CRUISE LINE & SHIP PROFILE:
Royal Caribbean International is a leading, innovative cruise vacation company. Our guests are active travelers who are looking for new experiences, a wide array of choices for the whole family, and a great vacation value. From activities onboard our ships like rock climbing and ice skating to shoreside adventures like glacier trekking and exploring Mayan ruins, we provide an experience that lets our guests see and do more than they ever imagined in places all over the globe. Our brand is distinguished by the Royal Advantage: Gold Anchor Service, energizing onboard and shoreside adventures, the most amazing and innovative ships, and remarkable destinations all over the world. Whether it's a 3-night getaway, a longer 14-night vacation, or something in between, Royal Caribbean provides an amazing vacation experience.
Ships In Fleet:
Destinations Served:
Customer Sales Policies:
Early Booking Incentives: May receive reduced rates
-Air/Sea Packages Available
-Ground Transfer Arrangements
-Confirmed Dining Preferences
-Advance Shore Excursion Bookings
-Single Occupancy Rates: 100% - 200%
-Reduced Third and Fourth Berth Fare
-Travel Insurance is available
Accepted Credit Cards:
-MasterCard
-Visa
-American Express
-Diners Club
-Discover
Special Programs/Facilities/Services:
Singles:
Single Supplement: 200%
Golf:
Individual Golf Excursions:
CRUISE LINE & SHIP PROFILE:
Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is an international cruise company and industry innovator operating 10 ships to 140 ports around the world. NCL is the leader in round-trip seven-day cruising from U.S. and Canadian ports. Offering its popular Homeland Cruising program seasonally from Boston, Charleston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Juan, Seattle and Vancouver, and year round from New York, Miami, Houston and Honolulu. NCL ushured in a new era of cruising when it introduced its innovatve Freestyle Cruising program. The program challenges the conventional model of cruising and is designed to meet the changing needs of today's cruise passengers. It offers NCL passengers a more relaxed, resort-style cruise product with complete flexibility and non-intrusive service of the highest standard. In addition, NCL in 2004 announced the launch of NCL America - the US flag brand under which all of it's US -flagged and US- crewed ships operate. NCL America ships, Pride of America and Pride of Aloha, offer an authentic Hawaii experience, with the great majority of the crew hailing from the islands and bringing their own very special Aloha Spirit onboard.
Ships In Fleet:
Destinations Served:
Customer Sales Policies:
Early Booking Incentives: Early Booking Fares
-Air/Sea Packages Available
-Ground Transfer Arrangements
-Advance Shore Excursion Bookings
-Single Occupancy Rates: 0-200%
-Minimum Age for Passengers: Minor must be accompanied by a passenger 21 yrs or older
-Minimum Age for Children: 6 months
-Reduced Third and Fourth Berth Fare
-Cancellation Penalty: 7 day cruises excluding Hawaii: 90-30 Deposit 29-8 50% 7 days or less 100%. 8-day cruise or more excluding Hawaii: 45-8 50% 7 days or less 100%. Garden Villa 45-30 50% 29 days or less 100%. Hawaii Cruises: 45-8 50% 7 days or less 100%
-Travel Insurance is available
Accepted Credit Cards:
-MasterCard
-Visa
-American Express
-Discover
Children/Families:
Special Programs/Facilities/Services:
Singles:
Single Supplement: Up to 200%
Golf:
Individual Golf Excursions:
United States / Canada
Meetings & Conferences:
Spa Services/Faciliies:
Information Taken From CLIA
Norwegian Cruise Line Alaska Cruise Information
Norwegian Cruise Line Europe Cruise Information
Norwegian Cruise Line Mexican Riviera Cruise Information
Read A Review On The Norwegian Dawn
CRUISE LINE & SHIP PROFILE:
Holland America Line delivers a cruise experience in the classic tradition of ocean voyaging. For more than 130 years, Holland America Line has defined premium cruising with spacious, elegant ships and accommodations, sophisticated five-star dining, gracious and unobtrusive service, extensive enrichment programs and activities and far-reaching itineraries that touch all seven continents. Holland America Line features 13 five-star ships with a fourth and final Vista-class ship to be delivered in January, 2006. These mid-size ships sail to all major cruising destinations around the world on itineraries ranging from 7 to 118 days in length. Holland America Line is the leader among major cruise lines in extended cruises of 10 days or longer and brings to 7-day cruises the style and quality expected by the most discriminating guests. Holland America Line has been honored as the "Best Overall Cruise Value" for 12 consecutive years by the World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society and has been the highest-rated premium cruise line year after year in Conde Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Survey and Travel & Leisure magazine's "World's Best" awards.
Ships In Fleet:
Destinations Served:
Customer Sales Policies:
-Air/Sea Packages Available
-Ground Transfer Arrangements
-Advance Shore Excursion Bookings
-Single Occupancy Rates: 150% to 200%
-Minimum Age for Children: 3 months
-Reduced Third and Fourth Berth Fare
-Cancellation Penalty: Passengers who cancel after the sailing date for any reason¸ including medical or family reasons¸ are subject to the following per-person cancellation fees:; 75-46 days before commencing travel: an amount equal to deposit requirement; 45-16 days before commencing travel: 50% of gross fare; 15 days or less before commencing travel: 100% of gross fare.
-Travel Insurance is available
Accepted Credit Cards:
-MasterCard
-Visa
-American Express
-Discover
Children/Families:
Special Programs/Facilities/Services:
Golf:
Individual Golf Excursions:
Meetings & Conferences:
Spa Services/Facilities:
Information Taken From CLIA
Holland America Alaska Cruises
Holland America Alaska Cruisetours
Holland America Mexican Riviera Cruises
Princess Cruises released its new brochure to help passengers escape into the Alaskan wilderness in 2005. The 120-page book details all of Princess’ cruise and cruisetour itinerary options for next summer, including the debut of the line’s new Direct to the Wilderness rail service between Whittier and Denali, an industry first.
Princess Cruises will offer 125 departures in 2005, aboard seven ships, and featuring three popular Alaska routes – seven-day Gulf of Alaska sailings between Vancouver and Whittier; seven-day Inside Passage from Seattle and 10-day Inside Passage from San Francisco. On land, 35 cruisetours options round out the offerings and the brochure provides helpful hints and a cruisetour finder to assist passengers in planning their land/sea vacation.
Highlights and itineraries for 2005 include:
Direct to the Wilderness
Passengers will be able to get to the wilderness faster than ever with the debut of the line’s “Direct to the Wilderness” rail program that will have trains ready and waiting right at the Whittier dock. This exclusive rail service is an industry first and will whisk passengers directly to Princess’ two Denali park-area lodges -- Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge or Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge -- via private direct-rail links. This innovative program will significantly reduce travel time and decrease the number of transfers needed on the way to the park. Guests will arrive in the Denali area in the afternoon of the same day they disembark their ship. As a result, Princess’ cruisetours not only offer the fastest way to the Denali area, but now every tour offers at least two nights in the park area.
Cruisetours
Passengers can create a full land/sea wilderness adventure with by adding one of Princess’ 35 land itinerary options, each offering at least two nights at Alaska’s number one land attraction, Denali National Park. Princess’ five wilderness lodges -- Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge and Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge – each offer dramatic riverfront locations in some of Alaska’s most stunning destinations.
Voyage of the Glaciers
Princess again offers seven-day sailings on its signature “Voyage of the Glaciers” itinerary between Vancouver and Whittier. The 2005 Alaska cruise season features new sister ships Coral Princess and Island Princess on alternating Saturday departures. They will be joined by Sun Princess and Dawn Princess, which set sail each Monday on either a northbound or southbound cruise. Sailing between May 7 and September 12, the ships offers passengers the opportunity to explore the ports of Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, plus cruising through the spectacular scenery of College Fjord, the Inside Passage and Alaska’s number one attraction, Glacier Bay National Park.
Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess Sail From Seattle
The largest cruise ships to ply Alaskan waters, Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess return to Seattle to offer seven-day roundtrip voyages calling at Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria, plus cruising through the dramatic glaciers, rock walls and waterfalls of Tracy Arm and the twin Sawyer Glaciers. Diamond Princess will offer 20 voyages on this itinerary departing on Saturdays between May 7 and September 17, 2005, while Sapphire Princess will offer 19 voyages departing on Sundays, beginning May 15 and continuing through September 18.
Regal Princess from San Francisco
Regal Princess will offer 14 departures between May 8 and September 15 on a 10-day Inside Passage itinerary roundtrip from “The City by the Bay,” San Francisco. Passengers have a choice of itineraries that feature calls at Victoria, Juneau and two other scenic Alaska ports that rotate between Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway or Haines. All voyages also offer premiere glacier viewing in Tracy Arm.
Press Release By Princess Cruises
Alaska Cruise Specialists - Cruising2Alaska.com
DIAMOND PRINCESS
Sister Ship(s): Sapphire Princess
Destination: Mexican Riviera
Length: 7 Nights
Dining:
I like the choice of dining onboard the Diamond Princess. Here they offer something for both experienced and new cruisers. Traditional Dining can be found in the International Dining Room on Deck 6. The International Dining Room offers two set times for dinner each evening of the cruise: 6:15pm and 8:30pm, where you sit at the same table, with the same people and the same wait staff every night of the cruise.
Personal Choice Dining is an open style offered in four smaller restaurants, each with their own theme. In each of these four restaurants you can find the International Dining Room menu, as well as that restaurants theme dining room menu. The four theme dining rooms are: Pacific Moon (Asian-Fusion), Sterling (steakhouse), Vivaldi (Italian), and Santa Fe (Mexican).
Sabatini’s Trattoria is a specialty restaurant onboard offering Italian cuisine. The Princess Patter describes Sabatini’s as “On Promenade Deck 7, Sabatini’s emerges as a classic trattoria, named after venerable prototype Trattoria Sabatini, a 200-year old institution in Florence, Diamond’s Sabatini’s offers a sensational menu. This unique treat includes a full array of appetizers., a delicious selection of pastas with a variety of sauces, Italian-style entrees from tiger prawns over langoustine to lobster tail and, of course, the same wonderful desserts that Princes passengers have learned to love.”
Sabatini’s is open for lunch (on sea days only) from 11:30am to 2:00pm and every night for dinner from 6:00pm to 11:00pm. The cost is $20 US per person. I found the décor and experience good, however the selection of food was limited. The majority of the menu was seafood and only two main dishes offered that were different (chicken & veal).
Room Service is 24 hours. The room service menu was limited, but I likes that hot food could be ordered in the middle of the night, as the buffet at the Horizon Court is limited at that particular time of day.
The Horizon Court is the buffet on Deck 14. Here they offered a wide selection of food for breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks and dinner. In the middle of the night I found the selection to be poor; with only cold sandwiches available.
Bars & Entertainment:
There were two shows offered nightly in the main show lounge. Entertainment throughout the week included “Piano Man” and “Undercover” (Las Vegas-style shows) by the Princess Singers and Dancers, comedians, and specialty dancers. Other gameshow-style entertainment was offered by the Cruise Staff which included “The Weakest One”, “Passenger Feud”, “The Princess Price Is”, “Princess Jeopardy”, “Princess Payramids”, Karaoke, and “Princess Idol”. Plus, on a few certain nights that were theme-parties offered: 50s & 60s Sock Hop, Country Barn Party, On Deck Pool Party, and Line Dance Mania.
Internet Café:
The Internet Café was open 24-hours, however if I visited during the middle of the night I found there was no internet connection. The service was fairly slow, but the pricing was good at only $0.35 per minute. Unfortunately, they had no packages available for purchase.
Sports & Fitness:
The Fitness Center on board is located on Deck 15 forward. I found there was a limited selection of machines to choose from and no area to stretch. There was an aerobics area with one wall of floor-to-ceiling mirrors and one wall of glass to look outside. The following classes were offered: Pure & Simple Stretch, Aerobics, CircuitXpress, Total Body Conditioning, Walk A Mile, Pathway to Yoga*, SpinXpress*, and Pilates*. *These classes have a fee of $10 US per person.
One nice thing I liked about the cardio machines was that each had its own TV with remote. Headphones to listen to the TV could be rented from the spa front desk.
There is a Basketball/Volleyball court, Princess Links mini-golf course, and forward on Deck 16 and 18.
The Lotus Spa and Salon on Deck 15 is open from 8:00am to 10:00pm daily. I recommend taking the spa tour the first afternoon of the cruise (embarkation day) because you are shown the entire spa area and shown many of the treatments. If you are looking for a really good deal at the spa I recommend waiting for the first port day. The ship offers a few packages for guests that book an appointment while the ship is in port. This may mean taking an hour away from shore, but it’s worth it! One thing I liked about this spa is they don’t try to sell you anything during or after your treatment.
Some specials offered during the cruise included:
Spa Taster – 25 minute massage & 25 minutes rehydrating booster facial for $79
Ionithermie – Algae Detox – 55 minutes for $105
Oxygen Lifting Facial – 55 minutes for $89
Muscle Detox Therapy – 80 minutes for $140
Mix & Match Packge – Choose any 3 of the following for $79 or choose any 4 of the following for $99
-Re-Polish (hands & feet), Foot & Ankle Massage, Mini Facial, Scalp Massage (with warm Tahitian Monoi Oil), Conditioning Hair Treatment, Comb Out
Or if you just want some relaxation time, but don’t want to spend a fortune I’d recommend the Thermal Sanctuary Suite. You can by a day pass for $10 or a weekly pass for $70 US per person or $109 per couple. This special room offers heated mosaic lounge chairs, a tropical shower, Aromatic room, mild steam room, sauna, and a mint/fog shower!
Princess Patter:
I found the daily program guide, the Princess Patter, difficult to read. There was no area on it where it showed what restaurants are open and for what times. Plus, it seemed to me like a big advertisement of what to buy, where and when.
Princess Kid’s:
The two main programs and areas for kids included The Fun Zone and Off Limits. Fun Zone was open from 7:00am to 10:00pm daily and Off Limits was open from 7:00pm to 1:00am daily. Plus, from 8:00pm to 5:00pm and 10:00pm to 1:00am kid-sitting was available, but advanced booking is required.
Pools & Hot Tubs:
The pool area wasn’t really large, but I liked the layout of the pool deck. They built the ship with tiered decks on one side of the pool, that way sun and deck chairs can be found almost everywhere. Shade was hard to find.
Stateroom:
We were in Oceanview Stateroom #P217 (Category EE) on the starboard side of the ship. When you walk into the stateroom there is a narrow hallway with open closet area two the right, the bathroom and a full-length mirror on the front of a wardrobe. I liked that there were many hangers in the open-closet area for us to hang our clothes on. The rest of the room had two twin beds (that could be pushed together to make a queen), two small bed-side tables with three drawers, a desk with a large mirror, more drawers, a fridge, and telephone. The window was a very large size and easy to see out of. The TV was in a strange place above the desk in the corner of the room on the same side as the beds, so viewing TV in bed was difficult.
Our stateroom attendant was in the hallway most mornings and evenings when we left the room. Every time we came back from some activities the room it was made up and each night there was chocolate on our pillow.
Boarding & Transfer Tip:
I purchased the transfers with Princess Cruises and was a little shocked to find no representative at the baggage claim area of the airport when I arrived. There were many people on my flight going on the cruise so I immediately walked up to the Information Desk to contact the representative. We had arrived into the Tom Bradley International Arrival section of the airport and were informed that we needed to walk to another terminal in the airport to meet the Princess motorcoach for the transfer. There was about 25 of us and we walked from Tom Bradley to Terminal 4 with all our luggage and then waited for the motorcoach to arrive. The entire time I was walking from one terminal to the other I was thinking how could an older person do this? I am a young, able-bodied person and my arm was a bit sore from my heavy bag so I was ok. But an older person with any luggage could and would have difficulties doing this. I felt the transfer was unorganized and that the motorcoach could and should of picked us up at the Tom Bradley Terminal.
The majority of time onboard Diamond Princess I did not feel as thought I was with 2,800 other passengers. However, during the boarding process I could tell I was getting on a large ship. It took approximately 30 minutes to board and the most inconvient was waiting in line to have everyone’s photo taken.
Announcements:
Announcements on board were made in English. I was surprised that there were usually three announcements made per day on the cruise talking about what to do onboard. As other Premium Cruise Lines do not have any announcements.
Ports of Call:
On this particular cruise we stopped in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. In Puerto Vallarta I enjoyed touring from the ship to the LaHoya area. It is located in the mountains and offers stunning views of the ocean. In Mazatlan I highly recommend shopping. Here were the best deals/prices and it was easiest to barter. There are a few great markets in the Golden Zone, plus many nice hotels and restaurants. In Cabo San Lucas I recommend spending your time in the water or on the beach. Here you’ll find quiet beautiful beaches just 15 minutes from the tender pier. Just make sure you negotiate the taxi price roundtrip and pay half at the beginning and half when they pick you up…you don’t want to be stuck at the beach because there are very few people at certain beaches there.
Written By Denise Blackmore, ACC
View Diamond Princess Mexican Riviera Cruises
View Pictures Of Diamond Princess
View Princess Alaska Cruises
View Princess Tahiti Cruises
View Caribbean Princess Cruise Specials
Virus Hits Florida-based Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fl (January 8, 2005). - Nearly 120 passengers and crew members became sick with a stomach virus aboard a ship that returned to port today after a five-day Caribbean cruise, Royal Caribbean International officials said.
The outbreak of a Norwalk-type virus aboard the Enchantment of the Seas sickened 108 passengers and eight crew members, said company spokesman Michael Sheehan. It was traced to a man who had symptoms two days before boarding the ship Monday, he said.
A special cleaning of the 1,950-passenger ship was expected to delay a scheduled departure today for a few hours, officials said.
Symptoms of Norwalk-like viruses include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea and last up to 48 hours. No special medical treatment is required.
Such viruses affect 23 million Americans a year and were blamed for a rash of cruise ship illnesses more than a year ago that prompted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate several lines. In September, 84 passengers aboard a cruise ship from Alaska fell ill with a Norwalk-like virus.
Information Taken From Associated Press
Alaska Cruise Information
Mexico Cruise Information
Tahiti Cruise Information
NORWEGIAN DAWN
Sister Ship: Norwegian Star
Ship Facts:
The ship was completed December 4th, 2002 at Meyer Weft, Papenburg, Germany. It took two years to build at a cost of $420 million. She sailed her maiden voyage from Europe on December 7th, 2002. The ship’s Godmother actress Kim Cattral christened the ship in New York City on December 16th, 2002. Ms. Cattral is best known for her show “Sex in the City.”
The ship was an amazing construction project. She has the engines to cruise at a speed of 25 knots and has over 810 miles of electric cable and 65 miles of pipe within her hull. There are over 835 exterior windows, and 1,834 interior doors. It took over 1,000 gallons of paint to cover her exterior with another 3,000 gallons for interior surfaces.
She is 965 feet in length and weighs 91,740 Gross Registered Tons. 12 passenger elevators and 10 service elevators transport guest and crew. Over 25,000 light bulbs of various sizes and shapes light the way around the vessel. Over 6,800 Hi-fog sprinklers and 437 fire hydrants provide protections in all spaces.
The ship has 1,112 staterooms on board including the incredible two Garden Villa suites. The multi-room villas offer panoramic views of the ocean. Each villa has a roof top terrace and private Italian garden, featuring open-air dining, Jacuzzi, and totally private sunning areas and relaxation areas. Each villa spans more than 5,350 square feet. These two suites are truly two of the most extravagant suites at sea!
Although the ship is registered in Nassau, Bahamas, the officers, staff, and crew are made up of over 1,100 people from over 65 different countries.
Dining:
I was impressed with the number of dining choices available and the variety of choices.
Room Service is 24 hours. The room service menu was limited, but I felt there was many other dining choices to please my craving’s.
The Garden Café is the buffet on Deck 11, where the pool is located. It serves an Breakfast Buffet from 7:00am to 10:30am, Luncheon Buffet from 12:00pm to 2:30pm, and Afternoon Snack Service from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. In the evening half of the buffet is open for Theme Buffet from 5:30pm to 9:30pm and the other half becomes La Trattoria.
Blue Lagoon is a 24-hour dining restaurant. It feels like a buffet because of the open kitchen, but it is table service. Here you’ll find hot dogs, hamburgers, French fries, chicken wings, Fish & chips, etc. It serves an Early Risers Breakfast from 6:00am to 7:30am. On the wall there is a jut box where you select music and the videos are played. Each time I dined at this restaurant I noticed the staff punching in 10 or more songs in a row of what they wanted to hear, so if someone else wanted to hear something you’d have to wait a while.
The Main Dining Rooms are Venetian, Aqua and Impressions. I was felt that Impressions was the best of all three. It offers beautiful décor with candle-light and comfortable booths with nice artwork on the walls. Breakfast is served in Venetian daily from 7:30am to 9:30am. Lunch is served in either Venetiani or Aqua daily from 12:00pm to 2:00pm. Dinner is served in all three restaurants from 5:30pm to 10:00pm. All three restaurants are open seating, however if you have a large group wanting to dine together or you specifically want a table for two I recommend making reservations earlier in the day.
La Trattoria is an Italian restaurant. It serves dinner from 5:30pm to 10:00pm. It offers many Italian favourites like Carpaccio, Caeser Salad and pastas fresh to order. All courses came quickly and the service was friendly.
Salsa is a Mexican/Spanish restaurant offering tapas. It is open for Dinner from 5:30pm to 10:00pm nightly. Of all the restaurants onboard this restaurant seemed to be the least busy. It offers a nice location in the atrium on Deck 8 with nightly live music overheard and seen from one story below.
Le Bistro is a French restaurant offered onboard all Norwegian Cruise Line ships. It is open for Dinner from 5:30pm to 10:00pm nightly. Reservations are required and can only be made the day before or the day of. There is a cover charge of $15 US per person. Here you dine along side original works of art by Van Gogh, Renior, Matisse and Monet.
Cagney’s Steakhouse is offered nightly on Deck 12. It is open for Dinner from 5:30pm to 10:00pm. Reservations are required and can only be made the day before or the day of. There is a per person cover charge of $20-25 US per person, depending on the main course you choose. Of all the dinners we had this was the best. The selection of meat is excellent, plus there is surf & turf, 24oz porterhouse and a full lobster offered on the menu. Some appetizers offered included Crab Cakes, Lobster Bisque, and Oster Rockefeller Caseroll.
Bamboo is an Asian Fusion restaurant. It offers table service, a Sushi Bar, and a private Teppanyaki room. There is a cover charge of $12.50 US per person to have table service Bamboo. It is open from 5:30pm to 10pm nightly. The Sushi Bar is open two days for lunch and nightly from 5:30pm to 10pm for a cover charge of $10 US per person (all-you-can-eat sushi). Teppanyaki is open nightly and has three seatings; 5:30pm, 7:30pm and 9:30pm. I would recommend booking a reservation for Teppanyaki as the cooks do a great job of entertaining you while you eat! The sushi was good and I found the selection much better than most other ships I’ve cruised on. Plus, they offered raw seafood which other lines do not.
Pearly Kings Pub is located on Deck 7 just off the atrium. It has a pub feel to it and offers many different types of beer, along with other drinks. Daily trivia is offered in this area and Fish & Chips are served between 5:30pm and Midnight. When it’s crowded it can get quite smoky.
Bottles of wine or champagne brought into dining areas to be consumed at meal times are charged a corkage fee of $__ US per bottle. No open liquor bottles are permitted to be brought into the dining areas or public spaces, however I did notice passengers taking a drink from one lounge to another. ??
Bars & Entertainment:
There were two shows offered nightly in the main show lounge. Entertainment throughout the week included “Bollywood”, comedians, specialty dancers, Las Vegas style shows by The Jean Ann Ryan Company Singers and Dancers, as well as live entertainment at the following venues:
The Oasis Poolside on Deck 12 you’ll find Calypso Sounds by Rhythm Explosion (weather permitting).
The Star Bar on Deck 13 is open from 5:30pm to 12:00am nightly. Here you’ll find Piano & Vocals.
In the Grand Atrium on Deck 7 you’ll find Piano & Easy Listening Music daily.
Gatsby’s on Deck 6 is open from 12:00pm to Close. Here you’ll find a Piano Crooner nightly.
The Spinnaker Lounge on Deck 12 is open from 10:00am to Close. Here you’ll find Night Club Music by the Zanzee Band and a DJ.
Dazzles Lounge on Deck 7 is open from 4:00pm to Close. Here you’ll find Latin Flavour with Salsa Beat.
Pearl King’s Pub on Deck 7 is open from 11:00am to Close. Here you’ll find Piano Melodies.
There are a few other lounges/bars onboard without entertainment such as:
Juice Bar on Deck 11 open from 7:30am to Close
Java Café on Deck 7 open from 8:00am to Midnight
Bimini Bar on Deck 14 open from 9:00am to Close
Topsiders on Deck 12 open from 9:00am to Close
Casino Bar on Deck 6 open when the casino is open
Havana Club on Deck 6 open from 12:00pm to Close
Sports & Fitness:
The Fitness Center on board is located on Deck 12 aft. There are many machines to choose from and an area to stretch, which most ships don’t have. Plus, there is an aerobics area with one wall of floor-to-ceiling mirrors and one wall of glass to look outside. I found that distracting.
The gym area is very large with many machines. Most of the machines faced a mirror and there were only windows on either side of the gym so it wasn’t easy to look outside. The aerobics area seemed a little small and crowded when about 10 or more people were in a class.
The Mandara Spa and Salon on Deck 12 is open from 8:00am to 8:00pm daily. I recommend taking the spa tour the first afternoon of the cruise (embarkation day) because you are shown the entire spa area and shown many of the treatments. If you are looking for a really good deal at the spa I recommend waiting for the first port day. The ship offers a few packages for guests that book an appointment while the ship is in port. This may mean taking an hour away from shore, but it’s worth it! One thing I liked about this spa is they don’t try to sell you anything during or after your treatment.
Some specials offered during the cruise included:
Spa Taster – 25 minute massage & 25 minutes rehydrating booster facial for $89
La Therapie Facial for $99
Relax Package – Rehydrating booster facial, foot & ankle massage and hand massage for $79
NCL Kid’s:
Norwegian offers an excellent kid’s program on board the Norwegian Dawn. You’ll find more infants on this ship because NCL offers infants for port charges only. One thing mentioned though is baby-sitting is not offered for those passengers under 2 years of age.
Personal Comments:
Pools & Hot Tubs:
The pool area wasn’t really large, but I liked the layout of the pool deck. They built the ship with tiered decks on one side of the pool, that way sun and deck chairs can be found almost everywhere. Shade was hard to find.
Stateroom:
We were in Category AE Mini-Suite #11532 on the port side of the ship. When you walk into the Mini-Suite there is a narrow hallway with a small table with a mirror, a vase with some flowers, a door to the bathroom and a make-up area with mirrored light. The bathroom I very well layed-out. It has a sink with vanity in the middle of the bathroom with a bathtub/shower combination and a sliding glass door to the right and a toilet area with its own sliding glass door to the left. So you could have more than one person in the bathroom at the same time (not possible on other ships). The rest of the room has twin beds that push together to make a queen, a large sofabed, there is a table with two chairs, a small TV, phone, and bar area with a fridge and safe. The closet is spacious, but located right beside the bed so the doors don’t completely open all the way and once items are hung up its hard to get to the shelves on the side. The table and chair set is small and not easy to use because of the lack of space available for the chairs to be moved out and sat on. The balcony is large and offered two armchairs and a side table. The phone was in the worst location possible. It was underneath the TV cupboard area so each time I used the phone I nearly hit my head. The TV in the room was the smallest I’ve seen on any ship. It was between 10 and 12 inches and was to the left of the bed so it wasn’t easy to view while in bed.
I barely noticed our stateroom attendant which was nice. Everytime we left the room it was made up and each night were was a new animal made up from our towels which was cute.
Boarding Tip:
I wasn’t sure when embarkation was to begin, but part of our group arrived directly from the airport at approximately 11am and boarded right away. We arrived at approximately at 2:30pm and were some of the last people to board. I suggest filling out all paperwork prior to arrival, as many people were stuck filling in their Bahamas immigration form before they could check-in.
Announcements:
Announcements on board were made in English and German (because there was a large group of them onboard). I felt the days the ship was at sea there were a few too many announcements.
Ports of Call:
On this particular cruise we stopped in Nassau, Miami and Port Canaveral. In Nassau I enjoyed going to the Atlantis Hotel on Paradise Island. It has a huge casino, beautiful aquarium and outdoor pools. There is also shopping available here, although I wouldn’t recommend shopping too far from the ship. In Miami there are lots of things to do. I recommend spending the day in South Beach strolling along the beach and shopping. In Port Canaveral the Kennedy Space Center was very popular. It’s not far from where the ship is docked and I was told having lunch under one of the Apollo space ships is a highlight.
Written By Denise Blackmore, ACC
Norwegian Cruise Line Alaska Cruise Information
Norwegian Cruise Line Europe Cruise Information
Norwegian Cruise Line Mexican Riviera Cruise Information
Norwegian Cruise Line Hawaii Cruise Sale
Norwegian Cruise Line Holiday Cruises
CRUISE LINE & SHIP PROFILE:
Celebrity Cruises is the world's top-rated premium cruise line with a taste of luxury, appealing to savvy travelers, ages 35-55, with a household income of $75,000+. Celebrity tends to attract experienced cruisers who appreciate quality and desire a vacation experience that offers multiple opportunities for rejuvenation, enrichment and connections with friends, family and fellow guests.
Ships In Fleet:
Destinations Served:
Customer Sales Policies:
Early Booking Incentives: May receive a larger discount
-Special Air Travel Requirements
-Air/Sea Packages Available
-Ground Transfer Arrangements
-Confirmed Dining Preferences
-Advance Shore Excursion Bookings
-Advanced Spa Package Bookings
-Single Occupancy Rates: 200%
-Minimum Age for Passengers: There must be someone 25 years or older in cabin
-Reduced Third and Fourth Berth Fare
-Cancellation Penalty: 60 days prior penalties begin
-Travel Insurance is available
Accepted Credit Cards:
-MasterCard
-Visa
-American Express
-Diners Club
-Discover
Children/Families:
Special Programs/Facilities/Services:
Singles:
Single Supplement: 200%
Golf:
Individual Golf Excursions:
Caribbean / Panama Canal
United States / Canada
Meetings & Conferences:
Spa Services/Facilities:
Information Taken From CLIA
Alaska Cruises on Celebrity Cruises
Alaska Cruisetour Packages on Celebrity Cruises
Mexican Riviera Cruises on Celebrity Cruises
Europe Cruises on Celebrity Cruises
Europe Cruisetour Packages on Celebrity Cruises
Read A Review On The Galaxy
Read A Review On The Millennium
Carnival Rolls Out New On-Line Shore Excursion Booking System
More Than 1,000 Different Choices Available On Comprehensive Carnival.com Web Site
MIAMI, Jan. 3 - Carnival Cruise Lines, the world's largest cruise operator, has introduced a new on-line shore excursion booking system that provides guests the opportunity to purchase shore excursions prior to their cruise utilizing the line's user-friendly Web site, carnival.com.
With the new system, guests are able to book shore excursions in conjunction with all Carnival "Fun Ships" sailing to 65 different ports throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, Canada, New England and Europe.
More than 1,000 different shore excursion choices are available. Snorkeling and scuba expeditions, horseback riding, helicopter flightseeing, shopping and city tours are among the excursions that can be booked via this new dynamic shore excursion booking engine. In-depth information such as excursion description, activity level, duration, and pricing are included in each listing.
"More consumers than ever are using the Internet for travel research and purchases and our new on-line shore excursion booking system provides Carnival guests with an easy and convenient means for purchasing the wide variety of fun and interesting shore excursions available aboard the 'Fun Ships,'" said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO.
To access the new on-line shore excursion booking engine, guests must be registered on carnival.com and have a fully deposited cruise booking. After accessing their cruise booking through the "View Cruise Details" link, guests are prompted with the "Add Shore Excursions" option, which lists all shore excursion choices associated with the ports of call featured on their particular cruise.
To purchase a shore excursion, guests simply click on the shore excursion of their choice and enter credit card payment information via a secure encrypted reservations portal. Guests are provided with a printable shore excursion confirmation and shore excursion tickets are delivered to guests' staterooms on embarkation day.
On-line shore excursion orders can be made from 180 days up to five days prior to departure date. Guests are also welcome to visit the shore excursion desk once on board to book shore excursions and obtain additional information.
The new on-line shore excursion system is just the latest enhancement to Carnival's popular carnival.com Internet site, which encompasses more than 2,000 Web pages and offers a host of new and expanded features, including enhanced site navigation, streaming video, personalized content tailored to each visitor, and more 360-degree "virtual tours" of the "Fun Ship" fleet.
Press Release By Carnival
Carnival Cruises to Alaska
Carnival Cruises to Mexico
Crystal Cruises Announces 2006 Itineraries With a Record Number of Worldwide Destinations
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 3 - Renowned for its service excellence and stimulating onboard programs, Crystal Cruises is placing even more emphasis on destinations in 2006. Crystal's award-winning luxury fleet -- Crystal Harmony, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity -- will visit a record 214 ports in 82 countries, representing more than 20% more ports and almost 50% more countries than the line visited in 2004. More overnight stays in port have been scheduled than for any previous year. In all, a choice of 97 cruises are available ranging from a new three-day sampler to new seven-day itineraries on each of the ships to rich 10-, 11- and 12-day cruises, as well as the ultimate voyage: a 106-day World Cruise.
Also new for 2006 are new itineraries in almost every destination that Crystal regularly visits, including Alaska, Canada/New England, South America and the Baltic; Crystal Serenity will make her first-ever Baltic cruises, including a new cruise to the Arctic Circle; and an exotic Christmas/New Year cruise for Crystal Harmony in Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. Seventeen maiden calls are scheduled throughout the year, including Ayr, Scotland; Pisco, Peru; Tripoli,
Libya; and Gijon, Spain.
"Our 2006 schedule offers a variety of port-intensive itineraries to appeal to those who want to immerse themselves in a destination, as well as cruises with more days at sea for multi-repeaters who relish Crystal's distinctive onboard experience," says Bill Smith, senior vice president, sales & marketing. "Like the Crystal Cruises' product, our 2006 cruise collection is about choices."
Crystal Harmony: Crystal Harmony will kick off the year with a couple of Panama Canal cruises followed by a winter dedicated to South America's summer, including a new cruise to the Amazon. In the spring, the 940-guest, 50,000-ton luxury ship will offer a single Caribbean, Panama Canal and two Mexican Riviera cruises and then will head north on a three-day sampler cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver to reposition for her
summer Alaska series. In addition to the line's successful 12-day cruises round-trip from San Francisco, Crystal Harmony's Alaska season
will feature seven-day and new 10-day cruises round-trip from Vancouver, with new calls in Whittier and stunning glacier cruising in College Fjord, Columbia Glacier and Prince William Sound. In the fall, Crystal Harmony innovates a series of South Pacific and Australia/New Zealand cruises and concludes the year with a new 14-day holiday itinerary Down Under.
Crystal Symphony:
Crystal Symphony begins the year with a series of Panama Canal cruises followed by exotic cruises to the South Pacific, China and Japan, Southeast Asia, India and Egypt. She returns to the Mediterranean in the spring and, instead of her previous patterns of heading north to the Baltic, Crystal Symphony will remain in the Mediterranean through the summer with seven- and 12-day itineraries, all of which feature one to three overnight stays -- more than ever previously offered.
Fall foliage cruises in New England and Eastern Canada include more departures round-trip from New York and new overnight stays in Montreal. Crystal Symphony's Christmas/New Year cruise will be 14 days round-trip from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera.
Crystal Serenity:
Following a couple of seven-day Mexican Rivera cruises in January, Crystal Serenity will make her third World Cruise on a an innovative itinerary featuring overnight calls in Gauyaquil, Ecuador; Callao (for Lima), Peru; Sydney, Australia; Cape Town, South Africa; Victoria, Seychelles; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Safaga (for Luxor), Egypt and Bordeaux, France, as well as several maiden calls. Crystal Serenity will spend the spring through summer cruising the Baltic, North Cape, Western and Northern Europe before heading south for fall Mediterranean cruising. A Canary Islands cruise and Trans-Atlantic reposition Crystal Serenity to the Caribbean in late November, where she makes warm weather cruises through December. Crystal Serenity spends Christmas and New Year on a new tropical 14-day pattern through the Caribbean.
For 2006, Crystal is offering a combination of exotic and close-to-home cruises of varying lengths. Of the 97 cruises, 50% sail either round-trip from a domestic port or embark or disembark from a domestic port:
29 sail round-trip from domestic ports, 20 cruises begin or end in a domestic port.
Crystal's three sister ships -- the 940-guest, 50,000-ton Crystal Harmony and Crystal Symphony and the 1,080-guest, 68,000-ton Crystal Serenity -- are among the most spacious and luxurious vessels cruising the world.
Crystal Cruises is the recipient of an unprecedented nine consecutive best large-ship cruise line awards from the readers of Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazines.
Press Release By Crystal Cruises
Crystal Cruises to Alaska
Crystal Cruises to Mexico
Carnival Corporation & plc Orders New 112,000-Ton Ship for Costa Cruises Unit
Existing Costa Vessel Costa Tropicale to Be Transferred to P&O Cruises
Australia Brand
MIAMI, Jan. 4 - Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE: CCL; LSE)(NYSE: CUK) today announced an agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of a new 112,000-ton vessel for its Costa Cruises unit. Delivery is
scheduled for Spring 2007.
To be built at an all-in cost of 475 million euro, the as-yet-unnamed ship will feature a basis two-guest capacity of 3,000 and total capacity, including upper berths, of 3,800. It will be a sister ship to the Costa Concordia, which begins a new class for Costa when it debuts in late Spring 2006.
The new "Concordia-class" vessels will offer innovative facilities and features, including a wide range of formal and casual dining venues, four swimming pools -- two of which will include retractable domes -- and state-of- the-art telecommunications capabilities. Of the ships' 1,500 staterooms, more than 60 percent will offer either an ocean view or balcony.
"Continuing to invest in the Costa brand and introduce new vessels to its fleet is key to maintaining Costa's preeminent position as Europe's number one cruise line and to ensure Costa's fleet is the most modern in the European market," said Carnival Corporation & plc Chairman and CEO Micky Arison.
Carnival Corporation & plc also announced plans to transfer the Costa vessel Costa Tropicale to its P&O Cruises Australia unit in October 2005. She will be renamed Pacific Star and will join the Pacific Sun and Pacific Sky in serving the expanding Australian and New Zealand market. The 1,022-passenger ship, which originally entered service under the Carnival Cruise Lines brand in 1982, was operated by that line until its transfer to Costa in 2001. Prior to joining the Costa fleet, the vessel underwent an extensive $30 million refurbishment.
Further details of her Australasian itineraries will be announced later this month.
On the transfer of Costa Tropicale to P&O Cruises Australia, Arison stated, "We are constantly evaluating our ship assets and looking at which brands can best utilize certain types of vessels based on the characteristics of each brand and the markets in which each one operates. Costa Tropicale is a ship extremely well suited to the P&O Cruises Australia brand, and its transfer to that fleet is a perfect example of the synergies we can capitalize on through our multi-brand,
global strategy."
The new Costa Concordia-class ship announced today will be constructed at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente yard. To accommodate that vessel's construction schedule, minor adjustments were made to the delivery dates for two other Carnival Corporation ships under contract with Fincantieri. Delivery of Carnival Cruise Lines' new Carnival Freedom, a 110,000-ton Conquest-class ship, originally scheduled for Spring 2007, will be moved up three months to February 2007. The delivery date for the previously announced new Cunard vessel Queen Victoria has been modified from July 2007 to December 2007.
Based on the new ship contract and delivery schedule adjustments announced today, Carnival Corporation's capacity growth will be 7.6 percent in 2007 and 6.6 percent in 2008 versus previously anticipated capacity increases of 6.6 percent in 2007 and 5.7 percent in 2008.
Including the new Costa ship, Carnival Corporation has 13 new ships under contract and scheduled for delivery between 2005 and 2009.
Press Release By Carnival Corp.
Alaska Cruise Specials
Mexico Cruise Specials
Tahiti Cruise Specials
CRUISE LINE & SHIP PROFILES:
Princess Cruises, one of the best-known names in North American cruising, is a global cruise and tour company. It operates a fleet of 14 ships on nearly 150 different itineraries calling at nearly 260 ports around the globe. Princess is known for its Personal Choice Cruising program, a fleet-wide dedication to providing passengers with a wide variety of options with which to customize their vacations. The line's ships are designed to offer an array of choices in dining, entertainment and amenities, to enable passengers to create their own personalized escape. Princess itineraries span the globe, with cruises ranging from seven to 72 days in length. Destinations include the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Panama Canal, Mexico, South Pacific, South America, Hawaii/Tahiti, Asia, India, Africa, Canada/New England, and Antarctica. Princess is one of the leaders in Alaska Cruise Tour vacations, and owns five riverside wilderness lodges, plus a fleet of UltraDome railcars and luxury motorcoaches which take passengers through the heart of the 49th state. Princess additionally operates cruise tours in China, Australia, Africa, India, Europe, the Canadian Rockies and the eastern United States.
Ships In Fleet:
Destinations Served:
Customer Sales Policies:
Early Booking Incentives: Discounted fares (amount depends on itinerary)
-Special Air Travel Requirements
-Air/Sea Packages Available
-Ground Transfer Arrangements
-Confirmed Dining Preferences
-Advance Shore Excursion Bookings
-Advanced Spa Package Bookings
-Single Occupancy Rates: 150% to 200%
-Minimum Age for Passengers: 6 months
-Minimum Age for Children: 3 years for children's programs
-Reduced Third and Fourth Berth Fare
-Cancellation Penalty: Varies by cruise length.
-Travel Insurance is available
Accepted Credit Cards:
-MasterCard
-Visa
-American Express
-Diners Club
-Discover
Special Programs/Facilities/Services:
Themed Cruises:
Islands of the Pacific Theater - WW2 cruise.
Singles:
Single Supplement: 150% to 200%
Golf:
Individual Golf Excursions:
Meetings & Conferences:
Spa Services/Facilities:
Information Taken From CLIA
Princess Cruises Alaska Cruise Information
Princess Cruises Alaska Cruisetour Information
Princess Cruises Europe Cruise Information
Princess Cruises Europe Cruisetour Information
Princess Cruises Mexican Riviera Cruise Information
Princess Cruises Tahiti Cruise Information
Worldwide Destinations: Alaska
Breathtaking scenery, gleaming glaciers, abundant wildlife, and Native American culture are only a few of the spectacular attractions that draw cruise vacationers to Alaska. With so much to see and do in Alaska, it's no wonder the state's official flower is the alpine forget-me-not!
Ships that visit Alaska on a seven-day itinerary typically sail along the Inside Passage and visit Glacier Bay National Park or Hubbard Glacier, stopping at four ports along the way. Most cruise lines also offer a variety of extended cruise-tour package options which take passengers deeper into Alaska via train and include land stays at lodges and sightseeing in Denali National Park - making their trip to Alaska even more comprehensive.
For climate and sunlight purposes, cruises to Alaska sail strictly during the summer months, from early May to September. June, July and August can be classified as peak season when average daily high temperatures can reach 75 degrees Fahrenheit, so those looking for the best value should check sailing dates in May and September when temperatures hover around 50 degrees.
A variety of cruise ships sail to Alaska, including luxury vessels and midsize ships - most of which offer expanded kids programs for family vacationers. While the majority of ships sail from Vancouver, BC. Seattle is increasingly becoming a popular summer homeport for many lines. Both embarkation/disembarkation points allow ships to visit the most popular ports on an Alaska cruise, including Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway.
Ports of Call
Anchorage - Anchorage is a big city in a secluded state; it remains true to its heritage while forging ahead with revolutionary new sites and museums. Some of the facilities are top-notch establishments technologically, while others continue to provide an authentic look at the area's ancient past, and have remained unchanged for decades. Alaskans have a strong sense of culture, and they want to stay faithful to the traditions of their ancestors. And yet, this is a tourist area, and with tourism comes growth and expansion. The restaurants in Anchorage are extraordinary, and you can find all kinds of dining options that are sure to please even the most well-tuned plate. The wide array of public parks in Anchorage proves to be one of the best features of this diverse and gorgeous area. You don't have to go looking for breathtaking scenery in Anchorage; it is everywhere, and will surprise you at every turn ¯ the horizon is glorious, and the mountains and ocean create magnificent backdrops. Many of the regions in Alaska are quite populated. In fact, 40% of the inhabitants of Alaska live in Anchorage, making it by far the most populous city in Alaska. Many citizens living in other parts of the state accuse Anchorage of selling out to big business and consumerism, creating a feud of sorts between Anchorage and the rest of the state. Their disagreement need not concern tourists, as there is never a threat of political upheaval or instability, just in case you were worried. In general, everywhere you go you will feel comfortable with the friendly and helpful local residents.
While Anchorage may be rather built up, and sections of it are somewhat commercial, you do not have to go far to find yourself deep in the Alaskan wilderness. In fact, a tour on a floatplane will take you into regions that are remarkably remote, where the only life you will see is a bear hunting the Alaskan waters for a fresh salmon dinner.
Haines - If you are looking for an enjoyable and milder trip to Alaska, then Haines is the ideal spot for you. Haines is perhaps the most beautiful spot in the entire state, and the picturesque scenery of the snow-covered mountains will satisfy all of your visual desires. When you get close to docking in Haines you are certain to be mesmerized by the landscape, and its aesthetic brilliance is complemented by much better weather than the other regions of Southeast Alaska, with less than half of the annual rainfall of Juneau. The blue waters that encompass Haines are spectacular, and because of the comparatively pleasant weather, the area has become known as the sunny spot of the Southeast. This city is full of culture and tradition, and its citizens make every effort to remain true to their heritage. Many of the Tlingit people reside in Haines, natives whose ancestors lived here hundreds of years ago. Tourists to Alaska often remark that the Tlingits and the other locals in Haines are some of the most likeable people in all of Alaska, comfortable with themselves and with helping one another and visitors to their city. One of the most pleasant nighttime activities in Haines is to venture into one of the local bars and have a drink with someone who has lived in town their entire life. The stories, both contemporary and ancient tribal legends, are absolutely fascinating.
Haines may be a small town, but it's got a lot of energy and life. Its campgrounds are perfect for an afternoon hike, and if photography interests you, you're always in luck. No matter what time of year you visit Haines, you can be sure that you will be snapping some splendid shots. Some fine museums and great restaurants complete a wonderful selection of memorable experiences in Haines.
Juneau - Juneau is the third most populated city in Alaska, and it is the capital of this great state. Located in the Southeast region of Alaska, Juneau is a wonderful vacation spot full of fun activities, fascinating sites, extraordinary museums, and tasty eateries. The shopping in Juneau is fantastic, and the layout of the city is one of interesting complexity. Juneau combines ancient Alaskan traditions with Western commercialism and bustling city life. This is a very popular area, especially during peak ski and fishing seasons. The hiking in Juneau is terrific, as is the shopping. The wide array of stores offer unique-to-Juneau artwork and handicrafts of particularly high quality. In the summer this city is definitely the most popular destination in Alaska for cruise passengers from the United States mainland. There are a number of spectacular art galleries and specialty stores very much like those in many big cities. But, if it is remote and isolated wilderness you are in search of, Juneau will be more than happy to comply. There are great hiking areas, plenty of ocean for sea kayaking expeditions, and wonderful trails for mountain biking and other outdoor activities.
The population here is 300,000, but during the off-peak season, Juneau seems like a quaint little town with limited growth potential because of the area's geography, comprised of impenetrable natural barriers. Mount Roberts and Mount Juneau surround the small city, and avalanche threats have prevented any true expansion. The Juneau Ice field is a site that demands a visit; it too has hindered the growth of Juneau. Efforts to brave the mountains or forge the Ice field in hopes of expanding the city are just not feasible. Perhaps this is nature's way of telling the local government to leave this exquisite town just as it is.
Ketchikan - Ketchikan is an ancient city that is both fascinating and enjoyable. Even though there are some American restaurants and stores, (and it is part of the States, of course), it is certainly not your typical American town. If Anchorage is at one end of the Alaskan spectrum, you will definitely find Ketchikan at the other end. This small city contains more totem poles than anywhere in the world, and is set at the base of Deer Mountain. Back in the 1930?s, Ketchikan was fondly known as the salmon-canning capital of the world. While this may no longer be true, the salmon fishing remains outstanding. Just before the beginning of the 20th century, a series of gold discoveries brought vast numbers of immigrants to the area. This created two important industries that strengthened the economy in Ketchikan: commercial fishing and lumber. The region prospered for a while, but suffered an economic depression after the gold dried up, and the immigrants were left with no more than when they came. Many of them left and went to other parts of Alaska where they could find work.
The city is quite compact and you can see most of it on foot. There are numerous stores that offer unique arts and crafts, jewelry, and other specialty items that are made by hand in Ketchikan. There are great trails for hiking and exploring, and a wide array of outdoor sports and activities is offered as well. A few restaurants will fill you up with hearty, quality food, but your options are definitely limited. While the nightlife and eating facilities are not bustling, it doesn't really matter, because Ketchikan is charming enough that its visitors don't need to be wined and dined. Ketchikan's charm is complemented by Mother Nature, who relies on the intrinsic beauty of the region to captivate tourists.
Seward - Seward is a fascinating place to visit, and even if you are only here for a day or so, the region demands a look around. Many tourists traveling through Alaska will be familiar with Seward due to its popularity as a central port from which travelers take off to many Alaskan destinations. It is located conveniently in the Prince William Sound and acts as a gateway to the Kenai Peninsula and the rest of Alaska. Therefore, if only for a couple of hours or a couple of days, many people who have visited Alaska have seen Seward at one time or another. Only the lucky ones have visited Seward for days at a time, a region with some outstanding fishing sites, great sea kayaking opportunities, and wonderful hiking trails. The Kenai Fjords National Park is one of the top destinations in all of Alaska, and it is as diverse as it is majestic. You can see a multitude of landscapes, an abundance of wildlife, and breathtaking scenery that you thought only possible in your dreams. Recently, tourism in Seward has exploded, which has come as a bit of a shock to the citizens of this once small town. It's a bit of a mystery why travelers all over the world are showing such universal interest in this remote location, but perhaps Seward business proprietors and visitors like myself have plugged the city so much that our advertising has paid off.
Seward is one of the oldest cities in Alaska, and the area was first recognized in 1793, when the governor of Russia, Alexander Baranof, stopped here and named Resurrection Bay. He then built a ship which unfortunately sank, and not too much was heard about Seward until 1903. At this time the town evolved into a big Alaskan port city because companies were interested in building a railroad here that would run north and south for miles. This venture failed, but all of the talk brought gold prospectors, settlers, and workers whose families and kin would stay here for good.
Sitka - Sitka is a small yet lively town in Southeast Alaska that is full of surprises. Just when you think that you have seen all there is to see in this remote city, you stumble upon something that will instantly catch your attention. This is the case for the best restaurants and a few of the premier shopping outlets. They simply spring up out of nowhere, making for an interesting and exciting stay. There are a couple of great museums, and the scuba diving and sea kayaking in Sitka is marvelous. The calm, protected waters make these two sports very popular among both tourists and locals. Much of the land in Sitka is protected, further adding to the glorious experience of touring the city. The Sitka National Historical Park is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon or even longer, and the scenery is wonderfully picturesque. The hiking trails are great. In Sitka, your eyes will be opened to one of the top wonders of the world.
From an historical point of view, Sitka is perhaps the richest city in all of Alaska. The struggles and battles between the native Alaskans and the invading Russians proved to be an incredible story that will never be forgotten by either side. In the 18th century, Russian soldiers enslaved the Aleut people, but it was the Tlingits who came to their aid and battled the Russians. Eventually, many of the Aleuts went free, and the citizens of Sitka were able to maintain their freedom and way of life. Soon after, cultures blended and created a more subtle conflict in the region. In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska and the Russians left the state, but many of their customs remained. Today Sitka is a warm and friendly place, full of aesthetic beauty and fun-filled sites. The inhabitants are typically a happy bunch, and are accustomed to treating tourists with the utmost respect and kindness. The old churches and cathedrals provide a glimpse into the past, and the rich heritage and fascinating sites add to the lure of this culturally diverse town.
Skagway - Skagway is a Southeast Alaskan paradise, full of culture and brimming with life. Parts of the city seem stuck in 1897, never progressing beyond the height of the Alaskan gold rush era. This is speaking in architectural terms though, as some of the restaurants and shopping facilities offer distinctly 21st century fare. This unique blend of old and new really enhances the atmosphere of Skagway. There is so much to see and so much fascinating history to soak up. The saloons and bars, some of which date back to 1898, are splendid, full of artifacts and local heritage. Because of Skagway's geographic set up, you will want to make sure that your cruise company has made all your traveling arrangements for you. Though Skagway is a small enough town that you can pleasantly travel around it on foot, side trips from Skagway to any of the neighboring cities can prove to be a difficult proposition. For example, the city of Haines is 14 miles away by ferry, but if you try and rent a car and drive to Haines, it is an unbelievable 359-mile trip to get there because of the poor or nonexistent access to roads around Skagway. In any event, lucky for you, downtown Skagway is quite compact and all of the best sights are reachable by foot.
In 1897, people from all over the world flocked to Skagway in search of a quick fortune. The gold rush gave thousands of men and women false hopes and dreams, and when the riches didn't pan out, the city really declined. By mid-1898, Skagway was not a pleasant place to be, as poverty and shantytowns had pretty much taken over. This bustling town of 200,000 shrank to a mere 700 when the gold rush ended. It took a while, but slowly people began to realize that there was much more to Skagway than an old gold rush town. In the last two decades, tourism has really kept the city afloat, and with the historic cemeteries, interesting museums, fantastic parks, and lively saloons, Skagway has entered the new millennium with a great deal of confidence.
Valdez - Gorgeous Valdez is set in the picturesque Prince William Sound in Southeast Alaska. It is a region bursting with life and filled with magnificent historical sights and museums. In 1989, an Exxon oil tanker, the Exxon Valdez, ran aground on the Bligh Reef and lost 11 million gallons of oil in the Prince William Sound. Unfortunately, the Exxon Valdez oil spill still taints the image of Valdez. The entire area was affected; cities, animals, and shoreline suffered. In the years following the spill, tourists began to shy away from Valdez a bit, perhaps from fear of being exposed to harmful fumes or because of other residual effects of the spill. But the $2 billion dollar cleanup operation proved quite effective. The total cleanup took more than three years, and during this time, though tourism declined, the population of the city tripled, because of the thousands of workers hired for the reconstructive work along the shores of the Prince William Sound. On completion of the cleanup project, many of the workers who had temporarily moved to Valdez stayed after falling in love with this beautiful town. Since the early 1990?s, tourism has really come back strong in Valdez. Its resurgence is partly due to the great fishing, exceptional hiking trials, and the fact that more snow falls in Valdez than anywhere in Alaska, making for great skiing. The average annual snowfall is an unbelievable 330 inches. The campsites are simple but wonderful, and the scenery is spectacular.
Downtown Valdez is lively in a uniquely Alaskan way. The absence of clubs and casinos is offset by the area's relaxing atmosphere, wonderful weather, and breathtaking scenery. Valdez is a wholesome, old-fashioned town with happy-go-lucky residents and an exquisite landscape that combine to offer visitors a memorable time.
Information Taken From CLIA
More Information About Cruises To Alaska
CRUISE LINE & SHIP PROFILE:
Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers an incomparable program of exploration and discovery to over 300 ports on six continents, including Antarctica. Our luxury vessels are designed for guests numbering in the hundreds rather than the thousands. The ambiance on board is personal, individual, accommodating-upscale but not uptight. All ships share certain distinctions in accommodations, service, dining and amenities that elevate them to the lofty vantage point of our enviable six stars. By offering guests a higher percentage of balconies than any other cruise line (including the only two all-suite, all-balcony ships in the world), we offer our guests the ultimate luxury in cruising: personal space. Open-seating dining with superb cuisine is offered in a choice of venues. Regent Seven Seas Cruises provides tremendous value to luxury cruisers with all gratuities, wine with dinner, soft drinks and juices always included in the fare.
Ships In Fleet:
Destinations Served:
Customer Sales Policies:
-Air/Sea Packages Available
-Ground Transfer Arrangements
-Advance Shore Excursion Bookings
-Single Occupancy Rates: Singles pay 1st person fares
-Minimum Age for Children: 2 years
-Cancellation Penalty: Varies depending on cruise length and location.
-Travel Insurance is available
Accepted Credit Cards:
-MasterCard
-Visa
-American Express
-Diners Club
-Discover
Children/Families:
Special Programs/Facilities/Services:
Themed Cruises:
Big Bands, Arts, Jazz, Fashion
Golf:
Individual Golf Excursions:
Meetings & Conferences:
Spa Services/Facilities:
Information Taken From CLIA
Read A Review On Seven Seas Mariner
Information On Regent Seven Seas Alaska Cruises
Information On Regent Seven Seas Mexican Riviera Cruises
Information On Regent Seven Seas Tahiti Cruises
Information On Regent Seven Seas Europe Cruises
CRUISE LINE & SHIP PROFILE:
Crystal Cruises is the recipient of many of the travel industry's highest awards, including "World's Best Cruise Line" ('96, '97, '98, '99, '00, '01, '02, '03, and '04) and "Best Large Ship Line" ('96, '97, '98, '99, '00, '01, '02, and '03) in Travel and Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler surveys, respectively. Six-star Crystal Symphony, and Crystal Serenity feature elegantly appointed staterooms (most with private verandahs), an unprecedented array of dining options (Italian and Asian alternative restaurants as well as casual dining in the Trident Bar on designated nights), award-winning entertainment, a lavish Crystal Spa and Salon adhering to Feng Shui principles, extensive exercise and sports facilities and instruction, and the only Caesars Palace at Sea casino.
Ships In The Fleet:
Destinations Served:
Customer Sales Policies:
Early Booking Incentives: When the booking is paid in full six months or more in advance, guests can pre-reserve spa and salon appointments, specialty restaurant dinner reservations, shore excursions, and the complimentary creative learning institute classes 180 days in advance of sailing.
-Ground Transfer Arrangements
-Confirmed Dining Preferences
-Advance Shore Excursion Bookings
-Advanced Spa Package Bookings
-Single Occupancy Rates: 125%-150%
-Minimum Age for Passengers: 6 months
-Minimum Age for Children: 6 months
-Reduced Third and Fourth Berth Fare
-Cancellation Penalty: Cancellation requests must be made by telephone or in writing to Crystal Cruises. Regular Cruises: 75 days or more from departure date: full refund. 74-45 days from departure date: 10% of fare per guest charged. 44-15 days from departure date: 50% of fare per guest charged. 14 and thereafter: 100% of fare per guest charged. 2005 World Cruise multiple voyages (48 days or more): 76-120 days before departure: 20% of fare per guest charged. 45-75 days before departure: 50% of fare per guest charged. Within 44 days: 100% of fare per guest charged.
-Travel Insurance is available
Accepted Credit Cards:
-MasterCard
-Visa
-American Express
-Diners Club
-Discover
Children/Families:
Special Programs/Facilities/Services:
Themed Cruises:
Wine & Food Festival; Big Band; Jazz; Health & Fitness; Film Festival; Sotheby's; The Smithsonian Associates; Art and Architecture; Crystal Comedy Club at Sea; Comprehensive Creative Learning Institute; Crystal Distinguished Speaker Series; Fashion and Style; Garden Design; Golf; Nature and Wildlife; Photography; Crystal Reunion Cruise
Singles:
Single Supplement: 125% categories C-G; 135% categories A-B; 150% categories PH
Golf:
Individual Golf Excursions:
Meetings & Conferences:
Spa Services & Facilities:
Information Taken From CLIA
Read A Review On The Crystal Harmony
Information On Crystal Cruises' Europe Cruises
Information On Crystal Cruises' Mexican Riviera Cruises