Celebrity Cruises said it will add an overnight stay to the itinerary of Caribbean cruises of 10 days or longer, starting in January 2016. The decision affects 43 cruises, said Dondra Ritzenthaler, senior vice president of sales. Ritzenthaler stressed that overnights are typically a feature of cruises outside the Caribbean, so Celebrity is breaking ground with the move. “This gives us the ability to say we have more overnights in the Caribbean than any cruise line in the industry,” Ritzenthaler said. "While overnights have been a trend in the marketplace in Europe and in Asia, there really hasn’t been a movement and we believe we are a leader in this initiative."
The destinations where overnights are planned include Aruba, Barbados, Cartagena, Cozumel, Curacao and St. Maarten. Ritzenthaler said they are among the highest-rated destinations in the Caribbean by guests. Five ships are scheduled to be in the Caribbean in the first quarter of 2016, but not all do itineraries of 10 days or longer.
Celebrity has been selling the 2016 Caribbean winter season since the fall of 2014 and cruises have been booking well, Booked guests will get the bonus of an overnight stay. For more information on this and to get Exclusive rates for reservations with special amendities, contact TheCruiseOutlet.com at 203-288-1884 or email info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Disney Cruises to sail from New York
NEW YORK — In the fall of 2016, the Disney Magic will return to New York City with four southbound cruises and one to Canada. The Magic last sailed out of the Big Apple in 2012. On Oct. 2, 2016, a five-night cruise will sail to Halifax and Saint John to take to advantage of fall foliage. On Oct. 7, an eight-night cruise will stop at Castaway Cay, Nassau and Port Canaveral. The cruise includes a ticket to Walt Disney World.
Three seven-night cruises will leave Oct. 15, 22 and 29, stopping at Castaway Cay and Port Canaveral/Disney World. A Disney spokesperson said it is "likely" that these will include "Halloween on the High Seas" celebrations. For more information on these sailings and to make reservations, contact TheCruiseOutlet.com at 800-775-1884 or email info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Royal Caribbean International plans to raise the suggested daily gratuity amount on its cruises from $12 to $12.95 per person.
Gratuities at the suggested amounts are automatically posted to a passenger’s shipboard account, but can be adjusted at guest services.
The 8% increase on standard cabins is scheduled to go into effect June 1. Booked passengers can lock in the old rate by pre-paying gratuities by that time.
In a post on its agent site, LoyaltoYouAlways.com, Royal Caribbean said the suggested gratuity for suite guests is being raised from $14.25 to $15.95.
Royal Caribbean last raised its suggested tip amount in February 2013, from $11.65 to $12.
For more information on this and what a person should tip for, contact TheCruiseOutlet.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Civil unrest and violence around Puerto Vallarta led to cruise lines canceling ship calls there.
The Celebrity Infinity bypassed the Mexican port on May 10 for a day at sea, spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez said. On May 12, Royal Caribbean International's Jewel of the Seas will substitute a sea day for Puerto Vallarta.
In a statement, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (parent of Celebrity and Royal Caribbean) said the decisions were made "due to the recent episodes of violent civil unrest, stemming from criminal gangs that have engaged in armed conflict with local authorities.” Disney Cruise Line distributed a letter to passengers on a 14-day Panama Canal cruise aboard the Disney Wonder explaining that the May 12 port call was being canceled, citing “several reports of unrest in the area around Puerto Vallarta.”
Disney said taxes, fees and port expenses associated with the visit would be refunded to the original source of payment used by the passenger to book the cruise.
The Carnival Miracle will continue with its scheduled May 12 stop, but some shore excursions have been canceled, a spokesman said.
The U.S. State Department issued an updated travel warning for Mexico on May 5 detailing the "risk of traveling to certain places in Mexico due to threats to safety and security posed by organized criminal groups in the country."
For more information on cruises and what is happening, contact TheCruiseOutlet.com, professionals in Cruise Travel at (203) 288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Norwegian Cruise Line is making its $7.95 room service fee permanent effective May 1, but will not charge for delivery of morning coffee and continental breakfast.
The charge is being implemented as the line expands an enhanced room service menu fleetwide. The new menu offers more hot breakfast items — including eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage and oatmeal — and a wider variety of options available 24 hours. The line began testing the fee in March. Room service orders placed by guests sailing in suites and The Haven will not incur a charge. Norwegian also is making “very slight cover charge adjustments” for specialty restaurants that will go into effect for sailings beginning July 3. Basically, the price is going down a nickel. The new cover charges will be $19.95 for Moderno churrascaria, $29.95 for Cagney’s steakhouse, $29.95 for Le Bistro and $14.95 for La Cucina. Teppanyaki will remain at $25 and the Ocean Blue by Geoffrey Zakarian will stay at $39 on Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway. In mid-April, Norwegian began eliminating the $15 cover charge for its Asian restaurants on 11 ships. The Asian eateries that are or will be complimentary are Orchid Garden on Norwegian Gem, Lotus Garden on Norwegian Pearl, Chin Chin on Norwegian Jewel, Jasmine Garden on Norwegian Jade, Bamboo on Norwegian Dawn, Ginza on Norwegian Star, Shogun on Norwegian Spirit, East Meets West on Pride of America, Shanghai’s on Norwegian Epic and Shanghai’s Noodle Bar on Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway. For more information on this and other stories related to cruises, contact TheCruiseOutlet.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
