Princess Cruises Introduces 20 New Shore Excursions in Alaska This Summer
Princess Cruises Debuts 20 New Shore Excursions in Alaska This Summer br /br /br /Passengers Can Help Out with a Scientific Expedition or Get Up Close and Personal with Glaciers and Wildlife br /br /This year Princess Cruises offers passengers some fresh ways to experience Alaska up close and personal with a variety of new shore excursions for the summer. Among the 20 new options is a unique opportunity to join a scientific expedition while in Juneau to help study climate change and wildlife behavior patterns. br /Passengers can also get closer to the dramatic glaciers of Tracy Arm, pilot their own zodiac on a tour of Ketchikan or enjoy the opportunity for animal encounters at a film trainer's wildlife park. These new options join Princess' extensive shore excursion program, which currently offers 215 different Alaska tour options for passengers starting in May. br /"Alaska offers so many thrilling experiences for visitors -- there's beautiful scenery nearly everywhere you turn, great opportunities to encounter wildlife, an intriguing Native culture, and of course the towering glaciers," said Charlie Ball, president of Princess Tours. "These new excursions showcase some of the many wonders available throughout this amazing state, and offer visitors a number of ways to get a very personal Alaska vacation." br /New tours available to Alaska passengers this summer include: br /Whales amp; Glaciers Citizen Science Adventure (Juneau) -- This unique tour will give participants a taste of what it's like to be a research scientist in the wilds of the Last Frontier. Passengers join a science-based excursion giving them the opportunity to participate in a GPS time-lapse photo project at the Mendenhall Glacier that documents the effects of climate change on the Juneau Icefield. Citizen scientists can also collect water samples, net plankton and record humpback whale and other marine wildlife behavior. This observational data will improve scientists' understanding of the many variables that affect Alaska's marine ecosystem. In addition, passengers will enjoy a whale-watching cruise, with guaranteed whale sightings. br /Back Country Zodiac Expedition (Ketchikan) -- Passengers can be their own captain for the day as they skipper their custom-built motorized inflatable along the coastline of Revillagigado Island for a unique Alaska adventure. Participants will follow their guide on a journey that explores Native culture with a view of Saxman Native Village, and a search for wildlife such as bears, eagles, whales, seals and more. The group guide will explain the area's history, geology, culture and ecology. br /Alaska Wildlife Park (Princess Exclusive -- Skagway) -- Visitors can meet many types of animals at the Kroschel Films Wildlife Park Center. The park is run by trainer Steve Kroschel who has a lifetime of experience working with wild animals for movies such as "Never Cry Wolf" and the PBS "Wild America" series. His center provides a home for numerous orphaned wild animals including wolves, Arctic fox, lynx, porcupine, pine marten, mink, reindeer and wolverines. Guests will enjoy hands-on, face-to-face encounters and intimate close-up photography of many of these animals as they learn about the behavior of these intriguing creatures and gain an understanding of the time and trust required to train them. br /Whales, Bears amp; Glaciers Adventure (Princess Exclusive -- Juneau) -- This excursion offers an opportunity to experience the perfect Alaska trifecta: whale watching, bear viewing and a scenic flight over the glaciers of the Juneau Icefield. Visitors will see two of Alaska's most impressive creatures with a whale watching cruise that guarantees sightings, plus a bear search at a salmon-bearing stream. The tour caps off with a flight over the Juneau Icefield and the Mendenhall Glacier on the way back to town. br /Tracy Arm Fjord amp; Glacier Explorer (Juneau) -- Sapphire Princess passengers have a new way to get a close-up look at the glaciers of Tracy Arm as they cruise aboard a luxurious, high-speed catamaran for an in-depth exploration of the twin Sawyer Glaciers. The adventure begins just before Sapphire Princess reaches the entry to Tracy Arm, as participants board their catamaran directly from the ship. After viewing glaciers from a much closer vantage point than is possible from a cruise ship, they will travel to Juneau to rejoin Sapphire Princess. br /Adventure Park amp; Zip Lines (Skagway) -- Thrill-seeking passengers can walk along raised balance beams, cross suspension bridges and fly through the air on a series of zip lines with this adventurous excursion. The exciting course will keep passengers challenged and exhilarated as they soar through the air on a series of six zip lines through the lush Alaska canopy. br /Juneau Jeep Adventure (Princess Exclusive) -- Visitors can experience Juneau's most scenic and historic locales in the rugged comfort of a Jeep Wrangler for a small group adventure. A diver/guide will take each group on a tour through Juneau, to a scenic view of Mendenhall Glacier and other local sites, ending with a stop at the award-winning Alaskan Brewing Company for a final taste of Juneau. br /Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter amp; Salmon Bake Combo (Princess Exclusive -- Juneau) -- This unique tour combination gives passengers a stunning aerial view of the famed Mendenhall Glacier plus the chance to feast on wild Alaska salmon. Participants will enjoy a glacier landing where they can explore the glacier's surface and learn how glaciers form, flow and shape the landscape. Once they've worked up an appetite, visitors join the salmon bake festivities for an all-you-can-eat meal. br /Historical Ketchikan Walking Tour (Princess Exclusive) -- Visitors can gain a unique understanding of Ketchikan and its Tlingit culture on this guided walking tour of Alaska's "First City." Led by a former city mayor of Tlingit descent, the tour offers personal knowledge of the many changes Ketchikan has experienced over the years. Visitors will also learn the significance of totem poles within Native culture, see the former red light district, and visit a salmon ladder to see the incredible journey salmon endure as they return to their spawning ground. br /Bear Country amp; Wildlife Expedition (Ketchikan) -- Passengers can view black bears in their natural habitat on a wildlife experience just a short drive from downtown Ketchikan. Participants will enjoy a nature walk on their way to a stream where more than 100,000 Pacific salmon return each year to spawn. Large concentrations of bears and other wildlife gather to feed on the huge runs of salmon. In addition to the bears, bald eagles wait for scraps, while mink, marten and wolf frequent the area, and seals can usually be seen feeding on the bountiful fish harvest. br /Behind the Scenes at Butchart Gardens (Victoria) -- One of Victoria's premiere attractions, Butchart Gardens is a beautiful place to explore independently. However, with this tour, guests have the unusual opportunity to go beyond the usual self-guided visit, and enjoy an exclusive in-depth guided tour behind the scenes. Visitors will learn the history of the gardens and explore the Mediterranean Garden and botanist's greenhouse, plus see a demonstration by the gardens' ceramics master as he displays his skills in flower-pot making. br /All Alaska shore excursions are currently available for pre-reservation. Passengers who are already booked on an Alaska cruise can reserve their tours by logging on to the Cruise Personalizer on princess.com, to ensure they get the excursions of their choice. As many tours fill up quickly, passengers are encouraged to make selections as early as possible. br /Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, Alaska Cruise Tours Online by calling 1-800-365-1445, or by visiting the company's website at a href="http://www.alaskacruisetoursonline.com/"http://www.alaskacruisetoursonline.com//adiv class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9902695-4296904532850464037?l=cruisenews.blogspot.com' alt='' //divPrincess Cruises Voted “Best Cruise Line in Alaska” by Travel Weekly. Again!
Princess Cruises Voted "Best Cruise Line in Alaska" by Travel Weekly br /br /Line Named Best in Alaska for Sixth Time at Magazine's Seventh Annual Readers' Choice Awards br /Princess Cruises has once again received top honors as the "Best Cruise Line in Alaska" in the annual Travel Weekly Readers' Choice Awards. This marks the sixth time in the past seven years that the company has been recognized with this distinction by the respected magazine's travel agent readers. br /"To have our Alaska cruise vacation experience recognized by the ultimate travel experts -- travel agents -- is a true honor" said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. "Winning this award again shows us that our Alaska cruise and cruisetour program has been very successful in giving travelers the ultimate way to experience the breathtaking beauty of the Great Land." br /Combining cruise, rail and lodge options to create a complete Alaska vacation, Princess offers an immersive experience that combines a seven-day Gulf of Alaska cruise with one of an array of land tours ranging from three to nine nights. Travelers can explore the state's dramatic interior with a range of options that feature at least two nights among the wilderness of Denali National Park, one of the state's top attractions. Cruisetours also offer accommodations at the company's scenic riverside wilderness lodges and travel by Princess' exclusive glass-domed railcar into the heart of Alaska. And only Princess offers Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail travel to give travelers more time in the Denali area. br /The 2010 Princess Alaska season offers a total of 112 Alaska sailings aboard seven ships and four itinerary options. The lineup includes Diamond Princess, Coral Princess, and Island Princess traveling on the line's signature "Voyage of the Glaciers" through the scenic Gulf of Alaska; Golden Princess, Sapphire Princess and Sea Princess sailing the Inside Passage routes from Seattle and San Francisco; and Royal Princess offering the line's small ship experience on an extended 14-day Connoisseur voyage to some of the state's less-visited ports. br /Princess is currently offering a a href="http://www.cruisedirectonline.com/alaska_cruise_tours_princess_deals.htm"Denali On Sale/a promotion for a limited-time, featuring savings of up to 50 percent on select Alaska vacations.div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9902695-6000342278923219164?l=cruisenews.blogspot.com' alt='' //divNorwegian Cruise Line Gives Solo Travelers a Reason to Cruise on Norwegian Epic
Norwegian Cruise Line Gives Solo Travelers a Reason to Cruise on Norwegian Epicbr /br /br /Innovative concept focuses on Studios specifically designed and priced for the solo traveler. Norwegian Epic's Studio staterooms are the first to be designed and priced for single occupancy.br /br /br /NEW YORK - January 13, 2010 - Continuing its history of innovation, Norwegian Cruise Line today announced a completely new concept to make cruising more attractive to solo travelers on the company's largest and most exciting Freestyle Cruising ship to date, Norwegian Epic, launching this July.nbsp; nbsp;Norwegian Epic's Studios are the first staterooms designed and priced for single occupancy, starting from $799 on the ship's seven-day alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. These specially designed and priced Studio staterooms available on all of Norwegian Epic's sailings - with no single supplement - go on sale Monday, January 18, 2010. br /br /div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C5EU8WrpACw/S1GfB_LQPaI/AAAAAAAAABE/vtfLSwwIxHQ/s1600-h/norwegian_epic_studio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C5EU8WrpACw/S1GfB_LQPaI/AAAAAAAAABE/vtfLSwwIxHQ/s320/norwegian_epic_studio.jpg" //abr //divbr /"Historically, the cruise industry has not embraced the large number of people who enjoy traveling solo," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's chief executive officer.nbsp; "We are breaking the mold of traditional cruising once again by offering a stateroom designed and priced specifically for solo travelers, making cruising a more attractive travel option. nbsp;We invite all solo travelers - whether they are first-time cruisers or cruising veterans -- to sail on our incredible new Freestyle Cruising ship, Norwegian Epic." br /br /The Studios on Norwegian Epic are a private key-card access complex on two decks consisting of 128 staterooms and the Studio Lounge.nbsp; This unique and thoughtfully designed concept provides comfort and convenience for the solo traveler.nbsp; Each Studio stateroom, at approximately 100 square feet of living space, features a contemporary design with a full-size bed and separate areas for the bathroom, sink and shower.nbsp; In addition, guests in the Studios have private access to the exclusive Studio Lounge.nbsp; Here, guests can grab a cup of coffee in the morning, meet up with fellow cruisers and plan their day or relax with a drink in the evening.nbsp; Since many of the Studio staterooms are connecting, there is also the opportunity for friends to travel together while giving each their own private space. br /br /div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C5EU8WrpACw/S1GfLpDEARI/AAAAAAAAABM/sbgDnO0yI3g/s1600-h/norwegian_epic_studio_lounge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C5EU8WrpACw/S1GfLpDEARI/AAAAAAAAABM/sbgDnO0yI3g/s320/norwegian_epic_studio_lounge.jpg" //abr //divbr /Norwegian Epicbr /br /World-class entertainment is Norwegian Epic's hallmark.nbsp; For the first time at sea, Blue Man Group will perform their exhilarating fusion of comedy, theatrics and paint, exclusively on Norwegian Epic.nbsp; In the only "big top" at sea, Cirque Dreams and Dinner will present a one-of-a-kind interactive theatrical dining experience with music, mayhem and acrobatic imagination.nbsp; Legends in Concert, the original and world's greatest live tribute show, will be featured for the first time at sea in more than a decade on Norwegian Epic, along with The Second City improvisational comedy and Howl at the Moon, the world's greatest rock 'n roll dueling piano show that encourages audience participation. br /br /In addition to world-class entertainment, the 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic incorporates many innovations including several new types of accommodations - the curved New Wave staterooms; the largest Villas suite complex at sea, comprising 60 suites and villas on two private decks at the top of the ship; and spa and family-friendly accommodations.nbsp; The ship also boasts unique nightlife options with the first Ice Bar at sea and Spice H20 with non-stop entertainment day and night; an expansive Aqua Park with the only tube slide and largest bowl slide at sea -- The Epic Plunge; seven decks of Freestyle Family Fun with highlights including a 33-foot high, 64-foot wide extreme rock climbing wall and the first ever rappelling wall at sea; the most bowling lanes at sea with six in two venues; a mixed-use sports deck with the ability for guests to engage in eight different athletic activities; as well as three separate kids' and teen activity areas.nbsp; In addition, Norwegian Epic will offer the next generation of Freestyle Dining with 20 dining choices and 20 bars and lounges.br /br /About Norwegian Cruise Linebr /br /Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a 43-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising which has revolutionized the industry by allowing guests more freedom and flexibility.br /br /Today, Norwegian has the youngest fleet in the industry with 10 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed cruise vacation on the newest, most contemporary ships at sea. br /br /Norwegian is presently building Norwegian Epic, the company's largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship to date, for delivery in summer 2010.nbsp; Norwegian Cruise Line is the official cruise line of Blue Man Group, debuting for the first time at sea on Norwegian Epic.br /br /For more information on Norwegian Epic as well as to book a cruise on Norwegian Epic to the Eastern or Western Caribbean, call Cruise Direct Online at 800.365.1445, or visit a href="http://www.cruisedirectonline.com/travel/deals/destinations/cruises/norwegian-cruise-line.htm"Cruise Direct Online/adiv class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9902695-9211397475214174841?l=cruisenews.blogspot.com' alt='' //divNickelodeon and Norwegian Cruise Line Partner to Deliver the Ultimate Family Experience with Nickelodeon at Sea Exclusively on Norwegian Cruise Line
Nickelodeon and Norwegian Cruise Line Partner to Deliver the Ultimate Family Experience with Nickelodeon at Sea Exclusively on Norwegian Cruise Line br /Nickelodeon will be the featured family brand on Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Epic; Norwegian to Offer Annual Nickelodeon Specialty Cruise br /br /NEW YORK -Jan. 13, 2010- Norwegian Cruise Line today announced a new partnership with Nickelodeon in which select Norwegian ships will feature Nickelodeon-themed family entertainment and programming all year long. Beginning in April on Norwegian Jewel and this summer on Norwegian Epic, Nickelodeonand Norwegian experiences for the entire family will include: character meet and greets; interactive game shows; and more. The three-year partnership also includes select specialty Nickelodeon-themed cruises each year, featuring Nickelodeon TV stars, show premieres and continuous themed-entertainment on the ship.br /br /"Nickelodeon is an incredible family brand that is well-known to kids and parents of all ages," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian's chief executive officer. "Combining its worldwide appeal with our signature Freestyle Cruising will create the ultimate experience at sea for families. For any family considering a cruise vacation, there is no better value and experience than Nickelodeon at Sea on Norwegian Cruise Line."br /br /"At a time when families are seeking special travel experiences, we see an opportunity to build on the success of our previous Nickelodeon cruises to create a unique family cruise vacation experience with Norwegian Cruise Line," said Howard Smith, executive vice president, Nickelodeon Recreation. "By partnering with Norwegian, we are now able to offer families Nickelodeon entertainment and programming at sea all year long."br /br /Nickelodeon at Seawill launch on Norwegian Jewel when the ship begins sailing from New York in late April, and on Norwegian's latest addition to its fleet—Norwegian Epic--when she launches in July. Each cruise will feature live Nickelodeon-themed interactive shows, including: SlimeTime LIVE! with Nick's signature slime; Nick Live! Poolside entertainment; character breakfasts and meet and greets; Nick-themed dance parties; and more. Nickelodeon-themed elements will also be incorporated into Norwegian's Kids' Crew program. br /br /In addition to the year-round programming on Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Epic, special Nickelodeon-themed cruises will be offered annually where families can immerse themselves in everything Nickelodeon all day, every day. These unique cruises will include: special appearances by the Network's live talent; show premieres; more live game shows; even more opportunities to visit with kids' favorite Nick characters; and much more. The first of the Nickelodeon-themed specialty cruises is scheduled on Norwegian Jewel later this year. More details and an on sale date will be released soon. br /br /br /To book a cruise on Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Epic or any of Norwegian's ships, go to a href="http://www.familycruiseonline.com/"Family Cruises Online/a or call 800.365.1445 br /br /About Nickelodeonbr /br /Nickelodeon, now in its 30th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 15 consecutive years. br /About Norwegian Cruise Linebr /br /Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a 43-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising which has revolutionized the industry by allowing guests more freedom and flexibility.br /br /Today, Norwegian has the youngest fleet in the industry with 10 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed cruise vacation on the newest, most contemporary ships at sea.br /br /Norwegian is presently building Norwegian Epic, the company's largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship to date, for delivery in summer 2010. Norwegian Cruise Line is the official cruise line of Blue Man Group, debuting for the first time at sea on Norwegian Epic.br /br /About a href="http://www.familycruiseonline.com/"Family Cruises Online/abr /Family cruise vacation advice web sitenbsp;for a family going on a cruise and families who are planning on a cruise, family cruise vacation, or multigenerational family reunion. Features the Ultimate Family Cruise Guide: children's programs at sea, tips for cruising with kids, teenagers, grandchildren, toddlers and details on cruise line family discounts... Looking To Do a Family Reunion Cruise? FREE Family Reunion help.div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9902695-2420890963283266467?l=cruisenews.blogspot.com' alt='' //div20 Winning Secrets To Finding The Best Cruise Deals
20nbsp;Winning Secrets To Finding The Best Cruise Dealsbr /Forecast for 2010: Smooth Sailing br /br /We predict 2010 is going to be an amazing year for travel. We're so excited about all we have planned, we can't wait to get going.br /But, we're much more curious about how you are feeling about 2010? Do you agree that the economy is improving? Do you hope it will be a better year than 2009?nbsp; Will you take that vacation you postponed last year? br /br /Did you know that Approximately 85% of travel-related businesses reported a significant decline in visitors, passengers or income in 2009. Airlines, hotels, cruise lines, and others all were affected. However, while the media was reporting stories of doom, and gloom 15% of them reported an increase in business despite some having to lower prices to maintain occupancy levels and cash flow.br /br /We are proud to say that we were one of those who ended the year on top. In fact, 2009 was our best year yet. We did more business with more people than ever before. And, we recorded more revenue per guest than ever before. br /br /How come? br /We decided early on, that we were not going to just sit on the sidelines and watch the downturn on the economy effect our business. We knewnbsp;we had to do something to stem the tide. So we spent a lot of quality time with our guests, found out what it would take to get them to travel now, rather than postpone their vacation. Among other things, they told us they wanted more value for their money, but were not willing to cut corners on the quality or value of their vacation experience. If they were going to travel in this economy they wanted more than just a cheap vacation, they wanted a great vacation - cheap. So, on their behalf, we burned the midnight oil, researched and found some of the highest valued, best cruise deals around. Not for an ordinarynbsp;3 or 4 day cruise to the Bahamas, but some great deals full of enlightenment, enrichment and fun to Alaska, Europe, South America, Asia, Africa, the Mediterranean, the Baltics and elsewhere.br /br /Now, we're not bragging. We just want to tell you, that when you have a plan, you can find that great vacation to take your family on, despite what's going on in the economy.br /To make it work, we employed a simple but effective formula we call thenbsp;20 Winning Secrets to Finding The Best Cruise Deals. If you took a resort-style vacation, sailed on a cruise, went on a safari, or just drove across America, you know 2009 was a great year for travel deals. But finding them did not come by accident, or by just shopping around on the Internet. They came about simply, because you started 2009 with a plan and followed it. br /br /And we know that the travel deals for 2010 have to be better than good. So in addition to our all ready esablished offerings, we joined with the Travelocity Partner Network to bring our guests even better bargains, more selection and greater value. Cruise Direct Onlines' guests can now select from over 12,000 sailings for 2010-2011. Guests may choose from more than 80 ports of embarkation, including 24 close-to-home within driving distance of most residents of the US and Canada. Popular destinations include Alaska, Mexico, Europe, Bermuda, the Caribbean, The Far East, Africa, the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, Canada and South America. br /br /By the way, there's nothing special about us - anybody can do it...it just takes the ability to understand the marketplace and then implement a plan that results in a great vacation value for you and a decent income for us.br /If you decide to take a trip ( hopefully a cruise ), you will be contributing to our nation's speedy recovery and return to prosperity. For when you travel, jobs are created, income is derived and wealth is acquired. br /br /All without government help or intervention. br /All with great fun and fond memories.br /br /So what are you waiting for...br /To get started visit a href="http://www.cruisedirectonline.com/"http://www.cruisedirectonline.com//abr /br /20nbsp;Winning Secrets To Finding The Best Cruise Dealsbr /br /A bad economy makes for some very good deals: Super cruise deals, lowest prices in years. But don't book them directly with the cruise line. You can get "bonus" savings from many travel agents. Not only a better price, but some agents throw in shipboard credits, pre-paid gratuities and other incentives to get you to book. Shipboard credits, where available from the cruise line, are house credits that are placed on your stateroom's account for you to use during your cruise vacation. You can use the credit towards merchandise, lounges and in some, but not all cases, for Spa Treatments or Shore Excursions.br /br /Contact your credit card company. They may offer additional savings, shipboard credits or frequent flyer miles when you pay for your cruise in full with that credit card.br /Sign up for e-mail deal alerts that let you know where the great deals are. Some services will e-mail you when cruise fares drop for the cruise you want. br /br /Tip: After you've booked your cruise keep checking the prices. If the price drop, contact your travel agent, changes are they can you can save you more money.br /Cruise lines are offering deeper discounts earlier, with great deals rates for spring and some offer kids to sail for free. br /You can find deals priced at less than $45 per person per day including all your meals and most activities -- but watch out.. you will pay an "up charge" for specialty restaurants, bar drinks, spa treatments and shore excursions. br /Plan Ahead and Save Big. Get The Best Value for your Money.br /Raye amp; Marty Trencher's Savvy Cruise Tipsbr /br /1. Reserve Your Cruise Nowbr /At least 3 - 6 months prior to sailing. You get the best choice of locations and stateroom availability and the sooner you book, the better the discount.br /2. If You Can, Pay For It In Advancebr /Save as much as 15%. Some cruise lines give an extra discount if you pay in full at least six months in advance of your sailing date.br /3. Reserve Your Cruise At The Last Minutebr /Depending upon when you want to go, last minute bookings can save you money! Especially if you are not particular about what cabin and where on the ship you are staying.br /4. Cruise In The Off Seasonbr /Cruises are more expensive in high season, so if you can go some other time you will save even more. Alaska cruises are cheaper in May and September. Europe and Mediterranean cruises in September and October. Caribbean cruises in September, October and January.br /5. Do A Transatlantic, Transpacific Or Repositioning Cruisebr /Want to sail from Europe or the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, or from Alaska to Hawaii, or Mexico? You will cruise for about half the cost of the same number of days of a single destination cruise. You'll get more lazy days at sea and fewer port stops.br /6. Cruise On The Ship's Very First Journeybr /If you take an inaugural cruise on a new ship, you may save money, but don't expect everything to be ship shape.br /7. Go With A Groupbr /Groups that travel together save more. Go with or put together your own group from your church, club, work, school or plan a once in a lifetime a family reunion. And if you can get 15 or more people to go, you could go for free!br /8. Don't Care About The View... Why Not An Inside Stateroom?br /If you think of a stateroom as only a place for sleeping and dressing, and a view isn't necessary, you can save money with an inside stateroom.br /9. If Four's Not A Crowd, Put The Family In One Stateroombr /Third or fourth guests go at a substantial discount, and kids sometimes go free. If you take 4 adults, everyone shares in the savings. However, it can be very crowded. And just one bathroom!br /10. Reserve Without A Stateroom Assignmentbr /Even if the stateroom category that you want is sold out, you can reserve your place on the ship. The cruise line guarantees to provide you a stateroom in the category you want or one higher at the time they assign you a stateroom. However, you don't have a choice where it will be. You may save money and get a free upgrade if at the time they assign you a stateroom there are no more, in the category you reserved.br /11. Join The Clubbr /Cruise lines give a special discounts or free upgrades to past passengers. Carnival give you a break even you have sailed on Holland America, Windstar, Princess, Costa, or Cunard, as they own them all.br /12. Ask And You Shall Receivebr /Keep a close eye on weekly newspaper ads and newsletters for promotional specials. You may qualify for a two-for-one offer, kids free, or 50 percent off promotion. And, if you already have put a deposit down or paid for your cruise, do hesitate to ask for the lower fare if it applies to the stateroom type and category you reserved.br /13. On A Honeymoon? Or Celebrating A Special Occasion?br /Celebrating a honeymoon, anniversary or a family reunion on the cruise. On some ships you may qualify for an extra discount.br /14. Look For Added Valuebr /Some sailings offer free hotel nights before or after your cruise, sightseeing tours, or the cruise line will offer shipboard credits you can use in the shops.br /15. Free Upgradesbr /Some lines offer an upgrade in cabin category if you are a repeat passenger, on a honeymoon, celebrating an anniversary, or your friends or family reserved more staterooms.br /16. If You Like It So Much, Stay Onboard Another Week.br /If you arrange to stay on the ship for a second cruise, you could sail the second week at a discounted rate.br /17. Age Has It's Advantagesbr /Over 55? Some cruise lines have discounts for you. And, if a senior is traveling with other people in the stateroom that are under 55, the discount may apply to both fares.br /18. Airfare Prices Varybr /Sometimes the airfare offered by the cruise line is cheaper; sometimes not. Plan as far ahead as possible to get the lowest priced airline tickets. Comparison shop the ship's offer and what the airlines are offering.br /19. Consider A Pre Or Post Cruise Hotel Packagebr /Hotel stays can be arranged at the same time you book your cruise. As with airfares, compare the ship's price with what the hotel would charge you direct.br /20. Every Cruise Line And Cruise Ship Is Differentbr /The most important thing you can do is research all the ships and cruises that go to your chosen destination. Compare itineraries, accommodations, shipboard activities, shore tours and fares. By comparing, you will find a cruise that offers what you want at a price that fits your budget.. Be sure when you compare fares that you know whether taxes and port charges are included or not. br /br /More Things To Consider...br /A. Become Cyber Savvybr /Check online for the latest discounts and special offerings on ships and sailings. Visit the cruise line's own web sites and several travel agents online to get the best service and price. But remember, don't reserve a cruise just because of price.br /B. Choose The Cruise That Best Fits Your Needs And Desiresbr /So many people have bought the cheapest thing around, only to be disappointed once onboard. As you know by then it's too late to change your mind.div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9902695-3356961170923340027?l=cruisenews.blogspot.com' alt='' //divCruise Direct Online Issues Tips On How To Successfully Search For The Best Cruise Deals
span style="font-size: x-small;"span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"/span/span span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"strongJanuary 1, 2010/strong - Cruise Direct Online offers first-time cruisers and seasoned travelers who visit their web site, tips on how to optimize a cruise deal search using the right keywords. A list of over 200 cruise-related keywords are provided, so that visitors can narrow and focus their search, saving them time and hopefully some money in the process./spanbr /span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"Marty Trencher, Cruise Direct Online's Managing Director says "Finding a good deal on a cruise is why visitors go online. It's why they are willing to spend hours and hours browsing the web in search of the best cruise deals around. In this economy, more than ever, a cheap cruise deal can make the difference between enjoying a vacation at sea or just taking a "staycation"* at home. That's why we've come up with the best and fastest and easiest way for cruise travelers to search for great cruise deals. After all, who really wants to stay home!"/spanbr /span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"Visitors learn how to search for the best cruise deals using travel-related keywords. "How to" steps make the process faster, easier and more productive./spanbr /span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"The most popular cruise-related keywords that people search for are listed. Visitors learn that the keywords for a cruise deal search, or any other travel related search, should be as relevant as possible to what they are looking for. Keyword entry information is used to tune search results to ensure that the results meet their expectations as close as possible and to promote the most relevant content for their review. Good keywords are words and short phrases that describe best what visitors want./spanbr /span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"strongReady, Set, Sail./strong /spanbr /span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"Visitors to Cruise Direct Online can use a meta-search tool. This handy tool lets cruise travelers compare prices on cruise vacations across various online booking sites (such as Travelocity, Expedia, or Priceline) as well as traditional "brick and mortar " travel agencies like AAA, American Express, Thomas Cook and Travel Agents in and around their home town. The number of sites to peruse is only limited by how deep the visitors want to go down the list of possibilities./spanbr /span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"strongNever Throw Caution To the Wind./strong/spanbr /span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"Many people click on travel-related advertisements to find a deal. Cruise Direct Online warns consumers to always "beware" and check out a companies background before making any purchase online. You don't want to find yourself at the dock waiving at the ship "goodbye", because you thought you had a legitimate ticket, but instead got a worthless piece of paper from some internet scam./spanbr /span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"strongKnow amp; Go!/strong/spanbr /span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"Cruise Direct Online also features information and cruise tips from planning to packing, from discount rates to departure dates, everything you need to know before you go. Such as an a href="http://www.cruisedirectonline.com/packing.html"Ultimate Packing List/a. The definitive guide to what to pack on your next cruise. Visitors can read about exciting locales in Destinations Uncovered. They can check out the readers a href="http://www.cruisedirectonline.com/70bestcruiseships.htm"70 Best Cruise Ships/a or read about everyone's a href="http://www.cruisedirectonline.com/cruiseshipratings.htm"Favorite Cruise Line and Cruise Ship Ratings/a for taking the kids and teens, high adventure, or their best romantic cruises. All the tips and tricks to have a successful cruise vacation. /spanbr /span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"*strongStaycation/strong - A vacation in which the vacationer stays at home, or near home, while creating the environment of a traditional vacation. /spanspan style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"Find more about a Staycation from a href="http://blogs.consumerreports.org/money/2009/05/tips-for-the-best-staycation-ever.html"Consumer Reports/a. /spandiv class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9902695-6265855433283206337?l=cruisenews.blogspot.com' alt='' //divWhy you should always pay by credit card and insist on receiving the cruise line’s own reservation record number from your travel agent.
span style="font-size: x-small;"It happens just about every year. A Travel Agency suddenly closes its doors and leaves hundred's of travelers stranded from from home. Or, travelers find out that their long saved-for trip was never paid for by the agent to the cruise line. And those that paid by check or cash have had their dreams stolen as well as their money./span span style="font-size: x-small;"And, every year travel experts tell us we should always pay by credit card. Paying by credit card will make it easier for you to work with your credit card company for possible reversal of the charges, the money the agent stole from you. But, there is a fail-safe method to know that your money went directly to the cruise line and your long awaited vacation is protected and your funds are safe./spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"Here are the 5 steps to protecting your hard earned investment./spanbr /br /div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C5EU8WrpACw/SzYwjTaxMKI/AAAAAAAAAA8/3uiv8yptvB4/s1600-h/ccards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C5EU8WrpACw/SzYwjTaxMKI/AAAAAAAAAA8/3uiv8yptvB4/s320/ccards.jpg" //abr //divdiv style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"span style="font-size: x-small;"1. Always pay by credit card. Never pay by cash or check. Make sure that the Cruise Line is the merchant of record for your charges and not the Travel Agent. Contact your credit card company and check it out. If the Travel Agent charged your credit card to his own account, the cruise line was not paid. Most Travel Agents pass on your credit card information to the cruise line who actually processes the transaction. The bill from your credit card company at the end of the month should show that the cruise line was the merchant of record for the charge. /spanspan style="font-size: x-small;"br //spanspan style="font-size: x-small;"2. At the time you place a deposit, facilitated by your Travel Agent to the cruise line, insist on the receiving the official cruise line reservation number. You will need it, to contact the Cruise Line about your reservation./spanspan style="font-size: x-small;"br //spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"3. Do not accept the Travel Agent's Invoice number or their receipt as proof that your money went directly to the cruise line. Their internal paperwork is meaningless without the cruise lines own reservation number and your records, securely in their files./spanspan style="font-size: x-small;"br //spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"4. Contact the cruise line by calling them or going online to their web site to verify your reservation is "on the books". Most cruise lines today make your reservation record available online 24/7 at their web site. At their site, you can see all the aspects of your upcoming cruise.nbsp;even print your Travel Summary and Boarding Pass! All you have to do is enter your name and official booking number and your records should be there. If they are not contact the Cruise Line immediately./spanspan style="font-size: x-small;"br //spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"5. At the time you place your final payment, some 60-75 days prior to sailing, check again online with your cruise line. Cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Azamara, NCL, Princess, Holland America and others require that you pre-register for Homeland Security and they let you print your travel documents and boarding pass online at their official web site. Their is no need these days to wait for your Travel Agent to deliver your travel documents a couple of weeks prior to sailing. Two weeks before sailing is certainly not the time to find out that your not going on a cruise./spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"If your Travel Agent goes out of business you should check with the cruise line only to learn if your Travel Agent had paid them. If not, and you paid by credit card you should contact your credit card company immediately. You should dispute the charge and depending upon your credit card company policy, you may get a temporary reprieve from payment, while the credit card company investigates. You will have to provide them with a written explanation and appropriate documentation to substantiate your claim. It could take a few weeks for the investigation and a couple of months to get your money back, so be patient. /spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"Often, the Travel Agent that goes out of business is underfunded, works on very low margins, or may offer too-good-to-be-true discounts. Consumers are attracted these days, to the best deals they can find, often using the internet to find them. Most do not know enough about the company they are doing business with. As a consequence, they take a huge risk. Risk that could be avoided if they follow the very simple steps recommended here. /spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"Remember, when a deal seems too good to be true, you should know, it is! /spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"As recent as December of 2009, an agent left hundreds of vacationers up in the air and lost at sea!/spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"/spanspan style="font-size: x-small;"br /span style="font-size: x-small;"Despite the failures of a few, there are thousands of successful Travel Agents across America. /spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"Any legitimate Travel Agent will provide you with whatever documentation you want, that proves where and when your money went. /spanbr /br /span style="font-size: x-small;"With that information in hand, all you have to do is just, pack and go./spanbr //spanspan style="font-size: x-small;"/spanbr //divdiv class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9902695-6308035968005354471?l=cruisenews.blogspot.com' alt='' //divHolland America Line Offers View Verandah Sale With up to 45% Savings On Ocean-View Verandah Staterooms
span style="font-size: x-small;"Holland America Line Offers Their View amp; Verandah Sale With up to 45% Savings On Ocean-View amp; Verandah Stateroomsnbsp; for 2010/spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"/spanbr /br /span style="font-size: x-small;"Holland America Line has announced its annual View and Verandah Sale that they say features extraordinary fares on ocean-view and verandah staterooms for hundreds of departures for 2010. Cruisers can enjoynbsp;price reductionsnbsp;of up to 45 percent off ocean-view and verandah accommodations./spanbr /br /span style="font-size: x-small;""Cruising provides the best vacation value today," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest relations. "Holland America Line already stands out for providing a premium vacation and now is the best time to book with these great cruise fares."/spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"nbsp;/spanspan style="font-size: x-small;"Cruisers also enjoy reduced deposits, third and fourth guest savings, and 25 percent savings on select hotels for pre- or post-cruise stays. Fares for the View and Verandah Sale start at $499 for 7-day Alaska cruises, $599 for 7-day Caribbean sailings, and $1,199 for 12-day Europe and Panama Canal voyages./spanbr /br /span style="font-size: x-small;"Holland America Line Sails to All Seven Continents /spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"br //spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"Holland America Line's fleet of 14 ships offers nearly 500 cruises to 320 ports in more than 100 countries. Two- to 108-day itineraries visit all seven continents and highlights include Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages, a Grand World Voyage, and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal. A 15th ship, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, is scheduled to join the fleet on July 4, 2010./spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"/spanspan style="font-size: x-small;"br //spanspan style="font-size: x-small;"The fleet features more than $525 million in Signature of Excellence enhancements that showcase new staterooms and public areas on Statendam- and Rotterdam-class ships. Highlights also include the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food amp; Wine magazine -- a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and classes -- Explorations Cafe powered by The New York Times, teens-only activity areas and all new stateroom amenities of flat-panel televisions and plush Euro-top Mariner's Dream Beds./spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"br //spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"br //spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"br //spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"br //spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"br //spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"For more information on Holland America Line's View and Verandah Sale promotion, consult this professional travel agent: Cruise DIrect Online. Call them at 800.365.1445 or visit their View and Verandah Information page at www.cruisedirectonline.com/hollandamericacruisesonline.htm/spanbr /br /span style="font-size: x-small;"World's Leading Cruise Lines /spanspan style="font-size: x-small;"br //spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"br //spanbr /span style="font-size: x-small;"The highest-rated premium cruise line in the world, Holland America Line is a member of the exclusive World's Leading Cruise Lines alliance, which also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Costa Cruises. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, these lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. The World's Leading Cruise Lines offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations./spandiv class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9902695-2463415268990727400?l=cruisenews.blogspot.com' alt='' //divNorwegian Cruise Line Celebrates 10 Years Of Freestyle Cruising; Declares 2010 “The Year Of The Freestyle Vacation”
Norwegian Cruise Line Celebrates 10 Years Of Freestyle Cruising; Declares 2010 "The Year Of The Freestyle Vacation"Three-month promotion features upgrades, up to $400 in on-board savings and targeted offers to select destinations
Norwegian Cruise Line is ringing in the New Year three weeks early with a bevy of promotions marking 2010 as "The Year of the Freestyle Vacation." All new reservations from today through March 14, 2010 on any of the line's 10 Freestyle Cruising ships will receive up to a six-category upgrade and on-board savings certificates of up to $400. In addition, bi-weekly promotions will feature special offers on select ships and destinations. The first offer from January 4-17, 2010 includes reduced deposits and kids from $249 for bookings on Norwegian Epic's seven-day cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.
"It has been ten years since Norwegian first introduced its innovative Freestyle Cruising, so it is fitting that we celebrate 2010 as 'The Year of the Freestyle Vacation' as we move to introduce the next phase of Freestyle Cruising with the launch of Norwegian Epic in the summer of 2010," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian's chief executive officer.
About Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is an innovator in cruise travel with a 43-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising which has revolutionized the industry by allowing guests more freedom and flexibility.
Today, Norwegian has the youngest fleet in the industry with 10 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed cruise vacation on the newest, most contemporary ships at sea.
NCL is presently building Norwegian Epic, the company's largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship to date, for delivery in summer 2010. Norwegian Cruise Line is the official cruise line of Blue Man Group, debuting for the first time at sea on Norwegian Epic.
Consumers can find more information and sales promotions about 'The Year of the Freestyle Vacation' at www.cruisedirectonline.com
