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From www.chriscruises.com via Scoop.it:
Cruise vacations while inclusive by nature, have their share of opportunities to spend more. Here are some tips for controlling expenses.
Cruising need not be expensive. Plan what you will spend your money on and when onboard, track your bill. I know I am a sucker for the t-shirts onboard and plan accordingly. I usually end up with 2-4 new shirts per cruise. Almost every t-shirt I own is from one of the Cruise lines.
From www.complex.com via Scoop.it:
If you've got the money, you can take a cruise to the Bahamas with the cast of "The Walking Dead."
If you are a Walking Dead fan, here is a cruise for you.
From www.blogorail.com via Scoop.it:
Disney Cruise Line was named recently named the Top Mega-Ship Cruise Line and Top Mega-Ship Cruise Line for Families by Travel + Leisure readers in the magazine’s World’s Best Awards 2014.
For families, Disney Cruise Lines is one of the best. There is so much entertainment for children it is doubtful you would ever here the dreadful term "I'm Bored" Years ago when my kids were small we did a Disney Wonder cruise. Even though they are older now they still remember so much of the details of what they did on that cruise.
From www.travelpulse.com via Scoop.it:
These small-ship, adventure-oriented lines conduct eco-friendly and sustainable cruises, seeking to truly 'leave no trace.'
Is Eco travel in your plans? Here are 6 cruise lines.
The newly rebranded UnCruise Adventures (notice the missing dash between “un” and “cruise”) is soon to be on its way to Costa Rica and Panama. The small expedition ship cruise line has made waves in Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, the Columbia and Snake rivers and even the Galapagos, and now two Central American destinations are joining its destination portfolio.
Beginning in October 2016, the 62-guest Safari Voyager will begin on its inaugural 7-night "Uncharted Isthmus" itinerary.
Its "Sloths, Monkeys & Mangroves: itinerary covers Costa Rica from the capital of San Jose down to Panama City, Panama, after transiting the famous Panama Canal locks. Along the way, guests will visit Manuel Antonio National Park, Curu National Wildlife Refuge, Osa Conservation Area, Golfo Dulce and Granito de Oro island in Coiba National Park.
Wildlife encounters are so emphasized that UnCruise has even charted in detail the dry and green seasons in both Costa Rica and Panama and when it is best to view iguanas, sea turtles, humpback whales, ruby throated hummingbirds, butterflies, roseate spoonbills, scarlet and western tanagers and more for mating, nesting, hatching and fledgling in its Experience Guide.
The greatest benefits of UnCruise sailings are the ability to take skiff rides, snorkel, kayak and paddle board directly from off the ship. There’s no need to waste any extra time first joining a shore excursion. You can go for a hike immediately after a convenient zodiac landing, for instance.
There are even theme cruises planned on the initial itinerary this year like a photography-centric one on December 3, 2016 and a Chairman’s Cruise with the owners on December 10, 2016.
Come 2017, itineraries expand with 8-night Panama-exclusive sailings conveniently roundtrip from Panama City, 8-night Costa Rica-exclusive voyages roundtrip from San Jose or combo cruises featuring the best of both Costa Rica and Panama for 15 nights between the two ports of embarkation and disembarkation.
Additional experiences available in Panama include Colon, Guna Yala, the Chagres River, Pearl Islands, Darien Jungle and, of course, the Panama Canal itself again. Also featured is Fort San Lorenzo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And on the 8-night Costa Rica roundtrip, Papagayo Gulf and Santa Rosa National Park are also showcased.
There are also land package extensions available like Panama stays at the Bristol Hotel or Costa Rica stays at the Intercontinental Hotel as well as exploring the Arenal Volcano and Monteverde Rainforest in the latter destination.
— From Cruiseable news servicesInterested in a cruise to Central America on UnCruise Adventures? In celebration of UnCruise Adventures’ 20th anniversary, Cruiseable is offering $300 savings per couple on Central America, valid on new reservations made from now through October 28, 2016, on these sailings, departing between Nov. 19, 2016 and April 22, 2017:
Email a Cruiseable travel advocate or call us at 1-877-322-3773. In addition, we'll provide an additional $50 to $100 onboard credit.
Rave reviews from passengers are driving interest in cruising on the Great Lakes, says the Detroit Free Press in an article on the growing popularity of cruising in the region.
“We’ve been on 26 cruises and I’m enjoying this one so much,” passenger Jill Hoose of Texas told the newspaper. “There’s not such a rush, rush, rush feeling. There are not 3,500 people standing in lines.”
While it doesn’t sound like Carnival Corp. is trying to bring back the over-the-top popular "Love Boat" TV series, the company is putting 10 of its ships in starring roles on national television. The company has dreamed up three original series that will run beginning Oct. 1, 2016, on ABC, NBC and the CW on Saturday mornings.
There will be a total of 80 episodes designed to teach people more about the world of cruising and to get them on board. A fourth series will debut in early 2017.
From www.travelpulse.com via Scoop.it:
For cruising veterans, it may seem obvious how to choose the best cruise line for your vacation, but for newbies, it’s the crucial first step and begins by asking the right questions.
To start, ask: What is my budget and what is my traveling personality?
There are four main categories of cruise line quality increasing in cost in order of standard ones, premium ones, upscale ones and luxury ones, and in each category, there are a number of different lifestyles to be expected onboard each individual line.
There is definitely a cruise line for any type of travel personality. Understanding what you are looking for in a cruise vacation is the first step. Other articles for newcomers to cruising:
As a cruise veteran (first cruise in 1990 and 30 cruise to my credit) my style may be different from yours. I like the large ships like the Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, where the ship is as much a destination as the ports the ship goes to but this does not stop me from taking cruises on smaller ships. Living in Florida, much of my cruising has been to the Caribbean as I have quite a few ports within driving distance and I love the beach and snorkeling.Using Cruiseable is a great way to find out what the different cruise lines offer and what may be important to you on a cruise. See Cruiseable's Bliss Filters, there at the top right of the page, to research the cruise lines and ports of call to find your perfect vacation.
Banking on the surge in popularity of Alaska cruises, Holland America is pulling ms Oosterdam from her 2017 Mediterranean season and moving the ship to Alaska, where she will make seven-day roundtrip voyages from Seattle.
Once the Oosterdam is in Alaskan waters it will increase the number of Holland America Line ships to seven in the area, including ms Amsterdam, ms Eurodam (which will replace the ms Westerdam sailing from Seattle), ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms Volendam and ms Zaandam for a total of 135 departures to Alaska, more than any other cruise line.
Carnival is going bigger and better. The world's largest cruise line has just announced it's building two new 180,000 gross registered ton ships that will be the largest in its massive fleet.
The ships will also be Carnival's first powered by liquefied natural gas — a decidedly green development by the Carnival Corp., which runs 48 percent of the world's cruise ships.
Carnival Cruise Line is scheduled to take delivery of the two new family-friendly ships, which are now under construction at Turku shipyard in Finland, in 2020 and 2022.
Carnival, which continues to grow by leaps and bounds, has a dozen ships its current fleet that were constructed in Finland, including its eight Fantasy-class ships and four Spirit-class ships. Its next ship, Carnival Horizon, is set for delivery in 2018.
“This new ship order signifies an extraordinarily exciting future for Carnival Cruise Line and the opportunities that lie ahead to introduce a variety of magnificent new features and innovations to further enhance our outstanding guest experience,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We are also thrilled to be introducing Carnival Corporation’s ‘green cruising’ design platform to North America. Both of these ships will be fully powered at sea and in port by Liquefied Natural Gas, which is the world’s cleanest burning fossil fuel. These ships are being designed for maximum energy efficiency and environmental friendliness,” Duffy added.
Stayed tuned for more details, which Carnival expects to announce shortly.
March 2017 marks the seventh sailing of JoCo Cruise, an annual weeklong cruise that began as a fan cruise for alt rocker Jonathan Coulton back in 2011. (See founder Mitch "Storm" Courtenay's writeup about the 2015 cruise.)
The experience is equal parts nerdy convention and music festival – and it has developed a cult following. The cruise is known for its daily concerts, 24-hour game room, welcoming “Sea Monkey” community, more geeky onboard events than one could possible attend, and the wide variety of high-profile, awesome guests on board, including actors and writers whose shows you'll recognize.
The next JoCo Cruise will take place March 4-11, 2017, on Holland America’s ms Westerdam from San Diego with ports of call in Baja California. For the first time ever, the entire ship is chartered for the event, meaning everyone on board will be participating in the geeky fun.
From www.travelpulse.com via Scoop.it:
In an effort to sustain interest in their existing fleets, cruise lines are pouring millions of dollars into their older ships to have them stay on par with their newer ones. That means far more options for travelers across the board. Besides the usual basic maintenance and sprucing up, here are a few of the trending improvements rolling back onto the classic vessels.
Additional Dining Options
More Staterooms
Extra Cabin Comfort
New Water Slides
Better Entertainment
Seems that every few years all of the cruise lines revamp their existing cruise ships to appeal to a broader audience. It is normal now to have more dining options on even older ships. I have also sailed 3 times on Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas. Twice before they modified the ship and the last time after they made the ship longer (cut it in half and added a section) to increase the number of cabins, larger pool deck area and provide a grand atrium. I found it fascinating on how they accomplished this.
