Norwegian Cruise Line breaks booking record

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced today that it broke its single-day booking record on Monday January 24, 2011. The fleet's new Norwegian Epic, along with great Wave Season specials have contributed to this record.

This Monday, January 31, 2011, NCL will continue offering incentives to perhaps break this past Monday's result. The promotion, called "Free Upgrades for All" is offering balcony upgrades on its Alaska cruises. New reservations booked through March 27, 2011 receive up to a four-category upgrade, along with e-coupons in on-board savings of up to $400.  In addition, bi-weekly special offers on select ships and destinations will continue featuring Hawai’i, Bermuda, Bahamas and Florida, as well as another Epic offer.

Guests can make reservations on any of NCL's 11 Freestyle Cruising ships by calling NCL directly at 1.866.625.2784 (1.866.NCL.CRUISE). I would recommend the better service that a travel agent offers which is at no additional cost to you. If you do not have a travel agent, one is listed below for your convenience that is very well versed in NCL's specials.

Bon Voyage!

Travel agent information: Theresa Cooke, CruiseMasters, Pineville, NC. Phone: 704.887.3968. Email address: tcooke@vivavoyage.com . Parent company website: http://www.vivavoyage.com/

Norwegian Sun re-enters the cruising world after being refurbished

The Norwegian Sun, which has been dry-docked for 12 days, has re-entered service after some much needed renovations. The renovations are sure to enhance her offerings, which included updates to her public areas, suites and restaurants. One key improvement has been the addition of the Brazilian steakhouse, the Moderno Churrascaria. This restaurant has been very popular aboard the Norwegian Epic, NCL's newest and largest ship.

Two additional ships will enter dry-dock this year for their renovations as well: the Norwegian Dawn in May, and the Norwegian Spirit in September. There will also be several that take place in 2012, according to NCL's CEO Kevin Sheehan.

According to the official press release from Norwegian Cruise Lines:

"Norwegian Sun’s refurbishment to guest areas includes:

·         Updated décor in all 33 of the ship’s suites;

·         Improvements to the Kids Crew area which offers complimentary children’s programs;

·         The addition of Moderno Churrascaria, the line’s new and popular Brazilian steakhouse (in the space previously occupied by Pacific Heights);

·         Overall replacement of carpets and wall coverings in public areas.

In addition, back-of-house enhancements include:

·      An energy conservation project focused on the ship’s HVAC system to save an estimated six million kilowatts per year (when complete in May 2011);

·    Replacement of all potable water piping (continuing over the next 12-18 months);

·      Propeller and rudder modifications to decrease power consumption by six percent;

·      Removal and replacement of all lifeboat davit hooks with new state-of-the-art hooks to further ensure guest safety.

Norwegian Sun sails alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral, departing every Saturday through April 7, 2011. The ship’s seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise stops in Nassau, Bahamas; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten. On the seven-day Western Caribbean cruise, the ship will call in Cozumel, Mexico; Santo Tomás de Castilla, Guatemala; Belize City, Belize and Key West, Florida.  The two itineraries can be easily combined to create a port-rich 14-day Caribbean tour for guests looking for a longer cruise escape.  

Beginning May 8 2011, Norwegian Sun will spend her summer in Europe sailing from Copenhagen, Denmark, for the first time in the company’s history, embarking on 15 nine-day Baltic Capitals cruises.  Ports of call include: Berlin (Warnemünde), Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; an overnight in St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm (Nynashamn), Sweden. 

Norwegian Sun has a variety of stateroom options, a choice of 14 dining venues, 10 bars and lounges, multiple entertainment venues, a luxurious spa and salon, state-of-the-art fitness center, a complimentary kid’s club and teen lounge, a sports deck and several spacious public rooms."

The improvements for the other ships are sure to be just as amazing! Bon Voyage!

Travel agent information: Theresa Cooke, CruiseMasters, Pineville, NC. Phone: 704.887.3968. Email address: tcooke@vivavoyage.com . Parent company website: http://www.vivavoyage.com/ .

Celebrity announces its final Deal of the Week

From time to time, I like to fill people in on specials that the cruise lines are offering. I get these emails regularly, and if I find something of interest, then I will let you know about them. Here is my latest on The CruiseHonk:

This week, Celebrity Cruises is offering incentives on its Alaska sailings. If you book your cruise from January 24-30, 2011, you can receive up to $150 per stateroom in onboard credit to use however you wish. You can use it on shore excursions, at the spa, at the premium restaurants, and at just about anywhere that accepts your card attached to your onboard account.

Go to CelebrityCruises.com to get more details on which sailings are available. They do have some limitations and conditions, like most cruise lines, so it pays to read all of them before booking to make sure you have everything covered. Here are a few of those regulations to spare you some time, courtesy of Celebrity:

"Prices are per person, cruise only on Alaska sailings from May 2011 to Sept 2011, based on double occupancy, in USD, subject to availability and subject to change without notice. Onboard credit Offer is applicable on Alaska sailings from May 2011 to Sept 2011, booked between January 24, 2011 to January 30, 2011. Onboard credit amounts are: 6 Nights plus: $50 per stateroom–inside & ocean view; $100 per stateroom–standard veranda; and $150 per stateroom–CC, Aqua and suites. Onboard credit amount is per stateroom and applied to published full fare rate by Celebrity Cruises within two week after Offer expiration. Onboard credit is not redeemable for cash and any unused amounts will expire at 10pm on the last night of the cruise. Offer is not combinable with any other offer or promotion and may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. Onboard credit will be applied by Celebrity Cruises prior to the departure date. Double occupancy or higher required. Singles paying 200% qualify for full Savings amount. One Offer per stateroom , new individual bookings only, subject to availability. Government taxes and fees additional. Certain restrictions apply."

Remember, it does pay to use a travel agent when booking travel, even if it isn't a cruise. They don't cost anything additional (they are actually paid by the vendors, not by YOU) and they provide service in times of trouble that websites and low-cost booking engines do not. Also, the referring agency has excellent relationships with the cruise lines that most do not have and can price-match in most cases, or in some cases, beat legitimate prices outright! That being said, if you ever need a great travel agent, look no further than below. I will continue to provide this information on most entries, so do not think that you are seeing things after a lot of entries! Please look below for that information. Bon Voyage!

Travel agent information: Theresa Cooke, CruiseMasters, Pineville, NC. Phone: 704.887.3968. Email address: tcooke@vivavoyage.com . Parent company website: http://www.vivavoyage.com/ .

Cunard "Royal Rendezvous" Caught on YouTube

For only the second time in history in New York, three of Cunard's "Queens" met within the harbor at the same time. This event, called the "Royal Rendezvous" highlighted activities involving Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and the new Queen Elizabeth.
The Queen Elizabeth had her Maiden Call to Manhattan during this span of activities, which was an exciting first for the line. Other activities included the ringing of the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, the lighting of the Empire State Building in Cunard "red", as well as a tremendous fireworks display by Grucci over the youngest fleet at sea in New York Harbor.

If you would like to see all of these festivities on video, please click here.

Bon Voyage!

Princess launches a contest for best Bucket List story

This is one of the best contests that I have seen from a travel provider. Princess Cruises is providing a contest through Facebook and the winner will be able to choose their ultimate dream cruise destination. The vacation will be between 10 and 16 days in length and you will spend your time in a balcony cabin for the ultimate in luxury. The trip will also include round trip airfare for two people. I have already begun working on my story, so I suggest you do the same. The copy of the press release from Princess is below:

"Princess Cruises is today launching a Facebook contest inviting its fans to share their most essential travel experience for a chance to check another place off their travel bucket list. The contest winner, to be determined by popular vote, will receive their choice of eight remarkable cruise destinations -- Europe, Asia, Tahiti, Australia/New Zealand, the Holy Land, Panama Canal, Alaska or South America.

The cruise vacation choices range from 10 to 16 days in length in a balcony stateroom, and include roundtrip airfare for two people.

Travelers can submit their compelling tales through the special contest tab on the line's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/PrincessCruises) either as a written story or video. The public will then have the opportunity to vote on the experience that inspires them the most, and the eligible entrant with the highest number of votes will win their dream cruise vacation.

There are two ways to enter the Princess Cruises Travel Bucket List Contest - with a written story up to 300 words and up to five photos, or with a video up to two minutes in length. Entries can be submitted any time until February 7, 2011. Fans can vote for the story that inspires them most between February 11-25, 2011 and the winner will be announced on or around March 11, 2011.

The contest is inspired by Princess' popular blog, 50 Essential Experiences, which chronicles bucket list travel experiences from the company's most-traveled employees. The blog, which has attracted over half a million page views since it launched in October, has motivated many travelers to think about their own travel bucket lists and plan essential travel experiences.

The eligible top vote-getter will receive his or her choice of one of the following eight cruise itineraries:
13-day New Zealand
Sydney, Bay of Islands, Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch (Lyttelton), Dunedin (Port Chalmers), Fiordland National Park Scenic Cruising, Sydney12-day Holy Land
Rome (Civitavecchia), Sorrento (for Capri & Pompeii), Patmos, Kusadasi (for Ephesus), Galilee/Nazareth (Haifa), Jerusalem (Ashdod), Port Said (for Giza/Cairo), Alexandria, Santorini, Athens (Piraeus)16-day Southeast Asia & China
Beijing (Tianjin), Busan, Nagasaki, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My), Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Singapore12-day Grand Mediterranean
Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples (for Capri & Pompeii), Mykonos, Istanbul, Kusadasi (for Ephesus), Athens (Piraeus), Venice (Overnight)14-day Panama Canal
Ft. Lauderdale, Aruba, Cartagena, Full transit of the Panama Canal, Fuerte Amador, Costa Rica (Puntarenas), Los Angeles12-night Alaska Connoisseur Deluxe Escorted Cruisetour
Vancouver, Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park, College Fjord, Whittier/Denali, Denali, Denali/Mt. McKinley, Mt. McKinley, Anchorage/Mt. McKinley, Anchorage10-day Tahiti & Polynesia
Tahiti (Papeete), Huahine, Rangiroa, Raiatea, Bora Bora (Overnight), Moorea, Tahiti (Papeete)14-day Cape Horn Route to Rio
Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Falkland Islands (Stanley), Cape Horn scenic cruising, Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego), Punta Arenas (Strait of Magellan), Chilean Fjords scenic cruising, Santiago (Valparaiso) The Princess Travel Bucket List contest is open to all residents of the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada (excluding Quebec), the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, aged 21 years or older. Official rules can be found at http://tinyurl.com/4ap4mdz."

I look forward to reading about some of your Bucket Lists. Bon Voyage!

Carnival's warm chocolate melting cake recipe revealed

If you have taken a Carnival Cruise Lines cruise, then you will know what I am talking about. If you haven't, then you should take one immediately to experience one of the great culinary secrets on the face of the earth. Carnival's cruises offer a dessert every night at dinner called the Warm Chocolate Melting Cake. I kid you not when I tell you that I slam at least 10 of these in a 7-day cruise easily. The combination of the melting lava-like cake along with the delicious ice cream make this a treat to savor. Or perhaps have more than one of after dinner. On top, there is a thin chocolate that is shaped like the famed Carnival whale tale. There is nothing better.

Now, I am giving you the power to make it on your own. It's easy to make. Occasionally you may have some difficulty getting it perfect, but continue to try and master it. You can and you will! Of course it will never be as perfect as those on a cruise, since cruising makes everything better. But, it will be just good enough, and if it makes the experience more enjoyable, then put on some Calypso music in the background!

You can find the recipe here: http://exm.nr/9TO9SO. Enjoy your dessert and Bon Voyage!

Carnival, other lines to pull the last of its ships from California

Carnival Cruise Lines announced that it will be pulling the rest of its California cruise ships from San Diego because of the poor economy. The economy played a part in the decision as did the fear of tourists over traveling to Mexico. The last ship of Carnival's will be the Carnival Spirit, which will begin sailing out of Australia in 2012. Carnival cites great opportunity for the withdrawal, going to a potentially booming port instead of one (San Diego) that has gone bust for the cruise line.

According to published reports, the Port of San Diego stands to lose approximately $54 million a year in tourist spending because of the withdrawal. That translates into 60,000-plus passengers visiting the Mexican Riviera from the port.

In Los Angeles, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has announced its plans to take its Mariner of the Seas out of California. Its last departure from the Port of Los Angeles will be on Sunday. The 3,100-passengers cruise ship will now call Galveston, Texas its home after a tour of South America. Norwegian Cruise Line has also said that its Norwegian Star, a 2,300-plus passenger cruise ship, will leave Los Angeles to call Tampa its home port in May.

Although the economy has been to blame for sagging revenues for the cruise lines, other factors have come into play. Drug-related violence in Mexico has been a deterrent to travelers wishing to explore the area.

Hopefully for California, these factors can be alleviated and the cruise industry can re-enter in the near future. Bon Voyage!

Carnival Magic European Promotions

The Carnival Magic begins sailing in May 2011. Like the Carnival Dream, its sister ship, it is one of the largest in the Carnival fleet, and her sailings are among the most anticipated in cruise line history. To help celebrate the inaugural sailings, Carnival Cruise Lines is offering some incentives that will pay you back if you sail the Carnival Magic in Europe. Not only will past guests benefit from booking this ship, but the general public will as well.

The Carnival Magic will be showcasing her "first of her kind" amenities and present popular port side highlights including Naples, Rome, Monaco and much more.

If you are a past guest of Carnival you have a lot to look forward to with the Carnival Magic. You are entitled to additional savings than the general public. Your 7-day Barcelona - Mediterranean cruises start at $849 for an Inside cabin, $1,049 for an Oceanview cabin, and $1,199 for a Balcony cabin. This is for the July 3, July 10, and July 17, 2011 sailings. The 9-day Barcelona and Venice - Mediterranean cruises start at $899 for an Inside cabin, $1,199 for an Oceanview cabin, and $1,429 for a Balcony cabin. Sailings on this itinerary depart on May 1, 2011, and also on June 3, June 24, August 5, August 26, September 16, and October 7, 2011. And on top of that, there is a 12-day Barcelona - Mediterranean cruise that starts at $1,199 for an Inside cabin, $1,499 for an Oceanview cabin and $1,749 for a Balcony cabin. These sailings are May 10, May 22, June 12, July 24, August 14, September 4, September 25, and October 16, 2011. These prices are per person, and based on double occupancy. Port charges, government taxes, gratuities and potential fuel surcharges are not included. Regardless, these are some amazing deals. These prices are very hard to beat for Europe, especially considering that Carnival also offers airfare.

If you book from January 10-30, 2011, as past guests of Carnival, you get these exclusive past guest rates, plus up to $200 in onboard credit per stateroom, and not only that, *drumroll please*, you get free best available upgrades. These are only available if you book with a travel agent, so find one if you don't already have one!

Now, folks who aren't past guests, never fear. There are specials for you as well. You may not have the pricing that past guests have; however, Carnival has upped the ante by providing you with up to $300 in onboard credit per stateroom, which is $100 higher than with past guests! Your 7-day Barcelona - Mediterranean cruises start at $919 for an Inside cabin, $1,119 for an Oceanview cabin, and $1,269 for a Balcony cabin. This is for the July 3, July 10, and July 17, 2011 sailings. The 9-day Barcelona and Venice - Mediterranean cruises start at $979 for an Inside cabin, $1,279 for an Oceanview cabin, and $1,509 for a Balcony cabin. Sailings on this itinerary depart on May 1, 2011, and also on June 3, June 24, August 5, August 26, September 16, and October 7, 2011. And on top of that, there is a 12-day Barcelona - Mediterranean cruise that starts at $1,299 for an Inside cabin, $1,649 for an Oceanview cabin and $1,899 for a Balcony cabin. These sailings are May 10, May 22, June 12, July 24, August 14, September 4, September 25, and October 16, 2011. These prices are per person, and based on double occupancy. As mentioned above, port charges, government taxes, gratuities and potential fuel surcharges are not included.

Please check with your travel agent to lock in these fares. Nobody does it better than Europe! Bon Voyage!

Travel agent information: Theresa Cooke, CruiseMasters, Pineville, NC. Phone: 704.887.3968. Email address: tcooke@vivavoyage.com . Parent company website: http://www.vivavoyage.com/.

Princess Cruises Reveals Essential Experience #13

Princess Cruises has a great blog called the 50 Essential Experiences. It tells you of the greatest travel experiences on the planet, as told by travel writers and experts. It is something you should really look over in order to generate more ideas about your dream vacation. Installment 13 was revealed today and Princess talks about it here:

"Princess Cruises today revealed Essential Experience #13 on its blog, "50 Essential Experiences: The Travel Bucket List." This week Senior Vice President of Commercial Affairs Tony Kaufman relives the excitement and emotion of his family tour of Israel, including visits to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and the Dead Sea.

He writes: "Israel provided two very different types of experiences that, for me and my family, blended into a seamless appreciation of a complex country. The somewhat serious religious and historical aspects of Israel revealed themselves in numerous ways and places throughout our visit. In addition, Israel has another side to it that makes it an exciting and fun place to be." read more


The blog's "Reader Essential Experience of the Week" describes the delights of Shanghai, China.
These and other stories can be found online at www.50EssentialExperiences.com, where a new experience is unveiled weekly. Each is authored by a Princess destination expert -- "a long-serving and well-traveled shipboard or shoreside employee."

Bon Voyage!

Celebrity Cruises announces its Deal of the Week

From time to time, I like to fill people in on specials that the cruise lines are offering. I get these emails regularly, and if I find something of interest, then I will let you know about them. Here is my latest on The CruiseHonk:

This week, Celebrity Cruise Lines is offering incentives on its Caribbean sailings. If you book your cruise from January 10-16, 2011, you can receive up to $150 per stateroom in onboard credit to use however you wish. You can use it on shore excursions, at the spa, at the premium restaurants, and at just about anywhere that accepts your card attached to your onboard account.

Go to CelebrityCruises.com to get more details on which sailings are available. They do have some limitations and conditions, like most cruise lines, so it pays to read all of them before booking to make sure you have everything covered. Here are a few of those regulations to spare you some time, courtesy of Celebrity:

"Prices are per person, cruise only on Caribbean sailings from March 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011, based on double occupancy, in USD, subject to availability and subject to change without notice. Onboard credit Offer is applicable on all Caribbean sailings from March 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 booked between January 10, 2011 to January 16, 2011. Onboard credit amounts are: 4/5 Nights $25 per stateroom–inside & ocean view; $50 per stateroom–standard veranda; and $75 per stateroom–CC, Aqua and suites. 6 Nights plus: $50 per stateroom–inside & ocean view; $100 per stateroom–standard veranda; and $150 per stateroom–CC, Aqua and suites. Onboard credit amount is per stateroom and applied to published full fare rate by Celebrity Cruises within two weeks after Offer expiration. Onboard credit is not redeemable for cash and any unused amounts will expire at 10pm on the last night of the cruise. Offer is not combinable with any other offer or promotion and may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. Onboard credit will be applied by Celebrity Cruises prior to the departure date. Double occupancy or higher required. Singles paying 200% qualify for full Savings amounts. One Offer per stateroom , new individual bookings only, subject to availability. Government taxes and fees additional. Certain restrictions apply."

Remember, it does pay to use a travel agent when booking travel, even if it isn't a cruise. They don't cost anything additional (they are actually paid by the vendors, not by YOU) and they provide service in times of trouble that websites and low-cost booking engines do not. Also, the referring agency has excellent relationships with the cruise lines that most do not have and can price-match in most cases, or in some cases, beat legitimate prices outright! That being said, if you ever need a great travel agent, look no further than below. I will continue to provide this information on most entries, so do not think that you are seeing things after a lot of entries! Please look below for that information. Bon Voyage!

Travel agent information: Theresa Cooke, CruiseMasters, Pineville, NC. Phone: 704.887.3968. Email address: tcooke@vivavoyage.com . Parent company website: http://www.vivavoyage.com/ .

Norwegian Epic to Debut Three New "Legends in Concert"

Norwegian Cruise Lines, whose biggest ship afloat is the Norwegian Epic, has announced that it will debut three more "Legends in Concert" aboard its ships. These "Legends in Concert" shows, which are also found in concert venues in Myrtle Beach, Branson, Las Vegas, Seattle, Atlantic City, Foxwoods Casino and Coushatta Casino, have become quite a hit on the Norwegian Epic.

The three new performers will be tributes to Janet Jackson, Neil Diamond and Aretha Franklin. Karin Lawson, from Denver, will portray Janet Jackson; William Paul, from Australia, will perform during the show as Neil Diamond; and DeNita Asberry, who hails from Detroit, will impersonate Aretha Franklin.

Legends is Concert is a musical tribute to the greatest musicians, which feature the world's greatest celebrity tribute artists. Aboard the cruise, they feature three celebrity tribute performers for six 45-minute shows over three days during a seven-day cruise. In addition, a Legends "unplugged" show will be performed in the Manhattan Room, the cruise ship's New York-inspired supper club. The entertainers are changed every four months to keep "fresh" shows aboard. The previous group of performers impersonated Britney Spears, Rod Stewart, and Michael Jackson.

With all of this great entertainment, you are guaranteed a good time on the Epic. Bon Voyage!

Beatles Tribute Cruise Itinerary Announced - Sails March 5, 2011

A friend of mine, Woody Lifton, perhaps the biggest Beatles aficionado on the planet, has sent me a press release about his upcoming Beatles Tribute Cruise. This cruise, now an annual event, is the most unique of its kind, and is everything Beatles. If you are interested in a last-minute booking, please contact me at charlottecruiseexaminer@gmail.com and I will get Woody in touch with you about the cruise.
Below you will find the press release as it was sent to me yesterday:

"Angela DeDomenico, Cruise Planners – Music In M’Ocean, along with Woody Lifton will present Beatles Tribute Cruise 2011, scheduled to sail from Miami on March 5, 2011 onboard Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas for an 8-night sailing to the Eastern Caribbean.  Special Beatles guests include Laurence Juber, Yesterday Beatles Tribute Band, Tony Bramwell, Shannon- the World's Greatest Beatles Artist, Tony Perkins and Joe Johnson of Beatle Brunch.
The on board Beatles events itinerary for the cruise has been finalized and it is loaded with 5 concerts, private guitar lessons from Laurence Juber, videos from Tony Bramwell, Tony Perkins, Shannon and the Caribbean Premier of the John Lennon movie "Let Him Be" and much more. Below you will find the complete schedule for the cruise.
 
3/5/11- Day 1 - Miami
2:00 – 5 PM – Group Registration
6:00 – 8 PM- Cocktail Party- Joe Johnson introduces all Special Guests- Tony Perkins will reveal his up-close and intimate dialogues with Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Olivia Harrison and many of the Beatles friends during his tenure at “Good Morning America”. He will also discuss and interpret the media coverage of The Beatles through the years.  Laurence “LJ” Juber performs
3/6/11- Day 2 – AT SEA

2:00 – 2:30 PM- Main Pool- Yesterday performs/Joe Johnson introduces all Special Guests
10:30- 12:30 AM- Tony Bramwell presents his film, “The Beatles at Shea Stadium”-Yesterday Production Show
3/7/11- Day 3- At Sea

9:00 – 4:30 PM- Shannon Paints Live- Vendor Show
9:00 – 4:30 PM- Laurence “LJ” Juber offers private guitar lessons
3/8/11- Day 4- @ St Thomas

3/9/11- Day 5 @ St Maarten

10:45- 12:30AM Laurence “LJ” Juber Performance
3/10/11- Day 6 @ San Juan

3/11/10- Day 7 @ Labadee

10:30- 12:30 AM- Shannon Video presentation- Yesterday Performance
3/12/11- Day 8 @Sea

6:00- 7 PM- Caribbean Premier of LET HIM BE
7:00- 8PM- Farewell, autograph signing/pictures, raffle prizes"

It looks like a "Fab"ulous great time! Bon Voyage!11 AM- 12:30 PM- Joe Johnson’s Beatles Trivia Contest with Tony Perkins 2:00- 3 PM- Labadee Volleyball courts- Volleyball tournament 5:00 – 7 PM- Joe Johnson’s “Name That Tune” with Tony Perkins - Great prizes to be awarded 10:00 – 10:45 PM- Tony Bramwell presents his film “A Day In The Life” DAY OFF Enjoy St Thomas

Yachts of Seabourn Relocating to Seattle

Holland America Line announced that its sister company, the Yachts of Seabourn, will be relocating its headquarters in Seattle, along with Holland, which will give parent company, Carnival Corporation, a strong foothold in the Pacific Northwest. The two companies, although they will maintain separate brands and management teams, will operate at a joint headquarters site. Holland stated that this will increase efficiency with both cruise lines by using shared resources.

The transition from Seabourn's current headquarters in Miami to Seattle will take some time as you could imagine. The transition will be a change in management at the top of Seabourn as well. Current president Pamela Conover has elected not to move to Seattle at this time, and once the transition to Seattle is complete, Ms. Conover will assume a new role as special advisor and brand ambassador. Richard Meadows, who has 25 years of experience throughout Carnival Corporation, will assume the role of president at the time when the move to Seattle is completed. He will also continue to be an executive vice president of marketing, sales and guest programs for Holland America.

For those of you unfamiliar with Seabourn, the company operates ultra-luxury cruises on smaller, more intimate ships than the traditional cruise lines. Because the ships are smaller, they have the opportunity to go to places in the world that passengers desire to see that the big ships cannot reach because of their size. Seabourn's fleet includes Seabourn Pride, Seabourn Spirit, Seabourn Legend, Seabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Sojourn. The company plans to sail its newest ship, the Seabourn Quest, beginning in June 2011.

Bon Voyage!

Princess Facebook Fans Reveal Alaska at the Top of Their Travel Bucket List

Princess Cruise Lines today revealed the results of their Travel Resolutions poll, which was conducted over Facebook. The results were more astounding than originally thought, with one-fourth of those responding stating that they would travel to Alaska in 2011.

Also, when asked about their travel "bucket lists", travelers responded that two of the most intriguing experiences that they would like to try is (1) dog sledding in Alaska on a glacier, or (2) plan a visit to the "Lost City of the Incas", otherwise known as Machu Picchu, Peru.

According to Princess, travelers have their own "bucket lists", and their press release gives the details, which are shown below:

"Domestic vs. International Travel
Surprisingly, more than one-fourth of consumers chose a U.S. destination over an exotic international location, citing Alaska as their first choice.  The Caribbean (15%) and  Europe (14%) also made many people’s lists this year, with fewer folks choosing Hawaii (8%); Panama Canal (7%); Africa (5%); Australia (5%); Amazon (4%); Asia (2%); Canada/New England (2%); Mexican Riviera (2%); New Zealand (2%); South America (2%), and India (1%).

Ultimate Travel Bucket List Experience
Alaska was also popular for future bucket list experiences.  Seventeen percent of respondents chose dog mushing on an Alaskan glacier as their top pick inspired by a growing list of essential experiences shared by destination experts on Princess’ recently launched blog, 50 Essential Experiences: The Travel Bucket List. Equally inspiring was the dream of discovering the lost city of Machu Picchu in Peru, which also got 17% of the vote, as did visiting historic castles in Scotland (17%).  Other travelers selected climbing the cliffs of Santorini, Greece (14%); traveling the golden circle in Iceland (7%); exploring the ancient city of Petra, Jordan (7%); journeying to Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (7%); visiting Vietnam (6%); bobsledding in Jamaica (5%); and visiting art deco treasures in Napier, New Zealand (4%) for their bucket lists.

Most Desired Travel Companions
Spouses and significant others won the popularity contest for most desired travel companions in 2011, with 68% of respondents planning to take along their “other half.”  The next most common co-travelers are good friends (15%); while kids garnered only 6% of the vote as did extended family groups.  Only a few people resolved to travel with their siblings (3%) and parents (2%) this year.

Celebrity Fancy
However, if they could choose a celebrity instead of their spouse, most travelers want to pack their bags with Oprah, who outranked 11 other notable figures as the most desired celebrity travel companion, with 19% of the vote.  Other famous folks that travelers wanted to take along included Jack Black (17%); Tina Fey (14%); Bono (12%); Heidi Klum (10%); Mario Batali (8%); Michelle Obama (6%); and Peyton Manning (5%).  However, future princess Kate Middleton only received 3% of the vote and surprisingly few people chose Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg (2%).  Teen sensation Justin Bieber (1%) and Mike ‘The Situation’ from reality show “Jersey Shore” (1%) were the least popular choices.

Travel Experiences
Despite the adventurous nature of many of their favorite destinations, what Princess fans really want on vacation is relaxation.  Nearly 50% of respondents chose this as an essential component to culling a travel bucket list, followed by adventure (19%); entertainment (17%); culture (12%); and romance (12%).

About the Poll
Results are based on findings from a poll fielded on the Princess Cruises Facebook page from December 27, 2010 to January 3, 2011."

Princess, by the way, is one of the CruiseHonk's favorite cruise lines, in case they were wondering. Bon Voyage!

Holland America Line Wins Best Cruise Value Award

Holland America Line announced today that it has received the Best Overall Cruise Value award by the World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society (WOCLS) for the 18th consecutive year for its premium cruise experience.

Making this such a prestigious award is the fact that WOCLS is made up of thousands of cruise fanatics that take, on average, two cruises per year. It publishes Ocean and Cruise News on a monthly basis. WOCLS also gave HAL top awards in the High-Deluxe, 5-Star, Large Ships Category during the WOCLS Best Cruise Value Awards.

Bon Voyage!

Carnival Fantasy's 2011-12 Itineraries - Cruise from Charleston, SC

I received the schedule for the various itineraries for the Carnival Fantasy today, which spans through 2012. This ship is a great one. It was refurbished and repositioned to Charleston, South Carolina, which is now her homeport. There are a lot of great places to see and superb dining in Charleston. Stay tuned for The CruiseHonk's recommendations in Charleston.

There are four different itineraries that the Carnival Fantasy will sail during this time period. They are listed below.

The Carnival Fantasy will sail on 5-day cruises to the Bahamas during the following dates:

5 Day Cruise to the Bahamas

2011

Friday, January 7-12, 2011

Wednesday, January 12-17

Monday, January 17-22

Friday, January 28-Feb 2

Wednesday, February 2-7

Monday, February 7-12

Friday, February 18-23

Tuesday, March 1-6

Friday, March 18-23

Wednesday, March 23-28

Monday, March 28-April 2

Friday, April 8-13

Wednesday, April 13-18

Monday, April 18-23

Friday, April 29- May 4

Wednesday, May 4-9

Monday, May 9-14

Saturday, May 14-19

Wednesday, May 25-30

Monday, May 30-June 4

Saturday, June 11-16

Wednesday, June 22-27

Monday, June 27-July 2

Friday, July 29-August 3

Wednesday, August 3-8

Monday, August 8-13

Saturday, August 20-25

Wednesday, Aug 31-Sept 5

Monday, September 5-10

Saturday, September 10-15

Wednesday, Sept 21-26

Monday, Sept 26-Oct 1

Wednesday, October 12-17

Monday, October 17-22

Friday, October 28-Nov 2

Wednesday, November 2-7

Monday, November 7-12

Friday, November 18-23

Wednesday, Nov 23-28

Monday, Nov 28-Dec 3

Friday, December 9-14

Wednesday, Dec 14-19

Monday, December 19-24

Friday, December 30-Jan 4

2012

Wednesday, Jan 4 – 9, 2012

Monday, Jan 9 –14

Friday, Jan 20 – 25

Wednesday, Jan 25 – 30

Monday, Jan 30 – Feb 4

Friday, Feb 10 – 15

Wednesday, Feb 15 – 20

Monday, Feb 20 – 25

Friday, March 2 – 7

Wednesday, March 7 – 12

Monday, March 12 – 17

Friday, March 23 – 28

Wednesday, Mar 28 – Apr 2

Monday, April 2 – 7

Friday, April 13 – 18

Wednesday, April 18 – 23

Monday, April 23 - 28

The 5-day Bahamas itinerary begins in Charleston, then has a "Fun Day" at Sea, and then ports in Freeport, The Bahamas, followed by Nassau, The Bahamas, then another "Fun Day" at Sea, before returning back to Charleston.

The Carnival Fantasy will sail on 6-day cruises to the Bahamas and Key West during the following dates:

2011

Saturday, January 1-7, 2011

Saturday, January 22-28

Saturday, February 12-18

Wednesday, Feb 23-March 1

Sunday, March 6-12

Saturday, March 12-18                      

Saturday, April 2-8

Saturday, July 23-29

Saturday, October 22-28

Saturday, November 12-18

Saturday, December 3-9

Saturday, December 24-30

2012

Saturday, January 14 – 20, 2012

Saturday, February 4 – 10

Saturday, Feb 25 – March 2

Saturday, March 17 – 23

Saturday, April 7 – 13

Saturday, April 28

This 6-day itinerary is similar to the 5-day Bahamas itinerary above, only an extra day is added on the front-end, stopping in Key West, Florida before cruising to Freeport and Nassau.

The Carnival Fantasy will sail on 6-day cruises to Bermuda and 7-day cruises to the Exotic Eastern Caribbean during the following dates:

2011 6 Day Cruise to Bermuda                                             2011 7 Day Cruise to the Exotic Eastern Caribbean

Saturday, April 23-29          Thursday, August 25-31                                      Saturday, June 4-11                             Saturday, July 16-23

Thursday, May 19-25          Thursday, September 15-21                               Saturday, July 2-9                                 Saturday, August 13-20

Thursday, June 16-22          Thursday, October 6 - 12                                    Saturday July 9-16

For the Bermuda cruises, the ship will leave Charleston and have a "Fun Day" at Sea, then arrive in Bermuda at 4pm the following day, and then leaving at 5pm the next day. Two more "Fun Days" at Sea will then occur before arriving back in Charleston.

For the Exotic Caribbean cruises, the Carnival Fantasy will first call upon Grand Turk Island in the Turks & Caicos, followed by stops in Half Moon Cay - which is Carnival's private island in the Bahamas - and Nassau, before returning to Charleston.

All of these cruises are available for booking now. Please call your travel agent to get the best rates and lock in your vacation. If you need a travel agent, please see the contact information at the bottom of this article. Bon Voyage!

Travel Agent Contact: Theresa Cooke, CruiseMasters, Carolina Place Mall, Pineville, NC. Telephone: 704.887.3968. Email: tcooke@vivavoyage.com. Parent company website: http://www.vivavoyage.com/.

Celebrity Cruises offers it's Deal of the Week

From time to time, I like to fill people in on specials that the cruise lines are offering. I get these emails regularly, and if I find something of interest, then I will let you know about them. Here is my first on The CruiseHonk:

This week, Celebrity Cruise Lines is offering incentives on its Australia & New Zealand as well as its Panama Canal sailings. If you book your cruise from January 3-9, 2011, you can receive up to $150 per stateroom in onboard credit to use however you wish. You can use it on shore excursions, at the spa, at the premium restaurants, and at just about anywhere that accepts your card attached to your onboard account.

Go to CelebrityCruises.com to get more details on which sailings are available. They do have some limitations and conditions, like most cruise lines, so it pays to read all of them before booking to make sure you have everything covered. Here are a few of those regulations to spare you some time, courtesy of Celebrity:

"Prices are per person, cruise only on Panama Canal, Hawaii, Australia & New Zealand sailings in 2011, based on double occupancy, in USD, based on availability and subject to change without notice. Onboard credit Offer is applicable on all Panama Canal, Hawaii, Australia & New Zealand sailings in 2011 booked between January 3, 2011 to January 9, 2011. Onboard credit amounts are for $50 per stateroom–inside & ocean view; $100 per stateroom–standard veranda; and $150 per stateroom–CC, Aqua and suites. Onboard credit amount is per stateroom and applied to published full fare rate by Celebrity Cruises within two week after Offer expiration. Onboard credit is not redeemable for cash and any unused amounts will expire at 10pm on the last night of the cruise. Offer is not combinable with any other offer or promotion and may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. Onboard credit will be applied by Celebrity Cruises prior to the departure date. Double occupancy or higher required. Singles paying 200% qualify for full Savings amounts. One Offer per stateroom, new individual bookings only, subject to availability. Government taxes and fees additional. Certain restrictions apply."

That looks easy enough, doesn't it? Also, so you know, it does pay to use a travel agent when booking travel, even if it isn't a cruise. They don't cost anything additional (they are actually paid by the vendors, not by YOU) and they provide service in times of trouble that websites and low-cost booking engines do not. Also, the referring agency has excellent relationships with the cruise lines that most do not have and can price-match in most cases, or in some cases, beat legitimate prices outright! That being said, if you ever need a great travel agent, look no further than below. I will continue to provide this information on most entries, so do not think that you are seeing things after a lot of entries! Please look below for that information. Bon Voyage!

Travel agent information: Theresa Cooke, CruiseMasters, Pineville, NC. Phone: 704.887.3968. Email address: tcooke@vivavoyage.com . Parent company website: http://www.vivavoyage.com/ .

Welcome to The CruiseHonk!

Writing has been a passion for me ever since college, so you could imagine that since I have been out of school for nearly 20 years, I have written a lot, and my writing has improved a lot. Developing a style that readers enjoy is a difficult task, and hopefully you will enjoy the style that The CruiseHonk delivers. I will give you a lot of third-person accounts, but if there is something that I want to emphasize as a first-person account, I will do so as well. My professional writings are more of an appropriate third-person style, but I want to be able to reach you in a manner in which you feel comfortable with me, as if we are in a conversation about whatever the topic is. For those of you who have seen Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations", that is basically how I want to write to you. Do keep in mind, though, that when I am writing about a special that I hear about, I might be a little more technical, almost press release-like. It's not that I'm trying to avoid being personal with you, but just want you to know about a special with as much ease as possible.

Speaking of ease, a lot of people were asking me when I was thinking of blog names why I chose The CruiseHonk. Well, quite honestly, it was quick and very made up. One of my favorite sites on cruise travel is called CruiseCritic. It is a wonderful site. Another one is CruiseDiva. You can see the trend here. I wanted something in relation to cruise travel, and wanted it to be short. If you have seen the newest Carnival Cruise Line commercials, you will see at the end, a cruise ship horn going off. To me, I find that rather tickling and wanted to incorporate it in my writings. Unfortunately, I don't quite have sound effects on my site here, but when I do, watch out! You will get the "Honk" of a cruise ship after every article (or at least a button that will let you hear it when YOU want to!). That is the first reason why I used "Honk".

The second reason to call my blog The CruiseHonk was inspired by one of my favorite radio talk show hosts, Jim Rome (on Monday-Friday from 12pm-3pm Eastern time on the Premier Radio Network - see local listings for details or go to the official Jim Rome website for more details). Jim has his own "gloss" or terms that he uses to identify people or things in the sports world. He will sometimes call people or groups of people as "honks", such as "NBA honks" or "Brett Favre honks" for example, referring to the honks as people who are supportive. So Brett Favre honks are backers or supporters of Brett Favre. This only makes sense that I am a cruise "honk", because I think this is the best way to travel.

There you have it - the reason the name "CruiseHonk" came into existence. I hope you will enjoy it and come back regularly. I will have a lot of great stories, accounts, references, recommendations and much more on these pages in the months and years to come. If you ever have a story idea or a comment that you would like me to answer, please leave them here in the Comments section. If you would like a personal answer and don't wish to post on these pages, feel free to contact me at charlottecruiseexaminer@gmail.com. I will typically answer your email within 24 hours. Also, I do have a great travel agent that I work with on a regular basis (who happens to be married to me!), and she would be glad to help you plan your next cruise vacation. She can also help plan a group cruise, which as you will see in the coming posts, is a great way to cruise. Not only do you get a great vacation, but you get to share it with friends and/or family! More on that to come!

I hope you all have had a great holiday season and I wish you all a prosperous and healthy New Year in 2011!