So you know those times when you have these great plans ready to put right into action – only nothing goes like you expected and instead your plans completely fall apart?
Well, that was what happened with the last few weeks… We had a grand plan to record shows and check out some new ships – and everything fell apart. But we’re back with a new show now and aren’t expecting any interruptions for a while… So there’s that…
What we talked about this week:
Cruise West introduced a “free-flowing” itinerary, while Celebrity continues embracing technology. Crystal is revising it’s 2011 West Coast plans. Royal Caribbean is testing a “new” extended stay program in Fort Lauderdale – but is it really all that new?
Shopping on Queen Elizabeth will be decidedly British, and work continues on Seabourn Quest. Princess looks after their Australian passengers on Dawn Princess, and once again we bring you a story of passengers behaving badly…
Crystal Cruises announced two brand new seven-day getaways exploring the Pacific Coast for April 2011. Sailing between Los Angeles and Vancouver aboard the award-winning Crystal Symphony, the northbound and southbound “Pacific Escape” and “Coastal Exploration” itineraries visit Santa Barbara and San Francisco, California; Seattle, Washington; Astoria, Oregon; and Victoria, British Columbia.
Departing on April 10 and 17, the new voyages replace two Mexican Riviera itineraries. The line is keeping several fall 2010 itineraries through the Mexican Riviera, in addition to others in spring and fall 2011; Crystal feels that the West Coast and Northwest itineraries add dimension and scope to the worldwide destinations being offered in 2011.
Promotional Two-for-One cruise fares start at $2,695 per person, and include $500 per person, ‘All Inclusive – As You Wish’ shipboard spending credits. For bookings by September 30, 2010, guests also enjoy complimentary air transportation from more than 20 North American gateway cities.
Crystal Cruises announces its 2012 World Cruise, a 94-day epic journey exploring the diverse cultures of the Pacific Rim. On a rare course round-trip from Los Angeles departing January 18, 2012, Crystal’s 17th annual World Cruise will visit 35 ports in five segments, with multiple overnight stays on Crystal Serenity’s route through Hawaii, the South Pacific, eastern and western Australia, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Russia, Alaska, British Columbia and San Francisco. For the first time, the ultra-luxury line is including a three-day inclusive overland adventure in Beijing; a maiden call in Newcastle, Australia; and a return to South Korea for the first time since 1994.
Three days in Beijing:
The three-day inclusive Crystal Overland Adventure to Beijing visits the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven.
Overnight stays:
Two-night stays in Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong and Beijing, and overnight stays in Honolulu, Sydney, Perth, Singapore, Bangkok, Shanghai, Osaka and Yokohama.
A pre-cruise exclusive Bon Voyage Gala with luxury accommodations in Los Angeles launches the voyage for all full World Cruise guests.
Crystal is accepting deposits for priority waitlist. Fares and more details on the wealth of World Cruise amenities and enhancements are expected in the fall 2010.
Special Value – Limited Time Offer:
Guests booking any 2011 World Cruise segment by September 30, 2010 can save 20% on any other 2011 or 2012 voyage, including 2012 World Cruise segments (not applicable to full World Cruise).
This September, in keeping with Crystal Cruises’ penchant for quality, choices and innovation, its popular Computer University@Sea will boast brand new, state-of-the-art iMac® workstations with 27-inch glossy, widescreen LED screens and the ability to use and learn both Windows® 7 and Mac® OS X 10.6 operating systems. In addition to the new hardware and a selection of almost two dozen complimentary CU@Sea classes, Crystal is adding five free new classes, taught on both Mac and Windows platforms, when applicable.
Along with existing Windows 7 classes, new introductory courses for Mac will be available, including:
Introduction to Computers using iMac and OS X – Covering the iMac basics, from the Dock to the Desktop, plus Mac-specific commands and icons;
Files, Folders, and the Finder using iMac and OS X – More in-depth instruction on creating, saving and retrieving Word documents on a Mac platform;
Word Processing using Word in Office: Mac 2008 – Microsoft® Word, Excel and PowerPoint programs, and using the Toolbox on a Mac platform;
Processing Photos with iPhoto® – Both basic and advanced options for guests who want to learn anything from how to transfer photos to a Mac using iPhoto, to creating smart albums and compressing and sharing photos via email or blog; and
IMac Tips & Tricks using OS X – Covering a number of time-saving features, including system preferences, advanced Finder and Dock techniques, Smart Folders and Spotlight elements.
In its dedication to protecting marine environments and preserving their habitats, Crystal Cruises has committed to serving only sustainable seafood aboard its award-winning vessels. Renowned for the sophisticated fare served in the Crystal Dining Room and specialty restaurants Silk Road and The Sushi Bar and Prego, Crystal is the first cruise line to publicly commit to such a policy.
Since 1990, Crystal has served fresh fish and live lobster in the Crystal Dining Room and specialty restaurants, and with this new commitment, will offer guests a wide variety of sea fare raised in a sustainable manner, protecting the species for future generations. With guidance from both governmental and non-governmental conservation organizations and fisheries, the line favors suppliers that share the same ideals and boast documented reputations for methods that minimize the impact on local wildlife and ecosystems.
Effective immediately, the initiative is the latest in Crystal’s history of responsible seafood purchasing and sourcing. The line was the first cruise line to discontinue the use of endangered caviar from the Caspian Sea and introduced farmed caviar from the U.S., France and Uruguay, which has now become the standard in the luxury hospitality industry. Additionally, Crystal discontinued offering endangered species of fish more than a decade ago.
Older Articles »
