Carnival’s Seaside Theater which first debuted on Carnival Liberty in 2005 and is now featured on 5 of the line’s ships will be added to 4 more ships according to Cruise Community. (registration required).
Carnival Destiny and Carnival Triumph will get the poolside jumbo LED screens while in drydock later this year and Carnival Conquest and Carnival Glory will get screens added next year.
In addition Carnival Dream which is currently under construction and scheduled for delivery in September of 2009 will also boast the Seaside Theater.
(0) Comments (Leave a Comment)Filed under: Carnival Cruise Lines Posted by Michael on 07/16/08
Enriching its portfolio of wellness opportunities, Crystal Cruises is introducing onboard acupuncture, along with a menu of Chinese herbs revered for restoring and enhancing health, beauty and longevity. A menu of optional acupuncture treatments, launching this month on Crystal Serenity, focuses on weight loss, pain management, stress reduction, detoxification, smoking cessation, facial rejuvenation and even sea sickness.
Acupuncture is a technique of inserting and manipulating fine needles into specific points on the body to ease pain and for other therapeutic purposes. According to the World Health Organization and other reputable entities, acupuncture helps relieve aches and pains; stimulate weight loss; alleviate stress; detoxify the body; smoking cessation; seasickness; and anti-aging.
The Crystal acupuncture program includes:
- · Onboard acupuncturist - Nancy Kerastas, Crystal Serenity’s licensed acupuncture physician, has been practicing the art since 2002;
- · Menus of Chinese herbs - Includes remedies that reactivate the body’s fat-burning process; stabilize blood sugar metabolism; and relieve swollen or immobile joints; and
- · Shipboard seminars - Three to five classes will be held per cruise, discussing acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and Feng Shui practices and benefits.
Guests receive pre-session consultations to discuss their conditions and medical histories. Cost is $150 for a 60-minute session and can be booked through Crystal’s Feng Shui-designed spa.
Crystal also offers complimentary yoga, Pilates and newly introduced “Tour de Spin” cycling classes, and an exclusive Walk on Water® program utilizing weighted vests to increase resistance. The line continues its partnership with the esteemed Cleveland Clinic to feature onboard lectures and seminars with leading medical experts.
In December 2008, and in 2009 both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity host Mind, Body & Spirit theme cruises, focusing on general wellness through classes and discussions with guest instructors in Tai Chi, yoga, Pilates and general fitness.
(0) Comments (Leave a Comment)Filed under: Crystal Cruises Posted by Michael on 07/15/08
It was a very slow week this week so we have a pretty short show.
Celebrity gave us a sneak peak at the shopping options on Celebrity Solstice and has made some improvements to the cuisine fleetwide.
There’s been more progress on the newbuilds for Costa.
Carnival is testing out open seating and we talk a little about last week’s naming of Carnival Splendor which has gotten a lot of media attention in the UK.
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Filed under: Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Podcast Posted by Michael on 07/14/08
Regent Seven Seas Cruises is offering new enhanced insurance coverage - along with several other benefits - to members of its Seven Seas Society guest loyalty program.
The Seven Seas Society offers a variety of amenities to repeat Regent Seven Seas Cruises guests based on the number of nights they have sailed aboard any RSSC ship. Under the newest program enhancement, Gold, Platinum and Titanium members (i.e. those guests who have sailed more than 75 nights) who purchase the RegentCare Travel Protection Program will be automatically upgraded to RegentCare Plus, which offers virtually twice the coverage - a $49 per person value.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises has also launched a variety of enhancements to the amenities provided to guests under the five Seven Seas Society “tiers.” The new tier benefits are as follows:
Bronze, Four to 20 nights
- Seven Seas Society cocktail reception
- Access to Seven Seas Society cruises, including exclusive events ashore
- Seven Seas Society savings on select sailings
- Personalized newsletter
- Access to Online Personal Profile
- Communications with advanced access to itineraries and special offers
- Upgrade and referral opportunities on select sailings
Silver, 21 to 74 nights - Includes everything from the Bronze tier plus:
- Complimentary Internet access on board
- One hour complimentary phone time per suite
- Complimentary pressing on formal and/or informal nights (up to two items per seven-night cruise segment)
- Invitation to participate in Seven Seas Society Advisory Board (on select sailings)
- Invitations to exclusive Regent Seven Seas Cruises events in select cities
Gold, 75 to 199 nights - Includes everything from the Bronze and Silver tiers plus:
- Priority disembarkation at cruise completion in select ports
- Additional two hours of complimentary phone time per suite
- Choice of newspaper service from around the world
- Complimentary pressing of up to two additional items per seven-night cruise segment
- Complimentary upgrade to hardcover personalized commemorative album at soft cover price on select voyages
- Exclusive Gold, Platinum and Titanium activity aboard or ashore on every sailing*
- Priority reservations at restaurants and spas
- Complimentary upgrade to RegentCare Plus travel insurance when standard package is purchased
Platinum, 200 to 399 nights - Includes everything from the Bronze, Silver and Gold tiers plus:
- Complimentary air deviation services (one time per sailing)
- Additional six hours of complimentary phone usage per sailing
- Complimentary pressing
- Complimentary laundry services
- Invitation to Customer Advisory Panel (on select sailings)
Titanium, 400 + nights - Includes everything from Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers PLUS the following items:
- Complimentary transfers to and from your home to the pier (within a 50 mile radius). OR complimentary transfers from the airport to the pier on embarkation and disembarkation day
- Complimentary dry cleaning
*The exclusive activities offered for Gold, Platinum and Titanium members may be combined with special events already incorporated in longer voyages.
(0) Comments (Leave a Comment)Filed under: Regent Seven Seas Cruises Posted by Michael on 07/12/08
Celebrity Cruises is shining the spotlight on a series of enhancements to its award-winning dining experience. A core component of “Celebrity’s Star TreatmentSM” array of fleetwide features and amenities, Celebrity’s culinary program now includes more than 200 new menu offerings, a significantly upgraded casual dining area, and an entirely new brunch offering.
According to Celebrity’s Vice President of Food & Beverage Operations Jacques Van Staden, a highly accomplished chef and restaurateur who joined Celebrity just one year ago, the enhancements were inspired by a combination of extensive studies of guest surveys, constant monitoring of trends in the food and beverage industry, and an unwavering eye on innovation.
Celebrity’s new evening menus are so widely varied that guests on even 14-night itineraries will never be presented with the same menu twice. Each menu contains expanded selections in all categories, from appetizers to desserts.
Casual dining “on the rocks” Celebrity has made significant enhancements to its lido café/casual dining area on every ship, expanding its culinary selections, modernizing the ambience, and upgrading signage and equipment.
One of the most innovative aesthetic enhancements in the lido/casual dining area is the replacement of ice with chilled river rocks throughout the buffet area. Resting on the rocks are literally hundreds of new menu items, new service ware and presentation styles, new action stations and made-to-order areas, and more destination-influenced and ethnic cuisine, including Asian, Italian, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and English.
Celebrity also has upgraded its complimentary coffee to the European brand, “Seventh,” a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans, which guests can sip from new, full-sized coffee mugs.
Let’s do brunch Celebrity has replaced its former once-per-cruise midnight gala buffet with a sumptuous brunch – complete with the line’s lauded ice, fruit and vegetable carvings - in the main dining room. “Our guests loved viewing the elaborate creations we presented at the midnight gala buffet, but very few wanted to actually eat that late,” said Van Staden. “Now, we still proudly present our culinary team’s great artistry, but at a time when our guests can thoroughly enjoy it.”
Once per cruise, guests can indulge in a lavish brunch with an enormous selection of fresh fruits; made-to-order smoothies; gourmet cheeses; cold cuts; a wide variety of salads, sandwiches, meats and seafood; pizzas, paninis and wraps; sushi and stir-fry selections; eggs of nearly every style, and delectable desserts ranging from individual, bite-sized selections to sorbet and ice cream. New options for late-night noshing For guests interested in late-night desserts, sandwiches, specialty coffees or other libations, Celebrity has introduced an “after-theater” menu in its Cova Café venues, to replace the former “Gourmet Bites” served throughout the ships on alternating evenings. “Our guests enjoyed the service and presentation of ‘Gourmet Bites,’ but very few actually indulged in them,” said Van Staden. “The new options in Cova Café allow guests who are interested in late-night dining a light, varied menu, featuring sandwiches, savories, tartlets, hot brochettes, canapés, artisan cheeses, fresh fruit, crackers, petit fours and napoleons.”
Celebrity’s Cova Café presents the new late-night menu from 11 pm to closing.
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