ONBOARD THE CRYSTAL SYMPHONY -- Crystal Cruises will begin charging customers an administration fee on 2020 departures, said vice president of revenue management Rolando Trejos. Also in 2020, the luxury line will increase the initial deposit from 20% to 25% across all products and require final payment sooner.
The administration fee will vary depending on the length of the voyage. The fee for ocean cruises of 13 days or fewer will be $100 per person; for cruises of 14 to 21 days, $200 per person; and sailings longer than 21 days, $500 per person. River and yacht sailings will be $500 per person. Trejos said that if a guest decides to cancel, the fee can be a future cruise credit; if they book a cruise within a 12-month period, it will be deducted as a payment, not as a discount, for the cruise. Ocean cruises of 13 days or fewer will require final payment 120 days in advance (previously 90 days). The same policy will hold true for yacht and river cruises. Final payment on ocean cruises of 14 to 21 days will be due 150 days before departure, up from 120. Final payment on ocean cruises of 22 days or longer must be made 180 days in advance, up from 150.
Trejos said Crystal will require final payment sooner because Crystal has "a very high attrition rate, especially during the final payment, and on the longer voyages it becomes very difficult to fill those ships, to fill those staterooms, when we have such a high amount of cancellations. So hopefully by extending out the final payment date, it will allow us an opportunity to sell the rooms."
For more information, and to receive and special rates or to make reservations contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Thursday, January 11, 2018
Carnival to Start Charging for Late-Night Room Service
Jan 11, 2018
Carnival Cruise Line is making a number of changes to its room service policy, including a new charge for late-night orders, a cruise line representative tells Travel Agent. The new changes will start being implemented next week.
Under the new rules, the cruise line will no longer offer complimentary room service from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Instead, an expanded offering of fee-based food items will be available, including salads, sandwiches and specialty items. New options will include Greek Salad; Chicken Caesar Salad; Portabella & Veggie Bun; Grilled Cheese, Bacon and Tomato Sandwich; and Roast Turkey Wrap; as well as a selection of new desserts including Dark Chocolate Walnut Brownies; Doughnut Sandwich; and Banana Split. Prices for menu items will range from $2 to $6, Carnival said.
The pizzeria and deli will remain available during the late night period, Carnival said, and these will remain complimentary.
Finally, on debarkation morning the cruise line will no longer offer room service. Guests will continue to have the option of breakfast at the Lido deck restaurant, at Ocean Plaza (where available) and in the main dining room.. What’s staying the same: complimentary breakfast will remain the same, other than on debarkation morning. Additionally, throughout the day up to 10 p.m., Carnival will continue to offer a variety of salads, sandwiches and desserts on a complimentary basis. During this time period the cruise line will also continue to offer several fee-based items for prices ranging from $2 to $6, as is current policy.
Carnival said these changes were made because there is a tremendous amount of food waste during the late night time period, as many people tend to over order and then not eat what they have requested. Carnival said it believes that charging for late night room service items will help alleviate this issue.
For more information, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations on any Carnival Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Carnival Cruise Line is making a number of changes to its room service policy, including a new charge for late-night orders, a cruise line representative tells Travel Agent. The new changes will start being implemented next week.
Under the new rules, the cruise line will no longer offer complimentary room service from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Instead, an expanded offering of fee-based food items will be available, including salads, sandwiches and specialty items. New options will include Greek Salad; Chicken Caesar Salad; Portabella & Veggie Bun; Grilled Cheese, Bacon and Tomato Sandwich; and Roast Turkey Wrap; as well as a selection of new desserts including Dark Chocolate Walnut Brownies; Doughnut Sandwich; and Banana Split. Prices for menu items will range from $2 to $6, Carnival said.
The pizzeria and deli will remain available during the late night period, Carnival said, and these will remain complimentary.
Finally, on debarkation morning the cruise line will no longer offer room service. Guests will continue to have the option of breakfast at the Lido deck restaurant, at Ocean Plaza (where available) and in the main dining room.. What’s staying the same: complimentary breakfast will remain the same, other than on debarkation morning. Additionally, throughout the day up to 10 p.m., Carnival will continue to offer a variety of salads, sandwiches and desserts on a complimentary basis. During this time period the cruise line will also continue to offer several fee-based items for prices ranging from $2 to $6, as is current policy.
Carnival said these changes were made because there is a tremendous amount of food waste during the late night time period, as many people tend to over order and then not eat what they have requested. Carnival said it believes that charging for late night room service items will help alleviate this issue.
For more information, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations on any Carnival Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Carnival Ups Price of All-Inclusive Beverage Package
Nov 27, 2017
The Carnival beverage package program will increase to $51.95 per day plus gratuity if purchased pre-cruise and $56.95 per day plus gratuity if purchased onboard effective January 1, 2018.
The Cheers! all-inclusive beverage program is for guests 21 years or older, and includes a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for a flat daily rate. The package includes all spirits, as well as beer and wine by the glass, with a $50 or lower menu price per serving. The package also includes zero-proof frozen cocktails (including smoothies), sodas (including specialty sodas), juices, specialty coffees and hot tea served in the main dining rooms, specialty restaurants and coffee bars, milkshakes (where applicable), RockStar energy drinks, Powerade, Vitamin Water, Coconut Water, Honest Tea, 500ml bottled water and other non-alcoholic bottled beverages served in bars and lounges and large format (1 liter and 1.5 liter) bottles of water in the main dining rooms and specialty restaurants.
The program also includes a 25 percent discount on any spirit, cocktail or wine by the glass more than $50 per serving, on wine and champagne by the bottle and larger format water bottles purchased outside the main dining rooms or specialty restaurants.
For more information, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations on any Carnival Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
The Carnival beverage package program will increase to $51.95 per day plus gratuity if purchased pre-cruise and $56.95 per day plus gratuity if purchased onboard effective January 1, 2018.
The Cheers! all-inclusive beverage program is for guests 21 years or older, and includes a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for a flat daily rate. The package includes all spirits, as well as beer and wine by the glass, with a $50 or lower menu price per serving. The package also includes zero-proof frozen cocktails (including smoothies), sodas (including specialty sodas), juices, specialty coffees and hot tea served in the main dining rooms, specialty restaurants and coffee bars, milkshakes (where applicable), RockStar energy drinks, Powerade, Vitamin Water, Coconut Water, Honest Tea, 500ml bottled water and other non-alcoholic bottled beverages served in bars and lounges and large format (1 liter and 1.5 liter) bottles of water in the main dining rooms and specialty restaurants.
The program also includes a 25 percent discount on any spirit, cocktail or wine by the glass more than $50 per serving, on wine and champagne by the bottle and larger format water bottles purchased outside the main dining rooms or specialty restaurants.
For more information, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations on any Carnival Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Royal Caribbean has big technology ideas, some close to reality
November 13, 2017
BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- On the cruise of the future, check-in counters, guest services desks and in-room phones will be relics, replaced by facial recognition, virtual reality and artificial intelligence.
Royal Caribbean Cruises last week showcased the various ways that passengers on its three brands -- Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises -- will experience technological innovations going forward, some much sooner than others.
Passengers on some Royal Caribbean cruises this year (the Oasis and the Allure of the Seas) will be able to check in, order drinks and reserve shore excursions and dinner reservations on their smart phones, using the cruise company's new app, which will debut this year on 13% of the line's ships, half of the fleet in 2018 and on 100% of its ships by 2019.
The app, the first consumer-facing piece of the Excalibur technology initiative, is for passengers to do tasks they would normally do at the guest services desk or from their stateroom phone, in addition to checking into the cruise, tracking their luggage, opening cabin doors and texting fellow passengers.
RCCL also demonstrated the evolution of "smart staterooms," which allows the room to "take care of the guest." On display was a Sky Suite, one of the cabin categories on the upcoming Celebrity Edge, which will have some of the features of smart speaker systems like Amazon's Alexa. Guests will be able to make some commands, such as having the lights turn off and shades close by simply saying, "Computer, good night," and a "good morning" command in the morning to turn them back on. Passengers also will be able to control all of the room's lighting, temperature and the shades using their smartphones or a control panel on the wall, including preset options like "movie" which will close the shades and turn down the lights for optimal movie watching.
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Many of the ideas RCCL showcased are still just that, ideas that may or may not make their way onto ships. One is a "virtual restaurant" experience where passengers put on VR masks while they are eating. Diners would enjoy Japanese food while looking at cherry blossoms in Kyoto.
Another is RCCL's vision for the inside cabin of the future, in which high-definition videos create the illusion not only of a real balcony with the ocean going by outside -- complete with the appropriate weather -- but a screen on the floor that shows the sea below and a moon roof ceiling that opens to the "sky."
For more information, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates & to make reservations on any Royal Caribbean Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- On the cruise of the future, check-in counters, guest services desks and in-room phones will be relics, replaced by facial recognition, virtual reality and artificial intelligence.
Royal Caribbean Cruises last week showcased the various ways that passengers on its three brands -- Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises -- will experience technological innovations going forward, some much sooner than others.
Passengers on some Royal Caribbean cruises this year (the Oasis and the Allure of the Seas) will be able to check in, order drinks and reserve shore excursions and dinner reservations on their smart phones, using the cruise company's new app, which will debut this year on 13% of the line's ships, half of the fleet in 2018 and on 100% of its ships by 2019.
The app, the first consumer-facing piece of the Excalibur technology initiative, is for passengers to do tasks they would normally do at the guest services desk or from their stateroom phone, in addition to checking into the cruise, tracking their luggage, opening cabin doors and texting fellow passengers.
RCCL also demonstrated the evolution of "smart staterooms," which allows the room to "take care of the guest." On display was a Sky Suite, one of the cabin categories on the upcoming Celebrity Edge, which will have some of the features of smart speaker systems like Amazon's Alexa. Guests will be able to make some commands, such as having the lights turn off and shades close by simply saying, "Computer, good night," and a "good morning" command in the morning to turn them back on. Passengers also will be able to control all of the room's lighting, temperature and the shades using their smartphones or a control panel on the wall, including preset options like "movie" which will close the shades and turn down the lights for optimal movie watching.
.
Many of the ideas RCCL showcased are still just that, ideas that may or may not make their way onto ships. One is a "virtual restaurant" experience where passengers put on VR masks while they are eating. Diners would enjoy Japanese food while looking at cherry blossoms in Kyoto.
Another is RCCL's vision for the inside cabin of the future, in which high-definition videos create the illusion not only of a real balcony with the ocean going by outside -- complete with the appropriate weather -- but a screen on the floor that shows the sea below and a moon roof ceiling that opens to the "sky."
For more information, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates & to make reservations on any Royal Caribbean Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Thursday, November 9, 2017
Royal Caribbean introduces new electronis for ships
Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. is rolling out a slate of new technology updates that will aim to streamline all phases of the guest experience, as well as improve the cruise companys operations and sustainability. The new program will apply to all three of the companys wholly owned brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises.
Dubbed Excalibur, the program will be device-agnostic, meaning guests will be able to take advantage of the new features using any smart device or one of Royal Caribbeans WOW Bands, which launched in 2015, Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., said at a reveal event in New York.
If you want, instead of having a WOW Band, you can use your phone or anything you want that’s connected to the Internet of Things,Fain said.
Excalibur is built on non-proprietary, open-source technology, an approach which will allow the company to maintain it easily and to keep continuously rolling out and testing new features, in order to keep up with ever-changing guest expectations. The company will also be retrofitting its ships with pervasive Wi-Fi in order to provide the bandwidth necessary for the new features.
Constant testing and a gradual rollout will be a key part of Excalibur, using an approach that Fain describes as an expanded universe, as opposed to a big bang – a sudden, all-at-once launch. Many features of Excalibur started to roll out in August, and the company plans to have them implemented on 13 percent of its ships by the end of the year. By the end of 2018, Excalibur should be active on half the companys fleet, and across the companys entire fleet by the end of 2019.Royal Caribbeans future app will let guests order food and drink to be delivered to them anytime, anywhere on board. //
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. SVP Digital Experience Jay Schneider, who is spearheading the new initiative, shared a little more detail on what guests can expect from Excalibur. In addition to new vacation planning features in the companys mobile apps, including virtual reality (VR) videos of shore excursions, the company is also aiming to use Excalibur to streamline the boarding process.
The boarding process is loaded with friction, Schneider said, noting that long lines and paperwork can put a damper on the kickoff to the cruise. Using Excalibur, guests will be able to take a selfie using their smart device, which will be displayed on a digital boarding pass. During boarding, guests will be able to simply walk through a scanner that will use facial recognition technology to automatically check them in, meaning they can go straight to their staterooms without waiting in line. . The system automatically flagged our face and checked off our name on a digital passenger list that was displayed on a nearby screen. As part of the demonstration, Royal Caribbean representatives noted that if a passenger had any uncompleted paperwork, the system would automatically flag them so they could be pulled out of line to finish providing any necessary information. The system will also track guests luggage in real-time, allowing them to always know where their bags are.
Excalibur features on Royal Caribbeans smartphone apps, or the Wow Bands, will allow guests to do a number of other tasks after the cruise is underway. In addition to unlocking stateroom doors, guests will be able to order drinks and have them delivered directly to their location, no matter where they are on the ship. Excalibur will also let guests control their staterooms lighting, temperature and other features from their mobile device, even from outside their stateroom. Guests will also be able to stream content from their devices to their stateroom televisions, including content that is stored locally from their devices or taken from major streaming services. Excalibur will also allow Royal Caribbean to send guests notifications with personalized recommendations for services they can book onboard, such as relaxing treatments for spa lovers.
Excalibur also incorporates a number of augmented reality (AR) features, which allow guests to play games and interact with their environment using their smartphones. In one demonstration a guest was able to point their phone at a poster, which appeared to spring to life on the smartphone screen and become a game the guest could play. In another, called X-ray vision, a guest could point their smartphone at a special area of a wall. A camera behind the wall would project a video to the guests smartphone, providing the illusion that they were looking through the wall just like Superman. Royal Caribbean representatives said that RCCL could use this feature to give guests a behind-the-scenes glimpse of certain areas they couldnt otherwise access for safety or security reasons, such as the galley or engine room.
What about guests who dont have a smartphone, or dont feel like toting one around on their vacation? The Wow Band will continue to provide access to Excalibur features. And were sensitive to the fact that, even if you have your smartphone, some guests want to leave it in their car, Schneider said. Royal Caribbean is even planning to roll out a new version of the Wow Band, dubbed Wow Band 2.0, sometime next year. In addition to new features for guests, Excalibur will also include a number of elements to help the crew provide a smoother experience. Apps for crew will keep track of guest preferences in information, allowing crew to remember items like birthdays and favorite drinks.
A new digital table allows crew to keep track of safety drills and ship systems in real time.
The display allows for the tracking of operations like digital muster drills, allowing bridge crew to see at a glance which guests have failed to check in for muster, and even zoom in on their last known check-in location to aid in tasks like locating missing children.
On the bridge, an augmented reality (AR) display that would help officers navigate during foul weather. During periods of poor visibility due to rain and wind, the windscreen could display an overlay that would highlight important features like channels, land and other ships.
For more information, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations on any Royal Caribbean Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Dubbed Excalibur, the program will be device-agnostic, meaning guests will be able to take advantage of the new features using any smart device or one of Royal Caribbeans WOW Bands, which launched in 2015, Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., said at a reveal event in New York.
If you want, instead of having a WOW Band, you can use your phone or anything you want that’s connected to the Internet of Things,Fain said.
Excalibur is built on non-proprietary, open-source technology, an approach which will allow the company to maintain it easily and to keep continuously rolling out and testing new features, in order to keep up with ever-changing guest expectations. The company will also be retrofitting its ships with pervasive Wi-Fi in order to provide the bandwidth necessary for the new features.
Constant testing and a gradual rollout will be a key part of Excalibur, using an approach that Fain describes as an expanded universe, as opposed to a big bang – a sudden, all-at-once launch. Many features of Excalibur started to roll out in August, and the company plans to have them implemented on 13 percent of its ships by the end of the year. By the end of 2018, Excalibur should be active on half the companys fleet, and across the companys entire fleet by the end of 2019.Royal Caribbeans future app will let guests order food and drink to be delivered to them anytime, anywhere on board. //
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. SVP Digital Experience Jay Schneider, who is spearheading the new initiative, shared a little more detail on what guests can expect from Excalibur. In addition to new vacation planning features in the companys mobile apps, including virtual reality (VR) videos of shore excursions, the company is also aiming to use Excalibur to streamline the boarding process.
The boarding process is loaded with friction, Schneider said, noting that long lines and paperwork can put a damper on the kickoff to the cruise. Using Excalibur, guests will be able to take a selfie using their smart device, which will be displayed on a digital boarding pass. During boarding, guests will be able to simply walk through a scanner that will use facial recognition technology to automatically check them in, meaning they can go straight to their staterooms without waiting in line. . The system automatically flagged our face and checked off our name on a digital passenger list that was displayed on a nearby screen. As part of the demonstration, Royal Caribbean representatives noted that if a passenger had any uncompleted paperwork, the system would automatically flag them so they could be pulled out of line to finish providing any necessary information. The system will also track guests luggage in real-time, allowing them to always know where their bags are.
Excalibur features on Royal Caribbeans smartphone apps, or the Wow Bands, will allow guests to do a number of other tasks after the cruise is underway. In addition to unlocking stateroom doors, guests will be able to order drinks and have them delivered directly to their location, no matter where they are on the ship. Excalibur will also let guests control their staterooms lighting, temperature and other features from their mobile device, even from outside their stateroom. Guests will also be able to stream content from their devices to their stateroom televisions, including content that is stored locally from their devices or taken from major streaming services. Excalibur will also allow Royal Caribbean to send guests notifications with personalized recommendations for services they can book onboard, such as relaxing treatments for spa lovers.
Excalibur also incorporates a number of augmented reality (AR) features, which allow guests to play games and interact with their environment using their smartphones. In one demonstration a guest was able to point their phone at a poster, which appeared to spring to life on the smartphone screen and become a game the guest could play. In another, called X-ray vision, a guest could point their smartphone at a special area of a wall. A camera behind the wall would project a video to the guests smartphone, providing the illusion that they were looking through the wall just like Superman. Royal Caribbean representatives said that RCCL could use this feature to give guests a behind-the-scenes glimpse of certain areas they couldnt otherwise access for safety or security reasons, such as the galley or engine room.
What about guests who dont have a smartphone, or dont feel like toting one around on their vacation? The Wow Band will continue to provide access to Excalibur features. And were sensitive to the fact that, even if you have your smartphone, some guests want to leave it in their car, Schneider said. Royal Caribbean is even planning to roll out a new version of the Wow Band, dubbed Wow Band 2.0, sometime next year. In addition to new features for guests, Excalibur will also include a number of elements to help the crew provide a smoother experience. Apps for crew will keep track of guest preferences in information, allowing crew to remember items like birthdays and favorite drinks.
A new digital table allows crew to keep track of safety drills and ship systems in real time.
The display allows for the tracking of operations like digital muster drills, allowing bridge crew to see at a glance which guests have failed to check in for muster, and even zoom in on their last known check-in location to aid in tasks like locating missing children.
On the bridge, an augmented reality (AR) display that would help officers navigate during foul weather. During periods of poor visibility due to rain and wind, the windscreen could display an overlay that would highlight important features like channels, land and other ships.
For more information, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations on any Royal Caribbean Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Virgin Voyages will be for adults only
November 01, 2017
Virgin Voyages revealed some details about its new cruise line at a keel-laying ceremony, perhaps the most important of which is that children won't be allowed.
CEO Tom McAlpin said the line's first ship, expected in 2020, will be "Adult By Design," with bookings accepted only for those 18 or older. McAlpin said the decision was driven by feedback solicited from potential customers and travel professionals "who are looking for a more elevated and premium experience, with a few Virgin-style surprises."
Although some lines with smaller ships, the Virgin Voyages ships at 2,800 passengers will be the largest to forgo the family market. The event at Fincantieri's Genoa shipyard also revealed the first exterior renderings of the ship, with a broad promenade at the aft contrasting with a slim tower of upper decks and a bow with a strongly vertical aspect. The ship's colors will be silver-gray with red accents, including a red funnel. The aft below the promenade deck will be red with the familiar slanted Virgin logo in large white letters centered in the middle. Virgin unveiled a more specific logo for Virgin Voyages, a mermaid with blonde hair and a sexy red fishtail trailing a flowing Virgin banner in one hand. The mermaid will appear at a modest size on the side of the ship's bow in line with the bridge. Virgin said it was inspired by figureheads on historic vessels and was designed by London-based artist Toby Tinsley.
Virgin announced at the ceremony that it was accepting $500 refundable deposits for "access to an exclusive pre-sale before Virgin Voyages goes on general sale." Virgin Voyages said 86% of all cabins will feature a sea terrace and 93% an ocean view.
The first voyage is planned from Miami in 2020. Fincantieri is working on three ships for the brand.
For more information and to make reservations, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com .
November 01, 2017
Virgin Voyages revealed some details about its new cruise line at a keel-laying ceremony, perhaps the most important of which is that children won't be allowed.
CEO Tom McAlpin said the line's first ship, expected in 2020, will be "Adult By Design," with bookings accepted only for those 18 or older. McAlpin said the decision was driven by feedback solicited from potential customers and travel professionals "who are looking for a more elevated and premium experience, with a few Virgin-style surprises."
Although some lines with smaller ships, the Virgin Voyages ships at 2,800 passengers will be the largest to forgo the family market. The event at Fincantieri's Genoa shipyard also revealed the first exterior renderings of the ship, with a broad promenade at the aft contrasting with a slim tower of upper decks and a bow with a strongly vertical aspect. The ship's colors will be silver-gray with red accents, including a red funnel. The aft below the promenade deck will be red with the familiar slanted Virgin logo in large white letters centered in the middle. Virgin unveiled a more specific logo for Virgin Voyages, a mermaid with blonde hair and a sexy red fishtail trailing a flowing Virgin banner in one hand. The mermaid will appear at a modest size on the side of the ship's bow in line with the bridge. Virgin said it was inspired by figureheads on historic vessels and was designed by London-based artist Toby Tinsley.
Virgin announced at the ceremony that it was accepting $500 refundable deposits for "access to an exclusive pre-sale before Virgin Voyages goes on general sale." Virgin Voyages said 86% of all cabins will feature a sea terrace and 93% an ocean view.
The first voyage is planned from Miami in 2020. Fincantieri is working on three ships for the brand.
For more information and to make reservations, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com .
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Royal Caribbean returning to St. Thomas in November
Royal Caribbean will resume calls at St. Thomas on Nov. 10. Calls were suspended after Hurricane Irma ravaged the island on Sept. 6. The Adventure of the Seas will make the call. At the same time, island officials, with an assist from Royal Caribbean, hope to reopen a restored Magens Bay, one of St. Thomas' most popular tourist attractions. Royal Caribbean said that most downtown shops, restaurants and bars and tour operators will be fully operational, with boat and catamaran excursions among the activities that will be offered. Royal Caribben said it has committed to returning to San Juan and St. Maarten by the end of November, and is working closely with local governments to announce the exact dates. Port St. Maarten, said that Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas plans to make its return to that storm-battered destination on Nov. 5.
For more information, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations on any Royal Caribbean Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
For more information, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations on any Royal Caribbean Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Monday, October 16, 2017
Four Disney hotels welcoming canine guests
October 14, 2017
In a trial program, four Walt Disney World hotels have started welcoming guests with dogs. The four hotels are Disney's Yacht Club, Disney's Port Orleans, Disney's Art of Animation and the cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.
Disney's Yacht Club charges $75 per night, and the others $50 per night.
Also, each hotel offers outdoor pet exercise areas and relief areas. At check-in, guests traveling with dogs get a Pluto's Welcome Kit with mat, bowls, pet ID tag, plastic disposable bags, puppy pads, dog-walking maps and a door hanger indicating to hotel staff that a pet is in the room. Disney plans to sell pet merchandise at the four resorts.
Doggy day care and other pet services are available nearby at Best Friends, a facility on-property at the Disney World Resort. Dogs must be leashed while in resort public areas and must be properly vaccinated
For more information, and to receive special rates or to make reservations for a Disney Resort or Cruise Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
In a trial program, four Walt Disney World hotels have started welcoming guests with dogs. The four hotels are Disney's Yacht Club, Disney's Port Orleans, Disney's Art of Animation and the cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.
Disney's Yacht Club charges $75 per night, and the others $50 per night.
Also, each hotel offers outdoor pet exercise areas and relief areas. At check-in, guests traveling with dogs get a Pluto's Welcome Kit with mat, bowls, pet ID tag, plastic disposable bags, puppy pads, dog-walking maps and a door hanger indicating to hotel staff that a pet is in the room. Disney plans to sell pet merchandise at the four resorts.
Doggy day care and other pet services are available nearby at Best Friends, a facility on-property at the Disney World Resort. Dogs must be leashed while in resort public areas and must be properly vaccinated
For more information, and to receive special rates or to make reservations for a Disney Resort or Cruise Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Carnival to Sail From San Juan Oct. 15; Updates Through December
Oct 10, 2017
Carnival reports the Old San Juan area is ready to receive cruise tourists.
Carnival Fascination will resume sailing from San Juan October 15, as Puerto Rico continues the long process of recovery following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria.
Our teams visit this past week confirmed the Old San Juan area is ready to receive tourists,”. Many shops and businesses have returned to their normal business operations with more opening up every day. We were saddened to see the impact the recent storm had on Puerto Rico,. Tourism is very important to their economy, and we are pleased to know that the cruise ships will play an important role in aiding their recovery efforts in a meaningful way.
As Puerto Rico and other islands in the Caribbean continue to recover from Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Irma, Carnival is continuing to make itinerary adjustments. Cruises departing San Juan October 15 through November 5 will sail a seven-day itinerary to Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua and St. Kitts. Sailings departing November 12 will offer a seven-day itinerary to Martinique, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua and St. Kitts, while seven-day itineraries departing November 19 through November 26 will call at Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua and St. Kitts.
Carnival is adjusting a number of seven-day itineraries departing Barbados as well. From October 18 through November 1, sailings will call at St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Kitts, San Juan and Grenada. The November 8 sailing will call at St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Kitts, San Juan and Martinique, and sailings from November 15 through November 22 will call at St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Kitts, San Juan and Grenada.
Carnival said it will continue to evaluate its ability to return to St. Thomas and St. Maarten, and will provide further updates on December sailings and beyond as they become available.
For more information, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations on any Carnival Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Carnival reports the Old San Juan area is ready to receive cruise tourists.
Carnival Fascination will resume sailing from San Juan October 15, as Puerto Rico continues the long process of recovery following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria.
Our teams visit this past week confirmed the Old San Juan area is ready to receive tourists,”. Many shops and businesses have returned to their normal business operations with more opening up every day. We were saddened to see the impact the recent storm had on Puerto Rico,. Tourism is very important to their economy, and we are pleased to know that the cruise ships will play an important role in aiding their recovery efforts in a meaningful way.
As Puerto Rico and other islands in the Caribbean continue to recover from Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Irma, Carnival is continuing to make itinerary adjustments. Cruises departing San Juan October 15 through November 5 will sail a seven-day itinerary to Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua and St. Kitts. Sailings departing November 12 will offer a seven-day itinerary to Martinique, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua and St. Kitts, while seven-day itineraries departing November 19 through November 26 will call at Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua and St. Kitts.
Carnival is adjusting a number of seven-day itineraries departing Barbados as well. From October 18 through November 1, sailings will call at St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Kitts, San Juan and Grenada. The November 8 sailing will call at St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Kitts, San Juan and Martinique, and sailings from November 15 through November 22 will call at St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Kitts, San Juan and Grenada.
Carnival said it will continue to evaluate its ability to return to St. Thomas and St. Maarten, and will provide further updates on December sailings and beyond as they become available.
For more information, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations on any Carnival Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
U by Uniworld's first ship sets sail
October 09, 2017
The first of U by Uniworld's millennial-focused river cruise ships, The B, debuted in Paris
U by Uniworld was developed as the first river cruise brand aimed at millennials and younger passengers ages 21 to 45. The B will be joined by a second vessel, The A, in 2018. Formerly Uniworld's River Baroness ship, the 120-passenger The B was had extensive redesign down. The resulting staterooms include four suites, 26 balcony staterooms, 29 studio staterooms and two studios that have triple occupancy. All of the cabins come outfitted with Bluetooth speakers and organic BeeKind toiletries. The B's dining venues include communal tables such as this one.
The B has an all-black exterior, and also features two rooftop venues, a spa and communal dining. There is farm-to-table cuisine served on board with dishes that include quinoa burgers, miso-marinated wild salmon and peanut butter bacon chocolate bars. U by Uniworld also has mixologists serving up craft cocktails in the bars and hosts international DJs onboard.
Technology plays a key role in onboard communications. WhatsApp and email are used for communicating with guests in lieu of the traditional daily paper itineraries. Additionally, menus are displayed on screens in the bar and restaurant, and guests can receive news through a Press Reader app. A new U by Uniworld app, which is still in development, will connect travelers before, during and after their trips and is scheduled to debut in March 2018 ahead of the first revenue sailings. During the the preview cruise, guests are engaging in U by Uniworld offerings that include yoga, camping on the top deck, a silent disco party, painting classes and wine tastings. Excursions include a panoramic breakfast tasting tour, a treasure hunt at the Louvre and a Paris city roofs tour,
Bookable sailings on The A and The B begin in April 2018 with prices starting at $200 per person, per day. There will be four 8-day itineraries available along the Rhine, Main, Danube and Seine rivers, with overnight stops and longer stays in Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam and Budapest. U by Uniworld will also sail two five-day holiday itineraries.
For more information, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates and to make reservations, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
The first of U by Uniworld's millennial-focused river cruise ships, The B, debuted in Paris
U by Uniworld was developed as the first river cruise brand aimed at millennials and younger passengers ages 21 to 45. The B will be joined by a second vessel, The A, in 2018. Formerly Uniworld's River Baroness ship, the 120-passenger The B was had extensive redesign down. The resulting staterooms include four suites, 26 balcony staterooms, 29 studio staterooms and two studios that have triple occupancy. All of the cabins come outfitted with Bluetooth speakers and organic BeeKind toiletries. The B's dining venues include communal tables such as this one.
The B has an all-black exterior, and also features two rooftop venues, a spa and communal dining. There is farm-to-table cuisine served on board with dishes that include quinoa burgers, miso-marinated wild salmon and peanut butter bacon chocolate bars. U by Uniworld also has mixologists serving up craft cocktails in the bars and hosts international DJs onboard.
Technology plays a key role in onboard communications. WhatsApp and email are used for communicating with guests in lieu of the traditional daily paper itineraries. Additionally, menus are displayed on screens in the bar and restaurant, and guests can receive news through a Press Reader app. A new U by Uniworld app, which is still in development, will connect travelers before, during and after their trips and is scheduled to debut in March 2018 ahead of the first revenue sailings. During the the preview cruise, guests are engaging in U by Uniworld offerings that include yoga, camping on the top deck, a silent disco party, painting classes and wine tastings. Excursions include a panoramic breakfast tasting tour, a treasure hunt at the Louvre and a Paris city roofs tour,
Bookable sailings on The A and The B begin in April 2018 with prices starting at $200 per person, per day. There will be four 8-day itineraries available along the Rhine, Main, Danube and Seine rivers, with overnight stops and longer stays in Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam and Budapest. U by Uniworld will also sail two five-day holiday itineraries.
For more information, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates and to make reservations, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Thursday, October 5, 2017
Norwegian Cruise Line Raises Price of Beverage Package
Norwegian Cruise Line has bumped up the price of its Ultimate Beverage Package (UBP).
The $10 daily increase is the first in 18 months and went into effect September 29 according to trade sources, although NCL has not issued a formal announcement to the Travel Community.
The new cost for the UBP $105 per person, per day when factoring in the 18 percent service charge added.. The UBP includes unlimited soft drinks, bottled and draft beers, spirits, cocktails and wines by the glass up to and including $15. Guests who purchase the UBP also receive a 20 percent discount on bottles of wine. Prices for Norwegian's Corks and Caps Wine and Beer Package and Soda Packages haven't changed. In a statement, Norwegian noted that "pricing may change from time to time due to costs increases and other factors."
For more information, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations on any Norwegian Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
The $10 daily increase is the first in 18 months and went into effect September 29 according to trade sources, although NCL has not issued a formal announcement to the Travel Community.
The new cost for the UBP $105 per person, per day when factoring in the 18 percent service charge added.. The UBP includes unlimited soft drinks, bottled and draft beers, spirits, cocktails and wines by the glass up to and including $15. Guests who purchase the UBP also receive a 20 percent discount on bottles of wine. Prices for Norwegian's Corks and Caps Wine and Beer Package and Soda Packages haven't changed. In a statement, Norwegian noted that "pricing may change from time to time due to costs increases and other factors."
For more information, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations on any Norwegian Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Cruise lines say visiting Cuba by ship is safe
October 02, 2017
Three big cruise companies with itineraries that include calls in Havana said their ships are a safe way to visit the island, even though the U.S. State Department is warning Americans against going.
The warning is in response to illnesses reported by diplomatic workers in Havana attributed to some sort of sonic weapon. The attacks, which began last November, are thought to have occurred in residences or in a hotel that houses diplomatic personnel on temporary assignment. In response, the U.S. government has withdrawn most of its diplomats from the U.S. Embassy in Havana. Because some of the attacks occurred at a hotel, the government also warned tourists. The government of Cuba has denied any involvement in the attacks, an assertion that hasn't been challenged by the U.S.
Carnival Cruise Line sails to Havana from Tampa with its Carnival Paradise ship.& that it would continue its cruises to Cuba for the moment. "While members and relatives of the U.S. diplomatic corps have suffered illnesses apparently triggered by occurrences at the diplomatic offices or possibly their homes, none of the more than 475,000 other Americans visiting Cuba this year have reported similar health issues related to their visits," the Carnival statement said.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL), which also takes passengers to Havana from Tampa on the Empress of the Seas, said it was aware of the State Department warnings."Since the warning is due to the events that occurred in U.S. diplomatic residences and hotels frequented by U.S. citizens, we do not feel they pose a risk to our cruise passengers," an RCCL statement said. "Our guests explore Havana on escorted tours and do not visit hotels."
Norwegian Cruise Line, visits Havana on its Norwegian Sky ship from Miami, said its cruises there continue to operate as scheduled. "There have been no reported incidents involving tourists or other cruise ship passengers," said a Norwegian statement that also noted incidents have been isolated to diplomats and government officials residing on the island. "Our shore excursions and tour locations have been thoroughly evaluated," the statement continued. "We continue to believe that the best way to travel to Cuba is via cruise ship and look forward to continuing to offer our guests the opportunity to explore Cuba's beauty, culture and friendly people."
For more information, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Three big cruise companies with itineraries that include calls in Havana said their ships are a safe way to visit the island, even though the U.S. State Department is warning Americans against going.
The warning is in response to illnesses reported by diplomatic workers in Havana attributed to some sort of sonic weapon. The attacks, which began last November, are thought to have occurred in residences or in a hotel that houses diplomatic personnel on temporary assignment. In response, the U.S. government has withdrawn most of its diplomats from the U.S. Embassy in Havana. Because some of the attacks occurred at a hotel, the government also warned tourists. The government of Cuba has denied any involvement in the attacks, an assertion that hasn't been challenged by the U.S.
Carnival Cruise Line sails to Havana from Tampa with its Carnival Paradise ship.& that it would continue its cruises to Cuba for the moment. "While members and relatives of the U.S. diplomatic corps have suffered illnesses apparently triggered by occurrences at the diplomatic offices or possibly their homes, none of the more than 475,000 other Americans visiting Cuba this year have reported similar health issues related to their visits," the Carnival statement said.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL), which also takes passengers to Havana from Tampa on the Empress of the Seas, said it was aware of the State Department warnings."Since the warning is due to the events that occurred in U.S. diplomatic residences and hotels frequented by U.S. citizens, we do not feel they pose a risk to our cruise passengers," an RCCL statement said. "Our guests explore Havana on escorted tours and do not visit hotels."
Norwegian Cruise Line, visits Havana on its Norwegian Sky ship from Miami, said its cruises there continue to operate as scheduled. "There have been no reported incidents involving tourists or other cruise ship passengers," said a Norwegian statement that also noted incidents have been isolated to diplomats and government officials residing on the island. "Our shore excursions and tour locations have been thoroughly evaluated," the statement continued. "We continue to believe that the best way to travel to Cuba is via cruise ship and look forward to continuing to offer our guests the opportunity to explore Cuba's beauty, culture and friendly people."
For more information, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Royal Caribbean ship contributing to hurricane relief effort
September 26, 2017
Royal Caribbean has canceled the Sept. 30 voyage of the Adventure of the Seas from San Juan, and will use the ship to evacuate people from Puerto Rico and deliver supplies to hurricane-ravaged islands.
The ship will arrive in San Juan on Sept. 27 and then will stop in St. Thomas and St. Croix. The ship will bring evacuees to Fort Lauderdale before returning to San Juan on Oct. 6 to prepare for the Oct. 7 cruise.
Royal Caribbean also announced alternate itineraries in October for six ships: Adventure, Harmony, Allure, Oasis, Enchantment and Serenade of the Seas.
The three Oasis-class ships (Oasis, Harmony and Allure) will go to ports in the western Caribbean rather than St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Labadee (Royal Caribbean's private destination in Haiti). The Adventure will not visit St. Croix, and the Serenade will not visit St. Thomas and St. Maarten.
Enchantment of the Seas had been substituting Freeport, Bahamas, for a call in Key West but will now move back to its original itinerary on the Oct. 2 and 9 cruises from Miami to Nassau, Coco Cay (Royal Caribbean's private Bahamian island), Key West and back to Miami.
Customers who were to be on the canceled cruise will get their cruise fare and fees 100% refunded to the original form of payment, plus a 25% future cruise credit (based on the cruise fare) if a new cruise is booked in the next 30 days.
For more information, or to make reservations on any Royal Caribbean Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Royal Caribbean has canceled the Sept. 30 voyage of the Adventure of the Seas from San Juan, and will use the ship to evacuate people from Puerto Rico and deliver supplies to hurricane-ravaged islands.
The ship will arrive in San Juan on Sept. 27 and then will stop in St. Thomas and St. Croix. The ship will bring evacuees to Fort Lauderdale before returning to San Juan on Oct. 6 to prepare for the Oct. 7 cruise.
Royal Caribbean also announced alternate itineraries in October for six ships: Adventure, Harmony, Allure, Oasis, Enchantment and Serenade of the Seas.
The three Oasis-class ships (Oasis, Harmony and Allure) will go to ports in the western Caribbean rather than St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Labadee (Royal Caribbean's private destination in Haiti). The Adventure will not visit St. Croix, and the Serenade will not visit St. Thomas and St. Maarten.
Enchantment of the Seas had been substituting Freeport, Bahamas, for a call in Key West but will now move back to its original itinerary on the Oct. 2 and 9 cruises from Miami to Nassau, Coco Cay (Royal Caribbean's private Bahamian island), Key West and back to Miami.
Customers who were to be on the canceled cruise will get their cruise fare and fees 100% refunded to the original form of payment, plus a 25% future cruise credit (based on the cruise fare) if a new cruise is booked in the next 30 days.
For more information, or to make reservations on any Royal Caribbean Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Monday, September 25, 2017
Celebrity > BERMUDA 2018 Sailing from Port of New York
FIRST TWO GUESTS CHOOSE 2 FREE PERKS:
Classic Beverage Package • Prepaid Tips • Unlimited Wi-Fi • $150 to spend on board.
ADDITIONAL GUESTS IN YOUR STATEROOM GET HALF OFF CRUISE FARES.
Book ocean view or higher, and guests beyond the first two in your room save 50% off their cruise fares.
Some restrictions apply.
For more information, and to receive these and other exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations on any Celebrity Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Classic Beverage Package • Prepaid Tips • Unlimited Wi-Fi • $150 to spend on board.
ADDITIONAL GUESTS IN YOUR STATEROOM GET HALF OFF CRUISE FARES.
Book ocean view or higher, and guests beyond the first two in your room save 50% off their cruise fares.
Some restrictions apply.
For more information, and to receive these and other exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations on any Celebrity Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Friday, September 22, 2017
Key West's cruise port reopening
September 21, 2017
Key West is set to reopen for cruise arrivals, with the first visit occurring Sunday, Sept 24, 2017 with a call from the Royal Caribbean's Empress of the Seas. The port has been closed to cruise ships since Hurricane Irma struck the Florida Keys on Sept. 9.
Key West will be the first port to reopen among destinations that were slammed by Hurricane Irma. A Coast Guard spokesman said the ports in St. Croix and San Juan remain closed in the wake of Hurricane Maria, which passed over those areas this week. St. Thomas and St. Maarten, islands wrecked by Hurricane Irma, also are closed to cruise ships.
Cruise visitors to Key West will have the place largely to themselves. Authorities in the Keys are asking overnight visitors to postpone immediate vacation plans throughout the island chain. Key West has set an Oct. 20 target date to reopen for general tourism. "However, that date may be advanced," a statement said.
For more information on Key West, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations on any Royal Caribbean Ship, or other cruise lines contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Key West is set to reopen for cruise arrivals, with the first visit occurring Sunday, Sept 24, 2017 with a call from the Royal Caribbean's Empress of the Seas. The port has been closed to cruise ships since Hurricane Irma struck the Florida Keys on Sept. 9.
Key West will be the first port to reopen among destinations that were slammed by Hurricane Irma. A Coast Guard spokesman said the ports in St. Croix and San Juan remain closed in the wake of Hurricane Maria, which passed over those areas this week. St. Thomas and St. Maarten, islands wrecked by Hurricane Irma, also are closed to cruise ships.
Cruise visitors to Key West will have the place largely to themselves. Authorities in the Keys are asking overnight visitors to postpone immediate vacation plans throughout the island chain. Key West has set an Oct. 20 target date to reopen for general tourism. "However, that date may be advanced," a statement said.
For more information on Key West, and to receive exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations on any Royal Caribbean Ship, or other cruise lines contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Cruise ship chartered for relief mission in St. Thomas
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line said its ship has been chartered to the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to assist hurricane-recovery efforts in St. Thomas. The Grand Celebration will head for the storm-stricken destination in the U.S. Virgin Islands with arrival anticipated on Sept. 23. The mission is expected to continue into the later part of December.
St. Thomas was devastated by Hurricane Irma and is in line for more hurricane-force winds from Hurricane Maria. While in St. Thomas, the ship will be used to house National Guard first responders.
The Grand Celebration, originally the Carnival Celebration, has 750 cabins and space for up to 1,900 guests.
For more information on other cruise ships & what is being done to assist victims of the hurricane in the Caribbean, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
St. Thomas was devastated by Hurricane Irma and is in line for more hurricane-force winds from Hurricane Maria. While in St. Thomas, the ship will be used to house National Guard first responders.
The Grand Celebration, originally the Carnival Celebration, has 750 cabins and space for up to 1,900 guests.
For more information on other cruise ships & what is being done to assist victims of the hurricane in the Caribbean, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Irma knocks out marquee cruise ports in eastern Caribbean
As of September 13, 2017
Cruise lines are hoping to return to normal operations early September, but there are holes in their itineraries to the eastern Caribbean that won't be plugged soon. Several of the busiest ports of call in that region appear to be out of service for weeks, if not months. Among them are the French/Dutch island of St. Martin/St. Maarten, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Other destinations to the south escaped Irma but are too far to travel for a weeklong voyage.
Royal Caribbean International said it will be substituting St. Croix for St. Thomas on eastern Caribbean cruises of the Adventure of the Seas. It will substitute St. Kitts for St. Thomas and St. Maarten on Allure of the Seas voyages and St. Kitts for St. Thomas on Harmony of the Seas voyages. Norwegian Cruise Line said it will offer only western Caribbean routes through November on the Miami-based ships.
While most cruise lines visit the affected islands on itineraries that start and end in Florida, several small-ship cruise lines fly passengers to the Caribbean to begin their voyages there. SeaDream Yacht Club turns some of its cruises in Marigot, St. Martin. Windstar uses St. Maarten, San Juan and Bridgetown, Barbados. Neither line has made a decision about how to proceed with the 2017-18 Caribbean season.
If there is a silver lining, it is that September and October are the slowest months of the year in the Caribbean. In Tortola, for example, there are only five calls on the schedule for September and six in October, Tortola expanded its pier to more than 1,000 feet in 2015, attracting regular calls by Norwegian and Disney Cruise Line. In Key West, cruise arrivals in September 2016 were only about one-third attracted in the peak month of December. No one can yet forecast how long reconstruction will take in ports such as Key West or St. Thomas, where damage assessment is ongoing.
The stricken ports will be desperate to get cruise passengers back because of the revenue they provide and the sense of normalcy they offer. Therefore, cruise infrastructure will be the focus of early rebuilding efforts.
While some ports like Havana took direct hits, others to the east of Florida are already open. The Bahamas got less damage than many had feared and cruise lines scheduled shortened cruises departing to Nassau and Freeport.
There shouldn't be too much competition in the western Caribbean for ship berths through November because many ships are in Europe or elsewhere at this time of year. Should the eastern Caribbean remain offline through the winter, congestion will be an issue.
___
For more information, & to make reservations on any sailing, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Cruise lines are hoping to return to normal operations early September, but there are holes in their itineraries to the eastern Caribbean that won't be plugged soon. Several of the busiest ports of call in that region appear to be out of service for weeks, if not months. Among them are the French/Dutch island of St. Martin/St. Maarten, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Other destinations to the south escaped Irma but are too far to travel for a weeklong voyage.
Royal Caribbean International said it will be substituting St. Croix for St. Thomas on eastern Caribbean cruises of the Adventure of the Seas. It will substitute St. Kitts for St. Thomas and St. Maarten on Allure of the Seas voyages and St. Kitts for St. Thomas on Harmony of the Seas voyages. Norwegian Cruise Line said it will offer only western Caribbean routes through November on the Miami-based ships.
While most cruise lines visit the affected islands on itineraries that start and end in Florida, several small-ship cruise lines fly passengers to the Caribbean to begin their voyages there. SeaDream Yacht Club turns some of its cruises in Marigot, St. Martin. Windstar uses St. Maarten, San Juan and Bridgetown, Barbados. Neither line has made a decision about how to proceed with the 2017-18 Caribbean season.
If there is a silver lining, it is that September and October are the slowest months of the year in the Caribbean. In Tortola, for example, there are only five calls on the schedule for September and six in October, Tortola expanded its pier to more than 1,000 feet in 2015, attracting regular calls by Norwegian and Disney Cruise Line. In Key West, cruise arrivals in September 2016 were only about one-third attracted in the peak month of December. No one can yet forecast how long reconstruction will take in ports such as Key West or St. Thomas, where damage assessment is ongoing.
The stricken ports will be desperate to get cruise passengers back because of the revenue they provide and the sense of normalcy they offer. Therefore, cruise infrastructure will be the focus of early rebuilding efforts.
While some ports like Havana took direct hits, others to the east of Florida are already open. The Bahamas got less damage than many had feared and cruise lines scheduled shortened cruises departing to Nassau and Freeport.
There shouldn't be too much competition in the western Caribbean for ship berths through November because many ships are in Europe or elsewhere at this time of year. Should the eastern Caribbean remain offline through the winter, congestion will be an issue.
___
For more information, & to make reservations on any sailing, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Celebrity Cruise & US
Celebrity Cruises > BEST EXPERIENCED WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY—AND US.
Sailings to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Asia, Europe
For a limited time, the first two guests in the stateroom get TWO free perks, and additional guests get HALF OFF their cruise fares..
Choose 2 FREE Perks & choose from Beverage Package (includes wine, beer, alcohol, soda, bottled water & Specialty coffees) Wi-Fi, prepaid tips, or $150 per person to spend on board. Suites get all FOUR perks, plus the Premium Beverage Packages.*
Cruise must be booked by Oct. 2, 2017, Some restrictions apply. Ocean view or higher cabins, 4-night and longer cruises departing through April 30, 2019
,
For more information, and to receive these and more exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations on any Celebrity Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Sailings to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Asia, Europe
For a limited time, the first two guests in the stateroom get TWO free perks, and additional guests get HALF OFF their cruise fares..
Choose 2 FREE Perks & choose from Beverage Package (includes wine, beer, alcohol, soda, bottled water & Specialty coffees) Wi-Fi, prepaid tips, or $150 per person to spend on board. Suites get all FOUR perks, plus the Premium Beverage Packages.*
Cruise must be booked by Oct. 2, 2017, Some restrictions apply. Ocean view or higher cabins, 4-night and longer cruises departing through April 30, 2019
,
For more information, and to receive these and more exclusive amenities and special rates or to make reservations on any Celebrity Ship, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Monday, September 11, 2017
Cruise lines aid in Irma relief effort
Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line have dedicated ships to deliver supplies to hurricane-ravaged destinations and evacuate stranded visitors. Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas arrived in St. Maarten on Sunday with provisions. Then the ship departed for Puerto Rico with tourists who were stuck on the island. The Majesty of the Seas will bring supplies, including food and water, to St. Thomas and St. Maarten, and assist in transporting tourists in St. Maarten to safety.
Additionally, Royal Caribbean said it would deploy the Empress of the Seas and the Enchantment of the Seas to assist Key West and Tampa once the impact of the storm is known.
Norwegian Cruise Line has deployed the Norwegian Sky to St. Thomas to deliver supplies.
Carnival said it has "activated a plan to begin delivery of supplies on both an immediate and sustained, longer-term basis. These deliveries will be worked into ships cruise itineraries as part of our ongoing operations
For more information on what he cruise lines are doing to help after Irma, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Additionally, Royal Caribbean said it would deploy the Empress of the Seas and the Enchantment of the Seas to assist Key West and Tampa once the impact of the storm is known.
Norwegian Cruise Line has deployed the Norwegian Sky to St. Thomas to deliver supplies.
Carnival said it has "activated a plan to begin delivery of supplies on both an immediate and sustained, longer-term basis. These deliveries will be worked into ships cruise itineraries as part of our ongoing operations
For more information on what he cruise lines are doing to help after Irma, contact The Cruise Professionals at theCRUISEOUTLET.com at 203-288-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com
Saturday, September 9, 2017
Royal Caribbean uses ship as hurricane safe haven for employees
Royal Caribbean International will use one of its ship as a vehicle to keep employees and their families safe from Hurricane Irma, which is expected to strike the Miami area this weekend.
The Enchantment of the Seas' Sept. 8 cruise was canceled because of the hurricane, so Royal Caribbean opened the ship to its workforce. The ship will depart around noon on Friday and sail out to sea away from the projected path of the storm. The plan is to return to Miami once the storm passes and the port reopens. The-20 year-old Enchantment holds 2,252 people at double occupancy and typically offers three- and four-day cruises to the Bahamas.
The Enchantment of the Seas' Sept. 8 cruise was canceled because of the hurricane, so Royal Caribbean opened the ship to its workforce. The ship will depart around noon on Friday and sail out to sea away from the projected path of the storm. The plan is to return to Miami once the storm passes and the port reopens. The-20 year-old Enchantment holds 2,252 people at double occupancy and typically offers three- and four-day cruises to the Bahamas.
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