![]() |
![]() |
|||||
June 20, 2008
|
||||||
IN THIS ISSUE
LINKS
|
[Single_Line:], Welcome to the All About Cruises Mailing List. You have either signed up for the mailing list, requested information from online, or have booked a cruise with us. If for any reason you wish to no long receive these emails please reply with "unsubscribe" or send a blank email to mailinglist@allaboutcruisesnc.net. Periodically we will send you specials and other information that you may be interested in so you can take on the savings! |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
NEWS FROM THE HIGH SEAS |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Caribbean Selects Oasis Of The Seas And Allure Of The Seas as the Names for its Project Genesis Ships An oasis is commonly defined as a fertile area in an arid region or a place of refuge, relief, or pleasant contrast. Today, Royal Caribbean International adds another use of the term, defining it as the official name for the cruise line's newest and most awe-inspiring class of cruise ships, until now referred to by the code name "Project Genesis."
Additions to Royal Promenade, the heart of the ship, will include a mezzanine level that overlooks the main promenade below. The Royal Promenade will be home to a vast array of shopping, dining and entertainment options including, the Rising Tide bar, the first moving bar at sea, which will traverse three decks and allow cruisers to enjoy a cocktail as they slowly ascend into Central Park. A focal point will be a giant copper globe sculpture built into the facade above the Globe and Atlas Pub, which will "crack open" to create a spectacular, surprise element for guests, as it unfurls on hinged hydraulics and becomes a bridge platform for performances. Other options include the cruise line's popular Schooner Bar and Champagne Bar; the new Mondo Coffee Bar; Focus, a photo shop and gallery; and the ever-popular Boleros Latin dance club. When launched in late 2009, Oasis of the Seas will be the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship in the world. An architectural marvel at sea, she will span 16 decks, encompass 220,000 gross registered tons, carry 5,400 guests, and feature 2,700 staterooms. The ship will homeport in Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In 2010, she will be joined by a sister ship, Allure of the Seas. Additional information is available at www.oasisoftheseas.com. © 2008 Royal Caribbean International
Woman Lived Nine Years Aboard QE2 Some people cruise a little. Some people cruise a lot. And then there is Beatrice Muller, the 89-year-old widow from New Jersey who literally lives on the Queen Elizabeth 2. A legend in the cruise world, Muller has booked back-to-back cruises on the Cunard ship in an endless string going back nine years, and she had planned to keep it up indefinitely. The problem, of course, is that the 41-year-old QE2 is retiring in November, and as The Times of London reported over the weekend, Muller is now looking for a new ship. Muller sold most of her possessions in 1999 when she decided to start sailing full time, and The Times says she refuses to think about returning to land. “What would I want to do that for?” she asked the paper's Will Pavia this week during an interview while the ship was docked in Southampton, England. "I was married to a wonderful man for 57 years. I have done my penal servitude – I want to travel.” Muller began sailing on the QE2 full time after her husband died (during a cruise on the ship; the couple already had become regulars). She told The Times her cabin costs about $7,000 a month, which compares favorably to the cost of a retirement home in Florida. But “it’s far more pleasant,” she told the paper. “They don’t organize you like senior citizens’ homes must do." So where will Muller go? The obvious choice is Cunard's Queen Mary 2 or Queen Victoria, but Princess and Holland America also have globe-trotting ships that might appeal to the endless wanderer. The Royal Princess, in particular, already is accustomed to year-round passengers. Cruise Loggers, if you could afford it, which ship would you chose as a permanent home? And what do you think about the idea of spending your golden years sailing around the world full-time? © 2008 USA TODAY
Carnival CEO 'Hangs Ten' on Grand Turk FlowRider Who knew that Carnival President and CEO Gerry Cahill was also a surfer dude, too? The leader of the “Fun Ship” fleet is shown here “hanging ten” at the new FlowRider attraction at the Grand Turk Cruise Center. On the short board, not only did he “hang ten,” but “walked-the-nose” and pulled off a “spiner” before wiping out. The attraction — the only one of its kind at a cruise ship facility — offers participants a chance to catch some gnarly waves and experience some bodacious wipeouts while they enjoy both body boarding and stand-up surfing. Part of a $5 million renovation to the island, the FlowRider is an artificial wave created by a pair of high-pressure water jets that produce a thin, two- to three-inch layer of water moving over a pre-formed and cushioned surface at high speed. Cahill was on the island of Grand Turk for the grand opening of the FlowRider* attraction, which is operated by Grand Turk’s Margaritaville restaurant and bar. Tickets to the FlowRider are sold on board through the shore excursion desk on ships calling at Grand Turk. Carnival expects to offer FlowRider tickets online in the near future. Prices are $24 for body boarding for a half-hour on the ride and $34 for hour-long stand-up surfing sessions. The FlowRider attraction is currently available in conjunction with all cruise ship calls at Grand Turk, including Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Imagination, Carnival Liberty and Carnival Triumph. Additional cruise lines that call at the island include Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, the Yachts of Seabourn, and Costa Cruises, among others. © 2008 Carnival
You Think Your Gas Bill is High! There's been a lot of griping the past few months about the $7- to $12-a-day fuel surcharges that cruise lines have begun levying on customers. But maybe cruisers should just be happy the charges aren't a whole lot higher. In a new report released today, UBS analyst Robin Farley offers a detailed look at the impact of higher fuel prices on cruise lines, and it isn't pretty. Farley estimates industry leader Carnival Corp., the parent company of nearly a dozen lines including Carnival, Princess and Holland America, will spend nearly $2 billion this year on fuel. The number is nothing if not astounding, given that as recently as five years ago the company's total fuel bill amounted to less than $400 million. In just the last year Carnival's fuel bill is up by nearly $900 million a year -- more than it cost to build the much-ballyhooed Queen Mary 2. Carnival's smaller rival, Royal Caribbean, is in the same boat, with a fuel bill that Farley estimates will hit $783 million this year, up from $198 million in 2003. Royal Caribbean's fuel bill is up nearly $250 million over the past year. Put another way, last year fuel accounted for about 17% of expenses at the major lines, up from 11% in 2004, says Farley. And that percentage has rocketed even higher since. "Since the beginning of 2008, fuel is up another 35-40%, placing additional pressure on costs, and we estimate fuel expenses could account for 20-25% of net cruise costs in 2008," she writes. Farley says the soaring cost of fuel is the reason cruise line earnings haven't taken off this year, despite a rise in "net yields" -- the amount lines are bringing in per cabin. Net yields, she notes, are rising despite the slowdown in the economy -- a testament to the industry's strength during tough times. Unlike airlines, another segment of the travel industry that's been heavily impacted by rising fuel prices, the cruise industry remains solidly profitable this year. Just not as profitable as it would have been if oil hadn't spurted to once unthinkable levels. The 105-page UBS report, which offers the firm's outlook on the cruise industry over the next several years, forecasts that ticket prices will continue to rise even as the economy struggles. © 2008 USA TODAY
Carnival to Introduce Baltimore's First Year-Round Cruise Program in September 2009 Carnival Cruise Lines, the world’s largest cruise operator, will launch the first year-round cruise program from the Port of Baltimore with seven-day cruises aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride beginning in fall 2009. The new program kicks off September 13, 2009, and encompasses two different weeklong itineraries departing Sundays from the historic Maryland port. Baltimore’s first year-round cruise program will feature a variety of interesting ports on two distinctly different seven-day itineraries. Exotic Eastern Caribbean departures will call at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos; the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay; and Freeport, The Bahamas; while Bahamas/Florida departures visit Port Canaveral, Fla.; and Nassau and Freeport, The Bahamas. It is expected that the Carnival Pride will carry more than 115,000 guests annually from the Port of Baltimore. Including its new Baltimore-based program, Carnival Cruise Lines will operate from 17 North American departure points, including 11 year-round homeports – the most of any cruise operator. “We’re thrilled to introduce the first year-round cruise program from Baltimore aboard the Carnival Pride, a truly magnificent ‘Fun Ship’ that will visit a wide range of tropical destinations from one of America’s most historic cities,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO. “Today’s consumers are more value-conscious than ever and considering that Baltimore is within a day’s drive for millions of Northeastern U.S. residents, these new seven-day voyages provide a convenient and affordable vacation option,” he added. “This is tremendous news for the Port of Baltimore and our State,” said Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley. “Year-round cruising will allow the 40 million people that live within a six-hour drive of Baltimore to look beyond the traditional cruising seasons and sail throughout the year. Carnival Cruise Lines is internationally recognized as one of the finest cruise ship operators in the industry and we are happy to welcome their ‘Fun Ship’ to Maryland.” © 2008 Carnival
Holland America Takes Delivery of Eurodam Monday was a big day for Holland America fans as the line took delivery of its biggest ship ever. The 2,104-passenger Eurodam, the line's 14th ship, is the first of a new class of Holland America vessels that has one more deck than those in the company's last series, the Vista Class, and such innovations as "spa staterooms" that tie into the ship's spa. The Eurodam will be christened on July 1 in Rotterdam by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, part of three days of festivities planned for the vessel. Its maiden voyage, a 10-night cruise from Copenhagen, Denmark, is set for July 5. The ship will spend the summer sailing in the Baltic region of Europe before crossing the Atlantic this fall to sail in Canada and New England. It'll spend the winter in the Caribbean. Among new venues on the ship is a pan-Asian restaurant called Tamarind; a casual Italian eatery, Canaletto; and a pizza outlet dubbed Pizzeria Slice. Other differences from previous Holland America ships include the addition of a new Explorer's Lounge Bar, a new atrium bar area and an enhanced and reconfigured show lounge with theater-style seating. © 2008 USA Today
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
CRUISE SPECIALS |
| Cruise Line |
Ship |
Sail Date |
Length |
Destination |
Rates Starting at* |
Departure Port |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carnival |
Sensation |
08/1/08 |
4 |
Bahamas |
$350 |
Port Canaveral |
Carnival |
Fascination |
08/18/08 |
4 |
Bahamas |
$200 |
Miami |
Carnival |
Sensation |
08/31/08 |
4 |
Bahamas |
$180 |
Port Canaveral |
Carnival |
Glory |
08/30/08 |
7 |
Eastern Caribbean |
$320 |
Port Canaveral |
Carnival |
Glory |
09/06/08 |
7 |
Western Caribbean |
$290 |
Port Canaveral |
Carnival |
Valor |
09/28/08 |
7 |
Exotic Western Caribbean |
$310 |
Miami |
Carnival |
Freedom |
10/01/08 |
12 |
***SOLD OUT*** Grand Mediterranean - All About Cruises 17th Annual |
**SOLD OUT** |
Civitavecchia |
Carnival |
Inspiration |
10/20/08 |
5 |
"Spooktacular Beach Music Cruise" to the Western Caribbean |
$440 |
Tampa |
Carnival |
Sensation |
10/23/08 |
3 |
Bahamas |
$130 |
Port Canaveral |
Carnival |
Fascination |
11/01/08 |
5 |
"Cruise to Mayberry 3" to the Bahamas |
$259 |
Jacksonville |
Carnival |
Victory |
11/02/08 |
7 |
Southern Caribbean |
$340 |
San Juan |
Carnival |
Valor |
11/02/08 |
7 |
Eastern Caribbean |
$310 |
Miami |
Carnival |
Destiny |
11/08/08 |
5 |
Western Caribbean |
$240 |
Miami |
Carnival |
Destiny |
11/17/08 |
5 |
Western Caribbean |
$240 |
Miami |
Carnival |
Freedom |
11/22/08 |
8 |
Caribbean |
$699 |
Ft. Lauderdale |
Carnival |
Fascination |
11/24/08 |
5 |
Western Caribbean |
$260 |
Jacksonville |
Carnival |
Victory |
11/30/08 |
7 |
Southern Caribbean |
$270 |
San Juan |
Carnival |
Freedom |
11/30/08 |
6 |
Western Caribbean |
$529 |
Ft. Lauderdale |
Carnival |
Inspiration |
01/26/09 |
5 |
Western Caribbean |
$200 |
Tampa |
Carnival |
SPLENDOR |
01/31/09 |
17 |
Brazillian Adventure |
$1000 |
Ft. Lauderdale |
Carnival |
Destiny |
04/11/09 |
5 |
Western Caribbean |
$430 |
Miami |
Carnival |
Spirit |
05/20/09 |
7 |
All About Cruises 18th Annual - Alaska Cruise Tour (4-night pre cruise tour departing 5/16/08) |
$1839 |
Anchorage |
Carnival |
Glory |
09/12/09 |
7 |
Eastern Caribbean |
$290 |
Port Canaveral |
Celebrity |
Mercury |
08/01/08-09/07/08 |
7 |
Alaska |
$869 |
|
Celebrity |
Millenium |
08/01/08, 08/15/08, 08/29/08, 09/12/08 |
7 |
Southbound Alaska |
$949 |
|
Celebrity |
Solstice |
04/12/09 |
7 |
Eastern Caribbean |
$920 |
Ft. Lauderdale |
Costa |
Fortuna |
select sailings begining 12/21/08 |
7 |
Western Caribbean |
$599 |
Ft. Lauderdale |
Crystal |
Symphony |
08/22/08 |
11 |
Scandinavian |
$5010 |
Stockholm |
Disney |
Disney Wonder |
08/31/08 |
4 |
Bahamas |
$569 |
Port Canaveral |
Holland America |
Zaandam |
09/03/08 |
12 |
Denali Adventure & Discovery Cruise |
$2849 |
Anchorage |
Holland America |
Veendam |
11/09/08 - 12/14/08 |
7 |
Western Caribbean |
$549 |
Tampa |
Holland America |
Noordam |
10/28/08 - 03/14/08 |
10 |
Southern Caribbean |
$899 |
Ft. Lauderdale |
Norwegian |
Pride of America |
09/06/08 |
7 |
Hawaiian Cruise |
$799 |
Honolulu |
Norwegian |
Majesty |
11/15/08 |
7 |
Western Caribbean |
$369 |
Charleston |
Princess |
Dawn Princess |
08/05/08, 08/15/08 |
10 |
Alaska Inside Package |
$1299 |
San Fransisco |
Princess |
Sapphire Princess |
09/27/08 |
7 |
Mexican Riviera |
$964 |
Los Angeles |
Princess |
Caribbean Princess |
10/26/08 |
7 |
Eastern Caribbean |
$774 |
Ft. Lauderdale |
Royal Caribbean |
Grandeur of the Seas |
08/02/08, 08/16/08, 08/30/08 |
5 |
Bermuda |
$699 |
Norfolk |
Royal Caribbean |
Freedom of the Seas |
7 |
Western Caribbean |
$699 |
Miami |
|
Royal Caribbean |
Explorer of the Seas |
08/01/08 - 10/18/08 |
5 |
Bermuda |
Cape Liberty |
|
Royal Caribbean |
Explorer of the Seas |
08/01/08, 11/01/08 |
8 |
Eastern Caribbean |
Cape Liberty |
|
Royal Caribbean |
Explorer of the Seas |
11/21/08, 01/02/09, 02/13/09, 03/27/09 |
9 |
Eastern Caribbean |
Cape Liberty |
|
Royal Caribbean |
Explorer of the Seas |
08/14/08, 10/23/08 |
9 |
Bermuda & Caribbean |
Cape Liberty |
|
Royal Caribbean |
Explorer of the Seas |
08/28/08, 09/11/08, 09/25/08, 10/09/08 |
9 |
Canada |
Cape Liberty |
|
Royal Caribbean |
Jewel of the Seas |
09/20/08 |
7 |
Canada & New England |
Boston |
|
Royal Caribbean |
Jewel of the Seas |
09/27/08, 10/04/08, 10/11/08 |
7 |
Canada & New England |
Boston |
|
Royal Caribbean |
Jewel of the Seas |
10/18/08 |
5 |
Canada & New England |
Boston |
|
Royal Caribbean |
Explorer of the Seas |
11/09/08, 11/30/08, 01/11/09, 02/01/09, 02/22/09, 03/15/09, 04/05/09 |
12 |
Southern Caribbean |
Cape Liberty |
|
Royal Caribbean |
Explorer of the Seas |
12/21/08 |
12 |
Southern Caribbean |
Cape Liberty |
|
Royal Caribbean |
Explorer of the Seas |
12/12/08, 01/23/09, 03/06/09, 04/17/09 |
9 |
Eastern Caribbean |
Cape Liberty |
|
Royal Caribbean |
Mariner of the Seas |
01/04/09 |
15 |
Port Canaveral to Rio de Janiero |
$1529 |
Port Canaveral |
Viking River |
All Ships |
08/08 - 11/08 |
Various |
$1149 |
Various |
|
Windstar |
Wind Surf |
06/22/08, 09/14/08 |
7 |
Venice to Dubrovnik |
$2649 |
Venice |
Windstar |
Wind Spirit |
08/30/08 |
7 |
Istanbul to Athens |
$3061 |
Istanbul |