Cruise
Crystal appreciates Canadians
Crystal Cruises has launched a Canadian Appreciation Sales Event, offering special savings through March 31. Valid for Canadian residents only, the luxury cruise line is offering savings of up to $800 per stateroom in Shore Excursion Credit on select 2012 sailings on both the Symphony and Serenity, Northern Europe and Mediterranean voyages. Call 1-800-446-6620, ext. 2 to book and ask for promo code: CASE. This promotion is valid on FIT bookings only (not combinable with groups or National Account amenities)....
Swan Hellenic’s Minerva debuts multi-million dollar refit
Swan Hellenic's Minerva sailed recently from Portsmouth, England on its first spring cruise following an extensive multi-million dollar upgrade program. The 350-guest Minerva now offers more balcony suites than ever before, as well as a wider selection of expansive new public areas. Minerva's enhancements include a number of new and improved features such as: !!! The addition of 32 new balconies added to existing staterooms, increasing the number of balcony suites to a total of 44 suites, representing 23% of total accommodations. New Egyptian cotton bed linen is available in all balcony...
Plans received for Costa Concordia removal
A total of six working plans to remove the hull of Costa Concordia were received by the deadline of March 3. Of the 10 salvage companies invited to tender for the contract, three decided not to bid due to previous commitments and two have joined forces to present a joint project. An update on the tender process was given during a meeting in Rome March 6 with Pier Luigi Foschi, chairman and CEO of Costa Crociere S.p.A. and Prefetto Franco Gabrielli, the head of the Civil Protection Department and managing commissioner for the Costa Concordia shipwreck. The six plans involve different...
Luxury cruise package comes in at a cool US$1.5 million
Got a client with US$1.5 million to spare? The UK's Six Star Cruises has unveiled what it is describing as the world's most lavish 124-day cruise vacation aboard Silversea Cruises' Silver Whisper. And, with a price tag of just over US$1.5 million per couple, a commission most agents would kill for. Departing from Los Angeles on Jan. 1, 2013 the voyage includes visits to 28 countries, including French Polynesia, Madagascar, Cameroon, the Maldives and Mauritius. The epic holiday begins in the UK with the arrival of a Sikorsky helicopter to take passengers to London's Heathrow airport. While...
Regent unveils 2013 Med, Baltic and Alaska cruise line-up
Regent Seven Seas Cruises' has begun accepting reservations for cruises from April 2013 to December 2013. The line's Summer Collection features more than 50 itineraries in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Alaska, as well as fall cruises to New England and Canada and an Amazon River itinerary. Highlights include new ports of call, extended voyages of up to 43 nights, two-for-one fares and bonus savings of up to $13,000 per suite and Business Class air for $999 each way when booked by June 30. Guests in Penthouse suites or higher will enjoy free Business Class upgrades on transatlantic...
Costa Voyager to take over Allegra itineraries
Costa Cruises is replacing the 28,500-ton, 1,000-passenger Costa Allegra with the 24,400-ton, 927-guest Costa Voyager, starting March 18. Following the incident aboard Costa Allegra Feb. 27, the company has not determined how long it will take to repair and bring Costa Allegra back into service and restore planned cruises. Costa Cruises continues to conduct inspections and technical evaluations to ascertain what caused a generator-room fire. Costa Voyager is a new-generation ship that entered service in 2000 and was renovated in November 2011. The ship has 416 cabins, three restaurants, four...
Maid of the Mist will operate in 2012
Despite earlier reports that Niagara's Maid of the Mist would cease operations, the historic boat tour operator will return to the water for the 2012 season on both sides of the Niagara River Gorge, delivering its 166th year of tours to the base of the Horseshoe Falls. Maid of the Mist officials have completed discussions with the Niagara Parks Commission regarding operational issues and have decided that the tours will go forward for 2012. The boats will begin operating on April 12 - three weeks ahead of last year, due to unseasonably warm temperatures and ice-free conditions on Lake Erie...
Carnival Destiny to undergo dramatic transformation
Representing Carnival Cruise Lines' most ambitious refit and transformation project ever, Carnival Destiny will undergo a US$155-million makeover next year that will incorporate all of the line's "Fun Ship 2.0"dining, bar and entertainment features, as well as a variety of new innovations unique to this vessel. The refit will also include a reconfigured layout, the addition of a partial deck and the expansion of two other decks within the forward section of the ship, providing the opportunity to incorporate a number of new on-board spaces, including 182 new cabins. Completely renovated main...