2006 April | The Mail Buoy

Celebrity Cruises' Century headed for a 5 week dry dock period on Friday for $55 million of renovations. Some of the changes that will take place during Century's dry dock include the addition of 314 new verandas, 14 new suites, as well as 10 new staterooms. In addition there will be additional ConciergeClass accomodations as well as many amenities now featured on Celebrity Cruises' Millenium class ships. However, Century will get to boast a unique new specialty restaurant according to Seatrade Insider (sorry registration required :( ) called Murano. The restaurant, located in the center of the ship, will feature chandeliers of sparkling Murano glass. Accents in the room will hint back to the adventures of explorers to the New World, while a hand painted mural will depict a story of travel and adventure. Master Chef Michael Roux is creating the menu, and the cuisine and service will be much like that found on th Millenium class ships, including tableside cooking, carving and flambe. Century will return to service on May 30, for more information on Century's post refit itineraries visit Cruise Planners, or call us at 888-286-9827 to book your Celebrity Cruises vacation.

Posted in Celebrity Cruises — by Michael on 04/30/06 (0) Comments

Possible Turmoil in Puerto Rico Could Affect Cruisers We're getting word that the Governor of Puerto Rico has ordered almost half of the island's government agencies closed as of May 1 due to a budget deficit if $1 billion. Government employees and union members faced with the prospect of large scale layoffs have been staging protests in an attempt to demand the government find a solution to the budget problems. Puerto Rican officials have announced that the Puerto Rico Ports Authority will not shut down even if much of the rest of the island's government agencies close on May 1. The Puerto Rico Ports Authority operates the island's airports and seaports. However it is possible that large scale protests on the island could disrupt cruise ship arrivals and departures over the next few days.

Posted in Travel Advisories — by Michael on 04/30/06 (0) Comments

Princess Sends 5 Ships to Alaska in 2007

Offering the most voyages of any cruise line across the Gulf of Alaska, Princess will deploy a record five vessels on its signature route in 2007. Joining the Gulf fleet for the first time will be the intimate Pacific Princess, adding a new level of options to a season that features five ships ranging in size from 670 to 2,670 passengers. Princess ships will sail on a total of 85 Gulf of Alaska departures on two different seven-night itineraries. Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess, Coral Princess and Island Princess return for another season of "Voyage of the Glaciers" cruises between Vancouver and Whittier, while Pacific Princess joins the lineup with alternating seven-night northbound and southbound itineraries, featuring new mid-week departures. Gulf of Alaska cruises can be combined with one of 22 different land tour options for a complete land/sea cruisetour that includes both of Alaska's most sought-after destinations on virtually every departure - Glacier Bay National Park and Denali National Park - plus the company's exclusive Direct to the Wilderness rail service to/from Whittier, that gives travelers more time to explore the state's dramatic interior. Princess' 2007 Gulf of Alaska season features a record 78 calls in Glacier Bay, and Princess ships will carry more passengers to this spectacle of ice than any other cruise line. You can find more details about Princess Cruises 2007 Alaskan offerings after the jump. For more information about all of Princess Cruises itineraries visit Cruise Planners, or call us at 888-286-9827 to book your Princess Cruises vacation. Gulf of Alaska The 2,670-passenger Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess will be deployed on 35 voyages that depart on Saturdays from Vancouver or Whittier and feature calls at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway with daylight cruising of Glacier Bay and the 16 glaciers of College Fjord. In addition, the 1,970-passenger Coral Princess and Island Princess will offer 36 departures of the same itinerary, sailing on Mondays. For the first time, Princess will offer Wednesday departures across the Gulf. The 670-passenger Pacific Princess will offer 14 sailings with port calls at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway and daylight cruising of Glacier Bay and College Fjord on southbound routes. On northbound sailings, the passengers will enjoy a new itinerary calling at the same ports and featuring three spectacular glacier viewing opportunities -- cruising through Tracy Arm Fjord, Hubbard Glacier and College Fjord. Alaska Cruisetours Gulf of Alaska passengers can choose from a variety of three- to nine-night land packages to create a comprehensive 10- to 16-night land/sea vacation in the heart of "The Great Land." Two popular deluxe escorted tours will feature additional capacity in 2007 due to customer demand. All Princess Alaska tours offer at least two nights at either of the two Denali-area Princess wilderness lodges, ensuring that travelers enjoy more time among the wilderness and wildlife they came to see. Passengers can travel directly to their Princess lodge from the ship with Princess' exclusive Direct to the Wilderness rail service. This unique service features trains waiting right at the Whittier cruise ship dock to offer passengers the only same-day luxury rail service between the ship and Denali Park. Princess' Alaska cruisetours include accommodation at the line's five exclusive wilderness lodges, with scenic riverside settings in some of the "Great Land's" most desirable locations. The recently expanded Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge house Denali-area visitors, while the company's Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge and Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge are set, respectively, among the dramatic beauty of the Kenai Peninsula and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge also offers quality accommodations in the heart of Alaska's interior with views of the Chena River. Gulf of Alaska cruises and cruisetours for 2007 are available for reservations on May 6, 2006, with special early-booking fares beginning at $649 for a seven-day voyage, and $1,399 for cruisetours.

Posted in Princess Cruises — by Michael on 04/28/06 (0) Comments

Holland America Completes Maasdam Upgrades Holland Americal Line

The latest ship to complete Holland America's Signature of Excellence upgrades departed Grand Bahama Shipyard on Wednesday. Maasdam received the Explorations Cafe powered by The New York Times, Culinary Arts Center presented by Food and Wine Magazine, a refurbished Crow's Nest lounge, and an expanded Greenhouse Spa and Saloon. The only ship remaining to with pending upgrades is Oosterdam which will get the Culinary Arts Center later this year.

Posted in Holland America Line — by Michael on 04/28/06 (0) Comments

More of What You’ll Find Onboard Freedom of The Seas We already knew about the surf park, the boxing ring, 14 person family suite, and the whirlpools suspended 112 feet from the ship's waterline. But Europeans visiting the ship this week have been able to see all that Freedom of The Seas will have to offer passengers once it enters service in Miami in a little over a month. First, there's the Royal Promenade which stretches 445 feet and is home to Sorrento's a pizzeria and the 3,600 volume Book Nook. There's alo a barber shop which will offer shaves, haircuts, shoe shines and even scalp and shoulder massages. The ship also features the On Air Club, a karaoke club with theatrical lighting, video cameras, flat screen tv's, and even a green screen for recording music videos. Passengers will find professional entertainment in the 1,350 seat art-deco style Arcadia Theater which will stage three different shows. Marquee will be a medly of performances, while Now You See It will be a musical magic show, and Once Upon A Time is a narrative combining the Grimm Brother's fairy tales. For refreshment, passengers will be able to visit two new venues, Squeeze a juice bar near the H20 Zone water park, and Wipe Out! located near the Flow Rider surf park. We've got some interior pictures of the ship during construction after the jump, and for more information about the itineraries offered by Freedom of The Seas visit Cruise Planners, or call us at 888-286-9827. First we have a view of the computer lab onboard Freedom of The Seas Freedom Library