Welcome!
Latest Travel News
Featured Destinations
Planning Your Vacation
Links to Travel Resources
Understanding Travel Insurance
About Us
Contact Us
What our clients are saying...
Home
LATEST TRAVEL NEWS
Oceania Cruises Leads the Way in Luxury, Destination Cruising
Oceania Cruises is the world’s only upper-premium cruise line, offering gourmet cuisine, gracious service and award-winning itineraries at an exceptional value. The line’s hallmark is a country club casual elegance on mid-size ships; the overall feeling is one that is never stuffy and is void of pretension.
Guests enjoy complimentary and unlimited soft drinks and bottled water, and the flexibility of four open-seating restaurants, so they can dine when, where and with whom they choose.
Avalon Waterways Offers Superior Small-Ship Cruising
The most elegant ships on the water, Avalon Waterways offers a superior small-ship cruise.
River and small-ship cruising is booming in popularity, and the reasons for the growing interest are abundant. Since the price of a river cruise includes accommodations, local sightseeing, many meals and complimentary wine with dinner, costs (both on-shore and onboard) are greatly minimized.
The World's Fastest-Growing Cruise Destination is . . . the Persian Gulf?
Perpetually sunny and warm, the Persian Gulf is proving a popular winter getaway for cruise fans from Europe, in particular, as well as Middle Easterners and smaller numbers of Americans, despite its location near several troubled countries including Iraq and Yemen.
For a European cruiser, the Persian Gulf is closer than the Caribbean and offers an appealing mix of culture, history and modern conveniences, not to mention luxury.
How significant will cruising in the Persian Gulf become? Clearly, Dubai is betting big…unveiling of a new cruise terminal at Dubai's Port Rashid that can accommodate up to four cruise ships at a time.
Latest Cruise Ship News from the CLIA Fleet (Cruise Lines International Association)
• AMAWATERWAYS will build another ship for its successful "Vietnam, Cambodia & the Riches of the Mekong" program, company officials said. The as-yet-unnamed new build, accommodating 124 passengers in 62 balcony cabins, is expected to debut in late spring 2011 and join the ms La Marguerite in offering seven-day Mekong river cruises between Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Siem Reap, Cambodia.
• Independence, American Cruise Lines’ newest member of the fleet, has passed its first underway trials and is now three months ahead of schedule. The company plans to operate the ship, carrying 102 passengers, on 7-14 night cruises along the coast of Maine beginning on June 23.
• Costa Cruises has announced that it’s brand new, 2,260-passenger Costa Deliziosa will make the company’s first world cruise since the mid 1990's - a 100-day, 37-port voyage visiting five continents departing December 28, 2011 from Savona.
• Cunard Line's 2,092-passenger Queen Elizabeth, a successor to the legendary QE2, was floated out in Italy last month. The ship’s maiden voyage will be a 13-day cruise that departs Oct. 12 from Southampton to Spain, Portugal, the Canary Island and Madeira.
• Seabourn Quest will be the name of Seabourn Cruises’ third Odyssey-class ship when it is launched in 2011. It will join the 450-passenger Seabourn Odyssey, introduced last summer, and Seabourn Sojourn, slated to debut in June of this year. Seabourn Quest will bring the company’s fleet total to six vessels.
• Welcoming its first new ship in nearly a decade, Silversea Cruises has christened the new Silver Spirit at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. Chairman Manfredi Lefebvre D'Ovidio said of the vessel, "It's a piece of art."
Princess Cruises to Allow Visitors on US Embarkations
Princess Cruises is reviving a signature tradition from the early days of cruising, the opportunity for passengers to have non-sailing friends and family come aboard on embarkation day to wish them a "bon voyage."
They will charge $39 to the visitor... it will cover a meal, glass of wine and ship tour.
As the Economy Improves, Cruises are Heading Up
Thinking about booking a cruise for 2010? You might want to do it sooner rather than later. Industry watchers say ships are filling up faster than they did last year, and that means prices could be heading up.
There have been years where it has paid to wait for a last-minute deal. But with cruise prices starting the year at a relatively low level, and bookings rebounding, there's growing consensus that this likely is not one of them.
Royal Caribbean to Base Cruise Ship in Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Royal Caribbean plans to move the Grandeur of the Seas to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, where it will cater primarily to the UK and Irish market.
Industry watcher Seatrade Insider reports the 2,446-passenger ship will begin alternating seven-night voyages out of the Balearic Islands' port town in May 2011.
The news outlet says the ship's new voyages will include stops in Spain, Italy and France, though precise itineraries and pricing won't be announced until March.
Granada: The Magic of the Moors
The Alhambra is heart-flutteringly beautiful at any time but with southern Spain warming up in the early spring sunshine and the crowds yet to arrive, this is the perfect season to visit the great Moorish palace complex and the lovely city fanning out from its flanks. Old Moorish and gipsy quarters, vast cathedrals and churches, tree-lined plazas and great restaurants will provide an antidote to the cold British winter.
Travelgram Feb 2010A Laptop Computer in Every Cruise Ship Cabin?
It's hard to find a cruise ship cabin that doesn't come with a telephone or a television. Miniature refrigerators and security safes also are de rigueur. But a computer in every room?
That's the plan at upscale line Oceania Cruises, which says laptop computers with wireless access will join terrycloth robes and bed slippers as standard cabin amenities on its next ship, the 1,258-passenger Marina.
CLIA CRUISE NEWS FEBRUARY 2010
Allure of The Seas “Floats Out” Royal Caribbean International’s Allure of the Seas, sister to 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas, which arrived last month, was floated out, or moved from dry dock to wet dock recently at the STX Europe shipyard in Turku, Finland. Scheduled to be launched in December 2010, the ship will share many of the same innovative features and amenities found on her sister.
Carnival Dream Debuts in New York Carnival Dream, Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest and largest cruise ship, was christened in New York in fun-ship style by award-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden as godmother, amply assisted by cruise director John Heald and Captain Carlo Queirolo. The 130,000-ton, 3,600-passenger Dream was built by Fincantieri and entered service in September, sailing in the Mediterranean before coming across.
MSC Poesia received a warm welcome from television star and entrepreneur Suzanne Somers as it arrived in Port Everglades in November to begin her inaugural season of Caribbean sailings. The ship will offer itineraries of 3, 5, 7, 8 and 10 nights throughout the Caribbean and to Bermuda returning to Europe in spring 2010.
Sea Trials Successful for Costa Costa Cruises’ 15th fleet member, the Costa Deliziosa, has completed sea trials successfully after being put through her paces in the open sea for the first time. All ship’s systems, machinery and engines performed according to expectations.
Queen of the West Joins American Cruise Line American Cruise Lines has announced it will start operating seven night itineraries aboard the recently acquired Queen of the West, on the Columbia and Snake Rivers in 2010. Queen of the West, a 120-passenger, U.S. flagged cruise ship, is currently the only authentic paddlewheel, overnight passenger vessel, operating in North America. American Cruise Lines plans to announce plans for even further expansion to the west coast in early 2010.
Azamara Changes Name Azamara CEO Larry Pimentel has announced that the company will be called Azamara Club Cruises and, beginning in April 2010 prices will reflect a more inclusive approach to amenities, including restaurant and housekeeping staff gratuities, wines with lunch and dinner, shuttle bus transportation in ports and other items.
Australia Program
Sun and Dawn Princess will continue their year round Australia based cruising with an enhanced 2010 Summer Program. The sister ships feature a series of summer voyages ranging from 2 to 30 days, offering a collection of cruises to Southeast Asia and the South Pacific sailing from Sydney, Perth, or Brisbane. Sun Princess offers three 17-day cruises roundtrip from Perth visiting exotic ports in Thailand and the Malaysian Peninsula.
IT Group Jan 2010Cruise Trends for 2010
With a bunch of carbon-copy ships debuting (the exceptions are the revolutionary Norwegian Epic and, to some extent, P&O Cruises' new Azura), we're not going to be blown away by many new ship designs and unheard-of onboard amenities. Yet as lines aim to capture the attention of first-time cruisers and work hard to bring prices back up to pre-2009 levels, they will focus on improving the existing onboard experience and changing the way the public views cruising.
Travelgram Jan 2010Mahogany Bay Cruise Center
The $62 million Mahogany Bay Cruise Center at Roatan in the Bay Islands is officially open and has begun welcoming cruise ships. The cruise center encompasses 20 acres of waterfront property and includes a two-berth cruise terminal which can accommodate up to 8,000 passengers daily. In addition to Carnival Cruise Lines, vessels from Princess, Holland America, Costa, and P & O Cruises will call at the new facility.
IT Group Jan 2010ITALY!
Stunning architecture, divine vineyards, and superb style- Italy has an abundance to offer its travelers.
Visit Rome to see what happens when art, history, and fashion combine with breathtaking landscapes. Travel to Tuscany to drink wine from a local vineyard and see Florence's famous art galleries. Take a gondola ride in Venice and gaze at the water lapped palaces that have lured visitors from all over the world.
So whether you are amongst ancient ruins in Rome or walking the streets of a medieval town in Tuscany, you are certain to feel Italy's charm and allure in every corner! .
New Orleans Cruise Expansion
Carnival, which operates the only year-round cruise program from New Orleans, has increased capacity by 34 percent now that the Carnival Triumph has replaced the Carnival Fantasy.
In addition to providing an exciting new "Fun Ship" cruise option from New Orleans, Carnival Triumph offers new seven-day eastern and exotic western Caribbean schedules to complement the line's popular four- and five-day cruises to Mexico.
Venice!
Of all the cities in the world, only Paris comes remotely close to matching Venice in terms of sheer beauty and romance. You've seen it in photos and films, but there's no substitute for the reality -- the shimmering Grand Canal, the gondolas slipping down watery alleyways, the elegant palazzos emerging straight from the sea.
Venice once ruled the Mediterranean as a shipping power, amassing vast wealth and producing some of Europe's greatest artistic and cultural treasures. But over the centuries Venice has declined a bit …what remains of its former grandeur -- the crumbling palaces, the sumptuous art in its museums and churches, the fantastic rituals of Carnevale -- makes Venice a living tribute to the past. .
Oceania Cruises
The world’s only upper-premium cruise line and the industry leader in destination cruising offers a unique combination of the finest cuisine at sea, luxurious accommodations, exceptional personalized service and extraordinary value. The Oceania Cruises experience will fit varied interests and exceed all expectations. This includes the finest cuisine at sea, carefully crafted by world-renowned Master Chef Jacques Pépin.
Oceania Cruises sails to more than 180 ports. They feature three intimate and elegant 684-guest ships, Regatta, Insignia and Nautica. .
QE2 May Be Sold To Help Pay Dubai’s Debts
Only a year after leaving the Cunard fleet for a new life as a luxury hotel in Dubai, the QE2 may have to be sold.
The ship was bought for $100 million in 2007 by Nakheel, a specialist property subsidiary of state-run Dubai World, and has been berthed in Dubai since arriving there in November 2008.
But Dubai World’s financial troubles may force them to look for a buyer..
Celebrity Cruises rolls out unlimited beer and liquor packages
Starting this month, Celebrity Cruises passengers can buy unlimited beer and liquor packages, a departure from the typical cruise line a la carte bar policies.
Most major cruise lines offer some unlimited soda options, as well as wine packages. But outside of the all-inclusive luxury realm, cruise lines have generally stayed away from offering all-you-can-drink options except for some groups and special functions.
The Comeback of New Orleans as a Cruise Hub
It was a long time coming -- more than four years, in fact -- but New Orleans finally has its big ship back.
The 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph, one of the biggest ships in the Carnival fleet, will make its debut in the Big Easy this month, marking the first time since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 that a vessel of its size has sailed out of the city.
Prague: Romance, revolutions - and beer!
Prague's culture, cafés and fairytale architecture make it an ideal winter getaway, says Adrian Bridge.
Why go? Despite 45 years of communism, Prague maintained its medieval heart and an architectural legacy that incorporates gothic and baroque, rococo and art nouveau. It has a fairytale castle and a wonderful river setting (which certainly inspired the Czech composer Smetana). It is a city of great classical music and old-world café society. Then, of course, there is the beer for those who wish to experience a special taste.
Disney Plans to Offer an Inside Cabin with a View of the Ocean!
Disney says it will install high-definition cameras around the exterior of the 2,500-passenger ship that will feed live video to the "porthole" in every inside cabin. The video feeds will correspond to each cabin's location on the ship, so passengers will be seeing exactly what passengers in oceanview cabins near them are seeing!
Travel Pulse Nov 2009Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas Towers over English Town
Southampton, England — It looked as if a large chunk of Hampshire, complete with trees, apartments, and a street lined with shops and bars, had broken off and floated out into the middle of the Solent.
But this was no monster piece of flotsam and jetsam but one of the biggest man-made objects to move across the face of the planet, the vast new cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas.
Tips to Avoid the Airline Carrier Cold
1. Stay hydrated. Your body’s natural defenses tend to dry out in the very low humidity at higher levels, reducing their natural defenses.
2. Keep your hands clean.
3. Don't forget the dental hygiene.
4. Take your vitamins.
5. Wear a face mask.
.
Baby-Friendly Cruise Lines
Years ago, parents cruising with small children had to contend with cabin layouts rarely fit for a crib, pools and play areas that were off limits to the un-potty-trained, and activities tailored to children older than three. When Disney entered the cruise market in 1998, it instantly changed the so-called teething field by catering to cruising's youngest passengers. It offered a nursery, larger standard staterooms —with tubs, room-dividing curtains, and enough room for baby paraphernalia —and onboard stores stocked with necessities like diapers and baby sunblock.
Since then, several other lines have introduced their own tot-friendly amenities..Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Cunard and Norwegain cruise lines all offer programs for our youngest travelers.
Financial Powerhouse Frankfurt is also Rich in Culture By Rick Steves
For years, Frankfurt was a city to avoid ... but today, its energy makes it worth a look. You'll have seen 21st-century Germany, beyond the country's clichés of old castles and cute, cobbled squares.
Cosmopolitan Frankfurt, while low on Old World charm, offers a good look at today's no-nonsense, modern Germany. If you arrive in Frankfurt by train, you won't be impressed. The area near the station is seedy.
Many of the city's historic sights are clustered around Romerberg, the main square.
Frankfurt makes an easy half-day stop for travelers. Planning to sleep here is a gamble, since the city's numerous trade fairs send hotel prices skyrocketing — a $100 double can suddenly shoot up to $400 .
.
Website by CappellettiDesigns.com