Cruise West is revitalizing the overall guest experience this spring with several significant enhancements collectively called ‘Spirit Of Distinction.’ ‘Compass,’ a more robust enrichment program guided by a world class Board of Advisors, will be introduced for the enjoyment of all guests. The launch of ‘Palate’ Wine & Food Program will include an updated, award-winning wine list with food pairings and United States Sommelier Association certification for onboard servers. Several vessels will also offer the option to dine “alfresco,” and all sailings will enjoy new menu items. The well-appointed new Explorer Class cabin category, replete with upscale, eco-friendly amenities, will be added to three of the lines’ nine ships.
Designed to enhance the overall guest experience through meaningful and topical presentations, the renewed onboard enrichment program, Compass, will be introduced on all Cruise West itineraries. Four tenants comprise the points of Compass: science, culture, history and immersion. The Board of Advisors that will guide the new program includes world-renowned Oceanographer Dr. Don Walsh and noted Naturalist Brent Nixon. In addition, leading experts in diverse fields will serve as guest lecturers to complement the on-board Exploration Leaders’ provided narratives. Enrichment doesn’t end onboard. Guests will have additional opportunities to be immersed into the natural environment through an increased number of zodiac excursions on select itineraries. A hallmark of the Cruise West experience is engaging and thought-provoking presentations aboard every sailing. The Exploration Academy, a component of Compass, will serve as an enhanced training program for Cruise West Exploration Leaders, further developing their knowledge base and skills. Tools include an e-based Enrichment Program of power point presentation modules that cover such diverse subjects as the culture, history, wildlife and geology of region(s) visited.
Guest won’t whine about the wine list or refreshed menu items! Following the theme of exploration, Cruise West introduces Palate, designed to help diners discover the synergy between wine and food. All Cruise West ships will feature a delectable culinary experience through distinctive food and wine pairings with menu selections that highlight the cuisine of the Pacific Northwest. A tempting wine list featuring bottles selected by Chairman Dick West will include wines from Wine Spectator’s “Top 100 Wines of the World” and Seattle Wine Awards 2008 “Gold Medal Winners.” Additionally, in affiliation with the United States Sommelier Association, onboard servers will participate in a certificate course to ensure service delivery is up to the highest standards. Lastly, guests will have a choice of three distinct dining options at lunchtime. Alfresco dining will be offered on the Spirit of Oceanus, Spirit of Yorktown, Spirit of Endeavour and Spirit of ’98, weather permitting, in addition to regularly scheduled lunch in the Dining Room and Light Fare luncheon served in the Lounge. Menu items will include fresh grilled favorites, salads, and a carving or taco bar.
The new Explorer Class cabins, formerly AAA cabins, are intended for guests accustomed to a higher level of creature comforts. The “eco-friendly” amenities, a natural extension of the company’s motto of good environmental stewardship, include ultra soft Bamboo (a sustainable resource), fiber linens and towels, cotton waffle weave bathrobes, water conserving Speakman “Easy Jet” adjustable stream showerheads, and hypoallergenic down duvets. In addition to special amenities, guests traveling on Alaska itineraries will receive a copy of the book Mr. Alaska, written by Cruise West’s founder Chuck West. Explorer Class cabins will be rolled out in spring 2009 onboard the 96-guest Spirit of ’98, 102-guest Spirit of Endeavour, and the 138-guest Spirit of Yorktown.
Cruise West, is waiving the fuel surcharge on all 2009 Alaska cruise itineraries for guests who book and pay in full by December 12, 2008. The waiver is applicable for all new and current bookings. Guests can save from $105 per person on a seven-night cruise to $360 for a 24-night cruise with the fuel surcharge promotion. Cruise West guests can also combine this value with early booking incentives to save additional dollars.
Guests can save $455 to $655, for example, on a 2009 eight-night/nine-day Alaska’s Inside Passage cruise, including one-night hotel accommodations in Juneau, by booking and paying in full by December 12, 2008. This savings represents both the early booking discount and waived fuel surcharge promotion. The Alaska Inside Passage itinerary starts at $3,999 per person, based on double occupancy.
All Cruise West voyages include an excursion at every port, transportation to/from the airport, all gratuities and tips as well as the line’s signature Exploration Leaders who share insightful information on the flora, fauna, culture and history of the region.
Alaska cruises range from three-night/four-day to 24-night/25-day, and start from $1,149 per person.
London’s Calling! This is our last show before we depart for England and the Queen Elizabeth 2. This week the cruise lines had quite a bit of news as well.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, Carnival has managed to stir up a little controversy. As Galveston works to recover from the devastating storm, Carnival has decided to shift their Galveston operations to Houston’s new Bayport Terminal which is already up and operational.
It’s taken three years, but repairs on Carnival’s Cozumel dock are almost complete after three years. The dock is expected to re-open next month.
Port Canaveral’s efforts to prevent shoaling that could shut the port down performed flawlessly.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises is launching a $40 milion refurb program on three ships, and Cruise West has announced a curious decision to offer Europen river cruises.
Crystal says they’re headed to Iran as part of their 2010 World Cruise.
QM2 has embarked on her 100th trans-Atlantic sailing and QE2 made her final call on Boston.
Royal Caribbean has revealed the latest neighborhood on Oasis of The Seas.
We expected that we’d get a reveal from NCL in response to the Oasis reveal, instead what we got were reports of a dispute between the ship’s builder, Aker-STX and NCL that at may delay the ship’s delivery. However, there’s talk that Aker-STX is actually trying to sell the ship.
Cruise West, travels to Europe for the first time in 2009 with 11-and 12-day Danube River cruises. The new Vienna To Bucharest route provides tours in Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and cruising in the Danube Delta onboard the elegant, new 148-guest Amadeus Diamond; the luxury vessel is launching in 2009 . Eighty percent of the cabins have large “French balconies” providing a full wall of glass to view the passing scenery . Four departure date options include July 16 and 24,2009 and October 13 and 21, 2009. The inaugural July 16 Chairman’s Cruise will be hosted by Cruise West Chairman Richard West and wife Leslie West and the October 13 sailing is a PENTAX Photography Cruise featuring field events and onboard workshops all co-hosted by professional PENTAX photographer Kerrick James. Pre-and post-cruises are available in Prague and Transylvania on all four sailings.
Depending on the direction of their cruise, guests will be greeted at the Vienna or Bucharest airport before transferring to the Amadeus Diamond. The next 11 to 12 days, varying slightly based on the vessel’s route, will be filled with such highlights as city tours of Budapest, Osijek, Belgrade and Bucharest. Also exclusive to Cruise West guests is exploration of the remote areas of the Danube Delta aboard specialty vessels. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the best-preserved Delta in Europe and the largest reed bed in theworld. Travelers will dine on local cuisine and experience traditional culture at horse shows, wine-tastings atworld-renowned vineyards as well as exclusive insider-access such as breakfast at the Nunnery of Saun and dinner along the Black Sea. As with all Cruise West voyages,knowledgeable Exploration Leaders accompany the cruise and share insightfulinformation on the flora, fauna, culture and history of the region.
The Danube River cruise begins at $5,199 per person including taxes, port charges, fees and onboard services. Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and are exclusive of airfare. Trips booked before December 19, 2008 will receive an early-booking discount of up to $1,100 per cabin.
Cruise West will now offer Quito & the Galápagos Islands cruises on select dates throughout 2009. The cruise sets sail onboard the luxurious 40-guest yacht, Isabela II. In the company of naturalist guides and a Cruise West Exploration Leader, guests will explore the natural museum of flora and fauna on the Galápagos Islands as well as Quito, celebrated as the best-preserved Colonial historic center in Latin America.
The Galápagos journey lasts 10 days and starts in UNESCO World Heritage site, Quito with two nights at the deluxe and centrally located Hotel Hilton Colón Quito. Guests may choose to explore Quito on their own or take a tour to Antisana, the 4th tallest volcano in Ecuador. The afternoon is spent on a guided walking tour with a chronological narrative of the area’s history as well as a drive up to the observation point El Ventanal.
Guests fly to Baltra Island to board the Isabela II and set sail for North Seymour Island known for its bird colonies of blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls, sea lions and marine iguanas. Along the way, they will learn the tales of its early inhabitants and the adventures of pirates and whalers who once traveled to these islands. At Gardner Bay on Hood Island there is ample opportunity to snorkel or enjoy the marine life on a glass bottom boat. At Punta Suarez, guests can walk on lava terrain to visit unique bird colonies including the Waved Albatross.
The highlights of Point Cormorant on Floreana Island include nature hikes to see the flamingos that inhabit a brackish-water lagoon as well as great snorkeling and kayaking opportunities. There is further exploration by panga boats to nearby islets to observe sea lions, rays and sea turtles, boobies and possibly the Galápagos penguin. Tortoises are found on Santa Cruz Island, known for its seven different vegetation zones including Scalesia forests, home to a huge variety of smaller plants, many of them endemic to Galápagos; the site of Los Gemelos; the infamous Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens.
Thousands of frigate birds, red-footed and masked boobies, gulls, herons, finches and mockingbirds are found at the beautiful natural harbor Darwin Bay, Tower Island where adventurers may choose to walk up Princes Philip’s Steps to observe more large bird colonies. After cruising across the Equator line on the Isabela II, anchor at Tagus Cove on Isabela Island where the landscape is tuff-stone and lava flows. Marine iguanas graze on the algae beds, indigenous Galápagos fur seals welcome guests, and snorkelers will explore the bountiful sea life found in the area due to the upwelling of the Cronwell Current. Punta Espinoza, Fernandina Island offers more wildlife including the highest density of marine iguanas, sally lightfoot crabs, hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorant.
More island exploration is found on James and Bartolome Islands before guests disembark and fly to Guayaquil to either travel home or continue on the six-day Cuzco and Machu Picchu post-cruise program.
Add-on Cuzco and Machu Picchu Land Program
The fully guided Peru post-cruise land program includes six days of visits to Cuzco the historical capital of the Inca Empire; and “The Lost City of the Incas,” Machu Picchu, located at 7,875 above sea level. This inclusive program includes guided tours of Cuzco’s most historical monuments and markets; a special dinner of Novo Andina Cuisine (a fusion of Andean ingredients and European techniques); and the comfort of the exclusive five-star Hotel Liberador Palacio del Inca.
Guests travel by Vistadome Train to Aguas Calientes and transfer to the lovely Spanish colonial Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel for two nights. There they will spend a day and a half exploring mysterious Machu Picchu, guided or independently. The last night is spent back in Cuzco with tours of the Inca Fortress and Citadel of Ollantaytambo as well as the circular terraces of Moray.
Three departures will be offered on August 23, August 30 and September 6, 2009. The Ecuador and Galápagos Cruise Program begins in Quito and ends in Guayaquil and starts at $6,399 per person, double occupancy including internal flights and the Galápagos National Park Fee. The Cruise Program plus Peru extension, commencing in Guayaquil and ending in Lima, starts at $10,659 per person based on double occupancy including internal airfare in Ecuador and Peru.
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