CRUISE UPDATES AND HINTS #4

CRUISE UPDATE: COSTA CRUISES

Costa have defied the odds and have reported that bookings for its 2012 Easter cruises were record breaking and exceeded the numbers for Easter 2011. Five Costa ships spent Easter in the Mediterranean including Costa NeoRomantica, Costa Mediterranea, Costa Pacifica, CostaDeliziosa and Costa Serena.

CRUISE SHIP: CARNIVAL SPIRIT

When cruising your holiday starts as you step on board and thearrival of Carnival spirit in Australia is exciting for families. CarnivalSpirit provides age appropriate programs for everyone and youth activities aresupervised by trained and experienced staff.

· Camp Carnival provides toys and arts and craftsfor young kids aged 2-5.
· Juniors 6-8 are also catered for and for thoseaged 9-11 there are pool parties and scavenger hunts.
· Circle “C” for the 12-14 gives the young teenssomewhere to hang out and watch late night movies, danceparties
· Club 02 is for the older teens with their ownlounge area and a non alcoholic drink bar and teenparties.

The ship also provides the best waterpark at sea, mini golf,a choice of swimming pools, a sports court, and a 2deck fitness centre.

CRUISE HINT: THEME NIGHTS

New cruisers are often unaware of the theme nights offered on some cruises. An idea is to take some inexpensive accessories on the cruise with you. Some of the theme nights include Country Western, Island Night, 70’sNights, Rock and Roll Night and Pirate Night.

CRUISE UPDATES AND HINTS #3

CRUISE UPDATES:

RHAPSODY REVEALED

The Rhapsody of the Seas has undergone an onboard US$45 million revitalisation project and has finally been completed, with the vessel now en-route from Singapore to Australia. Once the Rhapsody of the Seas arrives in Australia it will depart on 13th April for a 17-night Trans Pacific Cruise to Hawaii before heading off for her Alaskan season on the 11th May.

SEABOURN IN AUSTRALIA

Next year will be the Seabourn Quest’s first ever visit to the shores of Australia, she will be calling into ports at Sydney, Brisbane, Hamilton Island, Townsville, Cairns and Thursday Island in February. The newest addition to the Seabourn Fleet, Quest’s Australian visit is part of a 116 day world cruise. Australians will also be able to cruise on the Seabourn Odyssey in our local waters next year, for three months as the liner explores the islands and coastlines of Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand. A regional visit includes a 16 night voyage from Bali to Sydney departing on the 21st of December 2012 and will visit Komodo Island, Darwin, Thursday Island, Cairns, Townsville, Hamilton Island and Brisbane.

CRUISE HINT FOR THE WEEK: Keeping in touch with fellow Cabin Mates

Take along a mini whiteboard or a packet of post-it notes so that you can leave notes for each other on your movements throughout the day in a prominent place, for example the mirror.

CRUISE UPDATES:

AUSTRALIANS ADVANCING ON AZAMARA

The Azamara Clubs third largest market is of course Australia and is the first choice of destination if a third ship is added to this fleet. Azamara is the Royal Caribbean’s premium line and operates “destination-immersive” voyages aboard the 694 passenger Quest and Journey ships. These luxury cruises sail through Asia, Europe and South America and include complimentary wine with lunch and dinner and overnight port stays. However, there are no solid plans to base an Azamara vessel in Australia in the near future we are confident to know that if a third ship is added to the fleet it will be sure to come to Australia.

REALITY CRUISE SHOW: LOVE FOR SAIL WITH NCL

Love for Sail is a new US reality dating TV series, which follows four women and a group of single men who are all looking for love. Norwegian Cruise Line vessels have been selected to be the host for this new reality show! The Norwegian Cruise Line Directors will help organise events for the ladies, these including romantic dates onboard and in port. Once this show is aired in Australia, viewers will be able to see the Norwegian Cruise Line vessels first hand; Love for Sail will feature the Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Pearl and the Norwegian Star.

CRUISE HINT FOR THE WEEK: INSIDE CABINS

An idea for anyone who books an Inside cabin and does not realise how dark these rooms can be. For those who want to wake up still with the morning light a hint would be to leave your television on with no sound overnight onto the Cruise Camera channel so that when the sun rises your room will light up too.

CRUISE NEWS UPDATES & HINTS

CRUISE UPDATES:

RHAPSODY BROADENS ITS DINING

The Rhapsody of the Seas will be adding five new signature dining establishments.

For the next four weeks, the Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas will be undergoing a major renovation and adding five new signature dining establishments to the liner. The Rhapsody of the Seas will offer a new variety of dining options and a total of seven restaurants once the ship returns to sea. These including The Chops Grille, the company’s flagship steakhouse, Italian and Japanese options and a gourmet market-style setup offering sandwiches, soup and pastries.

NORWEIGIAN SHIPLIKELY WITHIN TWO YEARS

The Norwegian Cruise Line may base a ship in Australia in 2014.

This cruise line is the only major cruise line company without a superliner in Sydney,however Norwegian Cruises hopes by 2014 to send a Norwegian ship to Australia. Two new ships are being launched in the next two years and they need a place to call home and where better else then Sydney, Australia. As reported that Australia is Norwegian Liners fourth biggest international market following the UK, Germany and Spain. Final decisions of placements for these new ships are yet to be revealed, but hopefully Norwegian Cruise Line chooses to base a ship in Australia so that more of us can experience of these amazing major cruise liners.

CRUISE HINT FOR THE WEEK:

KEEPING ORGANISED

Take a long a highlighter, not only can you use it at Bingo (Saving you money on buying a dabber) you can also highlight you chosen activities on your cruise daily. If you want to keep your daily newsletters from the cruise safe to take home as a memory, take along a display book too.

Holland America Line’s 2012 Mediterranean season

Holland America Line’s 2012 Mediterranean season to feature a grand voyage, guest chefs and maiden calls

Monday, 13 February 2012

Segments of the Grand Mediterranean & Black Sea Voyage Available

Holland America Line’s 2012 Mediterranean season features an extensive selection of itineraries ranging from seven to 42 days, as well as an exciting 62-day Grand Mediterranean and Black Sea Voyage aboard the intimate ms Prinsendam.

Six of the line’s other ships — ms Eurodam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms Rotterdam, ms Maasdam and ms Ryndam — also will sail the region on 32 different itineraries that span the eastern and western Mediterranean. Celebrated guest chefs will enhance select cruises as part of the Culinary Arts Centre program, performing cooking demonstrations for guests in the ship’s state-of-the-art show kitchen, conducting tastings and participating in question-and-answer sessions.

“The Mediterranean has it all — from top-rated beaches and incredible architecture to historical landmarks and a long history,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs for Holland America Line. “Whether it’s a shorter cruise or a Grand Voyage, by offering one of the most extensive itinerary selections of any cruise line, we enable guests to take their dream cruise.”

Grand Mediterranean and Black Sea Voyage
A highlight of the Med season comes this spring when ms Prinsendam, the line’s smallest and most intimate ship -- just 835 guests, departs Fort Lauderdale, Florida, March 12, 2012, on its roundtrip 62-day Grand Mediterranean and Black Sea Voyage. Visiting 32 ports in 14 countries, the itinerary includes maiden calls at Durrës, Albania’s second-largest city and one of Europe’s oldest cities; Saint Raphaél in the Côte d'Azur region of France, and Castellón de la Plana in the Costa del Azahar region of Spain.

Overnight stays in Seville, Spain; Kusadasi (Ephesus) and Istanbul, Turkey; Piraeus (Athens), Greece; Venice, Italy; Barcelona, Spain, and Lisbon, Portugal, provide guests with more time for exploring of some of the world’s most interesting destinations.

The Grand Voyage also offers grand experiences on board. Guests can relax and unwind during leisurely days at sea, taking advantage of the extra time to read a book, indulge in a massage at the Greenhouse Spa or watch a movie in the theatre. Sommelier and Wine Educator Charlie Arturaola will be on board from March 21 – April 3 as part of the Culinary Arts Centre program. Brian Archibald, executive sous chef of Camelback Inn, a JW Marriott Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona, also will sail from April 18 – 30.

Evening activities shine on board as well with local cultural entertainment and special guest headliners, while festive gala balls and formal nights create memorable moments. Dining is elevated to a new level on each Grand Voyage, featuring local ingredients and regional cuisine from all corners of Europe.

For those with less time, 11 segments are available ranging from 16 to 41 days and start at AU$2,199 per person.

2012 Mediterranean Voyages
A highlight of the season is a 20-day Mediterranean Medley cruise departing July 21, sailing roundtrip from Dover, England, or Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on ms Ryndam. Guests can explore ports throughout Italy, Portugal, Spain and Monaco on this adventure.

Additional itineraries include three 12-day sailings on ms Nieuw Amsterdam that explore Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Montenegro and Croatia. Guests looking for a longer voyage can combine the two itineraries to create a 24-day Collectors’ Voyage.

A series of two 10-day itineraries on ms Noordam can be combined to form a 20-day Collectors’ Voyage, with calls at ports in Italy, Monaco, Spain, Tunisia, Croatia, Greece and Turkey.

The new 17-day Spanish Rhapsody sailing roundtrip Rotterdam onboard ms Rotterdam offers guests the opportunity to explore the best of what Spain has to offer in addition to ports in both Portugal and Italy.

Fares for a seven-day Mediterranean voyage start at just AU$849 per person, double occupancy.

Select Mediterranean cruises also feature a guest chef on board:

• Ken Oringer, executive chef/co-owner of Kenneth Oringer and Clio restaurants in Boston, Massetusses, sails on ms Nieuw Amsterdam’s 12-day Mediterranean Empires cruise June 5.
• Kevin Sbraga, executive chef and owner of Sbraga restaurant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and US cable channel Bravo's “Top Chef” season seven winner, sails on ms Noordam July 17 in the Mediterranean.
• Giuliano Hazan, author of “Cooking Italian With Giuliano” and International Association of Culinary Professionals Cooking Teacher of the Year, sailson ms Rotterdam’s 17-day Moorish Empires cruise Sept. 29.
• Timon Balloo, executive chef of Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill in Miami, Florida, sails on ms Noordam's 7-day Riviera Romance cruise Oct. 15.

A new Spirit emerges for Australia

Carnival Spirit has emerged
from her two week drydock
sporting seven million dollars
worth of upgrades, ahead of
her arrival in Sydney this year.
KEY upgrades to Spirit included a revamping
of her Serenity area, one of the largest childfree
adult retreats on the ship, which includes
an open-air deck with pool, heated spa,
hammoks, plush lounges and a cocktail bar
offering a special daily selection of drinks.
The drydock also included $450,000 in
upgrades to Spirit’s fitness centre with new
cardio and strength training equipment, as
well as a Jacuzzi under a giant skylight; and the
creation of the child-magnet Splash Zone,
which includes the Power Drencher, a massive
tipping bucket that fills up with hundreds of
litres of water, then tips and soaks all
underneath it.
New carpets were also laid through all public
areas and in cabins, plus Spirit was also treated
to a new coat of paint on her interior and
exterior, whilst cabins scored new flat-screen TVs.
Most notably, Spirit’s star attraction, the
world’s steepest and fastest waterslide at sea,
Green Thunder was also installed, and was
broken in on the vessel’s debut Hawaiian
cruise post-makeover.

Sydney Festival of Cruising

Harbour Comes Alive with the ‘Sydney Festival of Cruising’ to Underline Cruising’s Economic Contribution

In a resounding confirmation of cruise season’s contribution as a major economic event, Sydney is set to host the month-long Festival of Cruising with a record 26 ships making an unprecedented 33 visits during February alone.

Five more ships will visit for the festival than in February last year – the previous busiest cruise ship month on record in Sydney – with each ship visit representing a special event in its own right.

So many cruise ships are visiting that several will moor mid-harbour before ferrying passengers ashore to enjoy the many attractions of the harbour city.

Highlights of the Festival of Cruising include the Valentine’s Day arrival of Cunard’s 151,400-tonne flagship, Queen Mary 2 and sister ship Queen Elizabeth’s visit on February 28 for an overnight stay.

Other festival high points include the arrival of the UK-based P&O Cruises ships Aurora, on February 17, and Oriana on February 23 for a special celebration of P&O’s 175th anniversary.

Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, which represents 13 of the visiting cruise ships, said the Festival of Cruising emphasised cruising’s contribution as the standout success of the Australian tourism sector.

"The Festival of Cruising underlines the contribution that cruise ships make to the local economy," Ms Sherry said.

"Analysis we commissioned from Deloitte Access Economics shows cruise passengers, crew and cruise ship operators spent a combined $400 million in Sydney in 2010-2011 alone.

"Their combined spending is expected to increase to $1.3 billion by 2019-2020 as the economic contribution of cruising continues to grow.

"Passenger ships are also a vital part of Sydney Harbour’s maritime heritage and while our ships will visit ports around Australia during the Festival of Cruising, Sydney remains the Australian gateway for visiting ships."

Commenting on the Festival of Cruising, NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris, said the importance of the cruise industry to Sydney and NSW could not be understated.

"It continues to make a valuable contribution to the State’s economy and is an important factor that has helped the NSW Government develop its strategy to double expenditure by visitors to NSW by 2020," Mr Souris said.

"Cruising is certainly one of the most exciting segments in the leisure market, with continuing strong growth prospects as the record number of liners arriving in the harbour city indicates.

"Sydney’s performance in recent years has helped make Australia one of the world’s fastest growing cruise markets with 157 ship calls to Sydney in 2010-2011 and 210 calls forecast for 2011-2012 with 246 scheduled for 2012-2013. Sydney is recognised by the international cruise industry as one of the most attractive harbour approaches in the world."

The 13 ships visiting from across Carnival Australia’s fleets include P&O Cruises’ Pacific Jewel, Pacific Pearl and Pacific Sun; Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth; Princess Cruises’ Sea Princess, Diamond Princess and Pacific Princess; P&O Cruises World Cruising ships Oriana and Aurora; Seabourn’s Odyssey and Holland America’s Amsterdam and Volendam.

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