Whale Watching in Hawaii
Whale-oha! Sharks and dolphins aren’t the only underwater encounters you can have in Hawaii By Ginger Dingus “We’ve got whales!” I’m tucking into my bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy when breakfast is suddenly interrupted by a shout over the PA. It’s immediately followed by a loud splash.
Cruising 2013: A Year in Review
Just as in years past, 2013 brought some great innovations and unique enhancements to the cruise experience. Here’s a look at some of the highlights. The 4,000-passenger, New York–based Norwegian Breakaway made waves with its Big Apple–inspired décor and a first-of-its-kind expansive water
2014 Cruise Trends
As cruise executives let their creative juices flow in terms of finding ways to enhance their product, it brings impressive new cruise ships and a number of innovations. Here are our predictions on what 2014 will bring. River cruises will continue to be a hot vacation choice. In fact, some two doze
Look for a Wave of Deals
As cruise lines look to kick-start the new year by getting plenty of reservations on the books, the “Wave Season” deals are rolling in. Look for opportunities to save on cruise fares booked between January and March, the largest booking period for cruises, thanks to the annual sales event. The o
We Love January Cruising
January is a bit of a perfect storm when it comes to Caribbean cruise bargains. You can expect great weather, yet it’s a traditionally slower period for cruising – with some people still recovering from the rush of the holidays. Fares for 7-day Caribbean sailings start at under $500 if you
Downton Abbey Is Back. Book River Cruises Now.
Vidéo de découverte “Bordeaux River Cruise” from Antoine Favre on Vimeo. The most successful river cruise promotion by far has been Viking Cruises’ national sponsorship of PBS’ Masterpiece, featuring Downton Abbey. The problem is, if you want to book a river cruise on a popu
Grammys, Award-Winning Musicians, and . . . Cruising?
Something is new in the fresh sea breeze and it has to do with the Grammy Awards. You know, as in award-winning musicians. And both Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Lines are name-dropping. A while back, Norwegian announced that the new, Miami-centric Norwegian Getaway – which was offic
Norwegian Epic Heading to Europe Full-Time
With a bunch of innovative features including a complex of cabins for solo travelers and Blue Man Group performing on board, Norwegian Epic made a big splash when it debuted in 2010. Spending the summers in Europe and winters in Miami, the innovative, 4,100-passenger Freestyle ship has since re
Carnival Shores Up Shore Ex with Guarantee
Looking to increase shore excursion bookings (particularly by first-time cruisers) – and to compete with third-party operators who sell tours at ports – Carnival Cruise Lines has launched an industry-first shore excursion best-price guarantee. It works this way: If you book a shore excursion t
2014 Brings New Ships, Exotic Destinations, says CLIA
The 2014 State of the Cruise Industry forecast from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) predicts a good year for cruising, of course, but there are some also some juicy tidbits in the report. CLIA’s 63 member lines are expecting 21.7 million passengers this year. That’s up
Star Pride to Debut with ‘Stem-to-Stern’ Design Changes
One of the most anticipated ship redos this year is the transformation of Seabourn Pride into Windstar Cruises’ Star Pride. Operator of three upscale sailing ships, Windstar bought the 212-passenger motorized yacht, along with sister ships Seabourn Spirit and Seabourn Legend, last year.
That’s Entertainment! Aboard MSC Divina
Entertainment Aboard MSC Divina from MSC CRUISES on Vimeo. This week I’m cruising aboard MSC Divina, the newest ship to sail year-round cruises out of Miami. The big attraction of the 3,600-passenger, 1-year-old MSC Divina is that it’s not your typical American-style cruise ship. It
Carnival Launches Name-Brand Concerts – For a Fee
Jennifer Hudson, Lady Antebellum, Daughtry, and even such classic rock groups as Foreigner and Chicago, will soon be performing live on Carnival Cruise Lines ships, as part of a first-of-its-kind shipboard concert series. For a fee, passengers will be able to see the popular acts perform in the
What’s New in Luxury Travel: Free Wi-Fi, Bigger Ships
As top luxury lines make tweaks and plan for the future, some interesting trends are emerging. Free Wi-Fi All-inclusive line Crystal Cruises recently announced that members of its Crystal Society (repeat guests) would get the perk of 60 minutes of complimentary Wi-Fi each day of their cruise, begi
Book Now and Save
A Norwegian Deal Norwegian’s “Spectacular Bonus Days” promotion, now through February 12, brings upgrades and other savings on Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Breakaway, and Norwegian Epic. Norwegian Getaway officially debuts next month on year-round cruises from Miami, but this w
Carnival Ships on the Move
Much to the delight of local officials, Carnival Cruise Lines has announced a return of its ships to Baltimore, Maryland, and Norfolk, Virginia, in 2015. The line had earlier said it would drop the ports, due in part to increased costs of operating under new federal emissions standards. Carnival
New French Ship Le Lyrial to Debut Larger Suites
Oo, la, la! Fast-growing French cruise line Compagnie Du Ponant has revealed some details about its newest ship, the fourth in its Boreal class. The ship will be named Le Lyrial, in tribute to the Lyra constellation. Bragging rights will include roomier suites than on its sister ships. Set to de
Top Chef at Sea
I am an unabashed fan of Bravo TV’s Top Chef – so much so that I once more or less stalked show judge (and noted chef) Tom Colicchio at a casino opening. So I think Celebrity Cruises is really smart for its new partnership “Top Chef at Sea.” You’ll remember last year Ce
Norwegian Getaway in Miami
Yes, that’s a giant mermaid brightening the Miami waterfront. Fresh from a starring role at the Super Bowl (as a floating Bud Light hotel), Norwegian Getaway has arrived at PortMiami, mermaid design – created by Miami artist LEBO– and all. A flashy debut for the Miami-centric ship –
Royal Caribbean Goes Even-Higher-Tech with Virtual Balconies
Passengers in inside staterooms aboard Navigator of the Seas cruising from Galveston, Texas, have something new to crow about – virtual balcony views courtesy of high-tech wizardry. On the recently revamped ship, the first of five Voyager-class ships scheduled for rehab, Royal Caribbean Internat
