How to Book a Cruise

Now you are set! You’ve decided where you want to go, you’ve read a lot of reviews on cruise chips, destinations and packages and now you’ve made up your mind. Just one thing is left: booking the cruise. Feeling a little confused? With so many factors to take in account when choosing a cruise, things can get a little messy. This guide will help you become a master on “book cruising” (by the way you can go ahead and call it a skill)

Step One: If you fit the description above, you’ve already completed the first step on how to book a cruise. If not, go ahead and pick a cruise ship you’d like to be on. The internet is a great resource for doing this. Besides this site you can go visit plenty of other sites featuring cruise reviews pictures and more. If you are more traditional, you can visit a travel agency and grab as many brochures you can.

Step Two: Now that you know where you want to go, define how long will you be staying. There are many plans depending on this factor. Most cruises offer the standard weekend to 2 weeks packages. But you can find cruises that lasts almost a month!

Step Three: Decide how much will be spent. Money runs out eventually and sometimes you’ll need to sacrifice some of the features you like in order to be able to pay it. Of course, if you are a millionaire just skip this step please.

Step Four: Now is the time to visit the travel agency. Your travel agent will be delighted now that you’ve made up your mind, keeping the most important factors in mind. Just let them do their work…you know… stuff like contacting the service, making arrangements and so on. They will let you know things like availability, inconvenients and the point of departure.

Step Five: Select your room and other important things such as cancellation fees and restrictions. Ask everything you need, for example most cruises won’t let you bring your own alcoholic drinks.

Step Six: Ask your agent to book the cruise or if you prefer do it online.

That’s it. Taking it step by step is not that hard. Oops, I forgot the very last step: Have fun!

TIPS FOR HEALTHY CRUISING

Having a healthy cruise is in the fore front of most cruise passengers’ thoughts these days. And there is plenty out there to be wary of, from the swine flu and norovirus to bad food hygiene and food poisoning. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer some sage advice on the topic.

1: If you fall sick before the voyage, rather than taking your cruise and possibly infecting everyone else, contact the cruise line and ask about your options such as as alternate cruise dates, credits etc.

We have all learned not to go to work when we’re ill - the same applies to going on vacation.

2: While on the cruise, wash your hands frequently and especially after using the toilet and before eating or smoking.

3: Visiting ports, be aware of general food service cleanliness and avoid eating or drinking anything that looks risky.

This is particularly true for street vendors in tropical climates. Their offerings may look tempting and exotic, but there’s nothing exotic about being ill.

4: If you fall sick during the voyage, visit the ship’s medical facility and follow the recommendations.

JOIN ROYAL CARIBBEAN FOR ONLINE CHAT

Royal Caribbean invites you - wherever you are - to join them online for an exclusive Oasis of the Seas Culinary Showcase. This online chat, hosted by president and CEO Adam Goldstein and Kenneth Taylor, Director, Fleet Restaurant Operations will have answers to all of your questions regarding the myriad dining options that guests will enjoy on Oasis of the Seas. Be among the first to learn about the extensive variety of dining offerings onboard including menus, specialty restaurant prices as well as one surprise announcement.

OPRAH MYSTERY CRUISE

In these tough economic times it ‘s good to hear of something apart from layoffs and wage reductions and unemployment. Oprah Winfrey is reportedly treating her staff of over 100 (and their families) to an all-espenses-paid cruise in the Mediterranean.

At approximately $5,000 per person, the cruise will visit ports in Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Malta.

Four years ago, the TV diva splashed out on a similar “thank you” when she footed the bill for an all-expenses cruise to Hawaii.

Though it is generally believed that this current vacation bonus has cost the Oprah Winfrey almost a million dollars, there is some confusion as to the exact details of the itinerary.

Sources don’t seem to know which cruise line is involved, but contactmusic.com reports that this particular Mediterranean cruise starts in Chicago, Illinois ?

Cruising Bargain on Repositioning Cruises

If you are looking for a bargain cruises, long, relaxing days at sea, then repositioning cruises. If the weather in spring and autumn, the cruise lines have their ships for the winter in the south and north of the summer. Many of the cruise ships in the summer in Europe, the journey across the Atlantic in the autumn for the warmer waters of the Caribbean. In the spring of the process.

Instead of sailing on the ship without passengers, cruise companies will offer deep discounts during these repositioning cruises to lure passengers are generally more ports and destinations. They are ready to charge, they may use the cabins. The cruise lines understand that the passengers will take longer to ship and therefore more money per day in the onboard casinos, bars, shops and spas.

Thus, a repositioning cruise for you? Well, the price will certainly give you at least half doses. This is certainly one of the fastest and why are they so popular. These cruises are usually longer than a week and provide passengers with a quieter way - more days at sea and less ports. On the other hand, some of the disadvantages of this type of cruise is that you to embark and disembark in various ports. You must inform the airline costs in the entire travel budget. Because these cruises are more than 7 days, many tourists can not afford for that many days of work at once.

Your first tip repositioning cruises can be found, in the autumn for the ships, their summers in Alaska or in Europe and the transition to warmer waters. In spring, the opposite is true.

Cruise the Mediterranean

Hot Mediterranean cruises are in huge demand. The beautiful lands of the Mediterranean have an abundance of culture, history and fun. The wide variety of ports offer something of interest to everyone. Explore the way the ancients did; by water. Book your Mediterranean cruise now.

The best overall guide to Mediterranean cruises is at Cool Mediterranean Cruises. Despite the silly name, it has an easy overview of the trips available in 2006, simple introductions to cruise departure ports, and info on all the Mediterranean cruise lines.

The Mediterranean cruise season is from May to October, although there are cruises all year. Cruise from great cities like Venice, Barcelona, Athens, Rome or many others. Mediterranean cruise passengers avoid the currently high cost of hotels.

Getting the Royal Princess Passengers Home

Things are falling into place (seemingly) smoothly for passengers having to disembark Royal Princess unexpectedly at Port Said.

The passengers spent Friday night aboard the ship with all hotel functions once again operating normally. All passengers will have to disembark on Saturday.

Princess reported that a group of 20 Princess Care Team members arrived in Egypt Friday evening (local time) to assist passengers with travel arrangements home. While they were traveling there, the air department in California had been securing air arrangements for everyone. By 8pm (EDT) Princess reported they had air arrangements confirmed for all passengers.

They have also secured 300 hotel rooms in Cairo for the passengers who won't be flying out until Sunday, and they've reserved 24 motorcoaches to transfer passengers from Port Said to Cairo.

Passengers will begin to disembark from Royal Princess Saturday morning at 10:30am local time (3:30am EDT), and Princess has also arranged for 24 porters to be on the pier to assist.

Celebrity Cruises Solstice Sailing Caribbean In 2010

Celebrity Cruises’ will be moving the new Celebrity Solstice to the Caribbean for 2010-2011 on a year round basis. This should go a long way in modernizing the Celebrity efforts in the Caribbean, and increase onboard revenues in an area that will definitely be price challenged in the next few years with all the inventory in the three Caribbean regions. It also eliminates a high number of empty berths in the European market week in and week out.

“The extraordinary response from our guests to Celebrity Solstice has created a corresponding demand for the ship to sail year-round in the Caribbean, and we’re thrilled to meet that demand,” said Celebrity’s President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. “This move offers guests in North America a phenomenal closer-to-home vacation option whenever they’re ready to get away, and similarly, our international guests now will have year-round Caribbean vacation options with Celebrity that are second-to-none.”

The dazzling Celebrity Solstice will sail alternating seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in summer months, and seven-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries from the same port in the winter, marking the first time since 2004 that Celebrity has offered a year-round seven-night sailing in the Caribbean. Celebrity Solstice will be one of two Celebrity vessels sailing continuously in the region; Celebrity Century, as previously announced, will present short getaways, with its popular four- and five-night sailings from the Port of Miami.

Holland America Makes Anchorage A Port Of Call

Holland America Line will make a regular cruise ship stop in Anchorage, Alaska in 2010.

The Amsterdam, which carries 1,380 passengers and a crew of 615, will be the first ship of a major line to call regularly in Anchorage. The port call will be part of a 14-day cruise.

Some Alaska tourism officials prefer seven-day cruise ship tours because it means twice as many passengers are carried on a vessel over a two-week period.

Many passengers on seven-day cruises continue tours away from the coast to destinations such as Denali National Park and Fairbanks.

Two companies, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International, have announced they will operate vessels elsewhere in 2010, blaming a $50 head tax and other issues tied to a 2006 citizens initiative.

Princess Cruises Trying To Attract More Movie Buffs

Princess Cruises Movies Under The Stars is getting a new twist with the introduction of celebrated film critic and historian Leonard Maltin bringing passengers yet another new way to experience movies onboard with an exclusive Leonard Maltin Movie Club. Debuting fleetwide, the new club gives passengers the opportunity to join fellow film buffs to discuss specially selected motion pictures during their cruise.

With this program, Princess will showcase a new film chosen by Mr. Maltin each month. Passengers will not only be able to enjoy the open-air poolside Movies Under the Stars viewing experience, but will also be able to gather for a thought-provoking discussion to gain greater perspective on the film.

In addition, passengers can catch up on many popular and classic films with a new Leonard Maltin Movie Channel available in staterooms.

The new partnership celebrates the fifth anniversary of Movies Under the Stars, which first debuted on Caribbean Princess. The giant Times Square-style movie screens are now available on eight ships, and will be added to most other ships in the Princess fleet by 2011.

Royal Caribbean Modifies 16 Oasis Of The Seas Western Caribbean Sailings

Royal Caribbean International today announced an itinerary change to 16 Western Caribbean sailings of Oasis of the Seas, the cruise line’s highly anticipated cruise ship to begin service in December 2009. From May through November 2010, Oasis of the Seas will call at Mexico’s port of Costa Maya, instead of the originally planned call at Falmouth, Jamaica. Oasis of the Seas’ Western Caribbean itinerary also will include calls at Cozumel, Mexico, and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach paradise on the northern coast of Haiti.

“We look forward to bringing Oasis of the Seas to the well-established destination of Costa Maya in 2010,” said Craig Milan, senior vice president of Land Operations, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “We continue to look forward to calling at Falmouth on a regular basis with Oasis of the Seas and her sister ship Allure of the Seas. The completion of the port is going to take longer than we had hoped, but Falmouth will be outstanding when it is completed.”

On the modified itineraries, Oasis of the Seas’ will dock at Costa Maya’s recently restored pier, providing guests easy access to shore without tendering. In Costa Maya, guests have a wide varietyof shore excursion options, which can help make a memorable day in port. For example, guests can choose a sailing along the virgin coast of Costa Maya before diving in search of undersea life on Catamaran Sail & Snorkel; enjoy the natural beauty and magic of hidden Mexico atop an all terrain vehicle before stopping to relax on a secluded beach on ATV Jungle & Beach Adventure; or explore the virtually unexcavated Chacchoben Mayan ruins in the jungle near the Belizean border on the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins.

Carnival Goes Electronic - No More Paper Cruise Documents

Based on the popularity of Carnival’s electronic documents, beginning with cruise departures of August 25, 2009 and beyond, Carnival will discontinue the paper version of the cruise travel documents. All guests on sailings from this date forward will need to use Carnival’s MyDocuments portal to print electronic cruise documents.

This “paperless” system provides guests with many conveniences and offers the same travel documentation and information typically available with traditional cruise documents. Housed within a secure, easy-to-navigate Internet portal accessible on a “24/7” basis, the electronic document system operates in “real time” which ensures that all last-minute changes are reflected. In addition to the peace-of-mind created by eliminating the wait for cruise documents to be delivered by mail, this initiative has a positive impact on the environment.

Although having printed e-documents will expedite the check-in process during embarkation, guests may check in at the pier without documents as their information is contained within Carnival’s reservation system. Electronic documents include printable luggage tags that may be printed in black and white. If they are not printed, luggage tags are available at the pier. This change will provide a more efficient way for guests to prepare for their cruise vacation and help continued efforts to be more environmentally friendly.

Norwegian Cruise Line To Offer Complimentary Sodas On All 7-Night Or Longer Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line and Pepsi have teamed up for an unusual summer promotion that will bring free soda to passengers.

In an announcement Monday, the line said customers who book a seven-night or longer cruise before Oct. 15 for sailings through 2010 are eligible for the offer. The cruisers (up to two per cabin) must sign up for the Pepsi Summer Cup promotion at the time of booking by referencing promotion code PGPOP.

Once on board, passengers who have signed up for the offer will get a special Norwegian and Pepsi branded souvenir cup that gives them access to unlimited fountain soda refills at any bar, lounge or restaurant throughout their cruise. Soda options include Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew and Sierra Mist.

For more information on this limited time promotion, visit www.CruiseCafe.com or call us at 1-800-788-2545.

MSC Cruises To Sail To New England In 2010

MSC Cruises will be sailing through New England for the 2010 season. The MSC Magnifica, MSC’s newest cruise ship still being built, and scheduled for its inaugural in March of 2010, recently announced the newly-added Canada/New England itineraries to its first year of cruises. MSC Magnifica will be sailing a series of Fall Foliage cruises from both New York and Quebec in 2010 before joining MSC Lirica for the 2010-11 Caribbean season in Fort Lauderdale.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for residents of the Northeastern United States and Canada to experience MSC Cruises on one of the line’s newest and most elegant ships while saving them both time and money as they won’t incur additional costs for airfare,” says Richard E. Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises (USA), Inc.

He adds, “MSC Magnifica is ideal for Fall Foliage cruises. With nearly 80 percent outside staterooms and a magrodome or retractable roof over the swimming pool, guests can appreciate the splendor and majesty of the outdoors throughout the cruise.”

Cruise Pricing May Finally Have Reached Its Low

Better book soon if you're hoping to lock in one of the super deals on cruises that have been floating around the marketplace in recent months. Executives at industry giant Carnival say prices may finally have bottomed.

"We have started tweaking pricing on a variety of brands," Carnival Corp. CEO Micky Arison told Wall Street analysts today during a conference call to discuss second quarter earnings. "Pricing is being taken up."

Cruise lines began dropping prices drastically late last year in reaction to a sharp slowdown in bookings brought on by the economic crisis, and fares for many itineraries remained unusually low through the winter and into the spring.

Carnival -- the parent company of more than half a dozen brands including Carnival, Holland America, Princess Cruises and Cunard -- says the prices it's getting for cruises in the third quarter still are substantially below the level of a year ago. Prices for fourth quarter cruises are down year-over-year, too. But in recent weeks there's been an improvement in pricing off the lows as demand for cruises returns.

Cruise Travel: Economic Realities

When America's economy began its slide in a downward spiral, someone in the media coined the dreadful term, "stay-cation" to describe how we'd be spending our vacation time and dollars in the coming months, if not years. In other words, we'd stay home. Even assuming that you have a swimming pool, hot tub, and sun deck in your back yard, is that how you want to spend your valuable time? No, I didn't think so.

If you're like many avid travelers, particularly those who choose a cruise as their preferred vacation style, you are looking forward to your next trip. It might not be as soon as usual, as long as you'd normally like, or to an exotic, far-flung destination, but you're planning to go somewhere. You may be watching the newspaper or the Internet for the best deals and planning accordingly, but the bottom line is that you're planning. And you're booking cruises at far lower fares than you'd normally expect.

Just this week Norwegian Cruise Line revealed that demand for its largest ever Freestyle Cruising vessel Norwegian Epic skyrocketed in the first week that the ship’s itineraries went on sale to the public, beginning May 21st. In fact, Norwegian Epic’s first week of bookings far exceeded opening week sales for the company’s last two new ships: Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Gem. All categories of staterooms were in demand, from the groundbreaking new Studios for the value-conscious traveler to the ultra luxurious villas, penthouses, and deluxe owner’s suites. While prices started from $699 per person, based on high demand, fare increases are already taking effect on some of the more popular sailings.

At the other end of the cruise line spectrum, luxury line Silversea Cruises achieved the highest call volume day in its 15-year history on May 26th. The single-day record occurred during a 3-week period when bookings surged nearly 150% compared to the same period last year. Additionally, the average call volume for May was up almost 40% in comparison with April 2009. While the line is currently offering 50% savings on all suite categories for over 50 worldwide voyages, has recently expanded its popular $1,000 Onboard Spending Credit offer to 70 sailings in 2009, and free or specially priced airfare is available on select voyages, the fares are far from cheap by most standards. Even with air and other perks included, you'll still pay $3,497 per person for a Greek Isles sailing between Istanbul and Athens this fall.

It's clear, though, that cruisers—from mainstream to luxury—are looking for bargains and finding them. Cruise travel, even at the high end, is one of the best bang-for-your-buck vacation options available.

When the going gets tough, the tough go cruising.

Princess Cruises Celebrates 40 Years Of Sailing From San Francisco

To commemorate Princess Cruises’40th anniversary sailing from the “City by the Bay,” Rodney Fong (pictured left), president of the San Francisco Port Commission presented a proclamation from Mayor Gavin Newsom declaring June 3rd to be "Princess Cruises Day" in San Francisco. Receiving the proclamation is Steve Nielsen (right, in photo), vice president of shore operations for Princess Cruises who, fittingly, celebrates his 40th anniversary with Princess Cruises this year.

Princess Italia first sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge on June 3, 1969, for her maiden voyage to Alaska. Since that inaugural voyage, Princess has made approximately 1,000 port calls at the Port of San Francisco and carried well over 1 million passengers. Sea Princess is currently sailing on 10-day Alaska cruises from San Francisco through September.

Sapphire Princess Cruise Review: The "Swine Flu" Itinerary

As veteran cruisers who sail two or three times per year, you might think that George and Linda Hall have seen more than their share of itinerary changes. Surprisingly enough, they have not.

The Halls already knew the May 2nd itinerary for their Sapphire Princess cruise departing from San Pedro had been altered due to the CDC warning about going to Mexico. They also knew that the cruise before theirs had been diverted and passengers aboard it probably had a worse time accepting the sudden change. George said, "We boarded knowing that we were sailing to San Diego, Santa Barbara, and San Francisco, with the required Passengers Services Act stop at Ensenada. We were also aware that Princess granted us a voucher for half our paid fare against a future cruise. We were not aware that California is darn chilly in May! Still can't fault Princess, they did excellent job and even set up some tours at these locations. The refund for a future cruise was also greatly appreciated and we will be sailing Emerald Princess in October partly on their dime and with a smile on our face to the WARM Caribbean."

Carnival Cruise Line's First Two-Level Adults-Only Retreat Will Be A Dream-Come-True

The new 130,000-ton Carnival Dream, Carnival Cruise Lines' largest ship set to debut Sept. 21, will offer a host of innovations, including the largest adults-only retreat in the line's fleet. Created as an oceangoing oasis for relaxation, the Carnival Dream's 11,250-square-foot Serenity area will encompass two levels—a first for the line—and accommodate up to 200 guests who can select from seven different styles of seating, from plush chaise lounges and chairs to shaded sun loungers and even hammocks.

Spanning the forward section of Sun Deck 14 and Sky Deck 15, Serenity is accessible via a glass elevator within Carnival Dream's expansive 23,750-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa, as well as by two staircases. Carnival Dream's Serenity area will feature a full bar on the lower level in a shaded area, while the upper level will offer two whirlpools providing magnificent sea views. Design-wise, Serenity will offer a decidedly understated theme with decorative latticework, teak-style decking, and other contemporary features, creating an atmosphere of tranquility and comfort. The Serenity experience will be enhanced by a series of custom windscreens specially created for this area.

Carnival Dream is set to debut Sept. 21 with a series of 12-day Mediterranean cruises followed by a trans-Atlantic crossing and two 8-day voyages from New York. Carnival Dream will then reposition to Port Canaveral, FL, for a special 9-day cruise before launching year-round 7-day Caribbean service on Dec. 12, 2009.

Oasis of the Seas: Sea Trials

It is a bird? Is it a plane? Just what is that object floating above the Oasis of the Seas' stern? It looks like a balloon and rumors have been circulating that it's some sort of dirigible-style ride for the ship's thousands of passengers to enjoy. Perhaps it's the ultimate in high tech parasailing?

Richard Fain, Chairman and and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., shared a hint about the object—an aerostat*—and how that, as well as other "trial balloons" are launched during the sea trials of new ships.

In his Chairman's Blog, Fain said, "Another aspect of this early sea trial is that it gives us an opportunity to experiment with new ideas. One of the nice things about working at Royal Caribbean is the imaginativeness and creativity of our people. The upside of this is they often come up with weird and wonderful ideas that thrill our guests. The downside is that they often come up with weird and wonderful ideas that don’t really work in practice. How do we distinguish? We try them out on sea trials where there are no guests and where we can experiment to our heart’s content. The trials take place far from land where there are no curious eyes except the passing fish. That way, when an idea fails the practicality test, we simply send it to the idea graveyard and no one hears about it again. Fortunately, or unfortunately, such privacy no longer exists, even out in the middle of the ocean. There will be about 350 people on board overseeing the testing and most will have camera phones. In addition, many of these people have not been involved in the ship’s design and will therefore make a lot of wild assumptions about things they see. Accordingly, we can reasonably assume that these people will swamp the Internet with rumors—accurate and inaccurate—about things they see on board."

"In advance of the likely deluge of rumors," Fain continued, "I would like to comment on two aspects. Firstly, we will not confirm or deny the accuracy of any such rumors and we will attempt to be evenhanded; we will be equally fuzzy about accurate rumors as we are about inaccurate ones. Nevertheless, I’d love to hear any rumors that arise and will comment to the extent I can, but don’t expect True Revelations here. Secondly, I will comment on one experiment we are performing which has already been the subject of some rumors. This idea is to put an aerostat on board tethered to the ship. The idea is interesting, but it has such a cornucopia of practical issues that I give it less than a 50% chance of being used on Oasis."

So, just what is the purpose of the aerostat flying high above Oasis of the Seas and was the experiment a success? Fain has promised to report on it in his blog, but asks for your patience. It may well take the folks at Royal Caribbean several weeks to review all the test results and reach a decision as to whether whatever its intended use is will float.

*An aerostat is a lighter than air object that usually remains tethered to its base by a long wire. Some people erroneously use words like blimp or dirigible, but, the latter normally transport people or cargo over long distances.

Princess Cruises Details Short Getaway Sailings for 2010-11

Every year cruise ships move from one cruising region to another and next year Princess Cruises features some repositioning voyages that allow you to test your sea legs on a getaway cruise. The spring and fall cruise seasons in 2010-11 bring opportunities for Princess passengers to escape on the line’s short West Coast sailings. Ranging from an overnight cruise to a week-long journey, these “coastal” getaways offer passengers the chance to sample the Princess experience as they explore the Pacific coastline. Passengers can choose from among 18 sailings, including a special 7-day cruise to coastal wine regions with themed onboard presentations, 4- and 5-day samplers of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, plus shorter sailings of one to three nights. Princess’ seasonal getaways offer an opportunity to sail on ships that are traveling along the Pacific coast to begin or end a summer of Alaska cruises.

“People need to escape today more than ever and these short sailings are a great way to fit a cruise into the schedule–and budget,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president.

Princess coastal sailings for 2010-11 include:

Wine Country Coastal – A 7-day cruise geared towards wine lovers, this special sailing will offer the chance to explore the California wine regions of Santa Barbara and the San Francisco area – as well as visit the microbreweries of Astoria, Oregon. The cruise aboard Sapphire Princess will depart from Los Angeles on May 7, 2011, sailing to Vancouver with calls at Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Astoria, Seattle and Victoria.

California Coastal – Sailing on a 5-day journey down to California from Vancouver, Sapphire Princess will call at Victoria and San Francisco before arriving in “the city of angels,” Los Angeles. The sailing will depart on Sept 20, 2010.

Alaska Sampler – This quick roundtrip sailing from Vancouver will give travelers a taste of the 49th state, with visits to the Alaskan ports of Juneau and Ketchikan. The 5-day cruise on Coral Princess will set sail on May 10, 2010.

Northwest Sampler – Royal Princess will take visitors on a 4-day trip through the scenic Inside Passage with visits to Vancouver and Victoria. Sailing roundtrip from Seattle, the voyage will depart May 20, 2010.

Pacific Coastal: Los Angeles/Vancouver – Passengers can relax with two full days at sea as they cruise up the Pacific coast on these 3-day journeys between Los Angeles and Vancouver. Golden Princess will offer two departures on Sept 26, 2010 and May 11, 2011, and Coral Princess sails on Sept 18, 2010.

Pacific Coastal: San Francisco/Vancouver –Several cruises travel between San Francisco’s legendary Golden Gate and picturesque Vancouver. Coral Princess offers a 4-day sailing with calls in Astoria, Oregon and Victoria, BC on May 19, 2011. For a 2-day option, Island Princess offers sailings on Oct 4, 2010 and May 14, 2011, while Star Princess sails on May 11, 2011.

Pacific Coastal: Vancouver/Seattle – These convenient overnight sailings between Vancouver and Seattle offer the perfect opportunity for a first taste of Princess hospitality. Sapphire Princess will sail May 15, 2010 and Sept 19, 2010. Golden Princess will offer departures on Sept 25, 2010 and May 14, 2011. Royal Princess will cruise on Sept 13, 2010 and May 18, 2011. And Star Princess will depart on May 13, 2011.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at Princess.com.

Stay Safe and Prevent Mishaps on Your Summer Cruise Vacation

Everyone has an image of the perfect vacation and, for many of us, that is a cruise. However, perfection is difficult to achieve. CSA Travel Protection, a company dedicated to providing travel insurance and emergency assistance services, offers important travel safety reminders to ensure smooth sailing—or driving, flying, hiking, or scuba diving, for that matter—when taking the "Great American" summer vacation.

According to a recent survey by the U.S. Travel Association, more than half (54%) of American households plan to take at least one leisure trip this summer. While many experienced travelers know the ins and outs of safe travel, CSA offers the following tips for everyone to help keep them safe and protected from mishaps on their next trip.

1. Create a meeting schedule, and a Plan B. When traveling with family members or in a group, make sure everyone agrees on a meeting place at a designated time before and after outings. If, in the event, someone becomes separated, agree to always meet at a "base camp."
2. Your camera is your friend. In many ways. Your camera isn't just a tool for creating memories of your trip. It is also the perfect device for helping you if lost and to document conditions around you. Take a picture of your ship's landmarks to help you later if you run astray.
3. Back up everything, and make it accessible from anywhere. Copy, scan or take pictures of important documents—such as your driver's license, passport, credit cards, travel insurance policy and other travel documents—and email the images to your web-based email account. This way you can access them from anywhere in case of loss or theft.
4. How's the weather out there? Besides having to worry about what kind of clothes to pack, review the weather forecast for your destination often. Also, understand that area's propensity for hurricanes, wildfires, flooding or other natural disaster so you are prepared before leaving.
5. Use your travel insurance provider's assistance hotline, and keep the number with you at all times. Nearly all travel insurance plans include 24-hour, worldwide emergency assistance services. If something happens, you're not alone. These experts can help with just about any situation, from finding a dentist in Venice in the middle of the night, to helping replace a lost passport, to assisting with travel arrangements if you miss your flight or ship.
6. Avoid carrying excessive amounts of money and multiple credit cards. Also keep a back-up credit card in case you are a victim of theft or lose your card.
7. Put a vacation hold through the U.S. Postal Service. Your mail can be held at your local post office until you can pick it up or are home to receive it. Not only will you help thwart potential burglars, but you may also protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft.
8. Don't let your guard down when you are in your pre-cruise hotel or aboard your cruise ship. Take advantage of in-room or front-desk safes by locking up passports, credit cards, and other important documents.
9. Read your cruise ship's inspection report before booking. The Vessel Sanitation Program at the Centers for Disease Control and others regularly inspect ships for cleanliness, repair, food preparation and storage, water quality, hygiene, and pest management, for example. Read your ship's report ahead of time to make sure it has a healthy track record.
10. It's Hurricane Season; be prepared. Check with your pre-cruise hotel or cruise line before booking to determine what their policy is in the event of a storm. Also check the National Hurricane Center for the latest on approaching storms.

Travel insurance provides an added layer of protection against unforeseen events such as medical emergencies, natural disasters and theft. It also safeguards against trip cancellations such as job loss and health-related incidents of non-traveling family members. Even the best-planned vacations can be turned upside down by unforeseen circumstances. Vacationers ready to take that trip this summer can find out more about the benefits of travel insurance from their travel agent. You'll also find details about CSA Travel Protection at Insure My Trip.

Royal Caribbean's "Destination Joy" Helps Make Wishes Come True

While we don't often hear about their efforts, cruise lines have historically supported local charities in their corporate homeports and ships’ ports of call. In addition, they commit their time and funds to a number of charitable organizations nationwide here in the United States. Royal Caribbean Intl, a national sponsor of the Make-A-Wish Foundation since 2000, will be participating in Destination Joy®—the Foundation’s annual summer program—and raising money during various events scheduled throughout the fleet during the month of June.

“We are proud to take part in Destination Joy to help the Make-A-Wish Foundation make every child’s wish come true,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “Our company is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, and this includes the amazing work the Make-A-Wish Foundation does for children facing life-threatening medical conditions to give them hope, strength and joy.”

Throughout June, Make-A-Wish® donation cards will be available on all of Royal Caribbean Intl’s 20 ships. Guests will be able to donate any amount they choose, and their donation will appear as an onboard charge. Along with the donation cards, guests will be able to participate in auctions where they can bid on unique onboard experiences, such as an opportunity to be on a ship’s bridge and blow the whistle while it departs a port, a behind-the-scenes galley tour and lunch with the ship’s executive chef, and many other priceless experiences. In addition, guests can also participate in the line’s Walk for Wishes® program, where guests make a donation, get an “I walked for Wishes” t-shirt and walk a mile with the ship’s staff and officers to raise funds. In 2008, Royal Caribbean raised more than $450,000 through the generosity of guests and crew.

Royal Caribbean’s Wishes at Sea program has helped make cruise wishes possible for more than 1,300 children. Royal Caribbean works with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to create the perfect wish for each child whose desire is to have an unforgettable, dream-come-true vacation with his or her family.

Cruise Line Travel Shore Excursions

When you book a shore excursions, what are you getting? Or, more importantly, what are you getting yourself into?

For example, some of the most frail appearing Senior Citizens can run circles around me, so when I see they are part of a tour group I generally think nothing of it. Except on a tour of Valletta and Mdina, Malta... a walking tour. When the bus delivered us to the city gates of Valletta, a spry little woman informed the guide that her husband couldn't possibly walk the distance to the Palace of the Grand Masters. At that point it was apparent he'd never be able to handle the cobblestone streets of Mdina either. Unfortunately, the couple had either misinterpreted the tour description—clearly indicated as a walking tour—or overestimated their abilities. They also hadn't researched the port either, or they would have realized the streets are too narrow to accommodate a "city tour" on a bus.

Royal Princess Engine Room Fire

June 18: At approximately 8:10 pm local time, an engine room fire broke out aboard Royal Princess, as the ship was departing Port Said, Egypt. The fire is now extinguished, and the ship is currently anchored approximately five miles off the coast of Port Said. Royal Princess is carrying 733 passengers and 393 crew. The ship is on the fifth day of a 12-day Holy Land sailing between Civitavecchia and Athens.

All passengers and crew have been accounted for, and passengers remain at their emergency stations as a precautionary measure until further notice. The ship is operating on emergency power and lighting. Assessments of any damage will be made over the next several hours, at which time we will be able to provide further information about how the remainder of the cruise may be impacted.

Princess will continue to provide updates on a regular basis. Phone numbers have been established for inquiries from family of passengers and crew (only please) currently onboard Royal Princess:

For inquiries about family: 800-693-7222
For inquiries about crew members: 661-753-2804

Norwegian Majesty Returns to Philadelphia for Final CruisePhilly Season

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) will return to the Philadelphia Cruise Terminal for the seventh straight year with Norwegian Majesty. While the ship will be leaving the fleet later this year, CruisePhilly is turning the cruising season upside down in 2009, offering expanded cruises to Canada throughout September and closing with fall trips to Bermuda.

NCL will make eight sailings from the Philadelphia Cruise Terminal in 2009. The season will kick off on Aug 29th when the Norwegian Majesty makes a 5-day sail to Canada and New England. That trip will be followed by three consecutive 10-day sailings to Canada and New England, the longest Canadian cruises from Philadelphia to date. These 10-day cruises will call on Bay of Fundy/St. John, Sydney, Charlotte, Halifax and Portland, Maine. Beginning Oct 3, the Norwegian Majesty makes four consecutive 7-day sailings to the sunny pink beaches of St. George's, Bermuda. Norwegian Majesty's final sail to Bermuda, ending CruisePhilly's 2009 season, leaves Philadelphia on Oct 24th.

"CruisePhilly had a very successful 2008 season thanks in large part to the Norwegian Majesty calling Philadelphia its home for the first time," said John J. Matheussen, CEO of the DRPA, the parent agency of the Port of Philadelphia and Camden. "We are very pleased that the Majesty has returned once again to be a part of our convenient cruise offerings out of the Philadelphia Cruise Terminal at the Navy Yard." (That's the view overlooking the stately Navy Yard pictured above.)

NCL's Norwegian Majesty accommodates 1,462 passengers and offers a broad array of amenities, including NCL's popular Freestyle dining program and a multitude of entertainment, spa, and fitness options. The Majesty also offers great nightlife from The Palace Theatre and Frame 52 Disco to the Monte Carlo Casino.

For information on cruising from Philadelphia or special pre- and post-cruise package, visit CruisePhilly.com or call 856-968-2052.

Seabourn Completes An Odyssey

After successful sea trials (pictured here), The Yachts of Seabourn has taken delivery of the cruise industry’s first ultra-luxury vessel to launch in six years. Built at T.Mariotti shipyard in Genoa and with a gross tonnage of 32,000, Seabourn Odyssey is set for her launch and naming ceremony in Venice this coming Wednesday, June 24, before embarking on her maiden voyage.

“This moment marks a milestone occasion in Seabourn’s history; Seabourn Odyssey is the first of three new sisters to be introduced over the next two years and sets a new standard for the ultra-luxury cruise industry. We hope our guests will be as delighted as we are and we look forward to welcoming them aboard to enjoy a new era in Seabourn’s yachting life,” said Pamela Conover, president and CEO of Seabourn.

The $250 million Seabourn Odyssey will be launched in an intimate ceremony with the unmistakable skyline of Venice as the backdrop. In a twist from traditional naming ceremonies, all guests sailing on the Maiden Voyage will be named ‘godparents’ with the breaking of a bottle of Italian Prosecco to mark the occasion. An ingenious bottle breaking mechanism has been designed especially for the event. Following the on-deck event, all ‘godparents’ will receive a commemorative certificate and their names will be affixed to a plaque displayed on board. Follow the events in Venice on the Seabourn Odyssey Blog.

Cruises - 5 Tips to pick great cruise lines.

When thinking about vacation, many tend to list Carribbean cruises as one of the options. However, there are quite a number of Carribbean cruises lines to choose from. It would be time consuming to pick the very best that meet your need. The following tips can save your time.

1. Determine where you want to go. This will help you to choose from Eastern, Western or Southern Carribbean cruises. Each cruise line has its own itinerary. The Western Carribbean routes include Cozumel, Mexico, Grand Cayman, Belize, Jamaica and Costa Maya, Mexico. The Eastern routes normally include San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Tortola and Labadee, and Haiti. Whereas the Southern routes may include St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Antiqua, Dominica, Barbados, Aruba, and Curacao. If you have specific locations that you must visit, then that cruise line should be the priority.

2. Check what kind of activities or excursions that the cruise line offers at each port. Are the activities more towards families, or for couples or singles? Those for families will have children facilities on board and excursion that all family member can participate, whereas adult only cruises normally offers more time for them to spend on their own. Thus, pick the one that meet the kind of vacation you are planning.

3. Check the dining preferences. Do you want a scheduled dining times or alternate dining options? If you care about your meal schedule, then this factor too can help you to pick the best cruise lines for you.

4. Gather someone else experience. It can be from families and friends or from other sources like printed materials or the internet. I bet there are so many shared experiences on the net, you just need to look them up. From all these experiences, you should be able to make up your mind.

5. Determine your budget. Some cruise lines are more expensive and luxurious than others. So pick the one that within your budget. Take into consideration extra money you will need like for entertainment, excursions, food, drinks, taxi fares if you stop at port-of-call and plan to visit around the place, or things you might purchase at the stops.

Cruising on the Carribbean could be your once in a lifetime experience. Therefore, it is essential to determine which Carribbean Cruises lines to go with. You can't go wrong by choosing Carribbean cruises, but your vacation is dull if you choose the wrong cruise line.