My Cruise Bucket List

/0 Comments/in /by

349370786_c9202dd19aCelebrity Solstice - First Arrival Port Everglades 11/03/2008

Jason and I started our “Bucket List” tradition a couple of years ago.  We visit this list annually on Valentines Day.  It’s been a great way of sharing our dreams and fun to check them off our list as we accomplish them.  One major wish on my bucket list is to sail all of the contemporary and premium lines.  So far we have sailed Carnival, Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise lines.  In deciding where we will cruise next year, we took into consideration the lines we have still yet to sail.  We booked our next Caribbean voyage on Princess.   Aruba, here we come!  We are looking forward to sampling the rest of the lines and I’m most looking forward to the new ships of Celebrity.  The Solstice class ships are really unbelievable.   After touring and having lunch on the Solstice a couple of years ago, I have been anxiously awaiting our chance to sail on her or her sister ships.  They have many themed sailings next year, mostly for foodies and wine lovers.  Fun!!    Can’t wait to check this one off my bucket list!

Happy Sailing! 🙂

World’s Largest Cruise Night, 2010

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

virtual-wlcn-logo-72dpi

The single biggest cruise promotion of the year is almost here. Sponsored by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA,) the date to save on your calendar is October 13, 2010.

On this day, you will find savings and special offers from just about every cruise line in the industry. Offers may include reduced deposits, ship board credits or dollars off. It’s a great time for consumers to book to take advantage of the savings. Keep in mind in most cases your cruise deposit is refundable, so you risk nothing in locking in the prices.

Here’s a sampling of special offers and incentives cruise lines have already announced.

  • Carnival Cruise Line  is offering upgrades on virtually all departures through December 2011.  To sweeten the deal, Carnival will offer not only best available upgrades, but up to a $200 onboard credit per stateroom for all Carnival Magic Europe voyages booked on October 13.  The WLCN best available upgrade offer applies to new individual bookings. The Carnival Magic Europe offer includes best available upgrades and a $100 onboard credit per stateroom for seven-day Europe sailings and a $200 onboard credit per stateroom for nine- and 12-day sailings.
  • Celebrity Cruises will have a 3 sale (Oct 13-16th,) for cruises sailing April through December 2011.  For new bookings receive – onboard credits of $50 per stateroom for oceanview accommodations; $100 per stateroom for veranda accommodations; and $150 per stateroom forAquaClass (only on Solstice-class ships), suites, and Concierge Class.
  • Norwegian Cruise Line is offering: up to 4 category upgrade plus reduced deposit plus up to $250 onboard credit per stateroom.
  • Disney Cruise Line is offering $100 onboard credit for 14-night transatlantic cruise sailings May 14, 2011 and Sept. 10, 2011,  $75 onboard credit for 7-night, 10-night and 11-night Mediterranean cruises sailing May 28 through Sept. 3, 2011 and a $50 onboard credit for 7-night Mexican Riviera cruises sailing Sept. 25 through Dec. 11, 2011.
  • Royal Caribbean International is presenting a two-part offer to travel agents for World’s Largest Cruise Night on Oct. 13. New bookings in ocean-view or higher category staterooms on select sailings made between Oct. 11 and Oct. 15 get an onboard credit of $25 per stateroom for three- to five-night sailings, $50 onboard credit per stateroom for six- to nine-night sailings, and $100 for 10 nights or longer. In addition, Royal Caribbean is offering two extra Groups Amenities Plus (GAP) points on new group bookings to redeem for additional onboard incentives, such as complimentary welcoming bottle of wine and other additional value items.

If you are thinking of cruising, now is the time to book with all of these special promotions going on.  I’d be happy to help you plan your dream cruise vacation!

Happy Sailing!!  🙂

Pre-Cruise Entertainment Reservations

/0 Comments/in , /by

OasisAeriaL440index

Wow!  I can now officially say that my husband and I are celebrating his 40th birthday with both his parents AND my parents aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, yeah!!!  We are very excited and look forward to sharing this big event with our family.  One of the cool features of this new ship is that it allows you to select the shows you want to see ahead of time.  This is due impart to such a large number of guests sailing that there wouldn’t be room for everyone at every performance so reservations are now suggested for the shows.  It doesn’t cost more, just reserves a space for you at that particular showing.  They have some very exciting options for live entertainment.  We will see the eight time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical “Hairspray” as a matinee on one of our days at sea.  Another evening we will see “Frozen in Time” the spectacular ice skating show performed by The Oasis of the Seas International Ice Cast, which features top-rated figure skaters from around the world. On another night we will see “Come Fly With Me”, a visually stunning show that combines the unique aerial, dance, gymnastic and vocal talents of Royal Caribbean’s amazing cast.  On another evening we will be wowed by the performance of “Oasis of Dreams” at the Aqua Theatre featuring Olympic and NCAA champion athletes from around the world, including divers, synchronized swimmers and gymnasts.  This vacation promises to be full of fabulous entertainment.  We’ve been awed before by Royal Caribbean and look forward to all this voyage has to offer.  Can’t wait for our adventure to begin!  Happy Sailing!  🙂

Hurricane Season

/0 Comments/in /by

hurricane-earl-9-2-amjpg-5e2486698abf6ec5

There are a lot of good deals to be had for cruise vacations in September.  There is a reason for that.  Hurricane season is June 1st through November 30th.  September has historically been the most active month for hurricanes coming in from the Atlantic Ocean.  This season is shaping up to be no different.  This past week we have seen hurricane Earl wreak havoc on cruise ship itineraries.  A lot of changes were made to many voyages.  Some went even so far as to change their entire route from the Eastern Caribbean to the Western Caribbean.  That’s something to remember when selecting your cruise vacation. You may get a great deal, but just remember to be flexible in case a hurricane ends up in the path of your chosen voyage.   Buying trip insurance is always a great idea, but in this case, it is up to the discretion of the cruise line to make decisions based on what will keep passengers safe and insurance will not cover changes in itineraries.   I have a co-worker that  actually missed one port and was kept out at sea on her ship for two extra days in 2003 because the port of Miami was closed.  Guess there are worse things than being stranded on a cruise ship safely away from a hurricane :)  Happy Sailing!