The Cruise Explorer

Today’s Celebrity Cruise Deals

cruiseexplorer — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:16:22 +0000

Celebrity Cruises presents the latest Exciting Deals. These offers are special rates for upcoming cruises with limited availability. Only a selection of staterooms are available, and these rates must be booked on Tuesday, 8/31/2010. Take a look at this small sampling of the great cruise deals available and start making your plans for a terrific cruise. To see the full list of deals with details, click here.

9/11/2010: 7 Night Mediterranean Cruise on Celebrity Constellation from Barcelona – Oceanviews from $599
10/24/2010: 14 Night Eastbound Panama Canal Cruise on Celebrity Infinity from Los Angeles – Oceanviews from $849
10/29/2010: 10 Night Bahamas Cruise on Celebrity Mercuryfrom Baltimore – Oceanviews from $549
10/31/2010: 15 Night Transatlantic Cruise on Celebrity Equinox from Rome – Verandahs from $1049

Activities on a Cunard Liner

cruiseexplorer — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 00:00:44 +0000

Some people still believe that Cunard is too “stuffy”, too formal for them. Perhaps this video will show you that Cunarders do know how to have fun as well as enjoy the good life Cunard’s three cruise ships, more appropriately called ocean liners, are the Queen Mary 2, the Queen Victoria and the brand-new Queen Elizabeth (which starts her maiden voyage on October 2nd). Search Cunard voyages.

Celebrity Returns to Australia & New Zealand

cruiseexplorer — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:26:04 +0000

Inspired by guest demand, new itineraries feature 36 ports in six countries

Like the iconic boomerang believed to have originated in Australia, Celebrity Cruises today announced plans to return to the region in 2011-12, with an enticing new series of vacations on Celebrity Century.

“This marks a significant expansion of Celebrity’s diverse array of global vacation options,” said Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. “We’re thrilled to return to Australia and New Zealand. It’s a region our guests and trade partners around the world have said they wanted to experience again with Celebrity, pairing our award-winning dining, exceptional service and high style with the beauty, charm and diversity of the area. This move further exemplifies our ‘Designed for you’ platform, and how we fulfill what cruisers desire.”

Marking the line’s first return to the land Down Under in two years, Celebrity’s exotic new Australia and New Zealand season – bookended by a series of vacation options in Hawaii – features a total of 36 ports in six countries: Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, French Polynesia, the U.S. and Mexico. The lineup includes 10 distinct itineraries, with six varied departure ports, including Sydney and Perth (Fremantle), Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; Honolulu, Hawaii; San Diego, California, and Ensenada, Mexico.

Celebrity’s new series begins October 2, 2011, with two consecutive 15-night Hawaii sailings from San Diego, followed by a 10-night Hawaii cruise from Ensenada to Honolulu. An 18-night “Pacific Jewels” voyage departs Honolulu November 11, followed by five 12- and 13-night New Zealand cruises between Sydney and Auckland, including a festive holiday sailing departing Sydney December 24. These offer a more destination-rich experience for cruisers, with only three days at sea, versus five on most competing lines’ itineraries.

Cruisers also have the opportunity to experience a rare, 36-night circumnavigational voyage – a first for Celebrity – through two combinable 18-night sailings: One will sail around the southern portion of Australia, featuring an overnight stay in Sydney and transits through three sounds – Milford, Doubtful and Dusky – in New Zealand’s World Heritage-designated Fiordland National Park. The second of the combinable 18-night sailings takes cruisers around Australia’s northern coast, and features a visit to the idyllic island of Bali, Indonesia – marking yet another first for Celebrity.

The new series also includes two tantalizing, 18-night Trans-Pacific voyages visiting the French Polynesian islands and Hawaii.

Among the ports Celebrity will visit for the first time are Geraldton, Broome, Darwin, Cairns, Brisbane, Adelaide, Albany, Bunbury and Perth, Australia, in addition to Burnie, Tasmania, and Bali.

To complement the cruises and allow guests to delve deeper into the land Down Under, Celebrity has created a series of cruisetour packages.

The 1,814-guest Celebrity Century is ideal for offering guests spectacular views of the scenic region, having been refitted in 2006 to add 314 new verandas, along with the elegant Murano restaurant and the truly “cool” Martini ice bar.

Punchliner – new Comedy Lounge on Carnival

cruiseexplorer — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:51:20 +0000

Carnival has just announced that by the end of the year all 22 Fun Ships will have a Punchliners Comedy Club – a dedicated comedy lounge. I expect that this will be a very popular addition!

Celebrity iLounge

cruiseexplorer — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 14:11:37 +0000

Just two months ago, in a vivid reinforcement of its new brand platform, “Designed for you,” Celebrity Cruises announced plans to introduce on Celebrity Eclipse – the third in Celebrity Cruises’ stylish Solstice Class fleet of ships – the first “Celebrity iLounge.” The announcement met with such positive response from guests, travel agents and press that today, the brand announced plans to introduce the hip, modern lounge on Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Summit next month.

Dubbed by members of the press as “a hipster haven,” “a nifty app for tech junkies,” and an illustration of “how much thought some cruise lines are putting into their Internet offerings, while others treat it as an afterthought,” the Celebrity iLounge on Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Summit will – as on Celebrity Eclipse – offer what the line’s guests said they wanted most in an Internet café: easy access to the Internet, inspiring classes and new products.

The Celebrity iLounge on each ship will consist of three main areas: a series of contemporary MacBook workstations where guests can check their e-mail, retain their social media connections, or print boarding passes; a retail space offering cruisers the opportunity to check out the latest MacBooks, iPods® and accessories; and an enrichment center where certified staff will offer guests tips on Mac or iPod usage.

“Our ‘Designed for you’ brand platform is built on Celebrity’s commitment to listen to our guests and offer experiences and programs inspired by them,” said Celebrity’s President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. “The reaction we received after announcing the new venue on Celebrity Eclipse made it clear that our guests would appreciate more opportunities to experience the Celebrity iLounge, and now, they can do that while sailing year-round in the Caribbean on our stunning Celebrity Solstice, or while visiting the sophisticated island of Bermuda on Celebrity Summit.”

Cruisers themselves can become more sophisticated with new applications for creatively preserving meaningful vacation moments. Within the “Discover” component of its “Celebrity Life” series of inspiring enrichment and entertainment experiences, Celebrity will offer in each Celebrity iLounge a series of engaging new courses, including movie editing and web design, through programs including iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and iWeb. And Celebrity’s certified staffers will be well-equipped to assist, having completed more than 125 hours of training in operating systems, applications and products.

Technophiles and collectors of cool merchandise alike will find the Celebrity iLounge an enticing venue. As an Authorized Apple Reseller, Celebrity will offer a variety of products in each Celebrity iLounge for guests to purchase, including iPods, MacBooks and essential accessories.

Located on deck six of Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Eclipse, the Celebrity iLounge will house the 26 MacBook Pro’s, classroom and retail area, in addition to display pods, a 56-inch flat-screen TV for use during classes, and an accessible workstation.

On Celebrity Summit, the Celebrity iLounge will replace the current computer classroom on deck six, with the same new products and technologies as on Celebrity Eclipse and Celebrity Solstice. Even the “Online@Celebrity” cybercafé on deck four of Celebrity Summit will be retrofitted with entirely new MacBook workstations.

The new Celebrity iLounge will be ‘live’ on Celebrity Summit by May 16, on Celebrity Solstice by May 30, and on April 26 on Celebrity Eclipse, when the new ship enters service. The Celebrity iLounge also will be presented on Celebrity Silhouette, which launches in 2011, and the fifth ship in the Solstice Class fleet, which sets sail in 2012.

Designing the Fun Ship Fleet

cruiseexplorer — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:32:29 +0000

Designer Joe Farcus talks about how he creates each Carnival ship’s “personality”.

Cruise the Saint Lawrence River

cruiseexplorer — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:53:38 +0000

Cruises on eastern Canada’s Saint Lawrence River are quite limited at the moment, but a new group aims to change that. Cruise the Saint Lawrence, a non profit association with 25 members representing 9 ports of call, is marketing primarily to cruise lines, travel agents and media representatives. The group’s initial efforts are focused on creating the Cruise the Saint Lawrence brand; promoting the St Lawrence River as an untouched, unmatched, unforgettable destination; and, marketing a network of ports which boast a diversity of tourist experiences. Their key marketing points include: the Saint Lawrence River as a unique waterway with a complex ecosystem, glacier-carved landscapes, numerous parks, journey into history, remarkable cities, French-language culture, First Nations presence, ecotourism, captivating excursions and a tradition of hospitality.

The ports of call included in this promotion are:

Québec
Montréal
Saguenay
Trois-Rivières
Baie-Comeau
Havre-Saint-Pierre
Sept-Îles
Gaspésie
the Iles de la Madeleine

This year, the busy “Fall Colours” cruise season on the Saint Lawrence River begins on September 9th with the arrival of the Queen Mary 2 at Québec. The Crystal Symphony is the last ship, leaving Québec on October 24th.

Princess Cays Bungalows

cruiseexplorer — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:55:57 +0000

When your Princess cruise stops at Princess Cays on the tiny island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas, you can now add to your luxury experience by booking a Princess Cays Bungalow Package for the day, perhaps with a gourmet lunch. What a luxurious, exclusive treat!

With a Princess Cays Bungalow, you can take a nap with the smell of the ocean on the breeze and the sounds of the waves lulling you into a peaceful state of relaxation. You can have the privacy to change from swimsuits and back to regular clothing without having to minimize your time on the island to go back and board the ship. With our new Bungalow Packages, you can enjoy a fine meal in privacy with good friends, enjoying the most amazing seaside view.

Here are the options:

Princess Cays Private Bungalow Package
For just $199, you’ll have the exclusive use of a 6-person bungalow during your visit to Princess Cays. The colorful beachfront bungalows are perfect for families, friends or anyone who wants to make the most of their visit to Princess Cays. Located in the picturesque palm grove just behind the beach, each bungalow features air-conditioning and ceiling fan, a table and four chairs inside, and two sun loungers outside on the deck, as well as a private shower. You can take a dip, shower off, sun bathe and change back into their regular clothes, all from the privacy of your very own bungalow, without ever having to return to the ship!

Princess Cays Private Bungalow with Gourmet Picnic Lunch
This upgrade features the use of a regular bungalow at Princess Cays and includes our gourmet picnic lunch, with Italian Style Antipasti, Lobster & Mango Salad, an Artisan Cheese Board with Tropical Fruits and Fig Bread, Island BBQ Selection and Petite Pastry Selection. This luxurious experience is $249 per couple, with an additional $25 charge for each extra bungalow guest.

Princess Cays Sanctuary Bungalow
A relaxing Sanctuary bungalow gives you a serene island experience. These tranquil bungalows are situated in the new adults-only area – The Sanctuary at Princess Cays, an extension of the onboard experience. Up to 4 adults can share a secluded Sanctuary bungalow for just $249.

Princess Cays Sanctuary Bungalow with VIP Gourmet Lunch
Enjoy fine dining while relaxing amidst a beautiful ocean view. The VIP Gourmet Lunch includes assorted snacks (popcorn, peanuts and potato chips), Caribbean Gazpacho, a Chilled Seafood Platter with Tequila Lime Cocktail Sauce, Jerk Chicken and Pork Spareribs with Jamaican Hardo Bread and Salad, Fresh Fruit & Strawberries with Honey Yogurt Dip, Vanilla Ice Cream and Cookies/Brownies. In addition, you’ll be able to order one refreshing Signature/Island Cocktail per person, included in the price of the package. This authentic island experience is just $299 per couple, with an additional charge of $25 for each extra guest.

Voyages of Discovery aboard MV Discovery

cruiseexplorer — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:28:56 +0000

The 698-passenger MV Discovery is large enough to sail the world’s oceans but small enough to offer unique itineraries.

Cunard’s Queen Victoria in San Francisco

cruiseexplorer — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:58:19 +0000

Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria Sets Sail for San Francisco Maiden Call

17 December 2009 – Cunard Line’s youngest ship, Queen Victoria, will be making her maiden call to San Francisco on 27 January 2010, marking her only U.S. inaugural call in the next year. Queen Victoria will stop in the City by the Bay as part of the first segment of her 2010 World Voyage, before continuing across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii.

“We were elated by the welcome our flagship Queen Mary 2 received from San Franciscans in 2007, and have been eagerly anticipating Queen Victoria’s arrival to this illustrious city since the ship entered service,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. “We look forward to a warm welcome during this historic port of call.”

Many well-wishers and maritime enthusiasts are expected to view Queen Victoria when she arrives at the famous Embarcadero at approximately 6:30 a.m. at pier P35 South, and upon her departure later that evening at 6:00pm. The ship’s arrival can be seen from several excellent viewing locations including: the Golden Gate Bridge – vista points on both north and south sides of the bridge, Pier 45 and Pier 39, Fort Mason, Aquatic Park and Crissy Field.

2010 will mark Queen Victoria’s third full year in service with a traditional 99-day westbound circumnavigation of the globe from New York to Southampton, featuring three convenient U.S. embarkation points. The ship sails from New York on 12 January, embarking guests in Ft. Lauderdale on 15 January and in San Francisco on 27 January. Highlights of Queen Victoria’s third World Voyage include three overnight calls in Sydney, Hong Kong and Dubai, as well as 10 additional maiden calls. The ship will traverse the Panama and Suez Canals, visiting 41 ports including Acapulco, Melbourne, Shanghai, San Francisco, Cartagena, Phuket and Sharm El Sheikh. Guests have the option of adding a seven-day Transatlantic extension from Southampton to New York aboard Queen Mary 2 for a full 106-day circumnavigation.

Designed in grand Cunard tradition, Queen Victoria is the second largest Cunarder ever built, weighing in at 90,000 tons. Having debuted in December 2007, she captured the world stage in a way few ships ever do – becoming one of the most fêted ships to be introduced in recent years and quickly establishing herself in the Cunard fleet. Every inch of the 2,000 passenger liner is infused with a sense of luxury and tradition, from the Royal Court Theatre, which includes the first private viewing boxes at sea, to the signature two-storey library with a spiral staircase and nearly 6,000 volumes.

Queen Victoria features double- and triple-height public rooms that evoke the rich and well-recorded history of ocean liner and Victorian era design. Most distinctive of all, of course, is the line’s legendary White Star Service™ for which Cunard is renowned. Onboard, guests revel in the luxury of time, experiencing such Cunard hallmarks as traditional afternoon tea served by white-gloved waiters, an engaging variety of intellectual and stimulating pursuits – including fencing – and extraordinary dining rivaling the finest restaurants in the world.

For more information about Queen Victoria or to book a voyage, consult your travel professional, call toll-free 1-800-7-CUNARD or go to www.cunard.com.