Regent cancels call at Dakar, Senegal

Regent Seven Seas Cruises cancelled a call at Dakar, Senegal, next month in “an abundance of caution” due to the deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa.  The call, originally scheduled for the Seven Seas Mariner’s Oct. 13 cruise from Lisbon to Miami, will be replaced with an overnight in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, on Oct. 17-18. A visit to Lanzarote will be shifted to Oct. 19.  “While Senegal had only one confirmed case of Ebola and the World Health Organization recently announced the virus is contained in that country, we always place the safety and comfort of our guests as our top priority and adjusted the itinerary to alleviate any concerns,” Regent said in a note to passengers booked on that cruise.   For more information about this change or to make a reservation for a Regent Cruise contact TheCruiseOutlet.com for exclusive rates and amenities at 800-775-1884 or info@theCruiseOutlet.com

Crystal Cruises simplifies evening dress code

Crystal Cruises simplifies evening dress code
Crystal Cruises said it will simplify its evening dress code, cutting the number of options from three to two.  Beginning Dec. 20, Crystal will have black tie optional and what is being called Crystal Casual as its two styles of dress after 6 p.m. There will typically be one formal night on cruises of seven to 10 days and two on an cruises of 11 to 15 days. The rest of the cruise will be governed by Crystal Casual in the evening. Crystal Casual includes dresses, skirts, dressy slacks and blouses or sweaters for women and dress shirts and sport coats (no tie required) for men. Guys can also wear an open-collar or collared polo shirt with dress pants/smart trousers, Previously, the line had a resort casual/casual elegant/black tie optional scheme. Crystal made black tie optional on formal nights last year. The two-category dress code is easier to pack for and remember said Crystal President Edie Rodriguez.  For more information on this Crystal change and exclusive rates, contact TheCruiseOutlet.com at info@thecruiseoutlet.com or 800-775-1884

Celebrity Cruises Exclusive offer for TheCruiseOutlet.com

Celebrity Cruises Exclusive offer for TheCruiseOutlet.com Customers with reservations made by Sept 14, 2014 in an ocean view or higher cabin for Alaska or Europe cruise departing May – October 2015. 

 Receive up to $300 onboard credit when you book an ocean view or higher on an Alaska or Europe cruise departing May – October 2015. Plus, combine with Pick Your Perk for an even greater value. 
• 6-9 nights receive $100* onboard credit per stateroom for Alaska and $200* onboard credit for Europe per stateroom. 
• 10 nights or longer receive $150* onboard credit per stateroom for Alaska and $300* onboard credit for Europe per stateroom. 
Choose from 4 amazing offers with Pick Your Perk offer. 
1 Up to $600 off* cruise fare when using Celebrity’s ChoiceAir® 
2 Free Beverage Packages* for two
3 Free Gratuities* for two
4 Onboard Credit up to $300* per cabin
This is a limited time offer, so book by September 14, 2014. 
 *To Qualify for Offer, the following requirements must be satisfied. Cruise must be booked between Sep. 10 – 14, 2014 (the “Offer Period”) and must be a Europe or Alaska cruise that departs between May – Oct. 2015. Offer requires ocean view or higher stateroom booking at the non-discounted standard cruise fare. OBC offer is combinable with one other offer, including Pick your perk. Offer is based on number of sail nights and value is per stateroom: 6-9 nights $100; 10 nights or more $150. Book Europe 2015 cruises and receive 7-9 nights $200; 10 nights or more $300 per stateroom. Offer is applicable to new individual bookings.The first two guests in a Qualifying Booking may choose one of the following Pick your Perk options: Classic Beverage Package for Two, Free Gratuities for Two, or Onboard Credit (“OBC”). Guests booking air travel using ChoiceAir have the fourth option of a cruise fare savings. ChoiceAir must be purchased by Sep. 14, 2014. ChoiceAir option not available for sailings that depart Aug. 2015 or beyond. One offer per stateroom. The first two guests in the stateroom must select the same option. Each guest must provide date of birth at the time of booking. All Offers are non-transferable and applicable only to the Offer Cruise. Offers exclude interior staterooms. No refunds or credits for unused options. Offers are subject to availability and change without notice, and are capacity controlled.. Single occupancy bookings eligible for Offers.
 Exclusive program with TheCruiseOutlet.com - 800-775-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com

Oceania provides FREE Internet Access

Oceania Cruises announced plans to provide complimentary Internet access to guests booked in either a suite or Concierge Level stateroom on any of their  ships. This is the first time the upper-premium cruise line has offered a free Internet program, with the new benefit commencing during the 2015 winter season.  As part of the program, guests booked in Owner’s, Vista and Oceania suites will receive unlimited complimentary Internet access to enjoy throughout their voyage. Guests booked in Penthouse suites or Concierge Level staterooms will receive blocks of complimentary Internet time based on cruise length, starting with 200 minutes for a seven-night cruise and extending to 500 minutes for voyages over 16 nights. Being an upper-premium brand, Oceania Cruises ships feature a larger number of Concierge Level and above accommodations, which means this free Internet program will cover more than 55 percent of all guests sailing on Marina and Riviera, and nearly half of all guests sailing on Regatta, Insignia and Nautica. Guests will be able to take advantage of the free Internet either through the ship’s Wi-Fi system or at the Oceania@Sea Internet café. Oceania Cruises recently upgraded the Wi-Fi system across the fleet to increase bandwidth and provide connectivity throughout the entire ship, including all public spaces, outdoor decks and all suites and staterooms.  “Oceania Cruises is committed to providing our guests with an extraordinary cruise vacation for an incomparable value, so we’re excited to add free Internet to an already long list of included amenities such as free roundtrip airfare and complimentary dining experiences at our exquisite specialty restaurants,” said Kunal S. Kamlani, president of Oceania Cruises. “We know our guests want to stay connected with friends and family while exploring the world with Oceania Cruises. Now, as guests are enjoying the Olife onboard, they will be able to freely share cherished vacation memories with loved ones back home from the comfort of the ship.”  The complimentary Internet rollout will be staggered across the fleet, tied to the official start of each ship’s winter schedule. Oceania Cruises’ signature 2-for-1 cruise fares include an abundance of complimentary amenities such as unlimited soft drinks, coffee beverages, juices and bottled water. Guests can savor the finest cuisine at sea at any of the ships’ specialty restaurants without any supplemental dining charges. Oceania Cruises also eliminates the hassle of searching for flights by including free roundtrip air service from major U.S. and Canadian gateways.
For more information guests can visit TheCruiseOutlet.com or call 800-775-1884 for exclusive promtions and rates as a preferred  professional travel agent.

Azamara drops free Internet & other Great Amenities from loyalty program

Azamara Club Cruises has changed Le Club Voyage, its loyalty program, by adding new features but dropping others, including free Internet and laundry service.  “We expect mixed reaction to the discontinued benefits,” the two-ship cruise line. It said the change is “the right long-term decision for our guests and brand.” Among the new benefits are more complimentary voyage nights for achieving a higher tier in the program. Passengers earn points in a five-tier program according to number of nights sailed and cabin category. In the new program, guests staying in Club Oceanview cabins will earn three points a night instead of two, and those staying in Club Veranda cabins will earn five points a night instead of three, Azamara said. Other new benefits include a dedicated shoreside program manager, various discounts and upgrades and a Club Voyage desk for guest inquiries.  Benefits being discontinued, in addition to free laundry service and Internet access, include a bottle of sparkling wine on embarkation, free wine tastings on voyages of 10 nights or longer and a welcome-home gift for advancing to the next tier.  

MSC Cruises Starts to Bundle & Package

The MSC Divina in Miami, is offering packages with different levels of inclusiveness. In an interesting pricing development, MSC Cruises is offering a variety of packages that give passengers different levels of inclusiveness. The new program lets customers decide what they want bundled into their fare  drinks, massages, priority boarding, half-price fitness classes or access to exclusive, adults-only areas. 
Already introduced in most European markets, MSC Cruises said it is expanding the experience pricing to North America due to positive feedback received from guests and travel agents abroad.
The innovative price structure sets MSC Cruises apart from other cruise ships, which is working to develop a following among North Americans. The new pricing packages are called Bella, Fantastica, Aurea and MSC Yacht Club. The Bella level is what many cruisers do now  book the lowest price for interior, ocean-view or balcony staterooms and then pay separately for drinks, spa services and other extras.  The extras go up from there and are valued at up to $700.
The Fantastica Experience lets guests choose a premium location stateroom and gives them priority choice of early or late dining, 50 percent off all fitness classes and personal training, free room service delivery, and enhanced recreational activities for children including cooking and foreign language classes. As a special promotion, guests booking the Fantastica experience for seven-night or longer sailings on the MSC Divina between Oct. 18 and April 11 also receive a beverage package. This experience is available for guests booking interior, ocean-view or balcony staterooms.
The Aurea Experience includes the choice of premium locations of balcony staterooms and suites, and flexible main restaurant dining times. Additional benefits include priority boarding, unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, a massage and private spa consultation, access to the adults-only Top 18 sun deck, and the perks in the Fantastica experience.
The most inclusive choice is the MSC Yacht Club, the lines luxury ship-within-a-ship experience. This includes a private club with keycard access, priority check-in and check-out, butler service, a dedicated 24-hour concierge, access to the exclusive Top Sail lounge and pool, complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in the Yacht Club area, and access to a private MSC Yacht Club restaurant.
The new pricing plan is available for reservations made starting Sept. 23 for sailings departing Oct. 18 onward. 
TheCruiseOutlet.,com has arranged with MSC Cruises for exclusive amednities to add to this wonderful cruise experience.   For more information and to make reservations contact TheCruiseOutlet.com at 800-775-1884 or email: info@thecruiseoutlet.com.

The New Pearl Seas Cruise Line a Success

Pearl Seas Cruises' Pearl Mist has completed the first six weeks of its inaugural season, which the line describes as "a successful start," based on guest feedback. The new 210-passenger Pearl Mist, launched earlier this summer, is currently operating in the Canadian Maritimes and Great Lakes.
Our guests are enjoying the unique ports of call and have left a range of positive feedback, said Timothy Beebe, vice president of Pearl Seas Cruises. They are particularly pleased with the personalized service, elegant and relaxing atmosphere and warm camaraderie aboard the Pearl Mist
Beebe said that the Pearl Mist allows the line to offer a new style of luxury adventure cruising, as well as a new range of itineraries. Pearl Seas Cruises is a sister line to American Cruise Lines, which operates in U.S. coastal and interior waterways.  Beebe said: We look forward to perfecting this style of cruising and to growing Pearl Seas Cruises operation with more ships and more itineraries in the seasons to come.”  Pearl Mist's staterooms all have private balconies; most have sliding glass doors. Onboard spaces include a dining room and several lounges. Guests enjoy such amenities as enrichment programs, entertainment and shore excursions. 
For more information on The Pearl Mist or to make a reservation, contact TheCruiseOutlet.com at 203-288-1884 for exclusive rates and amenities.

Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas

North Star - 
This first-of-a-kind attraction will feature a 15-passenger enclosed glass pod, which resembles those on the London Eye. The pod will gently lift passengers 300 feet over the sea. Depending on the ship's position, they'll enjoy ocean or port views. North Star is a complimentary experience in many cases. For a price, though, it can be reserved for private events or celebrations. For example, the romantic at heart might consider reserving the gondola as a setting to pop the question or even exchange vows. 
Bionic Bar - 
The first smart ship at sea, Quantum boasts the first robotic wait staff as well. the Bionic Bar will feature bartending robots that take orders and special requests via smart tablets. 
RipCord by iFly. 
The Sports Deck skydiving simulator offers an exhilarating wind tunnel free fall. Passengers receive flight training instructions before suiting up. The daring can sign up for advanced lessons and maneuvers.
Dynamic Dining - 
No main dining room, no set dining times and no formal nights means complete dining flexibility for Quantum of the Seas guests. Five separate main restaurants offer their own unique experience. Old World classics will be on the menu in The Grande. Pan-Asian fusion will be offered in Silk, while Coastal Kitchen will offer a fusion of Mediterranean meets California. Guests seeking classic American comfort food will find it at American Icon Grill. And for those who enjoy upscale contemporary cuisine, they'll find it in the aptly named Chic.
Virtual Balconies
The interior stateroom becomes a room with a view on Quantum of the Seas. Virtual Balconies display a high-definition live video feed of the outside view The virtual balcony's "sea view" is displayed on a floor-to-ceiling wall screen that can be open or closed.
Bumper Cars
Not everything onboard Quantum of the Seas is high-tech and futuristic. There is good old fashioned fun at Seaplex, the largest indoor activity space at sea. Bumper cars are expected to be a popular option for passengers of all ages.
Vistarama
The wall of windows more than two stories high is the center point of Two70. The immense lounge, caf, performance space is part living room, part high-tech theater. Vistaramas panoramic ocean views are impressive for sure. But when projection screens in front of it unfold, the windows become a stunning digital backdrop.
Wonderland
Quantum of the Seas' take on molecular cuisine is inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Inventive fantasy selections are based on five elements: wind, ice, fire, earth and dreams.  Passengers should prepare for flash-frozen ice cream, spicy tuna cones, sriracha eggs and elixirs that appear in plumes of smoke.
Circus School
Another Seaplex feature is the cruise industry's first "circus school at sea." Professional acrobats will teach passengers the art of trapeze. With just a bit of instruction, guests will learn to soar through the air with the greatest of ease. 
 WowBands
Key cards are a thing of the past for passengers who rather not be bothered. They can simply snap on their WowBand instead.  The royal blue rubber wrist band features a digital chip that opens doors and records guest purchases.