistro at the same time a year ago. These advanced reservations place Samba Grill squarely amongst our most popular restaurants even before it opens. Imagine what it will be like when everyone sees the real thing.

Carnival Unveils Magic Details

Although a Carnival Cruise might not be everyone's cup of tea I am very excited about the upcoming Magic cruise that we are planning in May going to all the most popular ports in the Mediterranean.  The best part of our 9 day itinerary and one of the driving reasons I chose it was that it begins in Venice and ends in Barcelona giving us time to spend a day or three on either or both ends and explore those locations a bit more than a one day port visit.  Add a spanking brand new ship smell.. great ports, fantastic spa for tired feet and bodies, yummy food and really good entertainment...  I am there!

Having said that, here is the latest news on the Carnival Magic build.

I mean, how fun does THAT look !!!

If you would like to join us, check the tab at the top of the blog for info.  We do have very special EXCLUSIVE SMALL GROUP TOURS PLANNED IN MOST PORTS.  6-8 people

An artist's rendering of the Twister slide at WaterWorks park

With 249 days until its newest "Fun Ship," the 130,000-ton Carnival Magic, sets sail, Carnival Cruise Lines is revealing a peek through the porthole at some of the ship's unique spaces and features.

Special amenities include Carnival's first-ever pub (featuring its own private label beer), an authentic trattoria that brings the heritage of Carnival's Italian captains to the table, an expansive outdoor sports complex that features the first-ever ropes course and outdoor weight-lifting area on a cruise ship, and cruising's first gargantuan water dump bucket, to name a few.

Here's some details about the new features:

RedFrog Pub— The RedFrog Pub offers a Caribbean vibe with island-inspired snacks and drinks, including ThirstyFrog Red, a private-label draught beer brewed especially for Carnival Magic. Located on Promenade Deck 5, the 100-seat indoor/outdoor pub's fare includes Bahamian conch salad, grouper fingers, firecracker Jamaican chicken wings, and other Caribbean favorites. RedFrog Pub will also offer tastings of top-rated rums of the Caribbean and a collection of the region's best beers.

Cucina del Capitano ("The Captain's Kitchen")— An homage to Carnival's rich Italian lineage— all of the line's captains are Italian and many Carnival ships, including Carnival Magic, are built in Italy— Cucina del Capitano is a dinner-time option with made-to-order Italian favorites. Guests can dine on hand-made pastas, risotto and fresh-from-the-oven Italian specialties (many served family style) complemented by a wine list specializing in Italian vintages. Many of the dishes and recipes were hand-selected by Carnival's captains. Dinner carries a nominal fee. During the day, the space is utilized as a casual made-to-order pasta bar with items offered on a complimentary basis.

SportsSquare— Taking Carnival's outdoor recreation areas to a new level is SportsSquare, which features the cruise industry's first ropes course where guests can traverse across nets suspended above Spa Deck 12. Surrounded by an eight-mile jogging track, the SportsSquare complex includes the first outdoor weightlifting area on a cruise ship, along with Carnival's first two-level miniature golf course, a Vita exercise course, a lighted multi-purpose court for basketball, volleyball and soccer, along with ping pong and foosball tables. A full bar with a large flat-screen display is available for those who just want to relax and check out the sports action in the area or on TV. Carnival Magic's other top-deck amenities include the WaterWorks aqua park and its "Twister" spiral water slide, as well as the new Aqua Play splash park designed for youngsters and their families, featuring a gigantic, 500-gallon "dump bucket" and a host of features.

Expansive Family-Friendly Spaces— Carnival Magic offers more than 19,000 square feet of space catering to kids and families, including dedicated spaces for children (Camp Carnival), 'tweens (Circle "C") and teens (Club O2), with organized activities and enthusiastic counselors for each group.

Serenity— For some adult-only "me" time, Serenity offers chaise lounges and chairs, hammocks, umbrellas and two jumbo-sized whirlpools, along with full bar service specializing in frothy, icy concoctions.

Cloud 9 Spa— Guests in the mood for a workout or some personal pampering can visit Cloud 9 Spa to soak in the thalassotherapy pool or sit in the thermal suite.

Stateroom Innovations— With 1,845 staterooms, Carnival Magic offers an array of accommodation types, including two-bathroom/five-berth cabins and connecting staterooms that hold particular appeal to families; cove balcony cabins closer to the water line; and spa staterooms providing special access and benefits.

Entertainment— The Punchliner Comedy Club, live bands along the promenade, Superstar Live

 Karaoke and production shows incorporating the latest special effects will be available for guests to kill time.

Carnival's Seaside Theatre— This 270-square-foot LED screen and poolside seating is where guests can sit and watch classic and first-run movies, sporting events, news, concerts and other programming, either during the day or night.

Ocean Plaza— Ocean Plaza is an indoor/outdoor cafe and live entertainment venue where guests can dance to live music and enjoy specialty coffees and sweets - even freshly made milkshakes. Full bar service, specializing in martinis and mojitos, is also available.

The Lanai— The Lanai is a half-mile, open-air promenade encircling Promenade Deck 5 where guests can take a stroll, lie down in a deck chair, or relax in one of four cantilevered whirlpools that extend out over the ship's sides.
 
Fun Hub— Available on any guests' Internet-connected laptop or at dozens of locations throughout the ship is the Fun Hub, a social network and comprehensive shipboard intranet portal that provides access to a variety of information on Carnival Magic's services, facilities and daily activities. Carnival Magic will also offer bow-to-stern Wi-Fi and cell phone service.

The 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic is slated to debut in Europe with a series of seven- to 12-day Mediterranean cruises operating May 1 - October 16, 2011. Following a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing, Carnival Magic will launch seven-day Caribbean service from Galveston, TX, November 14, 2011, becoming the port's largest year-round cruise ship.

Comedy Clubs to be on all Carnival Ships soon.

Comedy clubs to be on all Carnival ships 

Carnival Cruise Lines will put comedy clubs on all 22 ships in its fleet by the end of this year, building on the success of the line’s first Punchliner Comedy Club, introduced on the Carnival Dream last year.

Carnival said it experimented with the comedy club concept unofficially on the Carnival Glory and determined it was a viable concept before officially rolling out its first dedicated comedy club space on the Dream.

While comedy shows have always been part of Carnival’s diverse entertainment lineup, the concept was taken to another level aboard the Carnival Dream, which offered the line’s first dedicated comedy club last fall. Comedy clubs are currently also featured on Carnival Glory, Carnival Pride and Carnival Sensation — with the concept being incorporated into the remainder of the fleet over the next several months.  When Carnival Magic enters service in May 2011, a Punchliner Comedy Club will also be featured on the line’s newest “Fun Ship.” 

Carnival spokeswoman Jennifer De La Cruz said the concept "has really taken off and has proven exceptionally popular, and therefore we have made the decision to roll it out fleetwide on a very aggressive schedule." 

All of the line’s aft show lounges will be converted to Punchilner Comedy Clubs with a special stage as well as branded glassware, menus, employee uniforms and other items featuring the Punchliner Comedy Club logo.

Each club will offer five to 10, 35-minute shows on multiple nights during each cruise, with at least two comedians performing each night. The two early-evening shows offer fun for the whole family, while later performances will feature adult-oriented comedy, Carnival said.

The Carnival Punchliner Comedy Clubs will feature established comedians as well as "rising stars," Carnival said.

"Laughter is the most public, most infectious expression of fun, so we’re excited to provide our guests with an expanded offering in comedy with our new Punchliner Comedy Clubs," said Carnival CEO Gerry Cahill in a statement.

By: Johanna Jainchill July 19, 2010

Virgin America Orders Up Like a Gazillion More Planes !!!

If you follow me around often you know how I love flying Virgin America when I have that option.  I am particularly fond of the the LAX to FLL run and all up and down the West Coast !!!  (Thank you Virgin !)

Although I do wish they would take a later exit time out of Fort Lauderdale for those of us disembarking ships THIS is really great news!  

Just when Emirates shocks with orders for 32 new, giant A380s, making their total superjumbo order 90-strong, along comes the announcement from Virgin America that they've placed orders for forty new Airbus A320s, with the option for an additional twenty beyond that by 2018. 

Okay, so nothing can really beat Emirates' splurge, but the Virgin America announcement is noteworthy in that it will triple the airline's fleet, and the new aircraft—to be delivered beginning in 2013—will feature the newish "sharklets," a larger and redesigned version of the American flag-painted winglets you'll currently find on the tips of the plane wings. Aside from reminding us of the awesome "Shark Week" on the Discovery Channel, sharklets mean fuel savings and increased eco-efficiency for VX's already pretty green-conscious fleet. 

So where will Virgin America's shiny new A320s be flying? Well, the airline still has at least another year to decide that, but a larger fleet obviously means increased destinations, and we're still pulling for a Chicago route. We see the potential for more Canada and Mexico routes, since their hype with the Toronto launch and upcoming Cabo San Lucas/Cancun routes seem to be doing well. Perhaps New York will get more options, or—hold your breath—they'll start flying to Austin? 

Where do you want to see Virgin America flying?

Carnival Gives us West Coasters another Short Trip Ship

Carnival Cruise Lines announced today that it will return to the Port of Los Angeles in fall 2011 when the 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit launches a series of five- and nine-day Mexican Riviera voyages.

“It’s been eight years since Carnival Cruise Lines home-ported a ship at the World Cruise Center and we are extremely pleased to welcome them back to the Port of Los Angeles,” said Port Executive Director Geraldine Knatz, Ph.D. 

“The additional Carnival ship calls help fuel regional tourism and benefit our local economy by generating jobs and revenue connected to ship services and retail sales.”

Carnival Spirit’s new Los-Angeles-based schedule will include 12 departures between September 2011 and January 2012. One of the departures will include a 15-day voyage from Los Angeles to Hawaii in December 2011. 

It gives us one more choice of ships at least on the west coast.  Look for from short to longer voyages this fall and next spring.

We have sailed the Spirit and she is a very nice mid size ship with a great crew...We love the large aft pool deck with hot tubs a full bar and the ice cream is back there!  Lot's of lounge chairs to go around.

Eight Great Street-Food Vendors in Seattle

Since I am headed to Seattle as a pre and post cruise destination I ran across this article while looking for interesting places to eat that were unique and not to costly.  Portland is huge in street eateries so I thought I would check out Seattle and this is what I found.  Thought I would share it with you all !

Seattleites like to bemoan the shortcomings of our street-food scene, especially compared to the profusion of portable kitchens in Portland. Still, it’s not like we’re going hungry here. From hot dogs to Thai food to tacos of all (well, at least two) nations, you don’t need to step indoors to have lunch or dinner covered.
Written by     Matthew Amster-Burton, Gourmet Magazine

Related links

• See all of our coverage of street food
• Eight Great Bahn Mi in Seattle
• Eight Great Teahouses in the Pacific Northwest
• Read more by Matthew Amster-Burton on gourmet.com

1. El Asadero

Seattle boasts dozens of taco trucks, and this converted school bus is among the best. The tender lengua (beef tongue) and crispy carnitas are exceptional; try them in a mulita, a crispy tortilla sandwich filled with meat, avocado, cheese, and salsa. Then have a seat on a rickety stool and eat right inside the bus. You know, just like you weren’t allowed to do on the way to school. How cool is that? Two locations: 3517 Rainier Ave S. and 7300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S.

2. Marination Mobile

The Korean-taco craze has finally hit Seattle (we had heard about L.A.’s Kogi BBQ for months, I tell you!) in the form of Marination Mobile, a slick, custom-built truck that announces its coordinates via web and Twitter. The sweet and beefy kalbi taco is the winner here, and there’s also Hawaiian food in the form of kalua pork and spam sliders. But more spice, please. We can take it! Multiple locations (marinationmobile.com; Twitter: @curb_cuisine)

3. Dante’s Inferno Dogs

No bland, boiled dogs here. Dante starts with Boar’s Head all-beef franks with natural casings and rolls them around on a griddle until the skin is snappy, crusty (in a good way), and a little wrinkled. If you’ve spent time in New York, you’ll recognize this as the Papaya King method, sadly rare in Seattle. (Dante also serves a variety of sausages, but the original dog is hard to beat.) Then select from a wide variety of toppings (pickled jalapeños, grilled onions, and kraut for me), which you are forbidden from applying yourself at the risk of eternal torment, or at least the risk of having a hot-dog guy glare at you and say, “Didn’t you read the sign?” Multiple locations (dantesinfernodogs.com; Twitter: @danteinfernodog)

4. Hallava Falafel

So you’re in line at the yellow falafel truck, and under the Falafel heading is an encyclopedia of condiments: beet salad, spinach/romaine, salted cucumbers, sautéed peppers, pickle spear, tzatziki, tahini, tomato zucchini spread. And you are thinking, “How am I going to decide which combination of these condiments to apply to my sandwich?” The good news: You don’t have to decide, because by default you get all of them on the same grilled pita with freshly fried falafel. The better news: They all play well together. Every bite is an adventure. The bad news: The sandwich is exactly as messy as it sounds. 5825 Airport Way S. (myspace.com/hallava)

5. Kaosamai

This Thai lunch truck proves the axiom that anything tastes better eaten on the street. If Kaosamai were a Seattle Thai restaurant (and it is: There’s a bricks-and-mortar location in Fremont), it would be a good one. But here, in the form of a brightly colored truck in a South Lake Union parking lot, it is the lunch of your dreams. The pad kee mao (drunken noodles) combines slippery rice noodles with chicken, about ten different vegetables, and plenty of chile heat. And of course there’s pad Thai, the national dish of Seattle. 1010 Valley St. (kaosamai.com)

6. Roasted Corn Stand

We’re talking elote asado here, people, roasted Mexican street corn. The vendor pulls an ear of corn out of the oven and slathers it up with mayonnaise, grated cheese, a squirt of lime juice, and an optional shake of hot chili powder. Once you try spicy corn on a stick, you’ll wish you had one in your hand at all times. And a beer in the other hand. Which would be illegal. Which is why they call you El Bandido de Elote. 9811 15th Ave SW.

7. Skillet

Skillet maintains a fleet (well, a small fleet) of converted Airstream trailers, and they have one mission: to bring you burgers and poutine. The burgers are made with grass-fed beef and optionally topped with bacon jam, a condiment exactly as good as it sounds. Oh, the poutine? Crisp French fries with gravy and cheese curds. It’s Canadian, and it’s much, much better than it sounds. Sure, you could get plain fries, but we’re so close to Canada here, you might as well get with the program. At press time, Skillet is revamping their menu and adding a new lineup of burgers, including an alluring guajillo chile model. Multiple locations (skilletstreetfood.com; Twitter: @skilletstfood)

8. Poco Carretto

Finally, dessert. The sweet-toothed mastermind of this roving gelato cart is chef Holly Smith, who serves upscale Italian at Cafe Juanita. The milk and cream come from Fresh Breeze, a local organic dairy known for the best-tasting milk in town. The burnt-sugar gelato, not too sweet, is far from the caramel ripple of your youth, and by all means pair a scoop of dark chocolate with a scoop of the intense malt. If you’re going to walk around town with ice cream running down your arm, make it the good stuff. Multiple locations (pococarretto.com)

Photograph by Sean Flanigan

How cool is it that Disney Cruises is coming to the West Coast and Kids Sail Free!

Bring the kids for FREE

You can enjoy the beauty of the Baja California and Mexican coasts on a voyage filled with unmatched Disney entertainment, legendary service and magic made for everyone of every age. Offer Details: Kids 17 and under sail FREE* when traveling with two full-fare Guests in the same stateroom on select 7-night Mexican Riviera cruises from Los Angeles. Offer is valid for stateroom Categories 4-11 only. Offer is only available to U.S. and Canada residents. Booking and Travel Window: Booking Window: June 11 – July 31, 2010 Travel Window: Jan. 23 – March 20, 2011 More Information: Departing from Los Angeles, the 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise aboard the Disney Wonder® includes stops at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas, plus three fun-filled days at sea.

Convenient Coastal Getaways on Princess Ships including Wine Cruises !!

Getaways of 1 to 7 days along the Pacific Coast are a wonderful, relaxing way to escape for those with less time. These
convenient sailings are offered in 2011 and 2012 on four ships, including Island, Coral, Golden and Sapphire Princess,®
and include our popular 7-day Wine Country Coastal sailing, a 7-day California Coastal roundtrip from Los Angeles and
1- to 4-day Pacific Coastals. It’s the perfect easy getaway to leave your responsibilities behind and enjoy all the leisurely
activities, entertainment and amenities of a Princess® ship.


 OK,,,  I KNOW THAT IS THE QUEEN MARY, !!!!  But isn't it a nice photo?  By the way,  the rest of these I took on a trip in May, 2008.  A coastal voyage.  May is fantastic in Buchart Gardens.  I have never seen taller tulips and more varieties in my life!  Here is one of them.

I have been to Buchart Gardens a few times and won't sail a coastal itinerary without Victoria, B.C.  on the itinerary...  Sorry for all the photos but Coastal Trips offer a lot to see and they are the most cost effective way to cruise as the ships are repositioning to and from Alaska for the season!  This is also a great combo to a beginning of the season Alaska Cruise!                                                                                                                                        Look at the schedule and plan one today!

  They travel every Spring and Fall.

To the Left is Docking in the sleepy town of Astoria, Oregon on a misty morning.. 


Below are some itineraries that Princess is doing but you can also find them on NCL, Royal Caribbean and of course Holland America.  Basically any ship that is going to Alaska including the Deluxe and Luxury Lines.



California Coastal 7 Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, San Diego, Ensenada, Los Angeles
Sep 24; Oct 1, 2011
Apr 28, 2012 Sapphire

Wine Country Coastal 7 Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Astoria, Seattle, Victoria, Vancouver May 12, 2012 Sapphire

West Coast Cruise 5 Vancouver, Victoria, San Francisco, Los Angeles Sep 19, 2011 Sapphire

Pacific Coastal 5 Los Angeles, San Francisco, Victoria, Vancouver May 11, 2012 Island
 
Alaska Sampler 4 Vancouver, Ketchikan, Seattle May 22, 2012 Golden

4-Day Pacific Coastal 4 Vancouver, Victoria, 2 days cruising the Pacific Ocean, Los Angeles Sep 21, 2011 Island
 
3-Day Pacific Coastals 3 Vancouver, 2 days cruising the Pacific Ocean, Los Angeles
Sep 25, 2011 Golden
May 9, 2012 Coral

2-Day Pacific Coastals 2 San Francisco, 1 day cruising the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver
Sep 24, 2011 Coral
May 20, 2012 Golden

1-Day Pacific Coastals 1 Between Seattle and Vancouver
Sep 24, 2011 Golden
May 14, Sep 18, 2011 Sapphire

Love Princess and feeling Exotic? Plan now as these Special Sailings fill up fast!

Princess Cruises Announces 2011-12 Worldwide Sailing Schedules

“Exotics” Voyages Explore the Globe with Journeys to Asia, Africa, South America,

Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (June 7, 2010) – True to its destination cruising heritage, Princess Cruises has just released its 2011-2012 schedule for worldwide voyages featuring intriguing itineraries to Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti, India, and South America.

The “Exotics” program will give passengers the opportunity to explore these fascinating destinations aboard intimate small ships or spectacular larger vessels.

Among the program highlights is a new roundtrip 28-day Hawaii, Tahiti & Samoa itinerary from Los Angeles aboard Sapphire Princess, giving passengers an extended South Pacific experience. In South America, the line will expand capacity on sailings around Cape Horn by 50 percent, enabling more travelers the opportunity to make this fabled passage.

The Exotics season runs from September 2011 to May 2012 and includes:

Asia, Africa & India – A passenger favorite, the 16-day Southeast Asia itinerary between Beijing and Singapore returns in the fall and spring aboard Diamond Princess. Travelers can also choose to sail between Asia and Alaska or Australia, for two-continent adventures. Passengers can explore further with a collection of connoisseur voyages aboard Ocean Princess, visiting unique locations in Asia, the Indian Ocean and West Africa.

Australia & New Zealand – Princess offers a wide range of options for exploring “down under” with a season of Australia & New Zealand sailings aboard Diamond Princess, connoisseur cruises on Ocean Princess, and “Aussie-style” cruising aboard Sun Princess, Dawn Princess and Sea Princess to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific from Sydney, Melbourne and now Brisbane.

South America – Princess offers even more opportunities in 2012 for a sailing rite of passage – rounding Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of South America. Star Princess departs on more cruises for a 50 percent increase in capacity on this celebrated route. The ship also sails on a Brazilian Adventure from Rio, and Pacific Princess takes passengers exploring down the mighty Amazon River.

Hawaii & Tahiti – A new 28-day roundtrip Hawaii, Tahiti & Samoa cruise debuts on Sapphire Princess, offering a new option from Los Angeles. Sapphire Princess joins Golden Princess sailing to the Hawaiian Islands on the line’s popular 14-day roundtrip Los Angeles itinerary. Ocean Princess also sails on a series of 10-day Tahiti & Polynesia and 11-day Hawaii & Tahiti voyages.

Princess’ Exotics program cruises open for sale on June 17, 2010.

Hubbard Glacier Calving .... WOW, WOW, WOW.. Alaska

I am going to be there in 2 weeks. Hope we get something even close to this.. And Hubbard Glacier, Alaska is a Growing Glacier, NOT receding.

Just a quick 3 day ROYAL CARIBBEAN SALE Let's save some $$$

 

ENJOY TRULY CAREFREE CRUISING !!! CRUISE ONE ONLY
Royal Caribbean Pre-Paid
Gratuities for 1st & 2nd Passengers on 5+ Night 2010 sailings July 1 –
December 31 Oceanview & Above
Cruise One EXCLUSIVE 3-Day Sale BOOK JUNE 8 -10TH 2010.

This is combinable with all other discounts including the new C & A combinable OBC plus diamond balcony discounts in June... No better time to recapture the feelings of the old days of multiple onboard offers.

Finally some LOVE for the Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Members

Although Royal Caribbean has always had a very good loyalty program recently they made some changes to the program that changed the benefits onboard as well as the always before combinable discount program which made frequent sailing aboard Royal more affordable.

Vickie Freed at RCCL announced that they are now ADDING something that will help give us Diamond and Diamond Plus Members BACK some of the combinable benefits.

BOOK IN JUNE or ONBOARD to be able to get your balcony discount as well as OBC we all love.

I am happy and will now book my January 23rd Allure sailing for those that want to go with us and get some extra perks!  And sail with Joe and Nancy!

C & A Benefit Chart

ROYAL CARIBBEAN ANNOUNCES CROWN & ANCHOR SOCIETY ENHANCEMENTS

Cruise Line Enhances Program to Better Recognize Members’ Loyalty

MIAMI, June 01, 2010 – Royal Caribbean International today announced new enhancements to the cruise line’s Crown & Anchor Society that will better recognize and reward the cruise line’s loyal member guests. The new Crown & Anchor Society enhancements will begin rolling out on June 1, 2010, offering members the exclusive privilege to book their next cruise onboard and receive an onboard credit for their future sailing. Members also can apply their Crown & Anchor Society Savings Certificates and receive the onboard credit for their future booking, receive more individual attention and service from additional onboard Loyalty Staff aboard each ship, have priority notification of exclusive member specials, and exclusively receive added-value offers in the Crown & Anchor Society Ultimate Value Booklet.

“We listened to our member guests and are launching program enhancements to reflect what they told us matter most to them,” said Betsy O’Rourke, senior vice president of Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. “The new exclusive benefits will add to those that members have enjoyed in the past and reflect Royal Caribbean’s commitment to recognize and reward our loyal members who cruise with us again and again. There has never been a better time to be a Crown & Anchor Society member, and there is more to come.”

Crown & Anchor Society members will now have the exclusive privilege to reserve their next cruise while onboard a Royal Caribbean vacation. The new and exclusive Onboard Booking Bonus offers members the exclusive privilege to book a future cruise onboard and receive an onboard credit to spend on the future sailing, which can now also be used with either a Crown & Anchor Savings Certificate or a Balcony and Suite Discount (the latter applicable for Platinum, Diamond or Diamond Plus members), offering member guests great savings for their next cruise. 

THIS IS ALSO AVAILABLE ALL OF JUNE TO MAKE YOUR BOOKINGS NOW THROUGH YOUR TRAVEL AGENT !!!!!

An additional Crown & Anchor Society Loyalty Staff member also has been appointed aboard each ship to offer more personalized service and deliver the Royal treatment to each member guest. The Loyalty Staff members can help answer member guests’ questions and help them reserve future cruises to take advantage of the new and enhanced vacation offers, available only to members of the Crown & Anchor Society.
 

Crown & Anchor Society members also will notice the new program enhancements both at home and onboard. Members will continue to enjoy first-to-know priority notice and access to new developments, special events, and exclusive offers that reward members for their loyalty. Travel agent partners also will be notified simultaneously. Onboard, member guests will be recognized every time they advance to a new level; and enjoy new enhanced benefits in their Ultimate Value Booklet, filled with new onboard savings for beverages, internet packages, photo and logo merchandise, supplementing classic favorites such as casino and spa discounts, to name a few.

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 21 ships currently in service and one under construction. The line also offers unique cruisetour land packages in Alaska, Dubai, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and South America. For additional information or to make reservations, call your travel agent,

Celebrity Constellation Gets some Added Chic !!!

I have always wanted to sail Celebrities most sought after ship and also sail the Solstice Class and now you if you can't decide...  Choose the Constellation and you well get the best of both worlds...  By the way after she comes through the Canal Ft Lauderdale to San Diego she will be going back through the other way in case you are interested in a one way Panama Canal this year!

NEWLY “SOLSTICIZED” CELEBRITY CONSTELLATION® SETS SAIL WITH STYLE 

First of four Millennium Class ships completes eagerly anticipated refit Celebrity Cruises coined the word “Solsticized” in January, and yesterday, the meaning behind it became reality for guests embarking on Celebrity Constellation® in Amsterdam.

Following an ambitious 15-day drydock and revitalization period, Celebrity Constellation now boasts some of the most popular venues found on the line’s widely-heralded Solstice Class ships, including the tantalizing Tuscan Grille steakhouse; the vibrant creperie, Bistro on Five; a “cool” new ice-topped Martini Bar; the inviting Café al Bacio and Gelateria; Cellarmasters wine bar, complete with the state-of-the-art wine serving systems known as “Enomatics,” allowing guests to select and serve wines by the glass, at the touch of a button; more sumptuous suites, with all new furniture, flat-screen TVs, upholstery, bedding and carpeting; restyled staterooms, with entirely new carpeting, flat-screen TVs, upholstery and bedding; and new color schemes, carpeting and upholstery reflective of the Solstice Class’ stylish, modern design in every public venue. 

"Our newly Solsticized Celebrity Constellation is a significant outgrowth of our ‘Designed for you’ brand platform, built around our longtime commitment to identifying and designing what our guests want,” said Celebrity’s President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. “By adding Solstice Class features that we know our guests love to our already award-winning Millennium Class ships – with the impeccable service our spectacular crew delivers across the entire fleet – we’re confident we have a winning combination, expressly designed for discerning cruisers.”


Celebrity Constellation is the first of the line’s four Millennium-class ships to be “Solsticized.” Celebrity Infinity® and Celebrity Summit® will be similarly refurbished in 2011, followed by Celebrity Millennium® in 2012.

The revitalization is only part of Celebrity’s Designed for you platform, which – when combined with the brand’s Celebrity Life onboard experiences, more robust Captain’s Club loyalty program, and other brand enhancements – represents a nearly $200-million investment. 

Following her current 7-night cruise through the breathtaking Norwegian Fjords, Celebrity Constellation will present a series of 12-night Scandinavia and Russia cruises, followed by an 8-night Northern Europe and Mediterranean cruise from Amsterdam to Barcelona, where the ship will present a series of roundtrip, 7-night Mediterranean sailings, before a 14-night transatlantic voyage departing Barcelona November 6, ending in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. There, Celebrity Constellation will present two consecutive 14-night Exotic Caribbean cruises, prior to embarking on a 15-night Panama Canal voyage from Fort Lauderdale to San Diego on December 18.

Cunard's Queen Victoria in LA for 4 night Voyage Valentines 2011

Want a taste of the newest Queen in the Cunard Fleet?  How does 4 nights aboard out of LA sound for a Valentines Extravaganza next year sound!  What a a way to surprise your honey....

Yes, she will be in LA giving us a treat on 2/13/2011.  Let me know if you would like to go...  I know I put it on my calendar as a possibility !!!  I have been looking for a way to get onboard this fantastic Vessel without having to Cross the Atlantic to do it!

Here are some details from Cunard regarding some of the GALA surrounding her visit here.............


 

N E W S

Cunard Partners with BritWeek Los Angeles

Iconic Cruise Line On Board to Promote “All Things British”

     

15 April 2010 – Cunard Line, the iconic British ocean liner company sailing the youngest, most modern luxury fleet in the cruise industry, is pleased to announce a new partnership with BritWeek Los Angeles (17 April – 8 May), a star-studded celebration of British film and television, music, fashion, art and design, entertainment, business innovation, food, and sports, highlighting the rich relationship between the United Kingdom and Los Angeles.  Cunard’s participation includes co-sponsorship of the BritWeek Gala charity dinner honouring Virgin Founder and CEO Sir Richard Branson on 22 April at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.  Cunard has donated a lavish voyage package from Los Angeles to Hawaii aboard Queen Victoria, in celebration of the ship’s first Americas season starting in 2011.  Beneficiaries of proceeds from the BritWeek Gala, including the Queen Victoria voyage live auction, are Virgin Unite and Save the Children.
Being an internationally recognised British cruise vacation brand and having North American headquarters located north of Los Angeles in Valencia, Calif., Cunard has long fostered a connection between England and America. North American guests who sail with Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria enjoy British traditions as part of legendary voyages, including white-gloved afternoon tea service, a traditional English pub and Royal Nights themed formal balls. Additional opportunities to experience this rich British heritage will become available with the launch of Cunard’s new Queen Elizabeth, debuting this October in Southampton, England.
“At Cunard, we are deeply proud of our British heritage and welcome opportunities to celebrate it, both on and off our luxury ocean liners,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. “We look forward to partnering with BritWeek and its other sponsors to spotlight the contributions of our British brethren throughout Los Angeles and America.”

Numerous BritWeek events will be held throughout Los Angeles for three weeks, bringing attention to British involvement in the city's cultural and business life, including a “BritWalk” that will take in some of the city's most exclusive streets, linking more than 50 British fashion and luxury brands, restaurants and hotels.

BritWeek is the brainchild of British television director and producer Nigel Lythgoe (“American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance”) and Bob Peirce, former British Consul-General Los Angeles. In addition to Cunard, other notable British companies sponsoring BritWeek include Virgin Atlantic, British Petroleum and 19 Entertainment.

“It is an honour for us to have Cunard, a renowned British cruise brand, join our lineup of sponsors for this year’s BritWeek,” said Mindy Gail, executive director of BritWeek. “With this initiative, we highlight British contributions to Los Angeles, and Cunard is a valuable partner in our efforts to realize this goal.”

Volcano brings an eruption of interest in cruises to Iceland

By John Honeywell on Apr 15, 10 12:37 PM  

There can be few sights more spectacular than a volcanic eruption, and while the ash cloud from Iceland may be disrupting UK flights today, cruises to the island this summer will be unaffected. Even if the cruise companies don't set up their own excursions, there will no doubt be plenty of enterprising taxi drivers waiting on the quayside at Reykjavik to take passengers on the 90-minute drive to the Eyjafjallajokull volcano which is causing all the problems.
The earliest opportunity to cruise to Iceland from the UK will be on Page & Moy's Athena, which sails from Harwich on May 14 and after calling at two ports in Norway before four calls in Iceland - Reykjavik being the last on May 23. Details on the Page & Moy website.
Seabourn Sojourn, which leaves Dover on June 6, will be in Reykjavik on June 11, and also visits Heimaey, which was evacuated in 1973 when the port was threatened by an eruption which eventually increased the length of the island from 11 square kilometres to almost 13.5 square kilometres. Cruise details here.
Marco Polo, now being operated by Cruise and Maritime Voyages, sails from Tilbury on June 22 and will be in Reykjavik on June 27 and will also be sailing round Surtsey, a small island created by a volcanic eruption in 1963. Sister ship Ocean Countess departs from Leith on July 12 for a 12-night cruise which also includes a visit to Surtsey and a day in Reykjavik on July 17. Details here.
P&O has three cruises which will reach Iceland this summer as part of voyages which also visit Norway , and all departing from Southampton. Dates are: Oriana , June 2; Aurora, June 18; Arcadia, June 19. More details at P&O's website.
The boutique ship Ocean Princess leaves Dover on June 25 for an 18-day voyage to New York, calling at Reykjavik on July 3 - and it's unlikely that flights home from the US will still be affected by then. Big sister Crown Princess sails from Southampton on July 29 on a 12-day voyage to Reykjavik and then on to the fjords.
One of the most interesting cruises to Iceland will be on Saga Pearl II which departs from Dover on June 28 and will call at six ports on the island, including Heimaey and Reykjavik, during the 14-night voyage. Sister ship Saga Ruby leaves Dover on June 30 for a 19-night voyage to Greenland, which also visits Reykjavik. Saga cruises are for the over-50s only.
Spirit of Adventure has a 14-night cruise to explore the geological wonders of Iceland, departing from Dover on July 14, and calling at Seydisfjord, Akureyri, Isafjord, Reykjavik and Heimaey.
Holland America Lines' Prinsendam, which makes a two-day visit to London on July 23 and 24 then sails via Rosyth to Reykjavik and two other Icelandic ports. The 22-day cruise also visits Spitsbergen before ending in Amsterdam.
Eminent vulcanologist Dr Peter Cattermole, who has lectured at the universities of Wales and Sheffield, will be on board Swan Hellenic's Minerva when she sails from Dover on July 28 on a 16-day cruise to the land of ice and fire, visiting Reykjavik on August 3.
For a one-way trip, there's a nine-night cruise on MV Discovery leaving Harwich on July 29, with flights home to the UK from Reykjavik on August 6. The ship spends two nights in port at Reyykjavik before heading off to Greenland and then back to Harwich, so there are also options for a full 23-night round-trip.
Finally in this round-up - which does not claim to be comprehensive - are two cruises on Fred Olsen's Black Watch. The first, of 15 nights, leaves Southampton on August 7 and heads first for Greenland, returning to the UK via Isafjordur and Reykjavik. The second option is a 12-nighter departing on September 5 and visiting Iceland and Norway.

 

Iceland Volcano Causes Disruptions Throughout Europe - Travel Agent Central Reports

 These photos and more are located with photographers on  

http://tinyurl.com/y7ntu4h

As the eruption from Iceland's Eyjaffjalljokull volcano continued to wreak havoc on Northern Europe's airspace, planes throughout the continent remained grounded on Friday, with no clear sign of when both the eruptions and the delays would end. The BBC reports that Europe's intergovernmental air control agency, Eurocontrol, said it "expects around 11,000 flights to take place today in European airspace. On a normal day, we would expect 28,000."

Of about 300 transatlantic flights that would usually arrive in Europe in the morning, no more than 120 made it over, the agency said.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Britain kept almost all of its airspace empty through the morning, allowing only a few flights to operate out of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Authorities said most non-emergency air travel would be banned through at least 1 a.m. Saturday London time. Signs in the London Underground (pictured right) warned passengers of the situation.

Scandinavia also continued to keep most of its planes on the ground. By midday Friday, all major airports in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland were scheduled to remain shut down for the rest of the day, with only a few small airports operational in the far north. Icelandair has canceled several flights due to the volcano, and added two additional flights to Glasgow to accommodate passengers heading to the U.K. (Both are scheduled to depart at 2 p.m. GMT and will leave Glasgow at 6:05 p.m. local time.) Since the ash is blowing eastward, many Icelandair flights have operated on schedule or with slight delays including flights to/from Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and the U.S.

 

Related Stories

Iceland Volcano Causes Cruise Disruptions

 

In France, the three main airports in Paris decided to allow inbound flights to land between 12 and 4 p.m. But no takeoffs were permitted, and other airports in northern France remained until at least 8 p.m. local time.

Air Berlin said in a statement that almost all German airports have been closed, and are expected to remain closed until 6 p.m.

Belgium and the Netherlands also kept their skies empty of planes.
Again, anyone planning to fly to or around Europe this weekend should check their airline's website for any information about delays or cancelations

Iceland Volcanic Eruptions Effects on Cruises from Cruise Critic

Cruise Cancellations and Disruptions Caused By Volcanic Ash (5:30 p.m. EDT) -- As Europe struggles to cope with the second day of travel chaos caused by a massive ash cloud that has grounded flights, cruise lines are putting contingency plans into place. Here's an update of what we've learned:

Passengers due to fly from the U.K. to Barbados tomorrow to join Princess Cruises' Sea Princess are being advised to wait until later today for information; the next air traffic (NATS) update is due at 2:30 p.m. BST. All other Princess ships are operating as normal.

Cunard is unaffected as both ships are mid-cruise.

P&O Cruises is unaffected as no fly-cruises are operating, although passengers travelling to Southampton from around the U.K. will need to use road or rail rather than domestic flights to reach Southampton for this weekend's departures on Artemis, Oceana and Oriana.

Ocean Village has been one of the worst affected. The April 15 'Groves and Gondolas' cruise from Heraklion, due to depart yesterday, has been cancelled. Passengers who had booked a 14-night cruise are being offered a seven-night cruise departing next Thursday with the appropriate refund, or a full refund. Those that had made it out to Crete will be taken to hotels while Ocean Village works with airlines to organise onward flights when the airspace reopens.

A special hotline has been set up for passengers sailing on any of the above cruise lines who are affected by the current travel disruption: 0845 351 0350.

Fred. Olsen tells us that it is doing all it can to get passengers out to board Braemar in the Caribbean. Passengers who had been due to fly from Manchester yesterday are now being taken to Glasgow Airport in the hope aircraft can take off.

A spokesperson for Fred. Olsen told Cruise Critic this morning that Braemar is expected to depart Barbados late tonight. As a result, the first port of call, Castries, has been cancelled, and instead the ship will now head straight to Roseau, Dominica to arrive there on schedule the following day.

Yesterday we reported that Thomson Cruises' Thomson Celebration would be delaying its Red Sea itinerary in Sharm el Sheikh in the hope of getting passengers out to the ship today. Thomson has now said the ship will depart Sharm el Sheikh this afternoon and head to Port Soknha, as some passengers due to cruise made it out of the UK before the airports closed yesterday morning.

Disembarking passengers who had been due to fly home from Sharm el Sheikh are either staying a hotel until flight restrictions are lifted, or remaining onboard the ship.

A spokesperson tells us that if restrictions are lifted when the ship is close to Sharm el Sheikh, it will return to the port to disembark the remaining guests before carrying on its cruise.

In a statement, the cruise line said: "In the UK we dispatched special assistance teams to the airports to ensure our customers were kept up to date with the latest information. Our overseas teams have also been working hard to look after those customers who were due to return home."

As we reported last night, a spokesperson for Holland America Line tells us only a handful of guests are impacted. The line has made arrangements (rerouted flights) for approximately 20 air-sea guests; those who booked their own flights have been advised to keep in contact with the line, which will hold ships if possible.

A spokeswoman for Crystal Cruises tells us Crystal Serenity will turn around on Saturday in Civitavecchia, for Rome, and that air-sea guests routed through London are protected on other flights in the event that the airport does not reopen.

Viking River Cruises tell us they have been in touch with those scheduled to sail Saturday and Sunday. They are continuing to monitor the situation and will have customer service representatives available this weekend. If conditions do not improve by early Saturday, passengers will be advised against travel and will either be rebooked or will receive credit for a future sailing.

Connections Elegant World Cruises, which sells Uniworld river sailings in the U.K., tells us that two itineraries have been affected -- a 15-day "Eastern European Explorer" voyage and an 11-day "Lisbon and the Beautiful Douro" voyage. The company has been in touch with all affected passengers and is currently assisting them in making other arrangements.

Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and NCL all have statements on their websites about the disruption and what they are offering passengers.

• Norwegian Cruise Line Web site statement
  
• Royal Caribbean Web site statement
  
  

April is also the beginning of Europe's river cruise season but at the moment, it's a case of "wait and see." We're waiting for updates from AMAWATERWAYS and Uniworld. A spokeswoman for Avalon told us this morning: "The one departure we have this week is the Avalon Tulip Time due to depart Amsterdam on Sunday on board the Avalon Imagery. I'm told that it will be operating but we are of course waiting for an update from the airlines following advice from the Met Office and NATS when flights are likely to resume.

"In the event that our passengers won't be able to travel we will of course be offering to rebook them on an alternative departure or of course offering a full refund."

We'll keep you posted as more cruise lines announce their contingency plans -- and, of course, when the next NATS announcement is made at 2.30 p.m. BST.

--By Sue Bryant,Cruise Critic Contributing Editor and Kelly Ranson, U.K. Editor