4 Aug
Jumbo “Carnival Seaside Theatres” have become so popular on the first five Fun Ships equipped with the 270 square-foot screens (12×22 feet wide) that the cruise line will be adding them and their accompanying 70,000-watt sound systems to another five vessels over the next year. Guests enjoy a variety of programming day and night on the massive screens, which use the same technology featured in large stadiums and in New York’s Times Square. This includes movies, concerts, news, sporting events and shipboard entertainment. In addition, during Carnival’s lively deck parties, music videos, along with shots of the revelry, are shown on-screen.
The first Seaside Theatre debuted on the Carnival Liberty in 2005 and the positive response prompted the cruise line to incorporate into all new ship projects moving forward. The Carnival Splendor debuted this month and Carnival Dream is scheduled to be launched next fall. The Carnival Destiny and Triumph will be retrofitted with the theatres this fall, with the Carnival Glory and Conquest scheduled for next.
Crystal offering great saving on 2009 Asia cruises
Cruise travelers planning voyages to Asia next year can take advantage of Crystal’s new stateroom upgrades worth $1,800 and penthouse savings of $2,000 on select cruises departing during March and April aboard the Crystal Symphony. Plus, CruiseCompete Specialists will have extra goodies for you.
The following highlights the details of these special offers:
China and Japan
March 27, Hong Kong to Beijing – 15 days, including three-day post-cruise Beijing “Fashion and Style” program. Overnight visits to Kobe and Hiroshima, Japan and Shanghai, plus a stop in Dalian, China.
April 5, Beijing to Hong Kong – 15 days, including three-day pre-cruise Beijing “Mind, Body and Spirit” program. Overnight visits to Hong Kong; Osaka, Japan; and Shanghai.
Southeast Asia
April 20, Hong Kong to Singapore – 11 days, including “Golf Experience of Discovery” hosted by PGA pro and chance to play at some of Asia’s finest golf courses. Overnight visits to Bangkok, Thailand; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and Singapore.
28 Apr
Travelers aboard cruise ships visiting Alaska this year can experience more than just glacier tours, whale watching, dog sledding and other traditional port excursions. The cruise lines are offering a variety of unique ways to explore the magnificent landscape of the 49th state, including underwater snorkeling and high in the air via zip lines. Holland America and Royal Caribbean, for example, invites guests in Sitka, Ketchikan and other locales to don wetsuits and explore the usually unseen underwater wilderness with snorkeling gear. Princess, Regent Seven Seas and Celebrity offer special Alpine zip line and Alaskan rainforest eco-tours high above the ground. Other excursion highlights include Regent’s “Advanced Volcano Hike” on the remote Kruzof Island, Princess’ Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s tour and Norwegian Cruise Line’s gold mining excursion.
Disney takes “Toy Story” from big screen to high seas
Buzz Lightyear, Woody and friends from the beloved Disney Toy Story movie are taking their adventures to the seas in a new musical production aboard the Disney Wonder cruise ship. This is the first time the popular Disney-Pixar big screen classic has been adapted for the stage. Preserving the humor and heart of the original film, Toy Story-The Musical explores the true meaning of friendship as Buzz Lightyear and Woody transform from jealous adversaries to best friends with an unbreakable bond. The show’s elaborate costumes capture the vibrant colors and playfulness of the animated characters. Guests of all ages will delight in an original collection of show tunes that retell the story in a fun and energizing way during their cruise vacation.
Smoke out on Celebrity ships starts this fall
Starting October 1 2008, Celebrity Cruises will begin enforcing a new policy that promised to provide a breath of fresh air on its voyages. In addition to banning smoking in staterooms and verandas, the new rules will reduce the number of public areas available for guests to smoke onboard. Celebrity expects the new policy to be welcomed, considering surveys indicate 90 percent of its guests are non-smokers. Designated indoor areas where guests can smoke cigarettes under the new policy include portions of one lounge per ship and a slot machine area in each boat’s casino. Outdoor smoking is allowed in select areas on pool decks and sundecks, as well as one outdoor bar on each vessel. Violations to Celebrity’s new smoking policy may result in a $250 cleaning fee charged to the guest’s onboard account and may also be addressed through the line’s guest conduct policy.
New Carnival Splendor built to entertain kids of all ages
Oh, what we would all give to be young again. Living up to its reputation, Carnival has taken the idea of having fun to a new level for kids of all ages on the new 113,000-ton, 3,000-passenger Carnival Splendor, set to debut this summer. The cruise ship features supervised youth programs and activities for specific age groups – Camp Carnival (ages 2-11), Circle C (ages 12-14) and Club O2 (ages 15-17), plus a massive 5,500 square-foot children’s play area divided into separate sections and featuring toys, games, computers, gaming consoles, plasma televisions and a dance floor. If that is not enough, one deck above will be a children’s water park with various water toys and attractions. The water park complements the Fun Ship’s four swimming pools and Carnival’s signature 214-foot long Twister waterslide. At mealtime, kids can order off of special children’s menus in the main dining rooms, enjoy 24-hour pizza and ice cream at the poolside restaurant and eat with the youth staff each day. The children’s turn-down service features fresh baked cookies at bedtime. In addition, Carnival’s popular Fountain Fun Card provided unlimited soft drinks for a special one-time fee.