Just one show this week, starting with a bit of news
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity have announced big deployments to Europe for 2009.
Freedom of the Seas will move to Port Canaveral next year, and Disney has extended their contract with Port Canaveral. We also talk about what it looks like the Genesis Class will have on the Caribbean.
As we begin the ramp up to SeaSocks ‘08 we talk about what you need to do once your cruise documents arrive and what you can expect as your cruise begins. We know that there are quite a few first time cruisers making the trip with us and we want you to know what you can expect.
No Deal of The Week this week instead we have a Deal of The Day. Check it out here.
This week, Royal Caribbean is having a one day sale, Tuesday March 25th!!
Here’s the cruises on sale, so you can get ready to save tomorrow. Booking opens early and lasts all day.
Call us at 888-286-9827 for more details and to book.
(This applies to new bookings only and must be deposited tomorrow.)
Various sources are reporting that Royal Caribbean has submitted a letter of intent to Port Canaveral to deploy Freedom of The Seas to the port in May 2009. Freedom of The Seas will replace the Voyager Class Mariner of The Seas which is headed to Los Angeles in January 2009.
We’re also hearing that Disney has finalized an agreement with Port Canaveral to extend it’s current contract with the port for another 15 years. But that’s not all – sources are also saying that Disney will homeport it’s two upcoming new builds at Port Canaveral as well. In return the port will extend the pier used by Disney and also expand the Disney terminal and it’s baggage facilities to accomodate the 4,000 passenger ships. In addition the port will construct a multi-level parking garage for the Disney terminal.
Offering travelers more choices to experience multiple destinations throughout Europe, Royal Caribbean International today announced the planned deployment of a record eight ships to the region for the 2009 summer and fall seasons. Vacationers can select from itineraries ranging from four to 14 nights aboard some of the world’s most innovative cruise ships: Independence of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest Freedom-class ship; two Voyager-class ships, Navigator of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas; as well as Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas, and Vision of the Seas. Totaling 70 distinct itineraries and 87 ports of call in 32 countries, Royal Caribbean will offer vacationers unprecedented choices throughout the Mediterranean Sea, Northern and Western Europe and a variety of transatlantic sailings in 2009. Bookings are available immediately for Royal Caribbean’s 2009 Europe cruises and cruisetours aboard all ships except for Vision, which will be opened in April 2008.
Cruisetours complement a Royal Caribbean International vacation in Europe by combining a cruise with land journeys, city tours and hotel stays ranging from three to five nights prior to embarkation. A tour director escorts each group on the itineraries, featuring the must-see landmarks and attractions in Europe’s popular cities, including Paris, London, Madrid, Barcelona, Stresa, Verona, Venice, Florence and Rome. Air and ground transfers, hotel reservations, tours and some meals are inclusive, and guests will have ample time for shopping and independent pursuits
In 2009, Independence of the Seas returns to Southampton, U.K., for her second Europe season, offering 14-night Western Mediterranean, 10- and 11-night Western Europe and Canary Islands, and four-night British Isles itineraries. Like no other cruise ship in Europe, Independence of the Seas exclusively features amenities that have revolutionized the industry, such as the FlowRider surf simulator, the H20 Zone water park, a boxing ring, cantilevered whirlpools, and the fourbedroom/four-bath Presidential Family Suite. With eight restaurants and more than 15 bars and lounges, Independence offers vacationers a unique onboard experience while cruising in Europe.
Navigator of the Seas will take guests on more varied itineraries from her homeports of Malaga, Spain, a new homeport for Royal Caribbean; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; and Barcelona. Voyager of the Seas – also homeporting through November 2009 in Barcelona – and Navigator will offer more opportunities for vacationers to experience a Europe cruise aboard a Voyager-class ship. Each ship offers guests an ice-skating rink, the line’s iconic rock-climbing wall, a nine-hole miniature golf course, and the Royal Promenade – a boulevard lined with shops, restaurants, bars and lounges that runs nearly the length of the ship.
Brilliance of the Seas will remain in Europe and continue offering year-round itineraries for a second consecutive year. In November and December, Brilliance will offer vacationers a new Egypt and Eastern Mediterranean itinerary sailing roundtrip from Barcelona, featuring the Greeks Isles and calls at Port Said, last called at by a Royal Caribbean ship in 2001, and Alexandria, Egypt.
Royal Caribbean also is expanding the line’s Northern Europe program with short Scandinavian itineraries aboard Vision of the Seas from her homeport of Copenhagen, Denmark, another new homeport for the cruise line; Oslo, Norway; and Stockholm, Sweden. Concurrently, Jewel of the Seas will specialize in 12-night Scandinavia and Baltic voyages, featuring an overnight in St. Petersburg, Russia, Peter the Great’s “Window to the West.” Jewel will also sail one 12-night itinerary that combines the British Isles and Norwegian Fjords, which includes a call at Geiranger, Norway, one of the highest rated ports by previous guests.
Vacationers also can choose among very special 10- and 11-night Holy Land itineraries aboard Vision of the Seas. From the line’s new homeports of Athens and Istanbul, Vision’s ports of call will include Haifa and Ashdod, Israel, last called at by Royal Caribbean in 2000, and Port Said.
With its largest European deployment ever slated for 2009, Celebrity Cruises is offering guests the opportunity to paint their idea of the perfect vacation – by numbers, that is. Five ships, including two new vessels, will visit the region in a single European season for the first time in the line’s history. The line will visit 76 ports in 29 countries, five of which are brand-new to Celebrity Cruises. Celebrity’s 2009 Europe season includes six homeports, overnight stays in eight different ports, and five unique cruisetour options. Celebrity also will offer nine transatlantic sailings in 2009. The cruises open for sale today.
Five Celebrity Cruises ships will sail in Europe in 2009, including two ships currently under construction, Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox. Joining them are Celebrity Century, which underwent a $55-million makeover in 2006, Celebrity Constellation, built in 2002, and Celebrity Summit, which launched in 2001.
With six different homeports in Europe for the season, including Amsterdam, Holland; Barcelona, Spain; Harwich and Southampton, England; and Rome and Venice, Italy, Celebrity’s ships will sail much of the continent. Itineraries exploring Scandinavia and Russia, the Arctic Circle and North Cape, the Mediterranean, Israel and Egypt, and even transatlantic sailings, will offer guests a number of opportunities to get to know Europe. These include overnight, in-port stays that offer travel enthusiasts the opportunity to more thoroughly explore the culture of eight cities: Alexandria, Egypt; Copenhagen, Denmark; Istanbul and Kusadasi, Turkey; Rome, Italy; Stockholm, Sweden; and Venice, Italy.
Celebrity’s 2009 Europe – New Stars Celebrity will call on five new ports:
From August 18 through October 23, Celebrity Equinox will sail 13- and 14-night “Ancient Empires” itineraries out of Rome, featuring calls on Ashdod and Haifa, Israel, an overnight stay in Alexandria, Egypt, and ports throughout Greece, Turkey, and Italy. Beginning May 4, Celebrity Solstice will sail 10- and 11-night Eastern Mediterranean itineraries roundtrip out of Rome, calling on ports throughout Greece, Turkey, and Italy. The 11-night sailings include overnight stays in Istanbul, Turkey.
Guests who sail on Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox will enjoy Europe in a whole new way, as the ships will offer a resort-like experience at sea through features such as the industry’s first Lawn Club, a half-acre country-club atmosphere featuring real, growing grass; 10 dining venues including several created by noted restaurant designer Adam Tihany; AquaClass, the line’s new spa category of staterooms; the industry’s first Hot Glass Show at sea, presented in collaboration with The Corning Museum of Glass; and larger, more intuitive staterooms influenced by a panel of five “boomer” women.
Mediterranean cruisetours include the following: New in 2009, a five-night “Venice, Florence and Rome” package featuring two nights in Venice, one night in Florence and two nights in Rome – a popular “highlights of Italy” tour that gives guests a true Italian experience.
The three-night “Italian Lakes, Verona, and Venice” cruisetour, which includes two nights in Lago Maggiore’s Stresa, one night in Verona, and touring in Venice prior to boarding the ship. Guests on this cruisetour enjoy a lake tour to the Borromean islands as well as the Shakespearean city of Verona.
A four-night “Madrid and Barcelona” cruisetour, offering two nights in Madrid, two nights in Barcelona, city tours in both locations, a visit to the ancient city of Toledo, and enough free time to experience the true Spanish flair of these iconic cities.
Northern Europe cruisetours include the following: A four-night “Paris and London” package, featuring two nights in each city and visits to major attractions such as Notre Dame and the Tower of London.
A three-night “Brussels and Amsterdam” cruisetour, with one night in Brussels, two nights in Amsterdam, a visit to the gothic city of Bruges and a private canal cruise through the Amsterdam waterways.
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