Celebrity Solstice Heads to Alaska & other new X Deployment News.

I realize this was announced on Wednesday and it's Friday already.  I apologize for not being on the ball posting this as I know many of us have been waiting on Celebrities 2013 Deployment News and especially wondering if the Solstice was going to be sailing Alaska next summer as after all, she already was spending our winter Down Under..

I so adored sailing on this ship in Europe last year that the Solstice Class is my new personal favorite among mainstream big ship Cruise experiences.  Especially for adults but there is plenty for the family as well.  Kids I spoke with on board were really enjoy the ship and the youth programs.

The British Isles Sailings on the Infinity will also be a treat and grabbed up fast.

Here is the news straight from *Cruise Industry News*....  Bookings will open in early March.  I will post the dates for each.  I also have lists going as on the Royal Princess for those that want to book the early bird rates or want particular staterooms and suites.  We will have group space on these for extra onboard credit so just ask!

Please call or send me your info so we can plan ahead.

Celebrity Cruises today shared a sneak preview of its itinerary plans for the summer of 2013. Speaking to an audience of travel partners and press in London, Celebrity’s President & CEO Dan Hanrahan revealed that, for the first time, joining Celebrity Eclipse in offering modern luxury vacation experiences from the UK will be the newly ‘Solsticized’ Celebrity Infinity. “Like the reaction to every stunning Solstice Class ship, the response to Celebrity Eclipse from our guests and travel partners has been extremely rewarding, ever since it debuted in Southampton in 2010,” said Celebrity’s President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. “Our decision to expand our European vacation options from the UK on our newly Solsticized Celebrity Infinity is in direct response to increased demand for more of the modern luxury holidays that only Celebrity can provide, as validated by the expanding host of honors our brand continues to receive.” Celebrity Eclipse  will continue to offer sailings from Southampton in the spring and summer of 2013, while Celebrity Infinity – which emerged in December 2011 from Celebrity’s ambitious, four-ship, $140-million Solsticizing investment – will present enticing new British Isles and Fjords sailings from Harwich, England. Bigger and better, with the most and newest ships in Europe The summer of 2013 will mark Celebrity’s biggest season ever in Europe, with Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Silhouette, and Celebrity Reflection – which debuts in October of this year – all joining Celebrity Eclipse and Celebrity Infinity in offering the broadest array of modern luxury cruises and cruisetours on the newest fleet of ships in the region. Celebrity Solstice to ‘heat things up’ in Alaska Celebrity Solstice  will become the first of its class to offer vacations in Alaska in the summer of 2013, joining Celebrity Century and Celebrity Millennium in pairing Celebrity’s chic style and design, signature cuisine, exciting activities and extraordinary service with the region’s breathtaking, inspiring scenery. “Celebrity Solstice is the ideal platform for a genuine modern luxury vacation in the gorgeous state of Alaska,” said Hanrahan. “The ship’s sheer beauty will perfectly complement the region’s incredible scenery. And with 85 percent veranda accommodations, our guests will have that many more opportunities to take in the endlessly appealing views, combined with our unparalleled onboard experience and service provided by the best group of hospitality professionals in the world.” Rounding out Celebrity’s 2013 summer season Celebrity Summit, which just this month became the third in Celebrity’s Millennium Class fleet to complete the brand’s noted Solsticizing initiative – incorporating a host of guest-favorite venues and experiences from the Solstice Class onto the Millennium Class – will once again offer Celebrity’s popular Bermuda vacation experiences from the Northeast. The intimate, 96-guest Celebrity Xpedition will continue to offer the once-in-a-lifetime vacation experiences the brand has offered year-round since 2004 in the enchanting Galapagos Islands. Complete details of Celebrity’s summer 2013 itineraries – including the full slate of featured destinations, cruisetours and dates of departure – will be announced when the first of the series opens for booking in early March. The line will continue to present special booking options exclusively for the valued members of its Captain’s Club loyalty program.

Celebrity Cruises today shared a sneak preview of its itinerary plans for the summer of 2013. Speaking to an audience of travel partners and press in London, Celebrity’s President & CEO Dan Hanrahan revealed that, for the first time, joining Celebrity Eclipse in offering modern luxury vacation experiences from the UK will be the newly ‘Solsticized’ Celebrity Infinity.

“Like the reaction to every stunning Solstice Class ship, the response to Celebrity Eclipse from our guests and travel partners has been extremely rewarding, ever since it debuted in Southampton in 2010,” said Celebrity’s President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. “Our decision to expand our European vacation options from the UK on our newly Solsticized Celebrity Infinity is in direct response to increased demand for more of the modern luxury holidays that only Celebrity can provide, as validated by the expanding host of honors our brand continues to receive.”

Bigger and better, with the most and newest ships in Europe

Celebrity Eclipse  will continue to offer sailings from Southampton in the spring and summer of 2013, while Celebrity Infinity – which emerged in December 2011 from Celebrity’s ambitious, four-ship, $140-million Solsticizing investment – will present enticing new British Isles and Fjords sailings from Harwich, England.

The summer of 2013 will mark Celebrity’s biggest season ever in Europe, with Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Silhouette, and Celebrity Reflection – which debuts in October of this year – all joining Celebrity Eclipse and Celebrity Infinity in offering the broadest array of modern luxury cruises and cruisetours on the newest fleet of ships in the region.

Celebrity Solstice to ‘heat things up’ in Alaska



Observation Lounge perfect for Glacier Viewing by Sutanto



Celebrity Solstice  will become the first of its class to offer vacations in Alaska in the summer of 2013, joining Celebrity Century and Celebrity Millennium in pairing Celebrity’s chic style and design, signature cuisine, exciting activities and extraordinary service with the region’s breathtaking, inspiring scenery.

“Celebrity Solstice is the ideal platform for a genuine modern luxury vacation in the gorgeous state of Alaska,” said Hanrahan. “The ship’s sheer beauty will perfectly complement the region’s incredible scenery. And with 85 percent veranda accommodations, our guests will have that many more opportunities to take in the endlessly appealing views, combined with our unparalleled onboard experience and service provided by the best group of hospitality professionals in the world.” 

Rounding out Celebrity’s 2013 summer season

Celebrity Summit, which just this month became the third in Celebrity’s Millennium Class fleet to complete the brand’s noted Solsticizing initiative – incorporating a host of guest-favorite venues and experiences from the Solstice Class onto the Millennium Class – will once again offer Celebrity’s popular Bermuda vacation experiences from the Northeast.

The intimate, 96-guest Celebrity Xpedition will continue to offer the once-in-a-lifetime vacation experiences the brand has offered year-round since 2004 in the enchanting Galapagos Islands.

Complete details of Celebrity’s summer 2013 itineraries – including the full slate of featured destinations, cruisetours and dates of departure – will be announced when the first of the series opens for booking in early March. The line will continue to present special booking options exclusively for the valued members of its Captain’s Club loyalty program

ACT Fast offers for Carnival Exotic itineraries.. Past Guests

I want to make just a quick note here for those that may be wanting to do a more exotic itinerary at a lower cost..  If you are a Carnival Past Guest they are making these offers as they move the Splendor away from the West Coast... *BooHoo* , Through South America, around the Horn and onto other homeports as well as Transatlantic and the Baltics. 

3 South American Itineraries

• 17 Day South America Explorer In this cruise you will be able to see unbelievable natural sights as they cross the equator that only South America has to offer. You will have the option to visit the Galapagos, a natural wonder of isolated islands which is also a sanctuary of wildlife. You will also have the option to see Machu Picchu, the capital of the ancient Incan empire. Other amazing things you will see in this cruise includes Cabo San Lucas, the picturesque Hautulco, coffee plantations in Guatemala and two Chilean gems, Arica and Santiago.

• 13 Day Fjords, Glaciers, & Patagonia In this cruise you will see the breathtaking natural sights of the Chilean Fjords and the Darwin Channel as they cruise the most Southern point of our planet through Cape Horn. In addition to this wonderful contact with nature, you will also experience the European flavor of Montevideo and Buenos Aires, two beautiful cities which will offer you an unforgettable culinary experience.

• 18 Day Brazilian & Caribbean Splendor

Or combine all three for a total South American Experience of a lifetime!

In this cruise your guest will enjoy the best Brazil has to offer. You will experience Rio de Janeiro, with all its vibrant activity, music, beautiful beaches and delicious foods and drinks. They will have a chance to visit other Brazilian gems such as Salvador, Recife and Fortaleza, which will offer you beautiful sites and contact with nature. Also on this cruise you will experience two beautiful Caribbean islands, Grand Turk and Barbados. You will have the chance to visit these beautiful beaches and engage in fun activities with the Caribbean as the back drop. This amazing trip will end in New York, a legendary city that offers plenty of excitement for all

• Carnival Past Guest offer...  Now through February 20, 2012 Carnival is offering exclusive past guest savings of up to 20% PLUS a two category upgrade on South America, Europe AND Transatlantic sailings!

OFFER DETAILS:
Early Saver rates (save up to 20%) + 2 category upgrade available to past guests
BOOKING WINDOW:
2/9/12 - 2/20/12
VALID SAILING:
Splendor and Miracle South America and Panama Canal: available on 2/9/12
Legend Europe: available on 2/14/12
Destiny Transatlantic: available on 2/16/12

There are reduced deposits and

Please call us for Onboard Credit as well as any other goodies we can score for you!

Let us Pay your Deposit !!!

Good for cruises sailing between June 8, 2012 and February 28, 2013.
Cruises that are booked by February 29, 2012 are eligible.

Up to $500.00

Please visit our WebSite for complete details or call 866.566.6677

This is combinable will all other offers including an extra $100 OBC if you are sailing to Europe this year on select CruiseLines.

Paul Gauguin Cruise Completes $7 Million Ship Renovation



m/s Paul Gauguin

Who wouldn't want to sail around the beautiful South Seas Polynesian Islands visiting Tahiti, Bora Bora and all the small ports of the lovely islands surrounding them on a small luxury ship?

The m/s Paul Gauguin was designed specifically to sail the shallow seas of Tahiti and French Polynesia, visiting small ports that larger ships can't reach and effortlessly blending into the stunning natural beauty of the South Seas.

She offers an extension of the informal, relaxing environment of the islands, coupled with five-star service, comfort, and luxury. Spacious suites and staterooms (more than 70% with private balconies), an onboard watersports marina, a choice of three open-seating dining venues, and an extensive spa are among her luxurious attributes. The atmosphere aboard the ship radiates warmth, informality, and Polynesian flair. And our beloved troupe of Gauguines—local Tahitians who serve as cruise staff, entertainers and storytellers—add the unique personality of Tahiti to every cruise.

Well, she has just undergone a $7,000,000 renovations, the most extensive in the ship's 14 year history and it took place during a 10 night crossing from Tahiti to Brisbane, Australia as well as the 11 night drydock that followed.

Renovations throughout the ship include new flooring and carpeting, new furniture, new window treatments and decorative wall panels, and new signage.

All suites and staterooms have new teak balcony railings and new bathroom flooring. Restaurants also were refreshed. La Veranda has a redesigned entrance, refinished indoor and outdoor furniture, and solar shades. Le Grill boasts new decorative partitions and divider walls, as well as a new buffet area and new lighting. L’Etoile also features a redesigned entrance in addition to video equipment for conferences.

On Promenade Deck 5, the casino was slightly expanded. Deck 6 received a new integrated display case for books and art. La Palette features a decorative stone band along the front of the bar and an updated lighting system, as well as new outdoor furniture. Le Grand Salon and La Palette offer refurbished dance floors. Paul Gauguin Cruises also recently acquired a second ship and plans to expand its itineraries.

SPECIAL OFFERS:

Save 50% plus FREE Airfare From Los Angeles

Enjoy 50% off standard cruise fares PLUS free roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles! Take advantage of these great savings on all of our Tahiti and French Polynesia cruises. Click on the itinerary you want: Tahiti & the Society Islands (7 nights), Society Islands & Tuamotus (10 nights), Cook Islands & Society Islands (11 nights), and Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands (14 nights), Fiji (12 or 13 nights), and Australs & Society Islands (11 nights).

If you would like a brochure, the photos are lovely!, or more information please contact us or leave us a message.

Portions By Theresa Norton Masek
February 17, 2012 3:09 PM

Royal Caribbean Heads Underground in New York's Subway

I just had my car wrapped so this I thought this was super fun!  Can you imagine your just going to work one day and you catch your ride in this?

This is from Travel Agent Central
February 6, 2012 By: Susan Young


Royal Caribbean International is targeting New York-area commuters in a brand campaign that involves imagery and messaging both inside and outside the 42^nd Street S line in Manhattan this February.

As commuters are transported between Times Square and Grand Central Station, the cruise line will give them a taste of the Royal Caribbean cruising experience with fully-branded shuttle cars supporting the cruise line’s new messaging.
First rolled out in December 2011, the campaign is focused on reawakening consumers to the sights and sounds of the sea by communicating the decree, “The Sea is Calling. Answer it Royally.”

The subway cars, which are wrapped both inside and out, reflect actual Royal Caribbean cruise ships. The cars’ interiors are each separately wrapped as an onboard theater featuring marquees of some of the Broadway shows guests can see onboard select Royal Caribbean ships such as Hairspray, Chicago and Saturday Night Fever; an onboard spa with bamboo showers and masseuse; as well as an open deck area complete with a surf simulator and surfer.

Each car conveys the options for entertainment, relaxation and adventure that can be enjoyed on a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation. Commuters, who will be treated to special surprises during the month, are encouraged to take photographs and videos to share with friends through their social media channels, tagging Royal Caribbean by using the specified hashtag #RoyalShuttle.
Royal Caribbean also challenges fans to find “hidden treasures” in the shuttle artwork, including characters such as Shrek and Po from the cruise line’s exclusive partnership with film studio powerhouse DreamWorks Animation.

Royal Caribbean offers cruising options to Bermuda and the Caribbean out of Bayonne, N.J., and Baltimore, Md., onboard Explorer of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas.

COMING SOON: Royal Princess Itineraries are Announced !

Finally !!!  Since Princess Cruises first started sending out tidbits regarding it's new ship build the Royal Princess, not only have I been intrigued but the Cruise Ship public has been giddy with anticipation. 

Now, personally I *like* princess ships....  I don't LOVE princess.  That being said,  I know there are a lot of Princess Fans out there who wouldn't sail anything else.  The ships familiarity from one ship to another is like coming home for repeat guests.  Princess always has boasted wonderful itineraries.  Not only are they port filled with interesting ports, you can do longer voyages, grand voyages and even world cruises on her smaller vessels.  This new ship has me wiping the drool from my chin..................   

I also love their port talks and guides by experts when you are sailing into ports unknown to you.  They do bring on experts in that area and really go in depth into what to see in that port, the history, helpful tips to get around and what to do and most importantly what NOT to do.  These are not done by crew members telling you where the closest diamond international or cruiseline approved shops are....  :-)

Princess really hit it out of the ballpark with the first European Itineraries and the Transatlantic before she homeports in Fort Lauderdale.

I will be taking out group space on these for the best deals and amenities so if you are thinking about sailing her please contact me and also I will be personally hosting one of them so if one of them catches your eye more than the others.....  I would love to know about it.

I am thinking for me, one of the last Med Cruises in September or the 18 day Transatlantic.

The ship's official maiden voyage will be a seven-night cruise from Southampton to Barcelona departing June 16. The sailing will visit Vigo, Lisbon, Gibraltar and Malaga. On June 23, Royal will kick off its season of 12-day Mediterranean cruises between Barcelona and Venice. The cruises will run through September 27 and visit Toulon, France; Livorno, Civitavecchia and Naples, Italy; Mykonos and Athens, Greece; and Istanbul and Kusadasi, Turkey. Cruises from Barcelona will end with an overnight stay in Venice.

The cruise-ship-turned-snowbird will then transit the Atlantic on October 9 en route to its Fort Lauderdale homeport. The 18-night transatlantic cruise will visit Messina (Sicily), Naples (for Capri and Pompeii), Civitavecchia (for Rome), Cannes (for Monte Carlo), Barcelona and Funchal (Madeira Island). Princess has yet to announce the ex-Florida Caribbean deployment.

Here is the full press release from Princess:

News Article

2/14/2012

Princess Cruises Unveils Inaugural Itineraries of New Royal Princess
Ship Will Debut with Season of Mediterranean Cruises; Features in the Signature Atrium Also Revealed

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (February 14, 2012) -- Princess Cruises today marked Valentine's Day by unveiling the maiden season itineraries of its highly anticipated Royal Princess debuting in June 2013, as well as some additional features of the ship's signature, and greatly expanded atrium, the social hub of the ship.
Preceding the ship's inaugural program of 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruises between Barcelona and Venice beginning on June 23, Royal Princess will sail on her inaugural voyage, a seven-day Iberia cruise from Southampton to Barcelona departing June 16.
The Royal Princess maiden season cruises will open for sale on March 15, 2012. There will also be two three-day preview cruises sailing roundtrip from Southampton on June 10 and 13 that will be available for booking at a later date.
"It's fitting that our new ship will cruise on our most popular Europe itinerary, the Grand Mediterranean," said Jan Swartz, executive vice president for Princess Cruises. "And the shorter preview cruises prior to the Mediterranean season certainly offer a unique opportunity to sample the new Royal Princess experience our passengers are eagerly awaiting."
Also revealed today were more details about the ship's atrium and its vibrant collection of always-changing quick bites and light meals, beverages, entertainment, shopping and guest services. This signature space will be 50 percent larger than on the newest class of Princess ships and will debut a number of brand new features, including Bellini's Italian cocktail bar, Ocean Terrace seafood bar, a gelateria, and Celebrations, a new gift shop for those marking special occasions onboard.
Favorite passenger spaces also return, many with a new twist, including the International Café, Sabatini's Trattoria, and Crooners martini bar which will now feature dueling piano entertainment and a dramatic ocean vista. And the stunning Bar Piazza will feature an exclusive twin tea tower with over 300 tea and infusion combinations.
The line also released a preview video with Princess Cruises President and CEO Alan Buckelew and Executive Vice President Rai Caluori offering a glimpse of the new atrium that can be viewed at www.princess.com/royalprincess.
"Many features aboard the new Royal Princess will be exciting evolutions of the popular and successful features found throughout our fleet, and the atrium is no exception," added Swartz. "The expansion in size of this space provided us an opportunity to add some brand new venues to what is already a favorite passenger area."
Inaugural Season Cruises
3-day Advance Preview Sailings departing June 10 and 13, 2013
These cruises will sail roundtrip from Southampton with a call at St. Peter Port on the Island of Guernsey in the English Channel. The preview sailings will open for booking at a later date when the inaugural celebrations for the ship are in place. Interested passengers are advised to follow www.princess.com for the availability of these cruises.
7-day Maiden Iberia Voyage departing June 16, 2013
The ship's maiden voyage sails from Southampton to Barcelona with calls at Vigo (for Santiago de Compostela), Lisbon, Gibraltar and Malaga.
12-day Grand Mediterranean Sailings departing June 23 through September 27, 2013
The nine Grand Mediterranean sailings will cruise between Barcelona and Venice, with calls at Toulon (for Provence), Livorno (for Florence and Pisa), Civitavecchia (for Rome), Naples (for Capri and Pompeii), Mykonos, Istanbul, Kusadasi (for Ephesus), Athens and finally an overnight stay in the beautiful Italian city of Venice. Passengers on the seven-day voyage can combine their sailing with the first Grand Mediterranean cruise for a 19-day Grand Adventure.
18-day Maiden Venetian Passage departing October 9, 2013
This cruise begins in Venice with an overnight in this iconic city, and sets sail to Fort Lauderdale with calls at Messina (Sicily), Naples (for Capri and Pompeii), Civitavecchia (for Rome), Cannes (for Monte Carlo), Barcelona and Funchal (Madeira Island).
Atrium Features
Royal Princess' expanded atrium is designed to enhance the lively street-café atmosphere passengers have become accustomed to on current Princess ships. With more open space for viewing live entertainment in the Piazza from decks 6 and 7, as well as new venues that appear to float mid-air, this new atrium represents a prototype design that builds on the line's classic style. Atrium features include:
Deck 5:
International Café
As on most Princess ships, the International Café will be serving fresh-baked pastries, panini sandwiches, salads, fresh-baked cookies specialty coffees, and sweet desserts, but aboard Royal Princess this favorite venue will have an expanded seating area and an eye-catching new lighting feature, making it the perfect area to grab a light meal, meet friends for coffee or enjoy an a snack while watching the array of Piazza entertainers.
Celebrations Gift Shop
A new shopping stop, Celebrations will offer gifts especially for passengers celebrating a special occasion, or those looking for a well-deserved indulgence. Passengers will find premium chocolates, colorful flower arrangements, and other gift items perfect for someone enjoying a special day.
Gelato
For a delicious desert or afternoon delight, Royal Princess' gelateria will serve up a variety of tempting treats such as designer sundaes, sweet crespelle (Italian crepes), creamy fruit smoothies, frosty shakes, and delightful homemade waffle ice cream cones.
Vines
A Princess passenger favorite, Vines wine bar will be pouring as many as 30 different wines by the glass, plus serving up an selection of tapas or sushi to accompany the many vintages. Passengers can also find favorite bottles for purchase or a gift for their favorite wine lover at Vines shop.
Bar Piazza and Tea Tower
This classic cocktail bar complements the Piazza vibe by offering an endless array of "anything you can think of" libations, complemented by a twin tea tower of artisan-crafted varieties and infusions for custom creations with over 300 possibilities.
Mini-Piazza with Water Feature
Just adjacent to the Piazza, a sparkling water feature will set off an extension area featuring the Passenger Services Desk and Shore Excursion Desk. This dazzling Mini-Piazza will provide a special atmosphere for passengers making a visit to ask questions of Princess' gracious crew members.
Sabatini's
Also located in the Mini-Piazza will be Princess' signature Tuscan-inspired specialty restaurant, Sabatini's. Known for its celebrated pastas, seafood and Italian specialties, Sabatini's will feature a fresh menu of sophisticated Italian favorites with an a la carte experience. With a refined yet casual Italian ambiance, Sabatini's offers attentive personal service and the feeling of having just stepped into a ristorante in the heart of Tuscany.
Deck 6:
Bellini's
This brand new Italian-inspired cocktail venue is a perfect place to enjoy the lively atmosphere of the atrium's activities, while indulging in a Bellini-inspired drink. Passengers will also enjoy views of the Piazza below in this "floating" space.
Alfredo's
After quickly becoming a passenger favorite since its debut aboard Grand Princess, Alfredo's Pizzeria has kept up Princess' reputation for serving the best pizza at sea. Aboard Royal Princess the sit-down restaurant will feature an expanded menu and more spacious seating, perfect for enjoying the fresh toppings and crisp crusts of a personal pizza right from the eatery's stone oven.
Photo and Video Gallery
Now conveniently located in the atrium, the Photo and Video Gallery will offer new high-tech digital photo stations to help passengers easily find their images.
Deck 7:
Ocean Terrace
The new Ocean Terrace seafood bar will offer pearls of the ocean, fresh from the sea. Seafood lovers can indulge in an array of treats, including sushi, sashimi, ceviche and caviar in a space that seems to be floating over the atrium levels below.
Crooners
An expanded Crooners Bar will not only offer the venue's famous menu of 75 different martinis and classic 1960s-style "Rat Pack" atmosphere, but also a new entertainment option with dueling glass pianos for a lively show to go with the breathtaking views.
Additional information about other ship features will be released in the coming months.
The 3,600-passenger Royal Princess is the first of two new-generation ships for Princess which are being built by Fincantieri at their Monfalcone, Italy shipyard. Some additional new features found aboard will be an over-water SeaWalk, a top-deck glass-bottomed enclosed walkway on the ship's starboard side extending more than 28 feet beyond the edge of the vessel, and the similarly-unique cantilevered SeaView bar, featuring cocktails with unbeatable vistas. Also on her top decks, Royal Princess will feature a new adults-only pool surrounded by seven plush private cabanas that appear to be floating on the water, two additional pools, a dazzling water and light show, an expanded version of Princess' signature adults-only haven, The Sanctuary, and the popular poolside theater, Movies Under the Stars.

Amping up the Blog

I have recently become frustrated with just using facebook to talk to fellow travelers and clients so have decided to amp up the blog and also use twitter for blasts out.  It will allow me to share more with you, more content, more photos, more videos and more of my ideas, opinions and thoughts on what makes smart, interesting travel.  I hope you will share it with your friends...  Here we go!

What is Changing in the Cruise Industry Right now and where should you look to sail in 2012 ??

If you watch the trends you can get some amazing deals.  Cruising can be a bit like playing the stock market.  Will the fares go up?  Go down?  If I buy now do I have price protection if they do drop, etc, etc.

Basically everything that has to do with what a cabin on a ship will cost you at any given moment all comes down to capacity and how well they are doing at selling the cabins on that particular ship.  So of course that has to do with how many berths are in a certain area of the world competing for your business.

And for those of you who thing that the Cruise Lines are hurting or are sailing with empty berths are wrong.  Ships do now sail less that full capacity, at least not very often.  They will do everything they can to make certain that all the spaces that can hold bodies, do......  What guests spend onboard is more important in some instances that what you spend on your cabin.

It stands to reason that the more luxury type, truly all inclusive product seems pricey up front but you generally can easily walk off the ship with no bill as you paid for everything up front.

Have you ever noticed that the $399 cruise deal that you got wasn't such a great deal when you were faced with charges for everything you wanted to do on the ship and your bank account was suddenly less than it was when you walked on the ship?

Here at Real World Travel and Cruise One we dedicate ourselves to following the trends and knowing what is going on in the world with ship movement and where the deals are likely to strike.  Where it is best to travel right now, money wise, weather wise, crowd wise, etc.

Here is an article I found that is talking about the future and what you can expect and right now if you can get away to Europe, I highly recommend you do so before the end of the season and even next year.  There will still be plenty of ships over there.  Alaska is a great deal right now for the end of the summer. 

Especially the more up market lines are offering lots of incentives unheard of.  And if you are planning a big trip for 2012 or 2013 Australia is a great place to be looking.  I am looking at it myself.  Either there or Asia for 2012.  And of course I would love to have you join me.  I will announce that soon.  This is good reading....

Nancy

Next Generation Cruise Ships Might Not Be the Best

By Paul Motter

Published June 24, 2011 | FOXBusiness

A fundamental change is happening in the cruise industry right now that could affect cruise travelers. 

The major lines are still building new ships, but the long-standing belief that the newest ships are always the best might no longer be true. The next wave of cruise ships set to arrive in 2012 and 2013 will be optimized for the new economic reality.

Many of us thought the economy was fundamentally sound until late 2008 and the cruise industry was no different, believing any setback would be short term. Clearly they were all wrong.

The cruise industry is more pliable than many travel businesses, but cruise lines still have to plan several years in advance to design and build new ships. Between 2000 and 2006, several cruise lines designed and hired shipyards to construct the biggest, most elaborate ships ever including the Celebrity Solstice, Marina by Oceania, Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas, Holland America's Eurodam, Silversea’s Silver Spirit, Seabourn Odyssey and Disney Dream. This new generation was capped by the two largest and most impressive cruise ships ever, sister ships Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas from Royal Caribbean.

These new ships were not only much larger than previous ones, but the added room was generously allocated to provide more space per passenger - rather than crowding more people into each vessel. These ships were designed to attract a constantly-growing and financially-stable cruise audience--a group the cruise lines assumed they had.

Ironically, the most ambitious ships of this generation were placed on order around 2005, but the building process takes years, and the first of the new breed was delivered in late 2008--just after the economy tanked.

Even more critical, some lines ordered multiple ships of the same design; the shipyard's bid is based on a commitment to build between two and five of each vessel. For example, the original Celebrity Solstice order was for three identical ships, with an option for two more. The deadline to exercise the option for the final two ships came when the recession was still thought to be just a blip. The option to build the fourth and fifth ships was taken, bringing even more high-quality tonnage online at a time when the economy continued to slip.

Here is the big picture: We have just witnessed the introduction of dozens of new ships that are frankly too good for the current economy. They should command higher cruise fares than they are getting, but cruise lines can only set prices that the market will bear. The people who are fortunate enough to afford to cruise right now are finding bargains everywhere.

Changes in Future Ships

The wave of ships just introduced is the greatest generation, because they were conceived during the optimistic pre-2008 economy. But don't expect to see grand ships like these hitting the waters in the coming years. 

A new generation of ships based on the “new reality” is already on order from NCL, Princess and Royal Caribbean. As you might expect, these new ships will carry far more passengers per square foot in order to optimize fuel efficiency and return on investment per passenger.

Consider the Celebrity Solstice, designed in 2005 as a 128,000-ton ship (at the large end of the scale for cruise ships) that carries a mere 2,850 passenger berths. (Cruise ship "tonnage," by the way, is a measure of a vessel's interior space, not its weight.) This ship was delivered in November 2008. Compare this to the new ships ordered for delivery in 2012 and beyond.

But things have changed. NCL has two ships on order, “Project Breakaway” vessels slated for delivery in 2012 and 2013. These ships will have 4,000 passenger berths within 144,000 tons. This is about 30% more passenger capacity for a ship that is only about 11% larger. A far cry from Celebrity Solstice's space offering. In fact, when you consider third and fourth passengers in cabins, the total capacity for Project Breakaway ships could be far higher than 4,000.

The new Royal Caribbean order, “Project Sunshine,” calls for a 158,000-ton ship that will hold 4,100 passenger berths. Compare it to another Royal Caribbean ship of a similar size--Freedom of the Seas--which is smaller at 160,000 gross tons, but only carrying 3,634 passengers. 

The new Princess ships (2013) will come in at 141,000 tons and carry 3,600 passenger berths. Compare this to the line's Diamond Princess class of ships at 116,000 tons and a passenger capacity of 2,670.

What Does This Mean to You?

2009 was the first year in recent history when no new ships designs were ordered by major cruise lines. They already had too much new capacity coming online and were preoccupied with figuring out where to deploy and how to price these ships.

During the last two years, we have even seen a few bursting price bubbles when the cruise lines put too many ships in a specific region that subsequently suffered from lower-than-expected demand.

In 2009, for instance, cruises to Mexico were incredible bargains. There were twice as many staterooms in that market as there are now, but demand for those cruises evaporated almost overnight.

 In 2010, Alaska cruises were also going for deep discounts. This summer, in an effort to reduce their exposure to Alaska, more cruise lines positioned ships in the Mediterranean Sea, but now that region is suffering from overcapacity and reduced demand.

Many cruise lines are banking on Australia for 2012 and 2013, drawn by the strong currency (just as they were drawn to Europe for the stronger euro in 2010). But the number of ships going to Australia could easily outstrip demand, and 2013 could be the best time yet to cruise in Australia.

While the cruise lines will inevitably market the forthcoming cruise ships most ardently, in fact the “greatest generation” of ships is already here. For decades, the rule of ship selection had been “newer is better,” but with this coming generation of new cruise ships starting in 2012 and 2013, that will no longer be true. The best ships will still be those of the 2008 – 2011 vintage – and they could become relative bargains.


Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/06/24/next-generation-cruise-ships-might-not-be-best/#ixzz1QPYsRqy9

New Pyramids Found in Egypt ??? Yes, 17 of them !!!

24 May 2011

Egyptian pyramids found by infra-red satellite images
By Frances Cronin BBC News

The infrared image on the right reveals the ancient city streets of Tanis near modern-day San El Hagar

Continue reading the main story

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Seventeen lost pyramids are among the buildings identified in a new satellite survey of Egypt.

More than 1,000 tombs and 3,000 ancient settlements were also revealed by looking at infra-red images which show up underground buildings.
Initial excavations have already confirmed some of the findings, including two suspected pyramids.
The work has been pioneered at the University of Alabama at Birmingham by US Egyptologist Dr Sarah Parcak.

An infra-red satellite image shows a buried pyramid, located in the centre of the highlight box.

She says she was amazed at how much she and her team has found.
"We were very intensely doing this research for over a year. I could see the data as it was emerging, but for me the "Aha!" moment was when I could step back and look at everything that we'd found and I couldn't believe we could locate so many sites all over Egypt.
"To excavate a pyramid is the dream of every archaeologist," she said.
The team analysed images from satellites orbiting 700km above the earth, equipped with cameras so powerful they can pin-point objects less than 1m in diameter on the earth's surface.
Infra-red imaging was used to highlight different materials under the surface.
Test excavations
Ancient Egyptians built their houses and structures out of mud brick, which is much denser than the soil that surrounds it, so the shapes of houses, temples and tombs can be seen.
"It just shows us how easy it is to underestimate both the size and scale of past human settlements," says Dr Parcak.
And she believes there are more antiquities to be discovered:
"These are just the sites [close to] the surface. There are many thousands of additional sites that the Nile has covered over with silt. This is just the beginning of this kind of work."
BBC cameras followed Dr Parcak on her "nervous" journey when she travelled to Egypt to see if excavations could back up what her technology could see under the surface.
In the BBC documentary Egypt's Lost Cities, they visit an area of Saqqara (Sakkara) where the authorities were not initially interested in her findings.
But after being told by Dr Parcak that she had seen two potential pyramids, they made test excavations, and they now believe it is one of the most important archaeological sites in Egypt.

Here is a link the the full story...  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-13522957

California Dream? So-Cal Cruise Travel Dealt Another Blow

The California dream has turned into something of a nightmare. Add Holland America to the list of big-ship lines that have recently announced pull-outs from the increasingly depressed So-Cal cruise market.
Oosterdam, which had been offering regular ex-San Diego Mexican Riviera cruises from October to April, is being redeployed to Australia in October 2012.

HAL has not, however, announced all its deployments beyond fall 2012, and it declined to comment on whether a ship would replace Oosterdam on the Mexico route. In a statement, HAL would say only that the "city and port have been wonderful for us and our operations and we expect that relationship will continue."

Still, Port of San Diego official Rita Vandergaw told the San Diego Union-Tribune that, for now, it appears the city will no longer offer regular Mexico sailings. At its peak in 2008, 255 ships docked at the port, a number expected to fall to 103 this year and lower still the next.

The redeployment of Oosterdam is just the latest blow to the So-Cal cruise industry. In January, Carnival announced that it was sending 88,500-ton, 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit, which has been splitting time between San Diego (for Mexico) and Seattle (for Alaska), to a year-round post in Sydney starting in October 2012.

In recent years, San Diego and Los Angeles have seen a mass exodus, courtesy of redeployments by Carnival, NCL and Royal Caribbean. Lines have cited a combination of factors for the departures, including a struggling local economy, the swine flu scare and disinterest with staid Mexican Riviera ports.

Crystal Cruises Debuts New Discounted Standby Fares

 

Crystal Cruises introduced a new “Standby” program that enables last-minute travelers to sail at up to 75 percent off brochure fares on five May-June sailings in Alaska, the Baltic and North Cape.

Greatly reduced tiered pricing offers fares as low as $2,995 for 12-day cruises.
Standby fares are based on availability, require a $500 per guest deposit upon reservation, and will be confirmed on a “first requested, first confirmed” basis no earlier than 45 days prior to departure.

Eligible cruises include: 12-day Alaska cruises -- round-trip from San Francisco -- Departing May 9, 21 and June 2; 11-day Scandinavia/Russia sailing -- Hamburg to Stockholm – Departing May 22.

Prices range from $2,995 for a deluxe stateroom with large picture window to $3,995 for a deluxe stateroom with verandah. For a 14-day North Cape/Arctic Circle voyage, from Copenhagen to Stockholm, departing June 13, prices range from $4,995 for deluxe stateroom with large picture window to $5,995 for a deluxe stateroom with verandah.

Standby fares on Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity are cruise-only for new bookings as of April 7, and do not include air transportation; port, security and handling charges; or “All Inclusive – As You Wish” spending credits. Fares quoted are per person, based on double occupancy accommodations, and other restrictions apply. Final payment is due within three days of confirmation.

“We haven’t offered anything like this in almost a decade,” said Bill Smith, Crystal’s senior vice president, sales and marketing. “There is no doubt that travelers who make their decisions early are rewarded with early confirmation, a greater choice of accommodations, and value-added spending credits. However, there are people making travel decisions closer in, and this is an extraordinary opportunity for luxury travelers who just can’t plan their vacations far in advance

My World Cruise Clients Tour Petra in Jordon

This is a blog post from my clients a family of 5, Grandmother, Daughter and Husband, and their 2 daughters, 7 and 10 regarding a tour I arranged for them in Jordon.   I have been arranging special events for them on their voyage and do the same for many of my clients.

One of the most important reasons that I travel is to be able to experience different things myself so I can properly describe them to you but also to gain valuable contacts in all areas of the world.  I do this with hotel property owners and managers, tour operators, restaurants, transportation people, guides, etc. So that I can set special things up for you or recommend ideas outside of the normal experiences you might expect.

You would also be surprised that in most cases they will cost you less than ship tours, be more exclusive and flexible to your needs, memorable etc.

In the case here I have not yet personally been to Petra BUT I was in Egypt last year and spent 2 days getting to know our Tour Operator Owner through Egypt and when this came up for my clients I asked him who he would recommend.  He personally knows, works with and recommends him so I contacted him and we went from there setting this up for my family.  I am happy to read it was such a hit.

4/3/11

Aqaba, Jordan

     Margot set up our tour today through Nancy Real, our travel agent.  Elaina (the only other kid on board), Marsue (her mother) and Marianne (her teacher), came with us today.  Our itinerary for the day was the ancient city of Petra (made famous by Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) and Wadi Rumm.  

Our driver, Rushdi, met us on the dock at 7am with a van that sat all of us comfortably.   We were all happy not to be on another big bus.  The only drawback to making our own plans is that the ship will not wait for us if we are late. Rushdi spoke perfect English and shockingly, he spoke Hungarian too.  Apparently, many Hungarians come to Jordan for vacation.  Rushdi told us all about Jordan as we drove north to Petra.   

Jordan does not have as much oil income as other Arab nations, but their King spends a lot of money on the infrastructure and the people.  The roads were very good, and everyone has a home.   It was very surreal riding down a modern freeway and passing a man on a camel.  After an hour we left the freeway and took a secondary road that wound through the mountains.  Jordan is desert too, but it is a much different landscape than Egypt.  It reminds me more of the painted desert of Arizona.   

Along the way we passed many genuine Bedouin camps.  There would be three to five big tents with camels and donkeys around them, and somewhere in the area would be the Bedouins herding their goats.  

 We came around one corner and we could see the entire Petra Valley below us.  It was like a smaller version of the Grand Canyon.   Rushdi set us up with a guide in Petra and gave Kathy a cell phone with his number programmed in it.  When we were done looking around in Petra we were to give him a call and he would pick us up at the main entrance, but he said we should be back no later than 3pm so we would not be late for the rest of our tour.  That gave us 5 hours to explore Petra, which I thought would be plenty, but man was I wrong.   

 From the main entrance you can ride horses down to the canyon entrance (about ¾ of a mile) and everyone except our guide and I rode them.   The canyon, is really a crack in the rock that is only 10 feet to 30 feet wide and it is the main entrance to the city of Petra.  Our guide told us all about the history of Petra, and pointed out the old aqueducts that were carved into the canyon walls.  We had to get out of the way for the horse and buggies that were taking people through the canyon.   

After zigzagging our way through this narrow canyon for over a mile and a half our guide asked us to stop for something very special.  He told us that the next section of the canyon was revered by the ancient Nubians, and that we should all bow our heads and look at the ground as we walked through it, as a sign of respect.   We all complied, and after about 20 yards he gathered us all in a group, pointed us all in the same direction and told us to look up.  When we did, we could see the famous treasury building ahead of us through the slit of the canyon.  It was amazing.    At this point the canyon opened up, and there were gifts shops and men selling camel rides (I don’t remember any of that in Indiana Jones).    

I had no Idea how big Petra was though.  We walked for almost two more miles and the canyon became a valley and the valley was lined with carved buildings and tombs.  Our guide told us that until 1989, the local Bedouins were living in the caves.  The Jordanian government made new houses and gave them special privileges in park.   We had lunch in a café that was part of an old Petra building carved into the canyon wall.  Our guide left us at this point and told us we could explore at our own leisure.     

There were miles and miles of trails to other parts of the old city, but we had already spent three and half hours in Petra, and we needed an hour and a half to get back out.  Margot and Marsue rode donkeys back to the halfway point while the rest of us walked.  Then the two of them rode a carriage the rest of the way out of the canyon.   

Rushdi picked us up outside of the front gates and we headed towards Wadi Rumm.  About an hour and a half later, while we were driving down the freeway, Rushdi pulled off into a gas station and parked next to two pick-up trucks.  He told us that the trucks would be our rides through the Wadi Rumm desert, and that he would meet us afterwards for dinner.  Margot sat in the front seat of the truck, while all the rest of us sat in the bed, and then we started off into the desert.   

Wadi Rumm is also a national park, and it has steep granite and limestone cliffs rising out of the desert floor.  We stopped at a sand dune and climbed up to get an amazing view of the desert.  The driver also stopped at a granite cliff to show us the ancient drawings on the rock, and at a natural rock bridge.   

When we left the rock bridge, the truck started sounding funny.  We had only driven about a mile when the engine on the truck stopped all together.  I got out with the driver, and we determined that the timing chain had broken.   There was some minor panic from our group, because we were in the middle of the desert with no signs of civilization, the driver was having problems finding a cell signal, and the ship was going to leave in 5 hours.   The driver walked off over the hill to try and get a better cell signal and the kids got out of the truck and played around in the desert. 

Luckily, the temperature was very mild, about 70 degrees, but it was cooling down fast as the sun set.  Just as we thought we had been abandoned, the driver came back and told us that his friend would be coming for us in about 10 minutes.  I wanted to know how he gave him directions.  “We are in the desert, next to a big rock.”  

 Megan complained that she was getting cold, so the driver gathered up some weeds and piled them under a dry bush and then lit the whole thing on fire.  Amazingly, his friend showed up a few minutes later and picked us all up.  We had only been stranded in the desert for about 45 minutes.  Because of our delay, the new driver drove much faster to get us to our dinner on time.  We were flying over the sand and rocks, and all the kids in the back of the truck started humming the Indiana Jones theme, as they were bounced around.   We arrived at the desert camp and thanked both drivers profusely for an amazing adventure.  Rushdi was waiting for us, and wondered why we were late.  We explained what happened and he led us into the tent where we were having dinner.  

 Normally dinner would have served outside, but the temperature was quite low tonight.  Dinner did not start for another 30 minutes, so Rushdi showed us around the camp.  

 There were about 100 tents set up for tourists to spend the night in the desert.  The 1^st one he showed us was the standard tent, which had to beds and a light.  Then he showed us the royal suite tent, which had 8 beds, two tables with food and drink, and a fully tiled bathroom with toilet and shower.  From the outside it looked just like an ordinary tent.   

After the tents we were shown how they were cooking dinner.  They used drums buried in the sand to cook the meat and rice.  They pulled out the food and we went back inside to eat.  The food was awesome!  Unfortunately we did not have time to see the entertainment after dinner, because we had to get back to the ship.  

 Rushdi got us back to the ship with time to spare.   We were so tired after our 15 hour day, that we went straight to bed.  I had no idea there was so much to do and see in Jordan.  We will have to come back, and I would highly recommend to anyone a visit here. 

Thank you so much, Nancy for setting up this special day for our family.  We will never forget it.