Princess Cruises has teamed with Klutz?, publisher of award-winning activity books for children, to provide high-quality arts and crafts projects for young passengers and their families while onboard. Klutz and Princess Cruises collaborated to develop custom-built kits designed to engage young cruisers in fun and creative activities. Unique in the cruise industry, the new activities are available fleetwide.
Children sailing aboard Princess ships will have the opportunity to participate in up to seven Klutz activities during their cruise. Kids will be able to build their own storybooks; create lanyard bracelets; make “picture tags” for charm bracelets, luggage tags, or pet I.D.s; create fuzzy masterpieces with Velvet Art; craft paper flowers, weave friendship bracelets; or make Thumb Doodle thumbprint art.
The new Klutz activities are offered for young passengers of all ages, and are scheduled during the youth center’s regular activities or during the ship’s family fun fair in the atrium, where all family members can join in the creative fun.
Norwegian Cruise Line announced its BookSafe Travel Protection Plan, designed to provide a full cash reimbursement to guests should they need to cancel because of job loss prior to their cruise. NCL’s BookSafe Travel Protection takes the worry out of vacation planning, helping guests book a stress-free future cruise despite uncertain economic times.
In addition to the new job loss protection feature, NCL’s overall travel protection plan, administered by BerkelyCare and underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Penn., includes a variety of benefits and services so guests can plan and enjoy their vacations with peace of mind. Benefits of the program include: trip cancellation/trip interruption protection; medical protection including emergency evacuation coverage; baggage protection for lost or delayed luggage; and worldwide emergency assistance, such as emergency cash transfers, medical consultation and assistance with lost travel documents.
Effective February 26, 2009, guests who purchase NCL’s BookSafe Travel Protection Plan for any NCL cruise departing on or after May 1, 2009, are eligible for reimbursement of any cancellation fees if an insured guest loses their job as long as the person has been an active employee at the same company for at least one year.
NCL’s enhanced travel protection plan is available starting at $29 per person, depending on the cruise fare paid.
After rambling for a bit we finally make our way to the cruise news.
Carnival Sensation gets Evolution of Fun upgrades, and Holland America announces sommalier packages and celebrities coming to their Culinary Arts Centers.
Royal Caribbean offers enhanced amenities to suite passengers and the Celebrity Equinox will be delivered early. There’s also been some notable progress on the expansion of Terminal 18 at the Port of Fort Lauderdale.
This week we take a look at Costa Cruises. Costa’s an Italian cruise line that is very different from their US based counterparts from their theme nights to their rewards programs.
Celebrity Cruises today announced that the pace of construction of sister ship Celebrity Equinox is proceeding so well, the cruise line will offer a soft launch prior to the ship’s maiden voyage of August 8.
The eagerly anticipated Celebrity Equinox will now present a cruise departing July 31 through the majestic Norwegian Fjords, roundtrip from Southampton, England.
Celebrity paired the news with a special offer to guests booked on Celebrity Equinox’s inaugural sailing of August 8, inviting them to combine their 10-night “Best of Europe” cruise with the 8-night soft launch, for a spectacular 18-night voyage on the new ship. Guests capitalizing on the opportunity will receive an onboard credit of $200 per stateroom or $300 per suite. The 8-night cruise through the Norwegian Fjords features visits to Stavanger, Flam, Geiranger, and Oslo, Norway. The 10-night maiden voyage, which will include an inaugural gift and commemorative activities, will visit Paris/Normandy (via Le Havre) and Cherbourg, France; Vigo, Cartagena and Barcelona, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal, and Gibraltar, UK, ending in Rome (via Civitavecchia), Italy.
Beginning this March, Royal Caribbean customers who book suites will receive a collection of new perks, from expedited check-in to room-service amenities such as a cheese plate on formal night and free around-the-clock room service.
Royal Caribbean is also upgrading furnishings in all suites — more than 2,000 across the fleet — with plush sofa-beds, more elegant deck chairs and tables and new entertainment systems. These upgrades should be completed by 2010.
When passengers in the Presidential Family Suite, Royal Suite, Royal Family Suite, Owner’s Suite and Grand Suite arrive at the pier they will head to a dedicated security line (where available). Those in the Royal Suite and Presidential Family Suite will be welcomed at the terminal by a senior officer and escorted to their cabins.
Passengers in Grand Suites and higher will receive gold SeaPass cards, identifying them for special services. On arrival in their suites, they receive free bottled water and a fruit plate, slippers, spa bathrobes and Vitality bathroom amenities. Ghirardelli chocolates will be provided at turndown.
On the first formal evening, they’ll receive a pre-dinner cheese presentation, with petits fours delivered at turndown on the second formal evening. Free 24-hour room service, coffee and tea will be available throughout the cruise, along with the option of ordering from the main dining room’s full breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. Mattel board games may also be ordered.
A dedicated suite attendant will provide services such as free garment pressing on formal evenings.
Other perks for Grand Suite and higher categories include a cocktail reception with the captain, reserved VIP seating in the main theater and priority bookings for spa/salon appointments, tender tickets and excursions. On Voyager- and Freedom-class ships, suite guests get reserved VIP seating poolside and at Studio B ice shows.
Those dining in the Windjammer buffet restaurant during breakfast and lunch have access to reserved private seating in the adjacent specialty restaurants.
Aboard Radiance-, Voyager- and Freedom-class ships, suite guests will receive a key to the Concierge Club.
Passengers in Junior Suite categories get silver SeaPass cards for extra benefits.
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