CruiseNews

Seven ships to sail 44 unique itineraries on 103 departures next summer Holland America Line's 2012 summer Europe sailing program offers extensive choices, featuring 44 unique itineraries including four new notable itineraries and five maiden ports of call. Ranging from seven to 35 days, these cruises offer travelers an opportunity to explore a variety of destinations, from the most sophisticated capitals of the world to hidden gems of the region. Holland America Line will deploy seven of its 15 ships — ms Eurodam, ms Maasdam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms Prinsendam, ms Rotterdam and ms Ryndam — to cruise throughout Europe on 103 departures that span from the northern tip of Norway to the Baltic and Black Sea and the Mediterranean. "Europe continues to be one of the most popular sailing regions in the world due to its history, cultural diversity, scenic beauty, charm and ease of access," said Richard Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. "Our new itineraries and port calls are sure to intrigue both new and loyal Holland America Line guests. We take great pride in creating unique experiences on board and ashore, and a cruise offers tremendous value in this region given the currency fluctuations." The 2012 Europe cruise season reflects Holland America Line's focus on destination diversity, timeless appeal and quality, featuring maiden calls at Durress, Albania; Fowey, England; and Eidfjord, Kirkenes and Ulvik, Norway, as well as overnight stays to 17 popular cities such as Barcelona, Spain; Hamburg, Germany; Istanbul, Turkey; St. Petersburg, Russia; Stockholm, Sweden; Dublin, Ireland; Mgarr (Victoria), Malta; Reykjavik, Iceland; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Venice, Italy, and Bordeaux, France. Longer Voyages Offer Exceptional Value For true explorers seeking an in-depth experience at an exceptional value, extended Collectors' Voyages ranging from 14 to 35 days offer the ultimate European cruise experience. These artfully crafted, longer cruises combine back-to-back itineraries, enabling guests to visit more ports and spend extra time exploring centuries of art, history and culture. Per-person cruise fares begin at $2,149, double occupancy. Notable New Itineraries: 20-Day Portugal, Spain & Canary Islands Departing April 16 on Ryndam, guests will sail from Rotterdam, Netherlands and end in Dover (London), England; visiting tropical ports in the Canary Islands where they can enjoy the warm climate and explore natural attractions such as Mount Teide, the third-largest volcano in the world. The itinerary also includes calls in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Guests also have the option of sailing for 19-days and making their trip either roundtrip Rotterdam, Netherlands on April 16, or roundtrip Dover, England on April 17. Per-person cruise fares begin at $2,999, double occupancy. 17-Day Spanish Rhapsody Those seeking an itinerary with a Spanish flavor can embark on a 17-day sailing aboard the Rotterdam roundtrip from Rotterdam. The cruise departs May 2 and calls at Lisbon, Portugal; Cartagena, Valencia, Barcelona, Ibiza, Almeria and Cadiz (Seville), Spain; Gibraltar, and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy. Cruise fares begin at $2,599 per person, double occupancy. 7-Day Norwegian Fjords (Southern & Northern) Cruisers looking to explore the glaciers and fjords of northern Europe can choose from two seven-day itineraries that sail roundtrip from Dover, Rotterdam or Amsterdam aboard Ryndam, Rotterdam or Eurodam. These shorter adventures offer a spectacular scenic tour and call at popular Norwegian ports from May through September. The 7-Day Southern Norwegian Fjords visits ports such as Oslo, Kristiansand and Stavanger. The 7-Day Northern Norwegian Fjords visits ports such as Bergen, Alesund and Geiranger. Per-person cruise fares begin at $1,199, double occupancy. 14-Day Venetian Empire Also new for 2012 is the 14-day "Venetian Empire" voyage aboard the Prinsendam. Guests depart Oct. 17 and sail roundtrip Civitavecchia to some of the most beautiful and untouched ports in the region. In addition to cruising past the still-active Stromboli volcano, the ship will call at Dubrovnik and Split, Croatia; Ravenna, Sorrento, Venice (overnight) and Gallipoli, Italy; Valleta and Mgarr (overnight), Malta, and Sousse, Tunisia. Cruise fares begin at $2,899 per person, double occupancy. Engaging Unique Experiences Additional exciting Holland America Line Europe itineraries enable guests to be among the few to cross the Arctic Circle, transit Germany's Kiel Canal or cruise the Gironde Estuary into Bordeaux. Other unusual itineraries include visiting the ancient pyramids of Giza, near Cairo, Egypt, along with the holy lands in Jerusalem and Nazareth. Those interested in taking a dip in the famous "Blue Lagoon," Iceland's unique geothermal seawater, can choose the Icelandic Adventure aboard Prinsendam, which includes an overnight stay at Reykjavik. About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)] Holland America Line's fleet of 15 ships offers more than 500 cruises to 354 ports in 98 countries, territories or dependencies. Two- to 110-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, Bermuda, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal. Fleetwide, the company features Signature of Excellence enhancements, a commitment totaling more than $525 million, that showcase the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & 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, Digital Workshop powered by Windows, teens-only activity areas and all new stateroom amenities highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner's Dream Beds. World's Leading Cruise Lines Holland America Line is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, World's Leading Cruise Lines inspires people to discover their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a variety of exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations. Click here to view the article

Royal Caribbean International announced the redeployment of Navigator of the Seas for the 2011-12 winter season, offering a wider selection of Caribbean vacation options. The ship was originally scheduled to homeport in Barcelona for the winter, sailing a 14-day eastern Mediterranean itinerary, including calls in Egypt. The ship will now reposition to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and sail a range of five- to nine-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries beginning November 20, 2011. Navigator of the Seas also offers a 14-night, trans-Atlantic itinerary from Rome to Port Everglades, departing November 6, 2011, and a 15-night return cruise to Rome on April 14, 2012. Sailings for Navigator of the Seas’ winter 2011-12 cruises are open for sale. Navigator of the Seas will alternate a six-night Western Caribbean with an eight-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary. Ports of call on the six-night sailings include Grand Cayman, the newly opened Historic Falmouth Port, and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach destination on the north coast of Haiti. The eight-night sailing features calls at St. Maarten, St. Kitts, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Labadee. Additionally, a seven-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary, departing on January 8 and 22, 2012, subtracts a call at St. Kitts from the eight-night itinerary, while a seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary, departing January 15, adds a call to the six-night itinerary at Cozumel, Mexico. A special nine-night New Year’s cruise, departing December 30, 2011, adds a call at St. Thomas to the eight-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary. Click here to view the article

All Modified Cruises Return to Original Itineraries Princess Cruises has reinstated calls to Egyptian ports on all itineraries where they were previously removed. In February due to political unrest, Princess modified itineraries for 18 sailings scheduled to call in Egypt through November. The cruises aboard Star Princess, Dawn Princess, Ocean Princess and Pacific Princess have now returned to their originally published itineraries. Princess' first Egypt call is scheduled for May 15. "The situation in Egypt has calmed considerably since wide-spread protests earlier this year, and the tourist areas aren't currently being affected," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. "So we're pleased to tell passengers they can once again plan to experience this country's iconic pyramids and other ancient wonders." The Egyptian ports of Alexandria and Port Said are part of the two-day Egypt experience included on the line's 12-day Holy Land sailings. Sailings depart from May 7 through November 15, 2011. Passengers currently booked on Holy Land sailings are being contacted with the revised itinerary information. Princess will continue to monitor the situation in Egypt and consult with various authorities to obtain the latest information and advice. Click here to view the article

Disney Cruise Line recently honored students from Cayman Prep & High School in the Cayman Islands for winning this year’s Disney’s Planet Challenge, a program aimed at inspiring students to be good stewards of the environment and empowering them to make a difference. The education program is just one of the ways that Disney Cruise Line is inspiring positive action and minimizing its environmental impact. “Disney’s Planet Challenge is a fun, engaging way to encourage children and adults to take action for the environment,” said Disney Cruise Line President Karl Holz. “Inspiring positive environmental stewardship in our cast and crew members is part of our company culture and is clearly evident in our activities both on and off our ships.” Teacher Andy Jones’ Year 6 class were the winners of the 2011 Disney’s Planet Challenge, and they had the opportunity to spend a day aboard the Disney Magic cruise ship while it docked in Grand Cayman last week. The class was recognized for their work protecting the threatened swallowtail butterfly, an endemic species found only in the Cayman Islands. In addition to raising funds and awareness about the native butterfly and its habitat, the class focused their efforts on planting lime trees, which provide food and shelter for the butterfly. They also distributed and planted lime seeds across their community in an effort to grow even more trees, which will provide the butterflies with a safe habitat for years to come. Disney Captain John Barwis, along with other officers and crew members from the Disney Magic, hosted the students onboard at a special Disney’s Planet Challenge awards ceremony. Captain Mickey Mouse presented each student with a medal for their efforts, and the children enjoyed a chance to tour the ship, including spending time in the youth activity areas onboard. Community outreach and educational programs such as Disney’s Planet Challenge are just one part of the ongoing commitment Disney Cruise Line has to the environment. In addition to these efforts, Disney Cruise Line is dedicated to minimizing its impact on the environment through utilizing new technologies, increasing fuel efficiency, minimizing waste and supporting marine conservation worldwide. Some of these initiatives include: Environmental leadership – Disney’s commitment to the planet begins with Environmental Officers aboard all Disney ships. These officers are ranked amongst the most senior leaders aboard the fleet, having previous maritime experience and specialized training in environmental regulations and systems. They are focused on fuel efficiency, minimizing waste and promoting conservation of water, ecosystems and energy, as well as monitoring water quality. Innovative Hull Coating – All Disney ships have a 100 percent non-toxic hull coating, which reduces surface resistance in open water. Minimizing Waste & Recycling – More than 1,200 tons of metal, plastic and paper are eliminated from traditional waste streams and recycled each year. Utilizing New Technologies – Onboard new ship Disney Dream, technology is used to determine accurate energy management to maximize the heating, ventilation and cooling systems based on real-time requirements. As part of this system, private staterooms self-adjust when unoccupied and return to the desired temperature upon a guests’ return. Shoreside Plug-in Capabilities – Both the Disney Wonder and Disney Dream have the ability to plug-in to shore power at ports of call that can accommodate this new technology. The Disney Wonder was among the first to plug-in to the Port of Los Angeles, utilizing this new technology to reduce air emissions while in port. Conservation & Wildlife – Researchers at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, are engaged in a multi-year project focused on restoring the health of coral reefs in The Bahamas through the study of transplanted long-spined sea urchins native to the area. Community Outreach – Cast and crew members have donated more than 4,500 hours in the port communities Disney calls home, including giving back to local nonprofits, hosting annual walks to raise funds and awareness for conservation programs and leading shore cleanups, that to date have removed 31,000 pounds of trash and debris from beaches and fragile waterways. Click here to view the article

Inspired by Carnival’s highly popular towel animals – an iconic element of the “Fun Ship” vacation experience that greets guests as they return to their staterooms each evening – the line has introduced a six-foot-tall “towel elephant” who has quickly become an on-board favorite. Currently featured aboard the Carnival Dream, the as-yet-unnamed terrycloth pachyderm frequently interacts with guests along the promenade and makes regular visits to the Camp Carnival play area, posing for photos and keeping kids amused and entertained. In addition to the Carnival Dream, the towel elephant is planned for five other Carnival ships — Carnival Imagination, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Sensation and Carnival Magic, which is set to debut May 1. Click here to view the article

Royal Caribbean International has launched a new Honeymoon Registry, providing an option for family and friends to help make a couple’s dream of a perfect honeymoon cruise a reality. The Royal Caribbean International Honeymoon Registry continues the romance of the big day with friends and family contributing to a couple’s ideal Royal Caribbean International honeymoon cruise. Instead of the standard toaster, couples can add all of the onboard activities they’d like in the new registry. Family and friends can contribute to a dinner at a speciality restaurant, a couple’s massage, an excursion, or even contribute to the cruise fare and help create a perfect honeymoon experience. To create a honeymoon registry, please visit www.RoyalCaribbeanHoneymoon.com The new Honeymoon Registry follows the announcement of Royal Caribbean International’s Royal Wedding Experience. In celebration of the upcoming Royal nuptuals, Royal Caribbean International is offering an engaged couple the opportunity to have a truly regal wedding experience whilst onboard any of Royal Caribbean International’s 22 ships around the world. The experience is available for booking from now until the end of April 2011, and can be used on any itinerary through the end of 2012. Royal Romance Wedding Coordinators handle every detail so that the couples’ special day is a truly regal experience including any legal requirements pre-departure. The package, available to purchase up until December 2011, commemorates the Royal couple’s big day, 29 April, and starts at $2,904. Royal Caribbean International’s Royal Wedding package offers the happy couple a wide range of Royal Wedding essentials including a tiara for the bride, a 12-rose hand-tied bouquet, strawberries and champagne, toasting flutes and keepsake server each engraved with a crown, and of course, dinner at the captain’s table. All of this comes with a dedicated wedding planner, photographer, boutonniere, save-the-date announcements and a tiered wedding cake. Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 22 ships currently in service. The line also offers unique cruise tour land packages in Alaska, Australia, Canada, Dubai, Europe, and New Zealand. Click here to view the article

Royal Caribbean International has unveiled its 2012 Alaska cruises and cruisetours aboard Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas. Representing the brand’s return to the “Great Land” for a 23rd consecutive year, Radiance of the Seas will sail seven-night north and southbound itineraries between Vancouver and Seward, while Rhapsody of the Seas will embark on a series of seven-night cruises, roundtrip from Seattle. Royal Caribbean is introducing a brand-new series of cruisetours, ranging in length from 10 to 18 nights, which incorporate both the land and cruise portions of the vacations, for a total of 20 tours. Bookings for Royal Caribbean’s 2012 Alaska cruises and cruisetours open today. “Experiencing the pristine beauty of the 49th State is high on many vacationers’ bucket lists and Royal Caribbean’s portfolio of Alaska cruises and cruise-tour land packages will provide guests with adventures of a lifetime that will fulfill any dream,” said Betsy O’Rourke, senior vice president of marketing, in a prepared statement. “Whether looking for family fun, high adventure or romance, vacationers will find the experience onboard a Royal Caribbean ship, second to none thanks to the Gold Anchor service from our crew combined with unparalleled ship amenities, or what we call the Royal Advantage.” For 2012, Royal Caribbean will debut three new Alaska cruise-tours in conjunction with Radiance of the Seas’ seven-night itineraries between Vancouver and Seward, creating 10- to 13-night cruise and land vacations. All Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise-tours are escorted by knowledgeable, dedicated Royal Caribbean Adventure Specialists, who know what to see, where to eat and how to do it best. The offerings feature a 12-night program geared toward families, featuring a Resurrection Bay & Wildlife cruise, where participants can take in the region’s dramatic cliffs, alpine glaciers, marine life and seabirds, with a trip to Fox Island – a nature lover’s delight; and excursions to the Anchorage Museum & Imaginarium, where families learn and explore art, history and science through play. The cruise-tour also includes an excursion to Denali National Park, complete with experiences designed specifically with families in mind. Additionally, a Canadian Rockies cruise-tour of six nights will combine the destinations of Calgary, Banff, Jasper, Vancouver and Victoria with an overnight train journey aboard VIA Rail and accommodations throughout at world-renowned Fairmont hotels. An 18-night Ultimate Cruise-tour couples the Canadian Rockies pre-cruise with a five-night post-cruise Alaska land tour. Radiance of the Seas’ seven-night northbound cruise schedule, from Vancouver to Seward, will cruise the Inside Passage and call at Alaska’s Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Hubbard Glacier (cruising). The southbound journey will reverse the itinerary. Sailing from Seattle, Rhapsody of the Seas’ seven-night cruises also will sail the Inside Passage, calling at Juneau andSkagway, sailing past Tracy Arm Fjord and Sawyer Glacier. Throughout, guests enjoy an extensive array of shore excursion options for an additional charge to immerse themselves in America’s last great frontier. At Icy Strait Point, guests can take a ride down a 1,300 ft. mountainside on the ZipRider, the world’s largest zip line, for birds-eye views of Port Frederick, Icy Strait and the expansive wilderness. The Bering Sea Crab Fishermen’s Tour at Ketchikan takes guests aboard the Aleutian Ballad crab boat to explore the coastline scenery and learn about all manners of Alaskan sea life from men who have worked the seas as they haul up crab pots. Alaska Gold Rush & Skagway Highlights is a family friendly adventure aboard the White Pass and Yukon Railway with a stop at the Klondike Gold Fields to offer guests a chance to pan for their own gold. Click here to view the article

Celebrity Cruises adding exotic escapes to premium vacation line-up with introduction of new Asia itineraries. First-ever Asia season for premium cruise brand Celebrity Cruises From the Great Wall to the river markets of Vietnam, Asian culture has long intrigued vacationers who seek exotic lands and exquisite cultural experiences. Premium cruise brand Celebrity Cruises will give vacationers a way to enjoy Asia in style when it introduces its first-ever season in the region, during the winter of 2012-13, on Celebrity Millennium, which Celebrity plans to "Solsticize" in April 2012. "Visiting the Far East for the first time is the result of constantly listening to consumers, who have told us they're eager to vacation in the region with Celebrity," said Dan Hanrahan, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. "We know that vacationers' time is precious, and by delivering a destination as culturally rich and compelling as Asia, with a luxurious shipboard environment that offers truly extraordinary accommodations, service, cuisine and activities, we are offering them the opportunity to experience a deeply rewarding, memorable holiday." More luxury, new verandas Celebrity Cruises coined the word "Solsticize" last year, referring to the addition of some of the most popular venues on the line's widely heralded Solstice Class ships, to its Millennium Class ships. In keeping with those plans, when Celebrity Millennium becomes the first Celebrity Cruises ship to sail an Asia season, she will do so with a new slate of AquaClass staterooms. In a drydock scheduled for April 2012, 70 of the ship's existing Concierge Class staterooms will be converted to Celebrity's signature, industry-first, spa-inspired AquaClass staterooms, and an additional 37 will be built. Guests who book sumptuous "Celebrity Suites" in which to enjoy Celebrity's Asia cruises will also enjoy more time outdoors on a new veranda, as Celebrity plans to add these to Celebrity Millennium's eight existing suites in this category. Celebrity also plans to add six inside staterooms and 17 oceanview staterooms, increasing the total number of available staterooms to 1,079. New countries, exotic cultures During the 2012/13 winter season, Celebrity Millennium will visit nine countries new to the brand, including Vietnam, Thailand and China, among others. Celebrity's inaugural Asia season will consist of a series of 14-night open-jaw cruises between Singapore and Hong Kong. Overnight stays in ports like Singapore; Bangkok, Thailand; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Halong Bay, Vietnam and Hong Kong, China offer more opportunities for travelers to immerse themselves in Asian culture. The season also will include two 14-night sailings roundtrip from Singapore with overnight stays in Bali, Indonesia, in January 2013. Bookending Celebrity Millennium's core Asia season will be two transpacific voyages offering unique experiences. The westbound cruise will coincide with the total solar eclipse in November 2012. Guests will be able to view the eclipse while at sea, when sailing from Fiji to New Zealand. In April 2013, Celebrity Millennium will reposition from Hong Kong to Shanghai on a cruise featuring overnight calls in Hong Kong and Beijing (Tianjin), China. The ship will then continue eastbound across the North Pacific to Alaska and will call at various ports in China, Japan, and Russia. Guests who wish to deepen their experience in Asia can take advantage of one of Celebrity's cruisetours, which combine a cruise with a five-night pre- or post-cruise escorted land package out of Hong Kong. The cruisetours will feature trips to Xian and Beijing to view the famed Terra Cotta Warriors and the Great Wall of China. All of these packages are escorted by a local tour director and include hotel accommodations, transportation, select activities, breakfasts and some additional meals. While sailing, a variety of shore excursions are available to travelers who wish to immerse themselves in the region. A number of overnight stays in port during the Asia cruises will offer guests the opportunity to enjoy two- or three-day excursions. Examples of these include a two-night/three-day overland experience from Bangkok to Siem Reap to visit Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The tour focuses on the temples of Angkor to see the best examples of stone carvings recovered from temples across Cambodia. During cruises that include an overnight stay in port at Halong Bay (Hanoi), Vietnam, an overnight shore excursion includes a visit to the Old Quarter of Hanoi; an opportunity to witness unique Vietnamese performing arts at the Hanoi Water Puppet Theatre; enjoy dinner at a traditional Vietnamese restaurant; and an overnight stay in a leading hotel in Hanoi. Guests also will experience the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, the Ho Chi Minh Quarter, One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Museum, as well as a gentle ride on a traditional street cyclo, and lunch at Vietnamese restaurant. Celebrity also recently announced additional expansion in the Eastern Hemisphere - the award-winning, 2,850-guest Celebrity Solstice, will be the newest Celebrity ship to sail a full winter season in Australia/New Zealand in 2012-13. More details will be available on April 8, when bookings for Celebrity's new 2012-13 Asia itineraries will open for sale. Members of Celebrity's Captain's Club loyalty program are eligible to receive up to $600 savings per stateroom when booking 2012-13 Asia itineraries before July 29, 2011. Shore excursions and cruisetours are not included in cruise fare. Celebrity Cruises' iconic "X" is the mark of the world's top-rated premium cruise line, with spacious, stylish interiors; dining experiences elevated to an art form; personalized service, with a guest-to-staff ratio of nearly 2:1; unexpected, trendsetting onboard activities, all designed to provide an unmatchable experience for vacationers' precious time. Celebrity sails to Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Bermuda, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal, South America, and year-round in the Galapagos Islands. Celebrity also offers immersive cruisetour experiences in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America. One of the fastest-growing major cruise lines, Celebrity's fleet currently consists of nine ships, with two additional Solstice Class ships scheduled to join the fleet: Celebrity Silhouette in July 2011, and Celebrity Reflection in Fall 2012. Click here to view the article

Michelle Bernstein, award-winning chef, restaurateur and culinary author from Miami, Fla., is scheduled to participate in the guest-enrichment program on the June 3, 2011, Mediterranean Romance Voyage aboard the line's newest ship, ms Nieuw Amsterdam. Bernstein sails on the 12-day voyage departing from Venice, Italy, to Barcelona, Spain. The ship will call at Catania, Naples, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kerkira (Corfu), Argostoli and Thira (Santorini), Greece. The voyage also features scenic cruising through the Strait of Messina, a narrow passage between the eastern tip of Sicily and the southern tip of Calabria, Italy. During the cruise, Chef Bernstein will perform cooking demonstrations for guests in the ship's state-of-the-art show kitchen and participate in question and answer sessions. A Miami native of Jewish and Latin descent, the effervescent chef has dazzled diners and critics alike with her flavorful Latin-inspired cuisine and charming personality for nearly two decades. The professional ballerina turned award-winning gourmet chef realized her true passion for cooking after taking a class on nutrition and later enrolled in Johnson and Wales University's College of Culinary Arts. After graduating Bernstein trained under iconic French Chef Jean-Louis Palladin and began working with renowned chefs at several premier restaurants including Red Fish Grill, The Strand and Tantra in Miami Beach. Bernstein later served as lead chef at Azul, the Mandarin Oriental's signature restaurant in Miami, where she became a powerful force in the city's burgeoning culinary movement. She later became a household name after serving as a judge on Bravo's acclaimed "Top Chef" series and host of the PBS series, "Check, Please!" For two years, Bernstein co-hosted The Food Network's "Melting Pot," a show that presented the traditions, stories and recipes of her Latin background. She also was a competitor and winner on the Food Network's "Iron Chef America" series. She has been featured in both "The New York Times" and "Bon Appetit" magazine for one of the "50 Best Dishes in the World" and in "Gourmet" and "Food & Wine" magazines, for one of the best hotel restaurants in the country. Bernstein's restaurant ventures include Michy's and Sra. Martinez in Miami, MB in Cancun, Mexico, and Michelle Bernstein at The Omphoy in Palm Beach, Fla. In 2004, Chef Bernstein was nominated by the James Beard Foundation, the nation's premier honor for culinary professionals, in the coveted "Best Chefs in America: Southeast Region" category. In 2007, she won the prestigious James Beard Award for "Best Chef: South." Bernstein recently was awarded a Doctorate in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University. Holland America Line's Culinary Arts Center Holland America Line's Culinary Arts Center is featured on each of the line's 15 ships. A first-class "show kitchen at sea," the Culinary Arts Centers presented by "Food & Wine" magazine resembles the elaborate show kitchens used by celebrity chefs on television cooking programs. The facilities are used for demonstrations, tastings and hands-on cooking classes during every Holland America Line sailing. Each facility features a theater-style venue with two large plasma video screens and a large cooking display counter. In partnership with "Food & Wine" magazine, Holland America Line will schedule approximately 65 celebrated chefs and wine experts to sail in 2011. On cruises that do not have a celebrity chef on board, classes and demonstrations are conducted by Holland America Line's own expert chefs. Holland America Line also offers a youth Culinary Arts Center activity program to teach kids and teens how to cook. The program incorporates dishes from breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in complimentary 45-minute-long classes. Kids under 8 years old learn to make theme cookies, fruit roll-ups, ice cream sandwiches, salad people art and scones. Kids 8 and over make soft pretzels, granola bars, pita chips and hummus, and saltwater taffy. Teens also can attend adult culinary demonstrations. The Culinary Arts Center and guest enrichment program are part of Holland America Line's innovative and leading culinary initiatives, which also include a partnership with Le Cirque to present "An Evening at Le Cirque in the Pinnacle Grill" and a Culinary Council comprised of renowned international chefs Jonnie Boer, David Burke, Marcus Samuelsson, Jacques Torres, Charlie Trotter and the line's Master Chef Rudi Sodamin. About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE:CCL - News)] Holland America Line's fleet of 15 ships offers more than 500 cruises to 354 ports in 98 countries, territories or dependencies. Two- to 110-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, Bermuda, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal. Fleetwide, the company features Signature of Excellence enhancements, a commitment totaling more than $525 million, that showcase the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & 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, Digital Workshop powered by Windows, teens-only activity areas and all new stateroom amenities highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner's Dream Beds. World's Leading Cruise Lines Holland America Line is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, World's Leading Cruise Lines inspires people to discover their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a variety of exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations. Click here to view the article

The Saint John Port Authority confirmed that Disney Cruise Line will call the Port of Saint John with their vessel Disney Magic on 9 occasions in 2012. The announcement, made by Disney Cruise Line in New York, comes on the heels of successful cruise industry sales calls conducted in March by the Port Authority, the New Brunswick Department of Tourism and Parks and the destination marketing organization in Saint John. "Our provincial cruise business is growing year after year and we are proud that such a well-known line has added the Port of Saint John to their visitor list," said Tourism and Parks Minister Trevor Holder. "While in Miami a few weeks ago, we met with some of the largest cruise lines in the world to solicit new business and to seek additional business from existing customers." “We are thrilled that Disney, one of the world’s best loved brands, is adding Saint John as one of only two ports of call on 5-day cruises out of New York beginning in June of 2012,” stated Stephen Campbell, Chairman of Saint John Port Authority. The strength in the Bay of Fundy brand; the hospitality extended by the tourism industry; and the berth extension projects made possible by recent federal-provincial investment commitments, are all factors that help attract cruise ships. "We recognize the potential the cruise industry has for the province and we are marketing return visits to those who experience just a taste of New Brunswick when they stop at our provincial ports," said Holder. “Cruise continues to be an area of strength in the business mix at the Port Authority,” remarked Jim Quinn, President & CEO of Saint John Port Authority. “The continued strength of this sector is critical to the overall diversity of Port business. This diversity will support strategic investment in all of our port assets in the long-term”. Full details on the entire 2012 season will be available at the end of 2011. The 2011 schedule includes more than 200,000 cruise guests during 71 calls. Click here to view the article

Bermuda is world-renowned for its unique pink beaches, interesting historical sites and excellent shopping and dining experiences and Carnival Cruise Lines is providing guests with even more opportunities to visit the tropical paradise in the coming year. The line kicks off its 2011 Bermuda program next month and will operate a record 16 departures from four popular eastern U.S. homeports: Baltimore, Md.; Norfolk, Va.; New York, and Charleston, S.C. Carnival is the only cruise line offering Bermuda cruises from Charleston. The voyages include a variety of six-, seven- and eight-day itineraries from April through November. Six-day voyages feature an overnight call at Bermuda, while seven- and eight-day cruises offer two nights in port. All 16 voyages dock at King’s Wharf or Heritage Wharf. While in Bermuda, guests can relax on magnificent beaches and visit centuries-old historic sites such as the Royal Naval Dockyard and Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse, the oldest cast-iron lighthouse in the Western Hemisphere. A wide variety of water sports, including snorkeling, kayaking and scuba diving, also are available. Carnival’s 2011 Bermuda departures include: Baltimore (seven-day cruises on Carnival Pride) – April 10 and 17, Sept. 18, Oct. 2 and Nov. 6 New York (seven- and eight-day departures on Carnival Miracle) – April 14 and 21, and Sept. 11 and 27 Norfolk (six-day sailing on Carnival Glory) – Oct. 16 Charleston (six-day voyages on Carnival Fantasy) – April 23, May 19, June 16, Aug. 25, Sept. 15 and Oct. 6 Click here to view the article

Norwegian Cruise Line announced that it is launching a new campaign “Tell us your story!” rewarding customers with on-board credits of up to 500 US $. The on-board credits are available to those guests who book a Mediterranean cruise in summer 2011 on board Norwegian Epic or Norwegian Jade before May 2, 2011 and tell the cruise line their personal Freestyle Cruising story. "There are so many good reasons to go on a Mediterranean cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line this summer, whether it’s discovering the cultural treasures of Southern Europe or seeing the world-renowned Blue Man Group, exclusively at sea on board Norwegian Epic. Or maybe our guests want to celebrate a special occasion on board, a birthday, their wedding anniversary or just want to make their holiday dream come true – we would like to know our guests’ personal Freestyle Cruising highlights and hear what they are most looking forward to on board”, says Jurgen Stille, Director Sales Continental Europe. "Our varied offers both on board and ashore should make the choice easy since it is not without reason that we have been named Europe’s Leading Cruise Line three years in a row”, Stille continues. In order to receive the on-board credit (valid per stateroom, based on double occupancy), the guests simply tell their story to their travel agency or the Norwegian Cruise Line reservations department. In addition guests can send in their story via ncl.eu/mystory. Among those stories received in written, the cruise line will select the most exciting one and double the on-board credit for the winner. The promotion applies to all four- and seven-night cruises on board Norwegian Epic from/to Barcelona as well as on the six- to 15-night cruises on board Norwegian Jade from/to Venice in summer 2011. For instance, on the seven-night cruise „Barcelona & Western Mediterranean“ on board Norwegian Epic, guests receive 100 US $ on-board credit in Studios and Inside Staterooms, 200 US $ in Balcony Staterooms and 400 US $ in Mini Suites and Suites. The same on-board credits are available on the seven-night itineraries “Venice & Greek Isles” and “Venice & Eastern Mediterranean” on board Norwegian Jade from/to Venice. On-board credits in exchange for Freestyle Cruising stories are also available on the cruises “Venice & Greece” (July 9, 2011), “Venice & The Aegean Sea” as well as on Norwegian Jade’s cruise combinations. With their on-board credits, guests can for example enjoy a wellness treatment in the luxurious Mandara Spa, dine in one of the many international specialty restaurants on board or book one of the varied shore excursions. Click here to view the article

Michael Lazaroff, director of The Jazz Cruise, explains the methodology of presenting jazz on a cruise ship The Jazz Cruise recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. Produced by Anita Berry, Michael Lazaroff and the staff of Entertainment Cruise Productions, The Jazz Cruise is the first and only full ship charter in the world dedicated to mainstream or straight-ahead jazz. The organization also organizes The Smooth Jazz Cruise, which has two one-week sailings. During January 2011, The Jazz Cruise and The Smooth Jazz Cruise entertained nearly 6,000 passengers from 38 states and over 20 foreign countries, presenting over 125 jazz musicians and vocalists during a three week period. This year The Jazz Cruise sailed on Holland America's m/s Noordam and visited Nassau, San Juan, St. Maarten and the private island of Half Moon Cay. Next year, The Jazz Cruise sails again on Holland America from January 29 through February 5, 2012, from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to Aruba, Curacao and the private island of Half Moon Cay. Artists performing include Kurt Elling, Randy Brecker, Houston Person, Clayton Brothers, Benny Golson, Anat Cohen and many others. Lazaroff , the Cruise's executive director, spoke about how his company organizes The Jazz Cruise and what makes it unique. One of the unusual aspects to The Jazz Cruise is that it's a charter of the whole ship. What's involved in chartering a whole ship for a cruise? It's been approximately ten years now [running the cruises] where we did full ship charters with all of our cruises. We have done nearly 30 full ship charters [since the beginning]. My mother, Anita Berry, was part of a sales consortium where she was helping to fill half of the ship. It was a big ship—the SS Norway with 1,100 passengers—and she put a group together that went on that particular cruise. 90% of all theme cruises are not full ship charters, they're groups – and that can be anywhere from 100 to 1,000 people go on the ship and they have certain of events and activities just for them and it's usually run under the auspices of the ship or with some type of small organization. When you charter a ship, you have that ship for the full week. You decide where that ship goes; you decide what the meals are; you decide what all of the entertainment is. You are free to either utilize or not utilize any and all events, items, programs that are on a typical cruise of that cruise line. When we do a theme cruise, we basically get rid of almost everything. There are many activities over which we have no control or things that we do that make our cruise experience better. Obviously, we keep the pool and the gym and the spa and the beauty salons and the gaming and the bars and things like that. But in terms of activity and entertainment, we rarely utilize anything that the ship offers. What is the difference for the fans (and musicians)? One of the differences between doing a group versus a full ship charter is that you have to plan those activities; you have to hire the people; you have to produce the shows; you have to get the people to and from the ship. One of our biggest activities is our travel services—getting all of the musicians and their companions to the ship. Interestingly on our most recent cruise, John Clayton, for whatever reason, left his bass in his hotel room and got on the ship and the ship sailed. He was using somebody else's bass the whole week. Luckily, we were able to secure the bass and it was waiting for him when we arrived back in port. For the jazz fan or listener, our cruises are different because when you walk on the ship, you immediately notice the fact that every single person walking on that ship is there for the same purpose you are. So there is an instant camaraderie and esprit de corps among the guests. Secondly, the music that you hear in all the public areas is music that we control. Even the piped-in music, is our music. When you turn on the television set, you're going to see certain channels dedicated to jazz films and jazz music. You're going to see that we have the full run of the ship. Typically, if it's not a full ship charter, the events that are for the group have to be worked around everybody else's cruise, so you generally get some of the rooms and you get them late at night, after everyone else has seen their normal cruise events, whereas here, it is just us. So we actually take over the ship. One of our goals is that when somebody gets off the ship and they're in the office the next week and somebody asks them, "Where were you last week," that they're going to tell them that they were on a cruise. And when asked, "What was the name of the cruise line?" we want them to say, "The Jazz Cruise." We don't want them to say "The Holland America Line." We want every aspect and every part of the program to be reflective of what we do. A cruise is a pricey trip. Have you seen any effect from the economy? Basically, we haven't seen that yet. We just finished three sailings in January and they were all sold out and we had wait lists. Clearly there have been people who used to go on our cruise, who because of their particular situation, have not been able to go on the cruise, but we have others who have taken their place. I get the impression that people come back year after year. Is that true? That's absolutely the case. We have a large number of people who have sailed with us ten times, fifteen times, even back in the group days. Even with the ten sailings of the jazz cruise that have occurred since we went to a full ship charter, we have a number of people who have been on every one. One of the sale categories we have now is for guests who have sailed on four or more of our cruises. They get a special price and right now that is the largest sale category we have. Do people come for the sights or the sounds? It is almost entirely about the music. I would suggest that no one goes on The Jazz Cruise because of the ports of call. And there are very very few people who choose not to go because of the ports of call. Once in a while you'll hear, "I don't want to go back to so and so," because there are only so many islands within the Caribbean. Whenever we announce a line-up—which we did ten days ago—99% of the emails commenting are about the line-up: "Glad you have so and so" or "Wish you would added so and so." Virtually none of them say, "Damn, Aruba?" or "Why aren't we going back to Jamaica?" One of the jokes on the cruise, which you will hear from people, is that they'd be happy if we pulled out of port and dropped anchor. How do you handle the programming of The Jazz Cruise, particularly in regard to booking new talent? We use the one-third, one-third, one-third rule. We try to have one-third of our performers who are pretty much standards—guys that are always there, sort of a core—and that's probably now less than a third. Then we have approximately a third, let's say 40%, of people who seem to rotate on and off. With the balance, which is less than a third, we try very hard to introduce new people. And obviously, the more cruises we do, the harder it is to come up with quality new people. Like this year, the people who are brand new to the cruise—who have never performed with us before—would include Benny Golson, Carmen Bradford and some of the members of our big band. Kurt Elling has been on the cruise once before, but it was a long time ago. He is somewhat new to the recent cruises but he's been with us before. Who are you excited to present in the next cruise? John Pizzarelli is someone that we've been trying to get for a long time and we finally pulled that off. Obviously Kurt Elling and Benny Golson. And Scott Hamilton. We've got some really top notch people who either have never been with us or it's been so long that it really is current to our people. How do you know if an act just isn't right for the cruise? It's fairly easy to determine the performers that are not clicking with our guests. One is attendance. You see their sets and they are not well attended. Secondly, one of the things that our guests do not pack when they go on our cruise is their shyness. And they are very willing to tell us who they like and who they don't. It really is fun. I would imagine that over 60% of the conversations we have with our guests during the week relate to line-up issues or line-up concepts, such as: "Why do we have him?" or "Why wasn't she back?" or "Why do we try to rotate vocalists every year?" Die-hard jazz fans can't help but think of themselves as experts. Absolutely, our guests are amazingly knowledgeable and they love to swap stories and opinions. Many, many of them are true experts and all of them have an undying love of the music. Once in a while, though, a guest's enthusiasm exceeds their judgment. Let me tell you one of my favorite stories. Most of us know that Freddy Cole doesn't make a big deal out of the fact that he's Nat King Cole's brother. He will rarely mention it. I was at the bar with Freddy one night three years ago and a guest comes over and starts to show off his jazz IQ. He had opinions about everything … everybody … it was over my head and I did not know if he was legitimate or not. Then it happened. He leaned over and asked Freddy Cole the following question, I swear: "Are you from a musical family?" I looked at Freddy and said, "your question" and Freddy said coolly, "Yeah, we do have a couple of fairly good singers in my family." Are there certain styles of jazz that work better than others? It's a standards-based jazz format. Folks who have come on with original compositions and only played original compositions have not been well received. Our guests want to recognize the music they're hearing. For example, we had violinist Regina Carter and she was a hit. We asked her to come back and her manager Myles Weinstein said, "She's doing a new show … please go see it." So I flew up to Chicago to see it and the show was absolutely fantastic [she was performing her African Thread project]. But in no way, shape or form could I bring that on the cruise, because our guests would not like it. Similarly, the second half of that billing was Esperanza Spalding. And she was doing something completely different from what she was originally doing and that too would not have been well received by our guests. They want to hear the music they know and they want it played by terrific people. What little wrinkles do you like to add over the years? We created our own all-star big band and they play with our vocalists. They play for dancing. Our guests love to dance. We've added a 24/7 passenger jam session room which is fully equipped with all kinds of equipment for them to use. We actually have a professionals come in there once a day for an hour to work with them. We've added some fun frills. We have costume parties now. We have many many more meet and greet opportunities for our guests and we do much more "Behind the Music" type of one-on-one Q&A sessions, particularly when we get someone of real stature. Recently, we had Johnny Mandel so there was a wonderful Q&A with him. This year we did it with George Wein. So when we get these icons who represent the history of jazz, we do those interview sessions. We've also added our Jazz Cruise Hall of Fame and we have a very special night where we honor two or three people and we induct them into the Hall of Fame and we actually talk about their music. This year we honored Freddy Cole and posthumously James Moody and we had James' lovely wife Linda on the ship to accept for him and those were lovely tributes. Who will you honor in 2012? We don't know yet. We honored [JT's founder] Ira Sabin one year. When my mother who started doing this ten years ago, there were a couple of people who pitched in and now that we're a very successful business we're not going to turn our backs on people who were there in the beginning. Those people who took a shot on us, I have all of the love and admiration in the world for them. Looking back what has been your most memorable performance or event? The first one that comes to mind was a couple of years ago we were celebrating my mother's 80th birthday and for whatever reason, we asked Freddy Cole to sing to her in front of everybody. He sang "Unforgettable" and it was memorable because it's something he just doesn't do. I framed a very nice picture of this and it's in her office and it is her prized possession. The other personal thing I love is every time our big band starts to play. To me, there is no comparable music in any other genre. And I just love watching the big bands play. For me, every cruise that I've ever done, it's when that first show hits that is so special, because you've got everybody on the ship; you've got the equipment; you put everything up and all this is done all on the same day. And BOOM, the music is playing and all the guests are having a great time. That means everything in the world to me and it was the most compelling moment for me. Click here to view the article