mercedes

How good are the cruise deals this summer? Some people in the industry, like Norwegian Cruise Lines CEO Kevin Sheehan, say prices are “ridiculously low”. We asked some travel agents to send us some examples of what they thought were the top summer deals this year. And some of the prices they are advertising would seem too good to be true in any other economy. Especially in Alaska and Europe, where until this year, demand was so high cruise lines were able to get their best premiums. Now, it’s where consumers can find some of the best deals. CruiseOne is offering a seven-night Holland American Line cruise from Seward, Alaska starting at $349. America's Vacation Center (AVC) is advertising seven-night Alaska cruises starting at $399 on both Holland and Princess Cruises, and a seven-night Celebrity cruise out of Seward on June 5 that starts at $449 - with a free coupon book for onboard spending. Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean’s senior vice president of sales, said Royal’s seven-night Alaska cruise on the Radiance of the Seas, starting at $499 in July, would cost “more than double” a year ago. Also this summer, the airfare to Europe could set you back more than seven days at sea. For $599, AVC has a seven-night cruise out of Barcelona on Norwegian Gem’s August 30th departure. Brad Tolkin, president of CruiseOne and Cruises Inc., said that the deals get better the higher you go. “The discounts on the premium and luxury lines is double on a percentage basis than what it is on the mega ships,” he said. For example, CruiseOne is offering a twelve-night Scandinavia/Russia cruise from $1,499 on Azamara Cruises in July.

Hey frednsb, Welcome aboard!! It's great to see you. We're all looking to meet new friends, so please stop by our General Discussion forum and introduce yourself. We'd love to hear from you and get to know you. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. Once again, welcome aboard!! =)

Kevin, maybe on the next one .

Norwegian Cruise Line today unveiled the contemporary hull design which will adorn Norwegian Epic, the company's largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship to date, scheduled for delivery in May 2010. In addition, the company will begin taking reservations for Norwegian Epic's 2010/2011 inaugural season on Thursday, May 21, 2009, with a special preview day for Norwegian's past guests (Latitudes members) on Wednesday, May 20, 2009. Norwegian Epic's hull artwork, designed by the company's internal marketing team, is painted on both sides with free form rolling waves of varying sizes that run through a modern color spectrum of lime, aqua, red, and purple and are dotted by silver circles. Norwegian Epic's hull design is a departure from the rest of the line's signature hull artwork which typically is inspired by the ship's name or the destination the ship sails from. Instead, the hull artwork on Norwegian Epic takes on the characteristics of the ship's interior features – a sophisticated, modern and sleek design and color palette that is seen in everything from the innovative curved design of the New Wave staterooms to the more contemporary design of the ship's public areas. "A Norwegian Cruise Line ship is instantly recognizable with its distinctive hull art that conveys each ship's personality and the freedom and flexibility that is found on board," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's chief executive officer. "With Norwegian Epic, we are taking Freestyle Cruising to the next level, so it is fitting that her hull artwork conveys more of the modern, sleek design guests will find once they are on board the ship." The 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic incorporates many innovations including several new types of staterooms – the curved New Wave staterooms; the biggest ship-within-a-ship suite complex at sea, comprising 60 suites and villas on two private decks at the top of the ship; a new category of inside staterooms for the budget-conscious traveler – The Studios; and spa and family-friendly accommodations. The ship also boasts unique nightlife options with the first Ice Bar at sea; 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 and the first squash court at sea. In addition, Norwegian Epic will offer the next generation of Freestyle Dining with 14 restaurant choices – the most at sea – and 18 bars and lounges. Norwegian Epic is scheduled to sail year-round to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Miami, beginning in summer 2010. The ship's Western Caribbean itinerary includes calls in Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico. Norwegian Epic's Eastern Caribbean itinerary includes calls in Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas. These cruises go on sale to the public on May 21, 2009.

Carnival Cruise Lines will resume visits to Mexican ports of call based on the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, which is no longer recommending against non-essential travel to Mexico. Once all voyages with previously modified itineraries are completed, those vessels will revert to their original routes featuring stops in Mexico. Most itineraries were modified through mid-June with the exception of the Holiday which was modified through late May. A ship-by-ship listing including dates for when each Carnival Cruise Lines' vessel will resume its original itinerary is available here. "We are very pleased to resume our previous itineraries to Mexico, one of the cruise industry's most popular destinations, and we thank those guests who were impacted by the modified schedules in recent weeks for their understanding and patience," said Gerry Cahill, president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines. Cahill added, "The health and well being of our guests and crew is our highest priority and we are returning to Mexico after careful evaluation and consultation with the CDC. It is important to note that the concentration of H1N1 flu cases in Mexico has been inland rather than in the coastal resort areas where our ships visit." Cahill also noted that the cruise industry works closely with U.S. public health officials in the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program in developing and complying with extensive policies and procedures that are effective in mitigating illness aboard cruise ships. Carnival will continue to follow CDC guidelines for cruise ships which include pre-boarding health questionnaires for all guests and crew, along with secondary screening by shipboard medical professionals as necessary. Additionally, all Carnival ships stock influenza test kits and anti-viral medications for treating type A influenzas. "Mexico has so many wonderful sites and attractions and feedback from our customers suggests that the majority support a resumption of port calls in Mexico. We know that they and our port destination partners are very much looking forward to our return," he added.

Last Friday, at approximately 9 a.m., Carnival Cruise Lines' 2,052-passenger cruise ship, Carnival Imagination, rescued three boaters whose vessel capsized approximately 14 miles north of the sea buoy near Miami in Biscayne Bay. Carnival Imagination was en route to its homeport of Miami when officers on the ship's bridge saw the capsized vessel. Captain Candeloro Donato immediately initiated rescue operations, positioning the vessel toward the capsized boat and lowering one of the Carnival Imagination's rescue boats. The U.S. Coast Guard was notified, as well. The three boaters were safely brought onto the Carnival Imagination's rescue boat as it stood by under instructions from the U.S. Coast Guard, which dispatched a 33-foot Special Purpose Craft to take them to Miami. The 70,000-ton Carnival Imagination operates year-round three- and four-day cruises from Miami.

Hey curl130, Welcome aboard!! It's great to see you. We're all looking to meet new friends, so please stop by our General Discussion forum and introduce yourself. We'd love to hear from you and get to know you. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. Once again, welcome aboard!! =)

If you have about a year, and almost a quarter-million dollars, Cruise West is offering what might be the longest cruise since Ferdinand Magellan set off in 1519 to circle the globe. That’s because this cruise actually attempts to follow in Magellan’s footsteps, as well as Marco Polo’s, Leif Erickson’s, and Christopher Columbus’, among others. Cruise West revealed today a 335-day circumnavigation of the world, departing Singapore March 6, 2010, that will attempt to follow some the routes taken by famous ocean explorers. Called the Voyage of the Great Explorers, the cruise sets out on the 120-passenger Spirit of Oceanus, the largest vessel in the small-ship cruise line's fleet. The Spirit of Oceanus will sail westward, Cruise West said, and will return Singapore on February 3, 2011, after visiting 242 ports in 59 countries, crossing 14 seas and oceans, and transiting three canals. Passengers won’t need a year of vacation time, or $233,995, to enjoy a taste of the trip. Twenty-four individual segments are for sale, ranging from 9-18 days each. How does this cruise compare to the many world cruises on the market? “This is indeed the only circumnavigation of the globe by any cruise line, large or small,” said Richard Genovese, Cruise West’s chief marketing officer. “Most world cruises are 120 days at best and take you only halfway around. Cruise West will be unique with this groundbreaking idea in the fact that we take you from Singapore to Singapore in 335 days and to ports that the big ships simply cannot reach.” So what will passengers do while onboard the small ship for almost one year? Cruise West said that it would have guest lecturers and would bring on local experts to talk about and understand the routes of Marco Polo in the Far East, Leif Erickson in Northern Europe, Odysseus in Greece, James Cook in the South Pacific.

Hey Bobmartha, Welcome aboard!! It's great to see you. We're all looking to meet new friends, so please stop by our General Discussion forum and introduce yourself. We'd love to hear from you and get to know you. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. Once again, welcome aboard!! =)

James and Donna, have a safe and enjoyable cruise. I was on the Freedom last June and had a great time.

Hey bobby, Welcome aboard!! It's great to see you. We're all looking to meet new friends, so please stop by our General Discussion forum and introduce yourself. We'd love to hear from you and get to know you. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. Once again, welcome aboard!! =)

The Mariner of the Seas' itinerary switch from Mexico to the Pacific Northwest has been such a big hit, Royal Caribbean might put it on the books in 2010. Royal Caribbean changed the ship’s itinerary earlier this month, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Mexico travel warning due to the H1N1 flu outbreak. The ship’s new route goes north from its Los Angeles base, visiting Seattle and Victoria, B.C., and either San Francisco or Astoria, Ore. Royal Caribbean said it is considering alternating the Pacific Northwest itinerary with its traditional three-port Mexican Riviera cruise next summer. "The response we are receiving is terrific," Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean's senior vice president of sales and marketing, said in a letter to travel agents about the new itinerary. "In fact, many of our guest comment cards have suggested we consider adding this itinerary to Mariner's schedule throughout the peak summer months -- alternating between the Mexican Riviera and these Pacific coastal ports."

mjvogel1958, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

Mein Schiff (My Ship), the first ship in the new TUI Cruises fleet, was named today in Hamburg, Germany, in a celebration that marked a significant step for the joint venture between Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and TUI AG. The new brand is designed to serve the German cruise market, where some 906,000 Germans took cruises in 2008, and where that number is forecast to increase by 11 percent in 2009. Following a short inaugural cruise, Mein Schiff will sail in the Baltic for the 2009 summer season (May through October). It will offer two- to 14-night sailings from ports such as Kiel and Hamburg, Germany, and Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The ship then will reposition to the Caribbean for winter (November 2009 through April 2010), home-porting in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. During 2010 and 2011, Mein Schiff also will sail itineraries in the Nordic Seas, reaching the far coasts of the Faroe Islands and Iceland, as well as the eastern and western Mediterranean, passing through the Strait of Gibraltar to visit the Canary Islands and Morocco. "We are honoured to welcome Mein Schiff as a new benchmark in the European cruise market," said Michael Bayley, senior vice president, International, for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "The launching of TUI Cruises' first ship is a significant milestone in the relationship between Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and TUI AG. We have an outstanding partnership in TUI Cruises, which will provide extraordinary holidays for its German guests. We look forward to helping the new brand grow and prosper." "The naming of our first ship and her first sailing for us are significant achievements for our new brand," said Richard J. Vogel, chief executive officer of TUI Cruises. "This is a great day in the history of German cruising, and it highlights our outstanding partnership with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Together, we've done an excellent job rejuvenating Mein Schiff in just 38 days, and the results are stunning. We look forward to providing an entirely new level of service and enjoyment to our guests." The 1,914-guest Mein Schiff was formerly Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Galaxy. The ship left the Celebrity fleet on March 16, 2009, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her transformation began during her crossing from the Caribbean to Europe and was completed in 38 days. The ship is now tailored to German guests, their tastes in food, entertainment and amenities, and it will provide a contemporary/premium cruise experience. "TUI Cruises is another strategic step in our efforts to meet the growing international demand for cruising," said Bayley. "It will provide more options to German cruisers and assist in growing that market. In 2009, our five wholly owned brands will have an unprecedented 22 ships deployed in Europe. When combined with TUI Cruises, this provides more choices than ever before to the European cruise market." A national naming contest attracted over 30,000 suggestions for the name of TUI Cruises' new ship. Mein Schiff (or My Ship, in English) was the overwhelming winner. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and TUI AG announced their intentions to form TUI Cruises on December 10, 2007. Each company holds a 50 percent interest in the joint venture.

Celebrity Cruises announced this week that it is rolling out a series of new design schemes on Celebrity Millennium during a $10-million refresh this year, beginning during its scheduled drydock period this week. Consistently ranked among the top 10 large ships in the world since its launch in 2000 – and so beloved by cruise enthusiasts that she's been affectionately dubbed "Millie" in social networking venues – Celebrity Millennium will emerge May 22 from a 12-day drydock in Victoria, B.C., with new carpeting throughout the entire ship, and new upholstery embellishing every stylish stateroom, the Lido deck, the Celebrity Theatre, and the dramatic, sweeping main dining room. All marble and stone floors and counter areas will be renewed with a gleaming finish, and all wood hand rails on the ship's verandas and pool deck areas will be newly varnished. Celebrity Millennium's sun worshipers are likely to take notice of the work completed in exterior areas, too, as new bolidt – an alternative to traditional teak decking – is being installed across the pool deck, outdoor stage, dance floor and jogging track. Every suite will be equipped with 32-inch LED flat-panel TVs, while every plush ConciergeClass stateroom will boast 26-inch versions of the high-tech product. Additionally, new drapes, bed skirts and bed throws in warm, natural hues will further enhance every suite and stateroom. By October of this year, new upholstery also will adorn furnishings in the ship's retail areas, the sweeping Grand Foyer, and every lounge, including Celebrity's chic, signature Martini Bar, and all staterooms will boast 26-inch LED flat-panel TVs. The newly-refreshed Celebrity Millennium embarks on this year's Alaska season May 22, on a seven-night cruise roundtrip from Vancouver, B.C., prior to a series of seven-night Southbound Alaska sailings to and from Vancouver and Seward, Alaska, through September. Travelers eager to experience the refreshed Celebrity Millennium have no better opportunity than now, with select staterooms on several Alaska sailings starting at $57 per person per day, when booked by May 31, through "The Celebrity Starring You Promise." Celebrity Millennium also presents the opportunity to delve deeper into Alaska's breathtaking wilderness on unique Celebrity Cruisetour vacations. These in-depth packages pair a spectacular Celebrity cruise with a fully escorted pre- or post-cruise land-based experience, and offer unsurpassed values this spring and summer.

I am with Cheryl, something about being semi-nude with a stranger, just not my thing. My DH gives great massages.

Royal Caribbean International will send its ships back to Cozumel at the end of this month, with the travel warning against Mexico downgraded. The Freedom of the Seas, the Liberty of the Seas, and the Enchantment of the Seas will all begin calling in Cozumel on sailings that depart on or after May 24. On the West Coast, the Mariner of the Seas will continue its modified itinerary out of Los Angeles to Oregon, Seattle and Victoria, B.C., through its June 14 sailing, before resuming its calls on the Mexican Riviera. Royal Caribbean made its decision shortly after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its recommendation that US travelers avoid Mexico because of the flu outbreak. Carnival Cruise Lines will also resume calls to Mexico, mostly beginning in mid-June. All of the major cruise lines will continue using the advanced health screening methods that went into effect May 1 to prevent any possible flu carrier from boarding a ship. Passengers with possible flu symptoms, including fever, cough, runny nose or a sore throat, may still not be able to sail.

A lot of equipment, thanks for sharing.

A new Cruise Review is now available: Ship Name: Mariner Of The Seas Sailing date: 5/10/2009 Author: JoeyandDavid View Review

gavaman, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

CruiesOneGuy, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

gritz25, have a safe and enjoyable cruise.

Neugart65, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

sk4hand, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.

bon1674, it’s great to have you onboard, and please post often.