Celebrity Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International have introduced a new program that allows their passengers to check their luggage, and also to check in for their flight home, before they disembark from the ship! It's expected that this new service will save passengers anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours of airport wait time.
Working with the US Customs and Border Patrol, Transportation Security Administration, seaport, airline, and airport security personel the lines are rolling out the new service at ports around the United States and even Canada.
Known as "Onboard Check-in and Luggage Valet," Celebrity passengers can take advantage of it in Ft Lauderdale, Miami, San Diego, San Juan Puerto Rico, Seattle and Vancouver British Columbia. Royal Caribbean passengers can take part in the program on cruises that end in San Juan, Seattle and also Vancouver. All passengers need to do to qualify for the program is to fly to a US city on a participating airline on the same day their cruise arrives.
Before disembarking the ship, passengers provide their flight information and the number of bags they are checking. That information is electronically forwarded to the airlines, while boarding passes and luggage tags are printed and given to passengers. Passengers can then shop or go site seeing after disembarking while their luggage is securely transferred from the ship directed to their departure flight. Passengers can proceed directly to security when they arrive at the airport.
The fee for the service varies depending on the port but it runs between $10 to $20 per passenger. 
It is hard to imagine 14 to 16 nights of dining at world class restaurants, a fabulous hotel stay with included room service, nightly entertainment for this low price. Add to it breaktaking scenery and travel to some of the most exotic ports in the world and you have the makings of a vacation of a lifetime. Add to this that Princess is offering up to 50% off their published rates for 3 sailings trans-Atlantic in late April and early May and you will be hard pressed to pass up one of these three sailings.
Sea Princess departing Ft. Lauderdale: April 22, 2006
Western Europe w/ Transatlantic - Ft. Lauderdale to London
This itinerary features a 14-day cruise with 6 ports of call, including visits to the Azores Islands and Tortola. Meals and entertainment are inclusive. Review the itinerary.
Inside Cabins from $1545
Outside Cabins from $1695
Balcony Cabins from $2358
Mini-Suite Cabins from $4230
Star Princess Departing Ft Lauderdale: April 30, 2006
Western Europe w/ Transatlantic - Ft. Lauderdale to Copenhagen
This itinerary features a 15-day cruise with 8 ports of call, including visits to the Azores Island and Rotterdam. Meals and entertainment are inclusive. Review the itinerary.
Inside Cabins from $1299
Outside Cabins from $1399
Balcony Cabins from $1699
Mini-Suite Cabins from $2199
Golden Princess departing New York: May 6, 2006
Mediterranean w/ Transatlantic - New York to Venice
This itinerary features a 16-day cruise with 8 ports of call, including visits to Barcelona and Rome. Meals and entertainment are inclusive. Review the itinerary.
Inside Cabins from $1499
Outside Cabins from $1599
Balcony Cabins from $1899
Mini-Suite Cabins from $2499 
2006 World Cruise - Limited space still available
SAVE up to 55%** on our 2006 Discovery of the Hemispheres World Cruise. Explore 40 ports and enjoy 10 overnights. Immerse yourself in the cultures of the countries you visit with our exciting Crystal Adventures and Hotel Programs. Space is limited!
Applicable voyages:
January 18 - V6303 - Los Angeles to Lima - fares from $4,660**
February 1 - V6304 - Lima to Papeete - fares from $4,660**
February 15 – V6305 –Papeete to Melbourne – fares from $7,100
March 4 - V6306 - Melbourne to Capetown - fares from $7,950
March 23 - V6307 - Capetown to Dubai - fares from $8,315
April 24 – V6309 – Rome to London – fares from $5,150
*All 2006 voyages DO NOT include port, security and handling charges which vary by departure. **55% savings applies to voyages 6303 and 6304 only.
2006 Mexican Riviera
THREE DAYS LEFT! Book by December 31 and Save an Additional 10% in all categories on two of our 2006 Mexican Riviera sailings. Your clients will enjoy the sunny, colorful coast and experience the joyful music, delicious food and vibrant culture of Mexico.
Applicable voyages:
January 4 – V6301 – Round-trip Los Angeles – fares from $1,795
January 10 – V6302 – Round-trip Los Angeles – fares from $2,115
Promotional fares include additional 10% savings and apply to Category C on Crystal Serenity. Offer valid for NEW Bookings only made September 1 through December 31, 2005.
More deals after the jump
2006 Trans-Atlantic
THREE DAYS LEFT! Book by December 31 and save an additional 15% on all categories on our 2006 Big Band Music Festival Theme Cruise. With eight days at sea, your clients will have the opportunity to spend more time relaxing in the Feng Shui-inspired spa or reading by the pool.
Applicable voyage:
April 29 – V6210 – Miami to Lisbon – fares from $1,929
Promotional fare includes additional 15% savings and applies to Category E on Crystal Symphony. Offer valid for NEW Bookings only made October 12 through December 31, 2005. Rebooked cancellations do not apply. All 2006 voyages DO NOT include port, security and handling charges.
2006 South America
OFFER EXTENDED! Book by February 15 and Save an additional 10% on two 2006 South America voyages! Your clients will experience an adventure deep into the heart of the Amazon and relish the sophistication of Buenos Aires aboard the World’s Best cruise line.
Applicable Voyages:
February 18 – V6205 – Miami to Manaus – fares from $2,695
March 30 – V6208 – Valparaíso to Buenos Aires – fares from $4,045
Fares listed include additional 10% savings and apply to Category E on Crystal Symphony. Offer valid for NEW bookings only made November 4, 2005 through February 15, 2006. Rebooked cancellations do not apply. All 2006 voyages DO NOT include port, security and handling charges which vary by departure.
Save up to 45% on Crystal Symphony to South America! As the season heads into fall, South America heads into spring. Following the sun, we bring you the full variety of this colorful continent: from the samba rhythms of Rio to the sophistication of Buenos Aires and the remote wilderness of Patagonia and the Andes.
Applicable voyages:
March 1 - V6206 - Manaus to Buenos Aires - fares from $4,795
March 16 - V6207 - Buenos Aires to Valparaíso - fares from $4,495
*All 2006 voyages DO NOT include port, security and handling charges which vary by departure.
2006 Europe
OFFER EXTENDED! Book by February 15 and Save an additional 10% in Europe! Your clients will experience the World’s Best service and enjoy the Medieval history of Northern Europe, from the charming canals of Amsterdam to the towering castles of Edinburgh.
Applicable voyage:
May 15 – V6311 – Round-trip London – fares from $3,177
Fares listed include additional 10% savings and apply to Category C on Crystal Serenity. Offer valid for NEW bookings only made November 4, 2005 through February 15, 2006. Rebooked cancellations do not apply. All 2006 voyages DO NOT include port, security and handling charges which vary by departure.
Low Business Class Air add-ons starting at just $1,099 for all of our 2006 Europe voyages! Air upgrade is available for the following cities only: Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Portland, Phoenix, Seattle (West); Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Detroit, Miami (Central/Southeast); New York, Boston, Philadephia, Washington, D.C./Dulles (Northeast). Business class requests must be received by March 31, to receive upgrades. Business class fares listed are one-way only and are in addition to Crystal Cruises’ regular add-ons.
Applicable Voyages:
Crystal Symphony – V6210 – V6222
Crystal Serenity – V6310 – V6328
Restrictions apply.
2006 Grand Cruise Combinations
Additional 10% savings* on one of our Grand Combinations Cruises to South America and the Mediterranean on Crystal Symphony, or to the Canary Islands and the Caribbean on Crystal Serenity. Your clients will enjoy the live music and guest lecturers during our Big Band Music Festival Theme (V6210) or Jazz Theme (V6328) on our trans-Atlantic voyages.
Applicable voyages:
April 13 V6209 combined with April 29 V6210 – fares from $4,740
April 29 V6210 combined with May 8 V6211 – fares from $4,560
November 4 V6327 combined with November 15 V6328 – fares from $5,785
November 15 V6328 combined with November 25 V6329 – fares from $5,235
*All 2006 voyages DO NOT include port, security and handling charges which vary by departure. Grand Combination cruise fares include 10% savings.
2006 Value Collection
SAVE up to 2-for-1* on our 2006 Value Collection sailings. Crystal Cruises is pleased to offer a collection of sailings that take you to the world's most fantastic locales, including the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and South America.
Applicable voyages:
April 13 – V6209 – Buenos Aires to Miami – fares from $3,195 (Category D)
May 8 – V6211 – Lisbon to Athens – fares from $2,795 (Category E)
*All 2006 voyages DO NOT include port, security and handling charges which vary by departure. 2-for-1 savings applies to V6211 only.
2006 "Share the Experience" Offer
> Crystal Society members bringing a new-to-Crystal guest with them on their ‘qualifying’ cruise receive:
$200 Shipboard Credit ($100 per person) for each new-to-Crystal stateroom, maximum three staterooms per voyage.
> New-to-Crystal guest receives:
$200 Shipboard Credit per stateroom ($100 per new-to-Crystal guest)
This offer does not apply to all 2006 sailings, including, but not limited to, 2006 World Cruise and 2006 World Cruise voyages. Shipboard credits available on qualifying/introductory voyages only. Savings valid only for new bookings effective 08-1-2005. Certain other restrictions may apply. Coupons must be submitted 21 days prior to sailing to qualify.
General terms and conditions:
A fuel surcharge of $4.00 per person, per day will be added to all 2006 cruise fares
Princess is offering free upgrades on sailings onboard the Crown Princess on select sailings, in addition there are discounted upgrades available on select Alaska Cruise Tours. Details after the jump.
Get a free upgrade when booking on select 9 day sailings onboard the Crown Princess
Book an interior cabin for $949 and get an automatic upgrade to an oceanview cabin.
Book an oceanview cabin for $1199 and get an automatic upgrade to a balcony cabin
Book a balcony cabin for $1399 and get an automatic upgrade to a mini-suite.
These specials are good on Crown Princess's 9 day New York sailings on September 12 and October 18. This itinerary calls on Grand Turk, Ocho Rios Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Port Canaveral.
This offer expires on February 12. Some restrictions may apply.
$199 Upgrades are available on select Alaska Cruisetours with sailings onboard the Sapphire Princess and the Diamond Princess
This special is only available on in select cabin categories and are capacity controlled, other restrictions may also apply.
For more information or to book your cruise, visit www.mycruiseplanner.net Older Articles »
