mercedes

Have a safe and enjoyable cruise.

We always arrive a few days early for European cruises. Hoping to spend 2 days in Sydney before our cruise next March. The ship is docked in Sydney for 2 days, so I think 4 days should give us time to see some of the area.

Ric_Karen, welcome aboard.

MariaDelCarmenRodriguez, welcome aboard.

Tedhughes, welcome aboard.

canezsports, welcome aboard.

mcaltry, welcome aboard.

web2carz, welcome aboard.

Seagaylego, welcome aboard.

Kathysac1, welcome aboard.

NigelCleary, welcome aboard.

TimHoward, welcome aboard.

karquist77, welcome aboard.

Congratulations on the new booking.

The 130,000-ton Carnival Breeze, Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest ship, is conducting sea trials in the Adriatic Sea in preparation for its inaugural June 3 voyage from Venice, Italy. The 3,690-passenger vessel, currently in the final stages of construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, had a full contingent of officers, technicians, and engineers on board who thoroughly tested the Carnival Breeze’s sophisticated navigation, technical and mechanical systems. Carnival Breeze will offer a variety of innovations, including the line’s first Thrill Theater, an immersive multi-dimensional special effects experience that makes viewers feel as if they’re part of the movie, along with popular features such as WaterWorks, with fun water slides and attractions, and SportSquare, an expansive top-deck recreation area with a ropes course, mini-golf, an outdoor fitness area and more. Exclusive to Carnival Breeze is Bonsai Sushi, the line’s first full-service sushi restaurant, and Fat Jimmy’s C-Side BBQ, an open-air dining venue featuring a variety of grilled barbecue favorites and traditional sides. Following its inaugural 12-day cruise that departs Venice June 3 and arrives in Barcelona June 15, Carnival Breeze will operate a summer schedule of Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona through October 25. The ship will then sail on a 15-day transatlantic crossing from Barcelona to Miami, positioning the vessel for year-round six- and eight-day Caribbean departures beginning November 24, 2012. Carnival Breeze will be Carnival Cruise Lines’ largest ship ever based in South Florida.

Crystal Cruises is honoring heroes past and present with on-board get-togethers for veterans and loved ones of all nations on every luxury cruise . Activities planned for the upcoming American Memorial Day weekend promise to be extra special, with a unique Crystal Adventure to the WWII landing beaches of Normandy, and each ship remembering those who have died in service of their nation, as follows: Crystal Symphony: Four-Star Marine General Anthony Zinni, former Commander in Chief of U.S. Central Command, will host an open forum at sea on Saturday, May 26. On Memorial Day itself, Crystal's President Gregg Michel will escort guests to the French site of D-Day. The shore excursion includes visiting the former German fortification at Pointe du Hoc, historian-guided military truck transport to Omaha Beach, and a memorial ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery, final resting place of 9,000+ American soldiers. All attendees will receive a commemorative medallion for the day. Crystal Serenity: Memorial Day will begin with a morning veterans' get-together in Palm Court, led by foreign policy author Dr. Robert Freedman, and featuring refreshments and a poetry dedication. Like with Crystal Symphony's shipboard gathering, the event will be open to anyone wishing to attend, with participant introductions, personal observances, and sharing of stories. Regular veterans' get-togethers, led variously by Cruise Directors and special guest presenters, are a new staple on board the fleet, providing opportunities to recognize soldiers' sacrifices and share past experiences, no matter what role or country they served. Paul McFarland, Crystal Symphony's Cruise Director and a veteran himself, explains the gatherings' significance: "The relationship between vets, male and female, is a 'brotherhood' that spans generations and wars. Regardless of when or where someone was stationed, soldiers have something in common, sharing life-altering experiences and a unique bond, unlike any other family or friend relationship." Both ships will be sailing the western coast of France over the holiday weekend, with Crystal Symphony spending the rest of the summer in the Baltic region, and Crystal Serenity cruising the Mediterranean area until December. A total of 26 European voyages remain in Crystal's 2012 calendar.

JettingJules, welcome aboard.

rcuise_dot_com, welcome aboard.

RosnerTeam, welcome aboard.

Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Millennium set sail Saturday from the Port of Miami, fresh from becoming the fourth and final Millennium Class ship to complete the line's $140-million "Solsticizing" process, incorporating a host of the venues and experiences guests love most on the Solstice Class ships. The initiative was completed within less than two years, with each ship completing the massive transformation over the course of an only three-week drydock period. "Solsticizing has been such an exciting initiative for us – and more importantly, for our guests, as indicated by their response to each of our Solsticized ships," said Celebrity's President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. "Our Millennium Class ships already had a large and loyal following, having repeatedly ranked at the top of many of the world's most prestigious consumer polls, and their original style, design and ambience served as significant inspiration for the design of the Solstice Class. So now, we're bringing it full circle, incorporating on the entire Millennium Class what our guests enjoy most on the Solstice Class. It ties our whole fleet together in a very powerful way." One of the many Solstice Class features added to the Millennium Class ships* is Celebrity's trendsetting AquaClass category of staterooms, with spacious, private verandas; exclusive access to the stylish specialty restaurant, Blu; complimentary access to the Persian Garden and Relaxation Room in the AquaSpa; a personal Spa Concierge to book exotic AquaSpa treatments; use of plush Frette bathrobes and slippers; enhanced personal care products, and plentiful in-room amenities, including Hansgrohe shower heads, fog-free bathroom mirrors, aromatherapy selections, and daily deliveries of complimentary bottled water and teas. [*Note: AquaClass and its host of amenities will be added to Celebrity Constellation in 2013.] Another Celebrity exclusive – "Qsine," the novel restaurant introduced on Celebrity Eclipse in 2010 and Celebrity Silhouette this year – is also dazzling guests on Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Summit and Celebrity Millennium as a result of each ship's revitalization. The first restaurant at sea to present a menu and wine list on an iPad™, Qsine serves a blend of classic and contemporary dishes in custom-made serveware, such as spring rolls served in vertical springs, and popcorn shrimp in theater-style popcorn boxes. Described in press reviews as "the latest and most innovative restaurant," "cutting-edge," and "appealingly quirky," the restaurant and menu were designed to take what guests expect of a specialty restaurant and "turn it upside down" in a captivating, entertaining and flavorful way. Joining AquaClass, Blu and Qsine* in the "Solsticizing" initiative are: • the hip Celebrity iLounge, which debuted on Celebrity Eclipse and made Celebrity Cruises the industry's first Authorized Apple Reseller (to be added to Celebrity Constellation in 2013). • Celebrity's "eXhale" bedding program, in partnership with Reverie®, a leader in the field of luxury bedding. Hand-made in the U.S. with natural raw materials such as bamboo and sustainable natural rubber, the mattresses are almost entirely recyclable and biodegradable, feature removable, hypo-allergenic, antibacterial and dust mite-resistant covers, and a breathable, plush pillow top with a patented air flow design. Rounding out Celebrity's eXhale bedding program are custom-embroidered, 100% Egyptian cotton linens (to be added to Celebrity Constellation in 2013). • A new twist within Celebrity's casually elegant bar, Michael's Club, where its selection of fine whiskies, cognac, bourbons and scotches is now complemented with craft beers, including 50 international selections (the new Michael's Club concept will be added to Celebrity Constellation in 2013) • the "cool," ice-topped Martini Bar and Crush • Celebrity's vibrant creperie, Bistro on Five • the inviting Cafe al Bacio and Gelateria • Cellarmasters wine bar, complete with the "Enomatic" state-of-the-art wine serving system – an industry-first when it debuted on Celebrity Solstice – allowing guests to select wines by the glass, at the touch of a button • entirely new verandas added to the ship's spacious, luxurious Celebrity Suites • additional new oceanview and inside staterooms • an expanded collection of original, contemporary art * During the Solsticizing of Celebrity Constellation in 2010, the Solstice Class-inspired specialty restaurant "Tuscan Grille" – an Italian-themed steakhouse – was added to the ship, within the space occupied by Qsine on her sister ships. Celebrity Millennium is currently on a Panama Canal voyage from Fort Lauderdale to San Diego. Following a 5-night wine-themed cruise from San Diego to Vancouver May 27, the ship will offer 7-night Northbound and Southbound Alaska sailings between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska.

Royal Caribbean International announced this week that Grandeur of the Seas has begun a five-week long, $48 million dry dock at the Navantia ship yard in Cadiz, Spain, where she will receive an array of new venues, entertainment and exciting amenities for guests. Grandeur of the Seas is the third of six Vision-class ships to undergo extensive revitalization. The two previous were Rhapsody of the Seas, now sailing in Alaska waters, and Splendour of the Seas, offering itineraries in Brazil. "This latest revitalizaton is part of our pursuit to continually raise the bar to deliver the best experience for our guests. Coupled with itineraries to exciting global destinations and friendly and engaging Gold Anchor Service from every staff and crew member, these virtually new ships will continue to deliver the Royal Advantage," said Lisa Bauer, senior vice president of Global Sales and Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. "With the completion of our fleet-wide revitalization and enhancement program, every ship will be our best ship." The bow-to-stern revitalization of Grandeur of the Seas includes a host of new dining venues, technological upgrades and new entertainment offerings, as well as a refresh of all furniture, carpet, upholstery and staterooms. Guests looking for a savory dining experience onboard Grandeur of the Seas will be in for a treat with an array of new dining venues including: • Giovanni's Table: An Italian trattoria featuring classic dishes served family style (open for lunch, $15 per guest, and dinner, $20 per guest) • Izumi Asian Cuisine: Featuring mouthwatering flavors with hand rolled sushi, as well as hot-rock cooking, the pan-Asian cuisine restaurant is an authentic dining experience (open for lunch, $3.00 per guest, and dinner, $5.00 per guest plus a la carte menu pricing) • Park Café: An outdoor gourmet market featuring customized salads, sandwiches, soups and pastries (open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, complimentary) • Chops Grille: Royal Caribbean's signature steakhouse, offering premium cuts and quality meats (open for dinner, $30 per guest) • Chef's Table: An exclusive and intimate event co-hosted by the Executive Chef and Sommelier for a five-course, wine-pairing fine dining experience (open for dinner, $95 per guest). In addition, the ship will receive a new Diamond Lounge for Crown & Anchor Society loyalty guests, a Concierge Lounge for suite guests and top-tier loyalty guests, as well as a transformed Viking Crown Lounge that will feature a stunning new design, as well as a new menu featuring bite-size delectables. The line's youngest guests, children ages six to 36 months old, won't be left out as the ship will feature a Royal Babies and Tots Nursery. The nursery offers parents childcare drop-off options in the daytime and evening, carefully maintaining an optimum staff to child ratio. Daily interactive free-time play also is offered for parents and children, encouraging them to bond while playing with a variety of Fisher-Price developmental toys in specially designed programs offered exclusively for Royal Caribbean. For those guests looking to stay connected while onboard, Grandeur of the Seas will offer ship-wide Wi-Fi service. The ship also will feature an outdoor video screen overlooking the pool deck, as well as an award-winning digital, interactive way-finding system that was first introduced on Oasis of the Seas. Like its sister ships, Grandeur of the Seas' Centrum will be completely transformed into a chic and lively new space that will feature an array of daytime activities, as well as unique nighttime entertainment with a new high-flying experience where aerialists glide through the five-story atrium. The transformation continues with the ship's original Champagne Bar reinvented as the R Bar, a retro bar that will feature signature cocktails and a savvy mixologist who will create elaborate cocktail concoctions for guests. Guests in the Centrum and R Bar should also be on the look out for surprise performances that will entertain and excite the senses throughout the day and evening. Upon completion of the refurbishments on May 31, Grandeur of the Seas will sail an 11-night Mediterranean itinerary roundtrip from Barcelona, Spain. From there she will spend the summer offering a variety of Mediterranean itineraries from Venice, Italy and Provence, France.

The Disney Wonder arrived in Honolulu this week, marking the first time in Disney Cruise Line history that a ship has sailed to the Hawaiian Islands. This first of two special Hawaiian itineraries continues an exciting expansion period for Disney Cruise Line. "We couldn't be more thrilled to combine the legendary guest service of Disney Cruise Line with the breathtaking beauty of the Hawaiian Islands," said Karl Holz, president of Disney Cruise Line. "Hawai'i is one of the world's most extraordinary vacation destinations, offering stunning scenery as well as rich cultural traditions and storytelling. Blending the enchantment of Hawai'i with the magic of Disney is a natural fit." In keeping with maritime tradition, a special plaque and key ceremony will be held onboard the ship, commemorating the inaugural call of the Disney Wonder on Honolulu. Captain Fabian Dib will be joined by port and community leaders, as well as Elliot Mills, vice president and general manager of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, at the ceremony. Cast members from Aulani will also be present, as they greet guests and the crew with "e komo mai," a Hawaiian phrase of welcome. The Kamehameha Schools Children's Chorus will entertain guest and crew as they disembark with both Hawaiian and Disney songs, including some Disney tunes that have been translated into Hawaiian. The Disney Wonder is currently sailing on a special 15-night cruise that departed Los Angeles, Calif. on April 29. The ship stopped at Hilo, Hawai'i on May 4 and Kahului, Maui on May 5. On May 7, the ship will stop at Nawiliwilil, Kaua'i, giving guests the opportunity to explore four islands during their sailing. In October, the ship will return to Hawai'i for a second time. The ship will sail seven-night itineraries to Alaska from Seattle, Wash. this summer before heading back to Los Angeles, Calif. to sail seven-night itineraries to the Mexican Riviera in the fall. At the end of the year, the Disney Wonder will reposition to Miami, marking the first time a Disney Cruise Line ship will sail out of Southern Florida.

carolebennett, welcome aboard.

rayteet, welcome aboard.

skyfire53, welcome aboard.