JULY 2008
VOLUME 1 ISSUE 7
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IN THIS ISSUE
- Carnival Splendor is Born
- Premium Prices Set for Royal Caribbean's Oasis
- Carnival Turns Away Too Pregnant Passenger
- Eurodam is Official
- NCL Plays Rescue Yet Again, Twice in 12 Hours
- New Searchable Specials on Our Website
- Specials
- Cruise of the Month
- Featured Cruises
- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico - Port Spotlight
- Chocolate Souffle - Recipe of the Month
Member of CLIA Association 2008
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Copyright © 2008
All About Cruises, Inc.
July 29, 2008
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[First_Name] [Last_Name],
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 longer 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! |
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Please check out our website and feel free to send us suggestions. We would love to hear about your cruise you have recently taken so send us a story and we will publish it on our site. If you have family or friends that have been on a cruise or may be interested in a cruise, send them to the website to check it out and encourage them to sign up for the mailing list.
Whether this is your first cruise, or your hundredth one, you will not be disappointed with us, let us help make your vacation dreams become a reality.
BON VOYAGE! |
CRUISE OF THE MONTH |
Carnival Imagination
Western Caribbean
from Tampa, Florida
01/26/09
$200
per person cruise only
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FEATURED CRUISES |
"Spooktacular Beach Music Cruise"
ABOARD CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
"INSPIRATION"
5-DAY WESTERN CARIBBEAN CRUISE
OCTOBER 20-25, 2008
Come join Beach Music fans on Carnival Cruise Lines beautiful ship the INSPIRATION for 5 glorious days to the Western Caribbean!
Only Carnival could create a ship that combines contemporary design, friendly service and all the amenities. Best of all, this cruise will be your best vacation value!! Eight meals and snacks a day, daytime activities, nighttime entertainment, and fascinating ports-of-call.
Entertainment will be provided by The Holiday Band and special guests Pam Russell & Ted Keaton of "Shaggy Maggie." Multi award winning vocalist Paul Craver, Lia Long, and Rhonda McDaniel. Also joining the cruise will be well known DJ’s, “Fessa John Hook” & “Jay Jenkins”. On Monday night we will have a Welcome Aboard Cocktail Party. Entertainment will be provided nightly. Also a special Pool Jam Session and Costume Party with prizes!!
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
All About Cruises' 18th Annual "11-Night Alaska CruiseTour"
ABOARD CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
"SPIRIT"
7-DAY ALASKA CRUISETOUR
MAY 16-27, 2009
4-Night Pre-Cruise Land (05/16/09-05/20/09) Carnival Cruise Lines' "Carnival Spirit" (05/20/09-05/27/09)
Seeing Alaska on a 7-day cruise is a fantastic vacation experience. We are going to make it even more of an adventure with this 11-night CruiseTour. We will start with the land tour before boarding the beautiful Carnival Spirit.
Denali National Park alone is a six-million-acre wonderland of forests, rivers and mountains, including America's highest peak, Mt. McKinley. We'll see breathtaking scenery on the tour. You know what else we'll likely see from the motorcoach? Moose, golden eagles and grizzly bears. This adventure also includes the urban and country pleasure of Anchorage, a port city nestled between the Alaska Range and the Chugach Mountains. Here you can tour the Museum of Natural History and Art, at Ship Creek Salmon Overlook, watch spawning salmon head upstream. You can even visit Lake Hood, the busiest seaplane base in the world!
Also on the tour is Fairbanks, Alaska's second-largest city. You'll feel like a pioneer here. You can even try you hand at panning for gold. Now you may not strike it rich on this vacation, but you will come home with a fortune in priceless memories.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
A Cruise to Mayberry 3!
ABOARD CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
"FASCINATION"
5-DAY BAHAMAS
NOVEMBER 1-6, 2008
Come join Mayberry fans on Carnival Cruise Lines beautiful ship the FASCINATION for 5 glorious days to Nassau and Half Moon Cay!!!!
Only Carnival could create a ship that combines contemporary design, friendly service and all the amenities. Best of all, this cruise will be your best vacation value!!! Eight meals and snacks a day, daytime activities, nighttime entertainment, and fascinating ports of call.
We will have various Mayberry activities throughout the cruise. On Saturday night we will have a Welcome Aboard Party for all of the fans, stars and tribute artists. On Sunday (the day at sea), we will have all kinds of fun activities such as a Mayberry Trivia Contest and much more!!! Don’t miss out!! The VW Boys are joining the Mayberry Family with their mixture of Music, Magic and Comedy.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
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PORT SPOTLIGHT |
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
© 2008 Sealetter Cruise Magazine
- Port City:
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- Population
10,000
- Language:
Spanish is the official language, but most locals speak at least some English.
- Climate:
Warm and dry. The average temperature is 82 degrees; the average water temperature is 76 degrees.
- Currency:
The Mexican peso. U.S. dollars are widely accepted.
Sightseeing & Beaches
Cabo San Lucas' crystal-clear waters, white-sand beaches and excellent fishing have all worked to transform this Baja town from a quiet cannery village into an internationally known resort. The bay, which is excellent for swimming, provides anchorage for fishing boats and private yachts. The commanding marina, with nearly 300 slips, is the hub of waterfront activity.
For a unique treat, try a boat ride out to the arched rocks of Los Arcos, where the Sea of Cortes and the Pacific Ocean meet. The formations are magnificent, and the sea lions on the surrounding rocks provide visitors with an entertaining spectacle. Check with your Cruise Director for more information.
Playa Medano and Playa Chileno are two of the most popular beaches for swimming in the area. Near Los Arcos is picturesque Playa del Amor, or "Beach of Love." The isolated cove, situated at the very end of the peninsula, is surrounded by the Sea of Cortes on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other.
Sports
Deep-sea fishing is one of Cabo San Lucas' main attractions. In fact, the area where the Sea of Cortes empties into the Pacific is referred to as Marlin Alley. Large numbers of marlin and sailfish are caught in local waters annually; wahoo, mako shark and smaller game fish are also plentiful. The city hosts several major fishing tournaments each year.
Snorkeling can be an unforgettable experience in these wonderfully warm and translucent waters. The underwater life here is varied and colorful, and even beginners can enjoy it.
Shopping
The shops of Cabo San Lucas feature resort wear, jewelry, leather goods, Mexican handicrafts and more. Art lovers will enjoy browsing through the city's several art galleries.
Opposite the marina is Cabo San Lucas' newest shopping and entertainment center. The picturesque open-air market at the marina offers an array of fine crafts. Among the unique souvenirs available are palofierro sculptures, skillfully carved by the Seri Indians of Sonora from the tropical hardwood of the same name
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RECIPE OF THE MONTH |
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Chocolate Souffle
by Disney Cruise Lines
Make this irresistible, classic dessert for sweet memories of dinner at Palo. This soufflé is by far the most popular choice in the sophisticated restaurant.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons butter, plus more for greasing the soufflé cups
6 tablespoons sugar, plus more for dusting the soufflé cups
1 cup of milk
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa
2 ounces (2/3 cup) semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, melted
4 eggs, separated
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Set a full Kettle of water on to boil.
Butter 6 4-ounce soufflé cups and coat with sugar; set aside.
Bring the milk to a boil in a small saucepan. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cocoa to the butter and beat with a whisk until it has smooth, pastelike consistency. Reduce heat and cook for 1 minute.
Slowly add the hot milk, whisking until smooth, then blend in melted chocolate. let cool for 5 minutes, then stir in egg yolks.
Beat egg whites in a separate bowl until frothy. Slowly add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until stiff, glossy peaks form. Stir a heaping spoonful of egg whites into the chocolate, then fold in the remaining whites just until combined.
Pour the batter into prepared soufflé cups. Place cups in a large baking dish and add enough boiling water to reach halfway up the sides of the soufflé cups.
Bake for 20 minutes. Serve immediately.
Vanilla Sauce for Chocolate Soufflé
The warm Vanilla Sauce is the perfect complement when making the irresistible, Chocolate Soufflé.
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1/4 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
3 tablespoons sugar
2 small egg yolks
Directions
Bring cream and vanilla bean to a low boil in saucepan over medium heat.
Combine sugar and egg yolks.
Add 2 spoonfuls of boiling cream to egg mixture and stir well, then pour back into the remaining cream and continue to cook over low heat, stirring constantly for 3 to 4 minutes. |
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Carnival Splendor is Christened in England
The naming ceremony for the 3,006-passenger Carnival Splendor was truly unique and memorable, with British celebrity Myleene Klass, a chart-topping musician, singer and television personality in the UK serving as the ship’s godmother.
The event culminated in dramatic fashion when a member of the Royal Navy dive team – following a cue from Klass, who was playing a classical piano piece live on Lido Deck – climbed up a 60-foot-long ascent rope to reach the ship’s name at the top of the bow. Breaking with tradition, the diver smashed a bottle of 1994 vintage Nyetimber English sparkling wine across the ship’s hull. Nyetimber was chosen by Carnival to emphasize the selection of Britain to launch its newest and largest ship.
After the naming ceremony, Carnival Splendor departed on a special three-day cruise to Amsterdam followed by the launch of the line’s first ever 12-day Northern Europe cruise program.
© 2008 Carnival Cruise Lines
 
Expect to Pay a Premium to Sail on Oasis of the Seas Would you pay a premium to sail on the hottest new ship at sea? Royal Caribbean is betting you will.
Executives at the line tell USA TODAY they expect cabins on the much-ballyhooed Oasis of the Seas, debuting in late 2009, to sell at a higher price point than the existing ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet.
"The ship makes good economic sense even if we get the same sort of per diem that we have (on existing vessels), but we do expect a premium," says Royal Caribbean Chairman Richard Fain.
Fain and Royal Caribbean CEO Adam Goldstein discussed pricing and other details of the ship last Wednesday in a private interview with USA TODAY following the line's big presentation about the vessel in New York. During the event, the line announced that the 5,400-passenger cruiser, the largest ever built, will have a family-focused amusement area known as the Boardwalk, an outdoor water show venue called the AquaTheater, a zip line and other innovative features.
The 220,000-ton vessel, which also will have a Royal Promenade that is twice as wide as the ones on existing Royal Caribbean ships and a "Central Park" with live trees and outdoor eateries, will go on sale Sept. 3. Executives say there still are several innovative elements they have yet to announce.
The design, built around what the line is calling "neighborhoods," will offer a little something for everyone. Goldstein says that families, for instance, likely will flock to the Boardwalk area, which will have carnival games, an ice cream parlor, a merry-go-round (the first at sea) and other amusements. Couples, on the other hand, will be drawn to the more serene Central Park area, he says.
"All of the guests will appreciate what (Central Park) has to offer," he says. "But it clearly will be a very appealing space for couples."
Goldstein notes that the line has been handling a growing number of special events on its ships, from weddings and honeymoons to anniversaries, and Central Park is a perfect place for celebrating such milestones as a couple or as a larger group.
Goldstein and Fain also talked about the growing impact of rising oil prices on the industry.
"Oasis is the most energy efficient vessel we have ever designed," notes Fain. "But, even so, the price of oil is painful."
Fain says the company isn't assuming the current oil spike is a bubble that will soon break, and it's looking at every option to reduce its energy footprint and consumption. The good news, he says, is that the cruise industry isn't the airline industry, which is having trouble making money with oil prices at current levels. While painful, higher oil prices are manageable at cruise lines.
"The industry has proven remarkably resilient," Fain notes. "The best indication of that was (the cruise industry's success in weathering) the aftermath of 9/11."
One of the big questions that lingers about Oasis is the level of pricing for the many new inward-facing cabins. As previously announced, there will be five decks of cabins overlooking the Central Park area, and last week Royal Caribbean announced plans for cabins overlooking the Boardwalk area and AquaTheater.
© 2008 USA TODAY
 
Carnival Turns Away Passenger for Being Too Pregnant
How pregnant is too pregnant to cruise? There's a new cutoff at Carnival Cruise Lines, and it already has tripped up at least one pregnant cruiser.
WFTV of Orlando today reports that Huey Tsao of Washington, D.C., was left stranded at the dock this week in Port Canaveral, Fla., after Carnival turned her away for being too pregnant.
Tsao is 26 weeks pregnant, and she tells WFTV that when she booked her ticket Carnival's brochures said the cutoff was 27 weeks. But unbeknownst to her the line quietly changed its threshold earlier this year to 24 weeks.
Carnival spokesman Vance Gulliksen tells USA TODAY the line changed its policy in January, and the new cutoff has been posted online. The policy cites the risk of premature labor.
A check of cruise line websites finds that other lines such as Princess and Royal Caribbean also have been quietly switching to a 24-week cutoff. None of the lines have announced the changes in press releases, and the changes have not been widely reported. Still, Gulliksen says Carnival, at least, gave plenty of notice to its customers.
"We didn't issue a press release per se but advised travel agents and guests of the new policy through our various communication channels -- e-mail blasts, updated fleet brochure, ticket contract, Fun Pass registration site and website," Gulliksen says.
© 2008 USA Today
Eurodam is Official!
The 2,104-passenger Eurodam is now, officially, the 14th vessel in the Holland America line, following an uplifting naming ceremony today along the waterfront of Rotterdam.
Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands presided over a royal dedication for the company's largest ship ever before a crowd of more than a thousand dignitaries.
"I name this ship Eurodam," the monarch said from an outdoor stage in front of the ship, uttering the words used at christenings so many times. "May God bless the Eurodam and all who sail on her."
Queen Beatrix then proceeded to ring the ship's bell, the signal for the release of a bottle of champagne against the Eurodam's bow (see photo above). Unlike at other recent naming ceremonies, such as those for Cunard's Queen Victoria in December and Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas in May, there was no doubt that the bottle had broken. It literally exploded against the side of the ship.
All in all, it was a lovely ceremony. The bottle breaking was followed by a rousing rendition of the Ode to Joy from Beethoven's ninth symphony, sung by the classical music ensemble Operababes. The group also preceeded the bottle breaking with a beautiful rendition of Delibes Lakme's Flower Duet, and the afternoon program began with a performance of sacred music by a group called Cantabile.
In keeping with Dutch tradition, the day was elegant and yet not over-the-top -- far less long and showy than the pomp-filled ceremony put on by Cunard in December when another member of a royal family, Britain's Duchess of Cornwall, named the Queen Victoria.
Among the most touching moments of the event was the blessing of the ship's bell, a Holland America tradition that was done by the ship's captain and two of the line's alumni, Martin and Tineke Schroder. Together, the three poured champagne over the bell's top.
The event also included short speeches by the ship's captain, Jeroen van Donselaar and Holland America CEO Stein Kruse, as well as the head of the shipyard that built the Eurodam. Afterwards, Queen Beatrix received a VIP tour of the vessel, including a visit to the bridge.
© 2008 USA TODAY
Norwegian Dawn Makes
2 Rescues in 12 Hours
The Norwegian Dawn rescued two different sailors on two different boats within 12 hours on June 30, while sailing off the coasts of Massachusetts and New York en route to Bermuda.
The first rescue took place 200 miles from Cape Cod, Mass., where Andrew Paul Giglia, a crewmember on a sailboat returning from a a race in Bermuda, was suffering from shock-like symptoms and needed immediate evacuation, Norwegian Cruise Line said.
The Coast Guard contacted the Dawn, which at 52 miles away was the closest ship to the sailboat. NCL said that it was able to board Giglia in windy conditions using a small rescue boat, and treated him for dehydration.
Hours later, the Dawn received a second distress call. HIllary Bercovici of Greenwich, Conn., had sustained a head injury while sailing 260 miles south of Montauk, N.Y., and was losing consciousness.
NCL said that despite rough conditions of rain and gusting wind, the Dawn located Bercovici's vessel and used a rescue boat again to bring the injured man onboard. He was given medical treatment, including five stitches to the forehead.
NCL said both injured sailors were in stable condition and were to disembark the ship upon its arrival in Bermuda on July 2.
This is the third rescue NCL has made in the last few months; in April, the Pride of Aloha rescued an eight-month-old dog that was shipwrecked on a remote pacific island.
© 2008 Norwegian Cruise Lines
New Searchable Specials Database
June 28 marked new territory for All About Cruises. We moved to a new server in order to bring new technology to you. This move did not change the way users access the site, but did provide a few days of downtime.
The new technology allows us to use flash animation and bring more fun interactive things for you to explore.
The biggest change that users will notice and begin to love is a searchable databse of cruises. Currently our specials is all that can be searched for. You can search for as many or as little inputs as possible.
For instance, you can search for all cruises from your favorite cruise line, or ship. Perhaps you have a specific date range that you are interested in and want to see if something is available. Or maybe you want to seach by the numbers of days you will be aboard. The itinerary could perhaps be what you are looking for or maybe your wallet determines what amount you can spend. With high gas prices lately, you could be watching how much you put in your tank and that could perhaps choose which port you leave from.
All of these options are featured for search on our specials currently and in the future we will slowly begin adding all of the cruise lines sailings. Talk about a dainting task--just Carnival alone has over 2000 different sailings in the course of a two year period. Just think how many sailings it would be for about 15 different cruise lines! Eventually we will have the complete listing of every cruise that will exist and will assist you in finding your perfect cruise! If this doesn't help you find your cruise we aren't sure what will.
Also, a new addition is that each sailing has a special "Quick Reference ID". This will help you keep each sailing separate. These ID's are unique and are easy to jot down and come back to later without having to search all over again.
Is there a feature like this that you would like to see on our site that isnt there yet? Email us and let us know and we will try to add it!
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