CRYSTAL SERENITY South America World-Cruise Segment

Crystal Cruises (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

First-time visits to the Chilean Fjords and Puerto Chacabuco, plus nearly 100 Crystal Adventures ashore highlight Crystal Serenity’s brand new itinerary around the tip of South America next winter.  Sailing from Lima to Buenos Aires for the first time February 2, 2013, the Crystal World Cruise segment takes passengers on an immersive, 24-day journey to some of the most awe-inspiring and culturally exciting sites in the Southern Hemisphere, including the  Seno Eyre Fjords, the  landscapes and wildlife of Patagonia, the  hillsides of Valparaíso (translation: “Paradise Valley”) – even the birthplace  of the tango.

Daring, over-the-top adventures include:

· a rare visit to Earth’s last great wilderness, Antarctica, with a guided trek on King George Island and zodiac ride to view penguins in their natural habitat;

· flying over the mysterious Nazca Lines, ancient geoglyph figures in the desert floor that can only be seen from above; and

· an overnight option to Perito Moreno Glacier, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Rugged expeditions offer:

· exploration of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego by horseback;

· hiking to the mouth of the magnificent Iguazú Falls;

· kayaking through the Strait of Magellan; and

· pitching in at a working Uruguayan ranch. 

Cultural and culinary experiences range from:

· exploring vineyards and tasting wines to visiting beachfront communities of the “jet set;”

· perusing local markets and taking cooking lessons with local cuisine experts to browsing the art and homes of renowned Latin American artists such as poet Pablo Neruda; and

· tracing the footsteps of Argentina’s famed “Evita” to dancing the night away at a Buenos Aires nightclub.

As part of Crystal’s 2013 World Cruise, the voyage features expanded enrichment programming and courses in wellness, language and music.  The line’s exclusive Ocean Views series will present expert lecturers discussing the day’s hot topics.

Until June 30, all-inclusive Book Now fares for the “Southern Fjord Exploration” start at $12,760/person, and can be combined with other World Cruise segments for greater savings.  2013’s complete 74-day Grand South American Exploration sails round-trip from Miami starting January 16, with a Book Now starting price of $US26,970/person, double occupancy.

Crystal Cruises’ passion for creating unique luxury experiences both on land and at sea have helped earn the company top ratings from international travellers for two decades.

For more information and Crystal reservations, contact The Cruise People at 800-961-5536 or visit our website.

LiveJournal Tags: Crystal Serenity,world cruise

Old Time Service with Modern Technology

Image via Wikipedia

The Cruise People, Ltd. now has a wonderful research tool.  Whether you are thinking about cruising for the first time or you are an experienced cruiser, we can help you find that perfect cruise.  Fun, sun, beaches, adventure, culture or sights – there is a cruise here for you.

We have over 20,000 ocean and river cruises to show you including detailed itineraries, port descriptions and useful information about your cruise ship.

You can use the Quick Search to start or choose one of the offers or other links on this page.

LiveJournal Tags: cruise research,research ships,search itineraries,search ships,search ports

Longer Passenger Freighter Voyages

Pacific Express 3 Service – Complete, round voyage is approximately 77 days. From New York to Tanger Med (Morocco), Suez Canal passage, Jebel Ali (UAE), Singapore, Hong Kong, Chiwan (China), Xiamen (China), Shanghai, Pusan (South Korea), Houston, Mobile, Miami, Jacksonville, Savannah, and back to New York. Priced from EURO 100 – 110 per day plus port taxes/fees.

Pad Service – Complete, round voyage is approximately 84 days. From New York to Savannah, Kingston (Jamaica – no embarkation or disembarkation), Punta Manzanillo (Panama), Papeete, Lautoka (Fiji), Noumea (New Caledonia), Sydney (Australia), Melbourne (Australia), Napier (New Zealand), Tauranga (New Zealand), Punta Manzanillo, Kingston, Savannah, Philadelphia, Tilbury (England), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Dunkerque (France), and back to New York. Priced from EURO 110 – 120 per day.

MEX Service – Complete, round voyage is approximately 77 days. From Valencia (Spain) to Barcelona (Spain), Fos Sur Mer (France), Genoa, (Italy), Malta, Damietta (Egypt), Khor Al Fakkan (UAE), Port Kelang (Lalaysia), Nansha (China), Xiamen (China), Kwangyang (South Korea), Busan (South Korea), Shanghai, Ningbo (China), Xiamen, Nansha, Chiwan (China), Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia), Port Kelang, Beirut (Lebanon), Malta and back to Valencia. Priced from EURO 100 – 110 per day plus port taxes/fees.

Indamex Service – Complete, round voyage is approximately 56 days. From New York to Norfolk, Savannah, Charleston, Port Said (Egypt), *Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), *Port Qasim (Pakistan), *Nhava Sheva (India), *Mundra (India), Damiette (Egypt) and back to New York. Note – no embarkation or disembarkation in starred ports (*). Priced from EURO 100 – 110 per day plus port taxes/fees.

French Asia Line – CMA – Complete, round voyage is approximately 70 days. From Zeebrugge (Belgium) to Port Kelang (Malaysia), Singapore, Ningbo (China), Shanghai, Yantian (China), Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia), Port Kelang, Le Havre, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Rotterdam and back to Zeebrugge. Priced from EURO 100 – 105 per day plus port taxes/fees.

Columbus Loop – Complete, round voyage is approximately 105 days. From Vancouver to Yokohama (Japan), Shanghai, Ningbo (China), Hong Kong, Yantian (China), Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia), Suez Canal passage, New York, Norfolk, Savannah, Suez Canal transit, Tanjung Pelepas, Hong Kong, Yantian, Shanghai, Pusan (South Korea), Seattle and back to Vancouver. Priced from EURO 80 – 90 per day plus port taxes/fees.

Voyage 6-10 – Complete, round voyage is approximately 70 days. Philadelphia, Savannah, Panama Canal transit, Balboa, Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, Timaru, Port Chalmers, Napier, Tauranga, Auckland, Panama Canal transit, Manzanillo, Cartagena, Philadelphia. Priced at approx. EURO 101 per day.

MS MSC UGANDA (Laeisz) – Complete, round voyage is approximately 56 days from the USA east coast to the east coast of South America. From Charleston to Norfolk, New York, Baltimore, Savannah, Freeport, Caucedo, Santos, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio Grande, Sao Francisco, Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Suape, Caucedo, Freeport and back to Charleston. Priced from EURO 80 – 85 per day plus port taxes/fees.

Voyage 6-05 – Europe from the west coast – Complete, round voyage is approximately 70 days. From Vancouver to Oakland, Long Beach, Manzanillo, Lazaro Cardenas, Puerto Quetzal, Panama Canal transit, Cartagena, Tanger Med, Rotterdam, Tilbury, Hamburg, Le Havre, Cartagena, Panama Canal transit, Puerto Quetzal, Lazaro Cardenas, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and back to Vancouver. Priced at approx. EURO 100 per day.

Voyage 1525 – Far East from both coasts – Complete, round voyage is approximately 104 days. From Halifax to New York, Savannah, Kingston (Jamaica), Panama Canal transit, Los Angeles, Oakland, Shekou (China), Hong Kong, Ningbo (China), Shanghai, Balboa (Panama), Panama Canal transit, Kingston, Savannah, New York, Halifax, Tarragona (Spain) Haifa (Israel), Leghorn (Italy), Genoa (Italy), Tarragona, and back to Halifax. Priced from EURO 90 – 110 per day plus port taxes/fees.

Voyage 1190 – New York to West Coast of South America. Complete, round voyage is approximately 42 days. From New York to Baltimore, Charleston, Port Everglades, Cartagena, Manzanillo (Panama), Panama Canal transit, Guayaquil (Equador), Callao (Peru), San Antonio (Chile), San Vincente (Chile), San Antonio, Callao, Guayaquil, Panama Canal transit, Cartagena, Port Everglades, and back to New York. Priced from EURO 93 – 106 per day plus port taxes/fees.

MSC LAUSANNE NSB. Complete, round voyage is approximately 63 days. From Vancouver to Seattle, Oakland, Long Beach, Balboa, Panama Canal transit, Cristobal, Gioia Tauro, Naples, Civitavecchia, La Spezia, Valencia, Cristobal, Panama Canal transit, Balboa, Long Beach, Oakland, and back to Vancouver. Priced from EURO 90 – 110 per day plus port taxes/fees.

These voyages may also be available as shorter segments subject to availability and cabotage restrictions. Round voyages may be available from most of the listed ports. For more information and to request space, contact:
The Cruise People, Ltd.
416-900-0889        1-800-961-5536        freighters@rogers.com        facsimile – 1-888-759-2990

Some World Cruises For 2013 and 2014

by Kevin Griffin of our London office writing for cybercruises.com

The upmarket lines have recently announced their intentions for 2013 World Cruises and it may be worth a look at some of their itineraries.While Crystal Cruises will dispense with its world cruise in Crystal Serenity in 2013, it will instead substitute a 74-night circumnavigation of South America, departing Miami on January 16, 2013, but the world cruise will be reinstated in 2014. Seabourn and Silversea, meanwhile, will still be offering 2013 world cruises in Seabourn Quest and Silver Whisper.

Crystal Serenity will now proceed on an 89-night world cruise in 2014, departing Los Angeles on January 18 and finishing in Southampton on April 18. Major ports include Yokohama, Hong Kong, Singapore and Cape Town, with two or three night stays at each of these, as well as two nights at Ho Chi Minh City. As well, there will be overnight stays at each of Honolulu, Osaka, Shanghai, Hanoi and Bangkok.

Under Crystal Cruises’ new all-inclusive plan the line will also be offering free flights, fine wines, premium spirits, alternative dining at Silk Road, the Sushi Bar and Prego, as well as prepaid gratuities. And champagne will be served free with lunch on boarding days. This rather modified world cruise will visit 32 ports in 19 countries and include 17 overnight port stays, giving the opportunity for more detailed exploration, instead of rushing on. The 1,070-guest Crystal Serenity achieved 1717 points in the 2012 Berlitz Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships.

Seabourn, meanwhile, is offering a 116-night voyage in Seabourn Quest from Fort Lauderdale to Venice, departing on January 6, 2013. Ports of call will include three Caribbean islands, the Panama Canal, nine South Pacific islands, half a dozen calls in Australia and its islands, four calls in Indonesia, Hong Kong, two calls in Vietnam, one in Cambodia, two in Thailand, two in India, ten in the Middle East including Ashdod and Haifa, two calls in Turkey, plus Corfu and Dubrovnik before reaching Venice.

Full cruise amenities include round trip Club Class flights, or air credit, pre-cruise Gala Bon Voyage event and overnight stay in Fort Lauderdale, drinks on board, prepaid gratuities and shipboard credits. On Seabourn, all dining venues are also complimentary. And with just 450 guests, the ship offers a more intimate experience.  Seabourn Quest was awarded 1787 points in the 2012 Berlitz Guide.

Silversea’s offer is a 115-day world cruise from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale on board Silver Whisper, departing January 5, 2013. This cruise will cross the Equator four times, visit New Zealand and Australia and offering overnight stays in Tahiti, Fremantle, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Singapore, Cochin, Cape Town and Walvis Bay, but no two- or three-night stays like Crystal. This cruise will visit 52 ports in 28 countries and includes nine overnight stays.

Full world cruise guests will receive a complimentary Bon Voyage Gala and overnight stay at the Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles and fares will include free flights and transfers, or air credits, all-inclusive on-board package, prepaid gratuities and shipboard credits. The 388-guest Silver Whisper scored 1753 points in the 2012 Berlitz Guide.

On the other hand, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Voyager is offering a “build your own” world cruise this year with a marathon 210-night voyage leaving Bareclona next Monday and working her way out to Auckland and back as far as Copenhagen on June 25. While this is not a world cruise, twenty-three different sectors are available The 708-guest Seven Seas Voyager scored 1654 points in the 2012 Berlitz Guide.

To be fair, Steven Stern, in his Stern’s Guide to the Cruise Vacation, gives all four of these ships a full Six-Stars-Plus rating. For the best advice and fares on any of these ships contact The Cruise People, Ltd.  at 1-800-961-5536 or email cruise@thecruisepeople.ca

Holland America Line’s 2013 Grand Voyages to Explore Seven Continents, 65 Countries

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Holland America Line’s flagship Amsterdam and the smaller, Prinsendam, each will sail two Grand Voyages in 2013. In total, the four extensive itineraries feature 322 cruising days, visiting more than 120 ports of call in 65 countries.

Amsterdam will sail a 115-day Grand World Voyage in January and a 75-day Grand Pacific and Far East Voyage in the autumn. Prinsendam departs on a 68-day Grand South America and Antarctica Voyage in January, immediately followed by a 64-day Grand Mediterranean Voyage.

"We’ve designed Holland America Line’s 2013 Grand Voyages itineraries to feature some of the most sought-after sights and experiences in the world," said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs for Holland America Line. "Even the most experienced traveller will be inspired and impressed by our carefully crafted selection of port calls, maiden visits and extended stays."

Grand World Voyage
Departing Jan. 5, 2013, and sailing roundtrip Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Amsterdam will ring in the New Year with her eighth Grand World Voyage and marking 55 years since the line began world cruising.  The 115-day journey is every traveller’s dream and features eight overnight calls, visits to some of the world’s most popular UNESCO World Heritage Sites and two inaugural ports of call — Makassar, Indonesia, and Penneshaw, Australia.  Shorter segments ranging from 24 to 51 days also are available.

During the Grand World Voyage, Amsterdam will call at Cartagena, Colombia, before a daylight transit of the Panama Canal. The ship continues westbound where passengers will experience calls at Bora Bora and Papeete, Tahiti, home to the famous Vaipahi Garden, rugged mountains, lush rain forests and deserted beaches.

After exploring New Zealand, Australia and Asia, Amsterdam heads west through the Indian Ocean, taking a southerly route to the continent of Africa for a journey around the Cape of Good Hope. An African exploration presents the opportunity for guests to take an overland safari and go in search of the "big five" or learn about the legendary Zulu tribe and gain a true sense of modern-day Africa.

Amsterdam continues her voyage across the Atlantic to South America and the Caribbean before returning to Ft. Lauderdale.

Grand South America and Antarctica Voyage
Designed to explore the most remote corners of the world in elegance and style, Prinsendam returns to South America, Antarctica and the Amazon on a 68-day Grand South America and Antarctica Voyage that sails roundtrip Fort Lauderdale, also departing Jan. 5. The itinerary offers in-depth exploration with overnight calls at Callao (Lima), Peru; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Rio de Janeiro and Manaus, Brazil. Be reminded though that guests are not landed in Antarctica (ed).

The South America circumnavigation includes seven full days of cruising the Amazon River down to Manaus, the furthest navigable point for cruise ships, and a daylight passage through the Panama Canal. Adventure seekers won’t want to miss the three days of scenic cruising in Antarctica where the pristine beauty and diverse sea life are showcased during the continent’s austral summer (again, no landings).

For those with less time, 32- or 36-day segments to or from Buenos Aires are available.

Grand Mediterranean Voyage
Following her Grand South America and Antarctica Voyage, Prinsendam will return to Fort Lauderdale March 14 and embark on a 64-day Grand Mediterranean Voyage. This roundtrip sailing takes guests on a journey across the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and the Balkans. Prinsendam calls at several "boutique" ports in the region that are not accessible to larger vessels, including Agadir, Morocco; Marmaris, Turkey; and Korcula, Croatia.

Passengers will have an opportunity to visit attractions such as the Acropolis, Constitution Square, Hadrian’s Arch and the Olympic Stadium at Piraeus (Athens), Greece, and explore the Hassan II Mosque in the economical capital of Morocco, Casablanca. Travellers can explore this area in greater depth when Prinsendam docks overnight at seven ports of call: Istanbul, Turkey; Piraeus (Athens), Greece; Sorrento and Venice, Italy; Funchal, Madeira; and Barcelona, Spain.

Grand Pacific and Far East Voyage
Amsterdam closes out the year with a new 75-day Grand Pacific and Far East Voyage sailing from Vancouver, B.C. or Los Angeles, Calif., to Los Angeles, Calif., departing Sept. 20/23. The itinerary features a more in-depth exploration of Micronesia,China, Japan, the Philippines and French Polynesian islands, as well as inaugural calls to Majuro, Marshall Islands, and Pohnpei, Micronesia. The cruise also offers extensive time in port, allowing guests to visit historical landmarks and experience local culture.

Following calls throughout Asia and Indonesia, the itinerary circles back through the South Pacific to the tropical island jewels of Fiji, Bora Bora and Moorea before arriving in Los Angeles. During the voyage the ship overnights in Hong Kong and Shanghai, China; Kobe (Osaka), Japan; and Singapore.

Cruise fares are per person, $US,double occupancy. Rates start at $19,999 for Amsterdam‘s 115-day Grand World Voyage departing Jan. 5; $12,999 for Prinsendam‘s 68-day Grand South America and Antarctica Voyage departing Jan. 5; $11,499 for Prinsendam‘s 64-day Grand Mediterranean Voyage departing March 14, and $10,999 for Amsterdam‘s 75-day Grand Pacific & Far East Voyage departing Sept. 20. Segments are also available ranging from 24- to 51-day sailings.

Book Early for Best Value
Reservations are now open for all four Holland America Line 2013 Grand Voyages. Book the Grand Pacific & Far East Voyage by November 30, 2012, and the Grand World, Grand Mediterranean and Grand South America & Antarctica Voyages by May 31, 2012 to take advantage of early booking amenities.

For more information, consult The Cruise People, Ltd. at 800.961.5536 – specialists in World Cruises since 1972

Crystal Winter Collection 2012 Available

This brochure has just come in.  Please contact us if you wish a copy. Available North America only.

Princess Cruises Announces Special Speakers to Appear During World Cruise

Princess Cruises passengers will be joined by a variety of special guests aboard Pacific Princess during its 107-day World Cruise departing January 13, 2012. Whether they want to hear about the golden age of Hollywood, get the scoop on modern-day filmmaking, or find out what it’s really like in outer space, world cruise travellers can get first-hand stories throughout the sailing.

Among the celebrated speakers scheduled to appear onboard are screen idol Tab Hunter; "Leave it to Beaver" star Jerry Mathers; "The Love Boat’s" Gavin MacLeod; legendary Disney Imagineer Rolly Crump; Suzanne Lloyd, granddaughter of silent film star Harold Lloyd; Oscar-nominated Filmmaker Leslie Iwerks and Space Shuttle Astronaut Robert C. Springer. In addition, a variety of expert lecturers will join the cruise to inform passengers on topics such as World War II history and computer forensics.

The special guest appearances are part of an enrichment programme designed especially for the Ft. Lauderdale to Venice cruise, which will visit 38 destinations in 28 countries, with calls on six continents as it sails through Latin America, the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East and Egypt, finally ending in the Mediterranean.

Special guests scheduled to appear aboard Pacific Princess include:

Rolly Crump — Disney Imagineer (January 13-28: Ft. Lauderdale to San Diego)
One of the original Disney Imagineers, Crump joined Disney in 1952, first in animation, contributing to legendary films such as "Lady and the Tramp," but soon moved to the new group of designers who were creating Disneyland’s groundbreaking latest attractions. Crump worked alongside Walt Disney himself to create the Haunted Mansion, Enchanted Tiki Room and other attractions, and later designed projects for Disney’s EPCOT Center. Crump will talk about Walt Disney the man and the early days of designing iconic Disneyland rides.

Gavin MacLeod — TV and Film Actor (January 28-February 10: San Diego to Pago Pago)
Perhaps best known as "Captain Merrill Stubing" from the long-running television show The Love Boat, MacLeod also earned acclaim for his role in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, as well as numerous film roles. A long-time fan of cruising, MacLeod has served as an ambassador for Princess Cruises since 1986. He will present a selection of his favourite episodes from these classic series for passengers, and will reminisce about his career and famous co-stars.

Colonel Robert C. Springer — Space Shuttle Astronaut (February 10-18: Pago Pago to Auckland)
A two-time space shuttle astronaut, Springer has spent more than 237 hours in space. After joining NASA in 1981, Springer served as a mission specialist on shuttle flights in 1989 and 1990. Now retired from NASA and the U.S. Marine Corps, Springer currently works for The Boeing Company as director of quality systems, Integrated Defense Systems. Springer will talk about the shuttle programme, his adventures in space, and the future of NASA.

Jerry Mathers — Former Child Star (February 18-26: Auckland to Sydney) Although best known for his role as "Beaver" Cleaver in the television sitcom series Leave It to Beaver, Mathers also had roles in films such as Hitchcock’s "The Trouble with Harry" and "The Seven Little Foys" with Bob Hope. More recently, he made his Broadway debut with a starring role in the Tony Award winning play "Hairspray." Mathers will screen favourite episodes from his TV series, plus several of his films, and will talk about working with legends such as Alfred Hitchcock, Bob Hope and Shirley MacLaine.

Suzanne Lloyd — Granddaughter of Harold Lloyd (March 12-20: Tokyo to Hong Kong)
The granddaughter of one of Hollywood’s founding fathers and silent film legend Harold Lloyd, Suzanne Lloyd will screen a mini film festival of her grandfather’s silent comedy classics and talk about growing up on her grandfather’s legendary Bel Air estate: Green Acres.

Leslie Iwerks — Oscar Nominated Filmmaker (March 29-April 12: Singapore to Dubai)
A noted documentary filmmaker, Iwerks is also the daughter and granddaughter of Disney legends. Her first feature documentary, "The Hand Behind the Mouse: The Ub Iwerks Story," chronicled the life of her grandfather, Ub Iwerks, the animator who designed Mickey Mouse. Her 2006 Academy Award-nominated film, "Recycled Life," documents the lives of Guatemalans who live and work on a landfill. In addition, her 2007 film, "The Pixar Story," was nominated for a Primetime Emmy. Onboard, Iwerks will introduce a showing of "Recycled Life," and discuss her work with George Lucas’ special effects company, and the computer animation work of Pixar Entertainment.

Tab Hunter — Actor, Screen Idol (April 12-30: Dubai to Venice)
A screen idol from Hollywood’s golden age, Tab Hunter starred in more than 50 major films, including the Academy Award-nominated "Damn Yankees." Hunter also reached the top of the music charts with the hit song Young Love, and starred in his own television series. In the 1980s and ’90s, Hunter starred in several John Waters films as well as the comedy Western "Lust in the Dust." The ship will screen several of Hunter’s films, and he will talk about his career, his famous co-stars, and his autobiography.

In addition, World Cruise passengers will also have the benefit of a variety of expert lecturers who will share their knowledge on diverse topics, including:

Concorde Pilot – A former British Airways Concorde pilot will speak about the glamour and technology of the Concorde. (January 13-28: Ft. Lauderdale to San Diego)

World War II Historian – Bruce Petty, the author of several books about World War II in the Pacific, will talk about topics such as Pearl Harbor, the Battle of Iwo Jima, and aircraft carriers in the Pacific. (January 28-February 18: San Diego to Auckland)

South Pacific Naturalist — Ann Burgess, an expert on the natural history of the South Pacific region, will talk about a variety of related topics including Polynesian explorers and indigenous wildlife in the area. She will also host animal spotting sessions on the top deck to help passengers catch a glimpse of sea life such as dolphins and whales. (February 18-March 12: Auckland to Tokyo)

Ambassador/Diplomat – Douglas Hartwick, a former ambassador to Laos and State Department diplomat, will talk about the life of a diplomat living abroad. (March 12-29: Tokyo to Singapore)

Computer Forensics Expert – Mark Harrington, computer forensic company executive, will lecture on how computer footprints can find terrorists and criminals. (March 20-29: Hong Kong to Singapore)

Astronomer – An astronomer will join the ship to teach passengers about the night sky, the solar system and the latest space exploration from NASA, plus will host stargazing sessions on deck. (March 29-April12: Singapore to Dubai)

United Nations Official – John Renninger, a UN official and adjunct professor at NYU, will talk about the UN’s peacekeeping role and Middle East topics. (April 12-30: Dubai to Venice)

"World cruise passengers will not only get to experience amazingly diverse parts of the globe, they’ll also have access to a wide range of knowledgeable special lecturers," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. "Our goal is to enrich and entertain passengers throughout their entire time onboard with us."

All special guests and expert lecturers are currently scheduled to appear, but modifications may be made subject to changes in speaker availability.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through The Cruise People, Ltd. at 1-800-961-5536.

LiveJournal Tags: Disney,Rolly Crump,Gavin MacLeod,The Love Boat,Mary Tyler Moore Show,Rober C. Springer,Jerry Mathers,Leave It to Beaver,The Trouble with Harry,The Seven Little Foys,Harold Lloyd,leslie Iwerks,Tab Hunter,Bruce Petty,Ann Burgess,Douglas Hartwick,John Renninger

Cruise Ship Design – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

by The Cruise People’s Kevin Griffin writing in cybercruises.com

With all the new ships that have been delivered in the last decade and new orders that are starting to return to the shipyards, there is no question but that we are living in a time when we are lucky to have such a huge selection of ships to choose from when it comes to taking a cruise.

But there is also no question that there is a lot of controversy over some aspects of cruise ship design. Some lines insist on walk-around teak promenade decks, real steamer chairs and forward-facing lounges, whilst others completely ignore these traditional requirements, placing gyms and work-out rooms in the best space on the ship with a view forward, inaccessible promenade decks (those on the Carnival Destiny class have only one door on each side and have no chairs to sit on) and aluminum and plastic-framed deck chairs on the top decks. Just who thought up the idiotic idea of putting the gym at the forward end of the ship and robbing the best views from the rest of the passengers?

Take a line like Holland America Line, for example, which prides itself on making sure that every one of its ships has a completely walk-around promenade deck and forward-facing lounge, the Crows’ Nest, in which to enjoy the sea’s horizon and vistas of the way ahead.

All three of Cunard Line’s Queens have that forward-facing lounge (RMS Queen Mary 2 actually has a group of them) and all three also have wrap-around promenade decks. Public rooms that recall earlier eras are also an attraction on these ships. All three ships are an improvement on RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 in that the only public forward-facing lounge on that ship had been replaced early on in her career by a galley. Over at sister line P&O Cruises, meanwhile,  Oriana and Aurora are two of the better-looking cruise ships ever built, and also benefit from walk-around promenades and forward-facing Crow’s Nest lounges, as does the more recent Arcadia.

When it comes to good-looking cruise ship classes, probably two of the most attractive classes of ship are the eight original almost identical “R” ships and the eleven “Vista” class ships, which differ in their details so that some are better looking than others.

The “R” ships were built for the now-defunct Renaissance Cruises and are now operated variously by Oceania, Azamara, Princess, P&O and soon Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. This class of eight “smaller” cruise ships, accommodating 684 guests each, was built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, who later built Queen Mary 2.

While their original dark-blue hulls made them rather heavy looking, to-day they all carry white hulls and do have a look a elegance about them, especially at the forward end, where balconies and windows replace what is often a solid blank of white-painted steel at the forward end of a cruise ship superstructure. Their one short-coming is that they do not have wraparound promenade decks, just one to each side of the ship, although they do have forward-facing lounges.

The “Vista” class cruise ships are all products of Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy. They were built to a Panamax design that sees them reach the maximum dimensions allowable in the present Panama Canal (which is now being enlarged). These ships benefit from walk-around promenades and forward-facing lounges.

The best looking of the “Vistas” must be the “three” Queens – Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and Arcadia, the latter having actually been intended as the Queen Victoria for Cunard but then transferred to P&O when it was decided to build a slightly longer Queen Victoria instead. A “Vista” class cruise ship in Cunard colours is very striking from almost any angle. And Arcadia in P&O colours is almost as attractive.

Next would come the “Vistas” operated by Costa, two of whose ships, Costa Atlantica and Costa Mediterranea, are actually “Spirit” class Panamax ships built by Aker Yards (now STX Europe) of Finland and have gyms up forward on top instead of lounges. The Marghera-built sisters Costa Luminosa and Costa Deliziosa have been delivered to a hybrid “Spirit/Vista” design and Costa Deliziosa will undertake Costa Cruises’ first world cruise since the days of  Danae and Daphne.

The 99-night cruise departs on December 28 and is being sold either as a full world cruise or in three sectors – 29 nights from Savona to Los Angeles, 38 nights from Los Angeles to Singapore or 31 nights from Singapore to Savona. Costa Deliziosa will thus join three other “Vistas” class ships that offer world cruises, the two Cunard Queens and the Arcadia. What marks out the Costa ships is their yellow and blue “tin can” funnels.

Least handsome of the “Vistas” must be those operated by Holland America, which carry two funnels in line aft, one of which appears to have been mounted backwards. These are the “directional sisters” Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam and Noordam (for south, east, west and north), plus the more recent “Signature” class ships Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam, making up a class of half a dozen ships for Holland America Line. Like all Holland America ships, they all maintain the walk-around promenade decks and forward-facing Crow’s Nest lounges.

The “Spirit” class ships that we mentioned earlier number half a dozen and in addition to the two Costa ships named above, include Carnival Spirit, Pride and Legend, which for some reason took their names from the original trio of Seabourn ships and are probably the best-looking of the Carnival ships, with their whale-tail funnels. A fourth was Carnival Miracle of 2004, which will go south to Australia next year to become Carnival’s first ship to be based year-round outside the United States.

The only problem with these ships is that every single Carnival ship has its gym mounted on top of the ship forward and this concept was also applied to the “Spirit” class ships. Not only that, but this forward positioning of the gym has also passed over to Costa Cruises, whose ships are now all built on Carnival platforms. Even on the world cruiser Costa Deliziosa a Samsara Spa has taken up this prime forward location.

Elsewhere, many are the fans of the ships of Royal Caribbean, whose sterns have traditionally been round and whose bows are more graceful than the run-of-the-mill cruise ships operated by some other lines. Probably the best-looking of the Royal Caribbean ships are the four “Radiance” class Panamax vessels, Radiance of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas, which have been completed to similar dimensions to the “Vistas.” But while some of these ships may have a walk-around promenade, many miss the forward-facing lounge, which seems to have been supplanted by the Viking Crown lounge with a view over the midship decks.

Princess Cruises has been known for having unusual designs, dolphin’s heads, platypus bill bows, bird’s nest funnels and “shopping trolley handles,” as most people like to call the Skywalker bar in the aileron aft on the Grand Princess sisters. Two of their ships, Coral Princess and Island Princess, even have hair curlers in their bird’s nest funnels. But things are starting to change, in some ways anyway.

Grand Princess was modified at Grand Bahama Shipyard this spring with the removal of her shopping trolley handle and the installation of some gracefully tiered decks aft, which had previously been in the shade of the Skywalker bar, which had to be removed because of problems of metal fatigue. And many are saying they like the appearance of the new Royal Princess and Regal Princess, which haven’t yet been built, but also that they like the appearance of the third of this class, the new ship intended for P&O, even more because she has two more traditional funnels.

MSC Cruises, the best present client for STX France at St Nazaire, began with two quite handsome ships with MSC Opera and MSC Lirica, but as its ships got larger they became less attractive. The MSC Poesia class, for example, has too much tophamper forward while the MSC Fantasia class somehow seem to have got around this problem and are slightly better looking ships. The only problem with the latter is that while her forward-facing lounge has not been supplanted by a gym, it is only available to passengers booked in MSC Yacht Club, which is just First Class by another name.

When it comes to the ugly, you can say what you want about shopping trolley handles but there have to be two clear winners here, and unfortunately Norwegian Cruise Line owns them both. Pride of America, started at Pascagoula, Mississippi, and completed in Bremerhaven in 2005, has such a long superstructure that she appears to have almost no bow at all. And last year’s Norwegian Epic, with her blue carbuncle of suites above the bridge, is positively ugly. This is a shame, as NCL had been known for better-looking ships with their first newbuildings.

Designed originally for Star Cruises and built with extra length (and speed) for longer passages over the Pacific, the earlier ships’ length gave them a sleeker and more streamlined appearance. However, the application of so-called “hull art” to every ship in the fleet does somewhat detract from their appearance, at least to some. And more recently, in order to make more money, NCL has been installing balcony cabins in what used to be these ships’ forward-facing lounges.

Will we see better-looking ships? The two new NCL ships ordered from Meyer Werft will be vastly better looking than Norwegian Epic. The new Royal Caribbean ship (or ships) from the same yard, to be called Project Sunshine, will probably be graceful as well. But the larger these ships get the more tiered rows of balconies the ship designers and shipyards have to deal with, often as many as seven storeys at a time. Meyer Weft has never built an ugly ship, but nevertheless, overcoming the problems of size and multiples decks of balconies on the Celebrity Solstice class has been quite an achievement.

Basically, the bigger the ships get the more difficult it seems to be to keep them pretty, case in point the great hulking giants called Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, looking like whales that have eaten too much. Set against these of course we also have some more handsome ships of a more modest scale, viz. Oceania’s new Marina and Seabourn’s latest trio. But even here mistakes can be made. The ten-year-old Silver Whisper, for example, is a much better looking ship than Silver Spirit, which appears to be all heaped up forward with extra gills.

What I have said here is completely subjective of course, and very general, but it makes for an interesting discussion, even if you disagree, and one that people should worry about. It all comes down to choosing your ship wisely so that you will not be disappointed.

Cunard’s World Cruises in 2013

 The Cruise People, Cunard certified experts

from the London office

Cunard Line will send all its three of its ships on world voyages in 2013.

The 148,528-ton RMS Queen Mary 2 will leave Southampton on January 10 on a 106-night voyage to Australia, which will include overnight stays at Dubai, Hong Kong and Cape Town. The itinerary will include five ports in New Zealand, which will also be sold as a Round New Zealand cruise in Australia and the UK. In all, Queen Mary 2 will call at thirty-four ports in eighteen different countries.

Marking a return to line voyages, the 90,901-ton Queen Elizabeth will sail to and from New Zealand in 2013, leaving Southampton on January 6. She will sail both ways via the Panama Canal and visit twenty-eight ports in fifteen different countries.

The 90.049-ton Queen Victoria will leave Southampton on January 10 on a 105-night cruise that incorporates both the Panama and Suez Canals. She will call at thirty-four ports in twenty-four different countries.

BuzzNet Tags: Queen Mary 2,Queen Elizabeth 2,Queen Victoria

Costa Cruises: The Biggest In Europe

by Kevin Griffin writing as http://www.latecruisenews.com/http:/the-cruise-examiner/

Figures released by Costa Crociere SpA of Genoa confirmed its position as Europe’s largest cruise operator, with 2.15 million passengers carried by its Costa, Aida and Iberocruceros brands last year. The overall passenger increase was 18% over 2009, with Costa group now operating twenty-six ships, fourteen under the Costa banner, eight with Aida and four with Iberocruceros, with another four for delivery by 2013, two each for Costa and Aida. The delivery and naming of  Costa Favolosa at Trieste on July 2 will bring Costa to fifteen ships and the Costa Group to twenty-seven.

The group’s consolidated revenues rose by around 12% in financial year 2010, reaching just under 3 billion euros. Costa Crociere is now one of Italy’s top ten most profitable companies and ranks 49th in terms of revenues in a 2010 survey of more than 3,700 Italian businesses that generated revenue of at least 50 million euros the previous year.

Costa has also recently announced its cruise itineraries for autumn 2011 and spring 2012. Its new programmes will include new mini-cruises, for those who would like to try Costa for the first time, new and exclusive itineraries in the Caribbean, new routes for South America and a new extended cruise from South America to China.

For those who would like to try Costa without going for a full week, in the spring and autumn of 2012  Costa Atlantica will offer a series of new 3-4-5 night mini-cruises from Savona to Barcelona, Ibiza or Palma, Ajaccio and Marseille, with embarkations available at any of Savona, Barcelona or Marseille.

On this side of the Atlantic,  Costa Mediterranea will offer a brand-new Caribbean itinerary from December through March. A new 7-night cruise from Guadeloupe will alternate on two itineraries that include Aruba, Curacao, Costa’s private island (Catalina), Isla Margarita, St Lucia, St Maarten, Antigua, Dominica, Barbados and Antigua.

Costa will also enhance its South America programme when Costa Victoria is based in Santos between December and March for 9-night cruises calling at Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Porto Belo and Ilhabela.

Costa Serena will also offer new Canaries and Madeira programmes.
From November through March, she will offer 11-night cruises from Savona to the Canaries and Madeira, as well as 14-night cruises to the Canaries and Madeira that will include calls in Spain and Morocco. Between November and March, Costa Serena will also offer 11-night cruises to Greece, Turkey and Israel, leaving Savona and calling at Katakolon, Ashdod, Haifa, Izmir, Piraeus and Civitavecchia.

In a special sailing to position  Costa Victoria from South America to Asia, she will depart Santos on March 7, 2012, on an unique 72-night cruise to Shanghai, with four different sectors being offered to the public. The first leg, from Santos to Savona, will be a 17-night crossing with calls at Rio de Janeiro, Salvador de Bahia, Recife, Cape Verde, the Canary Islands, Madeira, Lisbon, Gibraltar and Barcelona. The second leg, leaving Savona on March 24, 2012, will depart for Dubai on an 18-night cruise calling at Naples, Port Said, the Suez Canal, Sharm el Sheik, Safaga, Aqaba, Salalah and Muscat.

The third leg will commence on April 11, 2012, in Dubai on a 20-night cruise to Singapore calling at Mumbai, Goa, Cochin, Malè, Colombo, Phuket and Port Kelang. And finally, the fourth leg to Shanghai will be a 17-night cruise with calls at Bangkok, Ho Chi Min City, Da Nang, Halong Bay, Hainan and Hong Kong. Thereafter, from May 18, Costa Victoria will be based in Shanghai to offer a series of 4-5-6-7-night cruises for the growing Asian market.

In the Indian Ocean,  Costa Allegra will again sail from Mauritius on 14-night Indian Ocean cruises from November to March, calling at the Seychelles, Madagascar and Reunion on a route offered only by Costa.

Starting in 2012, there will be a Costa ship positioned in the Red Sea year-round. From November to March,  Grand Voyager, be chartered from Spanish affiliate Iberocruceros, will offer 7-night Red Sea cruises with calls in Egypt, Israel and Jordan. Given characteristics that make her ideal for sailing the Red Sea, the ship will be operated by Costa Cruises with its own staff, and the service, atmosphere and style of a Costa cruise. Then from March until the end of 2012, Costa’s own Costa Marina will take over the 7-night Red Sea itinerary.

In Europe, 8-night cruises in Costa Magica out of Amsterdam will allow guests to visit six of Europe’s top capital cities on one cruise: Paris, London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, Edinburgh and Oslo. This cruise will also be available for boarding in Dover, which has been abandoned by MSC Cruises in favour of Southampton.

Meanwhile, after returning from her first world cruise, Costa Deliziosa will offer 11-night cruises to the North Cape and the Baltic, departing from Amsterdam.

From Germany, Costa Pacifica will be offering a series of 10-to-16-night cruises from Kiel and Hamburg, to the North Cape, Iceland, Spitzbergen and the Baltic.

Costa Luminosa from Amsterdam and  Costa Fortuna from Copenhagen will complete Costa’s North European operations, with7-night summer cruises to the Norwegian fjords and the Baltic.

The new flagship, Costa Favolosa, will operate 7-night cruises in the United Arab Emirates and Oman throughout the winter of 2011 and 2012.

In the Far East, Costa Classica will leave Singapore on a 14-night itinerary, which can be broken down into two 7-night segments, sailing to Thailand and Malaysia. She will also operate 5-night cruises out of Hong Kong to Taiwan and Vietnam.

Back in the Caribbean, in addition to the new programme by Costa Mediterranea,  Costa Atlantica will operate a new 10-night itinerary from Miami, with calls at Grand Turk, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, Roatan, Cozumel and Nassau. And for the first time  Costa Luminosa will be positioned in the Caribbean to run 7-night cruises from Guadeloupe, calling at a different island each day. Caribbean passengers will also be able to enjoy the line’s private beach resort at Catalina in the Dominican Republic.

In South America, there will be four Costa ships operating next winter: Costa Pacifica, making her South American debut, Costa Magica, Costa Fortuna and Costa Victoria. Cruises will be offered from Santos, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires to ports in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.

Looking further ahead, on January 6, 2013, Costa Deliziosa will set sail from Savona on a 100-night Round-the-World cruise, a westbound route embracing all five continents. Her 2012 cruise, by comparison, will be only 76 nights.

For the winter in the Mediterranean, Costa Deliziosa will leave Savona in December on an 11-night cruise to the Canary Islands and three Mediterranean mini-cruises. Costa Concordia will offer 7-night cruises from Savona to Marseilles, Barcelona, Palma, Tunis, Palermo and Civitavecchia. From February,  Costa Romantica will also be deployed on 11-night cruises to the Canary Islands.

In the summer of 2012 the two new ships, Costa Fascinosa and Costa Favolosa, will sail from Venice and Bari on 7-night cruises to Greek Islands and to Greece and Turkey,  Costa Fortuna will also operate week-long cruises out of Venice and Bari, in her case to the Greek Islands and Croatia. Costa Romantica will meanwhile leave Venice on 11-night cruises to Egypt and Israel or the Black Sea. Costa Classica will operate 7-night cruises from Trieste and Ancona to the Greek Isles.

From Savona, Costa Serena will offer a 7-night itinerary to Naples, Catania, Tunis, Barcelona and Marseille and Costa Concordia will offer a 7-night itinerary to Barcelona, Palma, Tunis, Palermo and Civitavecchia. Costa Mediterranea, meanwhile, will offer 11-to-13-night cruises to the Canary Islands and to the Black Sea, or Egypt and Israel. Finally, from July to September, Costa Atlantica will operate 7-night summer cruises from Savona to Civitavecchia, Naples, Tunis, Valencia and Marseilles.

In the autumn of 2012, Costa Deliziosa will be deployed on 11-night cruises from Savona to the Canary Islands, Costa Luminosa on 9-night cruises to Lisbon and Casablanca; Costa Pacifica on 11-night cruises to Egypt, Greece, Israel and Turkey and Costa Fortuna 10-night cruises to Egypt, Greece and Turkey. During the autumn and spring the Costa Magica will also offer a special 10-night itinerary to Marseilles, Livorno, Palermo, Athens, Izmir, Rhodes and Malta.

Thirty years ago, in 1981, after surpassing the Soviets with a mix of ten owned and chartered ships, Amerikanis, Carla C, Danae, Daphne, Enrico C, Eugenio C, Federico C, Flavia and World Renaissance, and Costa Riviera about to come on line, Costa claimed to operate the world’s largest cruise fleet. Now, as the largest cruise operator in Europe, there is no doubt that, with fifteen ships to its name and twenty-seven under its control, Costa has come a long way, and has picked up a significant role in the development of cruising on a world scale.